The dragon qilin carried them to the small town ahead, and the blind elder immediately set to work. He bought a phoenix crown and rosy bridal robes, then prepared several garments and a big red flower for Shen Mu, and hired a few old women to dress Shen Mu, Ling Yuxiu, Si Yunxiang, and Snow Fox. "Emperor Yanfeng has lost his daughter and may come looking for her. Better to avoid trouble down the road—best to hold the wedding night at once!

" The blind elder took some Great Feng coins from the little fox's pocket, bought a large estate, purchased a few maidservants, and bustled about front and back; today they would perform the bows and be married. Shen Mu was bound tightly, but his cultivation remained, so he quietly blew his golden flute, sending several flood dragons to ambush the blind elder and tie him up.

Yet scarcely had the golden flute sounded, before he had even established contact with the flood dragons, the blind elder sensed it and tapped Shen Mu's brow with his bamboo staff. At once Shen Mu heard pops echoing within his body—his three great spirit repositories, the Six Harmonies, the Five Luminaries, and the Spirit Fetus, were all forcibly sealed shut by the blind elder. Fearing some trick, the blind elder also sealed the spirit repositories of Ling Yuxiu and Si Yunxiang.

Seeing him walk toward her, Snow Fox leaped up excitedly and said, "Don't worry, Blind Grandpa—Ling'er won't run! " The blind elder untied the golden rope on Snow Fox and said, "I'll loosen your bonds.

You keep an eye on them for me while I go order a few tables of wine and hire an opera troupe. " "You bet! " the little fox said cheerfully. "Traitor! " Ling Yuxiu and Si Yunxiang glared at her together.

Snow Fox looked smug, hopped onto a chair, and swung her braids. "Blind Grandpa really is an old hand.

. .

" Shen Mu marveled inwardly, filled with admiration. The blind elder's divine ability to seal cultivation came as easily as plucking a flower—he had sealed all three of them, so that no matter what tricks they had, they could not use them. "Fat Dragon, come here.

" Shen Mu's eyes flickered as he summoned the dragon qilin and said, "Carry us and run!

" The dragon qilin shook its head.

"Can't outrun him.

Better not to run at all.

" With that, it swished its tail and went to the door to stand guard. Shen Mu stared blankly, thinking the dragon qilin really did need to go on a strict diet. When night fell, Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu were held up by several old women and forced through the wedding bows.

The blind elder had invited nearly everyone in the town, taking no gift money, to witness the ceremony.

The opera troupe was an ordinary one—suona horns and trumpets, very rustic.

The wedding was naturally extremely boisterous, and in the end, Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu were escorted by the rowdy townsfolk into the bridal chamber. When Snow Fox saw that the bride was not herself, she was very unhappy and drank herself dead drunk at the banquet, spouting nonsense.

The blind elder waved his hand and said, "Come again tomorrow—tomorrow we'll hold another one!

The groom will still be this groom, but the bride will be swapped for another! " "This groom really has good fortune! " the crowd praised, dispersing one after another. Snow Fox jumped onto the wine table, lugging a wine jar bigger than herself, and said drunkenly, "Blind Grandpa, tomorrow I want to be the bride! " "Good, good," the blind elder nodded repeatedly.

In the bridal chamber, Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu sat on the edge of the bed, listening to the clamor outside gradually fade, both feeling somewhat frightened and anxious. After a moment, Ling Yuxiu lifted a corner of her bridal veil and secretly peeked at Shen Mu sitting beside her with the big red flower on his chest.

Shen Mu was anxiously plucking at the red flower, and she suddenly burst into laughter. Shen Mu glared at her.

"You can still laugh! If your father finds out, he'll surely have my head! " Ling Yuxiu wanted to lift her veil, rolled her eyes, and said with a giggle, "They say it's bad luck for the girl to remove her own veil in the bridal chamber—the man has to do it.

" "There's a rule like that? " Shen Mu was surprised.

He lifted the veil from her head and could not help but stare. The girl's powdered face and rosy cheeks were indescribably alluring in the candlelight. Ling Yuxiu, shy and bashful, lowered her head and gave him a sidelong glance.

"What are you looking at?

" "You're so beautiful. " Shen Mu stood up, pushed at the door, but it would not open. "Blind Grandpa locked the door. I'll check the window. " He opened the window and was about to jump out when a bamboo staff tapped over from below, and the blind elder's voice came: "Go to sleep. Don't even think about running.

" Shen Mu jumped in fright and said angrily, "Blind Grandpa, why are you crouching by the wall? " "Rules.

" The blind elder said, "Don't worry, I'm the blind elder—I can't see a thing. " "As if! " Shen Mu slammed the window shut with a bang, returned to the bedside, and sat down, saying sullenly, "Blind Grandpa is standing guard out there.

I'm afraid we can't escape.

" The two sat on the edge of the bed. Ling Yuxiu tugged at the hem of her dress; Shen Mu tugged at the big red flower on his chest. After a long while, the blind elder's cough came from outside the window. "There's nuptial wine on the table.

Drink it quick and go to sleep!

" Shen Mu grabbed the wine pot and hurled it. The blind elder flew into a rage and hobbled off with his bamboo staff.

After a moment came the sound of the blind elder beating a chicken. "Little rooster won't crow—what use are you?

If you don't crow again, I'll break one of your legs!

" "Is Blind Grandpa scolding the rooster or scolding me?

" Shen Mu wondered, perplexed.

After a moment, the window opened, and a bamboo staff appeared in the window, holding up a rooster with a broken leg.

Shen Mu shut the window and returned to sit by the bed, saying hesitantly, "It's been a long time since we've seen each other. " Ling Yuxiu burst out laughing. "You still don't know how to talk.

I'm a bit sleepy—I'll sleep first. " "Oh. " Shen Mu watched her slip fully clothed into the covers. Only her small head poked out from under the bright red quilt.

Ling Yuxiu blinked. "I'm asleep. " "Oh. " Ling Yuxiu gave a little humph and turned over on her side.

Shen Mu lay down too, pulling the quilt over himself.

The two shared one pillow, lying face to face on their sides. Shen Mu did not dare breathe.

Ling Yuxiu giggled, her breath washing over his face, and Shen Mu's face instantly turned red. The girl under the covers swiftly brushed her lips against his.

"Quite fragrant. " Shen Mu blinked and said, "Kiss me again.

" Ling Yuxiu kissed him once more, then broke into giggles.

"What good is kissing? " came the blind elder's irritable voice from outside the window, fading into the distance: "Little rooster won't crow—might as well stew it and eat it.

.

Eh? Has Emperor Yanfeng caught up? They say the emperor is an in-law now, can't be neglectful—I should invite him to the wedding banquet. This little rooster that won't crow, I'll slaughter it to entertain my in-law! " Hearing him walk away, Shen Mu hastily tiptoed out of bed, went to the window, quietly opened it, peeked out, and waved to Ling Yuxiu.

But Ling Yuxiu did not come over.

Shen Mu looked back and saw that the girl seemed to have fallen asleep.

Shen Mu clumsily climbed out and whispered, "Stop pretending to sleep.

Get up quick.

" Ling Yuxiu's face flushed crimson. She hurriedly scrambled out of the covers, put on her shoes, came to the window, and climbed out. Shen Mu caught her on the other side and lifted her down. The two crept along the wall toward the room where Si Yunxiang was staying. Reaching the window, Shen Mu whispered, "Is Sister Xiang asleep?

" "Not yet. " Si Yunxiang's voice came from behind him. Shen Mu jumped in fright and whirled around to see Si Yunxiang tiptoeing along behind them.