Chapter 15: Chapter Fifteen: The Wedding

Yang Mountain lies directly north of Lanliang City, no more than a hundred zhang high, its peaks and scenery unremarkable, lacking any extraordinary features; it cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Xiao Gan Mountain, nor even within Rong State does it hold any notable reputation.

Originally, this mountain did not belong to the Yangshan Daoists; it was first inhabited by a group of white foxes who cultivated the Path of Incense and Divine Power by drawing upon the land’s qi and the blessed qi of tens of thousands of people in Lanliang City.

But Yangshan Daoist, relying on several powerful talismanic artifacts, wounded the foxes’ leader, burned down their temple, and thus seized control of Yang Mountain, adopting the mountain’s name as his own Daoist title, publicly calling himself Yangshan Daoist.

“Yangshan Daoist publicly displays three talismanic artifacts: the Five-Light Pendant, the Six-Yin Celestial Ghost Banner, and most importantly, the Thunderfire Lightning Pearl…”

“Rumors say the original fox spirit leader, who cultivated the Path of Incense and Divine Power, had already surpassed him in cultivation, nearly achieved a physical form, and was on the verge of manifesting visibly before mortals. But Yangshan Daoist unleashed the Thunderfire Lightning Pearl, striking once and shattering the spirit body into ruin, forcing the fox to flee and surrender his foundation.”

Inside the crimson bridal sedan.

Chen Hang, wearing the phoenix crown and xi pei, his eyes flashed with sharp light as he silently thought:

“The Thunderfire Lightning Pearl’s power is no trivial matter—it is not on the same level as the Five-Light Pendant or the Six-Yin Celestial Ghost Banner. It is likely a mid-grade talismanic artifact with eighteen seals, refined twice. To act against this old Daoist, I must first trick him into handing over this pearl—excellent, excellent.”

If the pearl truly is a mid-grade talismanic artifact, then the entire Yang Mountain foundation cannot be weighed against it.

Though the Xuanzhen Sect of Xiao Gan Mountain is also a local tyrant.

Even sects like Lianyan Mountain, Huanhua Sword Sect, and White Crane Hermitage, each guarded by a Cave-Xuan Cultivator, bow to it and live at its mercy.

Yet among Xuanzhen Sect’s Qi-Condensation disciples, very few possess a mid-grade talismanic artifact; most still use low-grade ones.

Even the impoverished, like Xu Zhi, though an unparalleled swordsman, cannot afford even a single low-grade talismanic artifact, and must wield only a slightly sharper ordinary iron sword.

The Earth Abyss is a place of profound yin and demonic spirits, the darkest and coldest realm, burying countless ancestral bones.

The Thunderfire Lightning Pearl—just from its name, one knows it is yang and fire-aligned; possessing such a talismanic artifact, Chen Hang will have greater assurance when entering the Earth Abyss.

…

As he pondered, suddenly the high clouds churned, faintly echoing the whistle of a cultivation technique piercing the sky.

At that moment,

a gust of wind, source unknown, blew aside the curtain and lifted the red veil covering his face; a lecherous gaze, carried by the wind, fell boldly upon his face.

“Has he arrived?”

Chen Hang, who had long concealed his Adam’s apple with a folk secret technique, sneered inwardly, remained motionless, feigning timidity, letting the gaze wander freely.

Only after six or seven breaths did that burning, lustful stare reluctantly withdraw.

And at that moment,

the dark cloud, stabilized by primordial breath high above, descended, and soon landed at the head of the procession.

“Duanbao! Good boy, you’ve done splendidly! Splendid indeed! Tonight I reward you and your bride with a night together!”

Descending from the cloud, Yangshan Daoist stood with hands on hips, beaming with delight:

“How’s that, son? Does Dad treat you well?”

“...Treats me well, treats me well.”

Beside him, Wang Duanbao’s heart jolted violently; he slowly lowered his head and trembled as he replied.

“Huh? What happened to your wounds? I haven’t beaten you in half a month already. And where has your cousin been causing trouble? Doesn’t he know today is my great wedding day—how dare he go wild?!”

“Cousin… said he wants to eat Xiao Yu again. I fought him and beat him until he spat blood.”

Following Chen Hang’s earlier instructions, Wang Duanbao repeated word for word:

“His leg bones are broken, so he can’t walk. I left him with the Chen clan, letting those mortals care for him.”

“You little beast, you have not an ounce of familial affection—truly hateful!”

Yangshan Daoist, who had been slightly suspicious, flew into a rage upon hearing this, instantly casting aside the faint unease in his heart.

He leapt forward and with one slap sent Wang Duanbao tumbling from his horse to the ground.

“Don’t you know my Wang family has always passed down filial piety and fraternal duty? How dare you beat your cousin, utterly disregarding blood ties? After all the sages’ texts I taught you, you’ve only stuffed them into a dog’s belly!”

Yangshan Daoist, still furious, kicked Wang Duanbao hard, making his back arch like a boiled shrimp.

“It’s just a woman—your cousin wants to eat her, then—”

He hesitated, but recalling the peerless beauty inside the sedan, he pursed his lips, then finally snarled:

“Then let your cousin eat her!”

“What?!”

Wang Duanbao, who had been writhing in pain clutching his stomach, forgot his agony, stunned: “Father! Are you going to kill Xiao Yu?!”

“Old gone, new comes. Xiao Yu is your old wife; the one in the sedan is your new bride. The new is far more beautiful than the old.”

Yangshan Daoist dismissed it: “Don’t you understand this logic?”

“But Xiao Yu is my wife! Please, choose someone else for him to eat!”

“Do you think I need your advice on how to live my life? You wretched bastard!” Yangshan Daoist’s face darkened.

And Wang Duanbao, for no apparent reason, suddenly stood motionless, glaring at him with fury.

“Rebel!”

Yangshan Daoist coldly barked; his robe stirred without wind, the small stones beneath his feet began to shatter one after another with a crackling sound.

In this tense moment, a voice like a golden oriole emerging from the valley suddenly rang from the halted crimson sedan—sweet, melodious, and exquisitely soft at the end.

“Aren’t you coming? Are we still getting married?”

Yangshan Daoist’s bones nearly melted at the sound; his furious rage was instantly doused as if drenched in cold water.

“My beauty, are you so eager for the bridal chamber? Very well! But my family is a scholarly lineage—let me first prepare a feast, then I shall join you!”

Yangshan Daoist first grinned at Chen Hang, then turned to Wang Duanbao with a vicious gaze:

“Today is a day of great joy—I’ll postpone your beating for now. I’ll deal with you later!”

With that,

he channeled his primordial breath and once again stepped onto a black cloud, floating leisurely into the heavens.

The procession at the mountain’s foot resumed, sedan poles lifted, drums and music thundered, joyous and festive.

“Young Master, I’ve figured it out!”

Seeing that inside the crimson sedan, Chen Hang had not spoken since helping him just now,

Wang Duanbao gritted his teeth, leaned close to the sedan, and whispered low:

“Help me eliminate that old bastard, and I’ll give you six-tenths of Yang Mountain’s treasures!”

Inside the soft sedan,

no one spoke.

After a long while, a faint voice drifted into his ears, calm and indifferent:

“We’ll discuss this later.”

…

…

That night,

Yang Mountain was lit with lanterns and decorations; from the foot to the summit hall, every surface shimmered like liquid mercury spilled across the ground.

During the banquet,

Yangshan Daoist, repeatedly urged to drink by Chen Hang, was already slightly drunk; he finally waved his sleeve and fumbled from his waist pouch a large red-and-white pearl.

“Come, come, beauty, this is the big pearl you wanted to see—the Thunderfire Lightning Pearl!”

Yangshan Daoist happily handed it over: “Feel it—isn’t it warm? Xiao Yu, you wretched woman, don’t block my view of the beauty! Go with Duanbao and get out of here!”

Beside Chen Hang,

a pale, thin woman bowed respectfully, then mechanically left the table; she stumbled as she walked, like a child just learning to toddle.

“Indeed, it is a precious pearl.”

Only after the woman had retreated did Chen Hang calmly reach out and take it.

“But…”

“But what?” Yangshan Daoist asked, puzzled.

“A pity—a pearl cast into darkness,” Chen Hang smiled.

With that smile,

Xu Zhi, dressed as a servant nearby, suddenly overturned the banquet table, drew his sword, and lunged at Yangshan Daoist!