507: Chapter 507: To Protect Her Sect, Leng Ning Shuang Chooses to Compromise

Leng Ningshuang certainly did not want to marry; she had never once thought about getting married.

She was the head Disciple of the Hehuan Sect. Her responsibility was to Cultivate, to protect the Sect, and to lead her Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters forward.

She did not want to be held back by romantic entanglements, and even less did she want to marry someone she did not like.

However, did she have a choice?

Over three hundred lives in the Hehuan Sect were all waiting for a place to settle down.

Sect Master Xu Ruyu had stayed behind alone to cover their retreat, and his life or death was uncertain.

The former Sect Master, Xiao Nianyin, whom she had once regarded as her benchmark, had gone back to find him, and it was unknown if she could return alive.

If she did not agree, the Tianyan Sect would not take them in.

Where could they go? They could not return to Tianyin Mountain, and the Taihu Clan had driven them out.

The Jile Sect and the Tianshu Sword Sect were hunting them down.

They had nowhere to go and no path to escape.

Could she watch her Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters wander the wilderness, be hunted, bullied, and killed?

She could not.

She was the head Disciple of the Hehuan Sect, and she had the responsibility to protect them.

She had promised her Master that she would take good care of her Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters.

She could not break her word.

Leng Ningshuang took a deep breath, raised her head, and looked at Shen Biyun.

There were no tears in her eyes, no anger, only an indescribable calmness.

That calmness was like a stagnant pool of water, without ripples, without vitality.

"I agree," she said.

The hall fell into a heavy silence.

The Grand Elder turned his head abruptly, looking at her, his eyes filled with shock.

"Leng, girl, you..." His voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of weeping.

Leng Ningshuang did not look at him; she only looked at Shen Biyun, saying word by word: "I agree. As long as you are willing to shelter the Hehuan Sect, I agree to this marriage."

Her voice was very calm, so calm that there was not a ripple.

But in her heart, she was bleeding.

Shen Biyun's eyes lit up, and a smile curled the corners of her mouth.

In that smile, there was triumph, satisfaction, and also an indescribable... calculation.

"Good! Let it be settled this way. I will give the order now to arrange the wedding tonight. Once you and my Disciple enter the bridal chamber, I will immediately arrange for the Hehuan Sect to settle down, and I guarantee that within the territory of my Tianyan Sect, no one will be able to bully you."

Leng Ningshuang nodded; there was no joy on her face, nor was there any sorrow.

She just stood there like a statue, like a flower blown down by the wind, floating alone on the ground.

Shen Ao stood to the side, watching her, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

There was surprise, guilt, and also heartache.

He certainly knew that Leng Ningshuang was not marrying him willingly.

She had only agreed to this marriage for the sake of the Hehuan Sect.

He wanted to say something, wanted to tell her that he would treat her well, would take care of her for his whole life, and would not let her suffer any grievances.

But he opened his mouth and could not say a single word.

Because he knew that saying anything now was useless.

Leng Ningshuang did not need his promises; what she needed was a place to settle, a place where the Hehuan Sect could survive.

Shen Biyun stood up, walked to Leng Ningshuang, took her hand, and patted it.

Her hand was warm, but Leng Ningshuang only felt cold.

"Good child, rest assured, I will not treat you unfairly. Ao, that child, although sometimes unreliable, is sincere towards you. You will not suffer by marrying him."

Leng Ningshuang did not speak; she just lowered her head, looking at her hand being held by Shen Biyun.

That hand was very white, very slender, like a piece of jade.

But at this moment, it was like a stone, without temperature, without life.

Shen Biyun let go of her hand, turned to the Grand Elder, and said: "Fellow Daoist, go and bring your people from the Hehuan Sect in. I will have someone arrange accommodations, and the wedding will be held tonight here at my Tianyan Sect."

The Grand Elder opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Leng Ningshuang's eyes as calm as water, he ultimately said nothing.

He nodded and turned to walk out.

His back was hunched, as if he had aged ten years all at once.

His footsteps were very heavy; every step he took felt like treading on the tip of a blade.

The hall doors closed, leaving only Shen Biyun, Shen Ao, and Leng Ningshuang inside.

Shen Biyun looked at Leng Ningshuang and smiled: "You go and rest first. Ao, take Leng Ningshuang to the guest room."

Shen Ao nodded, walked to Leng Ningshuang, and said in a low voice: "Ningshuang, come with me."

Leng Ningshuang did not speak; she silently followed him out.

The two walked along the corridor, neither of them speaking.

Sunlight shone in through the lattice windows of the corridor, casting mottled light and shadows on the ground.

The corridor was very long and winding, leading to who knew where.

Shen Ao walked in front, and Leng Ningshuang followed behind, one after the other, maintaining a distance of a few steps.

Shen Ao turned back to look at her several times, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back.

He dared not speak; he was afraid that if he did, Leng Ningshuang would cry.

He did not want to see her cry.

He only wanted her to know that he would treat her well and take care of her for his whole life.

But he did not know how to bring it up.

Leng Ningshuang followed behind him, lowering her head and looking at her own toes.

In her heart at this moment, there was only one thought—as long as her fellow Disciples of the Hehuan Sect could be safe, whatever she did was worth it.

Marrying Shen Ao, although unwilling, at least gave the Hehuan Sect a place to settle.

Her Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters would no longer have to sleep in the open, no longer have to be hunted, and no longer have to live in fear.

They could Cultivate with peace of mind, could slowly restore their strength, and could wait for the Sect Master and their Master to return.

She sacrificed herself to exchange for the safety of over three hundred people.

This was a profitable trade.

Leng Ningshuang raised her head, looking at Shen Ao's back in front, the corners of her mouth slightly lifting to reveal a bitter smile.

She did not know what the future would hold, but she knew that she had no way back.