Chapter 6

Supported by the two bridesmaids, Xia Qingyue finally appeared before Xiao Che’s eyes. She wore a large red phoenix crown, the fine bead curtain hanging down from it completely covering her face, making it impossible to see her current appearance and expression. Her long, black hair was gently tied back, and she wore a straight-cut, large red wedding robe made of brocade with four-joy cloud patterns. Her waist was cinched, accentuating her slender figure. Around her waist was a delicate jade belt, from which hung fine pearl tassels. She wore golden-threaded shoes, and her entire magnificent attire made her even more dazzling.

Under the support of the bridesmaids, Xia Qingyue slowly walked towards Xiao Che beside the flower sedan, each step light and graceful, as if she were walking on clouds. While ordinary women simply walked, she moved like a fairy stepping on the clouds, making even the most mundane gestures breathtakingly beautiful, delighting Xiao Che.

Finally, Xia Qingyue reached the flower sedan, and the two bridesmaids let go of her and stepped back. According to the wedding customs of the Cangfeng Empire, the groom would help the bride into the flower sedan. Xiao Che took a step forward and extended his hand, and Xia Qingyue also lifted her delicate hand... However, just as Xia Qingyue’s hand was about to touch his palm, a bone-chilling cold suddenly surged from Xiao Che’s hand, causing his entire right hand and arm to stiffen in pain, unable to move at all. Xia Qingyue’s hand hovered over Xiao Che’s palm, and she gracefully and elegantly entered the flower sedan... To the onlookers, it appeared that she had been supported by Xiao Che’s hand.

The cold sensation gradually faded, and Xiao Che’s arm hung down. His expression remained calm, and he did not utter a word. Apart from a brief frown when the cold sensation hit, he showed no other emotion and made no sound.

If one were to lift the fine bead curtain on Xia Qingyue’s head at this moment, they would see a flash of surprise in her beautiful eyes, which quickly turned cold.

Xiao Che mounted his horse, and the wedding procession turned back, with the Xia family’s entourage following closely behind, heading straight for the Xiao family’s residence.

After another half an hour, the procession returned to the Xiao family’s gate. The round trip had taken a long time, but it had been smooth and uneventful, with no dramatic wedding hijacking as many had hoped, much to the disappointment of those with unbalanced minds.

Xiao Lie was already standing at the gate, personally welcoming the guests. Of course, those who came for Xiao Che could be counted on one hand; most were there for Xiao Lie and the Xia family. With Xiao Lie’s prestige in Liuyun City and the Xia family’s extensive connections, the number of guests was considerable. Outside the Xiao family’s gate, the crowd was so dense that the road was completely blocked, all there to witness the marriage of Liuyun City’s most beautiful woman.

Xia Qingyue’s flower sedan slowly came to a stop. Amidst the noise, a corner of the curtain was lifted, and her maid, Xia Dongling, softly said, “Miss, we have arrived.”

Then, a hand reached out, and with Xia Dongling’s support, Xia Qingyue slowly descended. The moment she stepped out of the flower sedan, the previously deafening noise around her instantly quieted, replaced by a series of gasps.

It was close to noon, and the sunlight was particularly bright and gentle. The radiant light reflected off her phoenix crown and red wedding robe, making her look charming and radiant, her beauty dazzling and blinding. She wore a four-screen phoenix crown, with a high cloud bun adorned with exquisite gold hairpins, from which hung several gold phoenix pendants. She wore a red wedding robe made of brocade with cloud patterns, a wide brocade belt of the same color and pattern around her waist, and golden-threaded shoes. The red phoenix crown was adorned with long pearl tassels, and as they swayed, her delicate eyebrows, fair skin, bright eyes, and ruby lips were faintly visible, her beauty flawless. Even without revealing her face, she looked like a celestial being descended from heaven, too beautiful to be of this world.

The gasps of admiration overlapped, and countless people were left staring with wide eyes, unable to recover for a long time. This was the charm of Xia Qingyue. Even without showing her face, her extraordinary demeanor and posture made her look like a fairy from a painting, so beautiful that one could not look away...

A red silk ribbon was tied around Xia Qingyue’s hand by Xia Dongling, and the other end was tied to Xiao Che’s hand. Xiao Che walked ahead with a smile, leading Xia Qingyue to step over the fire basin, the horse saddle, and the Xia family’s threshold, heading straight for the main hall.

Upon entering the Xiao family’s gate, the noise around them did not diminish. Xiao Che’s expression remained unchanged, and he continued walking, naturally hoping that the wedding could end as soon as possible.

This was the central hall of the Xiao family, and the only ones who could use it for a wedding were the head of the Xiao family or the elders. For this wedding, it had been extensively decorated. The carved beams were inlaid with yellow crystals, and the walls were adorned with dragon and pearl carvings, with numerous rare pearls embedded in them. A red carpet ran straight through the center of the hall, extending to the golden steps at the front, the golden light making the already splendid hall even more dazzling. Of course, the Xiao family would not have spent so much on Xiao Che; all of this was provided by the Xia family. For his daughter’s wedding, Xia Hongyi was not stingy at all.

At the highest point in the hall, Xiao Lie and Xia Hongyi were already seated, both smiling as they watched Xiao Che and Xia Qingyue enter. On either side of the red carpet were six rows of purple sandalwood seats, all of which were filled. The head of the Xiao family, Xiao Yunhai, was present, as were the other four elders of the Xiao family. When Xiao Che entered with a smile, their expressions remained unchanged, but their eyes betrayed a deep disdain.

As a cultivation family, the Xiao family was ashamed that Xiao Che, who had a direct lineage, was born with a crippled cultivation meridian. If not for being the grandson of the fifth elder, Xiao Lie, he would have been expelled to the Xiao family’s estates long ago and would not have been allowed to stay within the Xiao family... If he had not married the most sought-after daughter of the Xia family in Liuyun City, they would not have bothered to attend, let alone inquire about the wedding.

When it came to Xiao Che, the only word that came to mind was “waste.” They paid no attention to him and could hardly remember his appearance. In the Heavenly Cultivation Continent, without strength, there was no dignity, even within the same family... This was reality.

The expressions of the younger generation of the Xiao family were also surprisingly consistent. When their eyes fell on Xia Qingyue, they showed uncontrollable infatuation, but when they looked at Xiao Che, their eyes burned with jealousy... This lifelong cripple, whom even the outer disciples of the Xiao family looked down upon, had married the first beauty of Liuyun City, a dream that they dared not even imagine. Watching the two of them walk into the wedding hall hand in hand, the feeling was worse than swallowing a dead fly.

The wedding master of ceremonies was Xiao De, the chief steward in charge of the Xiao family’s logistics. The grand wedding ceremony officially began with his announcement.

The master of ceremonies started by introducing the bride and groom, then read out the names of the guests... Xiao Che’s expression remained unchanged, his heart as calm as water. He had stopped listening to the master of ceremonies and was repeatedly pondering a question that concerned him...

When Xia Qingyue was about to touch his hand at the Xia family, what was the sudden cold sensation in his hand? Could it be some kind of cultivation technique? But in Liuyun City, there had never been any mention of such a technique. Xia Qingyue, who had reached the tenth level of the Initial Cultivation Realm at the age of sixteen, was undoubtedly a remarkable talent... But in terms of level, she was still at the most basic Initial Cultivation Realm. To be able to release such a cold and paralyzing chill without a sound, making his entire arm unable to move, what kind of cultivation technique could have such astonishing power at this level?

Or... Could it be that Xia Qingyue, who had reached the tenth level of the Initial Cultivation Realm at sixteen, was still hiding her true strength?

The master of ceremonies’ voice stopped. After a brief pause, it rose an octave:

“Bow to heaven and earth!”

Xiao Che’s attention quickly returned. He glanced sideways at Xia Qingyue and, at the same time, they both bowed to heaven and earth.

“Bow to the elders!”

They turned and bowed respectfully to Xiao Lie and Xia Hongyi. Xiao Lie nodded with a smile, looking lovingly at Xiao Che and his new granddaughter-in-law, while Xia Hongyi also smiled, showing no dissatisfaction with the marriage.

“Bow to each other!”

Xiao Che turned to Xia Qingyue, and at almost the same time, Xia Qingyue turned to him... There was no hesitation or delay in their movements. This made many of the younger generation of the Xiao family clench their teeth in frustration. They had thought that Xia Qingyue would never willingly marry Xiao Che, a complete cripple, and that she must have been forced by the Xia family. But to their great disappointment, up to this point, Xia Qingyue had been perfectly composed, and no one had detected any sign of resistance from her.

As they bowed to each other, the moment their bodies bent, Xiao Che caught a glimpse of a cold, emotionless gaze through the slightly parted bead curtain.

At this moment, there should have been enthusiastic applause, laughter, and cheers. But in the hall, there were only a few scattered claps, making the atmosphere extremely awkward.

“Ha ha, congratulations, Fifth Elder, and Brother Xia,” Xiao Yunhai said, rising to his feet. He was in his early forties, with a gentle appearance.

“Indeed, a big congratulations to the Fifth Elder,” the First Elder, Xiao Li, said indifferently, his tone clearly sarcastic.

The Second Elder, Xiao Bo, chuckled and said slowly, “The Fifth Elder has such a fine granddaughter-in-law, bringing great honor to the entire Xiao family. The Xia family has been in business for generations, and finding such a son-in-law is quite good. Congratulations, congratulations.”

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became colder. While they said “congratulations,” the sarcasm in their words was clear to anyone who wasn’t a fool.