Chapter 160: Decision

The woman in blue meticulously observed Meng Chuan, focusing on his eyebrows, eyes, eyelashes, nose, mouth, and ears. She even strained to see any moles on his face, but from over five li away, even she found it difficult to discern them.

"Chuan'er's features are similar to when he was a child, but his facial contours are more defined now," the woman in blue thought with a smile. "His eyelashes are just as long as they were when he was little. If I were closer, I'd be able to see the mole under his eye."

"Da Jiang has been raising Chuan'er all these years. And Chuan'er has truly made us proud."

The woman in blue could barely contain her joy, though tears welled up in her eyes.

She watched the wedding procession arrive at Liu Qiyue's temporary residence. Meng Chuan entered the manor and spent over an hour inside before successfully bringing out the bride. Liu Qiyue, resplendent in her crimson robe and phoenix coronet, then stepped into the sedan chair. Beside her, Liu Yebai watched the scene with mixed emotions. His daughter was getting married, but fortunately, it was to Meng Chuan, which brought him some peace of mind.

Liu Yebai only wished for his daughter's happiness and didn't want her to bear any burdens. He had never spoken to her about the pressure from the Liu family, having always shouldered it alone.

Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue were exceptionally talented. The Liu family did not try to disrupt the wedding; instead, they sent a Second Heaven Godfiend to present a low-key congratulatory gift. Meng Dajiang and Liu Yebai also kept things calm, not wanting any trouble on such a joyous day. The Liu family's gesture, merely sending a Second Heaven Godfiend, clearly indicated their intention to ease tensions rather than provoke Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue.

Watching the procession escort the bride back to Meng Chuan's manor, the woman in blue, observing from afar, involuntarily clenched her fingers.

The bride alighted from the sedan chair. Then, the groom, Meng Chuan, and the bride, Liu Qiyue, stepped over a brazier before entering the manor.

Once inside the main courtyard, her view was obstructed, and she could no longer see clearly.

"They're married," the woman in blue whispered softly. "Chuan'er is finally married, and his wife is his childhood sweetheart. This is wonderful, truly wonderful."

The tears in the woman's eyes silently vanished. She regained her calm and indifferent demeanor, then turned and exited the private room, telling the gray-robed elder who stood guard beside her, "It's time to go back now."

"We must return quickly," the gray-robed elder said, a hint of worry in his voice. "We left and must return on the same day. It would be troublesome if our secret departure were discovered."

"Don't worry," the woman in blue replied calmly.

She and the gray-robed elder departed silently.

She had arrived quietly and left just as quietly. Neither Meng Chuan nor Meng Dajiang had any idea.

"First bow: to Heaven and Earth!"

Holding a red silk ribbon, Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue were filled with immense joy and contentment. Before numerous witnesses, they bowed to Heaven and Earth.

"Second bow: to the elders!"

Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue both turned and bowed to Meng Dajiang, who was seated there.

Meng Dajiang watched the scene, smiling warmly. However, when he saw the empty chair beside him, a pang of sadness struck him. He quickly composed himself, maintaining his smile as he looked at Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue.

"Third bow: to each other as husband and wife!"

Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue bowed to each other.

With the completion of the ceremony, they were officially husband and wife. From that day forward, he was her husband, and she was his wife.

"Into the bridal chamber!"

Meng Chuan led Liu Qiyue to the new room, which had been prepared for them.

The bride, Liu Qiyue, could rest and wait in the room. Meng Chuan, however, removed his celebratory red ribbon and immediately went out to entertain the guests. As the groom, he naturally had to attend to every one of them.

Night fell, and the guests began to disperse only after they had eaten and drunk their fill.

Traditionally, there would have been playful customs in the bridal chamber, but Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue were Godfiends! Their status was too special for ordinary customs to apply. Some Godfiends who married simply exchanged bows to Heaven and Earth, unwilling to hold grand ceremonies. Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue had arranged a somewhat formal ceremony, but the traditional bridal chamber antics were forgone.

After all the guests had left, Meng Dajiang was alone in his room, drinking until he was tipsy. His eyes were glazed over, and he seemed to be transported back to his own wedding day.

Back then, he wasn't fat at all; he was a handsome young man.

And she, too, was as beautiful as a fairy.

But over the years, he had raised their child alone and sent him to Mount Yuanchu.

"Nianyun, Chuan'er is married now. In the future, Chuan'er and Qiyue will have children," Meng Dajiang murmured to himself. "Twenty-five years have passed in the blink of an eye. Nianyun, I truly miss you."

Meng Dajiang was in immense pain.

His wife's secret was unknown to outsiders, but he knew it.

For his wife and his son, he had to keep it a secret for the rest of his life.

Inside the bridal chamber.

Red candles glowed, casting a soft, hazy light over everything.

"Qiyue."

Meng Chuan saw Liu Qiyue sitting there, still covered by her red veil. He picked up the weighing rod nearby and gently lifted the veil, revealing a slightly flushed face.

Liu Qiyue's skin was already as radiant as jade. After awakening her Phoenix bloodline, her beauty had become even more striking. Now, under the candlelight and enhanced by her crimson wedding gown, she was so breathtaking that Meng Chuan stared, momentarily stunned.

So beautiful.

Qiyue at this moment was truly exquisite.

Meng Chuan felt he would remember this moment for his entire life.

"Are you just going to keep staring at me?" Liu Qiyue said softly.

Meng Chuan snapped out of it, smiling as he set down the rod. "It seems Qiyue can't wait."

"Who can't wait?" Liu Qiyue glared at Meng Chuan.

"My lady, my mistake," Meng Chuan quickly corrected himself. "It's I who can't wait."

Hearing 'my lady,' Liu Qiyue couldn't help but smile again. Meng Chuan then shed his robes, and gently helped Qiyue remove her intricate wedding gown. "The wedding night," he whispered, "is too precious to waste." With that, he pulled Liu Qiyue onto the bed, and the bed curtains were lowered.

After Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue were married, their intimacy naturally grew.

Meng Dajiang, Liu Yebai, and the other guests had their own matters to attend to in Dongning Prefecture. They had only stayed in Beihe Pass for a total of seven days. Meng Chuan then arranged for a Godfiend to pilot a giant flying beast, taking his father and the others back to Dongning Prefecture.

"Live well with Meng Chuan from now on," Liu Yebai advised his daughter, then looked at Meng Chuan. "Meng Chuan, Qiyue is more important to me than my own life. I'm entrusting her to you now; don't disappoint me."

"Father-in-law, rest assured," Meng Chuan replied. "I also value her more than my own life."

"I'm at ease about you two," Liu Yebai said, nodding slightly.

"Alright, alright, let's just wait for grandchildren and stop bothering the young ones," Meng Dajiang urged, already seated on the back of the flying beast.

Liu Yebai also leaped onto the back of the flying beast.

"Senior Brother Meng, I'm setting off now," said the Godfiend 'Wang Song,' who was in charge of piloting the flying beast.

"Travel safely," Meng Chuan replied.

Junior Brother Wang nodded with a smile, and then the flying beast soared into the sky, carrying the guests towards Dongning Prefecture.

In February, on Mount Yuanchu, a few pink flowers had already bloomed in a garden.

Venerable Qin Wu and two other ethereal figures were gathered there.

"Xu Yingwu, why the sudden request to see us?" asked the ethereal figure of a woman in white, whose demeanor was cool and aloof.

"Qin Wu, you are currently in charge of Mount Yuanchu's affairs. And Bai Yaoyue, you oversee Black Sand Grotto-Heaven's affairs," the ethereal figure of the middle-aged man said. "The reason I need to see both of you is, naturally, something of great importance."

"What is it?" Venerable Qin Wu asked.

The ethereal figure of the middle-aged man stated, "After internal discussions on our Two World Island, we have decided to allow the demon kings to enter the human world."