Translator: She.Wee

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Chapter 97: The Grand Wedding

The wedding procession would pass by other sects on their journey.

Upon hearing news of the wedding ceremony, sects that wished to extend their blessings to the Qingze Sect and the Hehuan Sect would hang red lanterns at their gates, light spiritual fires, and have their disciples attend the banquet at the Qingze Sect.

Uninvited cultivators and merchants would gather along the roadside to watch, similar to the grand spectacle during the Thousand Sect Gathering, and would bow in respect as the procession passed.

This was the first time Yi Qianxi had witnessed such a grand event, and she was filled with amazement. Among those accompanying them were over thirty Nascent Soul cultivators, most of whom were from the Qingze Sect, here to welcome the bride. A few were close friends of Xi Lin. The grandeur of the occasion was undeniable, and the entire procession exuded an overwhelming sense of power and prestige.

Her flying artifact was positioned toward the back of the procession, preventing her from fully appreciating the magnificence of the scene. However, even from her position, she could feel the impact.

This realization brought her great joy, as she felt reassured that her junior brother was not being mistreated.

Chi Muyao cautiously held onto the red string throughout the journey, fearing that it might slip from his grasp, which would be considered inauspicious. Listening to the tinkling sound of bells, he occasionally glanced at the young man in wedding attire, seated slightly ahead of him.

The man was tall, with broad shoulders. Riding the spiritual beast caused his body to sway slightly, reminding Chi Muyao of the flickering firelight in a room, creating a romantic and intimate atmosphere, where that body had also swayed so gently.

Unconsciously, his cheeks flushed.

Sensing Chi Muyao’s gaze, the man turned to look at him. Despite the cold and even fierce expression on his face, a gentle smile appeared.

With just one glance, they could see the joy in each other’s eyes, exchanged a knowing smile, and then fell silent.

He looked at him.

He also looked at him.

On this day, Chi Muyao tied up the man’s hair with a jade crown, built a home amidst the chaos of the world, admired the vast landscapes, and ignited colorful fireworks.

To shield him from the wind, to protect him from the rain, they would gently strum their instruments side by side.

The wedding procession began in the afternoon, continued until the sky was filled with the rosy glow of sunset, and then into the evening when the stars arranged themselves in the sky like generals preparing for battle.

In a single day, they had not only admired the beautiful scenery but had also allowed the demonic cultivators to witness their grand wedding.

The procession finally arrived at the Yunwai Tian Mountain Range. They parted the clouds to reveal the warm and verdant peaks, continuing their journey through the night.

At night, the procession used illuminating artifacts, all casting a unified red light, accompanied by a type of blue-green firefly.

It was around this time that people noticed a group of Green Underworld Streamfire  Fireflies circling around Chi Muyao’s flying artifact, following them as they flew.

A plump oriole landed on the top of the artifact, occasionally glancing at the Green Underworld Streamfire  Fireflies but not attacking them.

Before the journey, Chi Muyao had worried that the oriole, QiuQiu, might attack the Green Underworld Streamfire  Fireflies, so he had fed QiuQiu until it was too full to fly. Now, QiuQiu was unusually well-behaved.

The lights were accompanied by the Green Underworld Streamfire  Fireflies.

As the procession passed through the forest, a dazzling ribbon of light illuminated the silent woods.

A cultivator who had been observing them hurried back to the Qingze Sect to report the news. The gates of the Qingze Sect were flung open, welcoming them inside.

In front of the Qingze Sect was a majestic staircase, and as one looked up, the towering structures of the sect seemed to reach the heavens.

At this moment, the place was ablaze with lights, filled with carriages and horses, creating an especially lively atmosphere.

The cultivators who had been waiting at the Qingze Sect all rose, eager to witness the two main characters enter the sect.

Xi Huai led Chi Muyao down from the flying artifact, holding onto the red string. After taking a few steps, they saw Si Ruoyu already waiting for them.

With Si Ruoyu in the lead, the two newlyweds followed, along with other disciples of the Hehuan Sect, Yi Qianxi, the Azure Fox Ancestor, and others as they entered the gates of the Qingze Sect.

“Oh, they’re here!”

“What are those? Fireflies?”

“Green Underworld Streamfire  Fireflies! Those are Green Underworld Streamfire  Fireflies, and they’ve actually recognized a master?”

The Green Underworld Streamfire  Fireflies hovered around the two newlyweds, not attacking but following.

This made it seem as though the couple was surrounded by glowing lights, and with their celestial appearance, combined with the wedding decorations around them, the scene looked like something out of a dream.

The crisp sound of bells rang out, playing a beautiful melody.

Their sleeves were lifted by the wind, giving them the appearance of immortals descending to the world.

Under the gaze of everyone, the two were led by Si Ruoyu to the main hall of the Qingze Sect.

Behind Guannan Tianzun stood his disciples, with Hao Xia and Yi Lan standing beside him, trembling slightly.

Guannan Tianzun’s gaze fell on Si Ruoyu. Seeing her dressed in pink, with her chin slightly raised, exuding confidence and composure, he realized she was entirely different from the gentle and virtuous woman she had appeared to be at the Nuan Yan Pavilion.

It seemed that this version of Si Ruoyu was even more dazzling, causing his gaze to deepen.

Yu Yanshu first looked at the newlyweds, then quickly turned his attention to Si Ruoyu. Hesitating, he glanced at Guannan Tianzun, then quickly averted his eyes, fearing that his curiosity would anger his master.

Xi Zihe was similarly anxious, worried that his master would suddenly lose his temper upon seeing Si Ruoyu and try to snatch her away.

Yi Lan and Hao Xia were frightened, too. So many demonic cultivators had gathered here—if a fight broke out, Guannan Tianzun and another elder might not be able to win…

After a moment of trembling, they saw Chi Muyao glance at them, and they calmed down again.

Hao Xia muttered, “What are we afraid of? He’s here.”

Yi Lan nodded in agreement. “Right, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble on his wedding day.”

The head of Zunyue Palace, who was acting as the master of ceremonies, announced loudly after the two newlyweds were in place, “Let the Dao Companions release the bells.”

A disciple at the Golden Core stage approached them with a tray. The two of them simultaneously lifted their arms and placed the red string with the bells onto the tray.

The red string symbolized their bond, while the bells served to notify and declare their union. Ringing the bells was like drawing everyone’s attention: “Look here, we’re together.”

Releasing the bells at this moment symbolized that the bond between these Dao Companions would be sealed in this place, which would also become their future home.

The red string would later be hung in the Hall of Bonds within the Qingze Sect.

“Dao Companions, offer tea,” the head of Zunyue Palace announced the second step of the ceremony.

Chi Muyao and Xi Huai simultaneously picked up the tea cups and offered tea to Si Ruoyu and Xi Lin.

“Master Ancestor, please have some tea.”

“Father, please have some tea.”

During the Dao Companion ceremony, if the parents were alive, the couple would offer tea to them, and the master would also receive tea.

Chi Muyao and Xi Huai were in a special situation. Chi Muyao’s parents had passed away, and his master had also perished, so he could only offer tea to his Master Ancestor.

Xi Huai had no master, as his father had taught him everything, and his mother had passed away. At this moment, only Xi Lin sat before them.

This meant that there were only two people to receive the tea.

The others didn’t mind, but it was only Guannan Tianzun who found the scene somewhat unpleasant, even pursing his lips in displeasure.

Soon, the third step arrived: “Mutual Recognition of Dao Companions.”

This is the process where Dao companions bind their spiritual consciousness to each other. After binding, they can sense the state of their Dao companion, including their anger or sadness.

When their minds become truly attuned, this ability strengthens further. They can sense if their Dao companion is injured or how much spiritual energy they’ve expended. If they perceive their companion is in danger, they can use this bond to locate and rescue them.

However, Dao companions who reach this level of attunement are extremely rare in the cultivation world.

As Chi Muyao raised his hand, he saw Xi Huai slightly bow his head and lightly touch his forehead.

After he finished, Xi Huai also touched his forehead.

Due to the stimulation of his spiritual consciousness, Chi Muyao’s antlers suddenly appeared uncontrollably, almost poking Xi Huai, who was startled and stood upright.

Chi Muyao quickly retracted his antlers, looked around a bit embarrassed, and indeed heard a burst of laughter.

The Palace Master of ZunYue Palace wanted to laugh as well but held it in. He then continued, “Dao companions, offer incense!”

He forcefully regained control of the situation.

Chi Muyao was momentarily flustered by what had just happened, but Xi Huai comforted him by holding his arm and handed him three sticks of incense.

The two held the incense, and with a swipe of Xi Huai’s finger, the incense was lit. They then respectfully offered it.

After offering the incense, Chi Muyao stepped back and watched the wisps of smoke rise from their incense sticks before turning to look at Xi Huai.

At this moment, they heard the Palace Master of ZunYue Palace announce, “The ceremony is complete!”

Unlike Xi Huai, Chi Muyao didn’t need to stay for further proceedings or to entertain guests.

He was escorted to another building where he could rest temporarily on the second floor.

At this point, his friends and fellow disciples could come to visit him.

Hao Xia and Yi Lan sneaked in, only to find Yu Yanshu and Xi Zi He had also come along.

The two thought about it but didn’t avoid them, as everyone knew about the situation without needing to say much.

The four went up to the second floor and saw Yi Qianxi already sitting at the table, eating from a plate of nuts, her peach blossom mask removed.

The Azure Fox Ancestor was leaning against the railing by the window, his body languid as if he had no bones, not even bothering to adjust his outer robe as it slipped down. A breeze from the window ruffled his green wood-colored hair, giving off a lazy yet stunning appearance, which seemed strangely out of place.

As the star of the day, Chi Muyao was surprisingly cracking sunflower seeds with his fingers, the bead curtain hanging from his peach blossom mask not hindering him from eating.

Chi Muyao was happy to see them and greeted, “You’re here?”

Yu Yanshu and Xi Zi He were surprised at the sound of Chi Muyao’s voice, as it was different from what they were familiar with.

But judging by his appearance, this person was indeed Chi Muyao.

Chi Muyao smiled and explained, “A little trick from the Hehuan Sect.”

The group was instantly relieved.

Seeing many female disciples from the Hehuan Sect around, they felt a bit restrained and sat properly on one side.

After a while, Xi Zi He hesitated before speaking, “Chi… uh…”

Chi Muyao said, “You can call me Chi Jiu.”

Actually, Chi Muyao didn’t like this alias much; it sounded too much like the phrase “enduring.”

“Alright, Daoist Chi, I wanted to tell you that Han Qingyan and I have also become Dao companions. However, our cultivation is still shallow, and we are not qualified to hold a grand ceremony. When our cultivation improves and the sect can host a ceremony for us, we hope you can come.”

In Xi Zi He’s mind, Chi Muyao had saved both him and Han Qingyan, and they had once faced life and death together, sharing a bond forged in adversity.

Naturally, he wanted to share such a thing with Chi Muyao.

“Really?!” Chi Muyao was taken aback. The male and female protagonists were already heading towards the grand finale? He subconsciously glanced at Yu Yanshu, who seemed indifferent, not caring at all, so he congratulated, “That’s really great news, congratulations!”

“Thank you.” Xi Zi He smiled shyly. “She wanted to come as well, but…”

But she was the disciple of Xianyue Tianzun, and naturally, Xianyue Tianzun wouldn’t allow her to come.

“Yes, yes, I understand.”

With the conversation flowing, Hao Xia and Yi Lan also joined in, offering their warm regards.

Before long, Hao Xia cried, “I thought you were dead for a while and even dug a grave for you… Now, I don’t know whether I should remove it… Graves are inauspicious… Oh dear, why am I talking about this on such a happy day?”

Chi Muyao quickly comforted, “It’s okay, don’t worry about it. Let it become a common little mound in the future.”

“Alright.”

Finally, Yu Yanshu had a chance to talk to him.

Chi Muyao looked at the others and led Yu Yanshu to a corner, then transmitted a message to him through spiritual consciousness, “I’m quite conflicted about this bell. I’m not sure who I should give it to. I thought about giving it to Guannan Tianzun, but it doesn’t seem appropriate, so I’ll give it to you instead. I suppose you know what’s inside.

“You care deeply about leading Nuan Yan Pavilion to greater heights, which is likely what Elder Yu Chao Luo also desired. Before he passed, he mentioned not to bury him in Nuan Yan Pavilion. But I think, perhaps he just resented the disappointment Nuan Yan Pavilion brought him. If one day, Nuan Yan Pavilion restores itself to what he envisioned, he might still want to stay there.

“Keep this bell as a reminder. Senior Brother Yu, you are not alone. The Yu family has always been kind and upright. What Elder Yu Chao Luo couldn’t accomplish, you should complete.”

Yu Yanshu reached out to accept the bell, looking at it in surprise as if he hadn’t expected it to be in Chi Muyao’s possession. He then solemnly nodded and replied, “Alright.”

“Thank you for your care earlier.” During his time at the Yu Chong Sect, Yu Yanshu had taken care of him and often spoke up for him, something Chi Muyao had never forgotten.

“It was my duty.”

“Yes.”

Yu Yanshu looked at him and finally said, “If I do succeed in the future, and if you ever need anything, you can still come to me. I will always be your Senior Brother Yu.”

“Alright, I will.”

Yu Yanshu left the building with the bell, his expression contemplative, as if he was worried about the future.

At that moment, he ran into Si Ruoyu coming his way. She appeared to have drunk too much, her steps unsteady. When she saw him, her smile gradually faded, becoming… solemn and gentle.

It seemed to be an instinctive reaction of her body, and even Si Ruoyu was surprised by the sudden change.

“Madam,” Yu Yanshu quickly greeted her.

Si Ruoyu waved her hand repeatedly, “I no longer hold that title.”

“You’ve always taken care of me, so in my heart, you will always be my Madam.”

“As you wish.”

Yu Yanshu hesitated for a moment before saying, “Madam, Master has been quite unhappy lately.”

Yu Yanshu didn’t know if mentioning this was meddling, but he was genuinely worried.

At the mention of Guannan Tianzun, Si Ruoyu rolled her eyes, “He wasn’t happy when I was with him either. He’s never been happy. The ‘川’ character between his brows might as well be embroidered.”

“I think Master misses you.”

“Miss me for what? Revenge?”

Realizing he might have said too much, Yu Yanshu quickly fell silent, bowed to Si Ruoyu, and hurried downstairs, leaving her alone in the stairwell.

Si Ruoyu seemed to understand as well and tried to run upstairs, only to find herself immobilized. A formation had appeared under her feet at some point, locking her in place.

Resigned, she looked down the stairs and, as expected, saw a handsome man in a smoke-blue Daoist robe slowly ascending the steps towards her.

Guannan Tianzun was always like this, his face cold as ice, exuding an aura that kept people at a distance.

His Daoist robe added to his stern demeanor, giving off a clear message that he was not to be approached. He spoke little and seemed to be irritated by everything.

Yet he treated Si Ruoyu differently.

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