"Junior Sister Xiao Meng, why do you think some people become so obsessed with power—and drag so many innocents into their web?" Li Haimo murmured, seated at the edge of the hot spring pool, his gaze lost in the starlit sky.
"Don't you already have your own answer?" Xiao Meng replied softly.
"Girls shouldn't be too clever—it makes me look like the fool," Li Haimo teased with a light laugh.
"After the wedding... do we really have to leave the mountain?" Xiao Meng asked suddenly.
"Don't you want to?" Li Haimo turned to her.
"I've never set foot off the mountain before, never seen the world beyond. So how could I know?" Xiao Meng admitted.
"In truth, if it were up to me, I'd rather stay put. But if we don't descend, our Daoist school faces utter ruin one day. And without venturing out, even my cultivation of the Daoist Scripture flickers unreliably, sometimes working, sometimes not." Li Haimo sighed.
"Isn't the Confucian Second-in-Command down at the base? You could always ask him," Xiao Meng suggested.
Li Haimo chuckled, taking her hand in his. "But I want to take you to see the sea—the Little Sage Village in Sanghai City is far more enchanting than our Taiyi Mountain. I want to show you the famed Zhao dances in Yan and Zhao, to wander every scenic corner of this vast divine land of Huaxia. Then we'll return to the mountain and never leave again."
Xiao Meng's eyes curved in a gentle smile as she nestled against him, simply leaning there in quiet companionship. Li Haimo held her lightly in return, savoring this serene moment meant for just the two of them—no thoughts of the world intruding.
By Daoist custom, the couple was forbidden from meeting three days before the wedding. But with Xiao Meng loose in the Heavenly Sect—who could hope to rein her in? After all, she'd single-handedly challenged the entire sect at eight years old. And with Li Haimo's erratic mastery of the Daoist Scripture, no one could keep tabs on him either.
So the pair spent their days entwined as ever. For Li Haimo, this was his first wedding across two lifetimes—he refused to leave any regrets. Thus, he busied himself with preparations. No fireworks? No matter. Had anyone ever seen a colossal whale soaring through the heavens, or a meteor shower gracing a wedding rite?
He repurposed the Grand Formation of the Circadian Heavens for a cascade of shooting stars, the Three Talents Sword Array for bursts of illusory blooms, and the Wind After Qimen for a gentle shower of peach petals. Who else but the Human Sect leader, wedding the Heavenly Sect's own? The Mohists even sponsored a pair of mechanism white tigers as the bridal carriage.
No crimson carpet? Apologies—the Yin-Yang Clan's Million Leaves of Flying Flowers and Willows would do nicely. Treading a path paved in swirling crimson petals elevated the spectacle to divine heights.
Qin sent phoenix crowns and rosy robes; Han, moonlit goblets and fine wine vessels; Zhao, dances and melodies; Chu, orchestras and ensembles. The lineup was nothing short of opulent—even an emperor's nuptials paled in comparison.
On the morning of the crescent moon's clarity, Taiyi Mountain's gates swung wide. Hundreds of disciples from the Heavenly and Human Sects lined the winding path, welcoming the guests of honor. With each arrival, a massive sword-array firework erupted skyward, announcing a new presence atop the peak.
Li Haimo rode a white steed gifted by the School of Names, clad in scarlet robes that accentuated his striking, refined features. Trailing him was the bridal cart drawn by twin mechanism white tigers. Human Sect disciples bore the betrothal gifts aloft; at the fore, two acolytes cradled sword stands—one holding the twin blades of Jian Jia Bai Lu, the other the peerless Chunjun. Behind them, pairs of disciples hefted crimson chests in procession. The serpentine column snaked slowly from the Human Sect toward the Heavenly.
At the Heavenly Sect's gates, Uncle-Master Beiming Zi had donned scarlet finery, his usual austerity softened to an air of crisp elegance. He stood with the sect's elders and disciples, awaiting the procession. Ten li of bridal splendor flanked the mountain path, stretching from the Human Sect all the way to Xiao Meng's courtyard. The little yard itself brimmed with bold red double happiness characters plastered everywhere.
After an elaborate ritual of bows and rites, the scarlet-clad bride was borne upon the tiger-drawn cart. Music swelled, fireworks bloomed anew. They ascended on air, returning to the Human Sect's heart.
Weddings earned their name for the hour of twilight's glow. Thus, as dusk fell and the auspicious moment arrived, firecrackers cracked like thunder. The pair, hands linked by a vast crimson ribbon, processed toward the grand hall. Confucian Second-in-Command Yan Lu served as master of ceremonies—no school outshone the Confucians in matters of rite. Chu Nangong stood as witness to the vows. With neither family's elders present, Beiming Zi alone represented kinship.
They bowed to heaven and earth, to the elder kin, to one another as husband and wife. Then, to the bridal chamber they were led.
Having escorted Xiao Meng back to her courtyard, Li Haimo ventured out once more to host the guests.
The banquet drew a throng too vast to tally. Though Human Sect disciples shouldered much of the burden, who among the Hundred Schools was ever easy to manage? The Mohists alone—those boisterous souls—could outdrink any Yan-Zhao knight in a contest of cups. The Farmers were no milder company. And the state envoys, honed by diplomacy, quaffed with equal gusto.
Thus, it was only after Li Haimo staggered back, thoroughly inebriated, that the revelers relented and let him flee to the yard. As for the traditional raucous chamber games—well, among such dignitaries of rank and stature, that custom was politely skipped. Besides, weightier matters awaited.
His steps light yet laced with nerves and anticipation, he hesitated at the door before easing it open. Within, red candles blazed tall; the bride in her scarlet finery sat demurely at the bed's edge, awaiting her groom's return.
Lifting the golden hairpin, he gently parted the crimson veil. Her skin gleamed like polished jade, lips vivid as vermilion cinnabar, cheeks blooming like spring peach. Her phoenix crown and rosy robes framed eyes bright with tender grace.
They simply gazed at one another in silence, etching the moment deep into their souls. No words passed between them.
"My lady," Li Haimo said at last, a smile warming his voice.
"My lord," Xiao Meng replied, a blush tinting her cheeks.
"You haven't eaten all day—let's have something first." He drew her to the table, where they shared the nuptial wine.
No one had warned them it would taste of life's full palette: sour, sweet, bitter, and sharp all mingled. Yet they knew to swallow it down, unflinching.
"Here, some food." Li Haimo fetched clear tea for them to rinse their palates, then watched as she ate.
Once sated, Xiao Meng sat there, eyes fixed on him—words hovering on her lips, unspoken in her shyness, her hands clasped tight in her lap.
"Come, let me show you something." Li Haimo took her hand, leading her up to the rear peak's summit.
"Launch!" he sent via Qian Li Chuan Yin to the waiting disciples. Vast fireworks surged upward, unfurling in brilliant splendor across the night.
"So beautiful!" Xiao Meng gasped in delight, clutching his hand as she leaned into him, mesmerized by the celestial display.
"So beautiful!" All of Taiyi Mountain beheld the wedding's pyrotechnic splendor—and the pair of scarlet figures, entwined atop the height.
"Sister, do you think our weddings will ever be like this?" Eastern Sovereign murmured enviously, eyes on the blooming lights.
"You're dreaming too big. Only Wu Chen Zi could pull off something like this—draining the Human Sect disciples dry just to spin the Three Talents Sword Array into such frivolous pageantry," Moon Goddess retorted coolly.
"You'll never marry with talk like that." Eastern Sovereign ignored her—Moon Goddess, ever the cultivator, bereft of any romantic sense.
A peculiar moo echoed from the heavens then, drawing every guest's curious gaze skyward. There, beneath the vault of stars, a pale blue behemoth whale glided freely through the air—untethered, majestic.
"Come!" Li Haimo clasped Xiao Meng's hand; with a light tap, they rose on the wind, alighting upon the whale's back to roam the firmament. And in that instant, a lone meteor streaked across the sky, trailing luminous fire—followed by two, then three, swelling into a radiant shower.
"Do you like it?" Li Haimo asked, enfolding the young woman in his arms.
"Mm." She nodded, eyes shining.
"Hand in hand with you, till the end of our days," Li Haimo vowed earnestly, drawing her close.
"Never to part, through life and death," Xiao Meng echoed, meeting his gaze.
"Whoever gives me a wedding like this, I'll marry on the spot." Eastern Sovereign channeled her wistfulness into her meal, cheeks puffed with bites.
"You're dreaming again. Only Wu Chen Zi would exhaust the Human Sect like that—for mere spectacle," Moon Goddess countered, though envy flickered in her depths. Which woman wouldn't crave such a rite?
"More?" Eastern Sovereign gaped at the Daoist disciples along the paths and clearings, all fussing with some new contrivance. She was utterly conquered.
"Junior Uncle Sect Leader." A Daoist acolyte thrust a Kongming lantern into Li Haimo's hands and bolted.
"What's this?" Xiao Meng eyed the paper lantern—lamp-like, yet handleless.
"A wish lantern. Write your heart's desire upon it, light the resin within, and it carries your wish aloft to make it real." Li Haimo took up a brush, inscribing Hand in hand with you, till the end of our days, then passed it to her. Xiao Meng added Never to part, through life and death.
Together, they ignited it and set it free. Across Taiyi Mountain, thousands upon thousands rose in gentle ascent, adorning the night like a second firmament of stars.
Only when their own lantern vanished from sight did they reluctantly turn away.
"Come, time to head back," Li Haimo said.
"Alright." Xiao Meng's response came flushed, as if she'd divined what lay ahead.
Back in the chamber, the table had been cleared. Yet awkwardness hung between them, neither knowing how to bridge the quiet.
"Will you brush my hair?" Xiao Meng ventured.
"Of course." Li Haimo nodded, easing the phoenix crown from her head before combing her long tresses smooth.
"Now turn around." Xiao Meng added. He did, catching the soft rustle of fabric as she disrobed—his mind wandering despite himself.
"All set." Her voice drew him back; he'd turned to find her tucked beneath the crimson quilt, only her face peeking out—adorably bashful.
Li Haimo shed his scarlet outer robe, hanging it on the bedpost, then waved a hand to snuff the candle's flame. The room dimmed to a warm hush.
In the bedding, Xiao Meng shrank to the far side, though the faint, fresh scent of her youth lingered inescapably. He reached out, drawing her near—her form yielding and silken to the touch. She tensed, her hands pressing against him, yet made no move to pull away.
"Don't overthink it—not yet time," Li Haimo murmured, guiding her head to his shoulder with a tender kiss. He held her close then, both falling silent in the embrace.
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