Chương 110: Wedding gift

Yue Huang's wedding was a major affair, not because she was strong or important, but because her father was. Lots of small clans in 10 minute range showed up with gifts, nothing too big, but Tier 4 fruits or weapons were common. I mean, Yue was a young Nascent Soul thus gifts of same rank were quite appropriate. I already expected that, and planned to use the gifts as my dowry.

However, because Lord Huang was at Saint Realm, he also had friends and former sect mates also at Saint Realm, and even a single stronger Alchemist at Tier 5!

"I invited Lady Xiao especially for you, Pef Tian. If you're serious about becoming a Tier 5 Alchemist in the future, you will need guidance from someone like her. And Yao needs backing in Autumn Leaves sect too, if and when she transforms her soul... with your help." my father-in-law pointed out, reversing the facts to put me in his debt. But, he was still an idiot, because words... once spoken, they carry life on their own.

Said Lady Xiao was a peak Saint Realm, and the noise and cheering of the wedding guests were easily filtered by her senses. I felt her gaze fall on me, and barely a single glance at my red dressed wife. To be fair, Tian has never heard of this Autumn Leaves sect, likely because there wasn't any dueling to be had with crafting-focused women. I smiled over my Indigo Plum Wine and nodded at said Alchemist, but she kept an impassive face, and only glared at the City Lord for a second.

Being invited on false pretenses wouldn't make the esteemed alchemist feel very friendly. On the other hand, she could help me with my future Tier 4 Reconstruction pill, the nice Lady Xiao. Her name meant 'small' but her big breasts and even bigger hips put that name to shame. Then again, a thousand years ago, when Lady Xiao was a baby... she must have been small too. I kept waiting for the duel trials, scanning the crowd for dangerous duelists. Will they let me steal away their path to political power so easily?

A small clan could become a big clan, if they married the right princess. It took a few hours, until more wine and more courage gathered in their stomachs.

"Pef Tian! You come out of nowhere and steal our beloved Princess Yao! Come on the stage and prove you're worth her hand!" a brave Soul Transformation Young Master yelled and jumped on the stage, pointing a blue Tier 5 sword at me. My father-in-law coughed gently, and nodded. This was expected then, a former suitor. I raised my glass, and stood up.

"I have no problem proving my worth, esteemed guests. But today is my wedding, and I am eager to explore the hidden beauty of my amazing wife. To keep me from this marital duty, you must offer something of real value, not just words. And I mean Tier 5 stuff, if you dare!" I demanded in Pef's scamming voice. Siao smiled cutely, then hid her face in her cup, knowing too well I defeated a Unity Realm demonic cultivator the first day we met.

Silence fell over the gathering, as guests searched their storage for any disposable Tier 5 stuff. A Unity Realm Elder or maybe Ancestor took out a beautiful ice-glaze sword and floated it in front of the City Lord.

"Lord Huang, this pretty sword matches your daughter's beauty. Fairy Yue can keep it as a gift, regardless of who wins or loses the duel."

"Agreed! Go and prove your worth Pef Tian!" my father-in-law ordered in a greedy voice. Free Tier 5 sword! I jumped on the stage and pointed two fingers at my newbie target.

"Do you wish to fight to the death, pretender?" I asked aloud.

"Just die!" the young master confirmed, and ran towards me. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. His head lagged behind, and his hand brought another Tier 5 sword into my own hand, his body falling flat in front of me, headless.

"A sword for me, and another for my wife? Too generous! I did lack a nice weapon..." I exulted and waved my new sword around, making sure to bind it to me and prevent it from being called home. Silence fell again, and only Lady Xiao laughed gently.

"Your son-in-law is really something, Junior Brother Huang. He entered the duel without a sword, and now he has one." she noted in an amused tone. Well, at least my scamming plan worked. The Unity guy floated his headless descendant from the stage, and sat back with an ugly face.

"Any more pretenders? I can try this again a few times. But no more weapons! A spirit herb, maybe a fruit too? Cultivation is long and hard... help me make it shorter!" I demanded in a cheerful voice, and stored the Tier 5 sword in my ring. It took a minute of awkward silence, but another Young Master jumped on stage, while his elder floated up a yellow glowing mushroom, and set it in front of the City Lord.

"A gift for your beautiful daughter, Lord Huang. The Sun-kissed Ganoderma can help someone establish and transform the soul, and a Yin-meridian woman much more so."

"To the death?" I asked with a big smile.

"To your death, outlander!" the man yelled and covered himself with a barrier talisman. I blinked, then smiled. The random mooks were learning! I also took out a talisman and flicked my intent. The yellow paper flew and landed on the barrier, and began to suck it dry of qi. And the man inside too, for some reason. In a minute, the man fell to a knee, drained of qi while the barrier vanished as well. I gestured with two fingers, and the air sliced his head off with ease.

Tian would have charged in and used a strong technique to chop through the talisman barrier and its user, but why waste my energy and expose advanced sword skills that an 18 year-old shouldn't have? My Tier 4 Alchemy was already a bit outrageous.

"Anyone else? I do need a Tier 5 cauldron, if someone can spare it for a learning alchemist. Or another Tier 5 fruit, at least?" I asked with an innocent voice, and yanked the storage ring from my duel partner. No wonder Tian never had to struggle hard for resources. People kept giving him good stuff, as well as good fights once in a while. To everyone's surprise, a young woman flew on stage, graceful as a crane.

"Ruo Song, at your service. I just want a good duel, and have no designs on your pretty wife, Pef Tian." she clarified as my eyebrows rose a bit. I scratched my cheek, as this was getting embarrassing. Tian also got such duels, women offering themselves on the pretense of a duel.

"Makes sense, Fairy Ruo. But why would I waste my wedding night with you, instead of enjoying my young wife?" I asked curious. The gathering fell silent, eager to listen to the next words.

"My clan is poor and has no Tier 5 gift to offer, except myself. I am willing to serve as your sword maid, if you can defeat me, Pef Tian. But if you can't... I want a Tier 5 sword from you." Lady Ruo asked with a kind of shameless greed that was rarely seen. Or rather, rarely said aloud. I was an exception until now. I glanced with an innocent face at my father-in-law and my angry wife.

"Is that okay?" I asked them like a newbie farmer. Siao glared at me, as if this was my fault.

"Beat her up hard, husband! Making a scene at my wedding..." Yue demanded in a harsh voice. I nodded with a kind face, and placed my fist inside my palm.

"As you wish, my beloved wife." then I turned around and walked towards my dueling partner. Ruo expected me to use some technique, but there really was no need. Everyone here was a child in front of an Immoral Emperor. I reached kick range and moved even closer, intimidating the woman who raised her arms in a martial guard. Knee to the stomach, a few punches to the ribs, then a slow chokehold. I didn't want to damage my new sword maid too much.

Wait, did she mean to carry my sword or get used as a sheath for my meat sword? I'll have to ask her later. Once Ruo was unconscious, I threw her towards Siao to get fixed.

"Still waiting for a Tier 5 cauldron, good people!" I spoke loudly, but nobody had a good cauldron to spare. I waited another minute, then sighed and returned to my seat.

"I did all I could, father-in-law. These people are so poor though." I complained like a victim. Lady Xiao smiled gently.

"Enjoy your wedding night, Pef Tian. Tomorrow I will examine your alchemy, and if I like it, I can give you my spare cauldron." she promised with a saintly voice. I had to hold Pef down so he wouldn't try to hug the Saint before all these guests. There's enough time for that, later. Qin Lin did ask me to bring home a strong Saint to protect the family, which made it a karmic quest. I couldn't fail.

Instead, I had to endure bad music and long speeches for a few more hours, until Yue took my hand and walked towards our wedding room, blushing hard under her red veil. There were too many guests watching, so I couldn't call in my other women. But having Yue suck my milk all night long wasn't bad either. We even used the Yin-Yang plate for a few hours, for faster cultivation and extra shameful positions. I loved weddings! Especially my own.