Three days later, the Ancient Tomb was filled with a festive atmosphere.
Li Mochou sat before the dressing table, looking like a blooming, exquisite flower. She wore a vibrant red wedding gown that resembled dancing flames, embroidered with intricate patterns that shimmered with golden light under the soft glow, as if silently speaking of endless joy and anticipation. Her gaze was focused and tender as she gently stroked the fabric of her gown, feeling its softness and smoothness. That delicate touch mirrored the surging happiness in her heart, leaving her utterly intoxicated.
"Tee-hee! Senior Sister, you look so pretty in this red wedding gown today!" Xiao Longnü's crisp voice rang out, as melodious as a silver bell.
"Are you saying Senior Sister isn't pretty on ordinary days?" Li Mochou slightly raised the corners of her lips, a playful glint dancing in her eyes.
Lu Zhanyuan, dressed in crimson groom's attire, slowly walked up to Li Mochou. His eyes were filled with awe and deep affection. Looking at her bright, starry eyes and cherry-red lips, he couldn't help but praise, "Mochou, you are truly so beautiful today!"
His voice was gentle and affectionate, brushing against her like a spring breeze and sending waves of warmth through Li Mochou's heart.
Li Mochou turned her head to look at Lu Zhanyuan, a captivating smile blooming on her face—a smile as brilliant as the sunshine, illuminating the entire Ancient Tomb.
"Brother Lu, we are finally married! Just thinking about it makes me so excited and thrilled!"
Lu Zhanyuan took Li Mochou's hand, their warm touch drawing their hearts even closer together.
"Mochou, come, let's go pay our respects to Founder Grannys!"
"Mm!" Li Mochou nodded gently, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
They entered the stone chamber where the portrait of Lin Chaoying hung. The room was softly illuminated by candlelight, and the air was scented with a faint, elegant fragrance. Lin Shiying sat beside Lin Chaoying's portrait, and Granny Sun stood nearby with a beaming smile, as if witnessing this wonderful moment.
"Senior!"
"Master!"
Lu Zhanyuan and Li Mochou stepped before Lin Shiying and bowed respectfully.
"Lu Zhanyuan, Mochou, come here and kowtow three times to Founder Grannys first!" Lin Shiying said in a stern and solemn tone.
"Yes, Senior (Master)!"
Holding Li Mochou's hand, Lu Zhanyuan walked before Lin Chaoying's portrait. The two knelt side by side on the rush mat and kowtowed three times to Lin Chaoying. Every movement was filled with reverence and piety, as though praying to Founder Grannys for blessings.
"Good! Since you have already kowtowed to the Founder, let us proceed to the next step!"
Watching the two of them holding hands tightly, Lin Shiying's stern face softened with a hint of gratification as she called out, "Lu Zhanyuan!"
"This junior is here!" Lu Zhanyuan straightened his posture, his gaze resolute.
"Li Mochou!"
"This disciple is here!" Li Mochou replied in a crisp voice.
"I hereby declare! Today, the two of you shall become husband and wife! As your master, I wish you a lifetime of mutual devotion and white-haired companionship."
Lin Shiying's voice echoed through the stone chamber, brimming with blessings and expectations.
"Thank you, Senior (Master)!" Lu Zhanyuan and Li Mochou said in unison, their eyes filled with gratitude and happiness.
"Bow to Heaven and Earth!"
Granny Sun's voice rang out right on cue, crisp and loud from the side. Lu Zhanyuan and Li Mochou turned around and bowed deeply to heaven and earth, their solemn movements seemingly declaring their love to the universe.
"Bow to the high hall!"
After the two bowed to Lin Shiying, Granny Sun called out again. They turned once more and bowed deeply to Lin Shiying, expressing their respect and gratitude to their elder.
"Bow to each other as husband and wife!"
Lu Zhanyuan and Li Mochou faced one another. Their gazes met, as if piercing through each other's souls to look into each other's hearts. Slowly bending at the waist, they bowed deeply to one another—a pledge and a vow between them.
Once the mutual bow was complete, husband and wife Lu Zhanyuan and Li Mochou clasped each other's hands, their locked gazes brimming with steadfastness and bliss.
Under the officiation of Lin Shiying and Granny Sun, and amidst Xiao Longnü's gentle blessings, Lu Zhanyuan and Li Mochou held a simple yet heartwarming wedding ceremony right there in the Ancient Tomb.
"Alright, congratulations to Brother-in-law and Senior Sister on tying the knot!" Xiao Longnü's voice was filled with joy. "Brother-in-law, the wedding candies! Don't forget the wedding candies we agreed on earlier!"
"Rest assured, yours won't be missed!" Lu Zhanyuan reached out and patted Xiao Longnü's head, then produced a handful of wedding candies and handed them to her. "You little sweet tooth, watch out for cavities!"
Xiao Longnü wrinkled her small brow, her face full of curiosity. "Brother-in-law, what is a cavity?"
"You'll find out when you get one!"
Lu Zhanyuan led Li Mochou back to the bridal chamber. Sitting opposite each other, their eyes met, gazing into one another with deep affection in an atmosphere that was both cozy and romantic.
The candlelight flickered, casting a warm glow, while the large red characters for "Double Happiness" on the stone walls radiated joy.
Lu Zhanyuan gently took Li Mochou's hand and said softly, "Mochou, from this day forward, you are my wife. I will stay by your side, protect you, and take care of you always."
A sweet smile bloomed on Li Mochou's face, her eyes overflowing with profound tenderness. "Brother Lu, I have finally married you. I, too, will stay by your side through thick and thin, never forsaking you."
"Mochou!"
Lu Zhanyuan's voice was gentle yet resolute. "For the rest of our lives, through all winds and rains, we will face everything hand in hand!"
Stepping forward, Lu Zhanyuan pulled Li Mochou into his arms and lowered his head to kiss her. Holding each other close, as their clothing slowly slipped away, they abandoned themselves to this sweet moment.
Their love blossomed in the quiet Ancient Tomb, as brilliant and magnificent as a blooming flower. The flickering red candles and mottled light and shadows illuminated their happy faces, adding a touch of warmth and romance to the serene space.
Stone doors gently part to bind the happy pair,
Warmth fills the chamber, love floats in the air.
Spring hues are blooming where the branches meet,
Candlelight frames them, as immortals sweet.
…………
Over the following year, Lu Zhanyuan and Li Mochou lived a joyful wedded life inside the Ancient Tomb. By day, Lu Zhanyuan practiced martial arts and occasionally instructed Li Mochou and Xiao Longnü in the cultivation of their internal energy mental art. In the sunlit clearing, Lu Zhanyuan stood tall and upright with a focused gaze, every movement brimming with power and aesthetic grace. Li Mochou and Xiao Longnü would listen attentively by his side, their eyes filled with admiration and yearning.
Returning to their room at night, Lu Zhanyuan and Li Mochou would study the way of Yin and Yang together. The room grew heavy with an ambiguous warmth, their intertwined figures weaving together like a beautiful painting.
From time to time, Lu Zhanyuan would accompany Li Mochou down the mountain to wander about, frequently purchasing daily necessities and storing them away in his storage ring. In the bustling ancient town filled with a constant stream of pedestrians, Lu Zhanyuan and Li Mochou walked hand in hand down the street, savoring this hard-won peace and happiness.
……
In the clearing outside the Ancient Tomb, a gentle breeze brushed past while sunlight cast a warm glow.
On this day, Li Mochou was practicing the Heart-Destroying Strike in the open clearing. Her movements were light and graceful, and the afterglow of the setting sun draped over her like a golden robe. Lu Zhanyuan lay on the grass nearby, watching her graceful figure in the twilight, his heart swelling with affection.
In another clearing, Xiao Longnü—who had just finished practicing the White Python Whip Technique—walked over to Lu Zhanyuan and asked, "Brother-in-law, will you and Senior Sister be gone for a very long time on this trip down the mountain?"
"Long'er, that's right!" Lu Zhanyuan sat up and looked into Xiao Longnü's innocent face. "This time, I plan to take your senior sister to a rather distant place."
"Then... Brother-in-law, when will you come back?" Xiao Longnü looked reluctantly at Lu Zhanyuan where he lay on the grass, her eyes filled with anticipation.
"As for when we'll be back..." Lu Zhanyuan pondered for a moment. "I can't say for sure. Maybe two or three years, maybe five or six, or even ten-odd years!"
Reaching out, Lu Zhanyuan patted Xiao Longnü's head. "Who knows, by the time I return, Long'er might already be a grown young lady!"
"Brother-in-law, I don't want you to leave!" A trace of reluctance tinged Xiao Longnü's voice.
"Long'er, are you genuinely reluctant to see me go, or are you just reluctant to part with the things I bring you from down the mountain?" Lu Zhanyuan teased deliberately.
Having her thoughts exposed, Xiao Longnü panicked slightly and hurriedly defended herself, "No way! Brother-in-law, you're talking nonsense! I really, truly don't want you to leave!"
"Alright, alright... Whether you're reluctant to part with me or the things from the mountain, your senior sister and I are still leaving!" Lu Zhanyuan stretched out his hands and pinched Xiao Longnü's chubby, bun-like cheeks. "Long'er, from now on, don't bother learning that blasted Jade Maiden Heart Sutra anymore. That martial art has flaws, you understand?"
"Mm, I know. If Master tries to teach it to me, I'll just pretend to practice it!" Xiao Longnü nodded obediently.
"Good girl, Long'er. Just focus on practicing the Nine Yin Manual. As long as you master the martial arts inside to a profound level, you'll become the third-greatest expert in the world!" Lu Zhanyuan said with a smile.
"Brother-in-law, why the third-greatest instead of the absolute best?" Xiao Longnü looked at Lu Zhanyuan in bewilderment.
Seeing her baffled expression, Lu Zhanyuan couldn't resist reaching out once more to pinch her chubby cheeks.
"Because your brother-in-law here is the number one expert in the world, your senior sister is the number two expert, so by the time it gets to you, you can only be the third!"