Chapter Eighty-Four: The Grand Wedding

The culprit, Ling Chi, sprang up at once and stood where the zombie had burst out, staring down into the deep pit left by the collapse of the barren hill before him.

A stone coffin had been driven upright into the earth. Its lid lay toppled to one side. When Ling Chi approached and looked inside, he saw that the coffin was lined with dried blood, while dim talismans had fallen all over the ground; a light pinch reduced them to dust.

There were also dried bloodstains on the surface of the stone coffin, along with a decayed bronze bell. Ling Chi picked it up and shook it gently; the clapper inside fell straight to the ground. It seemed to have aged many years indeed.

This corpse-demon had probably been suppressed here by some accomplished Daoist master, but time had long since blunted the seal’s power. Add to that Ling Chi’s crushing blow that caved in the barren hill, and he had helped it break free from the coffin.

A pity: the king had only just returned, and he had run headlong into a youth like Ling Chi, a violent scourge of punks and villains, and was beaten to death on the spot.

Ling Chi left the pit. Pure solar force burst from his fingertips, and with a single blaze he turned the zombie to flying ash, scattering it into heaven and earth.

A knot of pent-up breath was finally released, and Ling Chi felt his mind grow clear, a comfort in his heart impossible to put into words.

He strolled back toward the county town. The city gate smashed a few days earlier by the headless general had not yet been repaired, and several gate soldiers were huddled nearby in a crooked cluster, warming themselves by the fire and chatting.

With sharp eyes, they spotted Ling Chi approaching from afar and hastily stood up.

“Sixth Young Master, have you been cultivating out there?”

From far outside the city, they could still hear peals of thunder rolling from the direction of the barren hills. Combined with seeing Ling Chi leave the city earlier, they guessed he had gone out to cultivate.

Ling Chi gave them a casual nod and walked into the city.

“The Sixth Young Master really is diligent. So highly cultivated, and still works so hard.”

“There’s always someone stronger than you who tries even harder.”

“I can’t go on loafing like this. We should cultivate.”

Ignoring the gate soldiers furiously swinging stone locks as if possessed, Ling Chi returned to the back courtyard of the Peacekeeping Office and fetched a bucket of well water to wash himself clean.

In truth, since tempering his body, it had become very hard for dust to cling to him.

Today was different, because he had beaten that zombie from who knew how many years ago to death with his fists. He felt unclean, and as soon as he got back he hurried to rinse off.

With his spirit completely relaxed, he rarefied into sleep, and not only slept, but overslept.

Even after the rooster crowed three times, he still did not wake, until a small body burrowed into the blankets, then into his arms, bringing with it a wave of milky fragrance.

“Little Rui'er, why have you come here?” Ling Chi rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked at the little girl in his arms.

To his surprise, the little girl paid him no mind at all. Finding a comfortable position, she nestled in his embrace and immediately fell fast asleep again.

Today was Zhao Lei and Xiao Yu's wedding day. Yang Shu had roused Little Rui'er early and taken her to the training grounds, only to discover, most strangely, that Ling Chi was nowhere to be seen.

Yang Shu left Little Rui'er outside Ling Chi's door and told her to wake him up herself. Instead, Little Rui'er dove straight into Ling Chi's arms and began snoring at once.

Holding her, Ling Chi drifted back into a dazed sleep as well. No one knew how long had passed before Yang Shu came looking for him in person.

Ling Chi suddenly felt light all over; the blanket had vanished. Still closing his eyes, he groped around blindly.

Then his hand touched a cold palm, and he startled awake at once. A fiend!

When he opened his eyes, Yang Shu was standing by the bed with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Half an hour earlier, she had told Little Rui'er to come wake Ling Chi alone. She had never imagined that her usually dependable disciple would actually fall asleep together with the little girl.

Amused and exasperated in equal measure, she looked at the two of them half-awake and half-asleep. Ling Chi rubbed his eyes and shook Little Rui'er awake.

The little girl, tears brimming in her eyes, clung to his neck and would not let go. He had no choice but to carry her out.

On ordinary days the Zhao family all lived in the back courtyard of the Peacekeeping Office. Because of Zhao Lei's marriage, they had even bought a separate mansion with three connected courtyards.

The new residence was not far from the Peacekeeping Office. By the time Ling Chi arrived, the entire compound was already draped in red and hung with festive decorations, lively and bustling. Tables, chairs, and benches lined both sides of the street outside the gate as well; they were preparing a long banquet.

Inside the gate, the cooks brought from the prefectural office had been busy since early morning.

The tall stacked steamers were sending out tempting aromas, and Little Rui'er pressed her face against his, crying that she was hungry. Nearby, a great pot was simmering with soup. When he leaned in to smell it, he found it was bear bone broth.

Parting the red silk before him, he passed through the hanging flower gate. The main hall was full of people coming and going, all busily at work, with several servant women preparing all sorts of things.

When they saw Ling Chi enter carrying Little Rui'er, they quickly sent someone to bring her the fish soup she liked.

Ling Chi fed her spoonful by spoonful, and she ate very quickly.

Zhao Lei would go to the martial hall to fetch his bride, Xiao Yu, and then return to the Peacekeeping Office for the wedding ceremony. The marriage rites for martial practitioners were comparatively simple, cutting away the tedious formalities and using all the remaining time for eating and drinking.

Yang Shu took Little Rui'er away, and Ling Chi had to help Li Shui receive the guests.

Zhao Shanhe was already there. When he saw Ling Chi come out, he hurried over and grabbed him at once.

“My Sixth Brother, you’re finally here. I’ve been smiling until my face has gone stiff. Come and replace me for a while.”

He was already trying to run.

But Ling Chi only patted the sword at his waist and raised a brow at him.

“No, wait. Why are you carrying a blade too? Are you really planning to hack people up?”

Zhao Shanhe was stunned. What do you need a knife for on a day like this? Even Li Shui beside him was looking at him in confusion. Surely no one would dare cause trouble today.

Ling Chi only smiled and said nothing. Could he admit he had brought it just to be lazy?

Nearly sixteen now, Ling Chi was tall and lean, his features flawless, full of masculine vigor and beauty. With a high nose, strong brows, and a pair of star-bright eyes, he stood at the gate with a hand resting on his sword hilt, instantly stealing the limelight from the two beside him.

Zhao Shanhe pouted. So what if he was handsome? Hmph!

Li Shui had no time for further thought; more guests had arrived, and he hurried over to greet them with a smile.

Ling Chi stood to one side, not moving at all, serving as a statue.

The county’s leading figures had all come. Those with sufficient standing were personally escorted by Li Shui to Zhao Qing for reception; those of lesser rank were handed over to the various standard-bearers to be taken for tea.

The sound of hoofbeats rang out as Cao Huabao arrived with a group of colleagues from the Peacekeeping Office in the prefectural seat, with several unfamiliar youths following behind them.

The youths wore calm expressions tinged with superiority. Dismounting with the rest, they swarmed forward in a dark mass.

Zhao Qing stood outside the gate personally to welcome them, while Ling Chi followed his master and stood at the very back.

Suddenly, the thunder pearl inside him gave a faint tremor—from the direction of those youths. A slight smile touched his lips. They were all his good fortune.

“Old Zhao, congratulations! Let me introduce you. This is Xu Qiang, the commandant of North County. And this is Zhao Qing, the commandant I mentioned to you,” Cao Huabao said, pointing to a broad-shouldered, burly man as he made the introduction.

Zhao Qing exchanged greetings with each of the colleagues in turn.

“Congratulations to Young Master Zhao on marrying such a fine wife, and congratulations as well to Commandant Zhao,” said a handsome man nearby with a fake smile.

“This is the third son of Governor He’s household, He Qian. We happened to meet by chance along the road, and so came together,” Cao Huabao introduced him with hidden significance.

Both Zhao Qing and Ling Chi caught the key point: “met by chance along the road” meant they had not set out together.

After a few polite exchanges with He Qian, and since He Qian had no intention of introducing the others at his side, Zhao Qing also did not bother to ask. He simply led them inside and arranged them one by one.

Ling Chi glanced at those few people, memorized their faces, and decided to harvest them another time.

Cao Bianjiao quietly slipped out from the crowd. Wearing the same uniform, Ling Chi nearly failed to recognize him.

“What are you doing standing here like a door god?” He was a head shorter than Ling Chi and had to tilt his chin up to speak.

“How dull. Not a single troublemaker. I’m looking for someone to chop.”