Taoist Partners

"Elder Jiang, you're here. This must be Senior Sister Shuanglan. Please, have a seat."

When Jiang Yun saw Elder Jiang enter the courtyard with a young woman a little over five foot seven, he hurriedly rose to greet them.

Once both sides were seated, Jiang Yun's heart stirred as well.

Ye Fan poured tea at the side, quietly making himself invisible.

Jiang Yun brought out some spirit food and spirit fruit. He had specifically asked Little Dingdang to buy flavors Jiang Shuanglan liked.

Jiang Shuanglan did not appear especially remarkable at first glance, but she was beautiful.

Graceful and stunningly lovely, she wore a pale red long dress. Light golden peonies were embroidered on its cuffs, while silver threads outlined several auspicious clouds. A pale yellow brocade chest wrap adorned her chest, using quite a bit of fabric.

When she lowered her head, she could not see her feet—an unparalleled beauty of the mortal world.

As her body turned lightly, her long dress fanned out. Every gesture was as graceful as willow branches swaying in the breeze.

After taking her seat, her jade-like hands rested upon her knees. Against the peach blossoms, her snow-white face seemed even more delicate and radiant.

"Thank you, Young Master Jiang."

Her voice was gentle and melodious, and her bearing poised and generous. It was clear she had received an excellent upbringing.

"You're too polite, Miss Shuanglan."

Whenever their eyes accidentally met, Jiang Shuanglan quickly turned away, not daring to look any longer.

After that, Elder Jiang mainly found topics to discuss, speaking of ancient and modern matters or explaining cultivation knowledge to broaden their horizons.

Jiang Yun and Jiang Shuanglan occasionally joined in, and before they knew it, they had chatted for most of the day.

Elder Jiang gradually spoke less, guiding the two of them to converse on their own.

Insights on cultivation, amusing stories from within the Heavenly Cave—the important thing in conversation was not the content, but the feeling.

They continued like this until evening, when Elder Jiang departed with Jiang Shuanglan.

After spending some time talking with her, Jiang Yun had gained a deeper understanding of Jiang Shuanglan.

She possessed the air of a well-bred young lady, with a mature and steady personality. She was thoughtful and intelligent, and it was clear her family had raised her well. She lacked none of the spoiled temper of a pampered miss.

When chatting with Jiang Yun, even if she had different views and disagreed with him, she patiently listened to the end without interrupting.

Like a considerate older sister, she was tolerant of Jiang Yun, and he felt very comfortable around her.

Perhaps because he was in such high spirits, Jiang Yun's cultivation that night went as though blessed by the heavens. Three Divine Patterns had already appeared within his Sea of Bitterness.

Early the next morning, Elder Jiang brought Jiang Yun good news.

Jiang Shuanglan was willing to accept Jiang Yun, and Elder Jiang had specifically come to ask for his opinion.

Jiang Yun naturally did not have the slightest objection.

Since neither side had any problem with it, Elder Jiang had even less reason to object. She had originally wanted to win over Jiang Yun, a cultivation genius with astonishing comprehension.

Jiang Yun would soon become her grandson-in-law, and family ties were the best bond for connecting relationships.

Everything that followed went smoothly.

"Then the wedding ceremony will be held in ten days. At that time, the two of you will formally become Dao companions." Elder Jiang was a decisive woman.

"This disciple's family is not here. Everything will be arranged according to Elder Jiang's wishes."

"Why are you still calling me Elder Jiang? My given name is Feng." Grandma Feng looked kindly at Jiang Yun, as though she were looking at her own eldest grandson.

"Grandma Feng." Jiang Yun immediately changed how he addressed her.

"Ah, my grandson-in-law." Jiang Feng was clearly delighted, handing Jiang Yun twenty bottles of Hundred-Grass Liquid.

After Grandma Feng explained a few matters requiring attention to Jiang Yun, she left.

Watching Grandma Feng's departing figure, Jiang Yun felt that everything had gone far more smoothly than he had imagined.

Returning to the small courtyard, Jiang Yun found even the sound of the stream outside and the birds singing in the peach tree more pleasant than before.

Jiang Yun had once despised so-called arranged marriages beyond measure. Now, he only felt that arranged marriage was truly wonderful.

Dating was far too difficult. It was quicker to directly win over the girl's elders.

Feelings could slowly be nurtured afterward.

Over the next ten days, Jiang Yun cultivated in the small courtyard at night, while during the day he went to several shops and taverns within the Heavenly Cave to hire people.

He used Hundred-Grass Liquid to hire several disciples to help arrange the valley.

He also hired several reliable chefs and bought spirit fruit, as well as meat from exotic beasts and rare birds.

He even secretly made a trip outside the Heavenly Cave, found some fine mortal wines, and dripped a few drops of Divine Spring Fluid into them. A jar of richly fragrant spirit wine was ready.

Although Jiang Yun could now be considered wealthy, some things were inconvenient to take out, lest they attract attention.

Still, he could exchange Hundred-Grass Liquid for supplies. As this was his first marriage, Jiang Yun took it very seriously.

The day before they became Dao companions, he went with Grandma Feng and Jiang Shuanglan to a mortal city to visit her parents. Jiang Yun left behind several gifts.

And just like that, ten days quietly passed.

On the day Jiang Yun and Jiang Shuanglan were married, nearly the entire small valley had been decorated in red.

Jiang Yun led Ye Fan in welcoming guests at the entrance. Inside the courtyard rooms, Jiang Yun had pasted the character for double happiness according to Earth's traditions. The pill room served as the chefs' kitchen, sending out dish after dish of spirit food.

Although the cultivators of Jade Cauldron Paradise no longer pursued the pleasures of food and drink, there were spirit fruits, fine wine, rare birds, and exotic beasts to feast upon.

For a time, all the guests enjoyed themselves to the fullest.

With Grandma Feng presiding over the occasion, the Jiang Family's ancestor within Jade Cauldron Paradise sent someone to deliver wedding gifts. None of the guests who came dared to cause trouble.

That night.

Several red candles were lit inside the room, making it much brighter than before.

This sense of ceremony was indispensable.

Jiang Shuanglan sat on the edge of the bed, somewhat nervous beneath her red gauze veil.

They had only met a few times, yet tonight they had become Dao companions and would have to support one another from now on.

She was somewhat afraid of what would happen next. Though she felt a trace of curiosity, fear outweighed it.

Listening to the approaching footsteps.

She grew even more nervous.

Jiang Yun closed the door and walked over, taking a deep breath.

He gently lifted the red veil. Jiang Shuanglan immediately lowered her head shyly, her cheeks faintly red as she did not dare raise her eyes to look at her husband.

Jiang Shuanglan had already been beautiful, but now, set off by her magnificent and dignified red robes, her beauty was dreamlike and breathtaking, so lovely it made one suffocate.

Looking at the lovely girl so close before him, Jiang Yun's Adam's apple bobbed. Filled with anticipation, he said, "Lan'er, it's time to rest."

"..."

Jiang Shuanglan felt shy beneath his burning gaze. Sensing Jiang Yun's scorching breath, her crimson lips parted and she let out a faint sound. "Mm~"

Before Jiang Shuanglan could finish speaking, Jiang Yun sealed her lips with his own. She instinctively tried to push away the man before her.

But then she discovered that Jiang Yun had also grasped her wrists, and she weakly fell back onto the bed.

The two came to understand each other on a deeper level.

Savoring the taste of it, they did not fall into deep sleep until the sky had begun to brighten.

Jiang Yun did not wake until nearly noon the next day. The panel had kept popping up throughout the previous night, nearly dazzling his eyes.

But at the time, his study of the Feng Shui Arts had reached a fever pitch. How could he stop learning just to pay attention to that utterly tactless panel?