Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 301, Chapter 310: The Drums of Yuyang Shake the Earth

The Qin Dynasty had a complete set of rituals and music, and its wedding procedures were quite complicated.

There are six rites before marriage: betrothal (proposing marriage), name inquiry (divining good or bad fortune), engagement (betrothal), betrothal gifts (sending betrothal gifts), wedding date setting (setting the wedding date), and finally, the wedding ceremony (welcoming the bride).

However, these are turbulent times, not a peaceful period, so with Ye Jingneng's approval, everything will be kept simple.

After some simple preparations, the two held their wedding at the mountain gate a few days before the imperial court dispatched troops.

On the day of the wedding, around 3 PM, Li Cunxiao washed and changed his clothes, put on a turban with flowers in his hair, wore a bright red round collar, and draped in brocade.

Before setting off, they would first offer sacrifices to their ancestors at home, respectfully informing the spirits of the marriage, and "fill the mortar with three liters of millet, cover the well with a mat, block the window with three catties of hemp, and place three arrows on the door" to ward off evil and bring prosperity to the family.

Subsequently, Li Mucha rode a red steed, while he himself rode a green horse transformed from a nine-headed green lion, leading Li Siqi and other disciples of the Azure Dragon Sect to the boudoir on Vermilion Bird Peak.

Here comes the most difficult step in getting married.

Just like the past life's traditions of storming the door and scattering red envelopes, the customs of the Qin Dynasty are even more fierce. To take the bride away, one must undergo both literary and martial tests:

A warrior is called a son-in-law. It is said that "on the day the son-in-law pays respects to his wife, all the women from the bride's family gather, and each of them beats the son-in-law with a stick for amusement."

If a groom wants to take his bride away, he has to endure a beating from her family first. Some of them are so rough that they might even knock the groom to the ground.

However, the disciples of Zhuque Peak had already witnessed Li Cunxiao's skills, especially after training in the training ground a few days ago. Guo Zhao was completely convinced and would not make things difficult for him on this day.
The two exchanged blows briefly, creating a spectacular display, before each calling it a day.

Once a bride enters her boudoir, the second written test is to compose a "bridal poem" to urge her to quickly get ready and get married.

Ye Shuyi had long harbored feelings for him, so she naturally wouldn't make things difficult for him. After reciting a poem, she covered her face with a fan and, surrounded by maids, was escorted into the carriage by her father, Ye Jingneng.

Li Cunxiao then rode his horse around the carriage three times to show his respect for his wife.

Traditionally, there's a custom of "blocking the car" on the way back from the wedding procession. The bride's relatives and friends would crowd in the middle of the road, blocking the wedding car from leaving, and the groom would have to throw money to buy passage.

But the actual situation is the opposite:

The road from Vermilion Bird Peak to Azure Dragon Peak was blocked by nobles and dignitaries, all of whom were there to present gifts to the two of them!
Gold, silver, pearls, jade, silk, and satin stretched for a mile, their jewels gleaming in the sun; the extravagance of the scene was astonishing.

What used to be a 15-minute journey took Li Cunxiao nearly an hour on horseback before he finally brought his bride home at dusk.

"Marriage is arranged at night, signifying longing for each other." The character "婚" (marriage) originates from "昏" (dusk), meaning twilight.

During the wedding ceremony, a tent is set up inside the gate, which is called the "green tent".

The bride alights from the carriage, lays a felt mat on the ground, walks on the mat, which turns with her, and then straddles a saddle inside the door, symbolizing peace.

The newlyweds entered the bridal chamber and performed the three-bowing ceremony. Since Taiyi was in seclusion, Yan Daotong took the seat of honor in his place, and together with Ye Jingneng, they received the bows from Li Cunxiao and Ye Jingneng.

Now, the moment has finally arrived for the wedding night.

Sharing a portion of meat and drinking the same wine is called "sharing the same wine and drinking the same wine together." Then, each person cuts off a lock of hair and ties them together to form a "joined hair bun," symbolizing a lifelong commitment to each other.

Originally, there was a "flower candle viewing" (bridal chamber revelry) ceremony, but Li Cunxiao had had enough of it, so Li Siqi, the officiant, persuaded the guests to leave with a few words.

After a busy half-day, I finally got a moment of peace and quiet.

The man's heart is moved, and the woman's feelings are deep.

Her face was adorned with a subtle blend of rouge and powder, and the heavy dew revealed her true beauty.

Springtime washes over the brocade quilt, its crimson waves surging, as orioles fly atop the small peach blossoms.

"I haven't slept this soundly in a long time, it's been a long time since I've had a proper sleep."

Li Cunxiao slowly opened his eyes, feeling the soft, warm fragrance of the woman in his arms. He felt a long-lost sense of peace in his heart, as if all burdens had been lifted after a storm.

I haven't felt this relaxed in a long time since I broke down the entryway.

With great power comes great responsibility.

Although he didn't say it, it would be a lie to say he wasn't under pressure in the face of the increasingly tense situation.

Fortunately, from now on, there will be someone else by my side to share my feelings.

"Sanlang," Ye Shuyi murmured, opening her eyes to meet her husband's gentle gaze.

Feeling the other person's body temperature and recalling everything that happened last night, her cheeks flushed and her earlobes turned red.

Louguan Taoism is a major sect of Taoism, with a vast collection of books, including those on plants, trees, metals, stones, animals, birds, and even methods of dual cultivation.

The orthodox Taoist practice of dual cultivation is not a heretical or deviant practice of sexual enhancement, but rather a practice that benefits both husband and wife, involving the cultivation of both their physical and spiritual well-being and mutual nourishment.

Li Cunxiao is associated with wood, and Ye Shuyi with fire. Both are martial artists, full of energy, and working tirelessly without sleep is common for them.

Therefore, from the hour of Xu last night until the beginning of Chen the next day, a full half day passed, like dry wood meeting a raging fire, and having tasted the flavor, they fought again and again.

The two finally grew tired when the sun was high in the sky and rested for half an hour.

Upon waking, they felt not from excessive exertion, but rather refreshed and invigorated.

Seeing his wife's dazed expression, Li Cunxiao felt aroused again. Ye Shuyi was immediately embarrassed and annoyed, and quickly grabbed his restless hand.

"Stop fooling around, we still need to serve tea to Father later."

"That's right. My father-in-law has put in a lot of effort and resources this time, and I haven't had the chance to meet him yet."

Li Cunxiao stopped his foolishness, got up and greeted them. Naturally, the maids who had accompanied him as a bride came in to help the two of them change clothes and wash up.

He basically became a hands-off husband after the wedding.

The affairs within the household were handled by Li Siqi and Guo Zhao; while the marriage process and so on were managed by Duke Ye Jing of Yue, who brought a special team to take care of everything.

Concise, yet not hasty.

But what truly impressed Li Cunxiao was the dazzling array of jewels along the route from Zhuque Peak to Qinglong Peak during the wedding procession.

Everyone says that gold and white are vulgar, but Li Cunxiao never thought he had too much.

But what bothered him most were the people who gave him the gifts.

Some of them were people Guo Zhao and other nobles had met at gatherings, while others were a group of important officials who had previously performed the sacrificial ceremony in front of the Taiji Palace in the Imperial City.

"I don't have that much influence. The imperial court is about to send troops, and they're probably using the wedding as an excuse to send a batch of key personnel over first."

"If I'm not mistaken, if I send out invitations again today, the guests will probably have already left early."

The joy of newlywed life is always fleeting. After his first day as a groom, Li Cunxiao's thoughts once again fell on the tense situation of the present.

Logically speaking, although the imperial court is old and declining, it still has a good chance of winning if it unites the two holy sites of Qinglong Temple and Louguan Taoism to fight against Zhu Quanzhong and the Ming Cult.

Putting everything else aside, just considering the number of terrestrial deities, with three against two, the imperial court has a much greater chance of winning.

Louguandao mainly mobilized high-level combat forces this time, so most of the inner and outer disciples are still unaware of the inside story.

Although Guo Zhao and his disciples were nervous, they were not overly worried. They were all eager to make a name for themselves and achieve great things.

"But will Zhu Quanzhong sit idly by and wait for his death? Is he certain that the imperial court and our Buddhist and Taoist sects are only superficially at odds, or does he have some backup plan?"

"Sanlang, you drew it crookedly."

"Ok?"

Li Cunxiao came to his senses, his fingers twirling the pen, when he noticed that the beauty's two arched eyebrows were somewhat asymmetrical.

Ye Shuyi could tell he was preoccupied, so she didn't say much, but simply stroked her husband's face with her slender hand. "Don't worry, I'm here with you."

Li Cunxiao felt a warmth in his heart. He cherished this moment of tenderness and after a long, intimate moment, the two left the bridal chamber hand in hand.

Unlike the two who slept soundly all night, Ye Jingneng, the father who married off his daughter, and Li Mucha, the younger brother who married off his brother, tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

When Li Cunxiao and his wife arrived, they appeared to have been sitting in the flower hall for quite some time, chatting about the past.

"Greetings, Your Excellency," Li Cunxiao bowed to the person above him and took tea from the tray to offer it to them.

"Okay," Ye Jing took a symbolic sip, then put down the celadon, looked at the two of them, and was filled with emotion.

To be honest, he was satisfied with his new son-in-law.

It should be said that in the entire Gyeonggi Province, there is no other candidate who can satisfy him as much as he does.

Before the engagement, he was more concerned with political factors. He couldn't afford to offend either Taiyi Zhenren or Gao Pian, so he had some sense of being forced into the engagement.

However, as the two spent more time together, their daughter kept writing letters, telling them about their interactions, and Ye Jing's anxiety gradually subsided.

Li Cunxiao is a man who can stay with his partner forever.

Although he was obsessed with martial arts and alchemy, he was not as isolated from the world as his master.

When he arrived at Louguandao a few days ago and heard and confirmed it himself, that his son-in-law had broken through the barrier, he was finally speechless and could no longer find fault with it.
Now that his son-in-law has reached the same level as him, he can see the end of his own future, while his son-in-law still has a long road ahead.

He can still chime in a few words in this family for now, but in the future, he won't even have the chance to speak!

Thinking of this, the old father felt a bit aggrieved and couldn't help but sigh again.

His comical appearance contrasted sharply with his usual dignified demeanor, prompting the couple to secretly curl the corners of their mouths.

However, when Ye Shuyi saw that the seat next to her father was empty, she thought for a moment and then picked up a cup of tea and respectfully offered it to him.

"Master Taiyi is not here. Shuyi, what brings you here?"

"Although my senior uncle is not here, I think that given his temperament, it was already a bit of a pity that the sect leader presided over the wedding yesterday."

"If the bride does not serve this cup of tea today, it would be a loss of sentiment."

After Ye Shuyi's explanation, everyone understood.

Whether it was a misperception or not, after the lady finished speaking, Li Cunxiao seemed to faintly hear the old Taoist's laughter.

illusion?

I have already broken through the Heavenly Ladder, opened the Niwan Palace to forge my divine palace, and greatly increased my primordial spirit. How could I possibly be mistaken?!
Li Cunxiao was startled, his eyes filled with amber light, and he scanned the chair in front of him with his Pure Heaven Eye, but did not see the person he expected.

Just as he was wondering about this, he noticed that the cup of tea that Ye Shuyi served to Taiyi Zhenren seemed to be a little shallower than before.

Could it be that Master has already...?!
Thoughts raced through my mind, hidden deep within.

Since there was still no concrete evidence, Li Cunxiao did not make a fuss.

Although Taiyi was missing, everyone else was present, so this breakfast could be considered a family feast.

During a brief respite, Li Cunxiao quietly inquired about the situation of the guests on Mucha Mountain and learned that their carriages and horses had already left Sixiang Peak early in the morning.

It just so happens that Ye Jing can serve as the military commander, and he can also inquire about the progress of the imperial court's expedition at the dinner table.

"This time, the army will not be divided into smaller groups, but will advance in small groups before reaching Guozhou, so as not to be discovered too early."

"Once we get close to the Eastern Capital, Prime Minister Gao will gather his troops and surround and annihilate the Zhu traitor."

"With the combined strength of three grandmasters, we should be able to win this battle."

The army had already set off, so some things no longer needed to be kept secret. And with her son-in-law standing before her, Ye Jing felt free to speak without any reservations.

"What was Zhu Quanzhong's reaction?"

Li Cunxiao knew that the capital was a complex and entrenched place. With a pro-war faction like Gao Pian, there must also be a surrender faction secretly turning against the government, or at least a centrist hedging their bets.

No matter how meticulous the preparations, it was impossible to keep a secret. Zhu Quanzhong must have had spies in Daxing City.

Knowing all this, how could he remain completely indifferent and wait for the imperial army to come and suppress him?

However, in a battle between two armies, it ultimately comes down to hard power.

Our three land-based immortals have all appeared; this is an open strategy.

With Zhu Quanzhong and Mingzun combined, there are only two Grandmasters. If there is no other way, they can only temporarily avoid the limelight.

Or is it that the opponent is confident that they can put up a fight against three veteran grandmasters?
"Zhu Quanzhong must have also received some intelligence. Last night, news came that a large force of cavalry seemed to have left Luoyang City, along with many carts and horses carrying treasures they had looted."

"They must be afraid and unwilling to face the enemy directly."

"Where did they retreat to?"

Ye Jingneng, whether for self-comfort or genuine belief, pondered for a moment upon hearing this before replying:

"After Zhu's bandit troops left the city, they headed north and should have reached Hua County by now."

"Hua County, Baima Post Station?"

Gao Pian, dressed in military attire, sat cross-legged on the back of a strange beast with a cold and hard expression.

This strange beast resembles a Qilin but is covered in black fur, has a single horn on its head, and has a dignified appearance; it seems to be the Xie Zhi, a dragon species described in the book.

Upon hearing the intelligence brought by Wang Zhaofan, he pondered for only a moment before letting out a cold laugh:
"Bai Ma Yi is a dock on the Tongji Canal. This Zhu traitor must be transporting the treasures looted from Luoyang back to his lair by waterway."

"He is about to face disaster but he is unaware of it. He is indeed a lowly and uncouth person who will never change his ways."

"Does he think that after today, he will have a chance to make a comeback?"

"Prime Minister Gao," Wang Zhaofan said with a worried expression.

"Although Zhu is greedy and tyrannical, he is also cunning. Could this man be putting on an act to lure us here?"

"Zhao Fan, what you say makes sense, but it doesn't matter now."

His gaze swept from left to right, taking in a vista of fluttering banners, towering halberds, clanging armor, and gleaming sunlight.

At the left and right ends of the line of sight, one can also see a monk and a Taoist priest walking in the clouds, with dust and smoke constantly being kicked up by their footsteps below.

"Now that things have come to this, no matter what tricks the Zhu traitor has up his sleeve, the court must fight this battle."

"If this battle is not fought, the morale of the Shence Army and the Jinwu Guard will be dampened, and the hearts of the people in the court will be scattered."

"If we win, the Qin Dynasty will enjoy several more decades of prosperity; if we lose... hahahahaha!"

Gao Pian stood up and burst into laughter. His imposing aura, as if he were a one-man army that could hold off ten thousand, suddenly erupted from him, and his surging emotions stirred up the accompanying Shence soldiers as well.

"Please invite Headmaster Yan and Master Zhenjing over. There's no need to divide our forces."

"Since Zhu Quanzhong has the guts, then let him come!"

"In this battle, Great Qin will surely win!"

(End of this chapter)