Da Xuan Martial Saint

Worshipping the ancestors, fetching the bride, welcoming the bride—it all happened in one go.

Although the Yu Family was no longer the paramount power in Yu City, the groom was Chen Mu, and moreover, they had Yan Jingqing, the Inspector, acting as the master of ceremonies. Naturally, there was no one causing trouble, not even the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion dared to provoke misfortune.

The Xue Family and Xie Family also sent their people one after another, delivering congratulations and festive gifts, to celebrate the joyous occasion.

Xu Hongyu, clad in a bright red bridal gown and donning a red veil, was led by Xiao He. She still seemed somewhat perplexed as she followed them into the main hall. As a formidable martial artist of the Bone Tempering Realm, even with her vision obstructed by the veil, she could discern people and pathways clearly. However, at this moment, she felt slightly dazed. Before meeting Chen Mu, she had attended weddings for some of her sisters, but she had never considered her own.

On one hand, she excelled in the path of martial arts; on the other, she lacked such thoughts and had never envisioned that she, like other common girls, would wear a bright red bridal gown and step into the main hall.

Following the etiquette, Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu then offered tea to the Yu Family elders such as Yu Zuyi and Yu Jiujiang.

Yan Jingqing, dressed in ceremonial robes, watched the newlyweds with a smile on his face.

During his time at the State Government Office, he had acted as a go-between and a master of ceremonies for others, but now his status was different. As an Inspector with high authority, if Chen Mu were just an ordinary subordinate, a regular official, then he would not personally preside over the wedding. The status of Xu Hongyu and the Yu Family would not warrant it either.

But Chen Mu was a rising star, a prodigy with great potential to reach his level in the future, perhaps even surpassing him. Even though Chen Mu was still junior, in his eyes, the groom's identity and status were different.

In fact.

In his view, with Xu Hongyu's figure, family background, and abilities, marrying Chen Mu as his wife was just barely fitting.

Chen Mu on his journey until now had also received much support from Xu Hongyu. The two supported each other along the way, and as of today, they were truly in sync with each other, so they could be considered a well-matched couple.

Time passed quickly.

Yan Jingqing glanced at the hour, pressed down his hand, and the room instantly fell silent.

"The auspicious time has arrived. The bride and groom, please step forward,"

he said slowly, his voice calm and even, which passed through the main hall, pierced the courtyard, but did not startle the magpies on the trees. It only caused many birds to quietly turn their attention to the festive hall.

Chen Mu, leading by a silk ribbon, walked forward with Xu Hongyu.

"Bow to heaven and earth!"

The many senior members of the Yu Family in the room all had smiles on their faces. However, some of them watched the scene with amusement, while also feeling a bit of regret that Chen Mu was not fond of women; otherwise, their own daughters or granddaughters, who might not match Xu Hongyu in talent and ability but were younger and prettier, could also have produced offspring with Chen Mu in the future.

"Bow to the high hall!"

Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu bowed again to the high hall, since the parents of both parties had passed away, they were bowing to their direct ancestors such as Yu Zuyi.

"Husband and wife bow to each other!"

Chen Mu looked at the opposite side, at Xu Hongyu in her bright red wedding dress and red veil. It seemed as if his gaze penetrated the veil to behold the subtle, elegant beauty that blushed faintly with the flush of spring.

"Escort to the bridal chamber!"

The entire hall was filled with festivity yet remained quiet. With Yan Jingqing acting as the master of ceremonies and the groom being Chen Mu, nobody dared to make a commotion. Only Chen Yue, behind, was whispering something to Yu Ru, seemingly trying to incite her to join in 'teasing the bridal chamber' later. However, Yu Ru just responded with noncommittal hums, her large eyes filled with a touch of envy as she watched the backs of Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu.

Seeing Yu Ru's dazed look, Chen Yue could only helplessly pout, then turned to look at Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu. Her bright, luminous eyes also sparkled with a glimmer of light.

Unaware, she too was nearing twenty years of age.

No longer the clueless little girl, she, who had risen from humble beginnings with Chen Mu, had also witnessed much of the world's warmth and indifference, understanding the unpredictability of people's hearts.

If her parents were still alive to this day, and she had not followed Chen Mu into the Yu Family to practice martial arts, perhaps she would also have been married off in line with her parents' orders and the matchmaker's words. But now, she had never entertained such thoughts, feeling that maybe she never would, because there may be those superior to Chen Mu in this world, but who else could be better to her than Chen Mu?

Her heart was never fragile; she did not need anyone to take care of her. With Chen Mu as her brother, Yu Ru as her good sister, and many friends she had made in the Yu Family, she felt that the world was already very kind to her.

Looking at the brightly lit main hall, the smiling faces of the elderly members of the Yu Family, and then at the backs of Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu, she momentarily became as lost in thought as Yu Ru.

This was a life that she, many years ago, would not have dared to wish for.

...

The sun set in the west.

The last streak of faint golden sunlight crept over the window paper.

The birds chirped toward the setting sun, adding a festive touch to the courtyard as night gradually fell.

In the spacious room, red candles were lit, burning brightly. Xu Hongyu sat quietly by the bed, wearing her bright red wedding dress, with a happiness quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks behind her.

Suddenly.

Xiao He, Yu Ru, and the others who were staying by her side, quietly left the room.

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Chen Mu approached the bed with light steps and gently lifted Xu Hongyu's red veil, revealing a face that required no makeup to resemble a fairy's, ethereal elegance. Under the candlelight, the exquisite visage reflected the auspicious red glow of joy.

Chen Mu looked at Xu Hongyu.

Xu Hongyu also looked at him.

"So beautiful."

Chen Mu admired the visage of Xu Hongyu at this moment, that transcendent elegance, a celestial beauty to be admired from afar but not to be profaned, her face glowing with festive red, like a fairy lotus amidst the vast mortal world.

Initially, he didn't harbor many whimsical thoughts about Xu Hongyu, but everyone has a love for beauty. He wondered whether that aloof and noble countenance could be even more beautiful, and now was that moment, where elegance and radiance contradicted yet coexisted.

"...Really?"

Xu Hongyu's gaze remained clear, the candlelight vividly reflected in her amber eyes as she stared unwaveringly at Chen Mu. Then, with a delicate voice, she spoke, and a hint of blush climbed her translucent earlobes.

She understood, she was clear, ever since she was young she heard others praise her good looks, and as she grew up, many still lauded her appearance. Yet, some would say 'it's a pity she's too aloof.'

She didn't think she was very aloof.

She just wasn't interested in anything before she met Chen Mu.

Hearing all the things Xiao He said, she felt no different from ordinary girls, at least in front of Chen Mu. She felt joy in her heart when she heard his praise, a bashful delight.

"Mmm."

Chen Mu looked earnestly at Xu Hongyu. At least in his current memory, nothing he had seen—be it charming like Hua Nongying or dazzling like an oiran—could match the beauty of Xu Hongyu at this moment.

He sat down beside Xu Hongyu, looking at the lovely face that was but an arm's length away: "The first time I saw you, I felt that the rumors were not an exaggeration at all. Chief Constable Xu of the South City District is indeed a coldly beautiful woman."

"So, at that time, did you think about seeing what I looked like when I wasn't so aloof?"

Xu Hongyu's clear gaze met Chen Mu's as she playfully blinked at him.

Chen Mu laughed and said, "How would you know what I'm thinking? But at first, I had no intention of disrespecting the Chief Constable. It was later..."

"Later?"

Xu Hongyu blinked again.

Chen Mu looked at the beauty before him and said, "Mmm, initially I thought you were an imposing Prefecture Chief, respected by all, standing at the highest point in South City District, where your word was law. But I gradually realized that being the Prefecture Chief must have been tiring... When I was forced to act against He Mingxuan, I also considered how it would affect you afterwards. It might not have been good for the Yu family, but for you, it might have given you a chance to relax."

Xu Hongyu stared intently at Chen Mu, then suddenly moved closer, her face nearing his ear.

"Husband... what else do you want to see of me?"

Her exquisite face was covered in a flushed red as if the brightness was about to drip off.

Naturally, Chen Mu wasn't overwhelmed by Xu Hongyu's initiative. He leaned in to gently kiss her earlobe: "I want to see everything."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Xu Hongyu's slender fingers slipped, and soundlessly, the dazzling wedding gown fell away.

The delicate waist, the exquisite jade-like body, so flawless it defied critique; under the candlelight, she was like a sculpture of true White Jade, too ethereal to belong to this world.

"Whatever husband wants, wishes to see, Hongyu... can provide..."

Xu Hongyu looked at Chen Mu, a faint blush spreading over her ears, but her eyes remained clear, never once leaving Chen Mu, always watching him.

Like a bright lotus emerging from water, with dewdrops clinging to its petals, so intoxicating yet one dares not spoil it, dares not pluck it. Even Chen Mu hesitated for a moment, then gently flicked his sleeve.

The bed curtains fell soundlessly.

His heart's desire was to follow his every whim, and tonight there was no need for restraint.

The Xu Hongyu who had mastered the Kan Water Artistic Conception had skin clear as crystal. At this moment, without his teasing, the smooth and perfect pistil already glistened with dewdrops, and her eyes shimmered like spring water as she gazed at him.

Outside the window.

The moon quietly climbed up the branches.

A candle inside the room went out without a sound.

In the courtyard beneath the moonlight.

Only a single light peach blossom drifted gently in the breeze, sliding down the white marble rockery in the yard, following the smooth, fair mountain contour downwards until it dropped into the pond's surface with a plop, lingering briefly before slowly sinking.

Ripples formed on the water, spreading out one layer at a time.

Gradually.

A faint mist obscured the moonlight, as if too shy to be seen.

Lurking outside, Xiao He was all ears, listening carefully until her body grew weak and she leaned back, feeling as though she too had come to understand the Kan Water Artistic Conception in that instant.

In another direction, Chen Yue and Yu Ru lay prone at the wall root, their ears perked up to the sounds from the house. Then, both girls blushed, exchanged glances, and secretly ran away.

Tonight was destined to be sleepless.