I accidentally Married the Leader of the Noble Path

The beasts residing in the mountains were startled by a surge of immense divine sense, sending them into a frenzy. Birds flapped their wings in panic, rising into the sky and fleeing in all directions.

“Found him,” Shangguan RouYue’s face lit up with joy.

Leaning forward, she darted away like an arrow, so swift she left no trace behind.

When Shangguan RouYue descended gracefully from the sky, her fluttering robes heralding her arrival, she was met by Qin Nan’s slightly surprised gaze.

“Did something happen in NiuJiao Village?” Qin Nan asked.

In his view, Shangguan RouYue must have hurried over to find him because something urgent had occurred.

The overwhelming spiritual energy that swept through the forest just moments ago was, of course, Shangguan RouYue’s doing. Qin Nan could sense her urgency.

“Nothing happened.” 

“Then why the rush?” 

“Was I rushing?” 

“Weren’t you?” 

She didn’t answer, instead carefully examining Qin Nan from head to toe. Seeing he wasn’t hurt, his arms and legs intact, she finally relaxed.

The unease that had lingered in her consciousness during her cultivation, like ice meeting the blazing sun, dissipated completely.

However, her gaze soon caught on Qin Nan’s tattered clothes. His sleeve was torn, and his pants were slashed as though by sharp claws. Her previously soothed brows knitted together again.

“Did you encounter danger?” she asked.

“Nothing serious, just a small incident,” Qin Nan said casually.

The truth was, he had faced real danger earlier. While gathering herbs, he had been attacked by an Iron-Hoofed Boar, a second-tier spirit beast. For someone of Qin Nan’s current strength, it was no easy opponent, especially with only a blunt dagger at his disposal.

Still, relying on his extensive combat experience, Qin Nan had managed to slay the boar. His torn clothes were evidence of the struggle.

This was the first time he’d encountered a second-tier spirit beast in the forest; previously, he’d only come across first-tier ones or ordinary animals.

Not wanting to reveal too much about his strength, Qin Nan downplayed the incident, claiming he had escaped from a leopard after a tough encounter.

Shangguan RouYue immediately stepped closer, her hands brushing over him to check for injuries. When she confirmed he was unharmed, her frown softened once more.

“From now on, call me when you plan to go herb-picking. The mountains are dangerous,” she said.

Her concern warmed Qin Nan’s heart, further solidifying his determination to marry her.

Without a doubt, Shangguan RouYue’s urgency stemmed from her worry for him. Though similar instances had occurred before, her care and concern never failed to move him.

She’s perfect, he thought, already behaving like a caring wife.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’ve told you, I’m not freeloading—I’ll protect you in return,” Shangguan RouYue clarified.

“I understand,” Qin Nan replied with a knowing smile.

To her, however, his expression was clearly one of teasing.

“Have you gathered enough herbs?” 

“Yes, thank you, my wifey, for your concern,” Qin Nan quipped.

“Who’s your wifey? Stop talking nonsense,” Shangguan RouYue gave him a sidelong glare.

“If you’re so worried about me, doesn’t that make you my wife?” Qin Nan teased further.

“Absolutely not. Stop it.” 

Seeing her flustered reaction, Qin Nan decided not to push his luck. Slowly but surely, he thought, there’s no need to rush. After all, she was already his destined wife in his eyes.

Despite her outward annoyance, Shangguan RouYue felt a flicker of panic. When Qin Nan had called her his wife just now, she had inexplicably felt happy—how utterly embarrassing.

Her centuries of cultivation couldn’t shield her from the charm of a single playful remark. She vowed to keep this moment a secret, especially from Qin Nan. If he ever found out, he’d likely call her “wifey” nonstop, day in and day out. That would be unbearable.

“Since you’ve gathered enough herbs, let’s head back,” she said, deliberately putting on a stern face.

“Of course, anything for my wifey.” 

“Stop calling me that!” she huffed.

“Alright, dear.” 

“…” Shangguan Rouyue smiled with her lips but not with her eyes, glaring at Qin Nan with a look that seemed to cut through him.

“Alright, Miss Shangguan , let’s go home,” Qin Nan relented with a cough.

Shangguan RouYue nodded and picked him up, soaring through the air toward NiuJiao Village.

Even as Qin Nan took advantage of the moment with subtle touches, Shangguan RouYue remained silent, pretending not to notice. As long as he didn’t go too far, she let it slide.

In fact, Qin Nan’s little actions were very inappropriate for any unmarried woman.

Allowing such liberties was unprecedented for someone as reserved and proud as Shangguan RouYue. In the past, even a casual touch from a man would have resulted in severe consequences.

Yet now, she tolerated Qin Nan’s antics, her patience seemingly boundless.

When they returned home, Qin Nan busied himself with the herbs while Shangguan RouYue prepared dinner. Over time, her natural intelligence had made her adept at household tasks, and her cooking, while not yet on par with Qin Nan’s, was nearly as good.

After dinner, the night deepened, accompanied by the chirping of insects. It was time to rest.

As Shangguan RouYue settled into bed, Qin Nan prepared to leave for the medicine room to sleep on his makeshift bedding. But just as he stepped out, a soft cough stopped him in his tracks.

Turning back, he saw Shangguan RouYue looking nonchalant. If he hadn’t heard the sound himself, he’d have thought he had imagined it.

She coughed, but it didn’t seem like it was because of phlegm in her throat. After all, having lived with her for half a month, he’d never seen her cough randomly before.

If it wasn’t a random cough, it meant she coughed on purpose—perhaps she had something to say to him?

But then why was she acting as if nothing had happened?

“Come sleep on the bed,” Shangguan RouYue said.

Qin Nan’s expression shifted from surprise to delight. He genuinely hadn’t expected Shangguan RouYue to take the initiative to invite him to bed.

Without hesitation, he eagerly trotted over, shedding his extra layers and climbing onto the bed with practiced ease.

But what left Qin Nan utterly speechless was that, after he got on the bed, Shangguan RouYue got off it. She walked to a nearby chair, sat cross-legged, and began meditating.

“This bed was originally yours. I’ve been making you sleep in the medicine room all this time, and I’m sorry for that. As a cultivator, I can meditate and don’t need a bed,” Shangguan RouYue said.

“…” Qin Nan was at a loss for words.

Wasn’t the whole point for them to share the bed? This sudden twist was too much for him to process.