Chapter 306

Chapter 306

Li Shiyin was nineteen years old this year, and Li Shiwen was four years older than her at twenty-three.

North Chu Country was a feudal state. Although there were immortals and gods, Li Shiwen was just an ordinary person, so at his age, he should have been married long ago. And that would have been the case, if not for the accident three years ago. Otherwise, Li Shiwen would have married three years ago already.

But...

Three years ago, when the Devouring Demon Willow erupted violently, Li Shiwen led the Tian Ce Army to guard the Hengduan Mountains, intercepting the monsters in the mountains. In the end, the entire army was annihilated. The southwestern border he guarded also suffered hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties, not to mention the economic losses, which were innumerable.

He should have paid with his life to apologize to the world.

But in the end, due to various political interests, he did not die. He only died in spirit.

A twenty-year-old young general who had the potential to become a marquis or minister met a huge defeat out of the blue, and became a sinner in North Chu, reviled by all under heaven. Only Li Shiwen himself knew what that felt like.

For such a Li Shiwen, just staying alive felt agonizing, let alone getting married and having a family.

But now he had to get marriednot because he was too old and had to marry, but because there was going to be a battle, and he had to leave an heir for the Danyang Li Family before going to war.

On the sixth day of the eleventh month, Li Shiwen got drunk in the snow. He knelt in the snow and knocked his forehead on the ground eighteen times in the direction of the southwest. He knocked until his head bled and he collapsed in the snow.

How similar was tonight's snowstorm to the willow fluff three years ago?

He, Li Shiwen, did not die. He still had to marry and have children. But in the southwestern border, seventy-three thousand eight hundred and fourteen soldiers were permanently buried in the heavy snow. They were as young as him, but they didnt get the chance to marry and have children.

It was his fault for overestimating his ability. It was his arrogance and pride. It was him who led them to their deaths. He owed them. He could never forgive himself.

He was the one who deserved death the most, but he did not die. So he had to live on with the souls of those seventy-three thousand eight hundred and fourteen soldiers, and carry on their will to continue protecting the country.

On the seventh day of the eleventh month, with the help of maidservants, Li Shiwen tidied up his hair, shaved, changed into clean clothes, and shed the sloppy image he had maintained over the past three years. He somewhat regained the look of the young general back then.

Wearing the cheerful wedding attire, right before dawn on the eighth day of the eleventh month, he went to fetch his bride.

Over the past three years, the Danyang Li Family had experienced turbulent ups and downs. First, the pillar of North Chu, General Li Konghe, passed away, dealing a heavy blow to the Li family. Then there was the disgraceful defeat of young General Li Shiwen, leading to the collapse of over half of the Li family's power. Just when it seemed the Li family was about to fall apart, the peerless sword immortal Li Shiyin suddenly emerged, defeating the North Chu Sword God alone with one sword, winning back decades of fortune for the Li family.

So now, the Danyang Li Family was still the most powerful family in the North Chu court.

But for such an influential family, the wedding of its sole heir was extremely simple.

All formalities were simplified, and all guests were relatives.

The wedding of this noble family was almost equal to that of commoners.

As for the guests, basically no civil officials were invited. Among military officials, only confidants and some veterans were invited.

For the wedding banquet, a few hundred guests in the sprawling Li mansion looked a little empty.

And the bride Li Shiwen married was not from any prominent family, just from a small household that could barely be considered scholarly. The bride's name was Yu Chi Zhen.

Li Shiwen wore a bright red gown and rode a tall horse. He was burly in stature and handsome in appearance. Although he lacked some spirit compared to before, he still cut an imposing figure.

He led the wedding procession to the gate of the Li mansion. Amid the sound of firecrackers, he tied the red silk ribbon around his new bride Yu Chi Zhen's wrist and led her through the gate into the Li mansion.

The presiding official called out, and Li Shiwen and Yu Chi Zhen paid their respects to heaven and earth, then to both sets of parents, and finally to each other as husband and wife. The ceremony was complete.

From this moment on, they were marriedrecognized by both families parents and protected by secular law and heavenly principles.

After standing up straight from bowing, Li Shiwen looked at the woman on the other end of the red silk ribbon. That woman under the red bridal veil, that woman he did not know at all, that woman he had not even seen yet. But at this moment, as if there was a spark between heaven and earth, their lives became connected.

It was as if the red silk ribbon in his hand was the thread connecting their fates.

"Inside is a drop of essence blood, it's [Chasing the Wind]'s own essence blood. Oh [Chasing the Wind], the most destitute, treating his own blood as a treasure to gift you.

"[Chasing the Wind] is an eighth-rank demonic beast, this blood really is precious. Brother, you can use it to strengthen your own constitution, or in the future use it to improve your child's constitution."

"[Chasing the Wind]?"

[Li Shiwen] still remembered that leopard on Dan Peak, that leopard shared a name with the dog that had accompanied them as they grew up together. He knew it was a name [Li Shiyin] had given.

"Even [Chasing the Wind] gifted me presents?" he asked.

The sacred tree of the immortal sect gifted presents, the cat of the immortal sect also gifted presents.

"If there's a chance, bring [Chasing the Wind] out to play, let you see the present [Chasing the Wind]. The present [Chasing the Wind] is already nearing a zhang (3.3m) in height..." [Li Shiyin] gestured with her hand demonstrating [Chasing the Wind]'s head height to [Li Shiwen].

"[Chasing the Wind]?" [Li Shiwen] nodded, that fellow was an eighth-rank demonic beast, he could only imagine how terrifying an eighth-rank demonic beast would be.

[Li Shiyin] took out another porcelain bottle again, pouring out a mung bean-sized flickering cinnabar red elixir from within, handing it to [Yu Chi Zhen], introducing:

"This is an elixir my master refined, it is said to benefit the next generation. I didn't really understand, it seems to mean that after you have become pregnant in the future, the baby will receive protection, nurturing its constitution in your belly, then ensuring the safe birth of the baby. It also seems to have said that the mother will also nurture her constitution alongside the baby's, her health improving."

Although blessing newlyweds to soon have precious children was normal congratulations, sending such an elixir still made one feel bashful.

[Yu Chi Zhen] did not dare ask [Li Shiwen]'s opinion, timidly asking on her own: "Take it now?"

"Mm! Master said to take it as soon as possible, in case someone else snatches it away." [Li Shiyin] nodded, and worried that [Yu Chi Zhen] would not believe her, adding: "My master is very powerful."

[Yu Chi Zhen] laughed, reaching to take the elixir, completely without hesitation, directly swallowing it down.

To her, [Li Shiyin] was like an immortal's existence. Although this immortal seemed very easy-going, everything she took out were rare and precious treasures. She had only seen such immortal-like personages in her life, she could only feel she had profound blessings, so where would she doubt?

"Done!" Having finished giving the gifts, [Li Shiyin] did not flip through her cosmic bag again. She ceremoniously congratulated her elder brother and sister-in-law: "I wish elder brother and sister-in-law a happy marriage, a hundred years of harmony, soon birth of noble son, the whole family prosperous, and white-haired accompanying to the end of your days..."

However, before she could finish her chaotic congratulations, [Li Shiwen]'s expressionlessly interrupted her: "So where's mine?"

"What's mine?" [Li Shiyin] feigned ignorance.

"Your gift to me, where is it?" [Li Shiwen asked. "Everyone else gave gifts, just you didn't, right?!"

"Hehe!" [Li Shiyin] let out a sly, mischievous laugh, raising her brows at [Li Shiwen], saying: "You silly [Li Shiwen], I'm just teasing you! How could there not be any?!"

As she spoke, her beautiful right hand rose up, her tender white fingers as lush as spring bamboo shoots interlocking...

"Pa!"

She snapped her fingers.

The great hall instantly darkened, the ceiling suddenly transformed into the night sky. Amidst the panic of all the people in the great hall, two streams of the Milky Way meandered down from that night sky, the two streams of the Milky Way circled about the great hall once, transforming into the form of two swords, then drilled into the bodies of [Li Shiwen] and [Yu Chi Zhen].

The dark night descended then retreated. [Li Shiyin]'s back facing the other people of the hall, facing her parents and elder brother couple. She spoke loudly:

"My comprehended sword qi is Star Sword Qi, my comprehended sword intent is Guardian Sword Intent. These two primordial sword qi will guard you like the stars. The galaxy is endless, the sword qi does not dissipate."

She raised her head gazing at [Li Shiwen], reaching to grab [Li Shiwen]'s hand, then [Yu Chi Zhen]'s hand, overlapping their hands on her own. She had never been so serious before, resolutely saying: "I will guard you forever."

Such a silly little sister... [Li Shiwen] was moved, red rimming his tiger eyes, pulling [Li Shiyin] into his embrace for a long time without speaking.

Only when the master of ceremonies loudly called: "The auspicious timing has arrived, bride and groom enter the nuptial chamber."

Did he then let go of [Li Shiyin], holding his newly-wedded delicate wife, entering the nuptial chamber.