All for the Fate - Chapter 24

“Marriage is a major life event! How can it be treated as child’s play!”

“How could I sell my marriage prospects for money?”

“No matter how difficult things get, I, Meng Ruji, will never sell my true heart!”

Cursing under her breath, Meng Ruji trudged from the forest to the market, finally stopping in front of a shabby little shop. A weather-beaten plaque hung above the door, its three characters boldly inscribed: “Yinyuan Hall.”

Mo Li had mentioned that if one wanted to marry in the Realm of No Retention, they needed to buy a marriage set from this very hall—a special paper and brush.

The paper bore the title “Marriage Certificate” along with endless terms and conditions. The brush was unique, crafted only for newlyweds here. It could be used just once. Once both names were written, the brush would vanish, but the Realm would remember them forever—two names bound as husband and wife, sharing life and death, fortune and misfortune, honor and shame.

But staring at the half-decayed plaque of Yinyuan Hall, Meng Ruji could already guess—who here still cared about love and marriage? Most people in this realm had “died” once before. After such an ending, who would still waste effort on romance?

Better to fight alone than to share hunger and hardship.

Unless… you married someone to help earn money.

Meng Ruji folded her arms, pacing back and forth in front of the hall. Her thoughts were all over the place:

Did she really need to go this far?

She had lived for over a thousand years if she counted those eight hundred years of slumber. In the mortal world, she would have been labeled an “old immortal.” And yet, after coming to this forsaken place, she had endured hunger, humiliating labor, even prison. Now, at this age, she was about to resort to marriage fraud?

A mighty Demon Lord reduced to this—who would believe it if word spread?

Still, by the time her inner complaints finished, she somehow already had the marriage paper and brush in her hands.

No one had forced her. No one had threatened her. And yet she had walked in and bought them anyway.

People always chose what was best for themselves, even if they denied it out loud.

“So be it!” she muttered. “I’ll take it back. I’ll make that little fool Mu Sui sign it!”

Her conscience protested faintly, but she silenced it. If Mu Sui regained his memories, she would gain nothing, and she would still be stuck scraping coins together. By the time she saved a thousand gold, who knew if Hengxu Mountain would still exist? Worse—Mu Sui might kill her the moment he remembered everything.

Better to secure her future now.

Financial stability meant spiritual stability. If Mu Sui ever turned on her, at least she’d have power to defend herself.

She clenched her jaw. He had to sign.

Still, her heart twisted uneasily. At her age, deceiving a young man’s feelings… Even if she’d tricked him before, that had been about her Inner Core, which was rightfully hers. This, though, was different.

Her eyes fell on the ten copper coins left in her pocket. She decided she’d buy Mu Sui something nice from the market. If they were to be “married,” at least he should eat well.

At a noodle stall, Meng Ruji ordered dry noodles to take back. The stall owner, pleased she didn’t want them cooked, gave her a better deal.

While waiting, a timid voice called:

“Sister Ruji.”

She turned to find Miaomiao, who fumbled out five copper coins. “Here, I’m returning these to you. Yesterday you gave me money to buy something before I went to find Young Master Mu Sui. I… I didn’t buy it, so here.”

Meng Ruji blinked, then chuckled. She only took four, pressing one back into Miaomiao’s palm. “You still went for me. Take this as a thank-you.”

Miaomiao hesitated, then asked softly: “Sister Ruji… do you think Young Master Mu Sui treats you well?”

The question startled her. Meng Ruji thought for a moment, then smiled. “At first, not really. But now… yes, he’s quite good. He looks fierce, but his heart’s soft.”

Miaomiao forced a smile, nodding stiffly. “As long as he treats you well.”

Before Meng Ruji could wonder at her strange tone, the stall owner continued wrapping noodles. She waited patiently—until suddenly, a hand reached over her shoulder.

Her body stiffened, eyes flashing sharp. Fingers curled around a coin like a weapon. But she sensed no killing intent, so she turned slowly.

Behind her stood three men in identical gray robes, swords at their waists. Each sheath bore two carved characters: “Linlan.”

Sect disciples.

Meng Ruji arched a brow. She hadn’t expected organized sects here. Then again, the Realm had government offices, bandit lairs, even cities. Why not sects?

The disciples didn’t bother with pleasantries. One demanded: “What martial arts have you learned? How do you make your living here?”

Meng Ruji laughed coldly, brushing off the hand on her shoulder. “What business is that of yours?”

Another disciple unsheathed his sword halfway, showing the engraved Linlan characters. “Linlan Mountain is investigating. Cooperate.”

Miaomiao panicked and tugged Meng Ruji aside, whispering: “Don’t provoke them. They’re powerful, like Zhuliu City. We can’t afford to offend them.”

Meng Ruji narrowed her eyes but held her tongue. She answered mildly: “I’ve practiced some martial arts. Usually, I just do odd jobs to survive. Why? Did I break some law here?”

“Where were you yesterday?”

“At the market.”

“You never left?”

“I delivered something.”

“To where?”

“The outskirts.”

She mixed truth with lies. Best not to mention the corpse Mu Sui had left yesterday.

“Where exactly? Who received it?”

Meng Ruji smiled. “Gentlemen, you ask too much. Surely you don’t expect me to betray my clients’ privacy?”

The leader’s eyes hardened, blade sliding free in a hiss. Gasps spread through the marketplace. Miaomiao paled.

But Meng Ruji didn’t flinch. The protective stone at her waist gave a faint pulse, as if asking, Do you need me? She pressed it down. Not yet.

Calmly, she said: “A wooden hut in the outskirts. A young man with weak legs. I brought him copper, iron, and wood—very heavy.”

The three exchanged glances. Her words were slippery, neither fully true nor false.

At last, the leader sheathed his sword. “Don’t wander for the next two days. We’ll verify your claims.”

“Of course.” Meng Ruji smiled sweetly. “But if you’re hunting someone dangerous and there’s a reward, do let me know. I meet plenty of people doing odd jobs.”

“This is none of your concern.”

With that, they left, dragging another man into questioning.

Meng Ruji exhaled, muttering: “Strange lot. Must be chasing someone big.”

The noodle seller leaned closer, voice hushed. “Word is, the northern bandit den was wiped out yesterday. One person against hundreds—blood everywhere. Arrows killing men from a thousand zhang away!”

Meng Ruji’s brows rose. “…Sounds exaggerated. How much did this hero earn?”

“Who knows.”

Miaomiao edged close again, whispering: “But the bandit chief was sworn brother to Linlan’s master. That’s why the officials ignored them for years. Linlan Mountain was shielding them.”

Meng Ruji’s lips quirked. “So the hero who cleared them out… has offended the wrong people.”

She felt no guilt. At least this time, she hadn’t earned money—but she hadn’t made enemies either.

For now, that was enough.