Chapter 73: Marriage - The protagonist is dressed as a woman; proceed with caution!

His gaze, like a solid icicle, was firmly fixed on Mingjian's hand.

His eyes were complex, filled with turbulent emotions: scrutiny, coldness, and a hint of desperately suppressed despair.

Ming felt her scalp tingling under his gaze and instinctively wanted to hide her hands behind her back or explain something.

Before Mingjian could react, Xiao Bumian suddenly withdrew his gaze. He said nothing, but silently walked towards Mingjian step by step, his clothes fluttering gently in the breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers, and then took Mingjian's hand.

His eyes were lowered, his thick, long eyelashes fluttering gently like butterfly wings, concealing all the emotions in his eyes.

Xiao Bumian's slightly cool fingertips began to caress Mingjian's hand, again and again, the pressure gradually increasing, as if trying to erase some non-existent trace, or as if confirming something.

Mingjian didn't say anything, or rather, he shouldn't have known what to say.

He felt a mix of emotions. He knew that Xiao Bumian must have seen it and misunderstood it.

Ming opened his mouth as if to explain, but the words caught in his throat.

What explanation is needed? Should we say he just came to deliver some pastries to complete a system task? Or should we say his relationship with Yun Hanyi is fake?

Even he himself found these explanations weak and unconvincing. Moreover, he had to continue down this path; that was an unchangeable fact.

Ming was extremely agitated, feeling lost and helpless, as if trapped in an invisible net, unable to struggle.

In the following days, the entire Hehuan Sect busied themselves with preparations for the Holy Maiden's Daoist consort ceremony. Red silk and festive decorations gradually adorned every corner of the sect, creating a joyous atmosphere.

The wedding dress delivered to Mingjian's room was gorgeous and exquisite, made of the finest materials, but every time he saw that glaring red, he felt a heavy weight in his heart.

During this time, something happened that caused an uproar.

Originally, everyone in the Hehuan Sect and the few people from Jianming Immortal Mountain believed that Xie Linzhao was going to marry the Holy Maiden, and the news was quite convincing. Unexpectedly, Yun Hanyi personally came forward to clarify and announced that the groom was Mingjian.

Gu Zhi was drinking tea when he heard the news and suddenly spat it out, choking and turning his face red. His suspicious gaze fell on Ming Jian one moment and then furtively glanced at Xiao Bumian, who stood beside him with an inscrutable expression the next.

Finally, he couldn't hold back any longer. Taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, he leaned close to Mingjian, lowered his voice, and stammered, "Ming...Mingjian! You...you and Junior Brother Xie weren't in that kind of relationship? What's going on?"

Mingjian could only pretend not to understand his hint and vaguely brush it off. For some reason, Song Heyu and Gu Zhi always took Xiao Bumian's sudden appearances for granted.

Even Yun Hanyi seemed to accept Xiao Bumian's existence naturally, without questioning his identity.

She even looked at Xiao Bumian, a polite and gentle smile on her lips, and asked, "Young Master Xie, I wonder if you will be free to attend the Daoist Couple Ceremony in three days?"

Xiao Bumian's tone was unreadable, with even a faint smile playing on his lips. After a moment of silence, he said, "Of course I do."

Upon hearing this, Yun Hanyi said softly, "That's good then. I would like to ask everyone to come and witness my wedding with Young Master Ming in three days."

After saying that, Yun Hanyi left.

Only the disciples of Jianming Immortal Mountain were left in the guest courtyard, looking at each other in bewilderment, and the atmosphere became somewhat stagnant.

Shi Lian was still somewhat stunned; he seemed completely unprepared for things to develop this way.

He paused for a long while before turning to Mingjian, his tone apologetic, "Junior Brother Mingjian, I never intended for any of you to make such a sacrifice to save my father's life. If you are unwilling, you don't have to force yourself. On our wedding day, I am willing to take a disguise pill to change my appearance to yours and complete this ceremony with Miss Yun in your place."

In reality, Mingjian couldn't refuse at all.

In the original story, he had to marry Yun Hanyi and die on their wedding day.

Of course, he didn't really die.

Therefore, Mingjian only thought for a moment before shaking his head and refusing Shi Lian's offer, "Senior Brother Shi Lian, I understand your intentions. But Miss Yun already has the cultivation of the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, and her spiritual sense is sharp. Even if you take the disguise pill, as long as you spend a little more time with her, she will definitely be able to easily see through that you are not me. At that time, not only will you not be able to obtain the Pure World Lotus Heart, but it may also cause unnecessary misunderstandings, or even provoke a conflict between the two major sects, which would be a loss."

Shi Lian found his analysis reasonable, and although she still felt guilty, she could only sigh and reluctantly agree.

Time flies, and the wedding day arrived in no time.

At dawn, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Xiao Bumian's lips lingered on Mingjian's sensitive nape, leaving a soft, warm touch. Mingjian suppressed the gasp that threatened to escape his throat, struggling to stay awake.

Just then, a regular knocking sound came from outside, followed by a respectful inquiry from a servant disciple, "Young Master Ming, it's almost time. Shall we begin your dressing and grooming?"

The sound instantly sobered Mingjian up considerably. He gently placed his elbow against Xiao Bumian's chest, trying to create some distance, his eyes, which had been glistening with tears from emotion, now seemed somewhat lost.

"Wait..." Mingjian cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound steady, "I... I'll put on my wedding dress first, and then I'll call you in."

"Yes, Young Master Ming." The attendant outside replied and waited quietly outside.

Xiao Bumian seemed not to hear him. He still held Mingjian's wrist tightly, showing no intention of letting go, and his hot breath continued to spray behind Mingjian's ear.

Seeing that he was truly exhausted, his body limp as a puddle of water, he pleaded softly, "Are you done yet?"

Her voice carried a barely perceptible hint of a sob.

Although he knew Xiao Bumian was a half-demon, he rarely associated Xiao Bumian with the rumoredly lustful demons. But every time this happened, he was deeply shocked by Xiao Bumian's seemingly inexhaustible stamina.

Are demons really that exceptionally gifted in this kind of thing?

Moreover, Xiao Bumian's needs seem to be getting bigger and bigger lately, almost to the point of being insatiable.

He remembered that he had wanted to ask the system earlier if it knew why Xiao Bumian's body temperature had suddenly risen. He was about to ask, but was interrupted by the system's shocking news that they had bound the wrong person.

A few days ago, I remembered and asked the system again. After searching through some information, the system said that the original plot did not mention any related settings.

Mingjian didn't pursue the matter further at the time.

But he really felt that Xiao Bumian was a bit strange.

He has been acting strangely these past few days. His temper is noticeably more unpredictable than usual, and he often seems listless and unmotivated.

But once in bed, he started pestering Mingjian even more relentlessly.

Especially since he figured out a new way to relieve his pain on his own last time, he has been tirelessly pestering Mingjian to explore it together.

Fortunately, Xiao Bumian is a relatively simple demon in some ways. He doesn't understand deeper tricks. Only when he is really in pain will he hug Mingjian and rub against him like a large dog, whimpering and expressing his needs and dependence in this way.

"Young Master Ming." The knocking sounded again from outside, tinged with urgency.

Mingjian was startled by the sound, and his hand trembled, unconsciously increasing the force of his grip.

Xiao Bumian couldn't help but let out a suppressed groan. He raised his wet eyes, the corners of which were still flushed with emotion. His long, dark hair was disheveled and draped over his plain white clothes, and his collar was slightly open, revealing a small patch of fair skin.

He complained in a low voice, his voice tinged with grievance: "Mingjian, it hurts so much."

Seeing him like this, Mingjian's heart began to pound uncontrollably. She was both captivated by his good looks and nervous about being discovered by outsiders.

He quickly raised his voice, trying to make it sound normal, "I understand. You can go and wait here. I need a little more time!"

The two attendant disciples exchanged a glance, seemingly wanting to say something more, as the auspicious time couldn't be delayed. However, just as they were about to speak, a very faint, cool fragrance of crabapple blossoms quietly wafted into their nostrils.

Their eyes glazed over instantly, and the words they were about to say caught in their throats. They obediently replied "yes" and quietly turned and left.

Mingjian was so focused on dealing with Xiao Bumian that he didn't notice the fleeting gloom in Xiao Bumian's eyes.

Finally, after a long while, just when Mingjian felt his wrist was about to break, Xiao Bumian finally finished.

Mingjian was afraid that if he hesitated even a moment longer, Xiao Bumian would get excited again, and then his storyline for today would really not go smoothly. He quickly jumped out of bed, went into the bathroom, and hurriedly cleaned himself up.

When he finished tidying up and came out in his undergarments, Xiao Bumian was still sitting on the messy bed in the same position. The warm curtains and light gauze, the brocade quilt piled up, he slightly raised his eyes, his gaze quietly following Mingjian's figure.

“Mingjian,” he suddenly spoke, his voice devoid of emotion, “may I wear your wedding dress?”

Mingjian was reaching for the bright red wedding dress hanging on the hanger when he heard this and paused.

He turned to look at Xiao Bumian, somewhat puzzled. "What's wrong?"

Xiao Bumian's lips curved into a faint smile as he chuckled and said, "Hmm, nothing. You're getting married, why can't I put on wedding gowns for you?"

Mingjian: "..."

Why does that sound so awkward?

But he couldn't find a reason to refuse Xiao Bumian.

Moreover, his arms were still a bit weak at the moment, and he couldn't muster much strength. He would probably have a hard time putting on this elaborate wedding dress.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally nodded, "...Okay."

This compliant answer largely pleased Xiao Bumian. The somewhat unreal smile in his eyes seemed to have gained a touch of genuine warmth.

He rose, picked up the heavy wedding gown, and began to carefully dress Mingjian. His movements were gentle, even with an almost pious focus.

"Junior brother, do you know that if you and Yun Hanyi get married, according to the rules, you and she will have to form a Daoist couple seal?"

As Xiao Bumian spoke, he tied Mingjian's sash, treating him like a doll.

He's very obedient; he'll raise whichever hand he wants.

Seeing that he was still a little tired and drowsy, Ming just mumbled an "Mm" in response.

He remembered that in the original story mentioned by the system, he and Yun Hanyi did form a Daoist couple seal, but not long after, the Hehuan Sect was thrown into turmoil, and "he" died in that chaos.

Therefore, the step of forming hand seals should exist.

Xiao Bumian's fingers, which were tying his belt, paused almost imperceptibly for a moment, and his eyes suddenly darkened.

Mingjian knew this.

He knew what forming a Daoist couple seal meant, but he still chose to marry Yun Hanyi.

Once the Daoist bond between cultivators is formed, it cannot be broken unless one of them dies. It is a bond a thousand times stronger than a marriage certificate in the mortal world.

Xiao Bumian's aura, which had just eased slightly, became listless again. He pursed his lips, stopped speaking, and continued what he was doing.

This time, Mingjian was quite perceptive in noticing that Xiao Bumian was unhappy. He blinked, but in the end, he couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke Xiao Bumian's long hair at the back of his head, as if soothing a large feline that was having a tantrum.

"After today, you can do whatever you want, I'll be there for you. Just be good, and by tonight, it'll all be over, okay?"

As he spoke, he pulled out two pieces of wedding candy wrapped in red paper from somewhere, unwrapped them, and fed one to Xiao Bumian. "If you feel annoyed, eat a few more pieces. If you're sleepy, go to sleep. When you wake up, all your worries will be gone."

Xiao Bumian lowered her eyes to look at the round candy on her lips, remained silent for a moment, and then opened her mouth and put it in.

The sweet taste melted on his tongue, and he still had that enigmatic smile on his lips as he softly replied, "Okay."

Seeing this, Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After appeasing Xiao Bumian, Mingjian suddenly remembered that he still needed to have his eyebrows drawn, so he went out to find the two disciples who were responsible for helping him with his makeup.

When they were found, they were fast asleep, lying on the stone table in the courtyard.

The two attendants were awakened by Mingjian and found that they had fallen asleep while on duty. They were terrified and hurriedly apologized to Mingjian.

Mingjian's brow twitched. Without even thinking, he knew that this must be Xiao Bumian's doing. He probably used some means to make the two of them fall asleep so as not to disturb him.

He felt helpless but didn't say much. He simply waved his hand, signaling them to follow.

When they returned to the room, Xiao Bumian was nowhere to be seen, and even the brocade quilt had been neatly folded and placed beside the bed.

The rest of the process went more smoothly than I expected.

A man's wedding makeup doesn't need to be too elaborate. The main focus is on opening the face and making the eyebrows more handsome. Finally, an exquisite jade crown is used to tie up the dark hair high, and the mirror reflects a groom with delicate features and a youthful spirit.

The Hehuan Sect's sworn brotherhood ceremony was held in the sect's square, which was already bustling with activity.

Golden cranes, conjured from spiritual energy, circled and danced in the air, scattering shimmering light. The plaza was surrounded by disciples of the Hehuan Sect who had come to witness the ceremony, as well as some invited guests, all their eyes focused on the center of the plaza.

Looking at the scene before him, Gu Zhi felt a mix of emotions. He nudged Song Heyu beside him with his elbow and whispered, "Song Heyu, don't you think this scene looks familiar?"

Song Heyu glanced across the plaza and responded casually, "Junior Brother seems to have gotten married once before at the Mermaid Ruins."

His reminder triggered a series of blurry images that flashed through Gu Zhi's mind—

He seemed to have comforted Xiao Bumian, and at the time he seemed to have solemnly assured Xiao Bumian that Mingjian was not the kind of person who would marry a woman just because of worldly conventions.

Although he now believes that Mingjian went there for the treasures of the Hehuan Sect.

Gu Zhi silently shed a tear of sympathy for Xiao Bumian in her heart, then craned her neck and looked around, asking curiously, "Hey? Do you think Xie Hanwei was hurt by Ming Jian's series of weddings, so he simply didn't come today?"

Upon hearing this, Song Heyu looked around and indeed did not see Xiao Bumian. "I understand. It's better that Junior Brother Xie didn't come. It would be better if he saw Junior Brother Ming and Miss Yun going through the wedding ceremony with his own eyes, which would only add to his sadness."

Just then, someone in the crowd shouted excitedly, "Look! Her Highness the Holy Maiden is out!"

All eyes fell on that figure.

A slender figure, dressed in a fiery red wedding gown, slowly entered the plaza, surrounded by several female disciples of the Hehuan Sect. The gown was impeccably tailored, clinging tightly to her body and perfectly outlining her incredibly thin waist and graceful figure.

Although the person who came was tall and her face was covered by a bright red veil, obscuring her features, a gentle breeze occasionally lifted a corner of the veil, and the vaguely visible outline in a fleeting glimpse was enough to inspire the imagination that she was as beautiful as a fairy.

A murmur of admiration immediately arose from the crowd:

"Your Highness is so beautiful."

"This young man from Jianming Immortal Mountain is actually Her Highness the Holy Maiden's first husband, whom she married through proper channels. He's really hit the jackpot."

"If Young Master Chi finds out, I'm afraid this person won't have a good time."

"..."

Amidst skepticism and envy, the bride walked step by step closer to Mingjian.

He wondered if it was just his imagination, but Yun Hanyi seemed taller and more slender than he remembered. Then he recalled the wedding dress he'd glimpsed earlier; besides the elaborate red gown, it seemed to have been paired with embroidered shoes with extremely high heels. Yun Hanyi was already tall for a woman, so it was reasonable that she was slightly taller than him in those shoes.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when Mingjian's heart skipped a beat, and an absurd guess popped into his head uncontrollably.

Is the person in front of me... really Yun Hanyi? Or Xiao Bumian?

He subconsciously looked closely at the hand the other person was extending towards him. The hand was very white, with slender and well-proportioned fingers, almost unbelievably perfect.

wrong.

Mingjian immediately dismissed his own guess. He was all too familiar with Xiao Bumian's hands; his fingertips bore the thin calluses from years of wielding a sword, and there was a small, but noticeable, old scar on the web of his right hand.

The hands before me were smooth and flawless, without any marks.

Moreover, and most importantly, when the other person's hand gently touches his palm, the temperature is warm, almost the same as his own body temperature.

However, Xiao Bumian's body temperature has been very low since his soul fire was extracted. Although his body temperature seems to have risen a bit in the past few days for some reason, it is still lower than that of an ordinary person.

Clearly, you can let go of your worries.

He felt he was overthinking things.

How could it be Xiao Bumian? Although this yandere has an unpredictable temper, she wouldn't be so absurd as to wear a wedding dress and pretend to be a bride... right?

-----------------------

Author's Note: I've already written a warning, so please don't click on the next chapter if you're sensitive to this!