By deep night, the common people should have long extinguished their lights and gone to sleep, but because of this extraordinarily lively luxury wedding, the residents of Jade City poured out like it was a Lantern Festival, gathering in the streets. The bustling crowds of spectators filled the market, and the illuminating torches even scorched the roadside trees.
For the groom’s family, the most difficult part of this wedding—the carriage blocking—was just beginning.
So-called carriage blocking meant obstructing the road to stop the wedding carriage, with troublemaking ruffians emerging in groups to demand wine, food, and money, delighting in tormenting the newlyweds. The Pang family was wealthy beyond measure, so the people coming to cause trouble at this wedding were ten times more than at other families’ weddings, some even bringing instruments to sing and dance—truly an unprecedented spectacle.
Pang Liangji’s words about drinking a cup with every step proved half true. The carriage blockers gathered before the wedding carriage, demanding free wine and food from the groom’s family under the pretext of toasting—if not given, they wouldn’t let them pass. Fortunately, both Wei Xun and Huo Qi had amazing alcohol tolerance. Usually having no money for heavy drinking, today they borrowed Pang Liangji’s wedding to openly enjoy his family’s aged rice wine to their hearts’ content, refusing no one, emptying jugs and draining cups, thoroughly satisfying their drinking addiction.
In the eyes of the surrounding spectators, these two young groomsmen had unfathomable alcohol capacity—no matter how much they drank, they showed no signs of intoxication, their behavior becoming increasingly bold and carefree, earning everyone’s amazement.
Relying on the two men’s heavy drinking and competitive drinking, the wedding carriage slowly advanced four or five li when a group of tattooed ruffians surrounded them, wearing malicious smiles on their faces. Despite wine, meat, and copper coins being scattered like rain, the wedding carriage simply couldn’t move. One bald man sang loudly:
“Noble young man! We are distinguished families of nine provinces, famous houses of a hundred commanderies. Hearing of your ceremony, we’ve come to block your carriage, seeking your wealth. We want neither cattle, sheep, wine, nor meat, nor hundred flavored foods, but seek one unicorn horn, three phoenix feet, ten thousand strings of gold coins, thousands of silk and gauze!”
His tone was domineering and his words practiced—clearly a skilled professional among carriage-blocking ruffians. His meaning was dissatisfaction with the wine and food the groom’s family had thrown as rewards—he demanded money before allowing passage.
Wei Xun looked down at this man and asked Pang Liangji: “Can we fight now?”
Pang Liangji shook his head: “Joyous occasions value harmony—not yet.”
Wei Xun sighed regretfully.
The Pang family had long anticipated such professional wedding troublemakers would cause disturbances. The steward immediately had people carry out ten strings of coins and ten bolts of silk to give the man. This wealth was already enough for a well-off family’s daughter’s dowry, yet the bald man had his subordinates collect the goods while remaining unsatisfied. With a shout, the ruffians surrounded the wedding carriage.
“I said I wanted ten thousand strings of gold coins and thousands of silk and gauze—how is this little bit enough for us to drink wine? Everyone come see what good things the bride wears on her head—let’s pull out two gold hairpins to give our sweethearts!”
After the bald man said this, two ruffians behind the carriage train reached out to lift the wedding carriage’s curtains. Professional carriage blocking was equivalent to bandit robbery, even including the extreme evil of kidnapping brides to extort ransom.
Pang Liangji looked back and immediately paled, grabbing the saddle and dismounting. But having lost his lightness skills, he couldn’t arrive in time. Wei Xun gave Huo Qi a look, and she directly leaped from horseback, jumping over the curtain to block and push away those two troublemakers.
The carriage-blocking ruffians immediately created an uproar, confronting the Pang family’s attendants in the street—a group fight seemed imminent.
The purpose of carriage blocking was to extort huge sums of money. They were just waiting for the Pang family to strike first, then they would immediately cry out loudly, overturn the wedding carriage, destroy the wedding, and rob in the chaos—this celebration would be ruined. Therefore, the Pang family couldn’t fight but also couldn’t leave without fighting, caught in a dilemma, only able to negotiate prices with this group of wedding troublemakers. Pang Liangji and Huo Qi Lang pressed against the wedding carriage front and back, blocking them from harassing the bride. The street was chaotic as a pot of porridge.
Wei Xun called the ceremony master to his side, asked clearly about the call-and-response during carriage blocking, then lightly flew up to the top of the wedding carriage. Looking down from above, he slowly began in a melodious voice:
“Noble young man! What scoundrels are these, recklessly causing trouble, blocking our carriage? Since you seek wealth, behold our reward—it will surely be extraordinary!”
He looked down arrogantly at the small crowd, using his profound internal energy to slowly deliver this passage with one voice overpowering many voices. Everyone felt their ears ringing, hearing every word crystal clear. Even the bronze bells on the wedding carriage hummed and trembled in response. The street full of human clamor and horse neighing suddenly fell silent, thousands of pairs of eyes focused on this young groomsman.
Manager Pang brought out a bag of silver Kaiyuan Tongbao coins—these were cast by the Pang family as gifts for relatives and friends. According to current market prices, five taels of silver equaled approximately one tael of gold. Since he had said “behold our reward—it will surely be extraordinary,” he meant to throw valuable goods. The ruffians, being short-sighted, had no time to wonder why this young man’s voice had the power to penetrate ears and shake bells—they all scrambled forward to catch money.
Wei Xun grabbed a handful of silver coins from the leather bag, tossing and catching them in his hand, letting all the surrounding carriage blockers see clearly.
Greedy eyes stared fixedly at his hand movements. Wei Xun suddenly concentrated force in his arm and hurled this handful of silver coins toward the street side. Silver rain poured down with clanging sounds—all twenty-some coins were embedded in a shop’s door planks, each sunk in more than halfway.
Silver is soft and coins have no edges, yet thrown by his bare hands with unknown force concentrated within, they were driven hard into the door planks. The watching crowd was stunned speechless, momentarily no one daring to dig coins from the door planks.
“Sorry, I haven’t practiced hidden weapons—this throw went off target. Next time I’ll definitely aim properly.” Wei Xun’s face showed a cunning, mischievous smile as he spoke, pulling out another handful of silver coins from the leather bag, making a gesture to throw them into the crowd of carriage blockers.
Money embedded in door planks already had such power—if thrown at flesh and blood bodies, it would have the destructive force of sling stones and arrows. The bald leader immediately lost courage, scared into turning and running. The crowd of ruffians scattered in disorder. Wei Xun threw the Kaiyuan Tongbao coins in his hand again—this time all embedded in the paving stones, the silver coins gleaming and sparkling, each standing upright reflecting the surrounding firelight.
After this display of scattering money to drive away guests, the area before the wedding carriage was empty except for one burly man standing alone—a martial world person holding a fine steel shield.
Seeing he had a shield for protection, Wei Xun laughed lightly and called out loudly: “Which school are you from, brother? Also here to block carriages for fun?”
The man immediately shook his head, hanging the shield on his back and cupping his hands in salute: “I wouldn’t dare. This humble one is Yue Hong, ‘Copper Wall Iron Fortress’ from the Central Plains. I saw the young gentleman’s excellent skills and wanted to offer a toast. May I ask this young gentleman’s distinguished surname and given name, and whether you have a nickname?” He indeed requested wine from the Pang family, holding it with both hands respectfully.
Seeing he bore no hostility, Wei Xun cupped his hands in return: “You flatter me. I am Wei Xun, Blue Shirt Guest from Guanzhong.” He also took wine and drank a cup with him.
The nickname Blue Shirt Guest was already famous throughout the martial world, but the person was mysterious and few had seen his true appearance. The martial world people who had come to observe the wedding now realized this seemingly under-twenty lean youth was the leader of the “Setting Sun Seven Absolutes,” Chen Shigu’s most skilled disciple—all were shocked and stirred.
With the road thus unobstructed, the carter quickly drove the white oxen forward, letting the wedding carriage continue. Afterward, no more ruffian scoundrels dared come forward to block the carriage and cause trouble, though martial world people often approached to stop the carriage and horses to toast Wei Xun.
Everyone thought that after Swift Wind Protector broke his legs and retired from the martial world, the Pang family would have no more connection to the martial arts circles. They hadn’t expected he still maintained contact with people from his sect, and that the elusive senior brother would also come to support and escort the wedding—they couldn’t underestimate this family.
Wei Xun drank competitively while alertly scanning the surroundings, occasionally checking on Bao Zhu’s situation. Pang Liangji loved making friends, so quite a few martial world people had come to observe the ceremony. Wei Xun noticed several young Taoists wearing plain caps and yellow robes mixed in the crowd, but they didn’t come forward to toast.
Glancing sideways at Huo Qi, she returned an awkward look—clearly she had also noticed. Wei Xun grew suspicious, increasingly feeling this wedding was unusual everywhere, but under full public view, he could only endure without acting.
The wedding carriage passed Muddy Water River in front of Jade City’s military camp, crossed the stone bridge over the river—only two li remained to Pang Mansion. However, sudden change arose from this point. Ahead in the crowd of spectators, some family had lost a three or four-year-old child who had tumbled into the middle of the road, crying helplessly. The wedding escort had to stop, and Pang family attendants immediately ran to pick up the child.
Just then, someone cried out: “The command flag has fallen!”
The great command flag pole in front of the military camp thunderously snapped, toppling toward the wedding escort. That flagpole was nearly three zhang high, thick as a large jar’s mouth at the base, like a great tree trunk. The wedding carriage was stuck on the narrow stone bridge with no way forward or back—it looked like it would be crushed to powder by the flagpole.
Wei Xun’s feet exploded with force, suddenly springing up from the ground, kicking the command flag diagonally upward more than a zhang, barely avoiding the wedding carriage. However, at this time the crowd of spectators was numerous, densely packed like ant colonies—they couldn’t dodge. Wherever the flagpole fell, people would be crushed to pulp, and many immediately screamed in terror.
Having kicked away the flagpole to save the wedding carriage, Wei Xun landed and casually pulled a red silk flower from the carriage, spinning around to leap up again.
This time he flew up like a paper kite more than three zhang high. He tore the red flower into a silk ribbon, wrapped it around the top of the flagpole, made a spinning turn in the air, and pulled the silk ribbon to forcibly drag the command flagpole toward the opposite side of the street, quickly tying it to a thick roadside tree to block its sideways fall.
Ordinary people could only roughly watch the excitement, but the observing martial world people all showed expressions of horror, everyone’s hearts pounding with shock.
Those with discerning eyes could all see: these two leaps used completely different lightness skills and body techniques. The first time his force was brutal and domineering—the bluestone slabs under his feet were shattered to pieces. The second time was light and graceful, red silk flowing in his hands, like a swimming dragon or startled swan.
Those who practiced lightness skills thought leaping three zhang high in one bound was already rarely seen in the world, yet he was also pulling a several-hundred-jin command flagpole. Those who practiced arm strength thought they might be able to lift such a large flag with feet planted, but controlling the flagpole’s direction while flying in the air with feet off the ground was absolutely impossible.
This flag-lifting skill combined supreme strength and speed. If not witnessed personally, it would be hard to believe such incredible martial arts existed in the world. Even more terrifying was that the person displaying such skills was merely of weak cap age, as if he had been born with a hundred years of martial cultivation.
Before, quite a few people had scrambled to join the excitement and toast him, saying frivolous things like “heroes emerge young since ancient times.” Now they even forgot to cheer and applaud, their testing hearts transformed into shock and fear, thinking this person was simply a monster.
Silk is thin and can’t bear much force. While the senior brother blocked the most dangerous wave, Huo Qi Lang seized rope from the attendants, also leaping up to secure the flagpole from another direction.
Wei Xun stood atop the flagpole looking down from above, trying to find who had played this dirty trick. He saw a young Taoist holding a single hook rushing toward the wedding carriage. Like a hawk swooping on a rabbit, he dove down from the air, instantly blocking the man’s path. The Taoist only had time to shout “Senior Uncle…” No one saw clearly how he struck—the Taoist’s hook-holding arm was already broken and the whole person thrown out.
These lightning-fast moves all happened in an instant. Bystanders only felt dazzled and confused, but Wei Xun felt his arms somewhat strained, his fingertips slightly numb.
Having drunk that large vessel of knockout drug wine at the bride’s home earlier, though he forcibly suppressed it with internal energy to prevent onset, when lifting the flag his true qi circulated and some toxicity flowed into his limbs and bones with the wine’s effects. Besides henbane seeds, the wine seemed also mixed with datura roots that caused full-body paralysis.
Such a thick command flagpole couldn’t possibly break by coincidence just as the wedding carriage passed—someone must have sabotaged it secretly. Wei Xun thought even if all these observing martial guests rushed forward together, he wouldn’t be the least bit afraid. But the one playing dirty tricks was either targeting Pang Liangji, who had lost his martial arts, or targeting the bride in the wedding carriage. The slightest mistake could have unpredictable consequences.
Seeing the procession was about to reach the Pang family, Wei Xun didn’t want further complications and quietly ordered Pang Liangji: “Charge through!”
By now he had put away his playful contemptuous attitude. The Mysterious Qi Innate Technique manifested, his whole body emanating an oppressive aura that warned the living to stay away. The crowd immediately became unwilling to approach the wedding carriage area. Several days ago when Tuoba Sanniang visited the inn at night, she had used this invisible imposing force to suppress Bao Zhu, making her unable to move.
Horses are most sensitive—they neighed and refused to let him ride anymore. Wei Xun simply abandoned his horse, stood on the wedding carriage’s shaft, personally holding the whip to drive the carriage. Pang Liangji and Huo Qi Lang similarly realized they couldn’t delay any longer, spurring their horses and shouting to clear the way. The white oxen pulling the carriage flew with all four hooves, and the wedding escort immediately accelerated.
The final two li were like a bridal snatching sprint, covered in moments. The wedding carriage stopped before Pang Mansion’s main gate. Felt mats were already laid out, the wedding attendant opened the curtain and helped down the bride, who was completely unaware of having experienced life and death.
Bao Zhu followed the wedding escort into Pang Mansion. After Pang Liangji checked his personal attendants and confirmed no outsiders remained, disregarding ceremonial customs, he immediately shut the main gate tightly and barred it with wooden posts. With his heart settling back to solid ground, he could no longer stand and was supported by two servants into the green pavilion in the courtyard where the wedding ceremony would be held.
Looking at his beloved standing gracefully with her face covered by the apron, he was almost moved to tears of joy, couldn’t help choking up as he said to Wei Xun: “Senior Brother! Fortunately you’re here, otherwise today’s matter couldn’t have ended well.”
Wei Xun nodded, his expression showing no relaxation. Recalling the various accidents during the wedding escort, the strangeness within was truly impossible to ignore.
Only when Bao Zhu entered the green pavilion as an honored guest to observe the ceremony did Wei Xun see the flower hairpin on her head swaying beside her cheek, reflecting her clear bright eyes—fresh and brilliant like a peach blossom fairy of the mortal world—did he feel his mood relax, his expression soften, unable to help smiling slightly at her.
Bao Zhu was just about to say something to him when the ceremony master began reciting the ceremonial chants, so she postponed these words.
Only about twenty of the Pang family’s closest relatives and honored guests observed the ceremony in the green pavilion. Shisan Lang couldn’t enter either. The bride removed her face-covering apron, holding an embroidered round fan with both hands to cover her face as the two newlyweds performed the wedding bows.
Just waiting for the fan to be lowered and the wine of union drunk, the most important ceremony would be complete. The ceremony master called out “Scatter the tent,” waiting for servants to throw prepared dates, chestnuts, lotus seeds and other dried fruits into the tent to bless the couple with early precious children. However, hissing sounds arose—what was scattered into the green pavilion wasn’t these auspicious foods but sleeve arrows, steel darts, and flying knives howling down like a torrential rain.
At this moment the newlyweds were on the left, Bao Zhu on the right. Hidden weapons poured down like rain—in an instant’s gap, he could only save one side.
Wei Xun had learned killing techniques since childhood, never life-saving arts. This day, there were simply too many people he needed to protect.