Chapter 1270: Cloudche and Caizhi

"Ah!?" Caizhi's lips parted instantly to their widest extent.

"Jasmine... what did you say?" Yun Che almost wondered if there was something wrong with his ears.

"I said, you two will be married here today!" Jasmine repeated in a louder, more resolute tone.

This time, Yun Che heard it clearly, beyond a doubt, and was stunned on the spot. He glanced at Caizhi beside him, who was wide-eyed and seemingly dumbfounded, and stammered, "Are... are you... kidding?"

"Do I look like I'm kidding?" Jasmine said, her face not only devoid of any hint of jest but more serious than at any other time.

"But how can Caizhi and I..." Yun Che frowned and shook his head, utterly confused. "She and I... there's no way we should be getting married, right?"

He and Caizhi had first met two years ago and had shared some difficult times, and he owed her a good deal of gratitude. Caizhi was the daughter of the Star God Emperor, the Heavenly Wolf Star God, and most importantly, Jasmine's sister. There was no scenario in which the word "husband and wife" would apply to them.

"Why not?" Jasmine asked, her gaze fixed. "Is Caizhi not worthy of you?"

"No, no," Yun Che shook his head. "Caizhi is a princess of the Star God Realm, and one of the Star Gods. I couldn't possibly be worthy of her."

"Hmph," Jasmine's slender brows slightly furrowed. "You are known throughout the God Realm as the 'Son of the Heavenly Way.' Even Qianye Ying'er is eager to marry you. How could you not be worthy of Caizhi?"

Yun Che couldn't tell if this was an affirmation or sarcasm born of displeasure. He could only say, "But for something like this, at the very least, there should be mutual affection. And Caizhi and I..."

"Were you mutually affectionate when you married Xia Qingyue back then?" Jasmine retorted coldly.

Yun Che was instantly speechless.

"Yun Che, who you are as a person, is there anyone in this world who understands it better than I do?" Jasmine frowned. "You're a lecher who can't live without women! You're only in your twenties and you already have three wives and multiple concubines, a whole harem! You should be struck by lightning!"

From Jasmine's words, both Yun Che and Caizhi vaguely sensed a hint of gritted teeth.

"In terms of looks, Caizhi is already a beauty at a young age and will surely possess world-shattering grace in the future. In terms of origin, she is the little princess of the Star God Realm. In terms of cultivation, she is the Heavenly Wolf Star God, feared by all. In no aspect is she inferior to your wives and concubines from the lower realm. What more could you be dissatisfied with?!"

"But..."

"No 'buts'!" Jasmine scoffed coldly. "Don't think I don't know you're secretly pleased and just pretending to be hesitant!"

After saying this, Jasmine added in an extremely low voice, "You super pervert!"

Although her voice was low, Yun Che still heard it, and his face instantly fell... This label, he knew, would never be removed from Jasmine's mind in this lifetime.

Jasmine's demeanor was incredibly firm; all his resistance would only be met with a more vehement retort from her. Although this "marriage" was not only extremely sudden but also exceptionally absurd, he knew that Jasmine was not someone to act recklessly. There must be some special, deeper meaning behind her decision.

Calming himself slightly, Yun Che looked into Jasmine's eyes and asked with a serious expression, "Then at least tell me... the reason you made this decision for Caizhi and me."

Caizhi stared blankly at Jasmine, seemingly still reeling from the shock.

Jasmine did not avoid his gaze, looking directly into his eyes. "Because, in this world, only you can marry my sister."

"..." It was an incredibly simple sentence, yet it left Yun Che somewhat bewildered, unsure how to respond.

"Caizhi, this is also my answer to you." Turning her gaze to Caizhi, Jasmine's voice softened. "Don't ask any more questions. Let's begin. I will personally witness your union."

"No... no," Caizhi shook her head, her face filled with bewilderment. "No, no, I don't want to!"

Caizhi turned and ran outside.

"Caizhi! Are you going to disobey me again?!"

Jasmine's sharp rebuke made Caizhi stop obediently. She turned her face, panicking, "I... I listen to sister, but... but..."

Seeing Caizhi's bewildered and helpless expression, Jasmine's breath hitched, and her voice and gaze softened. "Caizhi, marriage is the most important event in a woman's life, and yet I have decided it for you with a single word... I know this is a great hurt and injustice to you. You can blame me, resent me, as much as you like."

"No, I don't blame you, sister." Caizhi shook her head forcefully. "I just... I just find it too strange."

Jasmine's chest rose and fell heavily. She said softly, "You must find it hard to accept now, but trust me, it won't be long before you are slowly drawn to him, until you can't extricate yourself. At that time, you will fully accept this outcome, and perhaps even... eternally be grateful for this day."

"That's just the kind of person he is."

Yun Che: "..."

"But he's brother-in-law," Caizhi still said, confused. It was impossible for her to understand now. "It should clearly be sister and him... clearly..."

"Caizhi," Jasmine breathed lightly, "This is my most selfish, yet most important wish. Can you help me fulfill it?"

"I..." Caizhi's lips parted slightly, unsure how to answer.

"This must also be the wish of your mother, and your brother," Jasmine said softly.

"..." Caizhi's gaze grew increasingly hazy, as if shrouded in an impenetrable mist.

Compared to Yun Che, who was an outrageously experienced veteran in such matters, Jasmine's decision undoubtedly had a much stronger impact on her. Although she had inherited the memories of the Heavenly Wolf Star God, they couldn't help her understand why such a strange thing was happening.

A wish? Why did she say it was a wish? Yun Che pondered inwardly.

"Yun Che, Caizhi, kneel." Jasmine lightly closed her eyes, concealing her extremely complex gaze.

But both Yun Che and Caizhi remained motionless.

As if she had expected this, after her words fell, Jasmine simply extended her small hand and gently clasped it.

A soft force suddenly pressed down. How could Yun Che possibly resist Jasmine's power? He immediately knelt to the ground. Caizhi, still in a state of bewilderment, also knelt simultaneously.

"Bow to heaven and earth!" Jasmine's voice intensified.

"Sister, I..."

Caizhi tried to say something else, but Jasmine sharply cut her off: "No talking!"

Jasmine's gesture subtly changed, and the force pressing on them immediately shifted forward, causing both of their upper bodies to bow together.

Yun Che could not resist Jasmine's power, and Caizhi could... but she dared not. In this world, the thing she least wanted and most feared to do was to make her sister angry.

"The memorial tablets behind me are for Caizhi's mother and aunt. I was once Yun Che's master, so naturally, I am also considered an elder to Yun Che. Thus, you both have elders present... Bow!"

After Jasmine finished speaking, her gesture changed again, and she watched as they completed their second bow.

Taking a soft breath, Jasmine lightly drew her fingers together. An invisible aura moved around their bodies, making Yun Che and Caizhi kneel facing each other, their eyes meeting.

However, just as their gazes met, their upper bodies were pressed down.

"Third bow!"

This bow was very deep, and Yun Che's head and Caizhi's forehead touched quite firmly.

Jasmine withdrew her power. As she let out a sigh of relief, her emotions suddenly became even more complex. "The three bows are complete. Yun Che, Caizhi, from this moment on, you two are husband and wife, your destinies intertwined. In the future, you must support each other, sharing both glory and shame!"

Yun Che: "..."

Caizhi: "..."

From kneeling to the three bows, everything was forced by Jasmine and happened very quickly. They didn't even have time to process what was happening.

Although Yun Che was a man who had already gone through three wedding ceremonies, he was still at a loss this time. He only knew what the completion of this ceremony meant...

After Xia Qingyue, Cang Yue, and the Little Demon Empress, he now had another wife...

Caizhi...

His marriage to Xia Qingyue was an arranged one from birth. His marriage to Cang Yue was born of mutual affection. His marriage to the Little Demon Empress was celebrated by all. But with Caizhi...

He secretly glanced at Caizhi, only to find her still kneeling there, looking dazed and bewildered, a pitiful sight of helplessness.

It seemed that even now, she couldn't comprehend what had just happened.

Jasmine walked over and silently watched them both for a long time. Her face was serene, but in her heart, waves of emotion constantly surged...

Yun Che, after I leave, Caizhi will protect you in my stead. She will surely become the strongest Star God, shielding you from all calamities...

Caizhi, remember, without me, there will still be someone in this world whom you can fully rely on. Never again let yourself fall into the abyss of "pure hatred"...

The voices in her mind gradually faded. She couldn't utter them, but as she witnessed the intertwining destinies of the two, a very faint smile finally appeared on her lips. "Caizhi, give me the ring on your hand."

Caizhi looked up, paused for a moment, then carefully removed the ring she always wore on her left hand and placed it in Jasmine's hand.

It was a bright silver ring, faintly entwined with a pale blue glow. Clasping the ring in her hand, Jasmine whispered, "This ring was left by my brother before he passed away. He said he left his final soul within it to protect me for my entire life."

"Twelve years ago, before I went to the Southern Divine Region, I gave this ring to Caizhi. Now, I am giving it to you."

"Ah!?" Caizhi gasped. This ring had always been the most cherished item she possessed.

Jasmine stepped forward, took Yun Che's left hand, and personally placed the ring on his middle finger. "Yun Che, I hope that every time you see this ring, you remember that Caizhi is your wife, the person you are to cherish for life. Any kindness you show to other women, even small gestures to win their favor, must not be less for Caizhi!"

"..." Yun Che looked at Jasmine, then at the ring forcibly placed on his finger, unsure how to respond.

"This ring is Caizhi's dowry. You should also offer some betrothal gift, shouldn't you?" Jasmine released Yun Che's hand.

Yun Che sighed, then took out an ordinary-looking longsword from the Sky Poison Pearl. Its blade faintly shimmered with emerald green light.

"This sword is called the Sky Poison Sword. It has accompanied me in saving lives and also in massacring the populace, witnessing both chapters of my life. It was also this sword that saved Ling'er's life at the Azure Cloud Cliff."

Jasmine took the Sky Poison Sword. On its blade, she vaguely sensed the aura of the Sky Poison Pearl.

Placing the Sky Poison Sword in Caizhi's hand, Jasmine said softly, "Caizhi, keep this sword well. This is your husband's betrothal gift to you, and proof that he will protect you for life."

"Brother-in-law is so weak, I don't need him to protect me."

Caizhi mumbled softly, but her hand still lightly touched the sword's blade, her eyes hazy, lost in thought.

"He is not your brother-in-law, but your husband. Don't call him wrong again!" Jasmine reminded.

"I don't want to!" Caizhi retorted. She glanced at Yun Che, then swiftly averted her gaze, grabbed the Sky Poison Sword, and hurried away, seemingly bewildered and unsure how to face Yun Che and her sister.