Invitation Before the Wedding

Meeting, knowing, understanding.

When these three steps are complete,

The journey leads to the destination called [marriage].

Meeting the elders and receiving their blessings becomes the final step.

Xu Xi was already prepared for this.

"Servia, you're absolutely right," he said.

"I really should go. Well... how about this? No time like the present—let's go today."

Xu Xi looked up at the clear blue sky.

Seeing that it was still early, he decided to set off with the brave warrior beside him to the now-restored world of wizards.

But the warrior blinked her emerald-green eyes.

With an adorable expression, she said to Xu Xi, "Great Wizard, could you delay your visit for a few days?"

"If you go now, my parents would be overjoyed, but... I think they might need some time to prepare."

As she spoke,

the girl extended her hand, pinching her thumb and forefinger together in a "just a little" gesture to emphasize her point.

"Prepare?"

"Yes! Preparations to welcome you!"

Xu Xi couldn't help but laugh.

He had intended to say there was no need for such trouble, but Servia was too excited—she vanished in the blink of an eye,

claiming she had to go back and help with the arrangements.

"Servia seems..."

"Really looking forward to me meeting her parents?"

Staring at the now-empty space before him, Xu Xi stood in the middle of the courtyard, pondering how he should greet Servia’s parents—what attitude to adopt, what words to say.

But there was no rush.

In the meantime, he could focus on other things.

"The wedding procedures, the venue, the food and decorations—they’re all mostly ready."

"As for the timing, we’ve tentatively set it for late autumn or early winter."

"Or perhaps early next spring."

"Counting the days, it’s about time to start sending out invitations."

"It would be disrespectful to wait until the wedding day itself to invite people."

Xu Xi raised his hand, his index finger extended midair. A butterfly fluttered over, briefly alighting on his fingertip before darting gracefully into the flowerbed.

Its wings were vibrant, strikingly beautiful.

Xu Xi smiled.

After informing the witch trimming the dragon’s blood grass, he stepped out of the courtyard.

His first stop was the outskirts of Yanshan City, where he planned to invite the people of the Survival Corps—especially Niu and his family—to attend the wedding in six months.

"Whoosh—"

"Whoosh—"

Xu Xi walked along the scorching asphalt road.

The pavement shimmered gold under the relentless sun,

bearing the marks of its fiery touch.

Stepping over dappled shadows cast by leaves, he moved further from the courtyard, the sunlight on his shoulders almost urging him forward.

Suddenly,

Xu Xi stopped.

Amid the golden silence of the blazing sun, he turned back to look at the courtyard—and the witch who watched him with puzzled eyes.

"Do you need any help, Mentor?"

"No, it’s fine, Krisha. Just taking it all in."

Xu Xi smiled,

answering Krisha while sweeping his gaze over the home he had lived in for years.

He still vividly remembered the novelty and excitement of moving from his old house to this courtyard.

It had felt like the crisp coolness of orange soda.

Now, with the passage of time, those old emotions fluttered in the wind, mingling with fragments of dried grass, leaving behind a lingering nostalgia.

The scattered, the projected—

all were paths Xu Xi had once walked.

Clusters of crimson dragon’s blood grass swayed like waves in his vision, rustling and shimmering:

"Unknowingly, I’ve come so far."

"Sometimes fast, sometimes slow."

"Sometimes more, sometimes less."

"That’s life, isn’t it…"

Xu Xi smiled, the serenity in his eyes gentler than the sun itself.

He reminisced—

about the teasing he’d heard during his third simulation: If you ever get married, you’d have to invite everyone from the Survival Corps.

And Li Wanshou’s words from the first simulation: Make sure you have ten or eight little disciples running around.

"Inviting everyone is easy enough."

"But ten or eight kids? Well… let’s table that for now."

With a single step, Xu Xi traversed vast distances effortlessly.

A mere stride spanned miles.

From the heart of Yanshan City, he arrived at Niu’s doorstep in the outskirts.

"Great Master!"

"Brother Xi!"

People on the street spotted Xu Xi, greeting him warmly and inviting him into their homes.

"No need, thank you all," Xu Xi declined with a smile,

instead extending his own invitation—for them to attend his wedding in half a year.

"......"

"???"

Silence fell.

The people of the Survival Corps froze, stunned by Xu Xi’s words.

But soon,

their shock erupted into uncontainable joy.

"Quick! Spread the word—Great Master Xu is getting married!"

"Tell everyone, hurry!"

"The Great Master is remarrying!"

"Granny, granny! The Great Master already has two kids!"

"Absolutely true—both are Mr. Wu’s!"

This time, it was Xu Xi’s turn to be dumbfounded.

"Wait, I—they—"

Listening to the rampant rumors swirling in the air, Xu Xi began to wonder if he had misspoken, leading to such wild misunderstandings.

The wind blew.

People ran.

Men, women, young and old dashed about in excitement.

The entire outskirts buzzed with jubilation.

The versions circulating had long strayed from Xu Xi’s original words, but one thing remained consistent—they all planned to attend his wedding.

"Brother Xi, we want braised pork!"

"I want roast chicken!"

People who no longer struggled for survival, who had left hunger behind,

now made "greedy" and "demanding" requests for the wedding feast.

Xu Xi agreed to each with a smile. "Alright, I’ll remember. Make sure you all come."

Just then,

the door to Niu’s house creaked open.

The sturdy, sun-darkened man seemed to have just woken up, bleary-eyed and confused by the commotion outside.

But then he spotted Xu Xi at his doorstep—

and heard the crowd’s enthusiastic chatter.

Instantly,

Little Niu’s excitement bubbled over. "Big Brother Xu, I’m so happy!"

"I get to see you get married!"

"I get to eat at your big red banquet!"

The man rambled on excitedly before his voice softened, hesitant and unsure:

"Big Brother Xu… I can go, right?"

Xu Xi nodded. "Of course. That’s why I’m here—to invite you."

Niu immediately puffed out his chest, standing tall and speaking with newfound confidence.

Then he hurried back inside, returning with a small, drowsy boy in his arms, nudging him toward Xu Xi.

"Yansheng, come on, greet Big Brother Xu!"

Zhang Yansheng.

Niu’s firstborn.

Xu Xi had named him himself.

A simple name, carrying the legacy of those who once fought to survive.

The child, urged by his father, blinked wide eyes and waved tiny hands, babbling as if greeting Xu Xi.

"Good, good. You’re invited too."

Xu Xi pulled out a stack of invitations from his robe.

Under the awed gazes of the crowd, he handed one to every person gathered—including Niu’s family and the newborn child.

The inked characters on the invitations

carried an immense, transcendent power.

When the time came, they would allow the bearers to pierce through space and arrive at the wedding venue.