Yang Manor.
Yang Ronghua's boudoir.
"Miss, Miss! Young Master Xu got into a fight with the young masters from the Prefecture City."
"Brother Mingwei wasn't hurt, was he?"
"Of course Young Master Xu won! He even knocked Young Master Shihui—the one the Patriarch praised so highly—down with a single punch!"
Yang Ronghua was overjoyed, her face flushed with shy sweetness. "I knew Brother Mingwei was the best."
After a while.
Another maidservant hurried in.
"Miss, Young Master Xu composed a poem to urge the bride's makeup."
"Brocade canopies and fragrant carriages halt by the willow ford; painted halls and silver candles illuminate this fine hour. Before the water-chestnut mirror, new dark brows are painted; before the tortoiseshell screen, old dust is brushed away."
"We should be leaving too."
Main hall.
Yang Zhao and his wife sat upright in the seats of honor in the main hall.
After a boisterous crowd entered, Xu Mingwei cupped his hands and bowed to Yang Zhao and his wife. "This son-in-law greets father-in-law and mother-in-law."
"Mm."
Yang Zhao stroked his short beard and nodded in satisfaction.
"The bride is here!"
Someone shouted loudly, and the crowd immediately parted to make way.
A woman in a wedding gown of layered jade-green hues approached slowly.
A kingfisher-feather phoenix hairpin swayed atop her head, with jade flower pins tucked on either side. She held a round fan of black lacquer traced with gold, half concealing her face. Delicate flowers were painted upon the fan, while the eyes revealed above it were like obsidian steeped in clear spring water.
A green-jade belt cinched her waist, its hanging silk tassels adorned with jade and chiming with a clear, crisp sound as she moved.
The surroundings abruptly fell silent.
The instant Xu Mingwei turned around, his eyes and heart held nothing but the woman before him.
Yang Ronghua knelt upon a cushion and bowed three times toward Yang Zhao and his wife.
"Your daughter bids farewell to Father and Mother."
Madam Yang lowered her head and wiped away her tears, laughing and crying at once.
"Go," Yang Zhao said with a nod. "Now that you are to be wed, obedience and respect must come first. Never forget the family motto; remain chaste and composed."
"Your daughter will remember Father's teachings."
Choking back sobs, Yang Ronghua bent in a curtsy toward Yang Zhao.
Yang Zhao turned to Xu Mingwei again and said with a smile, "Worthy son-in-law, I entrust Hua'er to you. Treat her well."
"This son-in-law will never forget father-in-law's teachings. I will cherish and love her."
Afterward, Yang Shichang carried Yang Ronghua out the door on his back and placed her in the Bridal Sedan Chair.
The Xu Family's bride-welcoming procession set off for Dongxi Village.
Naturally, quite a few members of the Yang Family went along as well. It was customary for them to support the bride's side, lest the groom's family look down on them.
Around noon.
The bride-welcoming procession returned to the Xu Family.
Then came the wedding bows.
The wedding officiant chanted:
"First bow to Heaven and Earth, husband and wife loving one another without doubt."
"Second bow to the elders, may father and mother flourish, blessed with long life."
"Husband and wife bow to each other, growing old together, never to part."
The grand feast began.
Aside from Xu Mingshu and Xu Mingxian, who were still young, everyone else stayed beside Xu Mingwei, responsible for blocking drinks and pouring wine.
After round upon round of toasts, Xu Mingwei was half drunk as well—and that was with Xu Mingyuan having blocked nearly half the drinks for him.
Supported by Chen Daniu, Xu Mingyuan, Xu Mingxuan, and the others, Xu Mingwei entered the bridal chamber.
Once inside the Cave Mansion, there remained a heap of customary rites to observe.
For instance, they bound their hair together, cutting locks from both their heads and tying them into a sachet to preserve as a token.
They scattered longans and red dates, praying for an early birth of a noble child.
They drank from the gourd cups, splitting a gourd into ladles for the newlyweds to share bitter wine, symbolizing that they would share sweetness and hardship alike.
They ate undercooked dumplings. "Are they raw or not?"
Night fell.
"Wife, it is time for us to rest."
"Mm."
Yang Ronghua's voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, nearly inaudible.
Her cheeks were rosy and luminous, so lovely one could almost feast upon her beauty.
Xu Mingwei lowered the bed curtains and held her as they slowly lay down.
Then—
Yang Manor.
"Shihui, you lost to Xu Mingwei of the Xu Family this morning," Yang Zhao's cousin, Yang Hua, said blandly.
"Father, Xu Mingwei truly is as cousin said. His talent is extraordinary, and he has the potential of a Grandmaster. He also seems to possess Innate Divine Strength; his strength far surpasses that of ordinary people," Yang Shihui replied respectfully.
"Cousin, you truly found Ronghua a fine husband."
"Make your preparations. In a little over a month, Father will have smoothed out the connections and had the transfer order issued."
"Thank you, cousin."
"No need for thanks. We are family. Just remember to seek benefits for the Lineage."
Yang Zhao nodded in agreement.
Yet he also knew why the Yang Family had chosen him. Among the Yang Family officials, he was the most outstanding and had the best record of achievements.
When their connections differed little, the one with the more outstanding achievements naturally had greater hope.
The next day.
The Yang Family members returned to the Prefecture City one after another.
Another month passed.
Xu Chuan and Xu Mingwei's husband-and-wife pair came to see Yang Zhao's family off.
"Father-in-law, mother-in-law, when this son-in-law has the time, I will certainly bring Ronghua to the Prefecture City to visit you."
"There is no rush. Help your father strengthen the Xu Family properly. Qingjiang County's waters are too shallow; in the end, they cannot contain your Xu Family."
"Isn't that right, Old Brother Chuan?" Yang Zhao looked at Xu Chuan with a smile at the corners of his mouth.
Xu Chuan smiled faintly but said nothing more.
"Let us stop here. If you keep seeing us off, you may as well send us all the way to the Prefecture City."
Hearing Yang Zhao's jest, everyone smiled.
"Though one sees a friend off for a thousand miles, parting must come at last. Magistrate Wu, Captain Fang, please take good care of Old Brother Chuan's family."
"Haha, worthy brother Yang, naturally."
The Yang Family was deeply rooted in the Prefecture City. Unless they had no other choice, Magistrate Wu and the others naturally did not wish to risk offending the Yang Family by moving against the Xu Family.
Moreover, the Xu Family conducted both its affairs and business without a single leak, its interior solid as an iron barrel.
They could not easily find any pretext either.
Two months later.
Morning light first emerged, purple qi came from the east.
Xu Mingwei sat cross-legged in the courtyard, breathing in and out as he silently recited the core mantra of the Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique.
Dragon Soars, Elephant Treads, Dividing Yin and Yang,
Water and Fire in Harmony, Refining True Gang.
Three Gates and Nine Apertures Connect Heaven and Earth,
In every breath, the mystery of dark and yellow appears.
His five centers faced Heaven, and his Baihui point was like a skylight flung open as he comprehended the Power of Heaven and Earth.
All at once.
His Lingtai emptied, his mind-consciousness became like a mirror, reflecting his entire body. His pores opened like lotus petals, while the Power of Heaven and Earth transformed into glimmering white points of light that seeped into his flesh.
Half an hour later.
Xu Mingwei opened his eyes, which were filled with delight.
"Comprehending Heaven and Earth, Qi Introduction—I finally did it!"
"Twelve years of bitter cultivation have not disappointed Father's hopes!"
Just then, a maidservant passed through the arched courtyard gate and entered the yard, her face equally brimming with joy.
"Young Master, the physician came by this morning and said that Young Madam is with child."
Xu Mingwei's eyes widened, then he burst into hearty laughter. He was even happier than when he had broken through to Xiantian. He immediately rose to visit Yang Ronghua.
The news swiftly spread throughout the entire Xu Mansion.
Xu Chuan was overjoyed. With a grand sweep of his hand, he immediately awarded every household guard, maidservant, and guard half a month's wages.
"Hua'er is with child. Shitou, you must not be so reckless anymore."
Xu Chuan glared at Xu Mingwei, seemingly implying something.
Xu Mingwei scratched his head.
He had a prior offense. On the second day after the wedding, Yang Ronghua had been so thoroughly tormented the night before that she could not get out of bed.
Even the tea-serving ceremony had been deliberately postponed until the afternoon.
His brothers had mocked him mercilessly for it.
Bai Jing sat beside Yang Ronghua, smiling so broadly that she could barely close her mouth. Holding her hand, she constantly asked after her well-being.
Xu Mingwei pulled Xu Chuan aside and lowered his voice. "Father, your son broke through to Xiantian this morning."
"Really?!"
Xu Chuan's face lit up with surprise. "Come, follow your father to the study and examine it closely."
Directly deleted...
Then—
The alchemy furnace's incense was warm, the gauze curtains stirred; a jade hairpin slanted loose, cloudlike tresses undone.
Moonlight pierced the curtains, spying entwined necks; a crane's cry split the heavens, joining their panting breaths.
The Spirit Spring surged in secret like peach-creek waves; true essence crossed between them, opening the ren and du channels.
At the height of their cultivation of joy, a Red Lotus blossomed its petals.
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