In the peaceful, energy-rich valley, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian spent a tranquil period together. Though they had once cohabited here a few years ago, the present was no longer the same as the past. Both of them had matured significantly since then, and with the changes in their personalities came a subtle shift in how they interacted with one another.
During the day, Xiao Yan would sit quietly atop the Green Lotus Platform, cultivating his Dou Qi and working on increasing the Bone Chilling Flame's affinity with his body. Xiao Yixian, on the other hand, delved into the Rainbow Poison Codex he had given her. The two rarely disturbed each other. But when night fell, they'd sit by a small campfire, sharing stories and talking about anything and everything.
Xiao Yixian was still a young maiden, at that curious age when everything in the world fascinated her. She longed to see the wider continent beyond this valley. Xiao Yan, who had once traversed the continent for hundreds of years in his past life, had seen more than most ever would. He selectively recounted some of the more amusing or memorable stories from his experiences, modifying the details to turn them into tales for her amusement.
Inevitably, the topic drifted to the Sky Poison Empress. When Xiao Yixian learned that this woman also possessed the Woeful Poison Body, her attention sharpened significantly. After hearing the Empress's final fate, she sighed softly.
"That Sky Poison Empress… she was really pitiful," she said.
"You think she was pitiful?" Xiao Yan glanced at her.
"Mm." Xiao Yixian nodded. "She ended up all alone, without a single friend by her side. There was only that Demonic Wrath Saint… and it seemed like they had some feelings for each other, but they were enemies. What a lonely ending… so tragic and sad."
"I don't think she was pitiful," Xiao Yan said quietly. His gaze drifted to the distant horizon—the direction of the Chu Yun Empire, where he had once encountered her in his past life. "Maybe she was sorrowful… but she was also admirable."
"Admirable?" Xiao Yixian blinked in surprise.
"Yes. Her life was full of hardship, but even until the end, she never gave up. She fought against her fate with everything she had. Even if she failed, that alone deserves respect. As for being 'pitiful,' I don't think she'd want anyone to describe her that way."
"Xiao Yan… how do you know so much about her?" Xiao Yixian tilted her head and asked curiously. "From how you speak, it sounds like you knew the Sky Poison Empress really well. Do you know her and the Demonic Wrath Saint personally?"
"How could that be?" Xiao Yan shook his head and smiled. "I told you, those two lived a long time ago. They've long become history. How could I possibly know them? You're overthinking it."
Xiao Yixian shrugged. She hadn't been pressing him seriously anyway, and soon nestled her head against his shoulder.
"Xiao Yan… do you think that Sky Poison Empress… liked the Demonic Wrath Saint?"
"I don't know." Xiao Yan shook his head. 'How could I know something like that?' he thought. 'I'm not her.' Besides, in his past life, even if there had been a faint connection between him and that woman, it was more like mutual recognition in calamity. When they fought, they'd practically tried to kill each other. Romance? That was far too luxurious a thing for people like them.
"Then what about the Demonic Wrath Saint? Did he like her?" Xiao Yixian was clearly not ready to let go of the topic.
"How is that possible?" Xiao Yan said casually. "Even if they really did like each other, what does it matter? They're both dead. What, do you want to host a ghost wedding for them or something?"
"That's not impossible," Xiao Yixian said, furrowing her brows thoughtfully. Then she nodded seriously.
"Huh?" Xiao Yan stared at her in disbelief. 'What the hell is this girl thinking?'
To Xiao Yan's complete shock, she wasn't just joking. She actually created a pair of burial mounds for the Sky Poison Empress and the Demonic Wrath Saint—using his own clothing for one and her own for the other. She even pasted a giant red "Double Happiness" symbol on the tombstone and lit two red candles beside it.
Looking at the memorial, Xiao Yan felt an indescribable mix of emotions. 'I'm still alive, dammit. Why are you building a grave for me?' he thought. And worse, she'd even used his clothes. He had thought he was being ridiculous before for mentally shipping himself with someone, but this… this was on another level. She'd just made him marry himself in a posthumous ceremony.
"Dear Sky Poison Empress, I know you and the Demonic Wrath Saint loved each other but couldn't be together because of your opposing positions," Xiao Yixian said reverently as she lit incense before the tombstone. "So today, I'm fulfilling your wish by hosting your wedding. Please watch over us from the heavens…"
'What?' Xiao Yan's mouth twitched. 'Loved each other? Why don't I remember that? Watch from the heavens? I'm literally right here!'
"Come on, hurry up. It's time for the ceremony." Xiao Yixian beckoned him. "I'll play the Sky Poison Empress, and you'll be the Demonic Wrath Saint. We'll perform their wedding rites for them, so their wishes can finally be fulfilled."
"You can perform wedding rites on someone else's behalf?" Xiao Yan's lips twitched. "You think this is make-believe?"
"Less talking, more kneeling!" Before he could protest further, Xiao Yixian grabbed him and dragged him to kneel before the mock grave. Staring at the names etched into the tombstone, Xiao Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 'How did it come to this? I'm kneeling before my own grave, performing my own wedding. Only I, Xiao Yan, could experience something this absurd.'
"First bow to heaven and earth!" Xiao Yixian declared solemnly.
Xiao Yan turned to stare at her.
"What?" she said, puffing her cheeks. "You need an officiant for a proper wedding, don't you? Just bow already."
"You're the officiant and the bride. Busy day for you," Xiao Yan muttered.
"Second bow to the elders!"
Xiao Yixian glanced toward the tomb. "My parents passed away long ago, and your father isn't here. Let's just treat them as our adoptive parents, okay?"
"Can we just skip the formalities?" Xiao Yan cut in quickly. 'If this goes on, I'll have to start calling myself 'Father.''
"Fair enough. Then let's just go straight to the final bow—between husband and wife."
"Whatever makes you happy."
After completing the last ceremonial step, Xiao Yan immediately stood up. This whole 'marrying himself' thing was getting way too surreal. Just as he turned to leave, Xiao Yixian tugged his sleeve.
"Wait! There's still one last thing we haven't done."
"What is it?" Xiao Yan froze. "Didn't we already finish the husband-and-wife bow?"
"Yes… but we haven't consummated the marriage yet."
(End of Chapter)
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