Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’ Chapter 726: Ice Block: "Mother..."

The night grew heavy. A damp breeze followed the rain, carrying the crisp fragrance of soil. Moonlight pierced through the fading mist that draped the silent mountains after the downpour.

Li Mo returned to the Autumn Water Pavilion, accompanied by his Left and Right Protectors and two attendants. Those attendants... or rather, Elder Qian and Elder Xue, did not linger long. After arriving, they departed quickly to deliver their report to Sect Master Shangguan.

"Safe travels, Elders."

Li Mo dismissed them with a wave, shut the door, and turned his attention toward his two Protectors.

"You two certainly play the part of Demonic Cult members with great professionalism."

"Ahem, Little Mo, your performance as the 'Upper Immortal' was quite the spectacle itself. Had you been born a few millennia sooner, I might have been forced to abdicate my position as Cult Leader to you."

Qin Yuzhi, the former head of the Summoning Demonic Cult, gazed at the moon with a look of feigned remorse.

"What was that scheme you mentioned before? Whose side are you actually on?"

"We are on your side, naturally. It was merely a spontaneous thought."

Li Mo nodded before turning to Shang Qinqing: "Then why did Clan Leader Shang inform me that you’ve been plotting this for quite some time?"

"Exactly! It is all her doing. She is the one who brings it up every single day."

Without hesitation, Qin Yuzhi sold out her partner.

"......"

Shang Qinqing’s eyes widened in shock. After a brief pause, she rolled her eyes and countered:

"Fine, I do wish to see some chaos and casualties, but I recognize what is important. That display earlier was purely to lower the guard of those from the Summoning Demonic Cult. Furthermore, if the medicine was in the drink, you had the choice not to consume it, didn't you?"

"I suppose that's true, I could have just avoided drinking... Wait?"

Li Mo trailed off, questioning if he had heard her correctly.

Knowing there was a drug involved and still going through with it—was that even right?

"Honestly, shipping the two of you has nearly pushed me back into the Seventh Realm."

Shang Qinqing gestured broadly. "If you two actually finalized the marriage, I might reach mastery over the Profound instantly. At that point, a trivial Summoning Demonic Cult wouldn't even require your intervention. Everyone wins."

"Hey, boss, you're quick to judge us, but do you consider yourself a man of virtue?"

"Naturally. Is there anyone across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths who doesn't recognize the prestige of the top ranker on the Jade Tree and Orchid List?"

Young Master Li assumed a look of profound wisdom, staring at the stars at a sharp forty-five-degree angle.

He appeared to have forgotten entirely how much that ranking had been inflated by certain obsessive fans.

"Then explain why Little Bing’er was secretly scrubbing laundry this morning? She is obsessed with neatness; she rarely gets her garments stained."

"Well... if Elder Xu, a powerful Physical Body Realm expert, can spill his tea, is it so odd if... the ice block and I... failed to keep the cup steady while we drank?"

Young Master Li stole a glance toward the upper floor.

Luckily, the ice block wasn't observing them.

Shang Qinqing teased: "Tsk tsk... My word... 'failed to keep the cup steady' while drinking tea, was it?"

Qin Yuzhi added: "Pfft... I am heading to bed."

They usually maintained their composure, unless the urge to laugh became unbearable.

The Dark Earth Upper Immortal, who had remained perfectly calm while facing the Deputy Leaders of the Summoning Demonic Cult, was now acting evasive over a simple question about laundry.

Watching them walk away, Li Mo opened his mouth to speak but found no rebuttal. Perhaps it was the law of balance—having spent too much time being restless at night—his tongue simply lacked its usual sharpness now.

Sleep would likely elude him again tonight.

Li Mo headed to the kitchen to prepare a midnight snack, soothing his eternally hungry Inner World. After finishing his daily Cultivation, he realized dawn had arrived without him noticing.

"Why is there such a commotion outside?"

The morning light from the three suns was piercing. Li Mo shielded his eyes by habit.

However, when he lowered his gaze to the courtyard, he froze in surprise.

Qin Yuzhi was busy commanding a group of Clear Abyss Sect disciples. They were decorating the space with festive lanterns and silk streamers, arranging tables and chairs with haste.

Even Senior Brother Ouyang was present. He finished painting a wooden sign, placed it by the entrance, and gave a satisfied nod.

Li Mo couldn't see the specific names, but the phrases "a union for a century" and "joyously binding the knot" were unmistakable.

The scene felt hauntingly similar to a vision from a dream, giving it a surreal quality.

"Who is the wedding for?"

Li Mo asked the question before the realization hit him, leaving his expression dazed.

Within the entire Clear Abyss Sect, what other Li and Ying could possibly be paired together?

In the blink of an eye, his status was about to change so rapidly he could barely wrap his head around it.

Hold on.

This scale... is this merely an engagement feast?

Li Mo cleared his throat softly. As he moved to assist, he mused that his ice block likely knew nothing of such traditions; after all, she had never even seen a pig run, so to speak.

But he had forgotten—while Ying Bing might be clueless, the Autumn Water Pavilion currently housed a deity who specialized in the marriages and unions of the Great Shang.

In the attic room.

Ying Bing had been roused early by the noise. She sat on the edge of her bed, hugging her knees with a bewildered look, still caught in the fog of sleep.

"You're finally awake, Little Bing’er. Come and help me write these."

Shang Qinqing passed her several piles of red paper.

"Write what?"

Ying Bing’s long legs were tucked beside her on the couch. She nodded and set up a small writing table.

"Wedding invitations."

"?"

Shang Qinqing sat across from her, chattering away while she decorated the room.

"After all these years, I finally get to organize an engagement banquet again!"

"You manage engagements as well?"

"Weddings, engagements—they are practically the same thing. It is only logical that my authority covers both."

Shang Qinqing’s reasoning was flawed, but her confidence was absolute.

Ying Bing was momentarily stunned. However, given Clan Leader Shang’s immense status and her own lack of knowledge regarding these customs, she chose not to argue.

"What is required for an engagement?"

"First, the bride’s maternal family prepares the dowry. Surrounded by her kin, she waits for the groom to collect her. Then comes the bridal sedan, stepping over the fire basin..."

"......"

Ying Bing listened for a long moment, her eyes casting downward. Her fingers tightened slightly around the brush.

But she no longer had a maternal family.

She had become accustomed to her solitude long ago.

Even before joining the Clear Abyss Sect, back in Qinghe County, people would whisper about her past and the sudden disappearance of the Ying family. Even the servants in the Li Manor would look at her with pity.

Whenever she felt those looks, she would act as though she hadn't noticed.

Perhaps she couldn't face the truth, or perhaps she refused to show weakness—maybe it was both. It was her armor against the world.

Eventually, her cold, moon-like aura discouraged anyone from speaking to her, let alone bothering her.

Except for a certain immature brat from Qinghe County who remained a nuisance to this day...

In short, she had eventually stopped caring about where she came from.

But now, there was no one to arrange her dowry, no one to style her hair or apply her makeup, and no one to walk her to that childish devil...

"Clan Leader Shang, please act as my maternal family."

Ying Bing suddenly looked up and requested.

"I would love to, but I cannot compete with them. I shall serve as the master of ceremonies instead."

"Cannot compete?"

As she spoke, the sound of footsteps echoed at the door once more.

Ying Bing looked over in confusion to find Gu Xueqin and Li Dalong entering, laden with various packages. They met her gaze with warm, gentle smiles.

Shang Qinqing smirked and said, "See? Your maternal family has arrived."