“How are you alive?” Yan Honghai was in utter disbelief. His eyes were wide with shock as he stared at Long Chen. Even the beautiful girl next to him was ignored.
Although the other two guards didn’t speak, they were also filled with questions. It was a huge shock to them that Long Chen had appeared before them. “How am I alive? That’s not important. What’s important is that I am alive now!” Long Chen grinned, then he looked at Yan Honghai and asked, “Brother Yan, I need to ask you something.”
“Me?” Yan Honghai jumped in surprise, looked at the other two, and then said hesitantly, “Young Master Long Chen, do you know? The Lingwu family has sent out wanted notices across the entire Yuanling County for Lord Xuanxiao. You’re his stepson, and you were involved in that incident. So … So I need to capture you …”
He was torn. Dongfang Xuanxiao had treated him well all these years, yet Dongfang Xuanxiao and Long Chen had ended up in their current situation because he had informed the Patriarch that they had entered the prison. Of course, if Yan Honghai hadn’t done it, someone else would surely have reported to the Azure Dragon Patriarch. But he still felt guilty about it.
Yet there was his duty. And he had to act now. “Brother Yan, you don’t have to do anything. We’ll do it.” The other two guards locked eyes, then they approached Long Chen. They were both mid Heavenly Core Realm masters, and the past Long Chen would never have been able to defeat them.
“You think you can touch me?” Long Chen smiled without a hint of fear. From their words, he had learned a piece of information, which was the fact that Dongfang Xuanxiao wasn’t dead. That was enough.
Long Chen was about to move when the beautiful Li Xuanji grew impatient. She waved casually, and the three guards turned pale. Then they were thrown back with blood spraying out of their mouths.
She shrugged. “Let’s not waste any more time. Ask what you need to ask.”
Long Chen knew that they were pressed for time, so he had to ignore the severity of Yan Honghai’s injury and question him. Meeting Yan Honghai’s shocked gaze, he asked, “Brother Yan, do you know anything about my cousin, Yang Lingqing? I’ll only ask once. Look. If you don’t answer me, she can kill you easily.”
Yan Honghai couldn’t understand at all how the beautiful teenage girl could injure him so severely with just a simple wave of her hand. But he was smart, so once Long Chen asked him the question, he replied immediately, “Beitang Mo wants to marry Yang Lingqing today! You’ll know when you reach the Northern Black Tortoise family!”
Marry?
Heh, he must be looking for death.
***
Today was a big day for the Northern Black Tortoise family, one that was hard to come by. Of course, this was also a huge event for the whole Lingwu family. That was because the most outstanding son of the Northern Black Tortoise head, Beitang Mo, was about to marry his own stepsister, Yang Lingqing.
Of course, after the wedding, she would no longer be his stepsister but his wife.
Yang Lingqing had the Dark Yin Body. After receiving the right cultivation methods, she had reached the late Human Core Realm. One day in the future, she would surpass Beitang Mo and become the Northern Black Tortoise’s trump card. That was why Beitang Ming was willing to trap her in the Northern Black Tortoise family no matter the cost. This was something that the other three inner families had agreed on. Unfortunately, Dongfang Xuanxiao had messed up their plans and caused a delay. But now he was labeled as a traitor and was on the run from the Lingwu family, so it was a good time. Beitang Ming worked through the night to set an auspicious date for the wedding, which was this day. The Northern Black Tortoise family had been preparing for this grand ceremony for a month now.
The wedding was extremely lavish. Not only had the Northern Black Tortoise invited the important figures of the other three inner families, the nine Grand Elders of the outer families and other factions from Yuanling City also had representatives present.
The Northern Black Tortoise compound was decorated with lanterns and streamers with all types of people present. It was a bustling day, and various kitchen staff, odd-jobbers, and handmaidens wove through the crowd, busy with their tasks. The usually quiet Lingwu family compound was suddenly crowded, and it took everyone some time to adjust.
Shouts, laughter, sounds of assent, and ass-kissing rang across the place. The wedding prayer to the ancestors had not begun yet, but the largest pavilion of the Northern Black Tortoise family, the Black Tortoise Pavilion, was already filled with guests.
These guests came from all over the county. Many knew each other but had not met in years, so they were busy catching up. Red lanterns were hung everywhere, along with beautiful, red paper-cutouts, which could be seen everywhere. Above the main entrance of the pavilion was a “囍” character carved from fire crystals so every guest who arrived would see the flaming symbol and praise it in awe. [1]
All the important figures had already gathered in the Black Tortoise Pavilion. All nine Grand Elders of the outer families were sitting together. On the other side, the three important figures of the Eastern Azure Dragon family, Dongfang Xuanfeng, Xuanyu, and Xuanyun, were present. The head of the Vermilion Bird and White Tiger families were also there, sitting to the left of Dongfang Xuanfeng.
The auspicious hour was soon approaching. The families of the bride and groom were already sitting at the head of the room. On the left was Beitang Ming, wearing a very festive, red robe. He was smiling and greeting the guests as they arrived, joking and chatting away happily, exactly like how the head of a huge clan should act. On the other hand, Yang Yuntian’s end of the room looked much more depressing. The clothes he wore signified that he was from a small town, and his forced smile and awkward, fearful gaze proved that he was weak and helpless.
The guests present simultaneously praised how youthful Beitang Ming was, while also gossiping about Yang Yuntian. “I heard the girl Beitang Ming found has a Dark Yin Body. But the girl’s father is just too embarrassing.”
“I think you’re just jealous. The man has a great daughter, and his status will skyrocket from today onwards now that he’s connected to the Northern Black Tortoise. You can only dream of having an honor like this.”
“Nonsense! Although my daughter doesn’t have the Dark Yin Body, she’s decent-looking. If Young Master Beitang Mo had chosen my daughter, at least the bride’s father wouldn’t look as tragic as this and embarrass the family here …”
“Old Zhao, be careful with your words. Keep your voice down when you’re saying things like that.”
“Oh, oh. Right, right.”
Yang Yuntian could faintly hear conversations like these.
“In-law, ignore those shallow-minded morons. With Lingqing marrying my son, I guarantee that the Yang family shall become a large clan of the region. The Yang name shall be famous in the future.”
Yang Yuntian nodded in agreement, thanking him hurriedly. This should have been the greatest news, yet there was a hint of worry in his eyes. Yang Lingqing had told him about Long Chen. He knew Lingqing wasn’t a willing participant in this wedding, and knew that the largest hope of the family, Long Chen, had died a corpseless death.
After hearing this news, the entire Yang family broke down in grief. Even the Yang Patriarch could not hold himself together, much less the rest. Yang Lingqing cried all day and only recovered after a month. But Beitang Mo and the others noticed that she spoke very little since then, and the iciness in her eyes sometimes even frightened Beitang Mo.
The Yang family was the bride’s family, yet only Yang Yuntian had come as a representative. This showed the dissatisfaction of the Yangs, and a dark cloud of sorrow hung over the whole family.
The master of ceremonies standing at the entrance bellowed, “The auspicious hour has arrived! Time for the ancestral prayers!”
When he spoke, the bride and groom came in through the side entrance. Beitang Mo was dressed handsomely on this day. His red clothing was embroidered with a golden dragon, which symbolized masculinity. His black combat boots added a hint of arrogance and killing intent to the sophisticated elegance of his outfit.
A man like him, along with the golden halo of his family name, was destined to make countless teenage girls swoon.
Yang Lingqing’s face was hidden under the red veil that blocked her increasingly beautiful features from sight. However, the curves that showed beneath her clothes proved that she was an attractive woman.
Yet the trembling of her body showed.
“Qing’er, you’re nervous, aren’t you? Don’t be scared, I’m here. Every girl will face a moment like this in their lives. After marriage, you will mature and become a true woman,” whispered Beitang Mo with a smile, leaning close to her ear.
Her body trembled slightly, but she didn’t speak.
“Let me give you some good news. My father got me a Dragon Fruit, which contains a powerful fire energy that can make me strong for a short while and not get hurt by your Dark Yin Body. That’s why tonight, we can finally consummate our marriage …”
Beitang Ming chuckled softly.
Yang Lingqing squinted and tears flowed from her eyes. He is dead. No one can protect me anymore. That is why I must remain strong. She subtly gripped the ends of her clothes.
The auspicious hour had begun, so it was time for the ceremony. After three bows, they would become official husband and wife. Yang Lingqing held traditional values tightly, so she would accept her fate after the ceremony.
She didn’t like this place, and she didn’t like the person next to her. Yet when fate flexed its muscles, no one could withstand it.
Watching Yang Lingqing and Beitang Mo standing in front of him, Beitang Ming stroked his long beard and smiled happily. Yang Yuntian forced a smile, though it only made him look creepy.
This smile triggered a wave of laughter.
Beneath her veil, Yang Lingqing knew that they were laughing at her father. She didn’t feel humiliated, only rage. She gripped the bottom of her red clothes, her fingers turning purple from gripping too tightly.
Father, I will make them pay what they owe you. And avenge my cousin …
The fire of hatred slowly ignited in her heart, burning with rage.
Everyone was ready, so the master of ceremonies smiled and bellowed in his shrill voice.
“The first bow to the heavens and earth!”
Beitang Mo and Yang Lingqing turned to face the main entrance.
The crowd watched them smilingly.
That was when a loud boom pulverized the gigantic “囍” symbol above the door, its crumbs clattering across the ground. The smiling master of ceremonies was blasted backwards, and a person walked into the Black Tortoise Pavilion, attracting everyone’s attention!
1. 囍 – Double happiness, also known as the shuangxi character, is a symbol used during weddings ☜