Chapter 209

Chapter 209: Sisters

Lin Xin’s wedding was set on a sunny day.

On this day, the entire Zhou Garden was decorated with lanterns and ribbons, bustling with activity.

Zhou Luo did not like making such a big commotion, but he couldn’t resist the enthusiasm of his Father-in-law, who was an elder managing the family’s logistics and handled the arrangements smoothly.

The vast Zhou Garden was adorned with colorful streamers and red cloths, conspicuous "Double Happiness" characters were pasted on the doors and windows, and various talismans emitted colorful lights, creating a magnificent scene.

Guests were seated in the large open area in front of the main building of Zhou Garden; everyone had already taken their places and were clinking glasses while chatting animatedly.

Inside the main building, the main family’s direct descendants and relatives like Lin Zhi Shou gathered in a circle, engaging in lively discussions.

As the groom, Zhou Luo sat in the room, obediently allowing his wife Lin Xi to apply "makeup" to him.

"Actually, this is quite good," he said with resignation.

He thought to himself that after all, he had come to a cultivation world, why were the wedding rules so numerous?

So much so that he hadn’t gotten used to it even after marrying three times.

Lin Xi chuckled lightly and said, "That simply won’t do. Third Sister’s status is different, so it must be more grand."

Lin Xin’s status had always been higher than Lin Xi’s, and she was extremely cherished by the family head.

Originally, according to the family’s arrangement, she was to enter the Qinyuan Sect for cultivation in the future.

But later, because Zhou Luo became Lin Zhi Shou’s disciple, the main family had to position her to compete with him.

Unexpectedly, through a twist of fate, the two rivals became husband and wife.

From this, it was clear that the main family wanted to tie Zhou Luo to them completely, hence marrying off two of their direct descendants in succession.

This matter also prompted much envy and resentment among others.

Especially among the youths from long-life families who had been longing to marry Lin Xin.

Normally, marriages between two long-life families were the most sustainable strategy, benefiting family growth and strengthening both sides’ authority within their lineages.

But this Zhou Luo, clearly an outsider, had married the Fifth Miss already, and now he was even marrying the Third Young Lady – how had all the good fortune favored him alone?

This was actually something the Lin Family had weighed carefully.

As the saying goes, keep the benefits within one’s own community.

A woman married off was like water spilled – no matter how devoted she felt to her natal family, she counted as an outsider.

But marriage to Zhou Luo was different: both Lin Xin and Lin Xi could remain with the Lin Family to continue cultivating and growing.

After considering all aspects, the main family choosing Zhou Luo as their son-in-law was perfectly reasonable.

"The bride has arrived!"

Just as they spoke, a robust voice called from outside.

Lin Xi smiled faintly and said, "Alright, let’s head downstairs."

Zhou Luo, dressed in his groom attire, shrugged his shoulders and walked toward the stairs below.

In the main hall of the main building, Lin Xin’s parents sat to the right of the head seat, while Family Head Lin Tian Xiong sat to the left.

A round table stood in the center, with two large red candles on it…

Zhou Luo emerged from the side just as the bride stepped lightly onto the red cloth spread on the ground, moving with delicate grace into the hall.

On both sides, guests with closer ties lifted their heads to look, smiling on their faces.

With the newlyweds present, it was naturally time to perform the ceremonial bow to heaven and earth.

After the ceremony, Lin Ze offered the customary words of instruction, then produced a storage bag to hand over as a gift.

Family Head Lin Tian Xiong sat upright in his round-backed armchair, composed as he delivered a few words of exhortation. He too took out a storage bag.

"Escort them to the bridal chamber!"

A loud cry announced their official union as husband and wife.

Lin Xin returned to the room, while Zhou Luo began to attend to the guests.

Inside the room, Lin Xin, veiled by the large, red bridal scarf, wrinkled her nose slightly, feeling a sense of discomfort.

She simply lifted the red scarf off her head.

This scene coincided with Lin Xi stepping into the room. The two sisters stared at each other in shock, rendered motionless.

Originally, Lin Xi had come to keep her older sister company, worried she might be bored, and also hoping to glean her thoughts about their other sisters.

She never expected to see this.

"Cough, cough, just not used to it," Lin Xin said awkwardly.

Lin Xi smiled slightly, saying nothing.

However, remembering the usual cold and proud demeanor of her Third Sister, her own movements became somewhat reserved.

"Third Sister, tea," she offered, handing over a cup of spirit tea.

Lin Xin observed her blood sister, puzzled. "You’re scared of me?"

"How could that be?" Lin Xi replied with an embarrassed smile.

Of course she was.

As a child, she would pester her Third Sister every day, trying to talk to her.

But the other was always aloof, dismissive, and had even sternly warned her to stop following her around.

This had left Lin Xi with childhood shadows, and ever since, she hadn’t had a single truly close friend.

Until she met Zhou Luo.

Exactly because they stopped interacting, Lin Xi grew less and less familiar with her Third Sister. What she knew came solely from snippets overheard from servants.

In her eyes, this Third Sister was cold in her personality, easily angered, often yelling at and hitting the servants, acting recklessly—she simply wasn’t a "good" person.

That was why she harboured fear towards her.

Seeing her sister’s expression, Lin Xin accepted the spirit tea with a sigh. "Back in our childhood, I didn’t like you clinging to me everyday because I wanted you to focus on your cultivation. I wished for you to gain the family’s esteem later on."

"For people like us in the family, without strength, even as direct bloodline descendants, we end up merely as sacrifices."

"Thankfully, you eventually started concentrating on cultivation. Though both of us sisters still couldn’t escape the family’s arrangements, at least we gained some ability ito push back, ensuring we weren’t completely powerless."

Lin Xin’s words stunned Lin Xi momentarily.

She hadn’t expected that to be the reason. Unable to resist, she asked, "Third Sister, why didn’t you explain this to me back then?"

"Didn’t I?" Lin Xin arched an eyebrow, sounding exasperated. "You were like sticky candy back then, impossible to shake off. Pleasant words had no effect at all. What else could I have done?"

Lin Xi laughed uncomfortably.

She admittedly was exactly like that.

Recalling what her sister had just shared, Lin Xi finally realized this older sister truly did wish her wellbeing.

Though her methods seemed somewhat harsh.

"And… what about the yelling at and hitting the servants?" Lin Xi thought of the rumours and inquired cautiously.

Lin Xin took a sip of spirit tea, her expression stern as she retorted, "Servants intent on shirking work and being deceitful—don’t they deserve to be punished?"

Her childhood had actually not been as comfortable as imagined.

Realizing early that strength was paramount, she had dedicated herself to cultivation, meditating diligently every single day since beginning her practice. Consequently, she neglected managing the servants.

Only later did she discover that these usually respectful people, taking advantage of her focus on cultivation, not only loafed off but even stole things from her courtyard.

They assumed the young Lin Xin was oblivious.

But how could the prematurely mature Lin Xin not notice.

Naturally, harsh scolding and punishment followed.

Faced with a group of servants kneeling and pleading for mercy, Lin Xin ultimately chose not to report them to her father.

According to family rules, they all would have been executed.

After disciplining them, she expelled them and reassigned them to serve other family members.

Later, she was incensed to discover they had twisted the facts, shifting the blame onto her.

Furious upon learning this, Lin Xin hauled them out and had them put to death on the spot.

Ever since, she felt profound disgust towards these lowly individuals.

In her view, the pitiable always had their hateful flaws. Rather than appearing gentle and inviting victimization, it was far better to remain cold and detached, avoiding such distasteful affairs entirely.

…