A marriage alliance with Cloudmist Palace

Outside Righteous Qi Hall, Zhou Yong and the other elders waited. When the visitors from Cloudmist Palace came into view, they were stunned. Their own sect had plenty of female disciples, including beautiful ones, but the appearance and bearing of these Cloudmist Palace elders were entirely different. This was especially true of the young fairy sheltered in their midst. Her bearing held both the fathomless depth of the Cloud Sea and the purity of an Immortal Lotus. Her eyes were as deep as the Cloud Sea, her smile as pure as an Immortal Lotus in the Jade Pool. Her skin was crystalline as snowflakes, her long hair flowing as clouds. For a moment, they could only stare.

"Sect Master, the honored guests from Cloudmist Palace have arrived!" Tang Mingxuan's voice roused Zhou Yong from his daze.

"Shuang Xue of Cloudmist Palace pays her respects to Sect Master Zhou! Please forgive us for coming so presumptuously!" As soon as Tang Mingxuan finished speaking, Shuang Xue bowed to Zhou Yong.

"Grand Elder, there is no need for such courtesy. Your arrival from afar brings splendor to our humble Righteous Qi Sect!"

"Please come inside, honored fairies!"

Zhou Yong returned Shuang Xue's bow as he spoke.

Then Zhou Yong turned and led the way into Righteous Qi Hall. Once the hosts and guests had taken their respective seats, he instructed the disciples standing along both sides of the hall, "Serve spiritual tea to the Grand Elder and our honored fairies."

At Zhou Yong's command, the disciples on duty in Righteous Qi Hall immediately served everyone a cup of the premium spiritual tea they had prepared.

"Thank you, Sect Master Zhou!" Shuang Xue said courteously, then took the lead in lifting her cup and sipping the tea.

After everyone from Cloudmist Palace had drunk their tea, Zhou Yong asked in puzzlement, "Grand Elder, your palace and our sect have rarely had dealings with each other. May I ask what brings your honored fairies here today?"

"Sect Master Zhou, I have come to visit you at the Cloud Palace Master's command. This is Cloudmist Palace's first visit to your sect."

"The Cloud Palace Master has heard that you are young and accomplished, quick-witted and resourceful. Since you became its sect master, the Righteous Qi Sect's prestige has risen like the sun at its zenith, and its development has advanced a thousand miles a day! She has also heard that your Red Phoenix star of romance has yet to stir, and that you lack a wife to care for you through warmth and cold. May I ask whether these rumors are true?"

Shuang Xue smiled at Zhou Yong as she spoke. A hint of anticipation flashed through her eyes before she watched him, waiting for his answer. At that moment, she was quite satisfied with this sect master, both in his appearance and in how he treated others.

At Shuang Xue's question, a startled expression appeared on Zhou Yong's face. How had a perfectly proper official meeting suddenly turned into an inquiry about his love life?

"Oh... well... I have not... have not married yet."

Caught off guard by the sudden question about his marital status, Zhou Yong stammered out his answer.

Hearing that Zhou Yong was unmarried, delight flashed through Shuang Xue's eyes. She thought that completing the task the palace master had entrusted to her should pose little difficulty today.

"Sect Master Zhou, honored elders, the Cloud Palace Master instructed me to inquire whether Sect Master Zhou was married. If you are not, Cloudmist Palace wishes to form a marriage alliance with the Righteous Qi Sect and give our young princess, Yun Yao, to you in marriage, joining you as intertwining branches! What do you and the honored elders think?"

"This is Yun Yao, our palace master's most beloved young princess."

Shuang Xue pointed to Princess Yun Yao as she introduced her to Zhou Yong and the elders of the Righteous Qi Sect.

Although they had entertained some guesses upon receiving word of Cloudmist Palace's visit, hearing Grand Elder Shuang Xue say it herself still caught Zhou Yong and the elders somewhat off guard. At the same time, they were secretly delighted. After all, Cloudmist Palace taking the initiative to propose a marriage alliance showed that the Righteous Qi Sect's standing in the Cultivation World had risen considerably.

Zhou Yong was also stunned by this sudden joyful turn. Looking at Princess Yun Yao beside Grand Elder Shuang Xue, he felt love at first sight well up within him. Some people needed only a single glance amid a crowd to seem as though one had known them for a thousand years. Yun Yao also looked toward Zhou Yong, then avoided his burning gaze and lowered her lovely face to stare at the floor before her. Yet her delighted expression and the cheeks that swiftly turned rouge-red could not escape anyone's notice.

The elders of the Righteous Qi Sect also wore happy expressions. Although a few among them had inscrutable looks on their faces, no one else in the hall noticed.

Seeing Sect Master Zhou Yong's expression, the elders communicated through their divine senses and unanimously approved of his marriage to Princess Yun Yao. They once again chose Pill Hall Master Tang Mingxuan to convey their opinion to the sect master and recommend that he marry Yun Yao.

Interrupted by Tang Mingxuan's divine-sense transmission, Zhou Yong learned the elders' opinion. He stood and walked toward Yun Yao, stopping three paces away from her. Yun Yao lifted her head to look at him, her eyes filled with bashfulness and confusion.

"Princess Yun Yao, I am delighted and honored to receive the regard of the Cloud Palace Master and all your honored fairies! You heard Grand Elder Shuang Xue's proposal just now. I hope to win your affection. Would you be willing to become my wife?" Zhou Yong asked, gazing deeply at her.

Yun Yao was clearly startled by Zhou Yong's actions and words. She had never expected him to propose so directly here in the hall.

"I will follow the sect's arrangements... and I am willing..." Yun Yao replied, her face full of bashfulness, her voice growing softer toward the end.

Zhou Yong nodded happily, then turned to Grand Elder Shuang Xue. "Grand Elder, please inform the Cloud Palace Master that I am willing to join Princess Yun Yao in marriage. The Righteous Qi Sect is willing to form an alliance with Cloudmist Palace, advancing and retreating together!"

He did not wait for Grand Elder Shuang Xue to agree on the spot. He gave Yun Yao a deep look, then turned and walked back toward his seat in the hall. He knew this was only the beginning of the road to their marriage alliance.

Everyone in the hall understood that the marriage between Zhou Yong and Yun Yao was essentially settled. Relaxed smiles appeared on their faces.

Next, Cloudmist Palace's Grand Elder Shuang Xue led several other elders in discussions with the Righteous Qi Sect's hall masters about the details of the sect master and princess's wedding.

Once arrangements had been made for the Cloudmist Palace visitors, everyone began busying themselves with their respective tasks. Zhou Yong often exchanged insights on cultivation with Yun Yao, and they strolled together through the Righteous Qi Sect's scenic spots. During this time, their feelings gradually deepened.

The wait seemed especially long. Finally, one morning a month later, Zhou Yong received word that his wedding to Princess Yun Yao would take place in another month.

The news filled Zhou Yong with excitement and anticipation. He was eager to share it with Yun Yao, but at the same time he received the news, Grand Elder Shuang Xue also told Yun Yao the happy tidings agreed upon with the Righteous Qi Sect's elders. Their wedding would be held in Righteous Qi Hall one month from that day.

When the news spread, it was like a stone cast into a still lake, sending out ripple after ripple. A festive atmosphere filled both the Righteous Qi Sect and Cloudmist Palace. The two sects also announced their marriage alliance to the Cultivation World, sending a powerful shock through it.