The Wedding Day

The wedding banquet was bustling with guests today.

Most of the immortals present were familiar faces to Su Qing, so she felt relatively at ease navigating the crowd.

As for those she wasn't as well-acquainted with…

Well, while she wouldn't go so far as to drive them away, she certainly didn't have much to chat about with them.

Stepping out of the main hall, Su Qing scanned her surroundings before deciding on the principle of proximity—she walked straight toward the table nearest to her.

This table, along with several surrounding it, was occupied by guests from the Moon Palace.

Naturally, Lady Chang'e, Yuer, and even the Lunar Deity were seated here.

Su Qing noticed Lady Chang'e already looking a bit tipsy, while Yuer sat beside her with a worried expression, and the Lunar Deity’s knuckles were cracking audibly. Su Qing couldn't help but offer a faint smile.

She walked up to Lady Chang'e, patted her on the shoulder, and said, "Sister Chang'e, today is my wedding day. Won't you offer me a blessing?"

Though Lady Chang'e was a bit buzzed, she was still mostly lucid. Hearing Su Qing’s words, she let out a soft chuckle.

"Blessings? Of course, I must offer blessings! However, I’m more inclined to poke fun at you, honestly."

Su Qing smiled faintly and asked, "And what is there to poke fun at?"

"Don't you know your own quirks? Well, if you don't, it doesn't matter. I won't tell you. It’s much more amusing to let you guess and fret over it yourself."

Lady Chang'e looked at Su Qing with a beaming smile and continued, "Alright! Regardless, I won't say anything bad about you today. In short, I wish you a happy marriage! Also, the wine at this feast is quite excellent!"

Su Qing nodded with a thin smile. "I’m glad you’re enjoying it, Sister Chang'e."

With that, Su Qing raised her cup with a smile. "I propose a toast to everyone!"

At these words, Lady Chang'e also raised her cup and drank with Su Qing.

Cup after cup went down, and Su Qing made her way from table to table.

Soon, she reached the representatives of the Buddhist sect.

Once there, Su Qing naturally stopped offering wine.

She was well aware of the Buddhist prohibition against alcohol. Instead, she took a teapot and switched to a fresh tea cup, deciding to toast with tea.

Approaching Ru Lai, she said with a smile, "I hadn't expected you to grace us with your presence, Lord Buddha. It is truly an honor for this junior."

Ru Lai let out a hearty laugh and shook his head. "You invited me, so naturally, I had to come. If I hadn't, wouldn't that be a slight to your honor? Besides, it would be a pity to miss a junior's wedding feast."

Su Qing smiled, neither confirming nor denying his words.

She didn't know how much truth there was to his statement. She knew she didn't have that much 'face'…

It would be more convincing if he had said he was simply bored and decided to drop by a junior's banquet. However, Su Qing didn't care much about the reason. Regardless of the motive, he had come, which was indeed a great show of respect.

"Then I wish for you to enjoy the meal, Senior," Su Qing said casually, not quite knowing what else to say.

"Haha, I am certainly enjoying it." Ru Lai smiled faintly and glanced at the plump monk beside him who was eating with great gusto. "Look, isn't he quite happy?"

Su Qing couldn't help but chuckle, refraining from making any comments about the senior. She simply continued, "I know that you seniors should not consume alcohol, so I shall toast you all with tea instead."

Seeing this, Ru Lai chuckled and led the others in raising their cups.

"Then we wish you a happy marriage!"

Su Qing nodded, thanked the seniors, and moved on to the next table.

Before long, the toasting was finished.

Having completed that task, it was naturally time for her to eat. In the grand scheme of things, eating was the highest priority!

Of course, she hadn't forgotten the three people waiting in the 'bridal chamber.'

After a few brief pleasantries, Su Qing headed back with some food.

The ceremonies were mostly over anyway. The rest of the time was for enjoying themselves, and nothing was more important than a good meal.

Su Qing pushed open the door to the 'bridal chamber.'

However, when she entered, she found only Bai Suzhen inside.

Su Qing was puzzled and couldn't help but ask, "Where are the others?"

Bai Suzhen looked at Su Qing returning with food and her confused expression, then offered a graceful smile. "They have temporarily departed."

"Eh? Temporarily departed?" Su Qing’s brow furrowed in confusion. "Where did they go? And why did they leave 'temporarily'?"

Su Qing keenly noted that Bai Suzhen used the term 'temporarily.' This meant their departure wasn't due to anything particularly bad.

Still, she didn't quite understand. Everything had been fine just a moment ago. Why had they 'temporarily departed' in such a short span of time? What was the reason?

"Pfft, don't worry, Sister. Sister Ao Ying and Sister Leng Xiang aren't angry with you. It's for other reasons."

Bai Suzhen was clearly being a bit evasive, but she quickly changed the subject to answer Su Qing’s questions. "As for where they went, they didn't go far. They just went over to the Heaven Lake."

Su Qing nodded slightly; at least she knew their location.

"But why did they leave? Little Bai, stop talking in circles and just tell me."

Bai Suzhen smiled elegantly. "It’s really nothing major, Sister. You needn't worry."

"As for why… well, how should I explain it? We all know that on a wedding night, people like to play pranks on the newlyweds in the bridal chamber…"

"So, we discussed it and decided to take turns one by one…"

"Pfft, in short, Sister, you must understand—while we don't mind getting married together, we can't all share one giant bed!"

"That’s essentially the situation. Sister, do you understand now?"

Su Qing listened to Bai Suzhen’s long explanation, her lip twitching slightly, though she also felt a sense of relief.

At the same time, she felt a bit helpless. "Honestly… even if they were going to leave, there was no need to be in such a rush! Aren't they hungry? Besides, today is the wedding day; aren't they going to eat at the feast?"

Bai Suzhen smiled. "They were just worried it would be harder to leave later… so they went ahead."

"Besides, if Sister really expected us all to share one bed, what then? They wouldn't have known how to refuse."

Hearing this, Su Qing rolled her eyes. "What kind of person do you take me for? Am I really that shameless? I’m not some lecherous demon."

"Pfft, alright, I know Sister is an 'upright gentleman'! It’s just that everyone has their own thoughts."

Bai Suzhen rose with a smile and walked to Su Qing’s side, her eyes gleaming with a sultry light as she looked at her. "However, while Sister might not be a lecherous demon, I certainly am!"

"!?"

Su Qing was momentarily stunned by those words, then she helplessly flicked the girl’s forehead. "You really have the nerve to say such things out loud?"

"I’m just being honest."

Bai Suzhen turned back to her chair and sat down with a giggle. "Besides… there aren't many people like me who dare to face their own desires head-on!"

"It’s more like you’re just thick-skinned," Su Qing joked.

Bai Suzhen stuck out her tongue. "Compared to Sister, we’re two of a kind."

"You little brat…" Su Qing rolled her eyes. "Alright! Let’s drink and eat first. This wine was brought by Taishang Laojun; it’s very mellow."

Lunchtime passed quickly.

Su Qing didn't stay in the room the whole time.

As the host and the 'groom,' she couldn't hide in the bridal chamber like a 'bride' and never come out.

"Hey, hey, hey~ How does it feel to be married?"

As soon as Su Qing emerged, the idle Daoist boy found her and began her inquiry.

Su Qing looked at her with confusion, then replied, "Actually, it doesn't feel like anything particularly special… I’m just very happy. As for anything else, it’s not something that can be easily explained with words. I suppose you’ll find out for yourself when you get married one day?"

Hearing this, the Daoist boy’s lip twitched, and she pouted. "I’m still so young! I’m a long way off from marriageable age! Besides, marriage isn't something to be taken lightly! I don't even have anyone I like!"

Su Qing looked at the Daoist boy and gave her a meaningful smile.

Young?

You really have the nerve to say that!

However, Su Qing didn't expose her. She wasn't that socially inept.

She said with a smile, "You’ll eventually meet someone you like."

The Daoist boy shook her head. "Easier said than done! I can't even leave Li Shan whenever I want."

"Oh?"

"Oh? So you’re saying that I, your master, am getting in the way of your search for love?" Just then, the voice of the Old Mother of Mount Li drifted over.

As soon as the Old Mother spoke, the Daoist boy immediately put on a sweet, fawning smile. "How could I ever blame my dear Master?"

The Old Mother looked at the girl’s antics, chuckled, and shook her head.

She then looked at Su Qing and said, "Suzhen will stay here with you for a while. After the wedding festivities are over, she must return to Li Shan to continue her cultivation. During this time, you two should enjoy each other's company… but don't overdo it. Young people need to be mindful of their health."

Su Qing’s lip twitched at the remark.

But she wasn't foolish enough to argue with the Old Mother. She simply nodded with a smile. "I understand, Senior…"

Su Qing had known all along that Bai Suzhen would have to return to Li Shan after the wedding. She had agreed on this with the Old Mother when the white snake first came to the Changbai Mountains.

So, this didn't come as a surprise to her.

The Old Mother chuckled and looked at Su Qing. "As long as you understand! Also, don't neglect your own cultivation in the future… do you hear me?"

Su Qing nodded; she certainly wouldn't let her cultivation slide. Besides, she didn't have much else to do other than cultivate.

"Rest assured, Senior."

"That’s good…" The Old Mother nodded, then sighed with emotion. "Ah, how time flies! Before I knew it, you’ve all gone and gotten married. I feel like even I’ve grown old."

"What are you saying, Senior? You’re still quite young."

With the Old Mother of Mount Li’s strength, even at tens of thousands of years old, she was still considered young.

The Old Mother chuckled and shook her head. "It’s a feeling in my heart…"

Su Qing nodded slightly; she understood, yet she didn't quite understand.

"Alright, alright, I won't disturb you any longer. Now that lunch is over, I should head back to Li Shan."

"Senior is leaving so soon?"

"There are some matters back at Li Shan that need my attention," the Old Mother replied with a casual excuse.

Su Qing didn't doubt her. She simply nodded and said, "Senior is truly dedicated to the people… Since you must go, I can only see you off."

The Old Mother of Mount Li nodded. "Mhm, I’ll be going then."

As she spoke, she reached out and grabbed the eavesdropping Daoist boy, taking her along as she departed.

Daoist boy: "..."

Su Qing waved, watching the Old Mother disappear into the distance.

After seeing off the Old Mother, Su Qing bid farewell to many other old friends in turn. It seemed that no one intended to stay for dinner.

"Most of the guests have left! I should be going as well…" Patriarch Bodhi suddenly spoke up.

Su Qing turned to her master, feeling a bit reluctant to see him go. "Master is leaving too?"

"Yes. I have many students waiting for me back at the academy," Patriarch Bodhi said calmly. "I can't just ignore the rest of them for the sake of you, can I?"

"I see…" Su Qing nodded helplessly. "Sigh, I truly hate to see you leave, Master."

"You’ve grown up now." Patriarch Bodhi shook his head. "Now that you’ve taken a wife, there’s no longer any need for me to worry about you."

Su Qing was momentarily stunned. "Master… will we have the chance to meet again?"

"If it is meant to be, then we shall; if not, then we shan't," Patriarch Bodhi said casually.

It was a non-answer, a deflection. Patriarch Bodhi didn't give a definitive reply, meaning he didn't know if they would meet again in the future.

Perhaps if he wanted to see her, he could… but he was clearly the type who wouldn't visit unless it was absolutely necessary.

Su Qing understood this logic, so she could only let out a long sigh. "Then your disciple can only see you off, Master…"

"Mhm…" Patriarch Bodhi nodded slightly and vanished into thin air, but before he left, he left behind one final sentence.

"You have grown up. I am satisfied."