Double Happiness at the Door - Part One
For several days in a row, the mountains and forests were shrouded in mist. If two people were even a little distance apart, their figures would become blurry.
Birds chirped in the morning mist, their voices clear and melodious.
The blue and white sword tassels swayed in the woods. Wang Boyu caught the falling man with one hand and gently laid him down on the damp, morning earth. With each cry, a man in red fell.
Zhiming lay reclining in the center of the sedan chair, one hand supporting his head. The wind blew through the gauze curtains hanging around him, causing his eyelashes to flutter slightly. The intermittent, high-pitched, ethereal birdsong made Zhiming's drowsiness even stronger.
Consciousness, like a withered leaf swaying and falling towards the valley, continued to sink. Suddenly, Zhiming realized something, and his eyes widened in a cold sweat.
Wang Boyu stood not far in front of him, and bright red blood dripped from the tip of the sword onto the withered leaves.
Zhi Ming gripped his sword: "How did you manage to infiltrate my territory?"
The words had barely left his mouth when Zhi Ming wavered. It wasn't so much that the other party had infiltrated without his noticing, but rather that his sword intent had been slowly dissolved.
"Interesting." Zhi Ming's drowsiness vanished instantly. He looked at the other two figures in the distance and chuckled contemptuously, "I didn't expect you to value me so much. Which faction are you from, the Hall of Longevity? Or the Beggars' Sect?"
“Don’t get me wrong,” Wang Boyu said calmly, wiping the blood off his sword. “Your opponent is only me.”
Meanwhile, a hundred feet away from the two, on a boulder, sat cross-legged a young man with white hair and a youthful face.
“This child doesn’t have the potential to become the central palace; the Four Symbols are already his limit.” The young man narrowed his eyes, looking at the two people in front of the sedan chair with amusement, and commented, “Xuanyuan has exhausted the Blood Palace’s fortune. With his death, the Blood Palace can be considered to have ended.”
Seeing that the people around him didn't respond, the boy turned his head and said jokingly, "I alone am enough to ensure Boyu's safety. Are you here to watch over me?"
Pei Jiangxi smiled but did not answer the boy's question, instead fiddling with the blue jade pendant in her hand.
“Boyu is delicious,” the boy licked his lips, a barely perceptible smile crossing his face, and said, “but it’s far too early to taste it.”
~
Firecrackers crackled and drums resounded.
Ma Youyuan, riding a tall, fine horse and leading a bridal sedan chair, accompanied by drums, music, and ceremonial guards, set off from his home at the foot of the Hundred Steps Heavenly Ladder at 9:00 AM, circling the foot of Ma Shou Mountain towards his residence on Xuanhua Road.
He clearly didn't hear the sound of rain in his dream, but when he went outside, he found the stone pavement was wet. Ma Youyuan looked up at Ma Shou Mountain; he could still see the outlines of the lower-lying palaces, but the Sword God Palace had completely disappeared from sight.
In the long wedding procession, a group of people vigorously banged gongs and drums, as if hoping to drive away the flowing mist with enough noise. The red cloth on their arms was tied in a tight knot, and no matter how vigorously they swung it, it wouldn't move an inch. The knotted tails flapped like wings.
If the fog is indeed eventually dispelled, the red cloth will probably deserve far more credit than the gongs and drums.
This is a busy day for everyone.
Before dawn, Song Zhen got up to wash and dress, and by this time, she was already perfectly prepared. After dismissing everyone around her, she stared blankly at her reflection in the bronze mirror, wearing a phoenix crown.
Three bronze dragons are on top, two sky-blue phoenixes are in front, and countless pearls adorn the top.
“My benefactor, you’ve come.” Song Zhen was relieved. “These days I’ve been thinking about how I should deal with the fact that I’ve caused you suffering.”
"I'm sorry for leaving you all alone."
“You don’t owe me anything.” Song Zhen looked carefully at the eyes reflected in the bronze mirror. She slowly wrapped a strand of hair around her finger and said, “I was just an ordinary maid, working to earn a meager monthly salary to help support my family.”
“The house is getting more and more new things, and I’ve found someone I like.” Song Zhen thought of the sad things, and tears welled up in her eyes: “I think if I work a little harder, I can reach my happiness sooner.”
“I rose from a lowly laborer in the backyard to a position in front of my master. Only then did I realize that my master was the leader of the Ma Gang, the guardian of Wuling City, as everyone knew him.”
“Ma Youyuan made indecent advances towards me in front of everyone at the family banquet.” Song Zhen slowly loosened the hair that was twisted around her index finger, lowered her eyelids and said, “If most people can be protected, then no one will care if an insignificant family is sacrificed, or a girl born from the mud is sacrificed.”
"It must have been that girl who was indecent first," Song Zhen said coldly, as if judging someone else.
Song Zhen rubbed her tears with her palms to stop them from falling down her cheeks.
“My parents have been taken away by him,” Song Zhen said firmly. “I must stay here and do what I need to do. Thank you for listening to me.”
The window creaked, and the person was no longer reflected in the bronze mirror, as if it were a dream.
Song Zhen turned her head, and the wind blowing through the window ruffled her hair.
"It's so nice to be like the wind."
~
Ma Youyuan and Song Zhen walked side by side into the main room.
"I have good news for you." Ma Youyuan greeted the people around him with a smile, and said in a voice that only Song Zhen could hear, "That man escaped."
Song Zhen simply continued forward without changing his expression, showing no physical reaction whatsoever.
Ma Youyuan was somewhat disappointed, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "I've found you two parents who are in their prime."
"Young Master Ma, I'll do whatever you say," Song Zhen said meekly, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
"Okay." Ma Youyuan replied with satisfaction, "Don't worry, the old man is fine. I'm taking good care of him."
Ma Youyuan, with his hands behind his back, quickened his pace. Song Zhen also quickened his pace to catch up.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ma Youyuan caught sight of Song Zhen catching up and said, "Tonight, the Lord of the Hall of Longevity is also here to support me. All the key figures of the Beggars' Sect are gathered here. Your man won't be able to cause any trouble."
Ma Youyuan paused for a moment, looked at Song Zhen seriously, and threatened, "If you don't want him to end up like the previous guys, then make sure he behaves himself today."
“He and I are complete strangers,” Song Zhen said, her eyelids slightly lowered. “We’ve never even met.”
Ma Youyuan stopped, glanced at Song Zhen, and said, "That would be best."
The two stepped over the threshold one after the other.
In the center of the main room, two middle-aged men with beaming smiles sat upright and properly. They were the "parents" that Ma Youyuan had carefully chosen for Song Zhen.
“You must remember, you belong to me.” Ma Youyuan smiled and looked at the two obsequious-looking middle-aged men in the hall, then whispered to Song Zhen, “Know your place, and I will reunite your family.”
Song Zhen nodded and lowered his eyes, replying, "Yes."
After serving tea to his "parents" whom he had never met, Song Zhen boarded a bridal sedan chair around noon and returned home with Ma Youyuan.
The fog had dissipated by then. Ma Youyuan mounted his horse and looked at the unobstructed view of Ma Shou Mountain and Ping An Temple. His displeasure vanished instantly.
~
The Ma family's residence at the foot of the Hundred Steps was much smaller and more dilapidated than the house where Song Zhen was imprisoned. However, there was a plaque hanging in front of the gate, openly proclaiming "Ma Residence," and although the paint was a bit worn, it did not affect its recognizability.
The entire Ma mansion was adorned with red decorations from the outside in, and the lanterns were replaced with large red lanterns inscribed with the character "囍" (double happiness). Guests inside, whether standing or sitting, were all beaming with joy. The entire Ma mansion was filled with harmony and happiness.
By the time of You Shi (5-7 PM), it was completely dark.
The main hall of the Ma residence faced Ping'an Courtyard, and from afar, one could see the courtyard sparsely lit. Most of the Beggars' Sect disciples had already rushed down the mountain to attend Ma Youyuan's wedding. A few, following the sect's arrangements, remained on the mountain to keep watch. Even these few had their gifts delivered well in advance, demonstrating their proper etiquette.
Of course, there were also those who weren't invited, or those who were invited but didn't want to attend. For example, there were people like Xiang Yu and Mu Xiongzhen. Even Mu Xiongzhen only sent his gift after being persuaded by Xiang Yu. As for Xiang Yu himself, although he wasn't invited, he still observed all the proper etiquette.
On the left side of the main room, there were four people with jade pendants from the Hall of Longevity hanging from their waists, one of whom was a young monk in a monk's robe. Ma Hong chatted happily with the group, his face beaming, and fine wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes without him even noticing.
On the right side of the main hall were some elders of the Beggars' Sect, all beaming with joy, sometimes whispering in hushed tones, sometimes bursting into laughter. One of them was somewhat different; with a scraggly beard and disheveled hair, he looked unkempt. He sat alone on the threshold of the main hall, leaning against the doorframe, dozing off.
In the courtyard in front of the main hall, all sorts of Beggar Clan disciples were gathered, chatting and laughing in small groups.
"Senior brother, who is that elder who is dozing off?"
The little beggar looked at the girl who had asked him the question and was momentarily lost in thought.
The girl waved her hand in front of him, and the little beggar came to his senses, somewhat surprised: "He is Elder Du Taibai, didn't you know?"
The girl shook her head.
"Where did you come from?"
"I came from the north. My master told me to come and broaden my horizons." The girl opened her bright eyes wide and asked curiously, "Why is he all by himself?"
“You don’t understand, Junior Sister.” The little beggar puffed out his chest proudly and said, “Look, those elders in the main hall are all from the new school. Our leader has always been close to the current emperor, so they are all in the room.”
The little beggar pointed to the other end of the courtyard and said, "Those senior members are the old guard of our gang. The old-fashioned ones are standing outside the house."
Looking around warily, the little beggar put his hand to his mouth and whispered, "He usually talks about things that could get him killed. It's terrifying."
The little beggar put his hands on his hips and said, "As for Uncle Du, he ignores both sides. He is one of the few neutral factions who can sit in the position of elder."
The girl listened and nodded.
The little beggar nodded smugly and asked, "Junior Sister, which sect are you from?"
The girl blinked and whispered, "Senior brother, I'm from the new school."
The little beggar laughed and encouraged, "I'm also a member of the new school. You've come to the right place. Following our Chief Ma is sure to be a good choice."
The girl nodded repeatedly.
"The bride is here!" A child from somewhere in the crowd shouted loudly and long.
A moment of silence fell over the crowd as everyone stared intently at the courtyard entrance. In an instant, this silence transformed into a cacophony of voices, and the entire Ma residence, like a pot of boiling water, reached its climax that evening.
As Ma Youyuan and Song Zhen appeared in sight, the emotions of all the guests reached their peak. Ma Hong stood there, looking at the newlyweds with loving eyes.
~
A sudden explosion rang out from the sky, startling Xiang Wudu, who instinctively stopped in his tracks.
Not only him, but everyone in the Ma household was drawn to the sound. Even the newlyweds, who were originally the center of attention, couldn't help but look up at the direction from which the sound came.
On Mount Mashou, the golden roof of the Sword God Temple collapsed from the inside out. A statue toppled forward, taking half of the golden roof with it. It was the second colossal statue from the left.
The furious giant crashed to the ground, raising clouds of dust that were clearly visible even in the night.
Immediately afterwards, thousands of air currents rose into the air, haphazardly impacting the entire Heian-in Temple. The terraced palace complex atop Mount Mashou collapsed and crumbled at a visible speed.
The scattered lights in the mountains gradually went out, leaving only deep black and a strange, rampant red.
"Not good!" Ma Hong exclaimed in alarm. Without thinking twice, he immediately used his lightness skill to rush towards Ping An Courtyard. Several elders and two guests from the Hall of Longevity followed behind him.
~
The tree trunks stretch straight towards the sky, their withered branches intertwining overhead, dividing the sky into fine, chaotic patches. Disorganized, yet they can be pieced together to form a complete picture.
Pei Jiangxi carried the wounded Wang Boyu on her back, a rustling sound coming from beneath her feet. A piece of her black skirt had been torn off again. A deafening explosion swept over her, and she stopped in her tracks, peering through the gaps in the trees towards the mountain peak.
Countless streaks of bright red air flashed and burst open in the air, splitting into even smaller streams that traced a beautiful curve as they rose through the dark night sky. These countless tiny streams reached their peak, flashed violently once more, and then, with a resounding bang, scattered and dispersed once more.
With its long tail trailing behind it, the airflow split and rose continuously until it completely lost its light.
If I had to describe it, it would be like a pool of pitch-black ink, filled with vibrant, graceful red spider lilies in full bloom.
The white-haired, youthful-looking boy walked ahead of Pei Jiangxi, his hands clasped behind his head. Looking at the disintegrating Ping'an Courtyard in the distance, he said wistfully, "What a beautiful fireworks display."
~
Du Taibai stared directly into Xiang Wu's eyes.
Xiang Wu met his gaze without wavering. He moved silently, like flowing water, bypassing all the guests who stopped to look.
Song Zhen only heard a continuous, overwhelming roar. Through her red veil, she could only vaguely see the main hall door; beyond that, there was nothing at all.
It was as if she was trapped here, and everything outside was no longer relevant to her. It was something she couldn't take off herself no matter what.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in Song Zhen's shimmering eyes.
The man crossed the threshold, limping, and became clearer and clearer in her eyes.
Song Zhen blinked, squeezing out her tears, trying to make out the details more clearly.
"Young Master Ma, be careful!" The main room suddenly became agitated.
Song Zhen, however, felt incredibly at ease for some reason.
A short sword had already pierced Ma Youyuan's left chest. That was the location of his heart.
The gentle breeze stirred by Xiang Wu's sword brushed against Song Zhen's face, tenderly lifting the red veil that covered her.
This was the first time she had seen Xiang Wu so clearly. Those black eyes had never been so clear before.
The red spider lilies in the sky bloomed on their own.
~
"My name is Song Zhen. I was born in Shajingdao and have wonderful parents. But I'm just an ordinary girl, a really ordinary person. I don't have anything I particularly like because I have to do a lot of work every day, so I'm really, really tired and don't have the energy to like anything anymore. But only by working hard can my family become happier."
"By the way, I once had someone I liked, but I probably will never find him again."
"There's another person, and I can't think of a suitable description. Well, if it's spring, he's the peach blossoms blooming all over the fields; if it's summer, he's the stars shining in the sky; if it's autumn, he's the full moon breaking through the clouds; if it's winter, he's the bright snow. He's never been the kind of person who would bring disaster to others."
"May I know your name?"
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