Dao Companion

"Elder Jiang, you've come. This must be Senior Sister Shuanglan, right? Please, have a seat."

When Jiang Yun saw Elder Jiang enter the courtyard with a young woman a little over 1.7 meters tall, he hurriedly rose to greet them.

After both sides had taken their seats, Jiang Yun's heart stirred as well.

Ye Fan poured tea nearby, quietly making himself invisible.

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

Jiang Shuanglan did not look particularly extraordinary at first glance, but she was beautiful.

She was graceful and stunningly pretty. She wore a pale red long dress, its cuffs embroidered with light golden peonies, while silver threads outlined several auspicious clouds. A pale yellow brocade bodice adorned her chest, using quite a bit of fabric.

When she lowered her head, she could not see her feet—truly a peerless beauty.

As she lightly turned, her long dress spread out. Every gesture she made was like a breeze brushing willow branches, graceful and alluring.

After taking her seat, her hands, white as jade, rested upon her knees. Set against the peach blossoms, her snow-white face appeared even more delicate and radiant.

"Thank you, Young Master Jiang."

Her voice was soft and melodious, and her bearing poised and generous. It was clear she had received a fine upbringing.

"You're too polite, Miss Shuanglan."

Whenever their eyes accidentally met, Jiang Shuanglan would quickly turn away, not daring to look at him for long.

After that, Elder Jiang mainly brought up topics of conversation, discussing ancient and modern affairs or explaining cultivation knowledge, broadening both of 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 into conversation.

Insights into cultivation, amusing stories from the Heavenly Cave—the content was not important. What mattered was the feeling.

By evening, Elder Jiang left with Jiang Shuanglan.

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

She possessed the air of a refined young lady and leaned toward a mature, steady temperament. She was thoughtful and intelligent, clearly raised in a good household without the foul temper of a spoiled miss.

When talking with Jiang Yun, even if she had differing views or did not entirely agree with him, she patiently listened to the end and never interrupted him.

She was like an understanding older sister, tolerant of Jiang Yun. He felt very comfortable around her.

Perhaps because he was in such high spirits, Jiang Yun's cultivation that night went as if blessed by the heavens. There were already three Divine Patterns 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 specifically asked for his opinion.

Jiang Yun naturally had no objections whatsoever.

Since neither side had any issues, Elder Jiang had even less reason to object. She had wanted to win over Jiang Yun, this cultivation genius with astonishing comprehension, from the start.

Jiang Yun was about to become her grandson-in-law. Family ties were the best bond for connecting relationships.

Everything that followed went smoothly.

"Then the wedding ceremony will be held ten days from now. 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. I will follow Elder Jiang's arrangements in all matters."

"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 as she handed 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 things had gone even more smoothly than he had imagined.

Upon returning to his little courtyard, Jiang Yun found even the sound of the stream outside and the birdsong in the peach tree more pleasing to the ear.

Jiang Yun had once loathed so-called arranged marriages, but now he only felt that arranged marriage was truly wonderful.

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

Feelings could be cultivated slowly afterward.

Over the next ten days, Jiang Yun cultivated in the little courtyard at night and spent the day recruiting people from several shops and taverns within the Heavenly Cave.

He hired several disciples with Hundred-Grass Liquid and had them help decorate the valley.

He also hired several reliable cooks and bought spirit fruits, along with the meat of exotic beasts and rare birds.

He even secretly made a trip outside the Heavenly Cave to find some better mortal wines. After adding a few drops of Divine Spring Fluid, each jar became spirit wine with a rich, fragrant aroma.

Although Jiang Yun could now be considered wealthy, some things were inconvenient to bring out, or else they might attract attention.

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

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

Thus, ten days quietly passed.

On the day Jiang Yun and Jiang Shuanglan married, almost the entire small valley was decorated in red.

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

Though the cultivators of Jade Cauldron Paradise no longer sought pleasure in food and drink, they had spirit fruits, fine brews, 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 ancestor of Jade Cauldron Paradise sent someone with congratulatory gifts. None of the guests who came dared to cause trouble.

That night

Several red candles burned in the room, making it far brighter than before.

This sense of ceremony was indispensable.

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

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

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

Listening to the footsteps gradually drawing nearer.

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 flushed as she did not dare look up 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 devastating, so breathtaking it made one suffocate.

As Jiang Yun looked at the lovely girl so close before him, his Adam's apple bobbed. With anticipation in his voice, he said, "Lan'er, it's time to rest."

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Jiang Shuanglan blushed beneath his burning gaze. Feeling Jiang Yun's scorching breath, she parted her rosy lips and let out a faint sound. "Mm~"

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

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

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

Unable to get enough of it, they did not fall into a deep sleep until the sky had begun to brighten.

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

But at the time, his study of Feng Shui Arts had been at its peak. How could he stop learning just to pay attention to that tactless panel?