Erupting Completely

The third day of the third lunar month, an auspicious day for marriage.

The Qingyun Sect ushered in its grandest celebration in a thousand years.

Colorful phoenixes danced above the nine heavens.

Ten miles of red dowry covered the entirety of Lengyue Peak.

Congratulatory gifts from all the major sects of Qingzhou piled up, filling three entire squares.

Countless cultivators arrived on flying swords, just to witness this so-called match made in heaven.

Gongs and drums deafened the sky, accompanied by the blaring of suonas.

The air was filled with the intoxicating aroma of spirit wine.

However, inside Ye Xuan's bedchamber, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

He sat before the mirror, letting the maids dress him in a bright red wedding robe embroidered with golden dragon patterns.

Red.

A piercing, dazzling red.

Young Master, you look truly handsome.

The maid Xiaohong blushed as she tied his hair, praising him, Wearing this wedding robe, you look even better than a banished immortal from the heavens.

Ye Xuan looked at himself in the mirror.

A face as flawless as jade, eyes as bright as stars.

But those eyes were as hollow as a dried-up well.

Does it look good?

Ye Xuan twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a stiff smile.

Don't I look like a dressed-up puppet?

Xiaohong was startled, nearly dropping the comb in her hand. Y-Young Master, what are you saying? On such a joyous day, you shouldn't say such unlucky things.

Lucky...

Ye Xuan chuckled softly.

Just then, a commotion came from outside the door.

Xia Lengyue had arrived.

Today, she was so beautiful that one hardly dared to look directly at her.

Wearing a phoenix coronet and robes of state, she radiated brilliant light. Her red wedding dress was embroidered with a lifelike phoenix, every thread woven from ten-thousand-year fire silkworm silk.

She dismissed the attendants and walked up behind Ye Xuan.

Looking at the man in the mirror dressed in fiery red, Xia Lengyue's eyes were filled with infatuation and tears.

Husband.

She hugged Ye Xuan from behind, burying her face in the crook of his neck, greedily inhaling his scent:

Finally... the day has come.

After today, you will truly be mine.

Rightful and proper, witnessed by the Heavenly Dao.

Ye Xuan did not move.

Through the mirror, he watched this woman who was currently so happy she looked ready to faint.

If an uninformed person saw this scene, they would surely sigh in admiration at this immortal couple.

What a pity.

This was merely the endgame of a madwoman and a liar.

Senior Sister.

Ye Xuan suddenly spoke, breaking the warmth.

Hmm? Xia Lengyue responded gently.

Ye Xuan turned around, looked at her, and held out a hand.

Palm facing up, his expression calm and matter-of-fact:

Where is the dowry?

Xia Lengyue froze for a moment.

Clearly, for Ye Xuan to suddenly bring up money in this tender moment caught her off guard.

What?

The dowry.

Ye Xuan repeated:

Even mortal marriages have the three letters and six etiquettes, and ten miles of red dowry.

You are the future sect master of the Qingyun Sect, and I am your officially wedded husband.

Since you are marrying me... oh wait, marrying into my family, shouldn't you give me a dowry?

Xia Lengyue looked at him.

If this were ten years ago, she might have been angry.

But now.

She smiled instead.

She laughed so hard she trembled, laughing until tears almost came to her eyes.

So this is what you were worried about?

Silly.

She reached out and tapped Ye Xuan on the nose, her tone extremely doting:

I am entirely yours, so why would I hide my belongings from you?

Here.

She took a quaint blood-jade bracelet off her wrist and placed it solemnly in Ye Xuan's palm.

This is the Lengyue Ring, my supreme spatial treasure.

Inside... is much of the wealth I have accumulated over the years.

Including the heavenly materials and earthly treasures I've gathered for you over the past ten years that haven't been used up yet.

She tightly held Ye Xuan's hand, helping him put the bracelet on:

Husband, this is my dowry.

Ye Xuan swept it with his divine sense.

Even though he was mentally prepared, his heart still gave a violent jolt.

It was too much.

The resources inside were so abundant that even if he fled to the ends of the earth, he could comfortably cultivate all the way to the Body Integration Realm!

This was a fortune that could rival a nation's wealth.

It was also Xia Lengyue's unreserved trust.

Ye Xuan rubbed the cold bracelet.

He looked up into Xia Lengyue's unguarded, love-filled eyes.

In this instant.

The scales in his heart completely tilted.

Is it enough? Xia Lengyue asked with a smile. If it's not enough, after the ceremony ends, I'll go pry open the Sect Master's private vault for you.

Ye Xuan nodded.

He withdrew his hand, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

It's enough.

You are very generous, Senior Sister.

That's good.

Xia Lengyue breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at the sky outside the window:

The auspicious hour is approaching.

Husband, let's go.

Those people outside are all waiting to admire your presence.

She reached out, wanting to hold Ye Xuan's hand.

But Ye Xuan turned sideways and avoided it.

You go first.

Ye Xuan adjusted his collar and said in a natural tone:

You are the main character today; you should make the grand finale entrance.

I'll go to the viewing platform and wait for you.

For such a grand occasion, I need to go have a cup of wine to build up some liquid courage.

Xia Lengyue did not suspect a thing.

Because Ye Xuan had often gone to the viewing platform to drink alone over the past few years.

Moreover, here within the Qingyun Sect, after he had accepted the entire dowry, she simply did not believe he would run away.

Alright.

Xia Lengyue stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips:

Then I'll go entertain the guests first.

Husband, I will wait for you in the main hall.

Don't make me wait too long.

After saying that, she turned and left.

Her skirt fluttered, carrying an unparalleled pride and happiness.

Ye Xuan watched her silhouette disappear through the doorway.

The smile on his face vanished bit by bit.

Replaced by a coldness like ten-thousand-year ice.

He looked down at the blood-jade bracelet on his wrist.

The corners of his mouth curled into a mocking arc.

The dowry... has been received.

So next...

It's time to give you a return gift.

Qingyun Sect, the viewing platform.

This was the place with the best view in the entire sect, directly facing the main peak square where the ceremony was being held.

At this moment, the square was already packed with a sea of people.

Thousands of disciples lined up neatly, and hundreds of guests were exchanging toasts.

On the main seat, Xia Lengyue, dressed in red, sat upright like a queen.

She accepted compliments and congratulations from all directions, wearing an unprecedentedly radiant smile on her face.

Her gaze would occasionally drift toward the viewing platform, the depths of her eyes full of anticipation.

Meanwhile, on the viewing platform.

Ye Xuan sat alone by the railing.

In front of him sat a jug of wine and a single cup.

He didn't wear that cumbersome outer wedding robe; he only wore the red inner garments, his collar slightly open, letting the cold wind blow against his chest.

He looked at the extraordinarily bustling scene below.

Listening to the clamorous, joyous music.

So noisy.

Ye Xuan poured himself a cup of wine.

He raised the wine cup and toasted the empty air:

This cup, to freedom.

He drank it all in one gulp.

The auspicious hour had arrived.

On the main peak square, the sound of ceremonial music suddenly became rousing.

The master of ceremonies elder shouted loudly:

The auspicious hour has arrived!

Please invite the groom to enter!

Tens of thousands of gazes simultaneously turned toward the viewing platform.

Xia Lengyue also stood up.

She looked in that direction, light flowing in her eyes, her heart beating like thunder.

Come quickly.

Husband.

As long as you walk down that red carpet, as long as you walk to my side.

Then we will be together forever.

However.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Ten breaths passed.

On the viewing platform, the figure in red remained completely motionless.

He still sat there, holding a wine cup, as if he hadn't heard the deafening calls at all.

The scene began to turn somewhat awkward.

The guests exchanged glances and whispered among themselves.

"What is going on?"

"Why isn't the groom coming down?"

"Is he too nervous?"

The smile on Xia Lengyue's face stiffened for a moment.

But she quickly regained her composure.

She amplified her voice with spiritual energy. Her gentle and clear voice echoed throughout the entire Qingyun Sect:

"Husband."

"The auspicious time has arrived."

"Don't be afraid. Come down quickly, come to my side."

On the viewing platform.

Ye Xuan finally moved.

He slowly put down his wine cup.

Then, he slowly turned around.

Across a distance of thousands of feet.

Across the sky filled with fluttering ribbons and flower petals.

His gaze met Xia Lengyue's with unerring accuracy.

What kind of look was that?

Cold.

Distant.

As if he were looking at an insignificant stranger.

Ye Xuan did not use spiritual energy to amplify his voice.

But to Xia Lengyue's ears, his voice was louder than a clap of thunder.

He merely moved his lips, saying a single sentence.

He didn't even make a sound, only mouthing the words.

But Xia Lengyue understood.

Because she was far too familiar with him.

What he mouthed was...

"I am not going."

The smile on Xia Lengyue's face instantly froze.

She thought she had seen it wrong.

She thought Ye Xuan was playing a joke on her.

So, she took a deep breath, suppressing the inexplicable panic in her heart, and spoke again, her voice now carrying a trace of a tremble:

"Husband, stop messing around."

"So many seniors are watching."

"Hurry up and come down. We need to perform the wedding ceremony."

"Perform the wedding ceremony?"

This time, Ye Xuan spoke aloud.

Channeling his spiritual energy, his cold and clear voice echoed across the entire venue:

"Xia Lengyue."

"Who told you I was going to perform a wedding ceremony with you?"