Conquering That Great Demon Lord [Xian Ni Fan Fiction] - Chapter 46: Wedding

Chapter 46: Wedding

Li Muwan leaned against his chest and nodded slightly. She didn’t want to disappoint Wang Lin, so she could only follow his wishes in everything.

Wang Lin tidied up the room he had previously lived in. Li Muwan leaned against the doorframe watching his busy figure – wiping tables, sweeping the floor – and found herself somewhat at a loss.

“Senior Brother knows how to do these things?”

Wang Lin, who was moving furniture inside, turned around. His bangs fell near the corner of his eyes as the young man smiled lightly. “Wan’er, stand further away. There’s a lot of dust.”

Li Muwan obediently stepped back a few paces, standing under the eaves. His figure moved gracefully in his elegant white robe, sleeves slightly rolled up, slender waist tied with a sash. She found herself staring at his back in a daze.

The setting sun slipped through the window cracks, illuminating the young man’s outline. When he finished cleaning, Li Muwan felt something was missing.

“Senior Brother, I’m going out for a while.” She turned and left the courtyard. When Wang Lin looked back, Li Muwan’s figure had already disappeared. He quickly teleported after her, arriving outside the courtyard to find her standing on tiptoe picking a few branches of white plum blossoms, holding them in her arms.

“Wan’er.” Wang Lin felt lingering fear. Even if she disappeared from his sight for just a moment, he couldn’t bear it. Only when he saw her did the fear in his heart subside.

Li Muwan looked up at the anxious Wang Lin, her expression vague and somewhat confused. “Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”

Wang Lin slowly approached her and gently embraced her. She still held the plum branches in her hands, positioned between them, extending diagonally and covering half of Wang Lin’s face.

“Wan’er, don’t go too far,” he whispered softly, his palm stroking her hair. “Whatever you want to do, call me to do it with you.”

“Alright.”

Li Muwan pondered why he had become so inseparable from her. In the past, it was him who would leave without hesitation, disappearing for decades or even centuries. But now he wanted to stay by her side every moment.

Li Muwan redecorated the room, placing the simple white plum branches in white porcelain vases, and decided to arrange the red silk decorations as well.

At first she didn’t want Wang Lin’s help, but her height was limited and she couldn’t reach the eaves and bed canopy. Not wanting to use magical art, she could only call for Wang Lin’s assistance.

“Senior Brother, please help Wan’er.” Her soft voice carried to the courtyard. Wang Lin, who was tidying up outside, turned around with his arms crossed over his chest, looking at her appraisingly. “What? Didn’t Wan’er say she didn’t want me causing trouble?”

“I can’t reach.” She said coquettishly.

Wang Lin originally wanted to maintain his composure a bit longer, but seeing her like that, he couldn’t hold out any longer. He approached and took the red silk from her hands. “Where does Wan’er want to hang this?”

Li Muwan pushed him forward by the waist, pointing to the hook hanging above. “Here. Later there will be paper-cuts for window decoration, good fortune characters, double happiness symbols…”

“The bed curtains need to be changed to red too, for celebration.”

Wang Lin had already finished hanging it and looked down at the person who was murmuring to herself.

“Wan’er remembers all these details so clearly.”

“This is my wedding with Senior Brother, of course I should take it seriously.”

“But this wedding,” Wang Lin’s eyes held apology, “is too simple. I’ve wronged you, Wan’er.”

She didn’t mind. “The wedding at Cloud Heaven Sect was grand, but I wasn’t happy either. Senior Brother, you don’t need to blame yourself. Wan’er only wants to bow with you before my parents once.”

To fulfill a long-cherished wish.

Though she didn’t voice it aloud – what would be fulfilled wasn’t just Wang’s Father and Wang’s Mother’s long-cherished wish, but hers as well.

Their figures were cast in the courtyard as Wang Lin hung red silk and pasted paper-cuts for window decoration, with Li Muwan beside him guiding him.

After finishing the courtyard decorations, the shabby small courtyard was completely renewed, finally taking on the appearance of a wedding chamber.

Li Muwan stretched lazily and sank into the prepared red mattress, gazing at the surrounding curtains that tinted her small face crimson. “These mortal tasks are surprisingly more exhausting than cultivation.”

Wang Lin brushed dust off his robes and glanced at the figure half-buried in the bedding, his eyes filled with affection and a smile touching his lips.

He leaned down, slid an arm behind her waist, and lifted her into his embrace. “Wan’er is tired.”

“Since you know I’m tired, why won’t you let me rest a while longer?” Li Muwan narrowed her eyes, allowing him to hold her.

“One thing remains.” Wang Lin carried her to the writing desk.

“What?”

“The marriage certificate.” Wang Lin swept his sleeve, revealing ink, brush, paper, and inkstone neatly arranged on the desk.

“Marriage certificate?” Li Muwan lifted her face, tilting her head to press her cheek against his.

“Mm.” Wang Lin replied earnestly. “When mortals marry, they must have a marriage certificate. Other rituals may be omitted, but not this.”

“Didn’t your storybooks mention this?”

Li Muwan shook her head, quietly waiting for Wang Lin to begin writing.

During her previous wedding arrangement with Sun Zhenwei, the Azure Water Sect had no tradition of marriage certificates.

Wang Lin picked up the brush and began writing:

Magpies grace the beams, mandarin ducks take flight,

Two families unite, one hall binds the rite.

This glorious hour, radiant as maple leaves ablaze,

Peach mountains verdant, through endless days.

Sworn to constancy, necks entwined never to part,

Blessing this household, warming the heart.

With vows of white-haired years, inscribed on swan-feather scroll,

This pledge of crimson leaves, on mandarin duck registry told.

Thus this covenant we hold.

Wang Lin paused his brush, then signed his name: “Wang Lin.”

He passed the brush to Li Muwan, who grasped it and looked up at him.

“Now it’s Wan’er’s turn to write.”

Li Muwan scanned the document and wrote “Li Muwan” beside the two characters for “Wang Lin.”

Once the ink dried, she traced the edge of the marriage certificate with her fingertip. “So this is a marriage certificate.”

“It is our marriage certificate.”

“Since tonight is auspicious, why don’t we take this perfect moment to don wedding attire and pay respects to our parents?” Wang Lin took Li Muwan’s hand and led her slowly to the bed.

Li Muwan paused in thought, then retrieved pre-prepared wedding garments from her Storage Bag. The intricate wedding attire rustled behind a screen as Wang Lin watched her silhouette move, his thoughts drifting.

If his parents were still alive, his wedding would have been just like this.

“Senior Brother, I need your help.” Li Muwan called softly. When Wang Lin didn’t respond, she called again.

“Senior Brother.”

Wang Lin finally snapped back to reality, his pupils dilating slightly before he lowered his gaze and stepped behind the screen. “Wan’er.”

“The tassel behind this waist sashplease adjust it for me.”

Wang Lin looked down to locate what she mentioned. The wedding dress concealed her slender waist, yet he could almost see through the fabric to visualize her figure. His large hand silently traced the curve of her waist, following the sash until his fingers gently straightened the flowing tassel at her back.

“Done.” Wang Lin’s voice was husky.

Li Muwan turned around, resting her arms on his broad shoulders. “Senior Brother, now it’s your turn.”

Only Wang Lin’s wedding attire remained on the clothing rack.

“Senior Brother is tall and robust. I put considerable effort into making this wedding suit.” She turned to fetch the inner garment from the rack. “First change out of what you’re wearing.”

“Change here?” Wang Lin responded instinctively.

“Hm?” Li Muwan tilted her head. Hadn’t they done everything together already?

They’d done everything. How he had teased her in the back hills of Azure Water Sectjust remembering it made her earlobes burn red. Why was he being shy now?

“Should Senior Brother and I still stand on ceremony about such things?” Her peach-blossom eyes widened, long eyelashes fluttering.

Seeing her speak so earnestly, Wang Lin no longer hesitated and lifted his arms. “Since that’s the case, then Wan’er should help your husband undress.”

She was still holding the wedding attire lining and couldn’t free her hands immediately. “Senior Brother should remove it yourself first, then Wan’er will help you put it on.”

Wang Lin stared at her while undoing his robe, his gaze never leaving her.

Li Muwan subtly turned her face away to avoid his gaze. Wang Lin concealed a smile, not exposing her evasion.

“Done.” After what felt like a long time, a warm breath brushed her ear, startling her into a tremble.

Li Muwan turned sideways, her gaze level with his clearly visible collarbones. Below lay his solid chest with distinct contours and two pink buds clearly visible. With just a glance, her heart began racing uncontrollably.

The one who had spoken so boldly earlier was her, yet now the flustered one was also her. Li Muwan feigned composure. “You… turn around.”

Wang Lin raised an eyebrow with a smile and stepped forward, his chest pressing closer. His bare torso touched her soft lips, making her blush with shyness.

Li Muwan instinctively retreated half a step but was held by a long arm. “Didn’t Wan’er say there’s no need to avoid anything?”

“Then… then raise your arms.” Li Muwan lowered her eyes, her gaze unintentionally drifting toward his slender waist and abdomen, unable to resist stealing a few more glances.

Wang Lin extended his arms, deliberately raising them slightly higher. Li Muwan stood on her toes to drape the garment over him. After much effort, she finally got it on, though the waistband remained untied.

Her slender arms encircled Wang Lin’s waist from behind as she searched for the ties. The strings were tucked inside the liningshe couldn’t reach them nor see them, fumbling for a long time. Wang Lin only felt her hands wandering restlessly around his lower back.

“Wan’er, what are you feeling for?”

His breath brushed past her. Li Muwan suddenly looked up, just in time to meet Wang Lin who had leaned down. With a teasing smile, he jested, “After we complete the wedding ceremony, we still have the wedding night. You can feel me then.”

“We… wedding night?”

“Didn’t Wan’er say before that mortal couples must consummate their marriage to complete the ritual?”

“Oh…” Li Muwan looked up dazedly, gazing at him innocently. “I… I was looking for the ties…”

“Found them yet?”

“N… no…”

He chuckled softly, reached behind himself, and pulled out a string, then took her arm. “Here.”

Li Muwan grabbed the string and finally tied the waistband.

She then helped him into the outer robe and ceremonial coat, even the hair ribbon was red.

“This is the first time I’ve seen Senior Brother in red.” Li Muwan stared captivatedhis natural elegance stood like an orchid and jade tree, his smile like bright moonlight embracing the world.

He remembered how Li Muwan looked in wedding attire, etched deeply in his memory.

“Then let Wan’er look her fill.”

Their figures supporting each other, they left the room and headed toward the main hall of the small courtyard. Red candles illuminated the space, their flames flickering. Wang Lin wouldn’t kneel to heaven and earth, only to his parents.

“Father, Mother, today is your child’s wedding day with Wan’er. Your son brings his wife to honor you from afar, praying for an eternal bond witnessed by the stars and moon.”

After these words, the newlyweds knelt and bowed three times before the memorial tablets.

The tassels of the red veil brushed the floor as the couple turned to face each other.

Wang Lin lifted the veil, revealing beauty that could overshadow the present and ancient times, making lotus flowers blush before her jade-like countenance. Their eyes met, smiles spreading across their faces.

Husband and wife bowed to each other.

“Eternal unity, growing old together.” Wang Lin cupped her jade-like face, pale as frost and snow. The red candles cast a rosy glow upon her, like a snow lotus waiting to be gathered.

“Growing old together.” Li Muwan responded with a radiant smile.

After the ceremony concluded, the two returned to their wedding chamber. Wang Lin held her in his embrace as he spoke, reminiscing about vague childhood memoriessome still vivid, though most had gradually faded over the centuries.

Li Muwan listened, leaning against his sturdy chest while candlelight flickered in the room.

Moonlight slipped through the treetops as birds and beasts in the bamboo forest quieted. The night deepened.

Wang Lin set aside his thoughts and helped remove her makeup, taking out the vermilion hairpins until her dark hair cascaded down. Li Muwan handed him a wooden comb, saying, “Senior Brother, please comb Wan’er’s hair.”

Wang Lin took the comb and gently ran it through her strands. Li Muwan softly chanted, “First comb, from start to end.”

Wang Lin paused slightly. Li Muwan chuckled, “This is something Wan’er read in a storybookauspicious words.”

“Mm.” Wang Lin continued combing.

“Second comb, white hairs reaching the brows,” Li Muwan whispered, hiding her regret behind a smile.

“Third comb, children and grandchildren filling the halls…”

“Wan’er.” Wang Lin’s eyes grew moist. His Life and Death Conception sensed an intensifying aura of death in that moment.

“Wang Lin,” Li Muwan grasped his palm and pressed it against her cheek, “The storybook also says that after the ceremony, we should drink the nuptial wine.”

They hadn’t prepared any wine, but Wang Lin still had some fruit wine in his gourd.

“Then let this serve as substitute.”

Li Muwan fetched two cups from the table, and Wang Lin deliberately poured less into hers.

“Wan’er has low alcohol tolerance, so she can only drink a little.”

Li Muwan still remembered how at Cloud Heaven Sect, she’d gotten drunk on the fruit wine he gave her, spoken nonsense, provoked his anger, and ultimately had to flee.

“You don’t hold a grudge, do you?” Li Muwan held her cup, gazing intently at him.

“What does Wan’er mean?” He feigned ignorance.

Li Muwan didn’t press further, instead drawing out her words melodiously, “It’s time to drink the nuptial wine, hus…band…”

Cups emptied, wine vessels set aside, bed curtains drawn, red candles extinguished.

That night’s bliss behind crimson drapes carried no trace of cultivation leveljust the wedding night of two ordinary mortals. Wedding attire lay scattered beneath the low bed, red candles burned to their ends, and morning light filtered through the window, softened by paper-cut decorations.

Li Muwan burrowed into the red mattress. She turned over but found Wang Lin’s side empty. Hazily propping herself up, she peered around the room and saw clothes neatly arranged on the rack.

“Senior Brother?” she called softly, her morning voice hoarse.

Both windows and door were closed.

Li Muwan threw off the covers, slipped on her shoes, and realized she only wore an undergarmentwith clear bite marks on her fair skin. Since her health had declined, from Cloud Heaven Sect to Zhao Kingdom, Wang Lin had never been intimate with her again.

But last night was special. Neither restrained themselves. Li Muwan had climbed atop him, actively guiding him, even using the red bellyband she’d removed to cover his eyes.

When he grew intense, his hair ribbon came loose under her tugging, and Wang Lin had entangled it with hers instead.

Recalling last night’s passion, Li Muwan’s cheeks flushed. If Wang Lin saw, he’d surely tease her.

She reached for her clothes, dressed neatly, and sat before the vanity to apply makeup and style her hair.

Pulling a strand forward, she gently combed through it. Seeing her slightly haggard reflection in the bronze mirror, she sighed inwardly.

As she lowered her head, she noticed a few silver strands mixed in her dark hair. Li Muwan’s gaze fixed abruptly, helplessness flashing across her face before she quickly concealed her sorrow, tucking the white hairs deep within.

Footsteps approached outside. Soon the door opened, revealing Wang Lin holding several branches of white plum blossoms. His eyes were drawn to the graceful figure at the dressing table. Li Muwan continued her toilette as if nothing were amiss, a soft smile gracing her lips.

“Why are you up so early?” She turned around, just bumping into him.

“The sparrows in the courtyard were chirping early, so I woke up and picked some freshly bloomed white plum branches for Wan’er.”

Wang Lin placed the plum blossoms in a porcelain vase and wrapped his arms around her. Li Muwan, afraid he would notice those few silver strands in her hair, pushed him to turn sideways.

“Wan’er hasn’t finished her makeup yet. You’re not allowed to look.”

“Haven’t I seen you in every state imaginable?” Wang Lin didn’t move, gazing at her intently.

“You” Li Muwan was at a loss for words, “That’s different.”

When she was crying out repeatedly in his embrace, her appearance was all disheveled, and she never said he couldn’t look. Now it’s just that she hasn’t applied her makeup yet, and even without powder or rouge, she’s still charmingly delicate.

Wang Lin pulled over a chair and turned the one she had been sitting on to face him.

Then he picked a stone pencil from the makeup box. “Wan’er, let me draw your eyebrows for you.”

“Huh?” Li Muwan tried to dodge, questioning him, “Husband, do you know how to draw eyebrows?”

“For which young lady did you practice? How come I didn’t know about this?”

“Unpracticed, first time,” Wang Lin turned her face toward him, “Please don’t blame me, my lady.”

With that, he began drawing her eyebrows. Li Muwan only felt a light, ticklish sensation and grew somewhat uneasy. “Senior Brother, are you sure you can do this?”

“If you make Wan’er look ugly, we’ve already bowed in the hall, completed the marriage ceremony, and signed the marriage certificate. No take-backs allowed.”

Wang Lin furrowed his brows. Li Muwan saw it clearly and panicked even more. “Did you really make me look ugly?”

“Don’t move.” Wang Lin held her still. “Almost done.”

Li Muwan’s heart alternated between panic and calm. When Wang Lin finished, he handed her a bronze mirror. She examined herself carefullyit wasn’t expertly done, but not as bad as she had imagined.

She turned her face back and forth to see, then said flatly under Wang Lin’s expectant gaze, “It’ll do.”

Hearing this, Wang Lin knew it didn’t meet her standards and tactfully said, “Then I’ll draw Wan’er’s eyebrows every day from now on. Practice makes perfect.”

“Why don’t you ask if I agree?”

Wang Lin broke into a smile, hoisted her over his shoulder, and headed outside. “No need to ask. Wan’er will agree naturally.”

“What are we doing?” Her feet weren’t touching the ground.

There wasn’t any work to do in the courtyard. Wang Lin had set up a Restriction around the Wang family ancestral home, so the scenes of daily life inside were shielded from outside view.

“After getting up this morning, I fetched some wood blocks to carve some small toys for Wan’er. You’ll keep me company.”

“Huh?” Li Muwan was still being carried. She lifted her head from behind him. “Then can Senior Brother teach me? Wan’er wants to learn wood carving too.”

“Alright.”

The wooden table in the main hall was specially used by his father for carving. The wood blocks had long been arranged here by him. He pulled over a wooden stool for Li Muwan and sat down himself.

“Wood carving emphasizes both form and spirit, but since it’s Wan’er’s first time, you must first learn the knife techniques.”

He held Li Muwan’s hand, encircling her from behind. The carving knife still felt cool.

“Grip the blade firmly with three fingers, and press two fingers against the wood block.” He taught her step by step with great care. “No need to cut too deepif you make a mistake, it can still be corrected.”

Li Muwan immersed herself in the carving, though the movements of her hand were almost entirely guided by Wang Lin.

“Senior Brother, you still haven’t said what we’re carving.”

Wang Lin said leisurely, “A statue of Wan’er.”

He had promised her one. Previously, at Cloud Heaven Sect, he had carved one for her, and Li Muwan had kept it with her even when she went to Tian Shu Kingdom.

“Last time you carved Wan’er playing with the Restriction Banner.”

“What are you carving this time?”

“Wan’er in her wedding dress from last night.” Wang Lin applied pressure with his fingers, wood shavings continuously falling away.

Li Muwan wanted to speak further, but Wang Lin stopped her. “Wood carving requires a tranquil mind, lest you injure your hand. Wan’er can say whatever she wishes after finishing the carving.”

“Oh.” She withdrew her thoughts and focused on the movements in her hands. Guided by Wang Lin, she seemed to grow increasingly familiar with this power. Noticing this, Wang Lin loosened his guidance, allowing her to perceive the deeper meaning of the wood carving herself.

Two hours later, the wooden block in her hands had transformed into a vivid miniature statue, and both of them were covered in wood shavings.

“Senior Brother, Wan’er has finished carving.” She cheerfully picked up the wood carving and smiled at him, like a child awaiting a reward.

“Wan’er has remarkable comprehension and learns everything quickly.”

“Then shouldn’t you give me some kind of reward?”

Wang Lin instinctively leaned in to kiss her lips, and Li Muwan tilted her head up to meet him. Yet, at the moment just before their lips touched, she turned her head aside, leaving Wang Lin with nothing but air.

A smug expression flickered across Li Muwan’s face, and in the next instant, she rubbed her cheek against his, the warmth brushing against her delicate, rosy skin. She wrapped her arms around Wang Lin’s neck, looked him straight in the eyes, and her gaze held a hint of provocation.

Wang Lin saw through her little game clearly but could do nothing about it. He stood up as if nothing had happened and walked outside. “Sitting for so long has made me a bit tired.”

He didn’t take Li Muwan with him, nor did he call for her to follow. Li Muwan remained seated on the wooden stump in a daze, watching his figure disappear outside without waiting for her.

Holding her small statue in her hand, she waved her wide sleeve, and in an instant, the wood shavings in the room vanished without a trace, restoring the space to cleanliness. Then she turned to the memorial tablets behind her and complained, “Father, Mother, Senior Brother is bullying Wan’er.”

“Who are you complaining about?” The figure from outside reappeared in the doorway, blocking the sunlight that had been streaming in.

“Of course, it’s you. Who told you not to wait for me?” she said sulkily.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

Li Muwan’s mind instinctively recalled that phrase.

I’ll take you to kill someone.

If Wang Lin said those words again at this moment, she was determined to turn back and complain to her parents once more.

“I’ll take you to see the romantic sights of wind, flowers, snow, and moon.”

Li Muwan’s face blossomed into a spring-like smile. The Fiend had changed his ways.

The affinity of the Soul Pearl had remained stuck at ninety-nine, just one step short. During these days of constant companionship with Wang Lin, Li Muwan had finally grasped the meaning of the eight words carved on the Jade Slip: “The Soul of Life exists, the Soul of Life does not exist.”

***

Over a month later in the Wang family courtyard, early winter arrived. Wang Family Village was covered in snowthe first time Li Muwan had ever seen snow. The snowfall was light, just enough to blanket the courtyard in white.

Wang Lin wrapped his arms around her from behind. “It’s cold outside.”

“I grew up in the Fire Burning Kingdom, and both Chu Kingdom and Tian Shu Kingdom have perpetual spring-like weather with no snow. This is the first time I’ve ever seen snowfall.”

“Then watch a while longer.”

Her voice grew faint, tinged with pallor. “There’s a saying in the mortal world: If we stand together in the snow one day, it counts as sharing white hair in this lifetime.”

Li Muwan brushed her fingers through Wang Lin’s red hair, guiding him down the steps. Snowflakes drifted down gently, clinging to their hair like starlight sprinkled across the night sky.

As their hair gathered a thin layer of snow, she revealed a contented smile. “Senior Brother, this counts as us sharing white hair, doesn’t it?”

“No.” Wang Lin’s voice deepened, his breath growing heavier.

“There’s no need to stand in the snow. Wan’er and I can share white hair regardless.” He cast a spell, adding a Restriction that kept all the snowflakes outside the Formation.

“No need to stand in the snow…” Wang Lin held her tighter; her body was cold. “Let’s not watch anymore. In a few days, when deep winter comes and the snow is thicker, I’ll bring you to see it again.”

“Then will Senior Brother accompany Wan’er to build a snowman?”

“Mm.” Wang Lin swallowed his sobs, transforming them into silent affection. He could keep the wind and snow at bay, but he could not stop the touch of death that time had left upon her.