48. Forest Of Snakes
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Weiyan and Linhua were helped out of their carriages and approached the main gates. Their maids helped them jump over the burning grates in front of the steps, and then they climbed the steps into the Manor.
At the hall, Luoyin had joined Zhang Cheng in front, and they eyed each other with clear distaste.
"Little brother, will you not take off your veil, even today?" Cheng taunted. "No way-! Perhaps you have an unsightly scar?!"
But Luoyin didn't even flinch.
"Big brother, you're making me shy!" Luoyin replied. "A groom should only seek the face of his bride on his wedding day! Don't simply approach anything in a veil!"
A few guests laughed, and Cheng nearly spat out blood in anger.
"The brides are now entering!" The Moderator announced.
Tong brought Weiyan forward to stand by Luoyin, while Linhua's maid brought her to stand by Cheng.
Another maid brought two knotted red cloths forward. Tong accepted one, and Linhua's maid accepted the other.
Lord Xu came forward and took the one for Linhua. He draped one end over her arm, and the other over Cheng's arm. Then he did the same for Weiyan's arm and Luoyin's arm. He placed Linhua's hand in Cheng's, patting their joined hands and smiling at both of them.
Then he placed Weiyan's hand in Luoyin's. He patted their joined hands as well, then smiled and winked at Weiyan, before returning to his seat.
"It's time for the Ceremonial Bows! First Bow to Heaven!" The moderator instructed, and both couples turned to bow at the wide opened doors.
"Second, Bow to your Parents!" The moderator instructed again, and both couples turned and bowed, first to Lord Xu and Xu Furen, and then to Lord Zhang and Zhang Furen.
"Third, Bow to each other!" The moderator instructed.
Luoyin faced Weiyan, who faced him as well, and it was as if time slowed down, as their heads lowered before each other.
'The Aura surrounding those two is outstanding!' Lord Xu thought. 'It's indeed fate that they ended up together like this!'
"Now, the couples shall perform the *Nuptial Wine ritual!" The moderator instructed again, and both maids brought in two trays, each with a pair of golden liquor cups filled with wine.
*(Jiaobeijiu- cross-cupped wine.)
"The first Couple should drink!" Said the moderator.
Cheng handed one cup to Linhua and took the other, then they cross-linked their arms.
"Xiaohua," Cheng began. "My love for you is written clearly on my face, which you can see, unlike the two 'brides' over there!"
Linhua snickered behind her veil, and a few of the guests laughed, as Cheng continued. "This face will only look at you from now on!" Then both of them drank from the wine, accompanied by applause from the guests.
Luoyin sighed and shook his head.
"The second Couple should drink!" The moderator's voice made the applause die down.
"Big brother," Luoyin began, as he handed one of the cups to Weiyan. "Why must you seek attention like this? Others are writing their love in their hearts, while you write yours on your face?
"What happens when you grow old? Aiya! Won't your love have wrinkles?!" The hall erupted in laughter and Luoyin smirked as he took his own cup.
He exchanged a look with Yinying, then faced Weiyan.
"However, if showing one's face is indeed a sign of love, then I must oblige! Because Xu Weiyan must have the best of everything today!" And with that, he yanked the veil from his face.
As Luoyin's veil slowly fell, there was a collective gasp from the guests, and Weiyan staggered backwards and nearly tripped.
But Luoyin's free hand caught her waist, holding her steady. "My Lady. Drink." He said simply, then slickly cross-linked their arms.
Luoyin raised the cup to his lips, and Weiyan did the same, but her gaze never left his face.
"Wow!" Xu Min exclaimed from among the guests.
"Hao!" Lord Xu applauded, making the guests applaud as well.
"Is that the same Zhang Luoyin?!" Asked a guest.
"He looks so much like his mother now!" An elder said.
"Wah! Such a perfect face!" A lady said.
"Why was he hiding something so great?!"
"Even if he's useless, at least he's a looker!"
Zhang Cheng scowled at the sight of Luoyin's face.
Luoyin indeed resembled the late Zhang Furen, with features that were beautiful, rather than handsome, with a pair of dimples which effortlessly pulled one's gaze.
Yet Luoyin's delicate features had an angular edge which made him undoubtedly masculine.
A face which reminded one of a sword and a flower at the same time.
~"Hmph! Show-off!"~ Yinying teased from the corner, and Luoyin threw him a smirk.
The two had discussed it the previous night.
Bailong couldn't spend his entire life behind a veil, and since Luoyin had the same face, all he had to do was deny being 'Bailong', even if he was accused.
And besides, he had lived as 'Zhang Luoyin' for almost half a year!
"Time to serve Tea to the Parents and receive their blessings!" The moderator finally said.
"Hmph." Lord Xu shook his head, as the couples approached him. "Xiaoyin is indeed full of surprises!"
Meanwhile, Luoyin's smile was wider than ever, giving the impression that he was supremely pleased with his wedding!
Well, he was pleased for sure...
Just earlier, as he and Weiyan drank the cross-cupped wine, he felt her arrow vanish from his wrist!
'Just four more to go!' And he smiled at Zhang Cheng, who was next in the grievances.
'My dear older brother... I'm looking forward to it!'
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The warm spring breeze blew outside, amidst joyous cheer inside.
The rest of the wedding ceremony went on as it should, but Weiyan was lost in her thoughts, as feelings of misery swirled around her, despite the celebration.
'It's Yin Xiaolong! He looks exactly like Yin Xiaolong!'
But it made no sense...
Yin Xiaolong had died, and she had seen him dissipate into millions of brilliant particles.
And besides, Luoyin did look like the Late Zhang Furen. But so did Yin Xiaolong!
'How is it possible?!" She wondered, unable to stop her heart from racing.
Guilt...
It washed over her with fury, dousing her thoughts, and she didn't know how her hands and feet moved to kneel and perform the tea ritual for both sets of parents...
Soon Linhua was led away to the Bridal Chamber, while Weiyan was led back to her carriage, which would take her to the Yan House.
The Carriage was escorted with the same extravagant fan-fare, but Weiyan's thoughts wouldn't let her be.
'Perhaps it's fate's punishment...' She concluded, as a tear ran down her face.
And in the solitude of the carriage, Weiyan finally recalled the parts of the memories she had tried to keep at bay.
...
..
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After saving her in the Lava Sea, Yin Xiaolong floated forward over the lava barely sparing a backward glance, while Weiyan struggled, jumping from rock to rock.
In her fatigue, she nearly fell a few times, but a rock would appear from nowhere to catch her feet, or a force would pull her back.
'Why would he save me?' Weiyan wondered. 'He surely has an ulterior motive!'
The heat from the Lava was immense, making her clothes stick to her, and she sighed in relief when her feet touched solid ground that wasn't floating on lava.
But she quickly straightened, glaring at Yin Xiaolong, who merely waved a hand.
Weiyan's sword landed at her feet.
"Put your hatred away. It's too obvious... Keep close, unless you really want to die." He warned and kept walking.
Weiyan eyed his back for a second, questioning the wisdom in following him any further...
'A once in a lifetime opportunity. I should follow and find a chance to kill him!'
She made her sword disappear and hurried up to him, and in a mere second, she saw why he had warned her to 'keep close'.
The dark cave suddenly opened up into a bright and beautiful sunlit forest, but almost every inch of the ground and trees were covered by slithering snakes.
'The Forest of Snakes!' She made the conclusion even a two year old would make!
No one in their history had ever made it this far, so Weiyan hadn't known what to expect.
But everything the immortals said about this forest, was a severe understatement!
Snakes climbed up the trees. Snakes rained from the trees.
Snakes jumped from tree to tree, snakes ran from tree to tree.
Some snakes were the size of large trees, and one even looked bigger than the Fiery serpent in the Lava Sea.
The only place there weren't Snakes was the area surrounding Yin Xiaolong's every step, so Weiyan was extra careful to 'keep close' to him.
"Why don't they attack you?" She asked.
"Ho? Did you learn nothing before coming here? Aren't Dragons the natural Kings of anything that slithers?"
Weiyan's brows drew together, but she said nothing.
"Big brother Bailong!" A voice rang out, and Weiyan turned to see a beautiful woman approach.
The woman was dressed like a princess from the desert regions to the West of Baishan, with clothes resembling sheer veils, lined with jewels. She wore loosely draped trousers, which were narrow at her ankles, and her stomach was on full display.
Her hair was long and black with an unnatural sheen, and her eyes were seductively slanty and lined with thick dark paint, making her resemble an exotically beautiful but deadly Snake.
She hissed at Weiyan, revealing a forked tongue.
'She IS a Snake!'
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