VAP - Chapter 97
Chapter 97: Flawless Cold Bone, The Peerless Sword Venerable (21)
At the Wushuang Sword Venerable’s strong insistence, Yue Du finally pulled her mind away from her career path to consider the upcoming Dao Companion Ceremony.
Compared to the anticipation, excitement, and heart-pounding nervousness she felt during her first wedding with Nai Yin, Yue Du was far less of a novice this time around.
Perhaps this was a case of being unfamiliar the first time, but skilled the second?
Of course, there was likely no one else who had married the same “her” twice, with a high probability of many more times to come.
#What’sItLikeToRemarryBeforeYouEvenDivorce#
Yun Yijiu watched her, her eyes a little dark as she said softly, “Were you serious when you said you’d deal with Situ Que after the ceremony?”
Yue Du keenly sensed danger and immediately replied with a serious expression, “I was just joking. Don’t mind me.”
“So, after the ceremony…”
“Whatever you say, goes. I’ll listen to you!”
Yun Yijiu: “Very good.”
Yue Du had a vague feeling that she had just agreed to something incredible.
Ahem.
Only after they reached a consensus on the pleasant ♀ activities following the ceremony did Yun Yijiu’s aura return to its calm and harmless state.
“In that case, we should start preparing soon. Our Dao Companion Ceremony cannot lack pomp and circumstance.”
For a cultivator at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage to hold a Dao Companion Ceremony, there would be no shortage of arrangements to make. The higher one’s status in the cultivation world, the more one was expected to put on a grand ceremony that would shock the entire realm. It wasn’t strange to spend a year, two, or even a dozen years preparing for such an event.
After all, cultivators had long lifespans; they had the capital to make a fuss.
Yun Yijiu didn’t want to make too big of a spectacle—it was enough for the entire cultivation world to know she and Yue Du were becoming Dao Companions. Whether they attended in person was irrelevant. It would be best if they didn’t.
She was unwilling to have too many people disturb the time she spent with her Dao Companion.
Because of this, the preparation time for the ceremony was greatly shortened.
The moment the news that the Wushuang Sword Venerable and the Duyue Demon Venerable were holding a Dao Companion Ceremony spread, the Lingtian Sword Sect itself erupted first.
“That can’t be real. How long has it been? Not even a full year!”
“A year is already a long time. How many men and women get married in a hurry after just learning that their elemental attributes and cultivation techniques are compatible, without ever even meeting?”
“How can that be the same? The two Venerables already have feelings for each other. Why the rush to marry?”
“Actually, given their current status, a year might not even be enough time to prepare.”
“If you ask me, they must have known and cherished each other for a long time. That story about them first meeting at the Immortal-Demon Grand Competition is probably just a rumor…”
For a time, the Lingtian Sword Sect became a joyous ocean of gossip. Some disciples with less-than-steady dispositions even grew absent-minded in their daily cultivation, spending their days just waiting for concrete news to be released.
Over on Wushuang Peak, the arrangements for the ceremony finally began in earnest.
The main person in charge of the planning was a female elder of the Lingtian Sword Sect known as Venerable Posuo. This Venerable Posuo was also several thousand years old and possessed extremely profound attainments in the Dao of alchemy and pill refinement, rivaling the elders of the Medicine Cloud Sect.
Aside from the Dao of medicine, Venerable Posuo’s only hobby was helping people plan and organize grand ceremonies.
Though she appeared calm, stern, and unapproachable, she was actually warm-hearted and very willing to help others.
Whether it was a Dao Companion Ceremony for Dao Companions, a baby’s one-month celebration, a new disciple’s induction, or an elder’s birthday, as long as you wanted to hold a ceremony, she could arrange it for you perfectly.
She was a true talent.
In this regard, Yun Yijiu was hopeless. The most she could do was provide financial and material support.
If she were left to plan it, she would probably turn the Dao Companion Ceremony into a massive “I have a Dao Companion and I’m the boss” event to torment the single, a perfect demonstration of what it meant to do as one pleased.
Yue Du was a bit better. Her former line of work meant she was capable of handling miscellaneous tasks and arranging various event schedules in an orderly fashion. This gave her and Venerable Posuo a lot of common ground.
Once things were settled, the preparations were on track, and the invitations were sent out, Yue Du found herself with free time.
Other trivial matters were handled by dedicated personnel, so she couldn’t have helped even if she wanted to.
Since the Main System had issued the main quest, this seemed to be the first time Yue Du had been so idle. Aside from her daily cultivation, she had nothing to do.
Moreover, cultivation and meditation placed a minimal burden on the system. Rounding it all off, it was as if she had returned to her life as a salted fish.
“Do you want to go down the mountain for a trip?” Yun Yijiu asked her.
Yue Du: “Down the mountain?”
She didn’t hide her surprise. Yun Yijiu could be called the number one homebody in the Qianhong Divine Province. This Sword Venerable, who had rarely left her home in nine thousand years, was actually asking her if she wanted to go down the mountain?
Yun Yijiu said faintly, “The scenery on the mountain is pleasant and suitable for cultivation. But if we’re talking about relaxing, it’s naturally more interesting outside.”
Yue Du thought about it and was a little tempted.
Having read so many Xianxia scripts in the past, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of yearning. When she saw the special effects scenes that were actually produced, she always felt they weren’t as stunning as the descriptions in the original works.
They were special effects, after all. No matter how well they were done, they were still fake and flawed.
But now, she was in a real cultivation world.
—Shouldn’t I really go and see it?
A curious heart was eager to try.
A long time later, Yue Du read one of the novels from Yun Yijiu’s stack.
At first glance, the novel seemed unremarkable, but there was a plot point inside where the two female leads ran away before their wedding to travel the divine province. By chance, they met each other while concealing their identities and, through a series of misunderstandings, fell in love.
The heroine’s famous line was: One must travel one last time before settling down. Only then can one be called a woman with a story, and not have wasted this splendid life.
Yue Du: “…”
A woman with a story, a splendid life.
She just knew there had to be a goofy reason behind Yun Yijiu’s uncharacteristic behavior!
Of course, at that moment, Yue Du could never have guessed the true reason for Yun Yijiu’s suggestion.
An hour later.
Yue Du was packed and ready to go. Everything she and Ah Jiu needed to bring was in her storage space.
Yue Du sent a message to Venerable Posuo, saying that if there was anything else that required their presence before the Dao Companion Ceremony, she should just send a message via crane talisman. There was no need to come to Wushuang Peak, as Wushuang Hall was already empty.
Venerable Posuo quickly replied: “This Venerable understands. A pre-ceremony trip, right? I never thought the Wushuang Venerable would have such a romantic idea. You two have fun. This Venerable will handle everything here.”
Yue Du thought to herself, Forget you, even I didn’t see this coming.
For this trip, Yun Yijiu summoned the giant Peng bird.
Having a master who was a complete homebody, this giant Peng had previously lived a very leisurely life. But ever since being summoned twice in a row, it had been on edge, terrified of being conscripted for labor again.
However, in the following months, the Wushuang Sword Venerable showed no intention of summoning it, and the giant Peng had gradually relaxed.
Until today.
Once again facing the sorrowful future of carrying a pavilion and its occupants, the giant Peng hovered outside the sect gate, slowly flapping its wings, its eyes filled with the tears of one who could bear no more.
Yue Du: “Your Peng bird… hmm, it’s very energetic.”
So energetic it resembled a dejected little office worker who had suddenly been conscripted by the boss to rush a deadline.
Yun Yijiu glanced up and said without emotion, “It will have plenty of opportunities to prove its use in the future.”
As a tool-bird, the giant Peng’s tears flowed even more fiercely.
To rest or to live, that was the question.
As it turned out, Yun Yijiu was telling the truth.
For the next two months, the giant Peng became their dedicated transport bird—though that was its original duty anyway.
Yue Du felt a little sympathetic just watching it. “How about we let it rest for two days?”
This felt like exploiting labor.
Yun Yijiu said, “There’s no need. Don’t mind its theatrics. This bit of weight is but a drop in the ocean for a Green-Winged Giant Peng, not worth mentioning.”
She paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. “Or would you prefer I carry you?”
Yue Du answered in a flash, “Ah, no, traveling by giant Peng is better.”
Exploitation it is!
After all, half the fun of traveling was being able to eat, sleep, and relax all over the world without exerting oneself. Staying in the pavilion was quite nice.
The tool-bird let out a tiny, mournful cry of protest.
The weight on its back was nothing, of course, but! Shouldn’t psychological trauma be counted as damage?
Could they please consider that it was still a single bird?!
Apparently not.
This was destined to be a journey that gave no consideration to the feelings of the single onlookers.
Since their travel time was limited, they couldn’t visit too many places. Yun Yijiu only chose a few of the most acclaimed scenic spots, which also happened to be too dangerous for most people to dare visit.
Acclaimed—beautiful scenery.
Too dangerous for anyone to visit—few people.
What standard could be more suitable for a pre-wedding trip?
A thousand-acre plum forest where it snowed year-round; a deep valley of raging flames where fire spirits dwelled.
The Field of Thin Life where feline demon beasts roamed; a sea of flowers paved with mind-bewitching spirit plants.
These were all magnificent sights so beautiful they were difficult to sketch even with the most vivid imagination, and also perilous lands that ordinary people could never reach.
Yue Du thought it was almost like they were on an early honeymoon.
Among their destinations were also a few places that, while crowded, were full of delicious delicacies and all sorts of strange and curious trinkets.
Yue Du finally enriched the inventory of her system space. As she placed her newly purchased items inside, she cleared out some things that were probably no longer useful.
Perhaps Yun Yijiu had made a travel plan in advance, as the entire trip went beautifully and smoothly.
In the blink of an eye, it was just a few days before the Dao Companion Ceremony was set to begin.
Venerable Posuo was indeed reliable. Perhaps because she had organized so many ceremonies, she knew the planning stages like the back of her hand. She had arranged the entire affair with extreme propriety without even needing to ask Yue Du and the others for their opinions much.
After visiting one last place, it was time to return to the Lingtian Sword Sect.
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