Chapter 0: An Auspicious Marriage
Three days later, the Sword Questioning Sect was adorned with lanterns and festoons, bustling with activity.
Xia Zhu and Duan Qing were to be wed today.
While a union of this nature wasn’t particularly rare in the Cultivation World, its appearance at a prominent sect like the Sword Questioning Sect was indeed unusual. However, with the Sect Master’s personal approval and all the customary rites of parental consent and matchmaker’s words meticulously observed, who would dare to interfere and risk incurring the displeasure of Xia Luyin, whose fame resonated throughout Das?
Guests from neighboring sects arrived in droves, presenting countless gifts.
What Qin Gou found most unexpected was that the envoy from Linjiang Immortal Nunnery was none other than Yang Mu. That old man certainly had some tricks up his sleeve to escape the clutches of the Qishuang Wench!
“Fellow Daoist Xia, your esteemed daughter is…?” Yang Mu’s voice was weak, his injuries not yet fully healed.
Qin Gou sighed with unspoken resentment, “This Seat only discovered after returning to the sect how cunning Ye Qishuang is. What prisoner? My Xiao Zhu is safe within the sect, no matter how secure. This Seat was actually tricked by that demoness, falling for her honeyed words and surrendering. It’s truly unbearable.”
“So that’s how it is. It’s good that your esteemed daughter is unharmed! Fellow Daoist Xia’s concern for his daughter at the time was only natural,” Yang Mu said with relief, chuckling.
Qin Gou nodded, “Thank you for your understanding. Fellow Daoist Yang, rest assured, this Seat will personally visit Linjiang Immortal Nunnery soon to deliver the Huaxuan Fruit Tree properly.”
Yang Mu smiled kindly, “Why the hurry? This old man is currently discussing with the sect about lending you the Huaxuan Fruit Tree to plant and harvest at the Sword Questioning Sect for a hundred years. Just share a portion with Linjiang Immortal Nunnery each time.”
Qin Gou couldn’t help but be surprised. Why had this man suddenly become so accommodating?
“Fellow Daoist Yang is joking. The Huaxuan Fruit Tree rightfully belongs to Linjiang Immortal Nunnery; it would be unreasonable to keep it at our Sword Questioning Sect,” Qin Gou said, politely probing.
“Fellow Daoist Xia is the one joking!” Yang Mu’s face filled with sincerity. “My very life was given to me by Fellow Daoist Xia! How can a mere Huaxuan Fruit Tree compare to the deep friendship between us? Old Xia, rest assured, even if the sect does not approve my proposal, I will personally ensure that all the Huaxuan Fruits from the last harvest are presented to your Sword Questioning Sect.”
For a moment, Qin Gou looked upon Yang Mu with newfound respect. He had merely gone through the motions, performed a superficial display, and done nothing else, yet this man had spun it into a life-and-death friendship. Such flattery and sycophancy were truly exquisite and miraculous, earning his admiration.
At the same time, Qin Gou noticed that Great Sect Leader Mu, Mu Man’er, that naughty wench, had personally come to congratulate them on behalf of the Heaven’s Substitution Sect. Moreover, she had not transformed into her petite maiden form but displayed her own exquisitely carved, mischievous true body.
Qin Gou recalled hearing before that Mu Man’er was now known as ‘Heaven’s Substitution Child Matriarch’ in Das, a peculiar title that did not suit the girl’s personality at all, especially since she had always seemed bothered by her inability to grow up. It was truly strange. However, given the occasion and his own identity, it wasn’t appropriate to speak much with the girl.
A moment later, Qin Gou sat steadily in the main seat of honor, and a beaming happy couple appeared before everyone.
Both Xia Zhu and Duan Qing were now dressed in fiery red wedding gowns, their faces veiled, presenting a rather peculiar sight as if both were brides.
The human race’s custom of three bows remained. Although Qin Gou was not the true Xia Luyin, he wished to give Xia Zhu a perfect wedding. Hence, he relied on his exquisite acting skills to portray a loving father, transforming from sternness to tender affection without a single flaw.
Upon completion of the rites, the master of ceremonies announced, “Enter the bridal chamber swiftly.”
Xia Zhu and Duan Qing left together, without the supposed ‘groom’ to entertain the guests. Qin Gou also could not linger and quickly found an excuse to leave, rushing towards Evil Slaying Peak.
Another, far more crucial wedding awaited him there.
…
With a light sweep of her brows and a touch of powder.
Bai Yunxi, her face blooming like a flower, approached Gu Feiyan and took out a small jade box from her Nas storage ring. “Xiao Yan, this is from your mother.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Feiyan’s face lit up with joy, and she also took out a jade box. “I have prepared something too. This dress was made by your daughter with her own hands.”
“Oh?”
After accepting each other’s gifts, both felt a subtle, inexplicable strangeness in the atmosphere.
Unlike Bai Yunxi, Gu Feiyan did not rush to open the jade box, storing it directly into her Nas storage ring. She didn’t know its contents and planned to open this surprise at a later time.
When Bai Yunxi reappeared after changing into a phoenix robe and ceremonial attire, her face was filled with bewilderment. “Xiao Yan, why is this dress so similar to a wedding gown?”
Gu Feiyan replied as a matter of course, “Mother, this is indeed a wedding gown! It was sewn by your daughter and A’Yuan for you! Come, let’s go quickly, lest ‘he’ wait anxiously. Don’t be nervous; you are a Dao Comprehension Realm expert! Your daughter will accompany you to the wedding hall to be married!”
“W-what do you mean, ‘together’? Married? Mother is also getting married?” Bai Yunxi’s expression was utterly shocked. Her long eyelashes began to tremble slightly. “Xiao Yan must be teasing Mother intentionally, right?”
“Ah? Mother doesn’t know yet? What was that fellow doing? Mother, you don’t think there’s only one wedding today, do you? That was clearly just the story for the public!” Gu Feiyan chuckled. “Didn’t Mother also say before that your encounter with ‘Cult Master Gu’ was merely an accident? And these past few days, your daughter has finally found the man who can truly bring Mother happiness. I can see that he genuinely loves you but has always been hesitant to declare it, delaying until now.”
“So, your daughter decided to take the initiative and confront him directly. He finally confessed his deep love for you, Mother, and expressed his willingness to officially marry you, hence today’s double celebration!”
“D-double celebration?!”
Bai Yunxi gasped, her beautiful eyes widening. “Xiao Yan, how could you come up with such an idea? Absolutely not! Setting aside other matters, our age difference is astronomical, completely mismatched. No, that’s not right, why am I even saying this? This is too bizarre!”
“Isn’t your age and his perfectly suited?” Gu Feiyan asked, puzzled. “Even if there’s some gap, what does it matter? As long as there’s mutual affection. Xiao Qin and I also have an age gap, and it doesn’t seem to be a big deal.”
“Where is it perfectly suited?” Bai Yunxi felt like crying but had no tears, both exasperated and amused. Indeed, she admitted that young men were strong and vigorous, but Xiao Yan didn’t have to state it so righteously.
Could it be due to Gu Feiyan’s upbringing in an evil sect like the Seed Demon Sacred Cult?
Damn it, how could that damned, deserving-of-a-thousand-deaths old immortal, Gu Jinghong, have raised her daughter like this?
