This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 447 Just pamper her!
Don't you, the matchmaker, know how this marriage came about?

Yue Huanjiang looked embarrassed and pushed aside his folding fan to hide his blushing face. He originally thought Xiang Yuan was just talking, but he didn't expect him to drag him into the marriage.

The thought of her pure and innocent master trying on wedding dresses these past few days filled Yue Huanjiang with guilt, which intensified because she hadn't refused.

My dear brother, you've really put your elder brother through a lot of trouble!
Yue Huanjiang harbored resentment in his heart, but fearing that Qu Rou would hear him and give him a hard time when they got back, he didn't dare to say it aloud.

The wife hasn't even entered the family yet, and he's already complaining about the marriage; it's definitely not suitable.

Despite the various frustrations, Yue Huanjiang still wanted to thank Xiang Yuan, who, out of brotherly affection, released Qu Rou and Elder Lian Song, and also took good care of Qing Zhuying.

Previously, due to their different races, humans and demons had an irreconcilable feud. Yue Huanjiang concealed his identity and was always somewhat restrained in front of Xiang Yuan, fearing that if his identity were exposed, they would not even be able to remain brothers.

Now that his identity has been revealed and he can see his true face, he feels much more relaxed.

As for Baiyun Manor being removed from the list of top-tier forces in the world and all its assets going to Tianzong, Yue Huanjiang didn't care. He personally disliked fighting and didn't like the demon race lurking among the human race, so he thought it was good to leave.

If we can't live in peace, then let's leave each other alone and go our separate ways.

"Well, I've always had a question: does your brother have any sisters?" Xiang Yuan asked in a low voice.

Because he brought an umbrella, he missed the main storyline about the snake demon, which made Xiang Yuan very upset. He was also annoyed that Huang Tian was not following the usual pattern because the snake demon had a penis, so he asked for clarification to see if there was any room for struggle.

"Have."

"Really?"

"Ah."

Yue Huanjiang nodded and looked back, saying, "Hongxiao and Qingli have grown up with me since childhood; they are childhood sweethearts and can be considered my two younger sisters."

"..."

As expected of you, you never hesitate to be cuckolded when it's time to be!
Xiang Yuan rolled his eyes, finally giving up completely. He politely ended the conversation, afraid that if they continued, Yue Huanjiang would ask him for help with their wedding night.

After all, Yue Huanjiang always wants to share good things with his brother, so this possibility cannot be ruled out.

Having discussed the important matters we care about, it's time to get down to business.

Xiang Yuan didn't hide anything from anyone and went straight to the point: "Brother, when we were drinking together, you once spoke the truth after drinking. Although you had long admired your sister-in-law, you only thought about it in your heart because of your status and never dared to take action."

Upon hearing this, Yue Huanjiang panicked and hurriedly protested, "Brother, don't talk nonsense, I didn't, I didn't..."

“Listen up, sister-in-law, you better have this in mind.”

"..."

"See? You're speechless now!"

Xiang Yuan gave Yue Huanjiang a disdainful look, his evaluation was insincere. He was clearly being honest, but he insisted on being stubborn. He continued, "This marriage was definitely not initiated by my brother. If that's the case, it must have been pushed by my sister-in-law. You said you couldn't disobey your master's orders, but you were actually happier than anyone else... Look at you, your face is red with excitement."

Yue Huanjiang was speechless, and Xiang Yuan firmly controlled the pace of the situation, cruelly deceiving her with the gentleman's methods.

Beside him, Xiao Chan pricked up his ears to eavesdrop, remarking that birds of a feather flock together, and that Yue Huanjiang and Xiang Yuan were truly a den of snakes and rats.

Yes, some people may not slander their own master, but they slander their wife's master. Rounding up, how is that any different from slandering one's own master?

Xiao Chan was certain that Xiang Yuan hadn't coveted his master because of circumstances; if he had a female master, he would have coveted her long ago.

You can’t go wrong!
Qu Rou also heard their conversation, but her expression remained unchanged and she was unmoved. No matter what Xiang Yuan said, she was simply fulfilling the vow she had made.

Hongxiao and Qingli were noticeably more gossipy. On one hand, they were amazed that the young master was such a person, and on the other hand, they regretted wearing the wrong colors all these years. If they had discovered the young master's wolfish ambitions earlier and changed into a purple dress, they might have succeeded in their midnight ambush.

"I don't know much about my sister-in-law, but I know all too well about oaths and such..."

Xiang Yuan changed his mind halfway through his sentence, saying, "In my cultivation journey, I've seen too many cultivators who don't keep their word and exploit loopholes in their oaths. When I made my sister-in-law make her oath, I didn't let her make a full promise, giving her room to renege on her promise. She could have chosen not to marry you, but she insisted on fulfilling her oath. There must be a reason for this."

Upon hearing this, Yue Huanjiang smiled wryly: "It's good that you know, my good brother. You shouldn't have come today."

“Brother, what are you thinking? What you mean is that your sister-in-law and you are in love, and she has feelings for you too. She has long wanted to marry you and is just using the irreversible vow as an excuse,” Xiang Yuan said with a serious face.

As soon as she finished speaking, Yue Huanjiang's eyes twitched, and Qu Rou stumbled, her shoulders swaying, almost losing her balance.

“Brother, is it possible that this is a scheme, that someone tricked you into coming to Jiangdong?” Yue Huanjiang subtly reminded him.

"No way, absolutely impossible."

Xiang Yuan shook his head and refused: "If it's a scheme, I'll leave now, and my brother won't be able to marry my sister-in-law. Are you willing to do that?"

Whether I'm willing to part with it or not, it's not right. How am I supposed to respond to that, brother?
Yue Huanjiang shook his head repeatedly, wanting to say something more, but Qu Rou spoke up, "There are indeed people pushing this marriage forward. My brother already has a guess in his heart. Why pretend to be crazy and deliberately make things difficult for your own brother?"

"Look, your sister-in-law spoke up for you."

"..." x2
Qu Rou was furious. She had already warned Xiang Yuan that if he said another word, she would lose.

Qu Rou clearly knew more information than Yue Huanjiang. Xiang Yuan decisively abandoned his brother and looked at his sister-in-law: "Sister-in-law, since it's a scheme, why remind me? If I leave now, you will be accused of treason, and you may not even be able to get married."

Qu Rou's lips twitched, and she stated bluntly, "My virtuous brother once spared my life, and I am not one to repay kindness with enmity. Exposing his schemes and plots is also a way of repaying his kindness..."

"She's a woman who follows her husband wherever he goes, and she doesn't want to put her brother in a difficult position!"

"..."

I'm so tired, I just want to die!
Qu Rou glared at Yue Huanjiang. "What kind of brothers do you have? You can't even speak a decent word. I'll deal with you when we get back."

If I can't deal with the guy surnamed Xiang, I can certainly deal with you!
"May I ask, sister-in-law, who is the one who has been stirring things up?"

"Eastern Sea Penglai, Yuyang School".

"Yuyang Sect..."

Xiang Yuan raised his hand and touched his chin. After learning that the mastermind was hiding in the land of rogue cultivators in the East China Sea, he made a special trip to inquire about the situation of many rogue cultivator islands in the East China Sea. According to the information obtained by Tianzong, Yuyang Sect is one of the many overseas rogue cultivator sects. Recently, it has become famous and has shown some signs of rising to become a first-class sect.

The Jade Sun Sect had no Grandmasters at the Tongyou stage before, at least not on the surface. According to information gathered by the Heavenly Sect, the current sect leader is named Zhang Tianyang. Last year, he gained two Grandmaster Elders, which greatly increased his strength and met the threshold of a first-class power.

These two masters were husband and wife, and Xiang Yuan had even beaten them up.

The canal is wide.

Water lily.

The former Grandmaster Elder of the Hundred Rivers Alliance failed to reclaim the Zhenshui Iron Sword and was severely beaten by Xiang Yuan. The couple deeply felt that the Hundred Rivers Alliance was declining and that their status would plummet if they didn't leave, so they took most of the Hundred Rivers Alliance's assets and became elders of the Yuyang Sect in the East Sea.

This is the territory of the mastermind behind it all; those two unlucky guys are definitely going to regret it.

The intelligence gathered by Tianzong is limited, and the truth about the Yuyang Sect is still unknown. It is a very low-profile sect, which fits Xiang Yuan's stereotype of the villain behind the scenes.

Whether Zhang Tianyang is the mastermind behind it all, or the reincarnation of another Heavenly Emperor in the Qianyuan Realm, remains to be seen.

Xiang Yuan's intuition told her that it probably wasn't.

Judging from his own experience, if he were the mastermind, he would definitely keep a tight rein on himself and never let anyone easily find out his name. Zhang Tianyang should be a pawn that he has put out in the open.

"Brother, do you intend to leave?" Yue Huanjiang asked.

I've got everyone ready. We're already here, why should we leave?
The mastermind behind the scenes did not restrain Qu Rou, allowing her to explain that the marriage was a scheme to lure her into a trap. The scheme was carried out openly and honestly. Although she was not yet the Heavenly Emperor, she already possessed some of the arrogance of the Heavenly Emperor. This kind of spirit was many times stronger than that of the broken sampan.

If he hadn't treated the common people as his own children, showing no mercy or compassion, Xiang Yuan would have already joined the other side.

Another day of complaining about the broken sampan.

Xiang Yuan also believed that with the mastermind's calculation ability, they must have known he dared to come, and would have gathered their forces.

This head-on confrontation is most likely a showdown, a challenge from the mastermind behind the scenes. There's no way to avoid it; the only option is to face it head-on.

"My dear brother?!"

"How could I not attend my elder brother's wedding!"

Xiang Yuan chuckled and said, "Don't worry, on your wedding day, with me by your side to protect you, even if there are a thousand difficulties, I will make sure you have a smooth wedding night."

"..." x2
My dear brother, why do you always focus on things that are so different from what most people do? x2
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Three days later, at the Yue residence.

The vermilion and gilded gates of the mansion stood wide open, with twelve pairs of crimson palace lanterns hanging from the eaves. The lanterns, embroidered with the family crest of the moon, swayed gently in the breeze, casting a warm red glow on the blue stone steps in front of the gate. Inside the mansion, servants, all dressed in newly made indigo short jackets with bright red silk wrapped around their waists, stood on either side, smiling as they welcomed the endless stream of guests.

The area in front of the mansion was filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, and the music of sheng and xiao, creating a festive and lively atmosphere.

The steward held a gilded name card in his hand, and whenever a distinguished guest arrived, he would stand in front of the steps and announce it loudly.

The Yue family recently moved to Tianbao County, where they spent a fortune to acquire a vast mansion, complete with exquisite pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and waterside pavilions, all of which were luxurious and exquisite.

His lavish spending and mysterious background attracted many curious onlookers.

Rumors circulated that the Yue family was a wealthy household in Jiangdong, dealing in waterways. However, Jiangdong was crisscrossed by waterways, bustling with merchants and wealthy households were as numerous as carp crossing the river. This rumor was essentially meaningless, and the identity of the Yue family's patriarch remained a mystery.

The Southern Jin Dynasty had its own unique circumstances, and all merchants of unknown origin were treated according to the tradition of honoring honest officials in their old age.

Inside the mansion, guests clinked glasses and toasted each other, enjoying the delicious food and the aroma of wine.

When Yue arrived at the residence, she didn't know where these relatives and friends had come from.

Xiang Yuan sat in the backyard and saw the exquisite dishes arranged in the shape of "Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Auspiciousness" in front of him. He picked up his chopsticks and noticed that Chan'er was eagerly waiting for her husband to feed her. He smiled and satisfied her.

Just pet her!
The first wife watched coldly from the sidelines.

There aren't many tables in the backyard; it's the VIP area and also where the newlyweds exchange vows in their bridal chamber.

Xiang Yuan led his two wives to a separate table, with two personal maids, Hongxiao and Qingli, serving them. He glanced at the empty tables around him and sped up feeding Chan'er, urging her to eat faster, lest she overturn the table in a moment.

Chan'er gave a soft snort and refused to eat.

She didn't really want to eat anything; she just wanted her husband to pamper her. This perfunctory attitude only made her look foolish.

My husband is so annoying!
"If you're not going to eat it, then I will."

Xiang Yuan rolled up his sleeves and began to drink heartily. Because the speed at which the dishes were served could not keep up with the speed at which he drank them, the two maids, Hongxiao and Qingli, were so busy that they could hardly stand still. Their already depressed mood due to the young master's wedding became even more unbearable at this moment.

I used to really like Young Master Xiang! x2
While the two women were serving the dishes, Xiang Yuan stopped the talkative Hong Xiao and asked her about the banquet in the front yard and where all the monsters came from.

"Yeah, where did all these monsters come from?"

Hongxiao said that Xiangyuan was overthinking it. Those people in the front yard were neither monsters nor relatives or friends. They were a group arranged by Qu Rou to create a lively atmosphere, which she paid to rent for food and drinks.

Xiangyuan: (一`一)
Wasn't Manager Qu bankrupted because his younger brother seized the family business? Why is he still spending so much money, hiring people to attend banquets? This is the first time he's heard of such a thing.

Or is this how the demon race does things?
Xiao Lingyue noticed Xiang Yuan's confusion and whispered, "It's simple. A few tables would be too quiet. For such an important event as a wedding, my sister-in-law doesn't want to make things difficult for herself, so she's willing to spend her own money to make it a lively affair."

“That makes sense. After all, it’s her first marriage, and she shouldn’t make herself suffer.”

"..."

Do you want to listen to what you are saying!
After Xiao Lingyue's reminder, Xiang Yuan finally understood. Regardless of whether anyone was pushing for this marriage, Qu Rou was taking it very seriously.

Shopkeeper Qu is a vixen, the kind with nine tails, and her thoughts are hard to fathom. Xiang Yuan can only assume that his sister-in-law raised his brother single-handedly and, wanting to keep the wealth within the family, is actually thinking of marrying her apprentice as her husband.

How good!
Xiang Yuan thought sourly, but wasn't envious at all.

Another table full of delicacies was laid out. Just as Xiang Yuan picked up his chopsticks, he saw Hongxiao and Qingli staring at him with wide eyes. He asked in surprise, "What's wrong? Is your sister-in-law jealous and can't stand the two of you? Did your brother just give you two to me?"

“What are you saying to Young Master Xiang? He’s not that kind of person,” Hongxiao said, displeased.

"..."

That's not true!

He's tried to send you two away more than once or twice, but he failed to get his way with a certain pure-love god.

Also, what do you mean by saying that the young master is not that kind of person? You're not going to refute your sister-in-law's jealousy, are you?

"Then why are you two staring at me like that? Let me make this clear first: I love my wife very much. If you two want someone to feed her, forget about it. There's absolutely no way I'll let you know." Xiang Yuan said loudly to Xiao Lingyue and Chan'er with an upright expression.

The effect was mediocre; the two women felt he was harassing Yue Huanjiang's maid.

And in front of the wife/wife!

Hongxiao stamped her foot, pulled Qingli forward, and the two snake demons stood beside Xiang Yuan, blushing as they whispered that they had a request.

“Young Master Xiang, you and the young master are brothers, and you know his temperament. If it weren’t for your efforts, the young master would never have gotten married in his life…” Hongxiao said with certainty.

Qingli nodded, feeling that Hongxiao was being too tactful. It wasn't just about marriage; even someone like Yue Huanjiang would never touch a girl's hand in his entire life.

"So, you two came here specifically to thank Mr. Xiang?"

"Young Master Xiang, you're so smart, you must have guessed it."

"Hehe, if you hadn't told me, how would Young Master Xiang have known about you..."

As Xiang Yuan was joking with Hong Xiao, he noticed the unfriendly gazes on his left and right. He stopped teasing and put on a gentlemanly face: "Alright, I'll go all the way. I'll find a way to dig a pit for my brother and give you two a chance to become sisters with Manager Qu."

At this point, I have a lot of complaints in my mind.

Sending women is a major flaw. A nine-tailed fox queen and two beautiful young snake demons—if this were written into a novel, it would definitely be torn apart by readers.

Having received Xiang Yuan's promise, Hongxiao and Qingli were extremely grateful and worked much harder to serve the dishes.

Hongxiao: Young Master Xiang is such a kind person. You have a good heart, so please eat more.

Qingli: That makes sense.

"Don't be too happy yet. Your sister-in-law has made such a grand wedding, which shows she's serious. If you two want to get a share of the pie from her... you'll probably end up being stewed into snake soup one day."

Xiang Yuan muttered to himself, winking at Xiao Lingyue and Chan'er, looking forward to seeing the jokes that would happen in the backyard of the Yue family in the future.

Le.JPG
"..." x2
Even if the eldest brother doesn't criticize the second brother, things are never peaceful in your backyard. It's hard to say who'll be laughing at whom! x2
As Xiang Yuan was drinking, he heard the steward in front of the mansion announce that the words "Yu Yang School" were mentioned. He waved his hands, creating afterimages, and finished a table full of drinks in the shortest possible time.

Chan'er took out a handkerchief to wipe her husband's mouth. She didn't care about the Yuyang Sect at all, and her eyes were only on Xiang Yuan.

Xiao Lingyue turned her head slightly and saw two men and a woman walk into the backyard. She immediately frowned. The two were grandmasters, and the other was... whose aura was obscure and difficult to discern. They were probably cultivators of the upper three realms.

The three cultivators representing the Yuyang Sect who came to observe the ceremony walked slowly through the noisy front yard and entered the back yard as honored guests.

The man at the head of the group was about middle-aged, with three long, jet-black beards that reached down to his chest, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance.

He wore a wide, dark Taoist robe with cloud patterns embroidered on the hem. A jade Tai Chi pendant hung at his waist. He walked with a steady gait, his robe sleeves remaining perfectly still, exuding an aura of quiet authority.

His face was solemn, his gaze calm as an ancient well, yet it held a hidden sharpness. A shallow vertical line between his brows, clearly caused by years of frowning, greatly diminished the dignity of his face, adding a touch of hardship and helplessness.

This kind of face looks like someone who has been troubled by the trivial matters of the sect for many years, or someone who has encountered a bottleneck in his cultivation and is unable to break through it.

The two men following behind them were like lackeys; the man was tall and the woman was beautiful, both with remarkable looks and demeanor.

The two men recognized Xiang Yuan, and Xiang Yuan recognized them as well; they were Qu Kuan, the dog food vendor, and Shui Xianghui. When the couple saw Xiang Yuan, their hearts skipped a beat, and they both secretly thought, "Oh no!" They nodded and greeted each other from a distance.

Xiang Yuan paid no attention to the two of them, his gaze falling on the middle-aged Taoist priest in a black robe, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

This person possessed an aura as deep and restrained as an abyss, yet concealed a sharp edge. A single glance from him was enough to make him feel considerable pressure; he was no ordinary person.

He must be Zhang Tianyang, the leader of the Yuyang Sect!
What a bitter and resentful face! It couldn't have been formed without the repeated friction and persecution of life. He's definitely a high-ranking monk who would have attained enlightenment upon entering the Buddhist order. Xiang Yuan would believe it if you said he was the ringleader, the mastermind behind the scenes, or the reincarnation of another Heavenly Emperor.

Two more announcements followed, and Xiang Yuan heard the names of two first-rate forces, Yan Kong Temple and Yongle Sect.

He frowned, no longer paying attention to the middle-aged Taoist priest, surprised that these two families would also come to witness the ceremony.

Yan Kong Temple and Bao Jing Temple were constantly bickering, Yongle Sect was full of backpackers, and the Southern Jin Dynasty was in chaos during the Shangyuan Festival. Neither of these two sects got involved, but instead came to attend the wedding of two monsters.

The question is, are we here to slay demons and subdue snake demons and fox spirits to bring back to the mountain gate as mounts, or... are the henchmen of the mastermind here?

It's a pity that if Qingyun Sect and Baojing Temple also joined in the fun, it would be quite a spectacle!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

10,000 words, please vote with monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)