Chapter 261
Chapter 261
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 261
Chapter Title: Wedding Ceremony (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the martial arts world, where travel between regions is difficult, weddings are quite modest compared to modern ceremonies.
Think of them as small feasts where relatives are invited to share a meal.
However, could the wedding of a celebrity born of the Nine Dragons Fortress—me—and Myo Hyang, the CEO of the fortress's top textile company, the Western River Merchant Guild, be so simple?
I emptied the storehouses and threw a massive feast where anyone could come and eat.
‘You have to spend when it counts.’
That's what I earn money for, after all.
Even though the people of the Nine Dragons Fortress have one of the highest per capita incomes, it's not like they eat rice and meat soup often.
It was the kind of meal they'd only get to eat occasionally when invited to a feast.
What's more, today's main dish was no ordinary meat soup.
It was Sichuan-style spicy noodle soup, with a recipe created by Myo Hyang, the winner of the first Heavenly Noodle King Competition, and refined by me, the third-place finisher.
The people couldn't help but marvel as they ate.
"To serve food to commoners like us... Lady Myo has such a kind heart."
"Hah, you don't know of the Western River Merchant Guild?"
"Hm? The Western River Merchant Guild...? Isn't that the great merchant guild that never passes by a hungry soul during its travels?"
"The master of that very guild is none other than Lady Myo."
"Well, I'll be! I had no idea. From now on, I'll only ever buy and use fabrics from the Western River Merchant Guild!"
With such excellent promotional effects, the money spent didn't feel like a waste at all.
As I was watching the people enjoy their meal, the invited guests began to appear one by one.
"...Congratulations on your marriage."
"...What's with your face? Did something happen?"
"It's nothing. I was just developing a... no, a certain pill, and it's left me exhausted."
The first to arrive was Cheong So-so, worn out with fatigue, who shook her head as she entered the banquet hall and flopped down wherever she pleased.
"Gaga."
"Hwa, Hwa-ran."
"Congratulations on your marriage."
"Th-thanks. It's not much, but please eat your fill."
"I'll be watching."
"...Right."
For some reason, a calm Jeok Hwa-ran and the hostile Jeok brothers—Il, Yi, and Sam—followed right behind Cheong So-so.
After them, the guests poured in endlessly.
There were warriors, including the successors of each Hall; the masters of the merchant guilds that traded with Myo Hyang; companions from my Outer Hall days, and more.
Every one of them was someone I had met, befriended, and gotten to know in the Nine Dragons Fortress.
‘By the way, why the hell isn't that bald bastard coming?’
To just send a single letter on his close friend's wedding day and then disappear.
He's truly a hopeless case.
As I was shaking my head, thinking of Yong Ma-san, the Hall Masters of the Inner Fortress arrived.
"Uwahahaha! Hall Master Jin! Congratulations on your marriage! I'm starving, so let's get some food first."
The White Dragon Hall Master, boasting a massive build and a demon's back forged in the mines.
"To think your marriage partner is Guild Leader Myo. Now I understand why the wealth of the War Dragon Hall grows by the day."
The Gold Dragon Hall Master, draped in the finest golden fabrics.
"This is a wedding gift from that boy, Un."
"Pardon? Why a sword all of a sudden..."
The Blue Dragon Hall Master, who had brought a sword for some reason.
"Hoho, to think you're getting married... I suppose I can't tell you to become a Taoist adept anymore."
"Right."
The Black Dragon Hall Master, who was still plotting to make me a Taoist adept.
"Congratulations on your marriage. Here's the Explosive Fire Cylinder Needle you asked for. It can't be reloaded, so use it wisely."
"Aigoo! Big Brother!"
The Green Dragon Hall Master, the only one I considered a true big brother, brought a huge wedding gift.
And.
"Hmph, let's see how well you two live."
"Hey, are you cursing me on my wedding day...?"
...even the thoroughly sulking Red Dragon Hall Master.
As I was exchanging greetings with the six Hall Masters, dark clouds gathered in the distant sky.
"Hmm."
There was only one person in the entire Nine Dragons Fortress who carried such an ominous aura.
"...Master."
The peerless demonic sovereign who made even the constellations tremble, the Bukgung Martial God.
Of course, regardless of his personal conduct, he was the sky of the Righteous Path, the Lord of Nine Dragons.
When my master appeared, the warriors and commoners hastily knelt.
I, too, rushed out to greet my master and the Grand Chancellor.
"Aigoo! You've arrived! I've had a table prepared, so please, come inside. I've laid out the Bamboo Leaf Green from Heuksaro that you enjoy, Master."
"Hmm."
My master nodded, looking quite satisfied.
Some might ask why I chose such cheap liquor, but one's tastes don't change no matter how high their station.
No matter how successful you become, you can never resist pork belly and soju, right?
After finishing the greetings and chatting for a bit, a commotion arose near the main gate.
The red floral palanquin carrying Myo Hyang had arrived.
"If you'll excuse me, I must go and receive my wife-to-be."
As I stood up nervously, the six Hall Masters, my master, and the Grand Chancellor forgot their decorum and burst into laughter.
"It seems even the world's greatest Combat Hegemon, who beat down the demons of the Ten Demon Alliance like dogs, can get nervous."
"Hahaha, indeed. It's like seeing the War Dragon Hall Master in his youth."
"To think the hands that crushed the skulls of the heretics from the Southern Heaven Palace are now being used to hold a woman's hand. Uwahahaha."
"..."
Ignoring the Hall Masters, I approached the floral palanquin, and the workers from the Western River Merchant Guild who had carried it came to a halt.
And then.
Myo Hyang, in all her splendor, revealed herself.
"...Oh."
Perhaps because I was so used to her simple, everyday appearance, my heart nearly stopped for a moment.
"What are you so surprised about?"
"N-no... it's just... you're so beautiful..."
"Oh my..."
The bull inside me began to run wild, and I didn't want to waste any more time.
"Let's go."
"...Yes."
I firmly grasped the pale hand she offered and walked onto the ceremonial platform.
The people and warriors of the Nine Dragons Fortress laughed heartily at the sight, but what did it matter?
As long as I was happy, that was all that mattered.
When we stepped onto the platform, today's officiant, Bukgung Chang, was standing there with a nervous expression.
He hadn't wanted to do it, but in a War Dragon Hall overflowing with old bachelors, he was a veteran who had married three times, so I forced the role upon him.
As we arrived before a table piled high with grain, he shouted loudly.
"First bow, to Heaven and Earth!"
After we bowed to the spirits of Heaven and Earth to pray for our future, Bukgung Chang shouted again.
"Second bow, to the parents!"
It meant to bow to our parents.
Myo Hyang and I bowed together in the direction of Master Bukgung.
"Third bow, husband and wife to each other!"
For the third and final bow, Myo Hyang and I bowed to each other.
It was a gesture of entrusting ourselves to one another.
After the three bows were complete, my master rose from his seat.
It was time for the congratulatory address.
"Hah, Void-Walking Step!"
"Such majesty, like that of a celestial god."
My master walked onto the platform, treading on empty air.
The words "Please don't be so dramatic" rose to the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't bring myself to say them.
My master seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.
"Ahem. Hem."
A moment later, once the crowd had quieted, my master cleared his throat.
The congratulatory address was about to begin.
‘Please, just read what's written.’
A while ago, I had asked Myosan, who had passed the state examination with top honors, to write the address.
It was because I couldn't trust my master at all.
"Don't fight, and live well."
He was, as expected, completely untrustworthy.
"Seriously..."
Isn't that just too much?
***
Although there were a few incidents, like Jeok Hwa-ran running out in tears and a drunk Gray Dragon Saber challenging me with his blade, the wedding ceremony concluded very well.
Since we had already been living together, there was no awkwardness after the marriage either.
There was just a slight change in how we addressed each other.
"Wife."
"Yes, husband."
Instead of "sister," I now called her "wife," and instead of her title, Myo Hyang called me "husband."
It was a bit cringey, but we were still newlyweds, so I decided to let it slide.
Anyway, after the successful wedding, I grabbed Myo Hyang and we left for our honeymoon.
‘What? A trip all of a sudden? But we have so much work piled up...’
Myo Hyang was quite flustered, but the greatest virtue of a wife is to follow the will of her husband, who is like the heavens.
‘No, don't be like that, let's just go. If not now, who knows when we'll get another chance to travel together.’
‘Even so...’
‘I don't care! I'm going to lie here and not get up until you agree!’
‘You're not a child, honestly...’
With overwhelming charisma, I wrangled Myo Hyang and boarded a carriage bound for Dongting Lake.
To be honest, I'd been through a lot lately and wanted to rest for a few days.
Oh, and for the record, I sent Myosan off to the Military Affairs Department under the pretext of getting him some practical experience.
I was worried Myo Hyang would faint if he followed us and said he was going to Nanjing.
As I was waiting cozily with Myo Hyang inside the carriage, Wu Je-jun, the leader of our escort, approached.
"Shall we depart?"
"Of course."
*Pfft.*
After a brief chuckle, he shouted to everyone.
"We're moving out!"
*Rumble.*
At Wu Je-jun's cry, a hundred mounted escorts spurred their horses and set off.
You might ask why we'd mobilize a hundred men for a honeymoon, but that's because you don't know the hard-boiled martial world I live in.
In this place, where even basic public safety isn't guaranteed, you never know when or where a fight might break out.
And in my case, the scale of things tends to be extraordinary, doesn't it?
‘Going to rescue my brother-in-law and ending up setting fire to the imperial palace...’
Even I have to admit it's pretty absurd.
*Hee-hee-hing!*
As if to celebrate our marriage, Whitey, the horse leading the carriage, let out a cry with the aura of a King of Horses.
"Ugh!"
"Something's wrong with the horse!"
"That killing intent...!"
Well, there was a little room for misunderstanding.
***
The destination I chose for our trip was Dongting Lake.
It might seem a bit far, but I had a specific reason for choosing it.
‘If we go somewhere close, we'll have to come back sooner.’
That's right.
Right now, not knowing how many times I might marry in my lifetime, I wanted to make this honeymoon last as long as possible.
‘I want to spend the rest of my life playing and doing nothing...!’
Fortunately, Myo Hyang, on her very first carriage journey, was enjoying it immensely.
"Oh my? Look at that flower. I've never seen one like it before."
"That pavilion has such a peculiar shape. It must have been built a very long time ago."
"Mm... the food is very unique. It seems they use different spices than in Sichuan."
I don't know what she found so fascinating, but whenever Myo Hyang saw something even slightly unfamiliar, her eyes would sparkle and she would break into a radiant smile.
"Isn't that tree so majestic? How can it be so big and straight? It's just like..."
"Ahem... let's talk about that tonight..."
Of course, we were enjoying the newlywed atmosphere too.
Isn't this what traveling in the martial world is all about?
To be honest, I'd only ever sprinted at full speed to handle incidents; this was the first time I'd traveled so leisurely.
How should I put it?
It felt like riding a slow train.
Five days passed like that.
We arrived at Iron Mountain, located at the edge of Guizhou.
A barren mountain named Iron Mountain because it was said to have been rich in iron ore since ancient times.
The reason for visiting this place, which had nothing to see, was simple.
"Welcome. Sect Leader Jin... no, I suppose I should call you Hall Master Jin now."
It was to meet with Wu Jung-cheon, the lord of Taemo Mountain Fortress, and also to impose on him for a night's stay.
"You haven't aged a day, my lord."
"Thanks to you, Hall Master Jin, seeing my disciples eat their fill makes me feel younger every day. Ah, how was the wedding? My apologies for not being able to attend."
"Aigoo, it's quite all right. The whole world knows how busy you are, Lord Wu. Besides, you sent a generous amount of hundred-year-old ginseng, so I won't hold it against you."
*Hahahaha.*
After a hearty laugh, he gestured inside.
"Come, come. Let's go in. I put in some effort when I heard Hall Master Jin and Lady Myo were coming. I'm sure you'll be satisfied."
"That certainly makes my mouth water."
And so, I followed Wu Jung-cheon into Taemo Mountain Fortress.
Unaware of the sight that was about to unfold before me.