I accidentally Married the Leader of the Noble Path

He ShiJian led a few of his trusted lackeys to the Qin family’s backyard. Upon seeing the lush, verdant medicinal field before him, he was somewhat surprised.

Just a few days ago, it hadn’t been like this—most of it had been seedlings. How had it grown to such a scale in such a short time?

He ShiJian’s eyes were particularly drawn to the section in the middle of the field, cordoned off and glowing faintly. The herbs there appeared extraordinary.

These were clearly not ordinary medicinal plants.

A wave of greed washed over him. He thought it would be a waste to simply destroy this medicinal field without benefiting from it. It would be far better to claim these rare herbs for himself.

Having made up his mind, He ShiJian and his lackeys prepared to climb over the fence into the field.

Imagining these herbs soon belonging to him, He ShiJian couldn’t help but smirk in delight. His hatred for Qin Nan seemed to dissipate a little.

But as soon as they touched the fence, something unexpected happened.

A fierce gust of wind suddenly blew them backward, forcing them to stagger. Moments later, a bolt of lightning descended from the clear sky. Before they could react, it struck them.

In an instant, all of them collapsed to the ground, unable to move. Their hair was singed, and they lay there in utter misery.

…

Deep in the mountains, dozens of miles from NiuJiao Village.

Shangguan Rouyue sensed something amiss and turned toward the direction of the village.

“What’s wrong?” Qin Nan asked.

“Someone tried to break into the backyard’s herb field, but don’t worry—they’ve already been repelled by the formation,” Shangguan Rouyue replied.

“It must be that old fool He ShiJian. He thinks he’s clever, but did he really believe we wouldn’t anticipate him causing trouble while we were away? Serves him right,” Qin Nan sneered.

In truth, Shangguan Rouyue had long since laid down a series of intricate formations around the Qin family residence, especially the backyard herb field. After all, it was Qin Nan’s labor of love—how could it be left unprotected?

A few days ago, He ShiJian had tried to storm the Qin family estate with a group of people, which made them realize that the house could not remain defenseless.

Thus, the formations were set up.

Under normal circumstances, the formations would merely block intruders. But if the trespasser harbored malicious intent, they would trigger an attack.

Only those recognized by the formation’s master could freely enter and exit.

Since the formation had activated and repelled the intruder, it was clear the person had come with ill intent.

There could only be one culprit—He ShiJian.

Although He Qing was another possibility, his broken leg hadn’t yet healed, so it was unlikely he’d cause such trouble.

The two continued onward, putting the matter behind them.

Unknowingly, they arrived at a dense, verdant valley.

In the center was a crystal-clear lake that sparkled under the sunlight.

The scenery was stunning, and the spiritual energy in the area was abundant. It was an ideal spot.

If spiritual plants grew anywhere, it would be in a place like this.

Suddenly, two bestial roars echoed through the valley, sending a shiver down people’s spines and evoking an instinctive urge to retreat.

This was a form of intimidation innate to magical beasts. Any creature weaker than the beast would feel its oppressive effect, their movements sluggish.

However, Qin Nan and Shangguan Rouyue were unaffected.

In the distance, two spirit beasts were already charging toward them.

It seemed this valley was their territory, and they harbored intense hostility toward intruders.

The two beasts, both second-tier, resembled panthers. They accelerated rapidly, closing in on the pair.

As Qin Nan prepared to face them, Shangguan Rouyue stopped him, waving her hand to dispatch both beasts with ease.

Dealing with two spirit beasts at once was no small feat, especially since both were second-tier. For Qin Nan, who was only at the eighth stage of Body Refining Realm, it would have been a suicidal move.

Thus, Shangguan Rouyue intervened.

The two then searched the valley and found not just one but three spiritual plants.

In addition to the spiritual plants, there was also an abundance of medicinal herbs—a bountiful harvest.

They decided not to leave the valley immediately. It was peaceful, the scenery was beautiful, so they chose to rest for a while.

Qin Nan walked to the lake and filled a waterskin. After taking a sip, he found the water sweet and refreshing.

This lake must be fed by an underground spring—authentic mountain spring water.

After drinking his fill, he handed the waterskin to Shangguan Rouyue. She accepted it without hesitation, taking a sip and showing a contented expression.

The two sat down on the ground and enjoyed the food they had prepared before setting out. After their meal, they prepared to leave.

…

“Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

Suddenly, a figure descended from the sky, stepping onto a flying artifact with an impressive display. He stopped diagonally above them, radiating an air of authority.

The man appeared to be in his thirties, dressed in a purple robe with a goat-like beard and a jade crown on his head, exuding an extraordinary aura.

He studied them with a solemn expression, as if trying to uncover their secrets.

“We’re just ordinary villagers gathering herbs in the mountains,” Qin Nan replied.

“Ordinary villagers?” The man’s skeptical gaze intensified.

After all, there were no villages for dozens of miles around. This was a dense, perilous forest—not a place ordinary villagers would dare to enter.

Moreover, the pair—a teenage boy and a young woman—hardly looked capable of navigating such a dangerous area.

“Tell me the truth! Who are you, and what are you doing here? Don’t force me to take action!” the man demanded.

Qin Nan looked puzzled. He and his wife had done nothing to provoke this man. They had merely been gathering herbs and dealing with spirit beasts. Now, they’d coincidentally encountered a cultivator who was not only unreasonable but also on the verge of attacking them.

“Let’s see what you can do,” Shangguan Rouyue said coldly.

“So, you’re not ordinary villagers after all. Fine, I’ll show you my pow— Gah! What force is this?!”

Just as he was about to strike, the cultivator’s demeanor flipped. An invisible, immense pressure slammed him to the ground, leaving him sprawled out in an undignified “turtle pose,” his face buried in dirt.

He struggled to rise but found his back pinned by a crushing weight. Not only could he not stand, but he also struggled to breathe.

Though the man was clearly a skilled cultivator, he was utterly powerless against Shangguan Rouyue.

“Nothing special,” Shangguan RouYue said coldly.

“Mercy, Immortal! I was blind and offended you. Please forgive me!” the man pleaded, his voice trembling.

“Explain yourself. Why are you here, blocking our path and acting so aggressive? If you can’t give a satisfactory answer, you’ll face the consequences,” Shangguan Rouyue demanded.

“I’m a steward of the White Crane Sect. I was chasing a demonic cultivator and tracked him to this area. I’ve been searching for some time without success. When I saw you here in this remote mountain, I thought you might be accomplices of the demonic cultivator,” the man explained hurriedly.

“A demonic cultivator? And do you still think we’re accomplices?” Shangguan Rouyue asked.

“Of course not! An immortal like you could never be associated with such evil! If that were the case, I’d already be dead!” the man replied emphatically.