Chapter 1659 — That Zun's Wedding

Their fingertips touched. Bashan's scalp went numb. He coughed heavily.

Shen Mu's fingers trembled and withdrew. Bai Qú'er's expression dimmed. She did not withdraw her hand. The moon gradually rose, the sash fluttering around it. The moon rose higher and higher, faster and faster, until moonlight filled the sky, beyond reach. Shen Mu looked up, and only after a long while did he withdraw his gaze. "Senior Brother Bashan, there's no need to worry about me. I know my limits.

I won't act recklessly. " Libationer Bashan let out a breath. "I fear you may find your feelings hard to restrain.

Your old brother has been through this too.

You are at your most dangerous moment now.

" Shen Mu smiled. "Senior Brother, you exaggerate. I am marrying to delay the Heavenly Court's reckoning against Jingping, and also to set Haotian Zun's mind at ease about me.

I certainly won't make a mistake at this critical time.

Moreover, Princess Xiu and I have been childhood sweethearts since we were young, and we long ago pledged ourselves to each other.

The reason we delayed the marriage until now is because the times forced it. " Bashan looked him over carefully. "With those words from you, Junior Brother, I am reassured.

These next few days, I'll be staying at your estate.

Treat me to good wine and good meat.

" Shen Mu laughed heartily and patted his shoulder. His gaze passed over Bashan and fell upon Ling Yuxiu. Ling Yuxiu had arrived at some unknown time. She must have noticed the moon descending to the mortal world and sinking into Shen Mu's estate, yet she had not come over immediately. Only when Bashan arrived did she hurry over. Bashan tactfully took his leave.

Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu walked side by side through the garden. Ling Yuxiu raised her hand to pluck a flowering branch, but halfway she let go, and the branch sprang back. "You have something on your mind," Shen Mu said. Ling Yuxiu smiled. "Don't you as well? " Shen Mu smiled. "I understand what weighs on your mind.

You are worried, thinking that our marriage is really to delay the Heavenly Court, that we are marrying to dispel Haotian Zun's suspicions of me. You needn't be. You know my heart. Even without all that, I would still marry you. " Ling Yuxiu looked at the flowers in the garden by moonlight. Several buds had not yet opened.

She touched them lightly with her fingertip, and the buds bloomed faintly in the moonlight. "I always want to return to when we first met by the Yongjiang River.

Back then we were innocent playmates, our feelings at their purest and most unknowing.

How wonderful it would have been if we had married then. " Shen Mu twirled a flower and smiled.

"People must always grow up.

You and I have grown up, weathered so many dangers, and in the end we can still walk together. That is life.

We have gone through so many trials, and in the future we will still support each other and keep walking on. " Ling Yuxiu looked at him and said softly, "I always worry that there is some knot in your heart, some reluctance to let go. " "There isn't. " Shen Mu drew her into his arms, breathing in the fragrance of her hair, and murmured, "There isn't. " He looked at the bright moon in the sky, and his heartbeat skipped half a beat.

The moon's descent to the mortal world was but a small interlude in Mu Zun's marriage, unnoticed by others. On this day, Mu Zun held his grand wedding.

Envoys from all sides came in an endless stream. The rulers of the heavens and myriad worlds also sent envoys to offer congratulations. Lan Yutian, Xu Shenghua, and others hurried back from the Ancestral Court to attend the wedding as well. The White Tiger, Western Emperor; the Black Tortoise, Northern Emperor; and the Vermilion Bird, Southern Emperor all sent envoys bearing lavish gifts. The newly ascended Zun, Long Xiao, also ordered his adopted son Long Pi to hurry over from the Beast Realm.

Long Pi brought his own children to see Shen Mu in person, his heart full of sighs. Choking back tears, he said, "The Hierarch finally no longer needs me to worry about him.

.

. " Qin Hanzhen and his wife from the Carefree Land also came, their hearts full of emotion. Taichu also sent someone to present a gift.

In the gift box was a dragon scale. On this day, guests gathered in the Upper and Lower Capitals of Jingping in extraordinary bustle. The Eight Elders of Yincan Village sat in the seats of parents, and beside them was placed an empty seat.

Emperor Yanfeng and the Empress, along with Qin Hanzhen and his wife, also sat in the hall, receiving the kneeling bows of Shen Mu and his bride alongside the Eight Elders. Each wore a smile, yet secretly turned their heads to wipe away tears.

On the day of the wedding ceremony, Xue Hu'er woke from her drunken stupor and missed the wedding. When it came time for the bridal chamber, Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu heard voices from outside: "You're still kissing! How shameless!

Shame, shame—" The Blind Old Man's voice came: "Shen'er, don't panic. I'll drive Ling'er away!

" Ling Yuxiu took off her shoe and threw it out, crying angrily, "Blind Grandfather, you've come to eavesdrop too? " From outside the window came a yelp.

It was unclear which woman had been hit by the shoe, but the voice sounded faintly like Si Yunxiang's. Shen Mu laughed heartily and spread out a sheet of paper.

Ling Yuxiu ground ink for him. Shen Mu took up his brush and painted, and in but a moment, a panorama of rivers and mountains ten thousand li wide leaped onto the paper. The two walked hand in hand into the painting.

That night, within the painting, orioles sang and swallows whispered, spring tides surged, rising and falling, melodious and sweet, exquisite beyond words.