Chapter 140: The Grand Wedding

A few diminutive dwarves gently hoisted the bridal sedan, while the children eagerly scattered flower petals into the air. Countless musical instruments on both sides immediately struck up, their mingled sounds filling the atmosphere with a palpable sense of joy.

A grand wedding ought to be a lively and boisterous affair, yet at this moment, the young maiden sitting within the sedan felt an incomparable surge of bewilderment and sorrow.

Her arms trembled slightly, and with her eyelids half-drooped, two trails of clear tears slipped quietly down her cheeks before she even realized it.

"Clearly, a wedding is a joyous occasion. Why, then, do I feel such profound sorrow?"

"Is this the resentment born of being used as a tool for a political marriage? But... what use is resentment? How could Old Grandmother Hu ever allow me to be as willful as Bai Zhi, or how could she ever indulge me?"

Clad in a brilliant crimson robe, adorned with a phoenix coronet and embroidered cape, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Yet, she was ultimately destined to become another's private treasure, incapable of holding even a sliver of joy or anticipation.

She had long since heard rumors of the marriage alliance between the Hu clan and the Hui clan, but she had never imagined that Old Grandmother Hu would actually go through with it and set her sights on Bai Zhi.

Bai Zhi's heart belonged entirely to the man named Liu Ping, so naturally, she refused outright, turning it down with unyielding obstinacy. Since Old Grandmother Hu doted on Bai Zhi beyond measure, she found it difficult to exert further pressure.

Consequently, the target shifted to her.

Initially, the Hui clan had been utterly reluctant, but the moment they laid eyes upon her beauty, their attitude underwent a complete and instantaneous transformation. After a few days of hasty preparations, the day of the wedding had finally arrived.

"Sister Bai Zhi wasn't invited, Old Grandmother Hu hasn't shown her face, and Mother was tricked back into the mountains... Grandmother is truly intent on handing me away to strangers..."

The young maiden whispered in pained, muffled tones.

In truth, she herself was baffled at this moment. Why did she feel such overwhelming grief? Could it be that she, just like Bai Zhi, had fallen for the man called Liu Ping, and was thus heartbroken to be wedded to another?

No, absolutely not! That fellow was frivolous and flippant. Although he was the author of *Lord of All Dragons*, his writing was her absolute favorite, he was also the very person who had shattered the heroic and magnificent image of the protagonist she held in her heart. Simply despicable.

He had once tried to play the hero saving the damsel in distress; the first time he had succeeded, the second time he had failed utterly, and of course, there had never been a third time. How could the world afford so many coincidences? If Bai Zhi were here, her cries for help might have drawn him over, but Bai Zhi was not here.

Though she understood all this, she still couldn't help thinking of him. Despicable and frivolous as he was, his nature wasn't entirely bad, and he was, after all, her cousin. Upon closer reflection, there was genuinely no one else she could rely on besides him.

How truly pathetic she was. She went about every day with a smiling face, immensely popular among the denizens of the mountains, with countless admirers secretly pining for her. Yet at the crucial moment, not a single one dared to utter a sound, turning entirely into cowards upon whom she could place zero reliance.

Yingning gently bit her lower lip, quietly sobbing and choking back her tears.

The sedan continued its relentless advance, and the music from the instruments on either side completely drowned out her cries.

***

The banquet concluded. Liu Ping's spirit returned to his physical body, and he turned over, retracting the various protective barriers he had set up. Feeling the surge of alcohol and an even heavier wave of drowsiness creeping over him, he was just about to fall asleep when he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from downstairs. It sounded like quite a number of people coming up.

Was it Lu Liang and the others? No, the cadence of the footsteps was entirely wrong.

Liu Ping did not get up. Feigning sleep, he squinted slightly in that direction and saw a young maiden dressed in cyan robes, possessing ordinary facial features, approaching with a lantern in hand. Suddenly discovering a person sleeping there, she gave a great start and instinctively retreated two or three steps.

Liu Ping chuckled inwardly. Had she been overawed by his overwhelming aura of supremacy?

The maiden stepped back two or three steps, turned her head, and called out, "There is someone up here!"

A voice from below asked, "Who is it?"

The maiden replied, "I don't recognize him... From the looks of it, he seems to be a scholar, or perhaps a cultivator!"

Before long, an elderly man walked up. He narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Liu Ping, feeling a jolt of surprise. At that very moment, Liu Ping opened his eyes completely, looking back at him with a mocking gaze.

Startled, the old man quickly said, "So it is Young Master Liu. We were reckless and offended a person of distinction; I beg the young master not to hold it against us."

Liu Ping was slightly stunned. "You know me?"

The old man replied, "Young Master Liu's appearance was spread throughout Zhang County during your standoff with the evil entity at the City God Temple a few days ago, so this old man naturally recognizes you."

"So that's how it is. I've become a celebrity," Liu Ping remarked with a light chuckle. "What are you people up to?"

The old man said, "Today is our young master's wedding day. For Young Master Liu to be here is a matter of fate. If you wouldn't mind, would you be so kind as to act as a witness?"

Liu Ping raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is that so? Not a bad idea."

Following the old man into the building, he found that the previously dilapidated room had now been transformed into a lavishly decorated parlor. Just then, a short-statured woman with the appearance of a matron walked out, and the old man introduced her, "This is my wife."

"Oh," Liu Ping nodded indifferently, thinking to himself that since this old man was at the Warrior Demon realm, his master must be at the General Demon realm, nine times out of ten. Since his young master was getting married today, the master should be making an appearance. It would be a good opportunity to observe them.

Suddenly, the deafening blasts of flutes, pipes, and drums rang out from outside, and someone ran inside shouting, "They've arrived!" The old man hurried out to welcome them, and Liu Ping also stood up to wait. Soon afterward, numerous gauze lanterns guided the bridegroom inside.

The bridegroom appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years of age, with handsome and refined features, though he was rather short, standing at roughly one hundred and fifty-four centimeters. His bearing, however, was quite impressive—spirited, imposing, and somewhat unyielding. Sweeping his gaze across the room, he immediately spotted Liu Ping and couldn't help hitching his eyebrows upward.

"Greetings, Young Master!" The old man and the many others nearby hurriedly bowed in salute.

"Who is this?" The young man looked at Liu Ping with a puzzled expression.

Although Liu Ping was only fourteen, he stood a full head taller than the young man, which subconsciously made the latter feel somewhat displeased... Naturally, he harbored a degree of hostility, and his tone turned rather stiff.

The old man hastily introduced him, "This is Young Master Liu..."

"Alright, alright, my father will be here shortly, and the bride must be arriving soon as well. Hurry up and make the preparations!" The young man abruptly and impatiently interrupted him, his posture making his hostility glaringly obvious.

This punk has quite an attitude, doesn't he? Liu Ping chuckled inwardly, taking a seat without making a scene.

The old man could only offer an apologetic smile.

Before long, a middle-aged man walked in. His aura was as deep and unfathomable as an abyss—extraordinary and heart-palpitating. His expression at the moment was rather gloomy, and before the young man could even bow, he asked in a flat tone, "Why hold the wedding in the mortal realm? Are you in such a monkey rush?"

The young man hurriedly replied, "Father, matters like this are naturally better done sooner rather than later. We cannot allow any more accidents to happen."

"Even so, there was no need for this."

"What's wrong with the mortal realm? Isn't this residence quite nice?"

"You... sigh, very well. Things have come to this, and there is nothing more I can say. If you think it's good, then it's good."

A wedding involved an immense number of protocols: the surrounding colors and decorations, the bride and groom's ceremonial robes, the joyous banquet, and various witnesses. Most importantly, one had to pay respects to the ancestral temple, alongside a whole series of rituals. Having prepared for only a few days, how could everything possibly be complete? They were truly in far too much of a rush. Still, they were spirits, not humans, and ritual was not everything. Since his son was so stubborn, it was difficult for him to object.

After letting out a sigh, the middle-aged man finally noticed Liu Ping standing off to the side. At first, he paid him no heed, but then a flash of golden light crossed his eyes as he perceived something. His pupils constricted slightly, and maintaining his composure, he asked, "And who might this be?"

Whereupon the old servant explained the matter once more.

The middle-aged man nodded with a smile and said, "So it is Young Master Liu. I am Hui Chen, and this is my foolish son, Hui Tu. Today is a day of great celebration, so I must ask you to drink a few extra cups."

Hui Chen? Hui Tu? Liu Ping almost burst out laughing. These names were just a bit too absurd and meme-worthy! He couldn't help muttering under his breath, "Why not name him Grey Wolf!"

However, since the man was a General Demon and held such a polite attitude, it wouldn't do for him to be rude, so he returned the bow.

Grey Wolf? What was that? Young Hui Tu raised his eyebrows slightly, clearly astonished that his father would treat this young man with such courtesy. What on earth made this fellow so extraordinary?

Before he could ask, the sounds of flutes and drums drifted in from outside once more, and he was instantly overwhelmed with wild joy. Hahaha! After all these days of hardship and waiting, the bride had finally arrived!

Shortly afterward, several maidservants and matrons escorted a bride into the room. Jade pendants jingled crisply, and the fragrance of orchids and musk drifted through the air, lending the scene an elegant and solemn air. Impatient as Hui Tu was, ritual propriety could not be neglected.

The maidservants led the bride forward to pay respects to Hui Chen, but the bride's voice sounded somewhat hoarse, as if she had just been crying.

This displeased Hui Chen, who let out a cold hum and asked, "Are you unwilling?"

"I dare not." The bride paused for a moment before giving this sole reply.

"Father!" Seeing his father make things difficult for the bride, Hui Tu cried out in displeasure.

Hui Chen could only drop the matter.

Liu Ping furrowed his brow slightly. Both the bride's aura and her voice carried a familiar scent—could it be someone he knew? His heart sank as he silently observed the bride. Such staring was inevitably rather brazen, immediately arousing the profound displeasure of Hui Tu, Hui Chen, and everyone else in the room.

Even the previously deferential old man furrowed his brow repeatedly. This Young Master Liu truly had no sense of etiquette whatsoever.

Liu Ping, however, cared nothing for this, keeping his eyes unblinkingly fixed upon the bride.

The bride also seemed to sense Liu Ping's gaze and felt a faint flicker of doubt. This familiar aura and sensation... who was it?

Before long, the old man cried out that the auspicious hour had arrived and requested them to perform the bow of worship to heaven and earth!

With that, everyone in the room sprang into action. Hui Chen sat at the very top, the music struck up, and the entire room was filled with an atmosphere of festivity.

"First bow to Heaven and Earth!" shrieked the old man's wife in a shrill voice.

The maidservants supported the bride as she began to kneel, while Hui Chen's son eagerly dropped to his knees ahead of time, anxious to finish these cumbersome rituals as quickly as possible!

The etiquette of a true wedding ceremony naturally differed from theatrical performances; a simple bow at the waist would suffice. The bride and groom were supposed to hold the ceremonial tray level with their eyebrows, execute kowtows, and bow a total of eight times before the affair was concluded.

"Wait!"

Just as the two of them dropped to their knees, a chilling, sharp shout shattered the joyous mood of the entire room, and everyone turned in bewilderment toward the source of the voice.