Chapter 6 The Wedding

• At long last, Xia Qingyue, accompanied by her two bridesmaids, appeared before Xiao Che. She was wearing a headdress made of red silk and adorned with intricate designs. The veil, however, obscured her facial expressions, making it difficult to interpret her emotions. Her dark hair was beautifully knotted and flowed down her long dress, embellished with fine embroidery and beadwork. She had a pendant tied on her gold-plated pearl waistband, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication.
• With the support of her bridesmaids, Qingyue walked toward Xiao Che. Every step taken was graceful, like a goddess who descended from heaven. The man was mesmerized by her poise; her motions seemed to leave trails of beauty and purity.
• The bridesmaid stood by the side after Qingyue reached the bridal sedan. It was customary in Tucame Empire for the groom to assist the bride into the sedan. Xiao Che stepped forward and thrust out his hand to Qingyue. As soon as her hand rested on his palm, Xiao Che's hand shot forth a bone-chilling coldness that froze his entire body. With tingling pain, his right hand and possibly his right arm stiffened.
• Qingyue lifted her hand to hover above Xiao Che's palm as she slid into the sedan chair with elegance. However, she was seen by others as being supported by Xiao Che. The man gradually relaxed as the searing agony in his hand subsided. Besides the earlier chilly ache, Xiao Che maintained a cheerful smile and remained silent. Similarly, if Qingyue's headdress was revealed earlier, one would have seen her brief moment of shock. But much like Xiao Che, she quickly regained composure and maintained a calm expression.
• Once Xiao Che mounted his horse, the parading troop, which now included the Xia family, made their way back to the Xiao residence. Though the one and a half hours journey wasn't the shortest, it was relatively smooth sailing. Some were disappointed at the lack of drama; they had anticipated the jealous suitors to create havoc and disrupt the wedding ceremony.
• A large crowd had gathered outside the Xiao residence, waiting eagerly for the wedding troop to return. Xiao Lie had also been waiting for his visitors at the gate. Many of those who came to witness the marriage of the century was drawn to Xiao Lie's reputation and the Xia family's prominence.
• The bridal sedan soon came to a stop. Qingyue's female attendant, Xia Dongling, lifted the red satin cloth and said gently, "We have arrived, Miss Xia." She then assisted her mistress in getting out of the sedan.
• As soon as Qingyue appeared, the crowd waiting outside the Xiao residence could not help but stare in amazement. They had heard rumors about her but had never seen her in person before.
• The woman was elegantly dressed in a luxurious silk gown and adorned a headpiece featuring the image of a phoenix, the mythical bird revered for its beauty, strength, and grace. Her outfit was dazzling and shimmering in appearance, as the light reflected off of its surface and created a golden glow. The bright and vibrant color of the red wedding robe created a strong contrast with her fair skin, making it stand out and drawing attention to the wearer.
• As Qingyue made her way through the crowd, everyone's eyes fixed on her in awe. She was like no one they had ever seen; her beauty and charm were almost surreal. It was as if she was not of this universe but a being of pure light and radiance. Although her face was hidden from the veil, it was clear that she was as beautiful as a goddess who descended from heaven.
• Dongling assisted in tying the red cloth around Qingyue's wrist; the other end was wrapped around Xiao Che's wrist. They then performed the wedding rituals of going over the fire and a horse's saddle, shooting an arrow, and crossing the Xia residence's curb before entering the main hall.
• Even after Xiao Che and Qingyue entered the Xiao mansion, the chatter outside did not stop. Unperturbed by the comments, the groom maintained his broad smile and continued the rituals. He could not wait until the wedding ceremony was through.
• Everyone gathered at the Xiao residence's great hall, where only the families of the Xiao Clan's leader and grandmasters were permitted to hold their wedding ceremony. The hall was decorated lavishly for the joyous occasion. The four walls had been carved with dragons and numerous exquisite pearls above them. The beams, which were inlaid with yellow crystals, shimmered under the dim golden light. A red carpet extended to the golden stairs in front and continued straight through the middle of the hall. Needless to say, the Xiao Clan would not be willing to spend a fortune on Xiao Che's wedding. The Xia family paid for the decor; Hongyi was delighted to indulge in his daughter's wedding.
• Xiao Lie and Hongyi sat at the highest point of the Xiao residence's great hall; their faces brightened as they saw Xiao Che and Qingyue approach. Most attendees had already taken their seats at the three rows of rosewood chairs lined on both sides of the red carpet. The Xiao Clan's leader, Xiao Yunhai, as well as the other four grandmasters, were also present. Their attitudes remained unaltered as Xiao Che strolled in with a broad smile on his face, but their eyes conveyed a look of scorn.
• It was a disgrace for a family that specialized in the arcane arts to have a member like Xiao Che who hailed from a cultivation family yet was born with a damaged pressure point. If it were not for the fact that he was the grandson of the fifth grandmaster, he would have long been expelled from the Xiao Clan's cultivation arm. And if he did not marry the most sought-after lady in Cloud City, they would not even bother to ask about it, let alone attend the wedding in person. The only word that came to mind when they heard Xiao Che's name was "Fool." They could not even remember his appearance clearly, let alone pay attention to his latest ventures. On the Heavenly Arcana Land, there was no dignity without strength, even within the same family. That was the harsh reality.
• The Xiao Clan disciples were also seething at his luck as they could not believe he was about to marry the most beautiful lady in Cloud City. They scowled as the pair, bound by the red fabric, walked into the marriage hall.
• The wedding was officiated by the Xiao family's head of logistics, Xiao De. The ceremony began on his cue. He started introducing the bride and groom and greeting everyone on the VIP list. Xiao Che was already deep in his thoughts at that point.
• Why did I feel a sudden bone-chilling cold when Qingyue touched my hand? Is this the effect of some arcane technique? I've never heard of such a technique in Cloud City. Qingyue is currently at the 10th level of the Nascent Arcana Stage. Although it's an impressive feat at the age of sixteen, it's still the lowest level of arcana stage. Someone at this level can't release so much chilling energy. It almost rendered my arm immobilized! What kind of arcane art was that? Its effects are so powerful, even for someone at this arcane stage! Alternatively, is Qingyue hiding her true powers?
• After a short pause, Xiao De said in a piercing voice, "The first kowtow will be to the heavens and earth."
• Xiao Che instantly returned his attention to the wedding ceremony. He cast a peek at Qingyue to time the kowtow.
• "The second kowtow will be to the parents." The couple turned to face Xiao Lie and Hongyi and bowed respectfully. Xiao Lie nodded with a smile and looked at Xiao Che with immense happiness and pride. Hongyi, too, seemed satisfied with the pair, with no signs of dissatisfaction or trepidation about the marriage.
• "The last kowtow will be to your husband and wife." Xiao Che and Qingyue turned to face each other at the same time. The younger generation of the Xiao Clan clenched their jaws in frustration when they saw no signs of hesitation or reluctance. They were certhat the woman was hesitant to marry a loser and had been compelled to do so against her will by the Xia family. As a result, they were dismayed to see Qingyue follow every step of the bridal procession and show no signs of opposition.
• When the couple bowed to each other, Xiao Che managed to catch a glimpse of the face behind the veil. Her eyes were cold and distant, and her face was void of emotions.
• The end of the three kowtows should have led to thunderous applause, loud laughter, and cheers. It was embarrassing to see that there were only a few sporadic clapping sounds in the great hall.
• "Haha! Congratulations, Xiao Che and Hongyi," Yunhai stood up and said joyfully. He was in his forties and had a pleasant demeanor.
• "Please accept my warm congratulations as well," the man next to Yunhai, Xiao Li, said half-heartedly. One could tell that the first grandmaster did not mean what he said.
• The second grandmaster, Xiao Bo, laughed awkwardly and said, "Xiao Lie is so lucky to have such a talented granddaughter-in-law. It's an honor for the Xiao Clan too. For generations, the Xias have engaged in commerce. It's great that they now have a son-in-law like this. Congratulations."
• The atmosphere in the great hall was tense as everyone could sense their lack of sincerity; they were making insinuations and mocking the marriage.