The next day.
Early morning.
Su Qing had begun her preparations for the day’s events long before dawn.
Though she had opted for simplicity, she did not treat the occasion with any less care, attending to every detail with earnest dedication.
At the same time, she was feeling rather nervous.
Despite having cultivated for so long and gaining the ability to control her emotions, she was, after all, getting married for the first time across two lifetimes. A certain degree of trepidation was unavoidable.
Standing by the edge of the Heaven Lake, Su Qing watched the waters shimmering under the morning sun. She let out a long, slow breath of stale air.
Beside her, Yudie asked with a beaming smile, "Mother, are you nervous?"
"I am. A little."
"But yesterday you acted like it was no big deal."
"How can yesterday's me be the same as today's me?" Su Qing rolled her eyes and reached out to ruffle the girl’s hair.
"Hmm, you seem exactly the same to me," Yudie giggled.
Su Qing gave a helpless smile. "Come on, let’s go welcome my master first... After that, we have to go pick up Ao Ying and the others."
Even with a simplified wedding, the traditional steps still had to be followed.
The bridal procession—the act of 'picking up the bride'—was one of the most important segments. Both Ao Ying and Bai Suzhen hoped to complete the full ritual.
As for Leng Xiang...
Since Leng Xiang was a sword spirit, she was effectively without parents. She didn't even have a master. As for her creator, the Three Sacred Mother... Leng Xiang clearly had no desire to see her, let alone trouble her. Therefore, Leng Xiang had opted to skip this particular step.
Instead, she would remain by Su Qing’s side from beginning to end, waiting in the bridal chamber once the procession returned.
Yudie nodded cheerfully and took Su Qing’s hand as they returned to the small courtyard on the mountain to await the arrival of Patriarch Bodhi.
It wasn't long before Taishang Laojun arrived at the Changbai Mountains, leading his Green Ox alongside Patriarch Bodhi.
Patriarch Bodhi looked as serene as ever, gazing at Su Qing with a calm expression that betrayed nothing of his inner thoughts.
"Master! It’s been a long time. Did you miss your disciple?" Su Qing greeted him with a bright smile. "I almost thought you wouldn't come!"
Of course, she knew he would.
He had always been this way. She understood him better than anyone—he was just a prickly, stubborn old man.
Patriarch Bodhi shook his head slightly and said indifferently, "I was merely dragged here by that old fellow Laojun."
Standing nearby, Taishang Laojun chuckled but didn't expose the lie. He knew Su Qing could probably guess the truth without him saying a word.
"Oh... so Master didn't miss me at all..."
Patriarch Bodhi glanced at Su Qing and remarked flatly, "Sigh, I really shouldn't have let you spend so much time with Laojun. He’s corrupted you. Now you’ve even learned how to tease your master."
A master always knows his disciple's character. In his memory, she wasn't the type of person to ask such playful questions. Naturally, he assumed the old rogue Laojun was responsible for this change.
"Hey, that's slander!" Laojun interjected quickly.
He hadn't taught Su Qing any of that; she had picked it up all on her own. How could he be blamed?
"I don't believe you," Patriarch Bodhi replied.
Clearly, when it came to character, Patriarch Bodhi trusted Su Qing far more than he trusted Laojun.
Laojun rolled his eyes. Fine. Was he really that untrustworthy in the eyes of his old friend? Could he really be blamed for 'leading a child astray'?
Su Qing watched the exchange and laughed. "It really isn't Senior's fault. Regardless, I am very happy that you could come, Master."
"Hmph, you!"
Patriarch Bodhi gave a cold snort, assuming his disciple was just trying to save face for Laojun. He didn't press the matter further.
"Very well. You are grown now, so I shall not lecture you."
"However, since I am here, I will see this wedding through to the end for you."
Su Qing grinned and led her master inside to take his seat.
For the formal bowing ceremony, it was essential to have an elder present.
Laojun watched Bodhi’s feigned indifference and chuckled. "This old guy is always so contrary. Even though everyone knows what he's thinking, he still has to act tough! Don't take it to heart. I'm telling you, yesterday..."
"Ahem!" Patriarch Bodhi cleared his throat loudly, signaling the old man to shut up.
Laojun smirked but didn't continue.
"Sigh, I truly never imagined that the little green snake of the past would one day be getting married."
Laojun spoke with a hint of sentimentality.
"And with so many brides at once, no less. Even mortal emperors aren't usually this reckless."
Su Qing rubbed her nose, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Alright, alright. Don't overthink it. I was just speaking off the cuff; I have no intention of stopping you."
Laojun shook his head with a smile.
"I only have one piece of advice for you... the air is dry and the world is parched; mind the candles."
Su Qing looked puzzled, not quite catching the double meaning. Nevertheless, she nodded. "This junior understands."
Laojun simply smiled. He had a feeling the girl didn't understand at all.
As they chatted, Laojun noticed Yudie serving tea to Patriarch Bodhi.
Seeing the little girl, he was momentarily stunned. He hadn't visited in a while, and now there was another little one in the house.
"Senior, this is Yudie. In a sense, she is my daughter?" Su Qing said with a bit of hesitation.
Patriarch Bodhi: "..."
Laojun: "??"
Both Laojun and Patriarch Bodhi were stunned for a good while.
Eventually, one of them asked, "Isn't she... a sword spirit?"
Su Qing smiled and gave a brief explanation of why she considered Yudie her daughter.
After hearing her explanation, the two elders nodded slowly.
"So that is the story..." Laojun looked at Yudie thoughtfully. "It isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Su Qing smiled. After all this time, she knew better than anyone that it wasn't a bad thing.
Patriarch Bodhi reached out and patted Yudie’s head. "This little girl has a good temperament. Being by your side, she must have learned it from you."
"Her personality has always been quite good. Though she can be mischievous at times, she’s usually very well-behaved," Su Qing said, spreading her hands.
Seeing Su Qing praise her, Yudie beamed with pride.
Patriarch Bodhi glanced at her and nodded. "Alright, don't just stand here acting silly. Aren't you going to pick up your brides?"
"Of course I am!" Su Qing nodded hurriedly.
"Then go! Once the guests arrive, leave them to us. After all, we are your elders," Patriarch Bodhi said with a helpless sigh.
Su Qing smiled and nodded. "I'll leave the task of welcoming guests to Yudie and Gongsun Zhixue. Master and Senior Laojun are my elders and guests; it wouldn't be right to make you work."
"Hahaha, what's wrong with it?" Laojun interjected with a laugh. "This old man is your master. A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime, so what's the problem? Or do you think your master doesn't count as an elder?"
Caught by Laojun’s logic, Su Qing could only give a helpless laugh. "Senior Laojun... very well. Then I shall trouble Master and Senior Laojun."
"Hahaha, it's a small matter," Laojun continued. "In fact, having the two of us greet the guests might save you quite a bit of trouble."
Su Qing nodded. She understood the logic; she just felt bad about inconveniencing them.
Laojun shook his head. "Go on, hurry! The people you borrowed from Chang'e have been waiting outside for quite a while."
With his habit of wandering everywhere, Laojun was quite familiar with the staff of the Moon Palace. He recognized several faces in the procession waiting outside.
Su Qing gave a resigned smile and nodded. "Then I shall take my leave."
Laojun was right; the bridal procession team had indeed been borrowed from Chang'e. There were very few people on the Changbai Mountains to begin with.
Those who could actually help were even fewer.
Gongsun Zhixue wasn't much use for this.
The Little Sparrows refused to transform into human form no matter what.
As for the minor demons in the mountains...
Forget it. They were even more useless. Most of the time, they fled the moment they saw Su Qing or Leng Xiang. If they didn't run, they stood there trembling, unable to move a muscle.
In short, none of them could be relied upon.
So, Su Qing had no choice but to borrow help. Fortunately, Chang'e had been very generous, lending her a significant number of people to solve the problem. These attendants were highly professional, though Su Qing felt it was a bit of a waste to use them just for a wedding procession.
As Su Qing walked out, several female generals cupped their hands. "Immortal, are you ready to depart?"
Su Qing nodded. "I'll be in your care."
"There is no need for such formality. Being able to share in this auspicious joy is a happy occasion for us as well. Besides, this task is essentially a vacation for us."
The leader of the female generals said with a smile, "Come, Immortal, let us depart! We shouldn't keep them waiting. But, Immortal, do you not plan to change your clothes? For such a joyous occasion, you should wear something festive."
Su Qing found this topic a bit of a headache. Wearing a groom’s outfit didn't feel quite right, but wearing a bride’s gown felt equally off. Nothing seemed to fit perfectly, so she hadn't changed.
At that moment, the female general smiled and presented a set of robes. "Immortal, this was custom-made for you by the Seven Fairies at the Palace Mistress's request. Though time was short, they managed to finish it. Why don't you change into it now?"
Su Qing’s eyelid twitched. She had a feeling Chang'e had planned this all along. However, she didn't refuse. She really did need to change into something appropriate.
After a moment's thought, Su Qing took the clothes and performed a hand seal. In an instant, the robes were on her body.
As a cultivator, unless one wanted to experience life manually, spells were the most efficient tool for every aspect of daily existence—including changing clothes.
She looked at herself in the vibrant red attire. It wasn't bad at all.
However, the outfit was a bit unique. While it was a skirted garment, it wasn't a traditional bridal gown, yet it clearly wasn't a standard groom's robe either. It was hard to describe, but it felt strangely fitting.
'It seems that even someone as scatterbrained as Chang'e has her moments of delicate insight. And the craftsmanship of the Seven Fairies is truly remarkable,' Su Qing thought to herself with a smile.
She didn't waste any more time on her appearance. Once changed, she turned to the female generals. "Thank you. I will thank the Palace Mistress in person later."
The generals smiled and cupped their hands without a word.
After a few brief exchanges, the group set off.
Auspicious clouds rose from the ground, and they soared through the sky toward Mount Li.
After Su Qing and the others left, Laojun stroked his beard and glanced at Patriarch Bodhi. "Stop staring. Your disciple is taking a wife, not being given away."
Patriarch Bodhi rolled his eyes. "I am merely seeing when the others will arrive."
"Right, right! Whatever you say," Laojun chuckled. "But your disciple certainly has a lot of friends. How many people do you think will show up?"
"She didn't invite many, but as for those who might show up uninvited... that's hard to say."
"What do you plan to do? Drive them away? That wouldn't be good," Laojun said with a laugh. "Chasing away guests at a junior's wedding would ruin the festive mood."
"With us old fossils here, they won't be able to cause any trouble even if they come. We can't let the younger generation suffer while we're around," Patriarch Bodhi said calmly. "Besides, there shouldn't be too many guests with the nerve and thick skin to show up uninvited."
"Who knows? You know as well as I do how famous your disciple is in the Heavenly Palace."
"Hmph."
Patriarch Bodhi gave a short laugh but said nothing more. His meaning was clear.
Laojun smiled and shook his head. "I just wonder if the banquet your disciple prepared has enough seats."
"You can just conjure up a few more tables, can't you?"
"Great, so it's on me again?"
"Consider it a favor I owe you."
"Fine! You owe me one. Next time I come looking for you, you're not allowed to make excuses," Laojun laughed.
Patriarch Bodhi glanced at him and nodded.
Deep within Mount Li, in the small courtyard amidst the bamboo grove.
Bai Suzhen was dressed in a phoenix coronet and cloud shoulder. Her makeup was perfectly applied as she sat quietly before the dressing table, looking at her reflection in the mirror.
"How are you feeling right now?" Li Shan Lao Mu stood behind Bai Suzhen, asking with a gentle smile.
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