A few days later, shocking news began to spread. It was said that someone had managed to see the true face of Mu Xingyue—a face rarely shown in public until now. The rumors quickly circulated, and everyone who had seen her agreed: she was stunningly beautiful, almost too beautiful to escape anyone's attention.
Her beauty became the topic of conversation in every corner of the city. Yet behind the compliments, glances of envy, whispers of malice, and hidden intentions began to emerge. Some sought to approach her, while others tried
Amidst the whirlwind of gossip and escalating intrigue, time kept moving—now only one month remained until Bai Tian's wedding day.
New rumors surfaced—some said her beauty was a blessing from the heavens, while others accused it of being a deception meant to attract the attention of influential families.
Among the bustling crowd, uninvited guests appeared. Some wealthy men from powerful families secretly tried to get close to Xingyue, offering expensive gifts and tempting promises. Meanwhile, some women feeling threatened spread slander to tarnish Xingyue's name before the wedding day.
At the peak, an anonymous letter was sent to Bai Tian's family home. Its contents were brief but sharp:"Think twice about this marriage."
Bai Tian's father tried to keep the letter secret, but Bai Tian could not stay silent. He realized that as the wedding day approached, more and more people would try to stop it.
Behind all of this… was a figure watching from afar—someone with personal reasons to ensure this marriage would never happen.
In a dim corner of the city, inside a quiet teahouse, sat a man in a black suit. His gaze was sharp, and his lips curled into a thin smile whenever he heard Mu Xingyue's name. He was Li Zhen, heir of the Li family—a prestigious family that had once almost been engaged to Xingyue.
That engagement was embarrassingly broken off when a secret was revealed: Mu Xingyue was not a noblewoman as many had thought, but the daughter of a servant in the Mu household. For the Li family, this was an unacceptable stain. And for Li Zhen, the cancellation was a harsh slap that tore apart his pride in front of everyone.
Now, news that the girl would marry Bai Tian was like a rekindled ember.
"If I cannot have her," he muttered softly, "then no one shall."
His plan began in motion. He bribed several servants in Bai Tian's house to leak schedules and habits. Paid agents were sent to shadow Xingyue whenever she left the house. Malicious rumors were planted through whispering mouths, difficult to trace.
What Bai Tian did not know was… that one of his closest was secretly on Li Zhen's side.
Time flew quickly, and now only two weeks remained before the eagerly awaited wedding day. Yet behind the approaching joy, a great danger lurked silently, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and shake everything.
In the past two days, the business run by his adoptive father faced unexpected troubles. These issues made his father work tirelessly to solve crisis after crisis, hardly ever returning home. Seeing this, his adoptive mother stepped in to help manage and handle the problems so that the family business could continue running and not worsen.
Meanwhile, amidst the family turmoil and rising pressure, news came from the heavens—a shocking and mysterious announcement. The Rainbow Cloud Sect, a group known for its great influence and power, was about to open new student recruitment within two weeks. They sought youths aged between 15 and 20. Joining the sect was believed to significantly boost a family's reputation, opening paths to glory and higher social status. This news sparked hope and anxiety alike, for anyone involved faced a destiny full of riddles and unknown risks.
The Cloud Continent was divided into five main regions: East, West, South, North, and Central. The Rainbow Cloud Sect was one of the nine best sects headquartered in the Eastern Cloud Continent. Under these nine sects were smaller sects and several great families, including the Xio, Mu, Li, and Ye families, all centered around the Rainbow Cloud Sect. It could be said that the Rainbow Cloud Sect was the leader of all families and sects in the East.
Amid the uproar of the soon-to-begin recruitment, the great families—Xio, Mu, Li, and Ye—began to prepare in their own ways. They knew this opportunity was not just about recruiting new members, but a high-stakes gamble to maintain dominance in the East. Each family sent their best envoys to seek promising candidates, who were not only physically strong but also had the potential to master the secret arts of the Rainbow Cloud Sect.
Among the interested youths was a 17-year-old named Muli from the Mu family. Muli was known as different; despite coming from a respected family, he had a great curiosity and courage never seen before. Yet, there was something mysterious about him—a secret even he had not fully understood.
As the recruitment day drew near, shadows of a future filled with glory and danger began to envelop the entire Cloud Continent. Would Kai and the other youths be able to conquer the destiny awaiting them? Or would they fall into mysteries and dangers deeper than they ever imagined?
Time marched on, and the day of the Rainbow Cloud Sect recruitment approached rapidly. The atmosphere throughout the Eastern Cloud Continent grew tense and hopeful. Meanwhile, behind the hustle of recruitment and intense preparations, another major event was approaching—the wedding day of Bai Tian and Mu Xingyue.
Today was the day of his marriage to Mu Xingyue, though he already knew for certain that Mu Xingyue did not marry him out of true love. If not for the insistence of their fathers, perhaps Mu Xingyue would never have even glanced at him.
After completing the intricate movements of putting on his wedding clothes, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his restless mind. Together with his adoptive parents, he slowly stepped toward the ceremony venue. However, when his eyes inadvertently met his parents', their gloomy and anxious expressions seeped into his chest. An unspoken unease haunted a moment that should have been the start of happiness, but now felt so hollow.
He stood beside his adoptive parents, gazing at the gathering guests. His heart felt tight, but he tried to show a sincere smile. Suddenly, a soft voice from his mother broke the silence.
"Are you really sure about this, dear?" she asked anxiously.
He nodded slowly, though the answer was not that simple. "I have no other choice," he replied quietly, his voice almost drowned by the crowd's noise around.
His adoptive father gently held his shoulder, "Remember, you are strong. We all support you."
Yet behind those words, he knew they also carried the same burden. Their eyes full of hope and worry made him wonder if this marriage was truly the start of happiness—or the beginning of a long waiting.