Luo Cheng’an took Xi Yu’s hand. The castle doors slowly swung open, revealing a path carpeted with roses.
Lu Zhixing was waiting at the end of the flower-strewn aisle.
The moment Xi Yu met his gaze, his heartbeat suddenly quickened, as though it were about to leap right out of his chest.
A smile played on Lu Zhixing’s lips. He wore a suit matching Xi Yu’s, with the same red pear blossom pinned to his lapel.
Xi Yu’s eyes suddenly grew warm. It was only an ordinary mortal wedding, after all. Although he had looked forward to it, he hadn’t felt particularly emotional before. But now that the day had actually arrived, happiness washed over him like a damp rain, leaving his heart soft and aching.
Xi Yu saw many familiar faces: Yu Qian, Shen Linchuan, Xiaoman, Jiang Yunzheng, and even… Fu Ye and Sangbiao.
Luo Cheng’an noticed his surprise and whispered, “Sangbiao sent me a telepathic message yesterday. He said Fu Ye saw the post on Weibo and wanted to come. They’ve recently learned how to use the internet.”
Fu Ye’s long hair fell loosely over his shoulders, but he was wearing modern clothes. It was obvious they were newly bought. Beside him, Sangbiao was talking to Xiaoman, while Shen Linchuan looked rather displeased.
Xi Yu had never been someone who enjoyed crowds. But seeing so many familiar faces gathered together, all offering the same heartfelt blessings, he realized for the first time just how wonderful it could be to have so many people around.
Perhaps the pure and innocent part of his life had been buried beneath hatred for too long. Xi Yu thought that if none of those things had happened, he might actually have been someone who loved lively gatherings.
Family, friends, beloved…
Every one of those words was another name for happiness.
Lu Zhixing’s hands hung at his sides as he gazed at Xi Yu, utterly captivated.
This was the first time he had seen Xi Yu since regaining his memories. The scene of Xi Yu wanting to take his place in the Annihilation Formation remained vivid in his mind. Yet now, only a few months later, they were about to be married.
Lu Zhixing bit the tip of his tongue. Only when the pain finally came did he manage to return to his senses.
This wasn’t a dream.
He watched Xi Yu approach him, one step at a time. The path wasn’t long, but it had taken him an incredibly long time to reach this moment—so long that he had once felt hopeless countless times.
Only when Xi Yu finally stopped in front of him did Lu Zhixing’s rigid body respond. He reached out his hand.
Luo Cheng’an placed Xi Yu’s hand in Lu Zhixing’s, then stepped into the crowd.
Xi Yu’s palm was warm, and the warmth spread to Lu Zhixing’s slightly cool hand until it, too, became burning hot.
A soft plop sounded as a tear fell onto the back of Xi Yu’s hand. Lu Zhixing lowered his head slightly. Large tears, like pearls, rolled down his cheeks. He pressed a reverent kiss to the back of Xi Yu’s hand.
His god had descended to his side.
Xi Yu cupped his face in both hands. “Don’t cry.”
【Waaaaah! That tear from my Lu-ge was everything! I’m going to cry!!!!】
【The moment he saw his beloved, tears of happiness fell.】
【Perfect match! Perfect match!!!!】
【Lu-ge is so deeply in love!】
【Yu-bao naturally reaches out to touch his face and comfort him. Waaaaah!】
【Overbearing Yu-bao and his crybaby.】
【What should we say when Xingyu gets together?!】
【99】
【99】
……
【DO IT!】
【No, wait, the person above! Is that appropriate?!】
The internet was flooded with blessings, but in Xi Yu and Lu Zhixing’s eyes, there was only each other.
“Mr. Lu Zhixing, do you take Mr. Xi Yu as your partner, to love and cherish him, whether in poverty or wealth, in sickness or in health, to respect and protect him, and to walk hand in hand with him for the rest of your lives?”
Lu Zhixing held Xi Yu’s hand. His voice was terribly hoarse. “I do.”
The pastor continued, “Mr. Xi Yu, do you take Mr. Lu Zhixing as your partner, whether in poverty or wealth, in sickness or in health, to respect and care for him, and to walk hand in hand with him for the rest of your lives?”
Xi Yu smiled. His voice was gentle and full of affection. “I do.”
“At this moment, two loving hearts are joined together, and two sincere souls become one. Let us give this newlywed couple a round of applause and wish them everlasting love and a lifetime together!”
Applause erupted throughout the venue. Even the pastor’s voice grew more enthusiastic as he announced, “The couple may now kiss!”
Lu Zhixing was the first to lower his head and kiss Xi Yu on the lips.
Some people cheered with delight, while others quietly left, their hearts heavy.
Shen Qing and Luo Yuan clapped so enthusiastically that their hands turned red. Jiang Shuhe wiped away her tears as Lu Zheng held her, watching the couple with a smile.
Luo Cheng’an touched the iris pinned to his chest several times before turning and leaving the castle. Under the sunlight, his eyes were slightly damp, filled with both relief and emptiness.
“Where are you going?” Shen Tan asked him.
For once, Luo Cheng’an didn’t respond with a cutting remark. Instead, he looked at Shen Tan with an unusually bewildered expression.
“I don’t know.”
He didn’t know where he was going. He simply felt that he didn’t want to stay inside.
Shen Tan gazed at Luo Cheng’an, an innocent yet cruel smile on his face.
“Then come with me, Huai Xi. The wedding that belonged to us a thousand years ago, when you faked your death, was far grander than today’s.”
Luo Cheng’an’s face went pale. He was about to run, but Shen Tan had already anticipated it. He grabbed Luo Cheng’an by the shoulder and pulled him into his arms. In an instant, the two disappeared from the spot.
*
Perhaps because he was simply too happy, even Xi Yu, who normally disliked drinking, had quite a lot of alcohol. He even drank Lu Zhixing’s share for him.
Xi Yu had a decent tolerance, but even he couldn’t withstand everyone taking turns filling his glass.
After the wedding, a fireworks banquet had also been arranged. It wasn’t until late at night that Lu Zhixing finally helped a thoroughly tipsy Xi Yu home.
The bedsheets in their room were dark red. Xi Yu had fought hard for that color because he hadn’t wanted the bright red that Shen Qing had chosen.
Xi Yu’s head was spinning a little. He collapsed onto the bed. A moment later, he opened his eyes and saw the jade-colored glazed tiles above him glowing faintly.
Sleepily, Xi Yu closed his eyes again. A few seconds later, he suddenly opened them and sat upright.
At some point, the dark red sheets beneath him had turned bright red.
And the scene before him was completely different from what it had been when he entered the room.
This was… Lanxing Hall.
Xi Yu stiffly turned his head. Only then did he notice the man sitting beside the bed, dressed in a red wedding robe and wearing a bridal veil.
His heart immediately leapt into his throat.
Xi Yu suspected that he was hallucinating because he had drunk too much. He waved his hand, dispelling the drunkenness from his body, but the scene before him remained unchanged.
A daring possibility slowly took shape in his mind. His voice trembled slightly.
“Is it you?”
He didn’t dare call out a name. He was afraid of getting it wrong.
Beneath the veil came a gentle, clear voice, like a flowing stream.
“Master.”
In that instant, all the blood in Xi Yu’s body seemed to freeze.
Lu Zhixing had regained his memories.
Of course. Only after recovering his memories could he bring Xi Yu into Lanxing Hall inside the ring.
“Zhuxi…” Xi Yu called.
“Master.” Lu Zhixing fiddled with the edge of his veil. “I wanted to see you.”
Xi Yu’s throat bobbed. He reached out and slowly lifted Lu Zhixing’s veil.
A face that had accompanied him for countless millennia suddenly appeared before his eyes.
“Why did you…” Xi Yu wanted to ask why he had gone to such lengths to arrange all this, but then decided he no longer wanted to ask.
In Lu Zhixing’s dark eyes, he saw his own transformed appearance.
Although Xi Yu didn’t ask, Lu Zhixing knew what he had been about to say.
“The wedding in the castle was for Xi Yu and Lu Zhixing. But this one… is for Lanxing and Zhuxi.”
Zhuxi gazed at Lanxing with utter devotion.
“Husband, a moment of springtime bliss is worth a thousand gold.”
………………………..
The scene inside the Heart-Reading Stone that day remained vivid in his mind. It had been the secret, hidden corner of Lanxing’s heart that he had never allowed anyone to glimpse.
And yet now, it was unfolding right before his eyes.
The difference was that inside the Heart-Reading Stone, he had believed Zhuxi wouldn’t agree, so he had resorted to forcefully taking what he wanted.
But now, Zhuxi was dressed in a bright red wedding robe, looking at him with a smile. Love flowed through his pale violet eyes.
Lanxing caressed Zhuxi’s face, his heart pounding like thunder.
“Say it again,” Lanxing said.
Zhuxi took Lanxing’s hand and pressed his face against his palm. His voice was soft and tender.
“Husband.”
Lanxing’s fingertips lingered over the corners of Zhuxi’s eyes, utterly entranced.
“Beautiful.”
Zhuxi raised his eyes and gazed at Lanxing.
The Divine Venerable Lanxing, whose beauty surpassed all others in the Nine Heavens, with his celestial grace and peerless appearance, was calling him beautiful.
The candlelight beside the bed replaced the glow of the night pearls. Layers of red gauze curtains fell around them.
Lanxing’s hair, which had been held up by his jade crown, had somehow come undone. It now hung loosely down his back.
“That’s enough…” Lanxing’s eyes were tinged red at the corners. He reached up and pulled off Zhuxi’s hair ornament. His fingers slid into Zhuxi’s hair, making his own hands look as white as snow. “Leave the rest to me.”
Lanxing pressed Zhuxi beneath him. He lifted Zhuxi’s chin, already somewhat impatient, yet using every ounce of patience he had left in this lifetime to soothe him.
“Don’t be afraid. I won’t let it hurt too much.”
He had heard that the first time was always uncomfortable.
But he truly couldn’t hold back any longer.
He desperately wanted to possess Zhuxi, the beloved who had always believed he was the one who loved first, and who had never abandoned him, even in life or death.
Lanxing raised his hand and conjured a small purple bottle. The moment he opened it, a rich fragrance filled the air.
He scooped out a little and placed it in his palm. The ointment slowly melted against the warmth of his fingertips, with a few drops falling onto Zhuxi’s chest.
Just as Lanxing was about to move his hand lower, his wrist was suddenly caught. In the next instant, their positions were completely reversed.
Lanxing was stunned. “You like taking the initiative?”
It wasn’t that he objected. He was simply worried that Zhuxi wouldn’t know what to do the first time.
But it didn’t take long for Lanxing to realize something was wrong.
Zhuxi had wiped the ointment from his hand, taken the purple bottle, and pulled Lanxing’s ankle toward him.
Even though Lanxing was inexperienced himself, he could still recognize that this was an offensive position.
The cool ointment touched his skin. Lanxing’s mind went blank with a buzz, and his voice rose in shock.
“Zhuxi!”
Zhuxi licked his lips and spoke slowly, one word at a time.
“Master, I want you.”
????
An outrageous disciple! Defying his master! A wolf in sheep’s clothing!
Lanxing glared at him, wondering how he should punish this disciple whose intentions were far too audacious. He grabbed Zhuxi’s hand and was just about to pull him away.
But in the next second, a warm tear fell onto Lanxing’s pale belly.
Lanxing sneered. “A pity play? You think that will work at a time like this?”