The auspicious day for the two brides was two days later, the sudden wedding that took place at the Lin Family residence was incomparably simple. Lin Xiaoyan was Lin Tongtian's beloved only daughter and Lin Laotai's beloved granddaughter, this father and grandmother obviously want this marriage to be announced to the world.
It was a bit against custom because it was carried out at the bride's place instead of the groom's, but the reason was understandable. The groom was the son of the late Jingong Yinjian Huang Weiqun from Hailang Biaoju and his home was razed to the ground more than three years ago.
Jinshui and Xu Qiao had changed their clothes and were present at the wedding, claiming to be Li Jue and Nan Xinglie, friends of Lin Jixuan who came from Baitu Shanzhuang, to the guards welcoming the guests at the front gate. No one knew those names, and none of the guards made it difficult for a disabled youth and a girl, the servants even directly escorted them to meet Lin Jixuan.
Lin Jixuan immediately recognized Jinshui and Xu Qiao, but Jinshui's condition shocked him. However, there were many guests at the Lin family residence. Jinshui and Xu Qiao also didn't openly claim to be Yumen descendants.
Lin Jixuan didn't feel free to ask about Jinshui's condition. He could only follow the two friends' disguises and later take them to the main hall to witness the wedding.
"When did you two arrive in Wuling City?" he asked while trying to smile and act natural. It wasn't difficult for him with his loose character. "Are you going to meet my father?"
"We arrived two days ago," Xu Qiao gave an answer, "we saw it that day your grandmother caught Huang Erge bringing Lin Guniang to an inn. We waited for the news from Lin Family regarding the wedding day. Didn't expect it to come so fast."
"Oh," replied Lin Jixuan, "Right, it is like that. Only I don't understand why Huang Yu is willing to marry my sister. Taking care of a mindless girl for life is not his exact style, but perhaps he can ask his two loyal servants to do everything. And then becoming my father's son-in-law, I don't think he can bear the consequences."
"Does your father know about this wedding?" asked Xu Qiao.
"My father had himself in seclusion since we came back from Wuzhang City, recuperated to keep his beifeng energy from dissolving," replied Lin Jixuan, "I also don't know if he will witness my sister's wedding or not."
"Lin Guniang became Huang Erge's wife, at least it's better than being killed so that she doesn't have to remember what happened in Wuzhang City," Xu Qiao said, "Your father loves your sister very much, he would want his daughter to live well."
"It's not that you don't know my father," Lin Jixuan said, "I have to meet guests, maybe after the ceremony I can accompany you again. This marriage was held suddenly, the invited guests of the martial world who came here shouldn't have recognized you two, but I also can't be sure."
"It's okay," said Xu Qiao. "We are only here to see the ceremony, and will not make any scene."
Lin Jixuan welcomed the arrival of a number of guests wearing bodyguard uniforms of Wuyuan Dian. They were the former followers of Lin Tongtian who were now working directly under Xianjing Wang. Jinshui and Xu Qiao didn't know them, nor wanted anything to do with them. They took their places in the darker part of the room, watching the ceremony from there.
Not long after the sound of percussion music was heard, Huang Yu and Lin Xiaoyan together entered the room to perform the ceremony of worshiping the heavens and the earth. Lin Laotai sat on the main seat, her expression radiant, not wanting to show the guests that this marriage was forged, and the bride was not conscious enough to know that she was about to become someone's wife.
Just as the bride and groom were asked to salute each other, the sound of musical instruments outside suddenly stopped. The guests held their breaths, Lin Laotai stood up, Lin Jixuan stepped back to his grandmother's side.
Lin Tongtian appeared at the door of the main hall where the ceremony took place and stepped inside immediately. He had not yet changed his practice outfit, his hands were tightly clenched and his face showed anger. The guests present saw his terrifying appearance, they didn't dare to whisper to each other, and some chose to go out and observed from a safer place.
The people in Wuling City didn't know that Lin Xiaoyan was held hostage by Xie Tianhu and his disciple. Throughout the city, there was only a slight rumor about Lin Xiaoyan's condition and the young man who took her to the Lin Family mansion but later kept her in an inn. Some said that the wedding was held to maintain the family's reputation. But since the groom was a young man from a reputable family, the rumor was subsided.
Lin Tongtian walked straight to Huang Yu. He recognized his future son-in-law as the son of the late Hailang Biaoju leader Huang Weiqun and also one of the eight Yumen descendants. When Lin Tongtian last saw Huang Yu in Wuzhang City, he had already given Huang Yu his permission to kill Lin Xiaoyan and avenge her after.
But today he heard that Huang Yu had accepted Lin Laotai's arrangement to marry Lin Xiaoyan, which means a Yumen descendant would become a part of his family. It was a real turn of events for him.
Lin Tongtian had already given up on his defeat at Wuzhang City the other day, and he couldn't hold back against Lin Jixuan's decision anymore, but he still didn't have a good impression of the Yumen descendants, and naturally wouldn't easily accept one of them as his son-in-law.
However, he loved his daughter Lin Xiaoyan a lot. He knew her condition and as a father of course he was very hurt. It was really hard for him to accept the fact. Whether he would choose to kill the daughter instead of letting her marry Huang Yu.
Huang Yu had already expressed his willingness to marry Lin Xiaoyan, and he also knew that he would have to face his future father-in-law soon or later. Lin Xiaoyan was harmed by his own brother, if it was spread out then the Huang Family's reputation would be damaged, and he also couldn't escape. Marrying Miss Lin was the only way to reconcile matters with her family, and quell the flames of enmity with Lin Tongtian, so he had to marry Lin Xiaoyan properly according to the rules.
Huang Yu bravely stepped forward, facing Lin Tongtian. Lin Tongtian stared at him intently, not caring that there were many people watching. Lin Jixuan was about to step up to defend his friend, but seeing his father's gaze made him hesitate. Jinshui and Xu Qiao watched from a corner of the room, knowing they couldn't interfere.
"Tongtian, the ceremony is over, they are already husband and wife," Lin Laotai spoke before anything happened, trying not to create an uproar that would damage the reputation of the Lin Family. "We didn't tell you because you are still practicing your inner energy, but I can assure you, your daughter gets a good match."
"Good match?" Lin Tongtian asked coldly. "This young man had announced to the world as one of the Yumen descendants. I never planned to take a Yumen descendant as my son-in-law."
The guests present were whispering to each other. Since the meeting at Yiling District some time ago, the Yumen descendants had indeed revealed their identities. Lin Jixuan was one, Huang Yu was another. Only those in Wuling City and its surroundings only heard the news spread, and did not witness it directly. Lin Tongtian's words just now were confirmed, some guests sounded regretful.
"Lin Dabo, I know Lin Guniang is your beloved daughter, you want her to marry someone reliable as well as it should be," Huang Yu replied to Lin Tongtian's words. "But I really want to take good care of your daughter for life, I know Lin Dabo will not make things difficult for me."
"You obviously knew I would make things difficult, but still said I would not make things difficult for you, your guts seem to be big enough." Lin Tongtian said to him, taking two steps closer.
"Huang Yu indeed one of the descendants of Yumen, but the descendant of Yumen is not someone who is unfit to be the son-in-law of the Lin Family," Huang Yu continued to say, "The Lin Family's enmity with our Yumen thirteen years ago is over, Huang Yu will not talk about it. Lin Dabo may test me, Huang Yu will try his best."
"Great," said Lin Tongtian. He was waiting for those words. "You cannot blame me then."
Lin Tongtian didn't like to talk too much, he immediately took action, exerting his inner strength in his arms, ready to smash down on Huang Yu. The other day in Wuzhang City he had lost most of his abilities and also suffered from internal injuries that were quite severe. However, this time's attack was also likely not to be underestimated. Huang Yu pushed Lin Xiaoyan on her nanny and took a step forward to face Lin Tongtian.
"I didn't say you shouldn't dodge or fight," Lin Tongtian said again. "Don't expect me to be generous."
One fierce punch went straight for Huang Yu, hitting his chest decisively. Huang Yu didn't prepare for self-protection, nor did he try to dodge, immediately being pushed backward, and crashing down on the floor of the room. Blood flowed at the corners of the lips, and pain fell to the top of the head. Lin Tongtian really wasn't generous with him.
Lin Jixuan reacted when he saw his friend get hit, but his grandmother held him back with her walking cane. No one should interfere in the business of the father-in-law hitting his son-in-law. Jinshui also reacted, but he still held back. Xu Qiao also looked worried, almost calling Jinshui Gege.
"Why did you take that hit?" Lin Tongtian asked Huang Yu.
"This one was for the fight at Wuzhang City the other day. Lin Dabo was about to declare, he had lost to the Yumen descendants, but not to Huang Yu alone," Huang Yu tried to stand up. "With this hit, Lin Dabo also wants to declare, in the future will not be afraid of any of us Yumen descendants. The Lin Family and Yumen Jiao are not in debt to each other, nor will they deal with each other anymore."
"That's right, I have lost to the descendants, I also admit it," Lin Tongtian said. "My son Lin Jixuan being one of you, I will not oppose. Whatever sect you want to create, it's no longer my business. But if you become the son-in-law of the Lin Family, then you should respect me as your father-in-law, I think this should be the case."
After saying that, he hit a second time, no lighter than the first time. Huang Yu again did not dodge, and once again he was knocked down to the floor. It was not so easy to stand up again. Lin Tongtian withdrew his hand.
"One more hit, if you don't die you can say it's a miracle," he said coldly.
"This punch is for Lin Guniang." Huang Yu was still trying to smile. "Currently she can't recognize her own family, her body was injured and she has a heart wound that can't be healed within a day or two. Lin Dabo punished the culprit, this is also the way it should be."
Lin Tongtian snorted in annoyance. "You bear the mistakes of others, why?" he asked.
"Lin Dabo, I...." Huang Yu stood up unsteadily. The old man had read his thoughts, but he still didn't want to mention his brother. "I sincerely want to marry Lin Guniang. I promise to take good care of her for life, help her heal her wounds, make her forget all the painful memories."
He held out his hands to Lin Xiaoyan while saying those words, his eyes stared at his newly wedded wife smilingly. Lin Xiaoyan's head was still covered in her wedding veil, but a tear fell down her cheek. No one could see it but her nanny looked down at her hands as she felt the teardrop there. Her expression told Huang Yu what happened.
Lin Tongtian didn't want to hit anymore. "The third punch, I will leave it to you first, later if you trouble Xiaoyan even a little, then I will charge you again," his words were a little softer. "You know her condition. No one here forced you to marry her. You shouldn't regret it."
Huang Yu knew it wouldn't be easy for him to go through his life in the future. The wife he just married won't be able to take on the duty of a normal wife, on the contrary, she would be like a child who needs to be cared for and watched over. No one could tell for how long, nor what will happen when she woke up and was able to recognize people.
The wedding ceremony was completed without any other fuss. Lin Tongtian returned to his secret room and continued his seclusion. The guests enjoyed the banquet that was held, and the bride and groom were herded into the room to continue removing the bridal veil and drinking wine together.
Jinshui and Xu Qiao left the Lin Family residence as the guests took their leave one by one. They promised to meet Lin Jixuan at the wine shop that night.
--
Jinshui refused to let Xu Qiao swallow the pill Yanzi gave her the second time that day. He kept the porcelain bottle in his pocket. However, he couldn't refuse when Xu Qiao didn't want to be left alone at the inn and insisted to follow him to the wine shop to meet Lin Jixuan. He only asked Xu Qiao to dress up as a young man so as not to attract attention.
The two waited at the wine shop until late at night. Xu Qiao felt tired and finally fell asleep half lying on the table. Jinshui drank his wine alone, waiting for Lin Jixuan to arrive.
Lin Jixuan was late, apparently, he had been busy all day, taking care of his sister's wedding guests and couldn't sneak away until his grandmother returned to her room.
As soon as he arrived at the wine shop, he immediately poured the wine into the cup and drank first, only then to realize that Xu Qiao was also there, asleep without noticing his presence.
"You brought her here too?" he asked Jinshui as he pointed at Xu Qiao. "I thought it would be just the two of us and there would be no need for a girl."
"You know she will always be with me," Jinshui said.
"Women are very troublesome," Lin Ju Xuan was mumbling, "when I brought my father back to Wuling I thought I would take care of him, then practice beifeng qi with him. My father grumbled about me becoming a Yumen descendant on our way but I felt like I could still accept it, and know how to deal with it. But it turns out that when he got here, he immediately secluded himself in his private room, not wanting to meet anyone. I worried about him, can't leave the house to catch up with you. But if I stay there, I have to face my grandmother, it's really more troublesome."
"Young master Lin is famous for not liking girls apparently his reason is fear of his grandmother," Jinshui replied.
"Nainai loves me very much, only she is an old granny, not easy to deal with."
He was about to say more and forgot about Jinshui's situation, but at that moment Huang Yu also appeared at the same wine shop, sat down directly in front of Jinshui, and took a jar of wine, gulping down the contents without pouring it into the cup.
The wine shop was located on the bank of the river. Jinshui and the others took their seats under the open sky. The moonlight that night was not bright, but the sky was clear without clouds. Huang Yu drank quite a lot, unlike usual, and his two friends let him drink for a while.
"The groom doesn't accompany the bride inside the wedding chamber, instead going out drinking and getting drunk," Lin Jixuan teased Huang Yu. "In the chamber there is warmth, outside there is only a cold wind, is it not a waste?"
"The bride also doesn't know whether the groom is there or not, nothing would make any difference," Huang Yu replied, "she's a mindless doll now, I can't demand anything from her. Wait until she is fully aware, this husband and wife matter will be decided again. If she doesn't want to continue, I will wholeheartedly let her go. But now, I can only be a fake husband."
Lin Jixuan laughed. "Xiaoyan is a beautiful girl, I think this fake husband's status will soon change to that of a real husband," he said, "you are already willing to marry her, what are you worrying about?"
"Hey, I don't want to take advantage of her. What if she doesn't like me?" asked Huang Yu.
Lin Jixuan laughed even louder. "Even if she doesn't like you, she would have to learn to accept you. You married her not because you like her anyway, just because you want to protect your family reputation, and also don't want there to be animosity between families."
"Who said I don't...." Huang Yu didn't continue his words. He could deal with the affairs of Yumen Jiao and the descendants and face bigger troubles, but he had never thought about women's affairs for the slightest bit. Taking care of Lin Xiaoyan was already troublesome enough, and this fake husband status will likely be a lifetime burden. He didn't know how to explain it later if Lin Xiaoyan's memory was healed.
"You really like Xiaoyan," Lin Jixuan guessed. "Then it's easy, you just make her like you too. In this way, if one day she realizes and understands the situation, you two can truly become a happy husband and wife."
Huang Yu took another breath, not wanting to reply. He turned his head and recognized Xu Qiao who was sleeping beside Jinshui. He knew what happened to that girl and felt a little guilt. However, his mind was in turmoil, he didn't want to explain at this point.
"Jinshui, what happened to your leg?" Lin Jixuan asked Jinshui. "You and Xu Guniang should be on your way to Baiyu Shan by now, waiting for me there. You two appeared at Wuling City, it can't be just for the sake of attending Huang Yu's wedding."
"I was injured by the enemy, but it's fine and I will recover soon," Jinshui said, not wanting to mention Liangshan Mojun. "I know Huang Yu is bringing Lin Guniang here, it just so happens that Qiao-er and I are not far away. We just come here. Perhaps, we can continue our journey to Baiyu Shan together with you."
"Yeah, sure we can," said Lin Jixuan. "My father has enough energy to beat Huang Yu until he vomits blood now, I guess I don't need to worry about him anymore either. Meifu (sister's husband), how about you?" he asked Huang Yu.
"I have already told Lin Laotai that I will take Xiaoyan with me, and she also knows that she cannot keep me in Wuling becoming the son-in-law of the Lin Family forever," Huang Yu said. "Tomorrow, Xiaoshan and Xiaohu should also be here with Li Qian and Lian-er. We can go with them."