Chapter 35: Wedding Banquet at Muwan Villa
Muwan Villa was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, red silk carpets spread across the floor, and guests flocked to it, creating a festive and lively atmosphere. The Xiao and Qiao families were marrying into a marriage, and both were prestigious families in the martial arts world, so congratulations were endless.
Li Lianhua and Di Feisheng arrived relatively late, but their presence still caused quite a stir. While Li Lianhua was no longer the leader of the Sigu Sect, his title as the head of the Lotus Tower and his well-known relationship with Di Feisheng lent him a distinguished position within the martial arts world. And even though the Golden Mandarin Duck Alliance had disbanded, Di Feisheng remained the formidable Di Feisheng.
Today, Li Lianhua wore a new dress the color of rain-soaked sky, which accentuated his complexion, a jade-like complexion, clear and refreshing. He wore his usual gentle smile, nodding and greeting familiar guests with a relaxed demeanor. Di Feisheng, dressed in a dark brocade robe with dark patterns, walked beside him with a stern expression. Wherever his gaze passed, the noise subsided unconsciously.
The newlyweds were receiving blessings from the guests in front of the hall. Xiao Zijin, dressed in a vibrant red wedding gown, exuded high spirits, while Qiao Wanran, adorned with a phoenix coronet and bridal robe, was charming and stunning. Seeing Li Lianhua and the others approach, Xiao Zijin's smile faltered slightly, then returned to normal. He bowed and said, "Master Li, Di... Leader Di, your presence is a great honor to our humble home." There was a noticeable pause as he addressed Di Feisheng.
Qiao Wanwan also nodded slightly, with a proper smile and a sincere welcome in her eyes.
Li Lianhua presented the gift and said with a smile, "Congratulations to you two, and may you have a happy marriage."
Di Feisheng only nodded briefly, not even offering a polite word. His gaze lingered on Xiao Zijin for a moment, cold as ice, carrying undisguised scrutiny and a hint of...disgust. He didn't even spare a glance at the bride.
Xiao Zijin felt a chill down her spine when he looked at her, and the smile on her face faltered. She managed to maintain her composure and lead them to their seats.
The seats were arranged in the upper seats near the host's house. Along the way, many people greeted Li Lianhua, but he could feel the low pressure emanating from Di Feisheng beside him becoming more and more obvious.
After taking his seat, Di Feisheng maintained a stern expression throughout, pouring his own wine, oblivious to the clamor of congratulations around him, as if transported to another world. Only when someone approached Li Lianhua to toast would his icy gaze sweep over, its warning thick in its eyes, frightening those who had been tempted to approach him and making them retreat awkwardly.
Li Lianhua was helpless. She gently touched the back of his hand under the table and whispered, "A Fei, today is Wanwan's big day..."
Di Feisheng snorted coldly, raised his head and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, with such force that it seemed as if he was going to crush the glass: "What does it have to do with me?"
Li Lianhua: "..." He knew that this person was still brooding over the past, so he had to let him go.
After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. The groom, Xiao Zijin, came over with a glass of wine to toast, his face flushed with both drunkenness and pride. "Master Li, thank you for your presence! I offer you a toast! All the past is gone like smoke, and I hope that from now on..."
Before he could finish his words, Di Feisheng suddenly spoke. His voice was not loud, but it was clear enough to drown out the surrounding noise. It was as cold as a poisoned ice blade: "Master Xiao, I'm afraid this glass of wine is for the wrong person."
The whole place was silent for a moment. All eyes were focused on him.
Xiao Zijin's hand, which was holding the glass, froze in mid-air. His expression changed several times, and he forced a smile and said, "What do you mean, Master Di?"
Di Feisheng slowly raised her eyes, those bottomless eyes staring at him, devoid of any warmth. "If it weren't for those people's indecisiveness, their poor judgment of others, and even their indulgence and shielding, how could the poison of the green tea... have lingered for ten years, corroding my bones and burning my heart?"
He spoke each word very slowly and clearly, like cold stones hitting the silent hall one by one.
Li Lianhua's expression changed slightly, and she pressed Di Feisheng's arm hard under the table: "A Fei!"
Xiao Zijin's face instantly turned pale as paper, his fingers gripping the wine glass trembling violently, spilling the wine. Di Feisheng's words, like the sharpest knife, precisely cut through the guilt and pain he'd been reluctant to acknowledge. His jealousy of Li Xiangyi, his silent awareness of Shan Gudao's ambitions, and even his subsequent pressure on Li Lianhua—all of these were demons he couldn't face.
Qiao Wanwan also heard this and looked over here worriedly. Her expression under the red veil must not be looking good either.
The guests in the hall were silent, looking at each other, no one dared to speak at this time.
Di Feisheng acted as if nothing had happened, and poured himself another glass of wine. Without even looking at the pale-faced Xiao Zijin, he said to Li Lianhua indifferently, "The wine here is bad, and it's very noisy. Let's go."
After saying that, he stood up and pulled Li Lianhua away.
Li Lianhua was pulled to his feet. He sighed inwardly at the awkward, tense atmosphere and Xiao Zijin's shaky appearance. He knew Di Feisheng was upset for him, a rage he had held for ten years. Seeing Xiao Zijin so proud and triumphant today, he finally let it go.
He couldn't afford to refute the flute in front of so many people, so he could only cast an apologetic look at Xiao Zijin and Qiao Wanwan and whispered, "He's drunk, please don't blame him. The gift has been delivered. I wish you two a happy marriage. We'll take our leave now."
After saying this, he was half-forcibly dragged by Di Feisheng, and in the dead silence, he walked through the stunned guests and went straight out of the villa.
Di Feisheng's steps were fast and steady, and he held his wrist with great strength, as if he was afraid that if he slowed down a step, he would not be able to help but go back and do something even more outrageous.
It was not until he walked out of the gate of Muwan Villa and completely left the false festive noise behind that Di Feisheng's pace slowed down slightly, but his face was still terribly gloomy.
Li Lianhua let him hold her hand, looking at their clasped hands. Suddenly, she sighed softly, "Why bother...it's all in the past."
Di Feisheng stopped abruptly, turned around and stared at him, his eyes swirling with suppressed anger and heartache. "I can't let this go!" His voice was hoarse. "Whenever I think about all the suffering you've endured, when I think about how if any one of them had trusted you a little more, protected you a little more, you wouldn't have... I can't remain calm!"
Li Lianhua looked at the unfaithful pain in his eyes, and felt a pang of pain in his heart. All his words of persuasion were stuck in his throat. He took Di Feisheng's hand and whispered, "But I'm fine now, right? With you by my side, all this is worth it."
Di Feisheng's tense expression melted slightly because of these words. He took a deep breath, pulled the person into his arms, and hugged him tightly, as if to confirm his existence.
"Let's go," Li Lianhua patted his back, "let's go home."
"Yeah." Di Fei responded softly, put his arm around him, and walked towards the Lotus Tower.
The setting sun stretched the two people's shadows very long, tightly attached to each other, as if no one could get in between.
The joy within Muwan Villa resounded once more, yet it seemed a world away. Some past events could be forgiven, but not easily forgotten. And in Di Feisheng's case, anyone who had ever hurt Li Lianhua would never be treated kindly by him.
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