If you were to ask what topic in the cultivation world is the hottest lately, it would naturally be the news of the impending wedding of Lord Yunzhong.
On the streets and alleys, whether among cultivators or ordinary people, everyone is discussing it with great interest. After all, it’s the Yunzhong from Qingyu, and—rumor has it, it’s not the simple ceremony of becoming Dao partners that cultivators usually have, but more like a grand wedding ceremony akin to that of mortals.
“How could this be possible?” Someone expressed disbelief, saying, “I’ve never heard of a cultivator having such a grand wedding. Aren’t cultivators supposed to be above worldly desires?”
Another person rebutted, “You’re misunderstanding. Cultivators are not immortals; what’s wrong with getting married?”
“That may be so, but…” someone else interjected, frowning with difficulty, “but Qingyu, being such a prominent sect that values ‘detachment,’ wouldn’t want Lord Yunzhong to make such a flamboyant move…”
“What can Qingyu do about it? Lord Yunzhong is not someone who obeys orders; her partner is that one from Biluo Huangquan—”
“Don’t spout nonsense! There’s no concrete evidence for that yet!”
—While everyone was discussing this, the other main character of the wedding was gazing at the sky in a somewhat troubled manner.
After a day of bustling around outside, Wan Shao returned to Biluo Huangquan and glanced at her in silence, fingers clicking away on an abacus. After a while, unable to hold back any longer, she looked up at her again, seeing Shang Can staring blankly, and the demon lord couldn’t help but throw a crumpled piece of paper at her, mocking, “Isn’t the pre-wedding planning tiring enough for you? Look at your soulless expression; you should get some sleep.”
Though she turned slightly and avoided the paper ball, Shang Can’s reaction was still evidently dull, her expression lifeless.
She blinked blankly, again gazing towards the eternally dim sky of Biluo Huangquan, and sighed lightly.
“I’m not tired,” she said, “I just suddenly feel… that nine days is quite long.”
The story begins five days ago.
At that time, Shang Can was sitting at her family’s table, her friend Wan Shao standing behind her, excitedly rubbing her hands. Opposite her sat Wang Yue, who rarely came out of Qingyu to visit them, with a somewhat dazed Yun Duan firmly blocked behind Wang Yue, not allowed to approach Shang Can by even half a step.
“…If I’m not mistaken, you just said,” Wang Yue took a strong stance, frowning as she slowly spoke, “that you want to marry Duan Er?”
To be honest, Shang Can, who had already been in a relationship with Yun Duan, felt a peculiar awkwardness, instinctively straightened her posture, and stammered, “…I do have this intention; it’s been a long—”
Before she could finish her sentence with “we haven’t had a banquet,” Wang Yue slammed her hand on the table with authority, startling both her and Wan Shao. Shang Can watched her master, who loved to read stories but lacked seriousness, take on a stern expression, stretching her hand forward aggressively, saying, “If you want to marry our Duan Er, there needs to be some sincerity, right?”
Having never encountered such a scene, Shang Can was momentarily speechless, but Wan Shao quickly reacted, slamming her hand on the table as well, boldly replying on behalf of her friend, “You tell us what you want!”
Wang Yue feigned a cold laugh: “Then let’s have a pound of starlight, two pounds of moonlight, three pounds of gentle breeze, four pounds of clouds, five pounds of flames, six pounds of spirit, seven pounds of black smoke, and eight pounds of qin music.”
The demon lord waved her hand without batting an eye, confidently patting her chest and answering, “No problem!”
What on earth is going on?
Shang Can couldn’t stand the look of this nouveau riche face, so she pressed Wan Shao down and interjected, “What about sincerity?”
Seeing Shang Can’s bewildered expression, Wang Yue sighed heavily, disappointed, and said, “It’s obvious you haven’t learned about social etiquette. How can a girl agree to something so hasty as marriage?”
Hearing this, Yun Duan, who was hidden behind Wang Yue, lifted her head and softly replied, “I’m willing.”
“…” Wang Yue pretended she hadn’t heard that and continued to glare at Shang Can, asking, “What do you want to do? Are you planning something big?”
Shang Can took a moment to understand what “big” meant, her eyes widening in surprise as she exclaimed, “…Will Qing Yu agree?”
“What does it matter if Qing Yu agrees or not? This is your marriage!” Wang Yue looked even more excited than Shang Can, slamming her hand on the table as she stood up. “Are you going to do it or not?”
The room fell silent for a second before Shang Can, fueled by her rising blood pressure, slammed her hand on the table, decisively declaring, “Let’s do it!”
Wang Yue then spent quite a while explaining the preparations needed for someone as clueless as Shang Can. From selecting an auspicious date to the types of drinks for the guests, Shang Can listened attentively and agreed to everything. Wan Shao watched in astonishment, exclaiming, “So this is what it’s like when Shang Can is serious about listening to others; I feel like this is the first time I’ve seen it in my life.”
Now that they had decided to go through with it, Shang Can was determined not to cut corners. With her spirits high, she planned to hold a complete ceremony with Yun Duan. Wang Yue was satisfied with her attitude and, after a long period of instruction, let out a sigh. In a casual tone, she said, “By the way, according to the rules, you two can’t see each other for nine days before the wedding.”
“Nine—why?!”
Shang Can, who had been focused, was suddenly alarmed, looking at Wang Yue as if facing a formidable enemy. Since reuniting with Yun Duan, they had never been apart for this long. Shouldn’t they be discussing everything together before the wedding? Why should they have to separate first—
“I heard it’s to ensure a long-lasting marriage after getting married.”
“Oh, well, that’s fine then.”
Now halfway through the preparations, Shang Can felt a mix of emotions when she thought back to how easily she had been persuaded by the pun.
The first two days had actually been manageable. There was so much work to prepare. They had decided on Qing Yu as the venue—not only because of its significance to Yun Duan, but also thanks to the support of Wang Yue, the leader of Yuheng Peak, and Chu Ming, the next sect master. Shang Can heard from Chu Ming’s spirit bird that the sect master’s face had turned black as a pot when he agreed. Then came a series of logistics and personnel arrangements stemming from the venue, and during the day, she was usually so busy that she barely had time to think about the fact that she and Yun Duan couldn’t meet for the time being.
But at night, it was different. Even Wan Shao, who accompanied her like a family member, would yawn and return to her own room when the time came to sleep. In those moments, Shang Can couldn’t help but realize: Yun Duan was not by her side.
She reassured herself that it was just nine days and, after awkwardly enduring two nights, on the third night, she went out for a pointless walk. The night in Bilu and Huangquan was dimly lit, and there was barely any light. She felt like a wandering spirit, scaring Wan Shao, who had just calculated the bride price and emerged from the demon lord’s palace, prompting her to curse with a loud expletive.
After regaining her composure, Wan Shao scolded Shang Can before she realized the half-demon in front of her was unusually obedient, not rebutting or running away, just standing there quietly. She looked at Shang Can’s dazed expression and grew suspicious, finally asking, “Why are you out running around in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”
“…”
Shang Can fell silent for a moment, her clear brows furrowing slightly. When she spoke, her tone was filled with concern: “…I was just thinking, if she can’t sleep at night without me here, what will she do?”
Wan Shao didn’t hide her eye roll and shoved her toward home, sharply retorting, “Nonsense! I think it’s you who can’t sleep without her, not Yun Duan!”
On the seventh day, an unexpected visitor arrived.
“It’s not July right now.”
Although she hadn’t been feeling particularly energetic lately, Shang Can immediately raised her guard when she saw the Ghost King, who shouldn’t be appearing at this time of year, visit with great flair. “How did you get out?”
“Don’t be so nervous—calm down the heavenly fire,” Nan Shuang raised her hands in a gesture of peace, indicating for Shang Can to quickly dismiss the heavenly fire that had silently surrounded her. She explained, “I used to be a cultivator from the outer realm. It’s normal for me to use puppetry to send a puppet to come visit!”
She really took advantage of the situation. Quickly identifying that the figure in front of her was not the real Ghost King, Shang Can sighed helplessly, dispersing the heavenly fire while muttering, “…This time, I’ll let it slide.”
“Mm-hmm, after all, I came here on official business,” the puppet said cheerfully, lowering its hands and sighing, “I brought the bride price for you guys—how rude! You didn’t even inform me. If I weren’t so well-informed, I would have missed this important event.”
With no mood for banter, Shang Can was slightly surprised and sincerely thanked her. Nan Shuang seemed to be in a good mood and didn’t dwell on the fact that she hadn’t been invited. Changing the subject, she said, “I should have brought some specialties from the Ghost Realm, but Yuan Ge said it wouldn’t be auspicious to send you the other shore flower right now, so I didn’t.”
Before Shang Can could respond, Nan Shuang chuckled to herself, saying, “When you first visited the Ghost Realm, it was quite suitable for you, but now, everything has changed.”
It wasn’t too long ago, but it felt distant. After a moment of silence, Shang Can asked, “What are you trying to say?”
“…” Nan Shuang stared at her for a long time before finally lowering her gaze. “…It’s strange; you seem distracted and far less interesting than before.”
Ignoring her, Nan Shuang leisurely continued, “Speaking of which, you know the rule that newlyweds can’t meet for nine days before the wedding in the cultivation world? Do you know the real reason behind it?”
Shang Can’s reaction was significantly stronger this time. She looked up to see Nan Shuang wearing a malicious smile, saying lightly, “It’s to give each other a cooling-off period.”
“Nowadays, young people are so impetuous; they don’t consider major life events as important. There are many who make impulsive decisions and realize soon after marriage that they are not compatible, quickly turning into resentful partners.” Nan Shuang spoke as if it had nothing to do with her, casually continuing, “And when young lovers are together, they just end up muddled. So they need separate time to calm down and think about whether they’ve truly reached the point where they can take this step.”
“…”
Seeing Shang Can frowning in silence, Nan Shuang spread her hands and said, “—This is just my personal speculation; there’s no official explanation for this custom. The common belief is that it’s meant to symbolize a long-lasting good omen.”
Shang Can choked up for a moment, feeling both amused and exasperated. “You’re such a person—”
“And what about you, Shang Can?”
Interrupting her words, Nan Shuang suddenly stood up, looking down at her. “You’ve been apart for a few days; what are you thinking now? Before the ceremony, everything is still uncertain, but once you’re married, you’ll spend every year, every day, and every night with that one person. I know there are many people in this world who realize they can’t handle that kind of life after experiencing it. What about you?”
“I was actually going to ask you the same thing… but looking at your current lost expression…”
Nan Shuang sighed as she leaned down closer to Shang Can, teasingly pointing to the beginnings of dark circles under her eyes.
“You don’t look like a phoenix from the heavens at all; you clearly resemble a domesticated pet.”
“If there are any other members of the phoenix clan besides you, I’m sure they’d come to scold you.”
Shang Can leaned back, letting out a soft chuckle.
“…Then let them scold me.”
Qingyu, Yuheng.
“How does this outfit look? You should try it on!”
Hearing Wang Yue’s enthusiastic call, Yun Duan looked up and examined the outfit closely before shaking her head, saying, “The design is too complicated; A Can wouldn’t like it.”
“Oh, come on, wedding attire is supposed to be elaborate!” Wang Yue insisted, then pointed out, “Besides, I asked for your opinion. Why are you so fixated on Shang Can?”
Of course, she was fixated. Yun Duan thought. She hadn’t seen A Can in almost nine days.
Not only was Shang Can busy with their wedding preparations, but Yun Duan, who had returned to Qingyu for a temporary stay, also spent considerable effort on the venue arrangements. Meanwhile, Wang Yue was obsessing over the outfits they would wear on the big day—compared to Shang Can, who was relatively unconcerned and willing to try any color, Yun Duan had a rather extreme preference for clothing colors.
“You can’t possibly wear white on your wedding day!”
Wang Yue was exasperated, holding up the dress and gesturing wildly. “Tomorrow is the big day! We have to finalize the wedding attire tonight. You know that whatever you wear, Shang Can will follow suit. Stop worrying so much about her—”
As she spoke, Wang Yue suddenly felt a faint surge of spiritual energy from outside. Yun Duan reacted faster than her and rushed to the window, pushing it open to let in the paper crane that had been gently tapping at the window with its beak.
Familiar with both the spiritual energy and the folding method of the crane, Yun Duan watched as it gracefully flew in through the gap, almost playfully brushing against her lips before quietly landing in her palm. The voice belonging to Shang Can, which Yun Duan hadn’t heard in nine days, rang softly from the paper crane, tinged with a hint of grievance as she spoke through the summoning spell.
〔I want a kiss.”】
“Tsk, tsk…” Wang Yue, eavesdropping from the side, made a few disapproving noises, but her smile betrayed her amusement as she took a few steps back, pretending to leave. “Should I step out for a while?”
Yun Duan’s cool brows softened, her clear eyes shining with warmth, as her white fingers unconsciously brushed the crane’s beak and wings. Even though she knew the crane had come just to deliver that one sentence, she still patiently waited a moment longer before diverting her gaze.
“No need.” Her eyes were gentle, soft as the moon in the sky. “It will be quick.”
Half an hour after sending the crane, Shang Can awaited the return of her messenger.
It looked the same coming back as it had when it left; there were no ambiguous red marks on the white paper. The crane met its owner’s gaze, almost as if it wanted to bore into her with its innocent eyes, dutifully reciting the words it had heard.
〔Tomorrow, come collect it yourself.”】
Shang Can smiled, her anxiety from the past nine days melting away the moment she heard that cool voice. She carefully tucked the crane into her inner robe, thinking that Yun Duan now owed her a kiss, and she would definitely remember to collect that debt tomorrow.
What she had heard a few days ago might hold some truth—perhaps there really were people who impulsively chose to marry, and maybe there were couples who regretted their decision during their separation of nine days.
But that had nothing to do with Shang Can and Yun Duan. Day by day, Shang Can only felt an increasing desire to see her, longing to be with her, her heart racing with anticipation.
For this upcoming day, Shang Can had been waiting far longer than nine days.
The next day dawned bright and clear, with Qingyu adorned in festive decorations.
With guests filling the venue, the lovers finally were allowed to meet on the stage after nine days apart. Shang Can watched as her beloved walked toward her, dressed in a striking bright red she had never seen before, beautiful to the point of taking her breath away. Everything else in her field of vision faded into insignificance; all she could see was Yun Duan in her wedding attire—a once-in-a-lifetime sight.
Her lips felt glued together, making it difficult to speak. Shang Can reached out to take Yun Duan’s hand, gazing deeply into her clear eyes. She felt as though she was trembling, as if they both were, and she suddenly laughed in relief, leaning closer to Yun Duan’s ear, whispering softly against her flushed earlobe, “You’re beautiful.”
Even at a wedding ceremony, this moment shouldn’t have occurred; emotions among cultivators were typically restrained, especially here in Qingyu.
But they couldn’t care less about decorum or the rules, lost in their own world. Amidst the clamor, Shang Can bent down and kissed Yun Duan, reverently, as if kissing a divine being—her wife.
From this moment on, they were together. Shang Can thought. No matter how long this day lasted, she would never tire of it.
Qingyu, Shang Can and Yun Duan, the ceremony was complete.
T.N: and another translation comes to an end. Even if this one hasn’t received as much attention as others did, I’m very happy to be able to share one of my favourite novels with y’all. Hope you enjoyed the journey. Hugs <33. And last but not least,  I’ve opened a kofi page in case someone wants to tip me for my work. Donations are completely optional and voluntary. They will guarrant no advantages or aditional content whatsoever, since I want all my translations to be accesible and not paywalled. https://ko-fi.com/baihelibrary
-Nadja, keeper of the Baihe Library.
Translator’s Cat Note: ,.,.,.,.,.,. kluuuuuuuuu uhy77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
-Lucero, cat of the Baihe Library.
I thought my cat deserved a honour mention for constantly sitting on my right arm and keyboard in his desire to help me bringing this novel to you!
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