Chapter 102
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Chapter 102: Title
Planning a wedding proved harder than expected, requiring countless preparations.
After eight frantic days, Qingxue secured Lingyang City’s finest tailor who stitched two bridal gowns overnight.
One morning, Suiyin dragged Xia Shi to a new chestnut cake shop in town, claiming their pastries were divine.
Despite arriving early, they joined a long queue. By their turn, the last cake had been sold. The kind shopkeeper took pity on the beautiful pair, promising to bake a fresh batch.
“Mama! You promised mine first!” A clear child’s voice chimed as a little girl tugged the shopkeeper’s apron, staring at the strangers.
Xia Shi froze. Tears welled as she knelt to meet the child’s eyes. “What’s… your name?”
The girl offered a handkerchief. “I’m Fu Qing! Don’t cry, sister—Mama will share her cakes!”
The flustered shopkeeper added, “A temple master named her. Said she’s an immortal’s rebirth, destined for greatness.”
Xia Shi clutched the girl, weeping openly.
_Master…_
Confused but compassionate, Fu Qing patted Xia Shi’s back with tiny hands. “No crying.”
——
Their quiet ceremony on the chosen day contrasted sharply with the Lin family’s lavish celebrations. Besides the four brides and Qingxue, only the Lin family’s young lady with her wife, little Fu Qing, and her mother attended.
When it was time for the wedding ceremony, Xia Shi stood facing the two brides in her crimson gown. Suiyin tried to sit beside her, but Jiang Fenghe firmly tugged her back down.
Qingxue hugged the pitch-black cat, her eyes curved into crescents. Though these people were newcomers to Lingyang City, their presence warmed her heart. As the officiant, her duty was to call out the ceremonial phrases.
No bridegrooms here – only brides exchanging vows.
After the rites concluded, Jiang Fenghe and Jiang Yun lingered to witness the other couple’s ceremony. Little Fu Qing sat grinning on the elevated seat, having obediently followed the beautiful sister’s instruction though she didn’t understand why.
Just as Qingxue opened her mouth to announce "Bow to heaven and earth," a voice rang across the courtyard.
"Ah Yin."
Suiyin stiffened at the familiar call. "…Aunt Yan?"
She whirled around to see the woman’s face, unchanged after a century though her bearing carried deeper gravity now, edges softened by time. "You wed without informing me?" Yan Ge chided, approaching the bride who’d grown from the girl she’d watched over for a hundred years.
Tears pricked Suiyin’s eyes. After awakening beneath the Heavenly Dao Tree and seeing Xia Shi first, she’d scoured the Nine Realms for any trace of Yan Ge’s breath during her recovery, finding nothing.
"None of that on this happy day." Yan Ge turned to Xia Shi. "Shall I witness your vows?"
Xia Shi bowed respectfully. "We’d be honored."
By both Heavenly Dao principles and Suiyin’s kinship, Yan Ge held elder status.
"Keep standing since kneeling’s difficult for you now." Yan Ge ascended the platform, thumb brushing her bone ring.
"Bow to heaven and earth!"
…
At Qingxue’s proclamation, the couple completed three bows – to cosmos, to elders, to each other.
During the feast, Yan Ge occupied the seat of honor beside Xia Shi while others sat further back. Even boisterous Jiang Fenghe hushed around his former superior. But after celebratory drinks, the younger guests forgot decorum in their merriment.
Separate from the lively crowd, Yan Ge and Xia Shi’s corner held quiet communion. They drank without speaking until three cups emptied.
"I’ve walked the Nine Realms and mortal realm with Tiansui," Yan Ge finally said. "A century suffices to traverse all."
Xia Shi hummed low in response, her gaze complex when she looked at the other woman.
She saw loneliness and despair in Yan Ge.
“You were fortunate,” Yan Ge met her gaze. “Had I not taken Ah Yin away that day, watching her perish before your eyes – what would you’ve done?”
“I…”
Xia Shi faltered. Throughout her memories – save those Four Hundred Years at Sword Pavilion – Suiyin had always remained by her side. Her entire existence seemed inseparable from Suiyin.
This question had never occurred to her. Never dared occur.
Yan Ge laughed through glistening eyes, tears tracing silver paths down her cheeks.
“I once believed Tiansui couldn’t leave me. The leader of Immortal Capital, an eternal immortal – yet now I can’t even sense her breath.” Yan Ge wiped her face roughly.
“I must go now.”
Her final glance fell upon Suiyin’s wine-flushed face, her gaze softening with tenderness.
“Your story differs from ours. You’ll keep each other through all lifetimes.”
“Expect magnificent wedding gifts – for you two, for all Nine Realms.”
Xia Shi understood the unspoken meaning, yet found no words.
Tiansui had hoped wandering might ease Yan Ge’s grief. Let time erode the pain of lost love.
Instead, each journey etched deeper sorrows into Yan Ge’s heart.
Yan Ge departed.
“Aunt Yan?” Suiyin stumbled over, draping herself over Xia Shi with a drunken kiss.
“Gone.”
Xia Shi gripped her waist, watching the starry sky. A faint celestial light dimmed into nothingness.
Suiyin stilled, nuzzling silently against Xia Shi’s neck.
……
Qinghu Region.
Wine jug swinging from her fingers, Yan Ge approached the forbidden area. Heavenly fire writhed in her eyes. A woman’s whispers haunted the air.
“What brings you?” Pei Jiu’s initial surprise faded to bitter disappointment. She’d expected… someone else.
“Wedding wine.” Yan Ge lifted her vessel.
“Whose?” Pei Jiu’s smirk pulled at fresh wounds, pain tightening her features.
“You know. Whose union merits my personal delivery?” Yan Ge raised her hand. Wugui sword shimmered into existence.
Pei Jiu chuckled darkly. “Killing me destroys yourself.”
“I know.”
The Long Sword pierced Pei Jiu’s chest as soul energy flooded the blade.
“Why?” Pei Jiu gasped through agony. “Sacrificing yourself for others?”
A single life, bound irrevocably to another’s.
Foolish!
Yan Ge’s icy gaze hardened as she thrust the sword deeper. "You’re born from selfishness, greed, and every wicked thought. You’ll never comprehend love’s true meaning."
Pei Jiu felt her existence dissolving, crimson eyes wild with struggle. Yet in her final moments, memories of wandering through Nine Realms with Xia Wuwei flooded her mind.
She laughed bitterly, chains cutting into her flesh as she yanked them violently.
Blood pooled across the formation beneath her feet. If she could corrupt this spell-circle Xia Wuwei had created… if she could destroy it…
"Delusions!"
Yan Ge spat coldly, channeling her last shred of spiritual energy.
Rain finally graced Qinghu Region, the gentle drizzle quenching even the forbidden area’s heavenly fires.
Far away, Xia Shi’s eyes snapped open in the darkness.
"What’s wrong?" Suiyin’s lips brushed her temple.
"Nothing."
Xia Shi melted into the embrace, fingers curling around Suiyin’s neck.
The final wisp of darkness vanished from Heavenly Dao Tree’s branches.
When they returned to Sanqing fifteen days later, Suiyin deliberately boasted to Lu Ciyou about their marriage. The revelation kept Lu Ciyou badgering Yan Li for answers till nightfall.
News reached Ye Xiao and Shen Huaiwen, resulting in Xia Shi enduring two hours of scolding.
"Married without informing your senior sisters?" Ye Xiao’s stern expression betrayed genuine hurt. "Will Sanqing even remain your home now?"
Shen Huaiwen offered no defense, merely observing Xia Shi with amused silence.
"I needed Master to witness it." Xia Shi clutched her wedding robes’ sleeve – the real reason she’d chosen Lingyang City.
She’d left a fragment of consciousness within young Fu Qing before departing.
"If fate permits… I’ll retrieve her myself from Nine Realms."
"Master!"
Yan Li’s shout echoed outside the hall.
Ye Xiao sighed. "Enter."
Lu Ciyou barged in dragging Yan Li, Suiyin trailing behind with popcorn-like curiosity.
"Sect Leader Ye!" Lu Ciyou slammed a map of Liujin Pavilion’s Nine Realms trade routes onto the table, circling half with crimson ink. "These Sanqing branches for A Li’s hand."
Ye Xiao massaged his temples. "Our sect leader can’t marry into Liujin Pavilion."
Lu Ciyou transferred another portion from her share.
"…No," Ye Xiao gritted his teeth, standing firm.
Without hesitation, Lu Ciyou pushed her entire share across the table – amounting to half of Liujin Pavilion’s fortune.
"Deal!"
Afraid she’d back out, Ye Xiao immediately pulled Xia Shi forward. "Divine Lady, choose an auspicious date. Let’s arrange these children’s wedding quickly."
Xia Shi: "…"
Yan Li: "…"
Lu Ciyou nudged Yan Li’s arm, grinning. "Told you her Master would agree."
Disagree?
They’d simply drown objections in spiritual stones.
Liujin Pavilion overflowed with spiritual stones.
"Speaking of which," Ye Xiao glanced between Xia Shi and Suiyin, "You two should renew your vows. That last ceremony didn’t count."
Suiyin: "Yes! Yes!!"
Her enthusiasm bubbled over.
Xia Shi sighed but offered no refusal.
…
Three moons later, Liujin Pavilion’s union with Sanqing Realm drew celebrations from all leading sects.
At the same hour, the Divine Lady’s wedding commenced. Zhuque, sacred vermilion bird, led ten thousand beasts in jubilation.
Perched atop Zhuque’s back, Xia Shi clasped Suiyin’s hand while surveying the Nine Realms below.
Before them stretched true peace – even Qinghu Region’s thunder tribulation-scarred lands, barren for Four Hundred Years, now teemed with spring vitality.
"Xia Shi, look."
As Xia Shi turned, Suiyin closed her eyes and pressed their lips together.
Zhuque’s cry pierced the heavens. A Long Sword soared skyward, piercing through the air to vanish beyond the clouds.
For this world, one sword and its wielder sufficed.
