Why Are You Standing So Close?

On the day of Mingzhu's wedding, the Liu residence was already bustling enough to turn the heavens upside down.

Master Liu enjoyed considerable prestige in Yunxi Town, so besides relatives and friendly prominent families, quite a few well-known local merchants also came to offer their congratulations.

Carriages never stopped arriving at the gates, and gifts were carried into the residence chest after chest.

All the maids in the residence had red silk tied around their waists, and the entire household brimmed with festive cheer.

Zhu Lianqing's injuries had mostly healed over the past few days. Early that morning, she had been dragged over to light incense in the hall.

In the main hall, Madam Liu wore festive robes. Though she was all smiles, she could not hide her sorrow.

Seeing that Zhu Lianqing had finished lighting the incense to pray for a harmonious marriage for Mingzhu, she squeezed her handkerchief, her voice softer than usual.

"Thank you, Dao Lord Wang. With this stick of incense from you, my daughter's life with her husband's family will surely go more smoothly."

"Miss Mingzhu is clever and sweet. Anyone who meets her cannot help but like her. Her parents-in-law will surely dote on her." Knowing Madam Liu was reluctant to part with her daughter, Zhu Lianqing offered some comfort.

"May your kind words come true. With my daughter getting married today, everyone in the residence is busy. Please forgive us if we neglect you, Dao Lord."

Zhu Lianqing said, "Please attend to your duties, Madam. Miss Mingzhu's wedding should take priority today."

Madam Liu nodded and led a group of maids and older serving women to the rear courtyard to see Mingzhu.

This was Jiang Tingxue's first time seeing someone get married, and she was so curious that her neck seemed to grow longer as she craned it to look around.

The Liu residence had put on a grand display. Watching all sorts of gifts stream in like flowing water left her itching with envy.

"So getting married is this much fun."

Shen Ji chuckled. "For spectators like us, it certainly is lively and fun."

Zhu Lianqing teased her too. "Does our little girl want to get married?"

Jiang Tingxue immediately flushed. "Of course not! I haven't even found my bonded sword yet! If I got married now, the entire sect would laugh me to death! And my martial uncle would write me into the sect rules as an example. Every new junior brother and sister would have to read it. I'd die of shame!"

Song Wensheng and Yan Qing were wholly focused on the enormous pork knuckle on the table.

"I really feel like the Liu household knows a thing or two about cooking pork knuckles! This looks even more tempting than the one at that inn in Falling Snow City last time."

Jiang Tingxue rolled her eyes at them. "Keep your voices down. Are you afraid people won't know our sect has a whole pack of hungry ghosts?"

Xie Lingchuan stood quietly amid the noisy crowd the entire time.

A maid brought over a tray of red velvet flowers. Guests could pin them at their waists or on their lapels, both to invite blessings and to share in their hosts' festive luck.

Zhu Lianqing took a flower and casually pinned it to her lapel.

She glanced sideways and saw that Xie Lingchuan had pinned his at his waist.

The red flower at his waist became the brightest splash of color against his black robes.

Zhu Lianqing laughed.

"What are you laughing at?"

Zhu Lianqing quickly said, "Nothing. I was just thinking that, if not for today's occasion, anyone selling red clothing or accessories would probably never make a sale to you in your entire life, Young Hero Xie."

Xie Lingchuan turned his head to look at Zhu Lianqing. "Are you cursing me to never marry?"

Zhu Lianqing froze. Her disciple always looked as though he was declaring, "I cultivate the Dao of Emotionlessness, and I'll grow old alone." She really had not thought of that.

Wedding robes were red!

"No, no, absolutely not! I swear!"

A sudden commotion rose outside.

"The groom is here!"

Calls announcing his arrival rang out alongside firecrackers, and the festivities in the residence reached their peak.

Mingzhu was still in her chamber, but she could already hear cheers rising louder and louder.

The wedding matron in the room said, "The groom must be reciting bridal-hastening poems!"

With her vivid bridal makeup, Mingzhu gazed at herself in the bronze mirror, a blush spreading across her face.

"Is A-Zhe here? Has A-Zhe come to fetch me?"

"Yes, miss, the groom is here!" the maids replied with smiles.

Jiang Tingxue, Song Wensheng, and Yan Qing also joined in the fun of barring the groom's way at the gate, enjoying themselves immensely.

By the time Pei Zhe came through the gate, even his wedding crown was a little crooked. He was not annoyed, however. After straightening it, he cupped his hands in greeting to those at the gate while instructing the attendants behind him to scatter wedding coins.

Thanks to her agility, Zhu Lianqing even managed to snatch a little brocade pouch containing wedding coins.

As she opened the pouch, the boisterous crowd pushed Xie Lingchuan to her side.

Catching a familiar fragrance, Zhu Lianqing looked up. Xie Lingchuan had been watching intently as she counted those few copper coins over and over.

"Are you that short of money?" he asked.

Zhu Lianqing thought for a moment, then nodded honestly.

"You watch me all day. I have no time to take demon-slaying bounties, so where would I get any money?"

Xie Lingchuan frowned slightly, making a movement that looked as though he was about to take out his money pouch.

Seeing this, Zhu Lianqing immediately pressed a hand to his arm to stop him.

"What are you doing? I can't accept a reward I haven't earned."

Xie Lingchuan said, "I'm only returning the spirit stone and gold ingot you wagered on me."

With this act of showing off brought up repeatedly, Zhu Lianqing no longer felt embarrassed. She could even turn the question back on him.

"Why return it? Do you think you can't beat Xiao Wenzhou?"

At those words, a clear flicker of displeasure crossed Xie Lingchuan's face.

"Those are two different matters. Besides, does it matter which of us wins or loses? We're both merely cultivators who slay demons and vanquish evil."

Zhu Lianqing thought for a moment, then held out her palm.

"That works too. If you're going to pay me, give me triple. I bet on you to win, after all."

"You!" Looking at Zhu Lianqing's foxlike, crafty smile, Xie Lingchuan silently untied his money pouch and took out three high-grade spirit stones and three gold ingots.

Zhu Lianqing smiled. "Excellent, excellent."

Jiang Tingxue poked her head out beside them, her tone full of puzzlement.

"Senior Brother Xie, Senior, you can just talk. Why are you standing so close?"

Zhu Lianqing immediately said, "We were squeezed together!"

Jiang Tingxue scratched her head. "Huh? But where is everyone?"

Coming to her senses, Zhu Lianqing finally realized that the crowd squeezing the two of them together had long since followed Pei Zhe into the main hall. Only the two of them remained here, as though holding a private little meeting.

Fortunately, the crowd's attention was on the bride and groom, and no one had noticed them.

"Ahem..." Zhu Lianqing hurriedly took a step back.

Xie Lingchuan remained where he was, his expression unchanged.