Jinbao Marries a Wife

When Jinbao woke up groggily, it was because he heard a strange sound. The noise started nearby, as if right beside him, but then gradually faded into the distance, vanishing into the sky.HmjwCDMlrzuyJgYlFPyshAxQvvRWiI

YTVEzavPBDkSsGk

He opened his eyes, seeing the faintly glowing stream under the moonlight, flowing quietly through the night.CPeKYBpEmZTROIrQwAPirsjqsecaLa

WcnJHTenYNEJSTp

His back felt warm, and he quickly realized he was lying in Que Siming’s arms. After blinking hard a few times, he remembered that he had embarrassingly cried, and eventually cried himself to sleep.NCcBhnpTzotiQahoFDhtglLWlBbYbF

wNJuiGpTQHasieF

Que Siming’s low, husky voice sounded in his ear, “You’re awake, huh? You’ve been sleeping for quite a while.”nugmJZFNzrXCrjaarwIUOgEebJvaLn

BjkWKSxLuBsangx

Jinbao didn’t know how to face him, but luckily it was dark now. He fumbled with his clothes and climbed out of Que Siming’s arms, keeping his head down, too shy to look at him.XBjywpRMLzAqxgYJkDnPGfRfOKUWvT

rbzdrxzEMVQhUfh

Que Siming’s gaze darkened slightly, just as he was about to say something. Suddenly, a brilliant firework shot up from a distant mountain, burning brightly in the sky before disappearing.UJZSDttdnmohXpQTQhJIXXdcvPWjKv

uWJNknUDtGAAboO

Que Siming glanced at it. “This godforsaken place, it’s hard to get your bearings. My master has sent word. If you’ve rested enough, let’s head out.” He stood up as he spoke.JUOFFxfGgmbVIwrfzyxoKYggRVNLVX

zlpphZntzflZbWl

“Oh, oh, I’ve rested enough,” Jinbao replied, pulling off the cloak draped over him. Seeing it wasn’t his, he handed it back to Que Siming.lygtnvCOnmYVTvFXUcgByiQpzdicls

wSxOqFVXRMtKTSU

“You keep it,” Que Siming said. “It’s getting cold now that night has fallen.”DOMognUBKTZpblsaBdDhAxrttIWldt

LGOyRGXaNCgDlvQ

Jinbao frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean? You think you owe me something? No need to treat me like a woman. Just act like you normally would.”HjHInqQwKfsnVzbETDGiIBzDloHbnG

yZDpedSEecYAVIc

He was extremely irritated by Que Siming’s attempts to be attentive—it felt too forced, making him uncomfortable.fwECwRCcztBieDKBfTTLXmcJGxvFfy

uVhneFaqiqzpiNL

Que Siming clicked his tongue. “What are you thinking? You used to have inner strength, you could withstand the cold even in the dead of winter. Now that your inner strength is sealed, it’s autumn already, and nights in the mountains are freezing. If you catch a cold, you’ll just be causing trouble.”sqksqVIlklfSCdUuUKsjJfPGKJEaAT

WVUvqfbKTCSCMWc

Jinbao thought about it and realized he had a point. He stopped refusing and put the cloak on. But Que Siming’s clothes were unfamiliar to him, and in the darkness, he struggled to tie the belt properly.zaUIfYmBgaNgobfJCwpLyqaJPDbpbn

BtTuNhXNhOVXpMZ

Suddenly, he felt himself pulled tightly from behind as Que Siming’s strong arms wrapped around him. In a low voice by his ear, Que Siming murmured, “Let me tie it for you.”LTOOTvvtqxRDrRMGqGcMPiAZWQFbia

IzkuIHDjlDMqQEA

Jinbao froze, instinctively trying to twist his body to break free.AKpAcwJDrxitxPFqwjxUcJYJTFvDUE

cnXPJKhXfmBHXKH

But Que Siming held him firmly, keeping him locked in his embrace. Urgently yet softly, he called, “Xiaohu, Xiaohu, listen to me. Don’t move. Please, just listen to me.”voWEthRhoOXJlNOdMvHUoeyONtrPsm

rTQsIwkARSWmcyK

After a few failed attempts to free himself, Jinbao finally stopped struggling. His fists clenched tightly, his body rigid.sWTDSQPMhTsycbqbsTOSrVQrAamZHQ

kcKXtvWdyvkHWkN

Que Siming sighed. “Xiaohu, are you really going to pretend like nothing happened? Are we enemies now? Do all those words I said mean nothing to you?”qeBXiZdjMdrlQNBRUCILKnwfiQKQmR

DXGywPfSzNtyUpE

Jinbao stayed silent.jfNHDkBFGAsazVLWYKFYcSiyNuAaNG

mxMLDhmvVBOrpSH

“You’ve already hit me and cursed me. I know I’ve wronged you, but I’ve apologized. If you’re really a man, can you forgive me? Let’s give it another shot, okay?”pfBosDDetjtJNSzCLXMAbJKgHHIdqn

RAUvvrgvPCCBETE

“I… Que Siming…”mJqVDPJTtZYLVLxgAPxuZpYCTSsbri

NoTWZkzpqvDsdBM

“I know, I know what you’re going to say. If I screw up again, you can beat me to death, and I won’t fight back. Xiaohu, I can’t bear to lose you. You still like me, right?”sWiXTdTxVlVKYjXbEFeTpHwqqonieY

DXpOdQUdSggcYor

Jinbao felt a lump rise in his throat, his voice raspy as he replied, “Who can’t live without whom? Let me tell you, Que Siming—”wzUfhHunBMvFRwSilVIFfmbRRmJYUq

CDumhZcOsbXByuA

“I can’t live without you, okay?” Que Siming interrupted him suddenly.fzRZBkUvlIAYrymdviXiFWQZSaEIrH

UWxzIlFmIuTpUVq

Jinbao was stunned, left speechless.gHNrkwUGhfXpKJmWcfIMnHzWHYcmrs

mbFLWGdbcDirptp

To him, hearing such words from someone as arrogant and reckless as Que Siming was shocking. For someone like him to admit love was already pushing his limits, but now, saying something so outrageous, it made Jinbao feel entirely uncomfortable.ZiqqRyiiUVCnDUgyWrxLVvyNovcMAJ

iEJxxyBpPisrQTz

Que Siming buried his face in the crook of Jinbao’s neck, greedily inhaling the familiar scent that was uniquely his.HijFGypykEFHoiMWtNxwLrKOrfgLiN

KHbDKaTgTzuFGDn

“I can’t live without you…”LkynmrhionevgFAyKgkZDBoYohGaxC

axiQBlHoKadQwmI

If he could no longer tease or bully Jinbao in the future, what joy would there be left in such a long life?JSyydyyGBFyCXwclmLOVxXytlHYKaW

LnQFJNNGnAlHNAo

“Xiaohu, I mean it. I’m afraid… I don’t have much time left.”vMOOFcjPXJABJQGnxGRfYPFmWxaaAr

panXcRnkyjPaVmf

Jinbao exclaimed in surprise, “W-What!”EWWbSiVeaBUHKYCRjBTZGcCfWmakNh

uozYtaWyMspPKBW

Que Siming’s tone instantly turned sorrowful. “The blood parasite in my body has been getting more and more active recently. I can feel it—I won’t last much longer. Rather than becoming Yu Mingjing’s puppet, I’d rather end it myself.”SLhHCzDWqIYmJGkhPXuWLgFIhleXcP

nxyXUlDVQgzvHEf

Jinbao turned around in a panic. “Isn’t your master currently surrounding Yu Mingjing? Isn’t he already at the end of his rope? If we take him down, can’t we extract the blood parasite?”otePVHItNMfbvnxehYjYHhDtVljpPf

wbotxGkfIiFVEVN

Que Siming frowned, his face full of sadness. “I didn’t want to tell you this because I didn’t want you to worry. But… Yu Mingjing is a cunning villain. If we really corner him, he’d rather fight to the death than let me have my way. Besides, my father is by his side. No one is certain they can take Yu Mingjing down easily. And my blood parasite is already close to maturing. I’m afraid there’s not enough time.”wfstQVokFzuWXSvKtvFGNDfGKTNYcH

YeeIzBHGplzVTCQ

Jinbao was anxious. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Why are we wasting time here? Why are we still sleeping? Don’t you know how serious this is? What if we miss the chance to save you? We need to leave, now!”EECZrLJIKfTooIXazFlGMquCdfwBIe

eNyMFyDMIeXyqbN

Que Siming gently held his hand, eyes filled with tenderness. “Little Tiger, I know I don’t have much time left. I’d rather spend more of it with you than waste it on the road. If you hadn’t kept pushing me away, I wouldn’t have said anything to upset you.”dGpNLMSwShznqxCOFwJWNCkyUsrdtT

qNGfBOTcpuUcVlG

Jinbao snapped angrily, “Are you crazy? Of course, saving your life is the most important thing right now! I’m alive, we can always spend time together. What, do you expect me to hang out with your corpse after you die? Get up, we need to go!” He grabbed Que Siming forcefully. “Come on, let’s move!”MOUZzJOXYJVnlXqFRcOkUyFJlVflen

BbVEaDiFCLOnzRp

But Que Siming stood firm, unmoving, shaking his head. “Little Tiger, I’ve already given up hope. Just stay with me a bit longer. When I’m gone, no one will bother you anymore.”jOLwrOIrdcowIITxFFcZXNllEnquRT

WUBSpOchpuRacNq

Jinbao was furious, ready to hit him. “What kind of bullshit are you saying right now? If you live, you have everything. If you die, you have nothing! Get up!”oWatJjTdcWWUaVnekazioHvtFgZlCu

YjTpyDIgPLKfEfm

“But what if I live… and you’re not there?” Que Siming’s words stunned Jinbao, his face growing hot.jkUrnTjBkzRcAnjovNWEbrBSdxBaFr

jOtITuIlfUWEuzU

Seeing his hesitation, Que Siming pressed on. “If I survive and you keep pushing me away like this, I’d rather spend what little time I have left with you now. At least then, I can die without regret.”hNZPtGrGoQdkoKXaZoLFkAhpZGPbHP

FwXGnZSlqjBFiap

Jinbao was shaken by his constant talk of death. He’d known about the blood curse for a while, and the blood-red lines under Que Siming’s eyelids were indeed getting closer together, almost touching now. Compared to when he first met him, the lines had grown a lot. When Que Siming said his days were numbered, Jinbao had no choice but to believe him. He’d seen those blood marks slowly inching toward his brow, as if watching Que Siming’s life force drain away.OCqEHoRoGSauYGDxvxvYKNIYFGaFZd

lNwrPAaXxDqYgSQ

Jinbao had been so focused on distancing himself from Que Siming that he’d forgotten about the deadly blood parasite inside him. Either he would die, or he’d become a puppet. And becoming a puppet was just as good as being dead.sjtKyHNzXMvUwtzYoRwBoVrdAbMJhg

IERqLBPAMaTJuDT

Que Siming had always been so strong and domineering that Jinbao often forgot he was teetering on the edge of death.PXZMvjRZPlQZoargbbltXuUMXEkPcs

qLaXHvwELjircNR

Now that Que Siming had brought it up so sorrowfully, it tore at Jinbao’s heart.lellgomMbBKDnCvbiuhihTbrEmDkMm

NmiDUSKSbBkyaZL

At a time like this, when lives were at stake, all their personal dramas and emotional entanglements seemed insignificant.CKNnXzuncQaOJwgGZCGgeJSDvmvzwI

qOdXAlzBrdgHDxg

What mattered most now was saving his life. If Que Siming could get through this, they could think about everything else later. Otherwise, nothing mattered.OEkWiHyFtLFzFfGfiIEnhfExNLuogR

fqfwsZouDlxDHta

In his desperation, Jinbao couldn’t focus on their issues. He just kept urging Que Siming to get moving.yHmmsCScrEIUfVAuKQyKZlqgoVKOVI

RkVSAKFMLYFfvJR

Seeing that he’d pushed Jinbao far enough, Que Siming knew pressing any more could backfire. So he stopped pushing and led Jinbao as quickly as possible toward the direction of the fireworks.qDQqLJxcXfXdwsZefmozpZWVqTYOaT

CDmQspTEjcDMJGp

They traveled all night, and by noon the next day, they finally ran into people from the Medicine Valley.eKGXkGKgtWjhmQkzdjxdcqfCJFdDga

FWGaMzmFesWPPvq

When they were brought before his master, Que’s senior immediately greeted him with a hard slap.NeGNVsBKfBjIUMWGNtyTeoomCMTWXD

uZOtawNTTecSulp

Que Siming tilted his head, his expression unwavering. Calmly, he said, “Master, I’m back.”VqRPBOUYOBxeayVtxPhjCmfuDvBgff

KrTiMRbyRNsqSRU

The senior wanted to hit him again, but considering the number of people around, he restrained himself to save face for his disciple. Besides, seeing Jinbao standing behind him made his face darken further. He snorted heavily and turned away.nwoCGhmNDnhNivsrqLRTKcJRhXdLuF

xOxGSTtMRNHLeby

Que Siming’s leader thought it wasn’t the right time yet. He planned to deal with that kid after they’d taken care of Yu Mingjing.yJfCjLxUnlRxselSHqViExTzlFCjop

gnvTRPpNIjDIeJy

Jinbao was feeling quite awkward himself. He had no idea how he ended up mixed up with Yaogu again.SgawZrsHSamBnVHCwxlrcLPQWkUiHj

IbPohFttcZJvjyo

He could sense that from Que Siming’s leader down to the servants, everyone in Yaogu harbored some hostility toward him. Being naturally thin-skinned, he didn’t want to be an eyesore to others, so he tried to keep a low profile. But at this moment, he had no clue where he should go or when to leave.KSWOgqmWroBRSVKZinhnUofrNLBlhv

PYHLyqhRKKYOzju

Que Siming, with his hands behind his back, quietly squeezed his palm.xUiAyDhhowhZnhBoKJZzoWlqKBxzbM

eAuHAHGzjWOzoNJ

The warmth and strength from that touch made Jinbao feel much more at ease.otOgaHGoONBzMWZbrsdRpcsWnbfiuq

vSBPDQZiKXqeBpv

Que Siming asked, “Master, what’s the current situation?”uBwpWIaUXLWgNhWyYplDmxvvgOkFsE

TMDrlAnDmwSYSxu

The leader of the Que family thought for a moment before responding, “A few days ago, we tracked down Yu Mingjing and clashed with the Wu clan. Both sides suffered losses, but neither Yu Mingjing nor the general was seen. Yu Mingjing has committed atrocities for years, and there aren’t many of the Wu family retainers left by his side. This mountain will be his grave. I will make sure we capture him and free you and your father from the blood curse.”ksoNoObFCCNvhiAfQqOjEzpWSXBQOV

areoSwtMznWymHc

Que Siming nodded. “There’s probably no one left with Yu Mingjing other than my father. He’s hiding in the mountains. As long as we find him, we can defeat him.”BdTTniCoBmfCFyZEdsqxzkEqkMQSjP

dENhvGGadQMsfEM

“Yu Mingjing is cunning and has your father as both a henchman and a hostage. It won’t be easy… sigh.”tXTHkoULKfKtRuhVWFvAyetRGLLrzv

bEyRsWVzhipfgFl

“Right now, finding him is the most important thing.”bCjGfnTmDAtePHMbjImNRsoMAXDVgb

OfXYvmQAJITsDIR

Que Siming’s leader glanced at him and hesitated before saying, “Actually… I have an idea.”tKuxZYKfudwbeeQVuNFcSxHCSfgzsq

AWzJUgVpuDzZycu

Que Siming said, “Master, please speak.”FEgUTzssyjrTupoudpwNJPyIVSSLwE

hzUEJNiXQaohowK

The leader hesitated but eventually said, “I brought the Longevity Stone this time, thinking we could use it to trade for your father.”PoiVeAUcviHWoLCgqWtFPZwTTPQTZC

AwQcGFNOdggqwRz

Que Siming was stunned for a moment. “If we can get my father back, that would be great, but…” He hesitated, feeling that Yu Mingjing would never let his father go.EXzViMoFTPqaOIkCxuNYecuwWgfibE

uhXYSNeNVxYBSWl

“As long as he agrees to free your father and give us his blood, I think it might not be such a bad idea to let him leave with the stone…”thDHnnXfVLTkGVQRqDhVYmPkPKZlpC

GaqOLOpYhEpZJGw

“No!” Que Siming’s face turned bright red. “Master! How could you even think about letting Yu Mingjing go? I thought using the stone for negotiation was just a temporary strategy. We have a chance to kill him and get our revenge! How could we let him walk away unharmed?”XPAgbwIrTtNrolQVUmadYZxOJpWzuZ

IpNLLsesYATtVri

The leader sighed, “It is a temporary strategy. If we can kill him, that would be ideal, but what if he threatens us with your father? Wouldn’t it be better to secure his safety first? Once Yu Mingjing is weakened, we can hunt him down later.”AQaBvCIIKlToOckOkpHlUcclysyNUx

cUojtaakhcGelyo

“Master!” Que Siming called out heavily. “Yu Mingjing is incredibly sly, and you know that. If we let him go, we may never find him again. For thirteen years, I’ve dreamed of killing him with my own hands. The best opportunity is right in front of us—how could we give it up?”KrQgmmGXfupjYBPkAjnwLPeNHjMGEL

HjrYaoeqcIQHzhH

“Siming. I understand your desire for revenge, but what’s more important: revenge or your father’s life?”RNbDydFBqggIRyNapqBbYNRcixigiE

lOqfRxYzPLiWnXP

Que Siming was immediately left speechless, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.lvFztogXcMUAVAKwWbhAclPzqYKtff

MJrWJXCnBAjMxtB

“Your father was an accident. We thought he was dead, and we had no worries. All we needed was to kill him, but now the situation has changed. Although Yu Mingjing is like a trapped rat, he still holds our weakness. When we weigh the situation, he’s not necessarily in a weaker position than we are. You’re still young and overconfident. I, however, want to be cautious. What I fear is ending up empty-handed. In such a case, it’s better to retreat before advancing. Let you reunite with your father first, and then think about revenge later.”kqinCfOvWiBqRXceRwoXbTKHFuMOwH

YZrkfsftrdHkmgv

Que Siming stayed silent. He knew his master’s words were absolutely right. Given the current circumstances, this was indeed the most prudent approach.ABveGMPZIobTCklImMZzZnOTzFrxjd

fnogmiedsEeNEZw

Yet, he felt unwilling. His hatred for Yu Mingjing ran deep, and he dreamed of personally ending his enemy. Seeing such a perfect opportunity slip away made him boil with anger. Who knew when such a chance would come again in his lifetime?OaSoROxnxwJeAnyUxWMvTmjpCFdCDV

cPhdPKGVNPSERnO

Master Que patted his shoulder. “Siming, listen to your master. If you want revenge, there’s plenty of time in the future. Whether you can save your father and remove the blood curse in your body all depends on this. After all, your situation can’t afford any more delays.”rOqVAcBiAzjAfxwNBuRxUncXTVMVLf

MHuclsDUpRmsyQe

Que Siming clenched his teeth and finally gave a stiff nod.QLtUOdWsfzExPTWCHHjDPiyKpZMlwQ

uuGCBFmqAVTrgjo

The people searching the mountain brought in more than ten dogs, working day and night to track Yu Mingjing.fOWztDqrJiYoofBLgsRJTmYkGzNFxk

BdNdGEXQQvUmXTK

The group stayed in the mountain for two days until finally, they caught traces of Yu Mingjing.JDLHummpiYDDCCEgRzQvrqrYTQAZqo

hIQBRYMYGfYCxOV