The Tai Xuan Sect was buzzing with excitement these days.
With the crisis resolved and peace restored, everyone's attention had turned to the upcoming wedding of the sect's beloved couple.
After leaving the library, Luo Luo and Li Zhaoye hadn’t even had a chance to continue their "studies"—let alone speak to each other.
Xu Junzhu had approved a lavish budget, and the senior brothers eagerly dragged Li Zhaoye down the mountain to shop for wedding supplies.
Luo Luo had it worse.
The senior sisters swarmed around her, treating her like a doll, dressing her up over and over again.
Gowns were swapped out one after another, accessories adjusted piece by piece.
Luo Luo’s eyes were dark from exhaustion, her energy drained like a little zombie. She weakly suggested, "How about that red one with gold embroidery? It looks nice..."
The sisters shook their heads in unison.
Sister Nangong, one of the twins, said earnestly, "A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event! You can’t afford any regrets, understand?"
Luo Luo: "..."
She had no regrets. Really, none at all.
Neither she nor Li Zhaoye were picky—they’d be fine getting married in their usual sect robes.
But clearly, no one else agreed.
"And the headpiece," added Senior Sister Lan, who had once been beaten so badly by Li Zhaoye that her medical bills cost eight hundred spirit stones. "The headpiece must perfectly match the wedding gown. Every accessory must be carefully chosen—I’ll oversee it."
Luo Luo’s head instantly felt twice as heavy.
"Our little sister looks good in anything," Senior Sister Yang from the Flame Peak chimed in.
Luo Luo’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. "Mhm, mhm!"
So really, any random outfit would do!
Senior Sister Yang continued, "Which is exactly why we can’t waste her beauty! We must make her the most stunning bride in the world!"
Luo Luo: "..."
Her pavilion was already overflowing—racks and chests packed with clothes and jewelry.
"No slacking," declared the second senior sister from the main peak, waving her hand. "We’ll try every possible combination!"
Luo Luo: "..."
Senior Sister Lan frowned. "Little sister, if you’re unhappy with any of these, just say so. Don’t hold back."
Sister Nangong tapped her chin. "Hmm, something still feels off."
Senior Sister Yang nodded. "I’ll have the crane puppets send word for another hundred or so pieces to be delivered."
Luo Luo’s scalp prickled. "No, no, I’m satisfied!"
The sisters exchanged glances. "She looks like she’s about to cry—clearly not satisfied!"
Luo Luo: "..."
Suddenly, a disdainful snort came from outside the window.
"Hmph!"
Xu Junlan strode in, her sharp eyes sweeping over the scene before curling her lips in contempt.
"So this is the trash you’re dressing the sect’s eldest brother in?"
Sister Nangong reacted first. "Xu Junlan, what’s your problem? Shut it with the sarcasm!"
She shot a glance at Luo Luo, but the girl just blinked blankly, completely oblivious to Xu Junlan’s acidic tone.
Xu Junlan scoffed. "Trying on a million outfits won’t magically make them better. What a waste of time!"
Luo Luo agreed wholeheartedly—but she kept her face carefully neutral. The sisters meant well; she couldn’t let them down.
Senior Sister Yang scowled. "Xu Junlan, if you’re just here to stir trouble, leave."
"Hah!" Xu Junlan sneered, pulling out a token. "My sister summoned you." She jerked her chin. "Well? Going or not?"
"Tch—!" Sister Nangong bristled. "You’re doing this on purpose!"
Luo Luo quickly stepped in. "The sect leader must have important business."
Sister Nangong blurted, "If we leave, she might bul—uh."
Right. She’d forgotten who the real menace here was.
Who was bullying whom?
Sister Nangong reached out and ruffled Luo Luo’s head.
This girl was so docile, it was easy to forget she was a Grand Dao cultivator.
Luo Luo: "..."
Another day, another head-patting.
BANG!
Xu Junlan slammed the pavilion door shut.
She kicked aside the clothing racks, clearing a space, then crossed her arms and glared at Luo Luo.
Luo Luo shrank under her stare. "What’s wrong?"
Xu Junlan snorted and slapped her storage pouch.
In an instant, the room blazed with light.
Luo Luo gasped. "Wow..."
Before her was a breathtaking crimson gown, as if woven from celestial twilight—every thread shimmering with radiance.
The tassels swayed like phoenix feathers, dazzling with every movement.
Xu Junlan tossed it at her.
Luo Luo caught it, stunned. "For... me?"
Xu Junlan smirked. "If Eldest Brother would marry me, you’d never get to wear it."
Luo Luo giggled. "Heh heh."
"What?" Xu Junlan arched a brow. "Don’t want secondhand clothes? Fine, give it back."
Luo Luo clutched it tightly. "No, no, I love it!"
After days of endless outfit changes, she moved behind the screen and slipped into the gown with practiced ease.
"Wow..."
It felt like wearing clouds and sunset—light, ethereal, warm, yet perfectly weighted.
And undoubtedly expensive.
When she stepped out, Xu Junlan studied her for a long moment before delivering her verdict: "Hmph!"
Then she turned and marched away.
Luo Luo didn’t call her out.
This was no secondhand dress—their figures were completely different. It had been tailored just for her.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Jingling City.
The group’s storage pouches were stuffed to the brim.
As they passed the city gates, Li Zhaoye paused. "Go ahead without me."
"Ohhh—"
The men exchanged knowing looks. "Sure, sure."
After a few steps, they glanced back, tiptoeing to peek into the city.
Zhao Yu grinned. "Bet you a hundred spirit stones—Eldest Brother’s going back for fireproof charms and erotic scrolls."
Bai Yi snorted. "Obviously. Did you see how his eyes glued to that shop earlier?"
Senior Brother Zhang, ever earnest, scratched his head. "But he said we didn’t need to go in?"
Li Zhaoye’s exact words had been: "Pfft, as if I’d need that."
The others burst out laughing. "Yeah, right!"
Li Zhaoye checked over his shoulder three times to confirm no one was following.
Clearing his throat, he strolled into the scroll shop, pretending to browse before leaning casually on the counter.
"My junior brother wanted... uh, what was it again?" He lowered his voice. "The Hundred-and-Eight Palace Play Illustrations? Something like that. Got it?"
The shopkeeper brightened. "Ah! You mean the Eighty-Two Positions of Spring Bliss?"
Li Zhaoye’s eyes narrowed.
"Ah—I mean, your junior brother! Your junior brother!" the shopkeeper corrected hastily.
Li Zhaoye nodded. "Right. That’s the one he wants."
The shopkeeper grinned. "Your... junior brother has excellent taste! It’s our finest masterpiece!"
Moments later, Li Zhaoye calmly tucked the purchase into his pouch.
Stepping out of the map shop, a triangular flag caught the corner of my eye, adorned with bold, sweeping characters: "The All-Knowing Sage of Jianghu—No Matter Escapes My Knowledge."
A smaller line beneath read: "A hundred coins, guaranteed answers."
After two steps, Li Zhaoye turned back and approached the sage's stall.
The sage pulled up thick black curtains on all sides, ensuring privacy and secrecy for his clients.
The two sat mysteriously across from each other at the stall.
The sage took a sip of tea. "Court secrets, Jianghu gossip, fortune-telling—ask away!"
Li Zhaoye narrowed his eyes. "You know everything?"
The sage smirked confidently. "Naturally."
"Fine." Li Zhaoye asked, "What if □□ is too big?"
The sage nearly choked. "???"
Li Zhaoye frowned. "Tch. So much for knowing everything."
The sage took a deep breath. "...Big is big. What can you do? What exactly are you asking?"
Li Zhaoye grew impatient. "I’m asking what to do if □□ is too big!"
The sage scowled. "Are you messing with me?"
Li Zhaoye: "?"
The sage: "Stop flaunting your □□!"
Li Zhaoye: "How is this flaunting? You wouldn’t understand the struggle."
The sage: "&%#!!!"
The disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect, sneaking back into the city to spy on Li Zhaoye, saw him being chased and beaten by a Jianghu fraud.
The disciples: "..."
Finally, the wedding day arrived.
The Tai Xuan Sect was decked in red lanterns and festive splendor.
A group of female disciples surrounded Luo Luo, while the male ones playfully shoved Li Zhaoye forward, laughing and cheering as they escorted the couple to the grand hall.
The hall was draped in crimson carpets, with enormous red lanterns hanging from the branches and corridors.
The glow of red light bathed the sky, painting even the shadows scarlet.
From afar, Luo Luo caught sight of Li Zhaoye.
Dressed in wedding robes, the red accentuated his striking features, making him dazzlingly handsome.
He was pretending to chat casually with his fellow disciples.
"Stay calm, stay calm. What? The bride’s beauty? It’s not like we just met—how much could she possibly..."
Then he saw Luo Luo, and his gaze froze. His throat bobbed once, twice.
His bride was breathtakingly, earth-shatteringly beautiful.
As the crowd nudged him forward, he moved like a wave, drifting closer to Luo Luo with each push.
Their eyes met.
Time seemed to stand still.
After a long pause, he chuckled softly. "Smiling so prettily, are you?"
A faint blush bloomed on Luo Luo’s cheeks.
He reached for her hand, leading her step by step down the long, plush red carpet.
Fireworks and flower petals burst along their path.
The air roared with celebration, a shower of blossoms raining around them.
Luo Luo let him guide her forward, her vision filled with smiling faces.
Dizzy with joy, she barely registered the wedding rites.
Suddenly, he wrapped an arm around her waist and teleported.
Her mind lagged behind, and when she steadied herself, all she saw was an ocean of red—warm, radiant light enveloping them both.
She blinked dazedly. "Are we heading to the bridal chamber now?"
Li Zhaoye nearly laughed. "Patience. Wait till nightfall."
"Then...?"
She finally took in their surroundings.
A vibrant red matchmaker tree stood before them.
The entire tree was crimson—twisting scarlet trunks, pale pink leaves, and clusters of sunset-hued blossoms drooping from the branches.
Today, the tree was adorned with countless glowing spirit stones, their delicate light filtering through the flowers, dusting the two in a shimmering glow.
Li Zhaoye looked down at her. "The oath."
Luo Luo beamed. "Yes, the oath!"
They extended their left hands.
A crimson sigil slowly formed on their wrists, intricate red threads weaving into twin hearts, their souls bound anew by the pulse of shared blood.
"Li Zhaoye..."
She should have been laughing, but her eyes burned, a bittersweet ache swelling in her chest.
He pulled her into his embrace.
Careful not to disturb her ornate hairpieces, he rested a hand on her head, letting her face press against his chest.
"Cry if you need to," he murmured, his voice a soothing rumble. "I’ll pretend I didn’t notice."
Luo Luo: "..."
