Ветер и дым

Глава 44

Tang Congrong nodded and smiled, "It's all better now." She held out her other hand. He cupped both hands in his palms, feeling incredulous, "How are you better? When did you get better?"

“In the forbidden garden of Medicine King Valley,” Tang Congrong said, a slight blush on her face. After so long, feeling the warmth of his hand in hers, a tender feeling welled up in her heart, and she whispered, “I can practice Flower Rain Needle now.”

Chapter Eighty

"Good, good, we won't need the Rejuvenation Pill anymore." Tang Qiefang was overjoyed, holding his hand tightly and forgetting to let go for a moment. Tang Congrong lowered his head slightly, the soft candlelight illuminating his jade-like skin, pale red lips, and a faint blush on his face, as if he had applied rouge. His hair was down, hanging down beside his cheeks, smooth as silk, reflecting his skin tone, making him look so charming.

Yes, alluring. Tang Congrong was as alluring as water. Tang Qiefang felt a surge of heat in his chest, but in an instant, his face turned ashen, and he released his hands, covering his face.

Damn it, he couldn't resist having impure thoughts about him again.

I hate myself for this.

"Qiefang?" Tang Congrong noticed his unusual expression. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Tang Qiefang quickly smiled. "I brought you good news."

"I haven't even asked you why you went back. What happened?"

"Indeed, something happened. We had just arrived in Fen County when we met two elders from Suoding City. They were on their way to Tang Clan."

Tang Congrong was taken aback. "They've already received the news?"

“No,” Tang Qiefang smiled, “They’ve come to annul the engagement.”

Tang Congrong was surprised.

"It turns out that Baili Wuyou also has someone else in his heart. It's just right for the two of them to form a love alliance." Thinking of the scene when the two groups met, Tang Qiefang couldn't help but laugh out loud. "We thought they came to question us, and they thought we came to question us. We apologized countless times before we realized that no one had offended anyone. Everyone was happy."

Tang Congrong couldn't help but smile, "It really is good news."

“That’s not good news yet.” Tang Qiefang looked at him. “The good news should be about you.”

"oh?"

"The marriage alliance between the Tang Clan and Suoding City remains unchanged. However, now it's you and Baili Wushuang." Tang Qiefang smiled gently, a smile that seemed to hold a faint clarity. "Congrong, you are getting married."

And so, preparations for the wedding began.

The groom was Tang Congrong, the head of the Tang Clan, and the bride was Baili Wushuang, the number one swordsmith in Suoding City. The matchmaker was Yang Luoxue, the eldest disciple of Medicine King Valley, and the person invited to officiate the wedding was Xiao Pingjun, the head of Wenyuan Academy.

For the first time, the four major forces in the martial arts world have come together.

By the time both families had made preparations, spring had arrived. For the past few months, Tang Congrong had been indifferent to the wedding arrangements, leaving Tang Qiefang to manage almost everything. Gradually, Tang Congrong began to delegate some household affairs to him, and Tang Yuchang and others had become accustomed to consulting Tang Qiefang first, and then Tang Congrong, when faced with any issues.

Tang Congrong, the groom-to-be, was in a very relaxed position.

This was truly a once-in-a-century event in the martial arts world, and even the imperial court sent congratulatory gifts. During the wedding, almost everyone who could reach the Tang Clan arrived, and the entire city of Chengdu was overflowing with people. Even though the Hua family of Hangzhou booked all the rooms in the inns to celebrate the marriage of the Tang Clan's patriarch, a large number of people still kept arriving, and eventually even Pingyang County was filled with Tang Clan guests.

On the night of the wedding, the Tang Clan was packed to the brim. Servants had trouble even serving food, and the banquet hall on the street was full of people. Many people even said they didn't need to eat and would rather sit on the roof.

The most exciting moment has finally arrived.

Chapter 81

The bride and groom are out!

We've done the wedding ceremony!

They've entered the bridal chamber!

Such a mundane, ordinary event, one that almost everyone experiences at least once in their life, becomes exceptionally captivating because of the protagonist's legendary status. At the moment the ceremony concluded, the cheers of the guests nearly lifted the roof tiles of the Tang Clan; the so-called "shaking the house" didn't actually require profound internal strength to achieve.

Only two people remained silent amidst the noise, quietly watching the backs of the newlyweds.

One was Yang Luoxue, whose white hair was as lonely as snow. He watched the newlyweds go until they could no longer be seen, then gently turned his head and left.

The other was Tang Qiefang. As the elder closest to Tang Congrong, he accepted every toast offered by everyone. When Tang Congrong returned to offer a toast, he rushed to drink for her, laughing loudly, "Congrong, don't waste this wonderful night, hurry up, hurry up."

Everyone burst into laughter and urged Tang Congrong to go back to Tingshui Pavilion.

Before all the dishes were served, Tang Congrong was already half-drunk, drinking and laughing loudly, displaying a slightly wild demeanor. Tang Yuchang and the others hurriedly came to his rescue, while Tang Qiefang smiled, threw down her wine cup, and left the table.

Early spring in Tangmen was still as cold as winter, with a biting air. The wine you drank was hot and cold in your stomach at times.

He walked slowly, the lanterns casting long shadows behind him. As he walked, he saw red lanterns hanging from the eaves, their reflections shimmering red in the water.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the lakeside.

The night wind was biting, and the noise came from afar. The red light shone brightly in the waterside pavilion, while the moonlight on the lakeside was desolate.

The withered lotus in the lake seemed to have lost all joy tonight, appearing exceptionally desolate—or perhaps it was he himself who had failed to gain any joy, his eyes filled with sorrow, seeing only desolation in everything.

He wasn't the only one suffering a tragic fate.

Under a willow tree by the lake, a man leaned against the trunk, drinking.

That head of white hair was as lonely as snow.

Tang Qiefang sat down next to him, picked up the wine pot beside him, and took a sip.

The slight smell of alcohol rose in her head, and Tang Qiefang felt dizzy.

The feeling of being drunk is a hazy, dizzying sensation. The wine turns into water, flowing in waves over the heart, and the whole heart becomes intoxicated.

After tonight, Congrong will have a wife. Marrying, having children, growing old together—Congrong's life is like a broad, straight road laid out before him. How wonderful.

His life can be seen... almost seen when he is thirty, forty, or fifty years old. He will not get married, he will have no children, he will grow old slowly by Congrong's side, and he has no other desires in his life.