Note: This chapter was posted for April 1st 2024. Non-canon chapter just for fun.

Feel free to read or skip at your leisure.

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After finishing all my pills for the day, I left the workshop and headed home.

“Jiao,” I said upon entering, “How was your day?”

“Ugh, same as every other,” she said. “There’s a new guy in the outer sect that keeps causing problems. No matter what happens, he just keeps shouting at people to kneel.”

I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “It will get better,” I said. “He just needs some time to calm down.”

She shook her head at that. “It wouldn’t be so bad if it was just a normal disciple, but he is a Hu, so we can’t do anything about it.”

There was nothing I could say to that, so I decided to just change the subject.

“So, I think I want to take a short trip this weekend,” I said.

“Oh? You’re getting out of the sect? Where are you going to go?”

“I want to go back to Dragon Gate City for a couple of days. WuJing and Mei were the ones who suggested I join the sect, so I just wanted to visit and thank them for their advice.”

“Who is Mei?” she asked in a strange inflection.

“Oh, she’s one of the attendants at the Blue Wind Pavilion. She’s a beautiful girl with long, flowing hair and bright red lips. Her blessing makes her amazing, too. She always knows just what to say,” I said, thinking back to my short time in the Pavilion.

“Really?” said Jiao with a sharp tone, “she sounds nice. And you are going there to see her?”

As she spoke, Jiao walked over to where I was standing.

“Yeah, it’s been a while since we have seen each other, and I would like to reconnect, ya know?”

“That sounds great,” said Jiao with a flat expression. “Just one thing.”

Before I knew what was happening, Jiao punched out and hit me directly in the chest. Her strength was immense. Her fist went directly through my ribcage and exploded my heart.

“Have a good time on your journey,” she said.

You have died. Calculating…

You died as a Marital Disciple 1. 10 credits awarded.

Total Credits: 10

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My eyes opened.

I was standing in front of a large crowd and Jiao was next to me. We were both wearing bright red and gold robes. Jiao’s hair was done up in an elaborate bun with jade and gold ornaments. In the crowd were various elders from the sect, and even Sect Master Tan had shown up.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

While I was trying to get my balance, she took my hand and led me to a chamber at the side of the large hall we had been standing in.

After we entered, Jiao reached up and kissed me.

“Husband,” she said with a soft smile.

“Uh… Jiao… did you just kill me?” I said, trying to get my balance.

“What?” she said with a shocked expression, “Why would I kill you? What are you talking about?”

“It’s just, I thought, we were talking and I said I was going to go visit Mei for a few days and you killed me,” I said in a bit of a daze.

“Who is Mei?”

“She’s the beautiful attendant at the Blue Wind Pavilion. I was just going to visit her for a few days when you killed me, right?”

“I see…” said Jiao, “was it something like this?”

She punched me in the chest. My heart exploded.

You have died. Calculating…

You died as a Marital Disciple 1. 10 credits awarded.

Total Credits: 20

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As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Jiao.

“What the hell?” I shouted. “Why are you killing me just for saying I want to visit Mei?”

The entire hall fell silent. The dozens of guests stared at me.

“Who is Mei?” said Jiao in an icy voice.

…

You have died. Calculating…

You died as a Marital Disciple 1. 10 credits awarded.

Total Credits: 30

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When I woke up, I stayed quiet, and kept my speech perfunctory until I could find a moment alone. While the wedding reception was still going on, I ducked into a small room by myself.

Something was wrong, and I didn’t know what. For some reason, Jiao just suddenly became murderous sometimes. I needed help, but there was only one place I knew I could go.

“System,” I said quietly, “I need to buy information. I want to understand Jiao’s actions.”

The cost is not possible to calculate at this time.

“Fine. Just, why did she kill me?”

The cost is not possible to calculate at this time.

So, I couldn’t buy the information I needed. Was there another way to approach this problem?

“System, I want to raise my affinity.”

Permanent Low, 9-star Marital Affinity. Cost 100 credits.

I could just buy the temporary one for cheaper, but it would be best if I bought the permanent version. That way, even if I made a mistake, I wouldn’t be out the cost. I just needed to gather some credits first.

I walked back into the reception room and found Jiao. She was talking with a few of her friends. I decided to just walk up and join the conversation.

“Hey husband, welcome back,” she said happily. “We were just talking about you, where’ve you been?”

I set myself for what was about to happen. “Yeah,” I said, “I was just in the other room thinking about Mei. Have I ever told you about her?”

The expression on Jiao’s face dropped in an instant. “Who’s Mei?”

…

You have died. Calculating…

You died as a Marital Disciple 1. 10 credits awarded.

Total Credits: 40

“Jiao,” I said when I revived at the altar, “about Mei…”

You have died. Calculating…

…

You have died. Calculating…

You died as a Marital Disciple 1. 10 credits awarded.

Total Credits: 100

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“System,” I said short of breath. Constant deaths were draining. A single death wasn’t a problem, but I think the constant torture damaged my soul.

“System, raise my affinity.”

Permanent Low, 9-star Marital Affinity. Confirmed. Cost 100 credits. 0 credits remaining.

Information flooded into my brain.

“Oh…OH!” I said as things began to click into place. “Oh no…”

I hurried out of the small room I had secluded myself in and rushed into the reception.

I saw Jiao talking with her friends, but I didn’t hesitate. I reached out to her shoulder and turned her to face me.

“Jiao,” I said solemnly. “I just want to say, I’m sorry about Mei.”

She blinked at me and then smiled sweetly. “Husband, who is Mei?”

…

You have died.