The result of the long conversation was finally settled: the wedding would be held in a quiet village a little distance away from Heaven Dou City. Yu Xiaogang had visited it once during his travels. He remembered the gentle slopes, the emerald meadows, and the lake that shimmered under moonlight like a silver mirror. The place had left an impression on him, tranquil and removed from the politics and scrutiny of the larger world.
"It will be perfect," he had said. "Just you and me, away from it all."
Liu Erlong had smiled, eyes warm with affection. "One month from now, then."
Flender, though silently nursing a pang of heartache, was genuinely happy for his old friends.
Unaware all their conversation was heard by someone.
The following day, after a much-needed day of rest, the Golden Iron Triangle set off from Heaven Dou City. The sun had barely crested the horizon when they passed through the northern gates, dressed in travel robes, bags slung over their shoulders. Flender handled most of the navigation, floating above occasionally in his owl form to scout the road ahead. Yu Xiaogang handled food planning and resources, while Liu Erlong remained in unusually high spirits, occasionally humming to herself as she walked beside her soon-to-be husband.
Their journey through the lush countryside was peaceful. The forests shimmered in the morning dew, and the path was lined with blooming wildflowers and the sound of birdsong. The days passed in ease as they made their way to the village, marking the start of a month of preparation.
---
Three Days Before the Wedding
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan – Heaven Dou City Branch
Though not as wealthy or influential as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan still held a formidable position among the upper echelons of soul master nobility. They were 3rd ranked among the 3 great clans.
Their branch headquarters in Heaven Dou City was modest compared to the ancestral estate, yet it stood tall and proud, nestled in one of the city's finer districts, its gates engraved with coiling lightning dragons and the family crest gleaming faintly in the sun.
On that particular morning, something strange disturbed the usual order of the clan.
Outside the gates, a filthy child, no more than eight years old, with a matted head of hair and tattered clothes, was loitering. He looked like he came from the slums, his bare feet calloused, his hands smeared with dirt. He leaned casually against a nearby tree, absentmindedly singing a song.
His voice, surprisingly clear and melodious for someone of his appearance, rang softly with strange, but pleasing lyrics:
---
She gazed from realms where stars have died,
Beyond the storm where truths still hide.
A sovereign wrapped in silent flame,
No voice can speak her truest name.
Above the chaos, throned in grace,
She walks the void none else dare face.
Through dreaming tides her thoughts do roam,
Where lost hopes sleep, she makes her home.
She weaves the past with future seams,
A queen of memories and dreams.
No lock can bind, no light outshine--
----
The nearby guard, a sturdy Soul Grandmaster dressed in clan uniform, turned his head, his brow furrowed in curiosity. At first, he had ignored the child's presence, but the song, felt pleasing ,each line more pleasing than the last, it held a strange weight, an otherworldly resonance.
He called out, curiosity getting the better of him, "Hey, kid! Where did you learn that song?"
The beggar child froze, then tilted his head, blinking with a confused expression. "I… I learnt it from my seniors," he said after a beat, voice small and uncertain.
Just as the guard considered pressing further, a commanding voice cut through the air like a whip.
"What is this nonsense?"
Yu Mian, the head of the Heaven Dou branch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, had emerged from the gates. His dark blue robes shimmered faintly under the morning sun, and a dragon-shaped jade pendant hung from his waist. His gaze fell on the beggar boy like a hawk spotting a rat.
His lip curled in disgust. "Don't you know how to do your job properly? What are these untouchables doing loitering at our gates?"
The guard immediately straightened, beads of sweat forming on his brow. "Apologies, Master Yu! I'll take care of it immediately."
He raised his spear and prodded it forward. The boy's eyes widened in fear, without another word, the child turned and bolted down the street, disappearing quickly among the alleys like a shadow fading in sunlight.
But as he turned to flee, something fell.
A folded parchment, weathered but sealed.
It had slipped from beneath the boy's ragged clothes and landed at Yu Mian's feet.
The guard quickly moved to grab it. "Master Yu, allow me to clean this trash off the ground—"
"Stop."
The word was soft but firm.
The guard froze, fearing he had already made another mistake.
Yu Mian stepped forward, his eyes locked on the parchment. What had caught his attention wasn't the boy's retreating form, but the faint, unmistakable insignia pressed into the wax seal—the emblem of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
He bent down and picked it up himself, examining the seal more closely.
"This isn't just any trash."
Breaking the seal with a practiced flick of his thumb, he unfolded the letter. His eyes scanned the contents—and for a moment, all expression drained from his face.
Inside was an invitation.
----
Marriage Invitation
With great joy in our hearts,
We, Yu Xiaogang - Son of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Head, Yu Yuanzhen
and Liu Erlong - the illegitimate daughter of Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Vice Deputy Head, Yu Luomian
request the honor of your presence
as we unite our lives in marriage.
After many trials and years apart,
destiny has led us to this moment—
to walk hand in hand toward a future we once thought lost.
Ceremony Details:
Date: [*****]
Time: [12:00]
Venue: [Rodia Village ]
We would be honored to share this day of celebration,
surrounded by those who have walked beside us
through hardship, loyalty, and love.
Join us as we write the next chapter of our journey—
simply as Xiaogang and Erlong.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Yu Xiaogang & Liu Erlong
-----
Author Notes: I am very happy that I have reached 100 chapters. Thank you guys for your support.