HomePull StringsChapter 693: Elder Gongming's Grand Wedding!

Chapter 693: Elder Gongming’s Grand Wedding!

On the second day of the initial battle between the Enlightenment and Severing Sects, atop the misty Three Immortal Islands.

Seven of the Eight Great Disciples of the Severing Sect had gathered here, save for Holy Mother Wudang. They shared a few cups of tea and some pastries made by Bi Xiao while discussing the previous battle.

Treasure Master Duo Bao slumped backward, complaining weakly, “This situation is just too difficult.”

Bang!

Holy Mother Jin Ling slammed the stone table and scolded, “Senior Brother, you really shouldn’t have said those things. We should have just fought them directly, had a proper battle!”

Duo Bao spread his hands and asked, “Then what would we do when the two Saints from the Western Sect arrived?”

Jin Ling was momentarily at a loss for words.

Yun Xiao, sitting quietly to the side, pondered briefly before saying softly, “Could we find a way to prevent the Saints from interfering in battles between disciples?”

“Impossible,” Zhao Gongming leaned against a pavilion pillar. “The reason the Enlightenment Sect has been constantly protecting the Western Sect was in preparation for this. Second Uncle Master’s calculations run too deep; we junior disciples are no match.”

Qiong Xiao snorted, “It feels rather excessive.”

Gui Ling defended gently, “Actually, at its root, it’s because we have too many immortals. The Enlightenment Sect is under greater pressure. Otherwise, Second Uncle Master would surely be quite benevolent.”

Bi Xiao sighed softly, “If only Great Uncle Master would support us.”

“Great Uncle Master will only help whichever side gains the advantage,” said Zhao Gongming. “We’ve discussed this before – Great Uncle Master’s goal must be to preserve more of the Dao Sect’s vital energy.”

The seven male and female immortals fell into silence, each lost in thought.

Zhao Gongming smiled, “Let’s not be so pessimistic. The Great Tribulation isn’t impossible to weather. Worst case, this poor Daoist will go lie down in Purple Apex Palace.”

Boom!

Sudden muffled thunder rang out in the sky. Zhao Gongming shuddered and quickly added, “Lying there would show infinite respect for our Ancestral Master…”

Only then did that faint hint of Heaven’s majesty dissipate.

Bi Xiao burst into giggles, and the other immortals also smiled in amusement.

Holy Mother Jin Ling advised earnestly, “You should know that times have changed. The great sects of the Saints no longer start conflicts so easily. If you were to lie down at the Enlightenment Sect’s gate now, they’d probably chop you up without batting an eye.”

Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and sighed, saying, “I was just joking. That strategy of mine was more suitable for times outside the Great Tribulation. It won’t work now – we’ve completely fallen out with the Enlightenment Sect.”

Duo Bao muttered, “By the way, when are you two going to announce your relationship to the sect members?”

Elder Zhao froze for a moment. Jin Ling first frowned slightly, then lowered her head. Though she tried hard to maintain a calm expression, her ears instantly turned red.

Bi Xiao and Qiong Xiao exchanged glances. The latter blinked gently, and the former immediately understood.

Bi Xiao said, “Brother, I think you’re being quite unreasonable.”

Zhao Gongming scratched his head and smiled, “Well, yes, it is a bit unreasonable… wait, unreasonable? How so?”

“Dragging out the wedding!” Qiong Xiao threw up her hands. “How long has it been since you and Senior Sister Jin Ling became Dao partners? Yet you’re still keeping it hidden. How do you think our Senior Sister Jin Ling feels?”

“Exactly!”

Bi Xiao didn’t give Elder Zhao any chance to speak, continuing, “Now with the Great Tribulation upon us, who knows when all-out war might break out? You should give Senior Sister Jin Ling proper recognition.”

“This…”

Yun Xiao frowned slightly and called out sharply, “Nonsense!”

Qiong Xiao, Bi Xiao, Zhao Gongming, and Duo Bao’s legs all went weak simultaneously. Fortunately, they were all seated, or they might have lost their balance.

Yun Xiao sighed, “We’ve just lost sect members to the Great Tribulation. This is not the time to discuss such matters.”

“Senior Sister Yun Xiao, I must disagree,” Holy Mother Gui Ling smiled. “I think that right now, everyone in the sect is anxious. They all know the two Saints of the Western Sect stand with the Enlightenment Sect. No matter how numerous our forces are, we may struggle to resist the power of the Western Sect’s two Saints. Moreover, everyone knows our Severing Sect lacks treasures to suppress fate, so we might suffer greater losses in the Great Tribulation. I think we should use Senior Brother Gongming and Senior Sister Jin Ling’s wedding to boost morale and bring some joy. If everyone sees that we senior disciples aren’t panicking, they’ll naturally feel more confident.”

Yun Xiao pondered silently before nodding with a smile, “That does make sense.”

“Ahem!”

Duo Bao cleared his throat and said, “Let your elder brother say a few words. I feel our Severing Sect urgently needs a joyous event. We could send invitations to the Enlightenment Sect, make one last attempt to salvage relations between the Three Schools and try to find another way to break the deadlock. Of course, it’s probably unlikely, but we should make the effort to have no regrets. Yun Xiao and Changsheng can’t come together for now – Changsheng is currently managing the tribulation, and both the Ancestral Master and Great Uncle Master wouldn’t allow it at this crucial moment.”

Yun Xiao calmly lifted her teacup. If not for the barely perceptible trembling of her slender fingers, one couldn’t have detected the shyness in her heart.

Zhao Gongming looked at Jin Ling, but she slightly turned her head away, saying softly, “Why are you looking at me…”

“Well, um, ahem!”

Zhao Gongming cleared his throat, stood up, and gazed at Jin Ling, “Jin Ling, would that be alright?”

“Stop dithering!”

Jin Ling slammed the table as she stood up, staring at Zhao Gongming, “If we’re going to be Dao partners, let’s be Dao partners. If we’re having a wedding, let’s have a wedding. Why be so hesitant? Back then, I didn’t want to tell others about us because I worried Sister Jin Guang might feel concerned. Now Jin Guang has long known about it, there’s no need to keep hiding it. When shall we hold it?”

Zhao Gongming blinked, his hands trembling slightly as he hurriedly said, “I’ll… I’ll go ask Changsheng! I’ll go ask Changsheng!”

“Why ask Changsheng!”

Jin Ling’s eyes showed some displeasure, “This is between us; we should decide for ourselves.”

But Duo Bao said, “This matter should be discussed with Changsheng. He stands outside the Great Tribulation and can see things more clearly; we’re in the midst of it and might be influenced by the Heavenly Dao.”

“Hmph,” Jin Ling seemed to find an appropriate way to back down, complaining, “He pays more attention to his brother Changsheng than to me.”

The immortals couldn’t help but smile.

Yun Xiao said, “We shouldn’t decide this just among ourselves. It would be more appropriate to first seek Master’s approval.”

“Master has long been hoping for this,” Duo Bao chuckled. “How about this: we’ll split up our tasks. Let Gongming contact Changsheng, and Yun Xiao and Jin Ling can go seek Master’s guidance. As for the rest of us, we’ll go spread the word, first stabilize the sect’s morale, then mention Gongming and Jin Ling’s matter during our teachings. This way, everyone will be prepared and won’t be too surprised when they receive the invitations.”

Bi Xiao exclaimed happily, “Finally we can…”

“You stay home and write the character for ‘joy,'” Yun Xiao said calmly.

The smile froze on Bi Xiao’s small face. Her little mouth turned down, and she nearly burst into tears.

She had it so hard.

“A wedding? At this critical moment?”

In the Azure Lotus Palace, Patriarch Tongtian was genuinely stunned when he heard this, then threw back his head and laughed heartily for a good while.

“Wonderful! Wonderful!

This is exactly how this poor Daoist’s disciples should be – unrestrained! What Great Tribulation, what calamity, those are all passing clouds.

Approved, of course, I approve! Hold it right here in the Azure Lotus Palace, openly and properly!

Oh, and Yun Xiao, have Changsheng write me a congratulatory message with depth and meaning, and make sure it’s done quickly.

All wedding expenses will be covered by the Azure Lotus Palace.”

“Haha, hahaha, hahahaha *hic*…”

At the bottom of the steps, Yun Xiao couldn’t help but shake her head slightly before lowering it and departing with her orders.

After Yun Xiao left, Patriarch Tongtian’s laughter gradually subsided. He slowly sat down at the top of the steps and let out a gentle sigh.

This venerable Saint didn’t wear any inscrutable expression, nor did he like putting on airs. Yet now he rarely showed hints of worry as he raised his hand to stroke his long hair, staring blankly at the steps below.

“Master…”

Patriarch Tongtian murmured these two words, lost in some memory, his smile turning both bitter and free-spirited.

In the Heavenly Court, at Little Qiong Peak, inside the lakeside thatched cottage.

Li Changshou sat dumbfounded behind his desk, staring at the message jade talisman before him.

This was one of the emergency communication talismans for Elder Zhao. Though troublesome to make, it wasn’t particularly precious.

What did Elder Brother just say?

A wedding? A grand wedding with Senior Sister Jin Ling soon?

This… the Great Tribulation of Investiture has already begun, and now they think of marriage? What were they doing before?!

No, what kind of thinking was going on in the Severing Sect?

While the Enlightenment Sect was plotting how to kill Severing Sect disciples, the Severing Sect disciples had a sudden thought—let’s have some celebration! Maybe it’ll turn their luck around!

That must be it!

Even though he wasn’t at the ‘crime scene,’ he knew such words must have been spoken.

Li Changshou raised his hand to massage his brow, feeling too weak to even critique this.

Various thoughts arose in his mind, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.

Well, if Elder Brother wanted to get married, he would naturally support him fully.

This had nothing to do with the Great Tribulation of Investiture and wouldn’t affect its progression. The Ancestral Master wouldn’t interfere with his actions either.

‘Am I not open-minded enough? Or is Elder Brother too carefree?’

Li Changshou stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and strolled out of the wooden cottage toward the card room.

In the card room, Ling E quickly stopped shuffling the cards in her hands, turned her head to look at her Senior Brother walking through the grove, and said softly:

“My Senior Brother is coming.”

“Let him come,” Zhong Ling muttered, “Quick, deal quickly, one more hand and I’ll win back everything I lost!”

“Hmm…”

Ling E held her small chin and hummed twice, “Senior Brother is smiling. I wonder what happened. Before, Senior Brother always seemed so worried, but now, why does he suddenly seem so happy?”

You Qin Xuan Ya blinked, could one sense that?

Why did she feel that Senior Brother Changshou always wore a smile, as if no problem in the Three Realms could trouble him?

Just then, Li Changshou’s figure flickered several times before appearing in the card room.

“E, play a tune for us to hear.”

“Yes~”

Ling E agreed immediately, stood up, and tossed out two paper dolls that transformed into young maidens, tidying up the guqin and drums on the side.

Li Changshou rolled up his sleeves and smiled, “I’ll play a few rounds in your place.”

Xiong Lingli, You Qin Xuan Ya, and even Zhong Ling were all slightly stunned.

Zhong Ling hummed softly: “You… have you completely given up arm-wrestling with the Ancestral Master?”

“Hm?” Li Changshou smiled and said, “I have no conflicts with Master. Sometimes I must speak up for living beings’ position, that’s determined by my own Dao. Because the Heavenly Dao currently places considerable pressure on living beings, my Dao must balance out this pressure to achieve growth in the realm. To be honest, I quite admire Master.”

Zhong Ling rolled her eyes, wearing an excellent expression of ‘I’ll believe that when pigs fly.’

You Qin Xuan Ya asked: “Senior Brother is no longer worried about the Enlightenment and Severing Sects’ matter?”

“Worrying is one thing, but life must go on,” Li Changshou skillfully arranged the jade tiles as melodious music began floating from the side.

Li Changshou said: “Actually, there is some good news. The long-hidden joy of Elder Gongming and Holy Mother Jin Ling is finally being arranged. It’s a cause for celebration, truly a cause for celebration.”

Xiong Lingli blinked: “Then when will you get married, Cousin?”

Ling E’s music instantly missed a beat, You Qin Xuan Ya lowered her head in silence, while Zhong Ling looked around and kicked Xiong Lingli under the table.

“What do children know! Draw your tiles, draw your tiles!”

Li Changshou smiled without responding, not directly addressing the question.

Amid the rustling sounds, the card room gradually returned to its previous cheerful atmosphere.

Ling E busied herself playing the guqin, brewing tea, and warming wine, constantly moving back and forth, yet seemed quite delighted.

By the way, when Zhao Gongming had asked Li Changshou earlier about suitable dates for the wedding, Li Changshou hadn’t answered, only saying he would help ask around to see which day would be auspicious.

Actually, in the primordial world at this time, only the mortal realm paid attention to auspicious and inauspicious dates.

The operation of the Heavenly Dao and the movement of stars followed internal patterns unrelated to fortune. Only great divine beings like Bai Ze could predict fortune, or see the proportion of good and bad fortune through divination.

But who was Li Changshou?

An ordinary authority deity of the Heavenly Court!

He chose a date that looked good, went to the Heavenly Court’s ‘Star Bureau’ once, and with a wave of his hand, declared it a universally auspicious day in the primordial world, suitable for weddings and guaranteed to be storm-free.

A small use of authority, not worth mentioning, completely not worth mentioning.

Since Li Changshou’s true body had come out, he naturally wanted to handle various matters in one go.

He specially recalled Ao Yi and wrote the auspicious date on red paper, having Ao Yi, a Severing Sect disciple, deliver the message to the Severing Sect.

He also went to the Marriage Palace to discuss with the Old Man under the Moon how to handle the marriage of Primordial Great Beings.

As one of the oldest immortal deities in the Heavenly Court, the Old Man under the Moon naturally had some methods. Upon hearing it was Taibai Star Lord’s elder brother Zhao Gongming getting married, he immediately brought out his specialty.

Creating clay figurines from nothing.

A pair of marriage clay figurines were thus displayed, and though they held no binding power of the Heavenly Dao, the Old Man under the Moon still tied them with a beautiful dead knot.

Nothing else, just for good luck.

Li Changshou then went to the Jade Emperor’s Palace and mentioned this matter directly to His Majesty.

The Jade Emperor, who hadn’t appeared recently, immediately showed interest and smiled: “This Severing Sect truly makes me see them in a new light. Even now with the Great Tribulation at hand, they can still be so unrestrained.”

“That’s probably their sect’s style.”

“Changshou, tell me, what kind of wedding gift would be appropriate for me to send to Gongming?”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Your Majesty, it’s not appropriate for the Heavenly Court to show anything. If you wish to send gifts, it’s better to do it through the Jade Pool Palace, just send one or two fairy maidens. The Heavenly Army and Generals shouldn’t appear.”

The Jade Emperor pondered carefully for a while: “Changshou’s words make sense. Oh yes, Changshou, after the Great Tribulation… could you stay in the Heavenly Court for another hundred years?”

“This,” Li Changshou made a Daoist salute, “This minor deity thanks Your Majesty for the favor, but regarding future matters, this minor deity cannot say for certain.”

“Ah,” the Jade Emperor shook his head, “Well then, I won’t force you too much. Changshou, if you have any difficulties or concerns, you can always come to me to discuss them.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Li Changshou and the Jade Emperor exchanged glances, this ruler and minister showing similar smiles.

Everything was understood without words.

Speaking of weddings, one naturally needs to prepare gifts.

His ties with Elder Brother Gongming ran too deep; a light gift would fall short, but simply pursuing high value would seem quite vulgar.

But what gift could he give Elder Brother Zhao Gongming?

Immunity from the Great Tribulation?

That wasn’t impossible to consider, though very challenging, but too abstract.

Was there such a perfect gift in the world that could show deep friendship without falling into vulgarity, while still benefiting Elder Brother?

His own specialty… escape techniques?

Would that imply wanting Elder Brother Gongming to escape the bonds of marriage and flee far away?

Send treasures?

He had already given a Heaven and Earth Ruler, and currently, there weren’t many treasures he could give that would benefit Elder Brother, such as the pagoda he was preparing to give to Li Jing later.

The Tower-Bearing Heavenly King Li’s pagoda shouldn’t be given away carelessly. What if it led to some strange karmic connections? Wouldn’t that harm Elder Brother?

Li Changshou had thought to change his approach and give a gift that would please Holy Mother Jin Ling, but when he turned his head, he discovered that Ling E had already prepared beautiful clothing for Holy Mother Jin Ling.

He couldn’t very well compete with his junior sister for creativity.

Eh?

Got it.

Li Changshou raised his eyebrows, suddenly thinking of something good.

He could refine some pills, then go to the Five Villages Observatory to request two ginseng fruits, aiming for good symbolism, creating a high-end primordial world version of ‘dates bearing osmanthus children’!

Yes, prepare two bottles of Nine Cycles Golden Pills, those are the most practical.

A mount could also be considered, get the Elder Brother a more impressive mount, and make receiving the bride more magnificent.

If he wanted to show sincerity, he could also make a wooden toy by hand, for Elder Brother to use to amuse children in the future…

Meanwhile, Ao Yi rushed at lightning speed to Golden Tortoise Island, made his way to Azure Lotus Palace, found Zhao Gongming, and handed over the red paper.

Zhao Gongming took it and looked, his hands trembling with joy.

“It’s set! It’s set! The wedding date is set!”

All the immortals in Azure Lotus Palace were instantly energized.

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