Bab 2: Chapter 2: Liu Erlong, the Auspicious Bride, and a Cascade of Rewards
Watching Zhou Yi leave, Flender put down his wine glass, grabbed a wine jar, and took a deep swig.
Drinking to drown one's sorrows only made them worse.
He, too, was in love with Liu Erlong.
But alas, he was too unattractive, lacking any competitive edge.
Now, as he forced himself to smile and attend the wedding of the goddess he loved the most, his heart brimmed with bitterness.
Thinking of his beloved goddess soon becoming another man's wife, Flender felt as if countless silver needles pierced his heart.
"Boss Flender, bottoms up!"
Yu Xiaogang raised his own wine jar, channeling his frustration into his drinking, gulping down mouthfuls until he choked. He sought only the solace of drunken oblivion.
Alcohol numbed the nerves.
Only intoxication could make him forget that tonight Liu Erlong would consummate her marriage.
Forget the bitterness in his heart.
One cup followed another...
Flender collapsed.
Yu Xiaogang, too, became thoroughly drunk.
Lying on the table, his bleary eyes suddenly caught sight of a figure atop a distant rooftop—a celestial maiden, ethereal and elegant.
A crescent moon hung above her head, and the cool moonlight draped her in a soft glow. Her jade-like skin shimmered, making her seem like a fairy descending from the Moon Palace.
Faintly, she even seemed familiar.
"Dong'er…"
A pure and otherworldly silhouette flashed through Yu Xiaogang's mind—that of his first love.
He tried his best to open his eyes wide for a clearer look, but the alcohol overwhelmed him. His vision blurred further as exhaustion consumed him.
His eyelids felt impossibly heavy, as if weighed down by a thousand catties.
Finally, he gave in.
His body slumped onto Flender's lap, arms wrapping around him as he murmured:
"Dong'er… Erlong…"
"Zhou Yi… Liu Erlong…"
On the rooftop, Bibi Dong stood clad in a pure white dress. Her snow-like skin seemed illuminated by the moonlight, her gaze complex as she watched Zhou Yi walk toward the bridal chamber.
She paid no attention to Yu Xiaogang below, lost in her thoughts.
"When I become a Titled Douluo, I will pave your path with ten miles of red silk!"
"You lied to me!"
"How did I lie?"
"You'll never become a Titled Douluo!"
"I can!"
"And what of it? Would I become your concubine?"
"My wife would never be treated unequally!"
"By the time you achieve it, I'll be old and withered."
"Within ten years."
"Impossible!"
"Let's bet a gold coin on it, then."
"Why not just marry me now?"
"The Spirit Hall would never allow it. I would die, and you would suffer."
"..."
This was the conversation between Zhou Yi and Bibi Dong before Zhou Yi married Liu Erlong.
At the time, Zhou Yi had already awakened his system.
He had confidence he could become a Titled Douluo within ten years. By then, he would no longer fear the Spirit Hall.
As for now…
He truly couldn't marry Bibi Dong.
He wasn't a fool like Yu Xiaogang, acting without considering the consequences.
Bibi Dong was ruled by emotions.
He was not.
He always calculated the repercussions of his actions.
Without sufficient strength, he could only bide his time.
So long as he didn't elope with Bibi Dong, she would remain safe—still the pure and prestigious Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, her status untouchable.
The Secret Chamber Douluo wouldn't emerge.
"Zhou Yi… I'll give you ten years!"
"If you don't become a Titled Douluo within ten years, I'll kill you and Liu Erlong!"
Watching Zhou Yi step into the bridal chamber and close the door behind him, Bibi Dong's gaze turned icy, determination rising in her heart.
If Zhou Yi did become a Titled Douluo within ten years, then perhaps...
But was it even possible?
Zhou Yi was already in his twenties and only at the rank of Grandmaster. Even with a top-tier martial soul, it was nearly impossible to advance to Titled Douluo within ten years.
Moreover, his martial soul was utterly mediocre.
Even reaching Soul Elder would be a challenge.
But when she recalled the unwavering confidence in Zhou Yi's eyes, even Bibi Dong couldn't be sure.
This man had the ability to create miracles.
He could turn the impossible into reality!
"Let's go."
Pulling her thoughts together, Bibi Dong turned to leave with Ghost Douluo. She needed to train harder as well.
If she had the strength of a Titled Douluo now, Zhou Yi might have married her instead of Liu Erlong.
"Zhou Yi played it smart, marrying Liu Erlong early. Now, the Holy Maiden has given up, and His Holiness the Pope can rest easy!"
Ghost Douluo withdrew his gaze, his shadowy figure merging into the darkness as if he had never been there, vanishing silently alongside Bibi Dong.
Zhou Residence.
Inside the bridal chamber, Liu Erlong sat primly on the edge of the wedding bed. She was adorned in a crimson wedding dress, her face hidden under a red veil.
Her soft, jade-like hands rested on her thighs, fingers nervously clutching the hem of her dress.
Her ample bosom trembled slightly, betraying the nervousness and apprehension in her heart.
Though she was bold and fiery, an indomitable spirit who feared no one, at this moment, she was just a shy bride like any other.
The door creaked open.
Her delicate figure trembled. As the door shut behind him, the sound of footsteps steadily approached.
She knew it was Zhou Yi.
From the moment they met in the bamboo grove, she had been captivated by his appearance.
But she wasn't a woman who only valued looks.
Over time, she had been won over by his wisdom and charisma.
His vast knowledge was unparalleled, putting even Yu Xiaogang to shame.
Although Zhou Yi's martial soul was mediocre, the unwavering determination and fighting spirit he exuded were like a rising sun.
During their time together, she had seen Zhou Yi drenched in sweat, relentlessly practicing his self-created Thirteen Deadly Swords Technique.
To others, it was a fast and deadly technique.
But she saw the blood and sweat behind every strike, practiced day after day.
A serious man was the most charming.
At that moment, her heart had been conquered.
"Erlong!"
Zhou Yi approached the bed and lifted her veil.
"Zhou Lang…"
Blushing, Liu Erlong raised her head, her eyes meeting his.
Tonight, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
Her crimson wedding dress complemented her snow-white skin, her delicate features radiating an exquisite charm. Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with a mixture of shyness and affection.
Beneath the wedding dress was a figure that other women could only envy.
"The night is deep. Let's drink this cup and rest."
Zhou Yi handed her a cup of wine, his smile radiant.
At twenty-two, he had devoted himself entirely to cultivation and planning his future opportunities.
It wasn't that he didn't appreciate beauty; he simply knew that strength was everything.
"Mm."
Liu Erlong's cheeks flushed as she took the wine, drinking a cross-cup toast with Zhou Yi.
"Erlong, you're stunning!"
Zhou Yi's heart surged with heat. He lifted Liu Erlong into his arms.
"The light…"
"No need…"
In the starlit sky, the radiant moon slipped behind the clouds, as though covering its eyes in bashfulness.
Inside the bridal chamber, the flickering flame of the dragon-and-phoenix red candles danced, their melted wax trickling like tears down their sides.
The long night was especially romantic.
Zhou Yi's excitement reached its peak.
The rewards had finally arrived.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for achieving the marriage milestone. Initial rewards will receive a super multiplier!]
"Super multiplier?"
Zhou Yi's delight soared, anticipation brimming in his heart.
Reward 1: Grandmaster-Level Medical Skills
Reward 2: Martial Soul Evolution
Reward 3: Sacred Heart Art
Reward 4: Experience System Activation
...
-------------------
If you want to support me and read advance chapters, please visit:
patreon.com / igotneonlight
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone