Chapter 170: Marriage Ceremony
"You even prepared dragon and phoenix candles." Jiang Yue muttered, and his face reddened.
"What’s the matter?" Yu Nianzhen inquired.
"Nothing."
Jiang Yue took a few steps from the other and forced himself to calm down.
Yu Nianzhen looked at him suspiciously but let the matter drop.
"We..., I have also prepared those." He said awkwardly and pointed to two sets of red wedding robes.
Jiang Yue looked at the clothes and walked toward them.
He ran his fingers through the soft material, and his heart softened.
In two lifetimes, this was the first time he was getting married.
Although his union with Yu Nianzhen was a foregone conclusion, he didn’t think the other would put in so much effort.
However, when he thought about it, he realised he should have expected it.
Yu Nianzhen was thoughtful and would never allow him to be wronged. This was their one-in-eternity ceremony, and it had to be done right.
’He is really thoughtful.’ Jiang Yue thought, and his eyes became suspiciously wet.
"Do you want to get ready?" Yu Nianzhen asked.
"Since it has come to this, let’s do it right, all the way. Let’s get ready in different rooms."
Yu Nianzhen hesitated when he heard that.
He originally wanted to help Jiang Yue comb his hair, but he quickly let go of the hang-up.
After today, they would live an eternity together, and he could help him every day if he wanted.
"Alright.’ He finally agreed.
He took his set of things and was about to leave when Jiang Yue grabbed his arm.
"What’s the..." He started but stopped when warm lips fell on his own.
After a long kiss, Jiang Yue pushed him away and began to take off his clothes to take a bath.
When he saw that, Yu Nianzhen smiled softly and left the room.
An hour later, Jiang Yue descended from the third floor.
He was wearing an elaborate red robe embroidered with golden moon pearls while Yu Nianzhen wore a similar robe embroidered with golden swords.
Although the robes weren’t embroidered with the traditional dragons and phoenixes, they were more fitting for the two.
"You look exquisite." Yu Nianzhen whispered as he took Jiang Yue’s hand.
His voice was a little hoarse, and he looked like he was holding himself back.
However, his eyes were extremely soft, and his lips were curled in a gorgeous smile.
"You are also very handsome." Jiang Yue said and blushed.
He didn’t know what was happening. For some reason, he couldn’t stop blushing.
"I am glad you think so."
After that, Yu Nianzhen led Jiang Yue out of the first-floor door.
They walked around the palace building and came to the backyard of the ancient palace.
"Did you do this?" Jiang Yue asked as he looked around in astonishment.
Yu Nianzhen didn’t know how the artefact was refined, but its area included land that surrounded the palace building.
The land was only five metres in diameter, but it was enough to plant common herbs and raise a few beasts.
However, there were no herbs or beasts at the moment.
Instead, Yu Nianzhen had constructed a small altar in the backyard.
On the altar, Jiang Yue saw four portraits and his eyes reddened.
"This is good." He said.
Jiang Yue didn’t know if their previous life parents would have accepted the relationship between them, but he hoped for it.
Although they didn’t have the chance to worship in person, he liked that Yu Nianzhen had gone out of his way to place their portraits on the altar.
"If we cultivate to the extreme, there may be a way to see our families again. Until then, let’s keep them in our thoughts."
"Good." Jiang said and held the other’s hand.
A moment later, they both knelt.
"XiaoYue, do you remember what I told you last year?" Yu Nianzhen asked.
"Life, death, or apart, as we vowed; we will hold hand, grow old till the end."
"In this life and every other life, you are my only one. Will you have me?"
When he heard that, Jiang Yue’s heart skipped a beat.
Yu Nianzhen’s words weren’t elaborate, but they were enough for Jiang Yue. He didn’t need fireworks and flashy displays of love, all he needed was this.
"Together, we cook fine dishes and drink wine till our hair turns grey. Together we play Qin and Se, live our life in happiness and peace." Jiang Yue answered, and Yu Nianzhen looked at him in wonder.
"What? I also know a few good words from the book of songs." Jiang Yue mumbled, and Yu Nianzhen chuckled.
He pulled the other into his arms and kissed him on the forehead. While doing that, he slipped a jade ring on the other’s ring finger.
"I am sorry it’s not the best. I forgot that, in this world, accessories are refined rather than curved."
Yu Nianzhen was a little embarrassed when he said that.
The ring he gave to Jiang Yue was curved from the special jade he bought after returning from the sea beast invasion.
Unfortunately, it didn’t occur to him until much later that curving wasn’t as good as refining.
"It doesn’t matter." Jiang Yue said and looked at the jade ring.
It was a simple band with their initials etched on the inside, but he didn’t despise it.
After all, they came from a world with no cultivation and refining.
Although the ring wasn’t as useful or aesthetically pleasing as a refined one, it was Yu Nianzhen’s heart, and Jiang Yue naturally liked it.
"Where is yours?" He asked.
"Here." Yu Nianzhen gave him the ring, and Jiang Yue helped him wear it.
Looking at the rings on their fingers, they smiled in satisfaction.
They then bowed to the heavens, bowed to the parents, and finally bowed to each other.
However, this was not the end of the marriage ceremony.
Although they had completed the marriage rituals, they were just a married couple.
If they wanted to become a true Taoist couple, they still had to make a Taoist oath. Only after worshipping the tao could they become a Taoist couple.
"Are you ready?" Yu Nianzhen asked in a whisper.
Rather than answer, Jiang Yue removed a dagger from his robe sleeve.
This dagger was a gold ceremonial dagger inlaid with gems that Jiang Yue had discovered amongst his set of wedding things.
Without a word, he cut his hand and allowed blood to pool on his palm.
"I, Jiang Yue, swear by my soul with the tao as a witness. From this day, I take Yu Nianzhen as my only lover and Taoist companion. I will accompany him in this life and every other life. I will love him above all else and never abandon him, irrespective of life or death. If I violate my oath, my soul shall be destroyed and never enter reincarnation." Jiang Yue swore solemnly.
After making the oath, the blood on his palm condensed into a drop and floated in front of him.
When Jiang Yue saw this, he gave the dagger to the other, and Yu Nianzhen didn’t hesitate.
" I, Yu Nianzhen, swear by my soul with the tao as a witness. From this day, I take Jiang Yue as my only lover and Taoist companion. I will accompany him in this life and every other life. I will love him above all else and never abandon him, irrespective of life or death. If I violate my oath, my soul shall be destroyed and never enter reincarnation." He said.
A moment later, his blood also floated up and collided with Jiang Yue’s.
When they touched, the two drops of blood mixed and eventually became a single drop. This drop was golden and radiated a golden glow that was purer than the buddha’s light.
Soon after, the light dimmed, and the drop divided into two runes.
Looking at the two runes, Yu Nianzhen and Jiang Yue felt familiar but couldn’t tell what was familiar about them.
However, they didn’t have time to dwell on it.
Before they could figure it out, the two runes flew to them and entered between their eyebrows.
At that moment, both felt a profound meaning enter their bodies, and their souls were filled with ecstasy.
’Is this the tao’s affirmation of our union?’ Yu Nianzhen wondered and looked at Jiang Yue.
As it happened, Jiang Yue was also looking at him, and their eyes stuck on each other.
Although they had looked at each other millions of times, this time felt different. This time, they were Taoist companions, and their souls were inextricably connected.
Previously, they could somewhat understand each other’s thoughts by observing facial expressions and small gestures.
However, this understanding was superficial compared to the new understanding after making the soul contract.
After becoming a Taoist couple, their awareness of each other was magnified, and both could understand the subtle feelings that the other was experiencing.
’He has a stone face, but he is secretly so happy.’ Jiang Yue observed, and his lips curled in a brilliant smile.
