Tai is an old Dragon Priest of the "Draconic Lore". His long white beard decorates his face. His head was bald and shining. The hair that once sat on top of it was long gone. Wearing a soft white rope, with the image of a golden dragon engrave on the back of it.
Holding onto the wooden cane as he walks. Two strange figures stand in his way. But thanks to the dark surroundings he could not see their faces too well. But at least one of them is a woman and a man.
'ugh…please leave alone'
Tai thought to himself, thinking these people are nothing more than people asking for a blessing from the celestial dragon. Peasants that he has to deal with every day. As he was about to speak, the young man next to the woman spoke. In a low and masculine voice, full of life and energy.
"Grandpa, are you a Dragon Priest?"
"Hey don't call him Grandpa"
"Why, yes I am a young man. I am Dragon Priest Tai. How might I bless you today?"
Tai said in a low and caring voice. A voice he has practiced and perfected over the years when talking to the peasants that crow the temple. The woman was the next one to speak.
"Respected elder, I am Wu Zhihui and this is Xiong Ming. We wish to have a marriage ceremony"
'By the Celestial Dragon!'
The old man screams in his mind as he looks at the couple in front of him with fear and confusion in his eyes. He would have to be deaf to not have heard the names of the two strongest cultivators in the tournament! After today's fight, their names have been on the lips of every living human in this city.
Now, these two formidable fighters, who can easily kill him with thought are asking for a marriage ceremony!? This is too much! This type of information should not be shared easily! But look at this young couple, with no shame in their eyes and acting like this is normal.
'No No! stop! They might be able to read my mind and kill me if they find me disrespectful'
With shaking legs and hands, with a cowardly voice, the Dragon Priest spoke.
"Of-of-of course.. Might you enlighten this old mortal on what type of ceremony you want?"
In the Draconic Lore, there are multiple ways one can get married. You have a common way that mortals use. An exchange of vows and of gifts between families. Then you have Bound Marriages, a ceremony used by cultivators. In which one does a vow with their QI to the other.
The last type of ceremony is called Soul Bound. It uses a special white paste made from herbs and fruits. When eaten will connect two people closely. As a Dragon Priest says a special chant, the two souls of these two people will be bound together. Becoming one and two.
Like Mors will put it, equals under the heavens. In his years as a Dragon Priest, there is one type of marriage that young couples in loved will do.
"A Soul Bound ceremony will do respectable elder"
"Ah, of course. This mortal will be more than happy to soul-bound the couple together"
Zhihui smiles at this as she nods her head. With this type of ceremony, she and Mors will be "Equals under the Heavens" just as he says. Of course, Mors had no idea what this Soul Bound ceremony is about. But at this point, it's a bit too late to be asking.
"Please follow this old mortal to the temple. We should start the ceremony once we get there."
The old main Tai said to the young couple as he started to walk back to the temple. The young couple follows the old man. They walk down the streets of the city with no one to disturb them and see them. At this point in the night, most people are sleeping in their warm homes.
Zhihui could not help but thank their luck, they were able to find a Dragon Priest at this hour. She could not even imagen how she will begin to explain to her parents and her two servants about this. As a young lady of the Wu clan, getting married to a rouge cultivator is beyond the realm of possibility.
As cultivators, a life partner is someone that will always be there for each other. In the heat of battle or in the dirty swamp of politics. In the harsh journey to immortality and godhood. It is not something you decide in the heat of the moment and certainty not because you want to get more strength to your team.
Maybe marriage with Mors is a bad idea that will rob her of future possibilities. She just hopes he is not worse or as bad as her cousin. But as she looks at Mors she could not see that happening. As the first one to propose, he is someone who clearly does not care about losses to hold a grudge.
She could not help but believe that marrying Mors is a good choice, but only time will tell. As the trio arrives at the doorsteps of a large wooden temple. The old man opens the door as he welcomes the young couple into the dark and empty temple.
"Please enter esteem cultivators. Let's get the ceremony started"