Chapter 74 Wedding Dress (Read with Caution) "Red candle tears... cold brocade quilt..."
“Miss Yun,” Mingjian gently reminded her, while naturally taking the bride’s hand, “there are steps ahead, please be careful.”
"Um."
From beneath the red veil came a very low response, a soft voice with a woman's unique gentleness.
Most importantly, this voice was not Xiao Bumian's clear and slightly lazy tone.
Mingjian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, completely at ease. He steadily took the bride's hand and stepped up the stairs, walking towards the front of the square.
On the high platform at the very front of the square sat the sect leader of the Hehuan Sect and several elders with extremely high cultivation levels.
As the two approached, an elder with white hair and beard slowly rose, his voice loud and authoritative, echoing throughout the entire square:
"The Daoist Couple Seal is the highest contract of the Joyful Union Sect. Once formed, unless one party dies and their Dao is extinguished, this seal will never perish, and the bond will remain forever. Forming this seal will greatly benefit both parties' future cultivation, especially in terms of aligning with our sect's mental cultivation methods. However, this seal requires the aid of heart's blood. We request that the Holy Maiden and Holy Son-in-law each drip a drop of their heart's blood onto this Three Lives Stone."
As soon as he finished speaking, a disciple standing nearby respectfully presented him with a small knife.
Mingjian took the knife and, without hesitation, lightly sliced it across his palm. Bright red blood immediately seeped out, following the lines of his palm, and landed precisely on the Three Lives Stone in front of him.
He turned his head to see how Yun Hanyi was doing, only to find that she had already finished.
With his hand hanging at his side, the small wound had not been immediately healed with spiritual power; blood beads were still slowly seeping out and dripping.
Mingjian blinked slightly, sensing something was amiss, when he saw Yun Hanyi raise her other hand, her fingertips gleaming faintly, and gently wipe the wound, instantly healing it completely.
At the same time, the Three Lives Stone, which had absorbed the blood of the two, suddenly emitted a soft light, illuminating the entire platform.
Mingjian felt a slight warmth in his chest, as if some invisible bond had quietly connected him.
Seeing this, the elder announced loudly, "The ceremony is complete!"
Due to its unique sect nature and status, the Hehuan Sect's marriage ceremony is more similar to human marriage customs, solemn yet joyous.
The next part was the toasting. Mingjian didn't drink much, only symbolically drinking a few cups with Guzhi, Song Heyu, and a few other fellow disciples, and the entire ceremony came to a successful conclusion.
Shi Lian and Xie Linzhao did not appear at the banquet, presumably because they immediately set off back to Jianming Immortal Mountain to heal the sect leader after obtaining the sacred object.
Mingjian was still holding a wine glass, wondering when the chaotic scenario the system had mentioned would actually happen. He had originally planned to sit outside, dealing with the situation while waiting for the chaos to erupt so he could escape.
Unfortunately, something went wrong along the way.
The wedding of the Holy Maiden was naturally a grand affair. The Sect Master of the Joyful Union Sect even specially built an extremely magnificent cave dwelling for Yun Hanyi as their marital residence.
The sect leader of the Hehuan Sect appeared to be a refined and rather young man.
Mingjian had heard about this sect leader in the past few days. He was a homosexual and was never short of beautiful women by his side. His cultivation had reached the Mahayana stage and was unfathomable. He also had several elders at the late Nascent Soul stage under his command, making him a powerful figure.
At this moment, the sect leader was lounging on a soft couch, while a handsome man knelt beside him, pouring him wine.
A meaningful smile played on his lips as he looked at Mingjian, who was being pushed forward by the crowd. His voice carried a hint of mockery, "The auspicious time has arrived, Young Master Ming. Warm curtains and light gauze, a spring night to enjoy, don't waste this beautiful moment."
The Hehuan Sect disciples around them were already used to this scene and joined in the commotion, urging Mingjian to hurry up and enter the cave.
Mingjian: "..."
He can't just say, "I'm waiting here for the demons to attack so I can create chaos and run away," can he?
He'll probably be beaten to death by the disciples of the Hehuan Sect before he even leaves.
Left with no other choice, Mingjian reluctantly entered the newly decorated house amidst the ambiguous laughter and urging of the group.
It was late, and the moonlight was bright.
A faint, unidentified sweet fragrance filled the air.
Whether it was the effects of the alcohol from those few drinks or the sweet aroma, Mingjian felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, his vision began to blur, his thoughts became muddled, and he felt somewhat lightheaded.
"Alright, alright, everyone, please go back now." Mingjian forced himself to stay awake, standing outside the bridal chamber and waving to the crowd that still refused to leave.
"We want to see Her Highness the Holy Maiden!" someone in the crowd shouted again, drawing laughter in agreement.
Before Mingjian could even think of a way to refuse, Gu Zhi, who was drunk, stepped forward first. He was unsteady on his feet and slurred his words as he grabbed the two Hehuan Sect disciples who were making the most noise.
"What are you looking at! Come on, come on, keep drinking with your senior brother! Tonight... we won't leave until we're drunk!"
As he spoke, he practically dragged the two away. Once the leader left, the rest of the group lost interest and dispersed, laughing and joking.
Mingjian yawned widely, overwhelmed by a combination of drowsiness and the effects of alcohol.
He had intended to lie down on the stone table in the courtyard for a while to wake himself up from the cold wind, but then he suddenly remembered that the bride's red veil had not yet been lifted.
I clearly have a headache.
He looked up at the moon in the sky; tonight was another full moon night.
"Host, please complete the entire storyline," the system's voice rang out at the opportune moment.
Mingjian sat on the cold stone chair for a while longer, then shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the confusion in his mind. "I understand."
He still got up and pushed the door open.
Inside, red candles burned brightly, their flickering flames casting a warm glow over the room, and the light and shadows stretched long across the paper windows.
Everywhere you look, there is a bright red color.
Red curtains, red bedding, and red paper-cut double happiness characters pasted on the walls and windows.
On the table were piled longan, peanuts, and red dates, symbolizing the wish for many children, and next to them were two wine cups filled with wedding wine.
The moment the door was pushed open, a night breeze rushed in, and the candlelight flickered gently a few times.
Mingjian stopped in his tracks.
His gaze fell on the jade scale beam tied with a red ribbon on the table. He stood there silently for a long time, struggling internally, but ultimately couldn't overcome the hurdle in his heart.
"Clatter".
The scale beam was gently placed back on the table, making a crisp, soft sound.
The bridal chamber was eerily silent.
“Miss Yun,” Mingjian began with difficulty, “I…”
He pursed his lips. "I'm sorry, I probably can't lift the veil for you."
Now that things have come to this, he's gone through all the formalities. No matter what, he can't convince himself to personally complete this ceremony, which might hold profound significance for Yun Hanyi. Since he's unwilling, why force himself?
He and Yun Hanyi were not actually married.
“I know that what I said might be somewhat offensive and impolite to Miss Yun.”
Mingjian said apologetically, "I know you did this to avoid the entanglement of that young master Chi, while I only wanted the sacred artifact to prolong the life of my sect leader. We each got what we needed. We've done enough for the show in front of outsiders today."
Furthermore, after tonight, according to the plot, he, this cannon fodder, should also exit the stage.
Once the storyline is completely finished, he will go find Xiao Bumian.
"Tonight... I will rest on this bed. If you are tired, don't worry about me, just rest on your own."
After saying this, Mingjian felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart, and he breathed a long sigh of relief.
He was turning to walk toward the couch when he saw his bride, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, suddenly move.
Those shapely, fair hands slowly rose and grasped the edge of the bright red veil.
The next moment, the veil was gently lifted.
The bright red wedding dress outlined the tall and slender figure of the person on the bed, and the golden hairpins jingled and swayed slightly as the beauty lifted her veil.
Just then, the candlelight beside the bed crackled and burst into a bright flame.
In the candlelight, her true face was revealed beneath the veil.
It was an exceptionally beautiful face, transcending gender boundaries. Her eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, carrying a natural allure, yet her pupils were like obsidian submerged in water, glistening and reflecting the flickering candlelight. She had a high, straight nose, a smoothly defined and elegant jawline, and thin lips that were a vibrant, alluring red, stained with rich lipstick.
Mingjian didn't know how to describe his feelings at that moment.
Shock, absurdity, and a hint of "I knew it."
It really is Xiao Bumian.
He froze on the spot, his mind seemingly blank. After a long while, he finally found his voice, which trembled with disbelief, "Xie Hanwei? What are you doing here?!"
Xiao Bumian tilted his head, a movement that caused the pair of delicate yet clearly feminine earrings on his earlobes to sway gently. He smiled and asked softly, "Am I not pretty?"
He raised his hand, his fingertips gently tracing his meticulously drawn eyebrows and eyes. "Don't you like women? I even learned this makeup myself."
Mingjian was startled and suddenly remembered that in the past few nights, whenever he woke up from his sleep or groggily, Xiao Bumian was never by his side.
Once, in a hazy state of consciousness, he seemed to glimpse Xiao Bumian sitting alone in front of the dressing table, drawing something in front of the mirror. At the time, he thought it was just a dream or an illusion, but now it seems to be real!
He said that he had noticed a faint dark circle under Xiao Bumian's eyes these past few days, and it turned out that Xiao Bumian hadn't been resting much at all.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't good-looking. Xiao Bumian was already exceptionally handsome with excellent bone structure. At this moment, he deliberately imitated a woman's makeup, amplifying all the soft and beautiful qualities in his face to an extreme, making him stunningly beautiful.
The bright red wedding dress cascaded down the edge of the bed like a flowing sunset. The earrings, the golden hairpin, and the red lotus pattern on her forehead, resembling a woman's floral adornment—all these ornaments that should belong to women—dressed on Xiao Bumian, not only did not appear out of place, but instead created a strange harmony.
Mingjian felt his heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.
Before he could react, he heard his own voice say, "It looks good."
“Hmm,” Xiao Bumian laughed, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes; instead, it carried a cold, self-deprecating tone. “I knew you would like it.”
The tone was sarcastic and carried a strong sense of irony.
Upon hearing his tone, Mingjian immediately sensed something was wrong. He had no time to think about where Yun Hanyi was.
His previous judgment was wrong.
He thought that Xiao Bumian had been behaving himself these past few days because he believed his explanation and had calmed down. But now, judging from the situation, Xiao Bumian not only didn't believe him, but had instead gone even deeper into a rut.
Xiao Bumian's eyes were frighteningly deep at this moment, with emotions surging in them that were clearly unfathomable.
Seeing the alarm bells blaring, he hurriedly called out to the system in his mind.
"051, you son of a bitch! Come out here right now, this is completely off-track!"
Is that correct?
But the system did not reply to him.
Mingjian: "..."
He was practically cursing! This useless system always fails him at crucial moments!
As Xiao Bumian stood up, he leaned down slightly and gently brushed his lips against Mingjian's lips, staining them with his bright red lipstick.
Xiao Bumian's tone was light and airy, and he was somewhat puzzled, "Why are you daydreaming again?"
"Aren't you fond of women? Why won't you even glance at me now, looking like this?" Xiao Bumian's lips curled into a smile, but it held little real meaning. He stared straight at Ming Jian, a hint of despair in his eyes, and said, "Or perhaps, you still want Yun Hanyi?"
But he is not Yun Hanyi.
For tonight, he knocked out the real Yun Hanyi and hid her in her own room. He used Gu worms to control the maids who served him, making them dress him in this dazzling wedding gown and draw a picture in front of the mirror of the face he loathed but had to carefully paint to suit Mingjian's preferences.
Watching the face in the mirror gradually take on the look that Mingjian liked, he felt extreme hatred.
The mournful song that the young male prostitute had sung in the merman ruins echoed repeatedly in his mind like a curse, one that he could not shake off no matter what he did:
Tears stream from the red candle... the brocade quilt is cold... when will my beloved return home?
As he hummed the mournful tune softly, he personally pierced his own earlobe with the woman's earring.
Bright red blood droplets slid down the earring, hitting the cold ground and spreading into a small, glaring red patch.
Even though he had gone to such lengths, contorting himself into this state, Mingjian's gaze still didn't truly linger on him.
So... is there only one last option left?
Is the only solution to remove Yun Hanyi's face, which truly belongs to a woman, and replace it with his own?
Mingjian's heart skipped a beat at Xiao Bumian's desperate question. He blinked quickly and denied it hastily, "No! That's not what I meant!"
No! We absolutely cannot let him continue thinking like this!
Mingjian's breathing became rapid. Xiao Bumian's current state was very abnormal; he had completely entered a dead end of obsession. He had to stabilize him first.
"Xie Hanwei," Mingjian softened her voice, trying to reason with him, "I didn't think that way. I praised you for being beautiful simply because you are beautiful in your own right, uniquely beautiful. It's not because you're wearing women's makeup that I said that. Even without makeup, you are extremely beautiful, and I like you no matter what."
"You like me?" Xiao Bumian's eyes softened for a moment, sparkling brightly, but then he chuckled softly as if he had heard something utterly ridiculous. "You do like me, but you also like Yun Hanyi, Gu Zhi, Rong Yunzhi, and Shi Lian..."
His voice paused, a cold smile curving his lips. "Ah, I remember now. You also like Xie Linzhao. You saved him and secretly gave him a lot of pills and spiritual herbs, didn't you?"
Xiao Bumian's thoughts drifted for a moment. After thinking about it carefully, he realized that the Burning Passion Gu was probably somewhat useful; otherwise, given his personality, he wouldn't have waited until now to kill them.
Mingjian was instantly stunned, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.
So, Xiao Bumian always knew about how he used to send things to Xie Linzhao in order to complete his missions?!
"You like too many people." Xiao Bumian's voice pulled him back to reality, his tone carrying a deep weariness and helplessness.
He reached out, picked up the cup of wine symbolizing fidelity on the table, and handed it to Mingjian, his eyes carrying an almost pleading look, "Shall we drink this wine together?"
After drinking this cup of wine and performing this ritual, Mingjian will be his Daoist partner from now on, a rightful and proper Daoist partner.
Seeing his expression, Ming knew that he hadn't listened to what Xiao Bumian had just said, but he still followed Xiao Bumian's hand and took a sip.
The spicy liquor exploded on his tongue and rushed into his throat. Mingjian choked and coughed violently, almost bringing tears to his eyes.
"You drank so fast." Seeing this, Xiao Bumian reached out and gently patted his back.
Mingjian: "..."
Is that yandere crazy? Wasn't it him who made him drink it?
Having finally stopped coughing, Mingjian picked up another cup of wine from the table and handed it to Xiao Bumian, saying irritably, "Have a cup too, calm down."
Xiao Bumian's lowered eyelashes trembled slightly.
He did not refuse, and even obediently sat back on the edge of the bed, then looked up and quietly looked at Mingjian, his lips, which were made even redder by the lip rouge, slightly parted.
This means to make it clear what is being said.
Mingjian looked at his meticulously painted face and sighed softly in her heart.
Anyway, he owes him, so be it.
Now that the system isn't urging him, Mingjian doesn't know whether his mission is considered complete or not, but he really doesn't have the mind to think about the plot or the mission anymore.
To be honest, when the veil was lifted and she saw that the person below was Xiao Bumian, in addition to the initial shock, Mingjian actually felt a secret joy deep in her heart.
Xiao Bumian has gone to such lengths for him, even wearing a wedding dress, so it wouldn't be a bad idea for him to coax and indulge him a little more.
Regardless of whether Xiao Bumian can listen or not, things still need to be made clear.
Ming Jian held the wine glass to Xiao Bumian's lips, watching him tilt his head back slightly as the spicy wine slowly flowed into his mouth.
Xiao Bumian seemed to be affected by the spiciness of the wine as well. His eyes quickly turned red, and a layer of misty water gradually gathered in his eyes, making him appear even more pitiful.
"Xie Hanwei, believe it or not, I'll say it again: I don't like them."
“If you think that the small favors I do for others count as liking them…” Mingjian took a deep breath, his voice not loud but firm, “Then my feelings for you are much, much more than just liking.”
He looked intently into Xiao Bumian's misty eyes.
"I love you."
Xiao Bumian paused in his drinking, staring silently at Mingjian, trying to see if he was lying to him.
No, there isn't.
Mingjian's eyes were open, earnest, and even carried a kind of solemnity that Mingjian had never seen before, almost burning with intensity.
But this only made Xiao Bumian more helpless.
How could anyone possibly like him?
He is a half-demon.
People are too busy hating him to even think about liking him.
Xiao Bumian couldn't understand it.
His instincts, belonging to the Demon Tribulation stage, were raging wildly within him, making him agitated and almost causing him to lose his mind.
He didn't want to listen anymore.
Whether Mingjian's intentions at this moment are genuine or not is no longer important. What matters is that Mingjian was the one who promised him first that he would always be with him.
Since a promise has been made, it must be kept.
Xiao Bumian's gaze was gradually replaced by an intense, overwhelming lust. He tilted his head back and drank the remaining wine in his glass in one gulp. Then, he opened his mouth and took Mingjian's fingertips, which were still holding the wine glass and had not yet withdrawn.
Microsoft's lips touched his fingertips, and Xiao Bumian raised his wet eyes to look at Mingjian. His cool earrings swayed gently with the movement, occasionally brushing against the back of Mingjian's hand, bringing a slight shiver.
His fingers were tightly enveloped by something warm and wet, and the ambiguous touch made Mingjian's mind explode as if something had blown away, sending a chill down his spine.
"Snap!"
He could no longer hold the wine glass firmly, and it slipped and fell to the ground with a crisp shattering sound.
Xiao Bumian slowly raised his fair and slender hand. His lips still held Mingjian's fingers, sucking them intimately. His hand, like a vine, slowly climbed up Mingjian's cheek, his fingertips trembling slightly as he gently caressed it.
The two were only a few inches apart, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze, leaving only their hot breaths mingling.
The distance was infinitely shortened.
Until Xiao Bumian's hand reached around Mingjian's nape, pressing forward gently with an irresistible force, while simultaneously releasing his fingertips that had been sucked until they were red. He then kissed Mingjian from below, like a whirlwind.
The kiss carried an almost destructive madness, as if it wanted to tear Mingjian apart and devour him whole, merging him into its very bones.
Their lips and tongues intertwined fiercely, stealing each other's breath. The wet, burning sensation on their fingertips had not yet dissipated when a new, more intense wave swept over them.
Mingjian could barely breathe, as if all his strength had been drained, and he slid down limply until he ended up sitting in Xiao Bumian's arms.
The red dress fell layer by layer, tinging her fair skin with a tender blush.
The instincts of the Demon Tribulation stage seemed to have finally allowed Xiao Bumian to understand, without being taught, a more primal and intimate way of connecting souls.
Mingjian trembled slightly in pain.
For some reason, Xiao Bumian's eyes also filled with tears, which fell drop by drop onto Mingjian's pink skin.
The scene was so extravagant that Mingjian's mind went completely blank, perhaps because of those few drinks. He had forgotten everything he had wanted to say earlier.
Only Xiao Bumian's melody remained in her ears, one after another: "Red candle tears...brocade quilt cold...when will my beloved...return home..."
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