Promise!

Chapter 260, Spring Night

Tongfu Inn is located on the fifth floor of Zhenxiufang in Cangzhou City, on the second ring road.

"Brother Mu, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, probably an old friend of my brother-in-law."

Mu Bai looked at Teng Yuansong and the Teng family over there, shook his head slightly, said nothing more, and looked across at the other side.

This was Lu Tai, the eldest of the "Five Heroes of Tongshan," who invited him for tea, his expression full of flattery and ingratiation.

After he opened his meridians, he was too eager for quick success and ruined his reputation by treating his sworn brothers and sisters-in-law poorly. To make matters worse, he discovered that the martial artists of the same level he encountered after breaking through to the meridians realm, those who had also climbed up from the bottom, were all very cunning.

Lu Tai thought he was cunning and good at disguising himself, but these martial artists of the same level were even more despicable, shameless, and cunning. What he was proud of was utterly worthless; there was always someone better.

In other words, there are no morals or bottom lines. This industry is too competitive, and there are too many people who want to be lackeys for the big shots. They're fighting tooth and nail to get a spot.

Once you reach this level, the only way to truly rise to the top is through either talent or luck.

Even someone as influential as Zhuang Jin, whose experiences and resume are clearly laid out before him, would not be able to imitate him even if he were shown them by Mu Bai.

Looking at the tea and snacks Mu Bai had ordered, Lu Tai silently calculated his contribution points, suppressed the pangs of heartache in his heart, and, taking advantage of Mu Bai's full stomach and good mood, tentatively asked, "Does Brother Mu have any extra invitations to Lord Zhuang's wedding banquet?"

"I only have one here, it's not good to trouble my brother-in-law to ask for another one, I really can't help you with this, maybe next time, definitely next time."

Mu Bai ate and drank his food, but did nothing. After getting a free meal, he wiped his mouth, deliberately asked for confirmation, packed up the remaining snacks to take back to his son, then patted his butt and strolled away.

'That little beast is utterly shameless!'

Lu Tai cursed inwardly, but dared not show it on his face. He had to pretend to be generous and magnanimous, telling Mu Bai to pack up whatever he wanted and sending him off with a smile.

Without an invitation, they couldn't get Zhuang Jin's help, so they could only try to fool a few fools and recoup some of their costs by using Mu Bai's indirect name.

'But in this world, the oppression from the Heavenly Bureau is getting worse, the overall environment and situation are not good, and life is getting harder and harder. Even fools are getting harder and harder to find!' He sighed inwardly, feeling very confused about the future.

……

Invitations to Zhuang Jin and Shangguan Yunchang's wedding were indeed extremely rare in Cangzhou City. Innate martial artists could easily obtain them, but those below the innate level needed connections. A small invitation was a symbol of status, position, and personal connections.

As the atmosphere gradually built up, everyone eagerly awaited the wedding, and finally, November 18th arrived.

On this day, the three great families used their authority to fully activate the Sky-Suspended Mirror, causing the generated sky curtain to expand and directly cover the entire Cangzhou City, turning the whole city into a red-clad white-clad landscape.

Today, everything from the stalls along the Third Ring Road to the Divine Weapon Workshop, the Mythical Beast Workshop, the Ascending Immortal Pavilion, the auction, the round table gatherings, and so on, is suspended. The Star-Picking Pavilion is also not open to the public, only hosting this wedding banquet. The Delicacies Workshop, the Fruit Workshop, the Vegetable Workshop, and the Poultry Workshop are also fully dedicated to serving the wedding banquet. On this day, everything in the entire city makes way for this wedding, pushing this grand event at the state level to its climax.

Those who are rarely seen in the innate martial arts world, and even those who have retired from the innate families and whose foundations are not revealed, all showed up today in the state city, out of respect for the three great families, and gathered at the Star-Picking Tower for the banquet.

Outside, there was also a celebration with the people, with banquets served, offering meat and wine. People could say a blessing and eat as much as they wanted as long as they didn't waste food; if they were martial artists, they could show their "Suspended Commander" plaque and receive meat from exotic beasts.

After the roundtable meeting was cleaned up, the three powerful families, being wealthy and powerful, did not care about such a small expense. At the same time, the free things were also the most expensive. By tasting them once, they could cultivate consumption habits and reap the benefits quietly in the future.

……

The Star-Picking Tower, seventh floor.

Everyone here is at least a martial artist at the Innate True Qi Realm. At one table, people from Zhuang Jin's small circle of Innate True Qi Realm cultivators were seated.

Cen Zhanshan suffered a great loss of vitality after the Fire Phoenix Bird incident, and his recuperation has not been much. Now, he has a lot of white hair and looks old.
Back then, Hong Baoshu used his connections to ask Li Tingguan to introduce Zhuang Jin into the Gangqi Realm circle to trade beast beads and beast cores. His eldest son, Hong Jinchang, finally broke through to the Innate Realm, which allowed the Hong family to continue its wealth for a hundred years.
After losing an arm, Leng Kui returned to his family. The fierceness he once had dissipated, and his cold and hard eyebrows and eyes have softened considerably.
Min Zhongmin, having suffered the tragic fate of being entangled with countless women in Kaifeng, had always been in a state of "passing through a sea of ​​beauties." If a great physician were here, he would be able to see that this man was already showing signs of kidney deficiency.

At this moment, they inevitably talked about people from their past circle. They felt sorry and sighed about Feng Qingyin's death; they also mentioned He Zhaoyi, but he brought it on himself. Back then, everyone had their own reasons for not taking action or only leaving him a sliver of his offspring, so they all felt a little guilty and just mentioned him briefly before moving on; they talked more about Zhuang Jin.

Looking back now, Zhuang Jin seemed unremarkable to them. They had fun together and were just as carefree and dashing as they were.

As for my specific impression of Zhuang Jin, he was quite amiable, without any of the so-called genius's sharp edge, and not threatening. The reality was that this was the kind of person who broke through to the Innate Corpse-Slaying Realm smoothly and without any waves, which was simply astonishing.

The most amazing thing is that if it weren't for this marriage, based on all the external information and rational analysis, Xuantian Division would not have considered Zhuang Jin's threat level to be even close to Grade A.

"Lord Zhuang, Lord Shangguan has arrived!"

At this moment, with a shout, all the innate martial artists on the seventh floor stood up in unison to offer their blessings and toasts.

At this moment, Cen Zhanshan looked at Zhuang Jin, who was walking side by side with Shangguan Yunchang, the next head of the Shangguan family, whose status was obvious. He couldn't help but recall the past: 'Back then, I was wary and defensive because of the position of the leader of the small circle. Now, thinking about it, it's quite laughable. It's no different from a farmer worrying that the Emperor of Daqian would snatch the golden hoe from his hand!'

……

Eighth floor, guests at the Innate Qi Realm.

Xi Guiling watched Zhuang Jin and Shangguan Yunchang's retreating figures with a complex expression. Then, turning his gaze, he saw Cui Panggui acting like a lapdog, and a barely perceptible look of disgust appeared on his face.

At this moment, Qin Douzhan transmitted his voice to him: "I heard that Cui Pangui escorted a junior of the Shangguan family who was at the Innate True Qi Realm into the Funiu Mountains for a trial a couple of days ago. They encountered danger and were injured."

"Ha, retribution! Both Brother Zhuang and Cui Pangui have aligned themselves with powerful families, but Brother Zhuang has risen to prominence in the Shangguan family, while Cui Pangui is nothing more than a dog!"

With his back to everyone and out of sight of outsiders, Xi Guiling showed no fear on his face, and his eyes were very clear.

"Yes, but this path is not easy. Luck and talent are both indispensable. For example, without precious resources, how can we break through to the Corpse Severing stage? Even if we break through to the Corpse Severing stage and marry into a noble family, we are more like puppets. How can we do what Brother Zhuang has done?"

Qin Douzhan originally thought that Zhuang Jin would be a little sad when he entered the Shangguan family, but all the facts proved that this was not the case. Zhuang Jin had obviously won Shangguan Yunchang's heart. Otherwise, with Shangguan Yunchang's status, how could she tolerate Ji Tongxiu and even redeem Chu Jing and Miao Yunzhen for him and take them in?
This was the surprise Shangguan Yunchang gave to Zhuang Jin.

If Ji Tongxiu had developed some feelings for Zhuang Jin after spending several years with him, and Shangguan Yunchang had truly shown patience and tolerance, then people like Chu Jing and Miao Yunzhen were merely playthings in her eyes, whom she didn't care about at all.

Furthermore, these two are indeed husband and wife; they both possess a strong sense of possessiveness. In recent years, Zhuang Jin has not allowed Chu Jing and Miao Yunzhen to be touched by others, and Shangguan Yunchang has the same thought. How can others share the people her husband has been with? Redeeming the two of them is probably just like buying an object.

At this moment, Cui Pangui turned around, and Xi Guiling immediately showed a look of fear on his face, avoiding the other's gaze, his body trembling slightly. Qin Douzhan saw this scene and smiled inwardly, knowing that his brother Xi was putting on an act again.

……

Ninth floor.

Zhuang Jin and Shangguan Yunchang came over and saw Li Shicong, Mai Yinghuang, Bian Zhihao, Ge Zhaoqing, and Ao Zhiqi, these five people outside the aristocratic families who had reached the Corpse Slayer Realm, and they greeted them briefly one by one.

Today, he did manage to make an impression on the five people, for no other reason than that the gifts they presented were all quite substantial.

……

After the guests were greeted, at the appointed time, the Hanging Mirror activated and expanded, covering the entire city with a sky full of colorful fireworks, like endless ripples spreading across a lake during a heavy rain.

"Roar!"

"Wow!"

At this moment, the three great families gathered a pair of strange beasts that had undergone three blood transfusions: the Sky-Splitting Dragon King and the Phoenix King. The dragon and phoenix brought good fortune and flew over to lift Zhuang Jin and Shangguan Yunchang into the sky.

At this moment, Ji Tongxiu, Teng Yuansong, Mu Bai, Bi Boyi, Qin Douzhan... a group of old friends all looked up, their hearts filled with complex emotions, and offered their blessings.

……

These people who had walked alongside Zhuang Jin, were familiar with her, and had interactions with her, each had their own paths and wonderful experiences outside of Zhuang Jin.

We gather and witness this moment, but as today passes, we will eventually disperse and drift away, returning to our original paths. New people come and old people go, just like the river of time, flowing ceaselessly forward.

……

That night, in the central courtyard of the Shangguan family residence.

The suspended mirror reflects the sky, and pink petals formed from the endless primordial energy of heaven and earth fall like flying flowers. A bright moon shines in the clear sky, and red candles burn quietly in front of the bed. The fragrance of the acacia incense burning beside it rises into the air like ink spreading in the room as it falls into water.

Zhuang Jin, dressed in his groom's finest attire, possessed an indescribable radiance, like a piece of warm, lustrous jade, further enhanced by the addition of jewels, exuding a noble and elegant air. Shangguan Yunchang, in her bright red wedding gown, adorned with a silver diamond mark between her brows, appeared even more noble and aloof. Today, her appearance, attire, and overall demeanor combined to create a captivating charm that Zhuang Jin had never witnessed before.

The two stood side by side by the window, gazing at the falling blossoms, the bright moon, the night, and the surrounding water, its surface spotless.

"Life is endless from generation to generation, and the moon over the river looks the same year after year."

Zhuang Jin remembered that she had once worn a wedding dress and watched the moon with others, but the people around her now were different.

He has passed through so many people and events to arrive at this moment. Looking further into the future, in his pursuit of immortality, this is perhaps just a stop along the way.

However, the way of the sage is to adapt to the world and not be burdened by emotions. Zhuang Jin was truly committed to every stage of his journey.

“You’re not thinking of me right now,” Shangguan Yunchang said, turning around and suddenly frowning.

Zhuang Jin did not deny it, but took Shangguan Yunchang's slender hand and said, "At this moment, all I see is you."

"Hmph, take this sword. If you lose..."

With a flick of her sleeve, Shangguan Yunchang sent a sword flying from the display shelf. She didn't say anything more, but it was clear that if Zhuang Jin lost, this precious spring night would likely be spent sleeping alone.

when!
Zhuang Jin never expected that his night of passion would be so 'unusual'. Seeing Shangguan Yunchang's expression, he stopped talking, drew his sword, and went outside with her.

As pink petals drifted down, sword energy crisscrossed. Both were of the ice attribute, their auras contrasting sharply: one was as pure as ice, the other as cold and aloof as snow and ice. Their swift, dancing figures were reflected in the mirror-like water. Above them, a bright moon shone in the clear sky, and a fleeting glimpse of a beautiful bird flew by.

Dancing clear shadow, like in the world.

……

"Young people, they're so energetic, they can't even have a peaceful wedding night."

A bored, nearly 100-year-old woman with the face of a young girl, carrying one of her many old, fat, orange cats that she could no longer remember how many she had ever owned, came to the rooftop and looked at the small courtyard not far away.

"This move won't work, Chang'er, you should stab him in the groin... Young Zhuang's sword strike was exquisite, not bad."

"Huh?! How did the fight turn into a drawn-out, lingering swordplay?! How boring, how boring!"

Shangguan Jinfeng murmured and commented, and after a while, seeing the two of them moving slowly and affectionately, she sighed that she had missed the excitement.

Even so, as she gazed at the two shadows under the moon, her eyes gradually became hazy. In her eyes, which were filled with vicissitudes, a look of reminiscence appeared as she recalled a past event from who knows how many years ago, a past she thought she had forgotten.

"Chang'er, you're luckier than me!"

After a long while, a sigh echoed in the empty night, then faded away. A listless old woman jumped off the roof and went back inside, leaving only a bewildered, helpless cat meowing in the slightly cool night breeze.

……

Pink petals formed from the primordial energy of heaven and earth fell down. Zhuang Jin and Shangguan Yunchang's swords, though devoid of killing intent, were full of treacherous moves. Yet, through their unspoken understanding, they transformed into a tender and beautiful sword dance, which, along with the moonlight, was reflected in the water.

Different women in the world are lovely in their own way, and at this moment, in Zhuang Jin's eyes, Shangguan Yunchang, like Chang'e under the moon, is just that.

Well, he didn't lose face after all. The two went from the courtyard to the house, and then... the light gauze swayed. In certain places, Shangguan Yunchang, being the same type of person who was unwilling to be inferior to others, tried her best to be the best, and another competition ensued.

Inside the room, red candles wept, and the quilt was turned over in red waves. The night passed just like that, and no one knew when dawn broke in the east.

……

(End of this chapter)