Wedding (2)

One of the biggest traditions for royalty in the Nine Colored Divine Pheonix Demon Clan was superiority. While the banquet feasted and had a good time, Huang Dawei and a veiled Xiao Ya sat at the head of the hall and watched. They didn't participate.

The guest ate nine courses and a desert representing nine trials and a sweet rebirth. They also drank nine wines and a sobering tea representing nine foggy lives and sudden enlightenment. When they were finished, the sun was getting low and everyone had an air of tranquility.

Soon, a bell rang and everyone looked to the estate's gates. An old woman and a young girl walked to the hall holding hands.

Xiao could smother her shock as she looked at Huang Dawei.

"Where?"

"Shh." he calmed her.

As the elder and youth walked, Yi guards form an aisle and kneeled as they approached. Everyone immediately knew these two were special. When they made it to the door, the elder and youth bowed to the setting and entered.

"Bai Lingmei, Matrical Grandmother of Pavillion Master Xiao Ya enters the house."

"X-Xiao Nana, Pavilion Master Xiao Ya's sister enters the house."

Xiao Ya was about to stand but Huang Dawei held her down as four Xuan auras appeared at the main gate holding a magnificent statue of a Nine-Colored Divine Pheonix Demon. As it made its way to the door, the servants kneel and lay face down.

The four Xuan martial artists then spoke together, "Empress Dowager Huang Jiayao enters the door!"

True Power erupted from the statue and it seemed to have an awe-inspiring realism to it. It forced pressure on everyone in the room. Only Xuan Martial Artists and above barely managed to withstand.

Qin Yuechi couldn't but look to Huang Dawei as even she was pressured. Huang Dawei had a ceremony for each one of his Yi people who broke through the Xuan level. They would insert their power into the statue in preparation for this day.

The Yi Family secretly had over thirty-five active Xuan Martial Artists in the field and ten including the four statue bearers in the Capital.

Huang Dawei and Xiao Ya finally stood as Huang Jiayao's statute was placed at the head of the hall. When Xiao Ya's family took their place, the union between the two families began. Bowing before heaven, earth, and ancestors.

When it was finished, the statue of Huang Jiayao shined and lit the night in blessing. Huang Dawei finally removed Xiao Ya's veil to reveal a beauty in the prime of her youth. The crowd gasps and looked to Qin Yuechi who also mysteriously reversed time.

Everyone's stomachs were turning as the capital power scale shifted beneath their feet.

Huang Dawei then kissed his bride deeply and passionately marking the beginning of a new Era.

Once the ceremony was over, the banquet resumed with martial spars and the display of the Six Arts, Four Books and Five Classics, and a Discussion of the Dao.

It was then that Qin Chen shined after overcoming the shock of how much the wedding reflected the ancient murals in some ruins he explored in his previous life. But they were all of higher martial artists connected to higher realms as the lower couldn't fathom the profundity of the events.

In the end, Xiao Ya left her sister's side and gave her Testament.

"Thank you, all, for being here to celebrate this day with me." she began, "I've known a lot of you for many years. But the Testament is for my biggest Benefactor who put forth the most time and energy, allowing me to be here today, to live this moment. It is a humbling moment after a day of being the center of blessings and attention."

The guest had never experienced a Testament and wonder what was coming. Xiao Ya spoke loaded words and they wondered how the foreign tradition would end.

"Deacon Liu Guang, please come forth."

The deacon approached as the crowd muttered. Xiao Ya then pulled out a bottle and removed the cap as the sweet aroma filled the hall.

"I give you a High-Grade level 4 Pill from Heaven," she announced.

Many had never heard of it while others considered it a lost formula. The truth was that the Great Qi Empire wasn't so great.

Xiao Ya placed the pill in the man's mouth and fell to the lotus position as the energy swelled in him. He directed the energy through thirteen revolutions before he broke through to Early Xuan level.

"Pill Pavillion is definitely going to be bigger in the future," said Qin Yuanhong.

When the crowd calmed, Huang Dawei stood as an isle and large paper appeared. He then took a brush and ink. The moment it touch the paper, it never left as Huang Dawei painted an image of rivers, mountains, skies, and beasts.

"This…the spear…" said the emperor.

"The sword…" said Prince Kang

"The fist…" said Lord Liu

"It's the martial way…" Qin Chen added.

When the painting was finished, the room salivated as Huang Dawei walked it over to Yi Fei. She had done a good job over the years.

"Thank You, Miss Yi Fei," he said before turning away.

"Before the end, I would like to announce Qin Yuechi as my official concubine. I hope you all treat her well in the future," said Huang Dawei.

In the midst of their shock and the small swell of jealousy in the emperor, Huang Dawei released the array and the estate was open once again.

That night, the empire wondered who the hell Huang Dawei was and where he came from. But only the Emperor received his answer that night and he was worse off because of it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Deacon Liu, I hope you can handle the Pavillion until I return. I also want you and the deacons to focus on that new business plan. When I return, I want to start it right away."

"Yes, my lady." the Deacon bowed then led the Pill Pavillion people away. They were all ordered to remain in the pavilion until Xiao Ya's return.

The last guest was Bloodline Shrine Master, Dongfang Qing. "I assumed you were making a joke of me when we met."

"Of course not, Master Dongfang. My husband is simply amazing," said Xiao Ya.

Dongfang Qing looked at Qin Yuechi and Xiao Ya before nodding in agreement. He then turned to Huang Dawei and didn't know what to make of him.

"Looks are really deceiving," he sighed, "Lady Huang tells me that you need the new Bloodline Device. In honesty, I can't turn it on."

Huang Dawei chuckled. "I can. After receiving the schematics of the machine. I know it's not new, but new to you and the small Qi Empire. Honestly, with it, the Qi Empire is slated for monumental growth. If you allow me access, I'm sure we can help each other."

"I look forward to it, Lord Huang. And for your wedding gift, I felt it appropriate to hand it to you in secret. But I offer the gold badge of the bloodline shrine. It might help in the Zhao Kingdom. Though that bitch, Yan Rong'er is a nasty one. Be careful."

Dongfang Qing took his leave afterward and Huang Dawei sat down with a sigh. But his women had questions he could feel in their gaze.

"What?" he asked.

"How'd you find them? When I become the Pavilion Master, I hid them," said Xiao Ya, referring to her family.

"It wasn't hard. Just be at ease that they're here. As you saw, none of those men are getting past the arrays on the estate." said Da Wei.

"And the Xuan Martial Artists? How big is your force, really?" asked Xiao Ya.

Qin Yuechi was also interested.

"We could sweep the Empire if we wanted to. But that would leave us at risk to the other four powers and we wouldn't take over the Qi state without casualties. For now, they're information network as I told you." Huang Dawei explained honestly.

"Then what do you need me for?" QinYuechi stepped in.

"Because you're gorgeous, powerful, and the strongest in the Empire aside from that old ghost in the Royal Palace." Huang Dawei scoffed thinking about the Dowager of Qi.

"But I won't reveal myself," said Qin Yuechi.

"Of course not. We have other businesses outside of Qi. For now, the three of us have work to do." Huang Dawei smile mischievously and Xiao Ya blushed.

Qin Yuechi rolled her eyes at Xiao Ya's reaction.

'What can he really do?' she thought. She had seen her son many times and been young herself. Experience and common growth projected her for a brief and underwhelming night.

"Wait..." said Qin Yuechi, "I have one more question."

"Shoot," said Huang Dawei.

"Who...is Huang Jiayao?" she asked.

Huang Dawei took a moment as that topic was a hard one for him. But he was sincere about Xiao Ya despite his schemes and wanted to do the wedding right.

"She is my mother." he said, "She left me here sixteen years ago and has been missing. But I think I know where she is. That's why I need you both and everything feels so rushed and stunning. Everything I've done so far is to find her. Or at least something to tell me where she is and why I was left here."

"So I've always been a part of the plan?" Qin Yuechi asked.

"No. You were a surprise for me when I saw you in the market. If Qin wasn't treating you so badly, making you shop for your own food, I would have never noticed you." Huang Dawei was honest.

"Xiao Ya was the same. I mean, I meant to use the Pill Pavillion, but after watching her, the lines got crossed and the plan underwent modifications."

Xiao Ya and Qin Yuechi were silent.

"I'll help you." said Qin Yuechi, "If I was lost I would want someone to help Qin Chen."

"Any more questions?" asked Huang Dawei.

"Yeah, who's first?" Xiao Ya asked with a playful smile.