Chapter 642: , God Before the Rites! ===GLOSSARY=== [{

In the central hall of the Imperial Hotel Peony Hall, the temporary white divine shrine has been properly arranged. Against a backdrop of simple gold screens, a shimenawa hangs before the shrine, displaying symbolic objects of the Three Sacred Treasures (sword, mirror, jewel) and abundant offerings of rice, salt, water, fish, and vegetables and fruits.

Salt, water, fish, and fruits.

The air was filled with a faint scent of camphorwood incense (the refined incense used by the Kantō Shrine Alliance for divine rites), mingling with the subtle floral fragrance within the hall, creating a sacred and solemn atmosphere.

The guests had already taken their seats according to strict seating arrangements.

The front row consisted of core members from both families and the most honored guests.

Uesugi Kuninori and Watanabe Eiji sat on either side of the divine shrine's main seats, their expressions solemn.

Shirakawa Mai had purified her hands and rinsed her mouth, dressed in solemn shrine maiden attire (over the twelve-layered kimono), standing to one side before the deity, awaiting the bride and groom.

The hall's lighting was dimmed, with several soft spotlights shining upon the pure white "path cloth" laid before the divine shrine.

All murmurs fell silent, save for the faint sounds of professional photographers adjusting their equipment.

The two groomsmen, respectively Shimakawa Ren and Nango Yu on either side, pulled open the main gate.

It's about to begin!

The heavy double doors slowly slid open to either side.

Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami appeared at the doorway.

She holds in her hands that bundle of white bellflowers and light purple platycodon—exactly the bundle brought by Shirakawa Mai, now become the bride's bouquet.

She held in her hands that bouquet of white bellflowers and light purple platycodon—exactly the bouquet brought by Shirakawa Mai, now become the bride's bouquet.

Side by side, their steps steady and synchronized, they walked along the pure white path cloth toward the deity.

The scene was magnificent, breathtakingly beautiful.

Uesugi Muneyuki slightly turned his head, whispering in a volume only Minami could hear: "Nervous, Superintendent?"

Minami Ojou-sama kept her gaze forward, yet the corner of her mouth lifted in a tiny arc: "Easier than the first time I led a team to apprehend an armed suspect. How about you, Chief Medical Examiner? The scalpel is sharper than vows before the deity."

You led a team of chickens! You, an office-working young lady, when have you ever actually participated in on-site combat? I'm too lazy to expose you!

And besides, that time it was clearly you who confessed to me—how did I hear that in your telling it became me actively pursuing you?

A flicker of amusement crossed Uesugi Muneyuki's eyes, yet he did not expose her: "Dissection only requires facing confirmed death, while vows face the unknown of life. The latter demands greater courage."

"Tsk tsk tsk, does marrying me really require this much courage? My Muneyuki-sama? No wonder Kenshin Kō remained unmarried his whole life." Minami Ojou-sama retorted: "So you should be even more grateful to me, Kora! If it weren't for this young lady dragging you out of your goblin nest to marry, I truly don't know who else would be willing to marry you!"

"Hahahaha~" Uesugi Muneyuki laughed upon hearing this.

This near-"occupational habit" of teasing strangely eased the last trace of tension in both their hearts.

Upon reaching their designated positions before the deity, the two stood side by side.

Shirakawa Mai held the "cannabis" (a Shinto tool for warding off evil), beginning the "purification" ritual with a slow, melodic tone to cleanse impurities for the couple and all present.

Her movements were fluid and beautiful, like dance, her pure aura making the hall grow ever more solemn.

Everyone present held their breath, knowing this might be the only time Shirakawa Mai would ever officiate as chief priestess—namely, the only time Uesugi Muneyuki could persuade her to do so, whereas even if the president of the Soul Agency, Miyazaki Takataka's eldest son, were marrying, Shirakawa Mai would not have officiated!

I must consider whether this is my sole opportunity in this life!

And at the scene, having accepted the invitation to attend the ceremony, Fuji Television President Kameyama and FNS Production Bureau Director Abiru Kazuhiko were even more excited, nearly beside themselves!

Uesugi Muneyuki agreed that part of the wedding ceremony could be broadcast in 《God's Hand SP》!

Awesome! Ratings! Explosive! Buzz!

At the same time, Kameyama President turned his gaze toward another invited Fuji Television female announcer, Tei Reiji, who is also the sole female announcer to have received an invitation from Uesugi Muneyuki.

Tei San! Please do give it your all!

Tei Reiji, meanwhile, gazed at the scene on stage, her face filled with envy.

I also want, I also want to become light, to become light, to fly higher!

The Special Mission Unit members confirmed the situation was safe and then took their seats one after another.

The purification rite concluded, the shrine officials stepped forward, offering food and drink to the deity (shinsen).

Subsequently, Mai Xuejie moved to the center before the deity, unfurling the prayer scroll.

Her voice was clear and pure, carrying the unique rhythmic quality of shrine rites, conveying blessings for the newlyweds, solace for the ancestors of both families,

and prayers to the deities, flowing smoothly.

The prayer's language was elegant and classical in diction, yet its content had been carefully considered, emphasizing "unity and cooperation," "mutual respect and love," "contributing to society"—modern ideals befitting the couple's status and wishes.

After the prayer was presented came the core "three-three-nine-degree" exchanged cup sake ritual.

Here, following the agreement between Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami, it was simplified to a single round (instead of the traditional three rounds of nine cups), yet the etiquette remained undiminished.

Shirakawa Mai personally took charge of the sake vessel, pouring divine sake into three stacked red-lacquered cups.

She first took the topmost small cup, bowed slightly, and first offered it to Minami.

This gesture, subtle yet profound—traditionally, the groom is usually honored first.

The radiant Mai Xuejie bowed, her head lowered in deep respect.

Minami Omitaidokoro-dono, this concubine, Shirakawa-in Amai, offers you tea~

Oh wow wow wow wow, that's just right!

Minami Ojou-sama received the cup, clearly seeing Shirakawa Mai's lowered eyelashes and flawless reverent posture.

Hmph~ Who is the victor?

This young lady is the ultimate victor, you know!

Com! Plete! Vic! Tory!

Minami Ojou-sama's inner sense of superiority as the main wife reached its peak at this moment; she elegantly drank in three portions.

Next, Shirakawa Mai used the same cup to pour sake for Muneyuki, and Muneyuki likewise drank three times.

Finally, Mai Xuejie used the slightly larger second cup to pour sake for both together, Minami and Muneyuki each sipping once, completing the "husband and wife's cup."

Throughout the process, Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami's fingers briefly touched when exchanging cups.

When they shared the second cup, their gazes met above the rim.

Uesugi Muneyuki's gaze was calm and resolute, as if saying "I will always be here," while Minami replied with a hint of near-cunning brightness, as if responding "Of course you are, and you always will be! Hmph, want to escape? You're already tied down by me!"

Without words, yet surpassing a thousand words.

Mai Xuejie watched, somewhat amused, yet also envious.

Minami is not an Inner World Person, has no dark past, and does not need to bear so many secrets, thus she retains much of her girlish nature, whereas I am different—I have borne too much; this identity is unsuitable for standing in the spotlight, nor is it fitting to openly act as husband and wife with Uesugi Muneyuki, and I also do not care so much about these matters in the表world.

As long as you're happy, that's good.

Moreover, tonight, there is a great gift to be given to you!

And with the completion of the ritual, the scene begins a series of performances.

The first to take the stage is a renowned singer from the Tōhoku region, namely the former domain of the Yonezawa Uesugi clan—the Peerage's main stronghold—Touhyaku Riko!

He sings the famous Tōhoku earthy song "The World Championship Is My Hometown"!

Seen under the dance hall lighting and with backup dancers, Touhyaku Riko begins his performance; although the song is extremely earthy, it especially makes many senior Peerage members present feel a sense of closeness.

"Wind blows Chéngdū, hot pot fragrance~ 'This life only has' the finals I play eight rounds~"

"Every summer, I stagger~ Even anti-T1 armor is wildly arrogant~"

"Ten World Championships, at least top four~ Scraping and scraping the mouth, still hard to exaggerate~"

"Custom championship must be that resist-resist~ Ten years 10—0, eternal father king~ 'World Championship, is my hometown~ Dinosaur sang out the universe's活的惆悵~"

"Question my Kassadin, must play two games, C'd the match broke LPL hope~"

"World Championship, is my hometown~ Drawing滔搏 spinning top and drinking water alike~"

"Countless people dream, broken in my hands, highest mountain longest river still on the award podium!"

A wave of applause erupted below.

Uesugi Muneyuki smiled and nodded.

So damn cool, Old Li!

Eternal father-in-law! Strictest father!

This song instantly heated up the entire scene, then the whole venue's screen darkened.

Afterwards, on the large screen, the image suddenly brightened.

Gundam, standing tall upon the earth!

"Oh oh oh?" Immediately, someone in the venue recognized it as Gundam!

"Amuro! Char! UC Gundam!"

"Dong~" With a burst of strong piano music, Japanese music godfather Tetsuya Komuro suddenly appeared on stage, and closely following his entrance was the Tokyo Chief Prosecutor, Nishikawa Takano!

This Tokyo Chief Prosecutor will personally sing today! Namely, that most famous song that puts a period on the entire Gundam UC universe—"BeyondTheTime"!

And as the Gundam anime footage behind lit up, countless audience members below also felt their blood surge.

"Sazabi, sortie!"

"Char, Supreme Commander!"

"Amuro, I am currently doing insatiably greedy things!"

"Snow Mountain Collapse!"

"But just a block of stone, look how I use Gundam to push it back! Ox Gundam is not just for show!"

Tokyo Chief Prosecutor Nishikawa Takano's muscles bulged, his suit worn as if it were a tight-fitting outfit, and this rather sorrowful song he somehow sang with a feeling of热血激昂!

"Dreams, such things, are like lost direction, drifting with the wind like a ship~"

"We belong to Earth, as long as everyone continues to survive~ One day we can return~"

"Ah, lingering in the Mei Biu Wei ring~ We will continually meet again~"

"Adoptive carbon Uesugi Muneyuki listening to this song, always feels as if there are countless space female ghosts on the ceiling tapping tap tap~"

"What is humanity's future? He pondered in his heart."

Fuyuno Old Thief himself also does not know what humanity's future will be, what it should be, Axis not dropped, humanity still walks the same path, commits the same mistakes, but if Axis were dropped, what then?

Fuyuno Old Thief also does not know how to make humanity avoid entering one cycle after another of rebirth, just as he said at the end: "I believe humanity's wisdom can surpass those," and very romantically arranged the "Axis Miracle."

Humanity can never truly understand each other.

So Fuyuno Old Thief finally let all humanity truly understand each other—this is the most beautiful hope, and also the final wish.

After all, if a miracle could happen every day, it would no longer be called a miracle.

Humanity, truly a fascinating species!

>