Chapter One: The Sister's Substitute Marriage

“I’ll say it here and now: even if every man on the continent were dead, I still wouldn’t marry Qin Liang.”

Jiang Yutong’s simple words cast an awkward pall over the grand hall. The elders of the clan, helplessly massaging their brows, glanced toward the corner where a delicate-featured young man sat, all feeling a surge of sympathy.

“Yutong, this is a matter of marriage—no more acting on your whims.” The clan leader, Jiang Hai, wore a grave expression. “When our ancestor was in peril, it was Qin Liang’s parents who saved him. In gratitude, our ancestor arranged this childhood betrothal between you two. If you refuse, where will the Jiang family’s honor be?”

“I don’t care. I simply won’t marry him. And you’d better not force me,” Yutong declared, drawing the sword beside her and resting it on her shoulder, her expression resolute.

“You—” Jiang Hai’s head throbbed, anger and exasperation written on his face, but he was powerless before his daughter.

He cast a somewhat apologetic glance toward Qin Liang in the corner.

Qin Liang, with his gentle features and tall, slender figure, dressed all in white, sat apart from the commotion, exuding a serene, almost otherworldly aura—like a young master of the arts. If only that were the case. Unfortunately, he had been deaf since birth, and even his speech was halting. More crucially, no trace of innate talent had ever been found in him—he simply could not cultivate. His parents had left long ago to seek a cure for him, returning only once for a brief visit.

On parting, they had solemnly instructed him: until he came of age, he must pretend to be deaf and mute, lest he reveal a secret that would bring ruin upon him. For years, in others’ eyes, he was only a mute, perhaps a little slow.

Now, he sat there quietly sipping tea, wholly unmoved by the uproar around him, as if none of it concerned him at all. This very detachment only deepened the pity in the eyes of those who watched him.

“Mother, please, you must think of something!” Yutong, still gripping her sword, pinned all her hopes on the middle-aged woman beside Jiang Hai, appealing to her with helpless urgency.

All eyes turned her way; as the mother, she had the greatest say in the matter.

Li Qiumei sighed with resignation. “Yutong possesses a sixth-grade spiritual root, her talent is exceptional, and she holds the family’s future in her hands. She has already drawn the interest of an elder from Star Moon Sect. If she is accepted there, her prospects will be limitless.”

Her meaning was clear to all: the difference between the two was like heaven and earth. If they were to marry, it would benefit neither Yutong nor the Jiang family.

“Fortunately, Xuehan is still unwed. Why not let her marry in her sister’s place?” Li Qiumei’s words stunned the assembly.

All eyes turned to the woman standing behind the screen—Jiang Xuehan, as Li Qiumei had named her.

She wore robes as radiant as sunset clouds, her beauty so striking she seemed a fairy stepped out from a painting, untouched by the dust of the world. As the elder sister, she was more mature and refined than Yutong, enchanting many a man. Yet, as a daughter born of a concubine, she could only hide behind a screen during family meetings.

At her mother’s words, Jiang Xuehan’s face turned as pale as snow.

“Father, please, give me a little more time. I’ll be able to resume my cultivation soon—don’t force me into marriage,” she pleaded, nearly stepping out from behind the screen.

But everyone knew her hope was faint—just an excuse. Ever since a grave illness, her meridians had been blocked and her cultivation stalled. Ten years of treatments had yielded no progress. If she could one day marry into a powerful family by virtue of her beauty, there might be hope for healing and a return to cultivation. But if she married this so-called fool, her life would be truly ruined.

Yet aside from this, there were no other options.

“Xuehan, as the elder sister, it’s time you eased the family’s burdens. Agree to marry Qin Liang, would you?” Jiang Hai spoke with difficulty, gritting his teeth. “If the Jiang family breaks its word, I could never face our ancestors. If you refuse, I’ll have no choice but to step down as clan leader…”

Jiang Xuehan was struck as if by lightning, the elders all looked on in shock.

“No, Father, don’t resign—I… I will marry him!” came her desperate voice from behind the screen, as if afraid a moment’s hesitation would make her regret it.

No one saw the tears that slipped from her eyes as she spoke.

“Since the matter is decided, today’s assembly is at an end. Xuehan, spend some time with Qin Liang these next few days, nurture your feelings—your mother and I will arrange your wedding in a month!” Fearing their daughter might change her mind, Jiang Hai and his wife hurriedly brought the meeting to a close.

“Then let me be the first to congratulate my sister on her upcoming marriage,” Yutong quickly offered, settling the matter.

Everyone glanced at Qin Liang, relieved yet sorrowful, their hearts full of pity.

“How unfortunate, to have his marriage arranged without his knowledge.”

“Should we tell him? But I don’t know sign language, and I’m not sure he can read…”

“The clan leader finally persuaded the young mistress to agree—if Qin Liang isn’t happy and causes trouble, there’ll only be more headaches…”

As the meeting ended, the crowd dispersed.

Qin Liang sighed inwardly. As an observer, how could he not see that the Jiang family showed little kindness to daughters born of concubines—especially one whose meridians were blocked and cultivation had stalled?

If she could marry out, all would be well; if not, labeled useless, all of Jiang family would bear the shame. In time, they might not tolerate her at all.

“Better, then, to marry me—the ‘fool’—now,” Qin Liang mused helplessly.

In his room, Qin Liang had barely sat down when someone knocked. He made no move.

“Forgive me, I forgot you can’t hear…” Jiang Xuehan wiped away her tears, composed herself, and entered. But halfway through her words, she fell silent.

Their eyes met and they sat in silence for a long while.

As children, they had sometimes sat together in this way, but never had it been so awkward.

“You can’t hear me anyway, so I’ll just talk to myself,” Xuehan sighed, looking at Qin Liang. “Now that you’re grown, Father and Mother want me to marry you. If I refuse, you’ll have no status and life in this family will be hard for you.”

“You have no spiritual root—you can’t cultivate. If you leave the Jiang family, you’ll only suffer.”

Resting her chin in her hands, Xuehan gazed at him with wide, blinking eyes, making Qin Liang lose his composure for a moment. It was clear she had considered his feelings before coming.

“In half a year, my sister will join Star Moon Sect. My own cultivation is stalled—we’re both in the same boat now,” she said. But then her gaze grew resolute. “But don’t worry. As long as I am here, no one in this family will dare harm you. I may be a daughter by a concubine, but I am still the eldest young lady.”

“Just like when we were children—I’ll protect you, do you hear me, silly boy?”

She suddenly slapped her forehead. “Oh, I keep forgetting—you can’t hear me.”

Qin Liang picked up the teapot, poured two cups, and handed one to her.

After they each took a sip, Qin Liang smiled and spoke: “From now on, let me be the one to protect you.”

“Don’t joke… what?” she stammered.

Coughing, Xuehan choked on her tea, needing several moments to recover as she stared at Qin Liang in shock.

“You heard everything?”