Chapter 67: The Wedding Banquet of the Celestial Derivation Sect’s Saint Heir

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Wedding Banquet of the Celestial Derivation Sect’s Saint Heir

Shui Yuntian walked down the red carpet, a red silk ribbon in his hand. The other end was tied to the beautiful woman he had once only dreamed of acquiring.

His face was a mask of utter satisfaction and pride.

Ever since he had raped and murdered his personal maidservant at the age of thirteen, he had become madly addicted to the feeling.

The rumors all painted him as twisted and depraved, a piece of human garbage. He knew all about them, of course.

But who could possibly understand? If any of the women he had been intimate with had been as breathtakingly beautiful as Yun Xi, he would have been too busy cherishing them. How could he have borne to kill them then?

He was the Saint Heir of the Celestial Derivation Sect, the only son of the Sect Leader. Even the Monarchs of the Eastern Domain’s kingdoms had to salute him upon sight.

That those women died after he had graced them with his favor was their good fortune.

With his exalted status, what was killing a few common women?

He scoffed at the people who spread rumors about his twisted nature. They weren’t those women. How could they possibly know that, just before their deaths, the women had actually been begging him to kill them?

As these thoughts crossed his mind, he couldn’t resist glancing sideways at Yun Xi, her face hidden beneath the red bridal veil.

’Yun Xi is already at the Heartbeat Realm Late Stage,’ he mused. ’Although she still looks a bit delicate, surely she won’t be so intent on dying on our wedding night, will she?’

While Shui Yuntian was lost in his fantasies, he and Yun Xi had already stepped onto the ceremonial platform.

Shui Zebo stood to one side of the platform. Third Elder Luo Zefeng, serving as the wedding officiant, walked over to Shui Yuntian and Yun Xi.

He first gave a deep bow to the assembled guests, then declared in a resonant voice, "The Celestial Dao is eternal, the sun and moon are its brilliant witnesses. After long admiration, two families now join as one. A pact is forged in this hall, a blessed union forever bound, a perfectly matched pair. This follows the profound principles of the Celestial Dao, of Yin and Yang... Behold this day of radiant peach blossoms, so suited for hearth and home! It foretells a future of sprawling legacy, of prosperity and brilliance..."

"...Today, under the witness of all true cultivators of the Taoist Sects, let it be recorded: first, the amity between two great Sects; second, the single heart of two families; third, the shared virtue of our Taoist ways..."

"...In accordance with ancient rites, on this auspicious occasion, let the melody of marriage begin..."

"Will all guests please rise and bear witness!"

As Luo Zefeng’s voice rang out, all the seated guests rose to their feet. Only Yan Ying remained in her seat, showing no intention of standing.

Luo Zefeng shot Yan Ying a look, but just then, Shui Zebo sent him a message via voice transmission. Only then did the Elder avert his gaze. He raised his hands and called out, "Let the music play! Fire the ceremonial cannons!"

"Wait!" A sudden shout echoed across the entirety of Nanling Mountain, interrupting the ceremonial music just as it began.

The ceremonial cannons, however, had already been lit and could not be stopped.

Amid the booming of the cannons, the crowd saw five figures flying toward them from the northern horizon.

The one in the lead was none other than Yuan Muchun, the Second Elder of Red Blood Mansion.

On the Celestial Derivation Sect’s side, dozens of cultivators flew up to intercept them.

But Yuan Muchun just laughed heartily and said, "Is this how the Celestial Derivation Sect treats its guests? For the grand wedding of your Saint Heir, you sent invitations all across the Eastern Domain, but you neglected to invite our Red Blood Mansion. Tell me, is my Red Blood Mansion not worthy of attending this celebration?"

"However, out of consideration for our shared status as Cultivation Sects of the Eastern Domain, our Sect Leader, despite the lack of an invitation, has sent us to present a wedding gift. For the Celestial Derivation Sect to obstruct us in this manner... what is your reasoning?"

Standing at the edge of the platform, Shui Zebo listened to Yuan Muchun’s speech. He raised an eyebrow but still commanded the disciples in the air, "All who come from afar are guests. Escort Elder Yuan in!"

"Arrange for their seats!" Shui Zebo added, addressing the disciples below responsible for hospitality.

"No need!" Before he had even finished speaking, Yuan Muchun and his party of five had already landed on the ceremonial platform.

Yuan Muchun said, "Sect Leader Shui, there is no need for such courtesy. We are merely following our Sect Leader’s orders to deliver a gift. Once it is delivered, we shall take our leave."

With that, he waved to the four disciples behind him. "Present the gift!"

The four disciples unslung the satchels from their backs, placed them on the floor, and opened them. They then neatly arranged five human heads and five long swords along the edge of the ceremonial platform.

An uproar erupted among the horrified guests at the banquet.

The five heads had clearly been preserved with quicklime, yet their features were still recognizable.

The Celestial Derivation Sect Guards who had been hidden in the shadows now revealed themselves, drawing their swords one by one.

Shui Zebo was utterly enraged.

But the most enraged of all were the people from the Lingyun Sect.

For the five heads on the platform belonged to none other than the five disciples of Supreme Elder Ling Zhexing, who had died fighting for the Lingyun Sect at the Cloud Horse Jade Mine.

On the platform, Yun Xi also saw the five heads and the five swords. Her entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.

They were Chu Fan’s senior martial brothers. When they were alive, their love for him had extended to Yun Xi; they had doted on her immensely, even more so than her own parents.

"Yuan Muchun, your Red Blood Mansion has gone too far!" Yun Keji roared, flying onto the platform and pointing an accusing finger at Yuan Muchun.

Shui Zebo also drew near, his eyes filled with killing intent. "Is the Red Blood Mansion declaring war on my Celestial Derivation Sect?"

The Saint Heir of the Celestial Derivation Sect was getting married, and Cultivation Sects from all over the Eastern Domain had been invited. For Red Blood Mansion to deliver severed heads on such an auspicious day—this was far more than a simple provocation.

Yuan Muchun didn’t spare a glance for Yun Keji, who looked ready to murder him. Instead, he smiled at Shui Zebo and said, "Sect Leader Shui, you misunderstand us. Our Sect Leader Yan’s message is this: the marital alliance between your two sects is your own affair, and we have no say in it. However, we have a significant feud with the Lingyun Sect. We hope the Celestial Derivation Sect will not interfere in the matter between Red Blood Mansion and the Lingyun Sect. The five Top Class Masterwork Treasure Swords are the gift. The five heads are the warning. Nothing more."

At the edge of the banquet, the eyes of the Lingyun Sect disciples were bloodshot with rage. The only exception was Fifth Elder Li Mosheng, who remained impassive, his eyes narrowed to slits.

"Is that so? Then, Yuan Muchun, none of you will be leaving today!" Shui Zebo roared, raising his hand to give the order.

"Sect Leader Shui, you should consider this carefully," Yuan Muchun said with unhurried confidence, entirely unafraid. "I dared to come here. Do you really think I’d be so careless as to let myself be trapped?"

In the end, Shui Zebo did not lower his hand. His murderous gaze locked onto Yuan Muchun’s eyes for a long moment before he said resentfully, "The Celestial Derivation Sect does not welcome you. Get off Nanling Mountain."

"Hahaha!" Yuan Muchun let out a booming laugh. He shot a mocking glance at Yun Keji, shook his head, and then led his men away with swaggering arrogance.

This time, the Celestial Derivation Sect had utterly lost face. The Lingyun Sect had been just as humiliated.

Shui Zebo hadn’t forced Yuan Muchun to stay, not just because he worried Red Blood Mansion had other forces lying in wait, but also because it was his son’s wedding day. If a real battle erupted, the loss of face would be even greater.

Without waiting for Shui Zebo’s command, some disciples ran onto the platform to clear away the gruesome human heads.

At that moment, Yun Xi moved.

"Wait!" Yun Xi cried out, her voice choked with sobs.

"These were my most respected seniors," she said. "Please give me a moment. Allow me to tend to their remains."

"I’ll do it!" Yan Ying, who had been sitting calmly and observing the entire time, now stood up and called out.

She hadn’t understood the significance of the heads at first. But after hearing Yun Xi’s words, as well as the discussions among the elders at her table, she connected it to Chu Fan’s past and realized these must be the heads of his five senior martial brothers.

She stood up now only because she was worried the sight of these heads would destabilize Chu Fan’s state of mind and disrupt his plans.

Nearly everyone looked at Yan Ying in confusion, wondering why she had chosen this moment to get involved.

"These men were some of the closest and most respected people to a friend of mine," she announced. "Since I’ve happened upon this today, I will tend to their remains on my friend’s behalf."

However, the moment she finished speaking, Chu Fan’s voice rang out from an adjacent side hall.

"I will be the one to retrieve the heads of my senior martial brothers. I cannot entrust this task to another!"