Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 102 - 101: Grand Wedding - Part 1

Chapter 102: Chapter 101: Grand Wedding - Part 1

More than a month had passed in the blink of an eye.

The grand wedding at the Lin Family Manor was well-prepared, with the date set. Invitation after invitation was sent out continuously; the entire manor was adorned with lights and lively decorations, creating an exceptionally festive atmosphere.

The main house in the manor was visited by guests almost every day, one group after another. Most of the main family members were occupied with receiving them, while the rest were tasked with security and decoration duties in various annexes.

Lin Xinyuan sat on a stone bench in her courtyard, delicate fingers embroidering a white silk with a design of red peonies. Her expression betrayed a hint of melancholy.

"Xinyuan sister, why are you sitting here alone?"

Her cousin Huang Guangbi, passing by the entrance, saw her and came in excitedly to ask.

"I’m alright... just feeling a bit unwell," Lin Xinyuan replied quietly.

"These days are the grand celebration days of elder brother, and our Lin family might soar to great heights after this. With such a grand joyous occasion, how come you seem unhappy?" her cousin asked, puzzled, "Let me tell you, the other day a few friends and I were drinking at the Hundred Flowers Tower in the city, and it happened that there were no rooms available. It so happened that those upper-class young masters who previously didn’t think much of me, upon seeing our group, not only gave up their room to me but also went out of their way to introduce the ladies accompanying them. Tsk tsk... the taste of that..." He failed to notice Lin Xinyuan’s increasingly displeased expression.

"I heard that recently Phoenix Perch City held the Phoenix Dance Poetry Congress and even sent you an invitation. Our family was never at that level before."

The guy kept talking non-stop.

"I’m not interested in these things," Lin Xinyuan couldn’t help but interrupt.

"Uh... then what are you interested in?" Huang Guangbi asked puzzled. "Horse riding? How about I accompany you for a ride around?"

"The family wouldn’t allow it, we still need to help out when short-handed," Lin Xinyuan shook her head helplessly.

"Sister...." Huang Guangbi, who was still quite young at seventeen or eighteen, started to pout while playfully shaking her hand. "Come on, what is there to be afraid of?"

Unable to resist his persistent coaxing and pestering, Lin Xinyuan put away her embroidery and changed into riding attire before stepping out.

Just as she left, she saw a group of visitors arriving at the main gate of the main courtyard, all dressed in neat uniforms with red bases and black belts.

At the front of the group, two people were carrying a large sign that read: Dragon Mountain City.

"Welcome the lord of Dragon Mountain City!!" A burst of laughter followed as Lin Zhiwen took big strides forward, welcoming the visitors, including a pair of shorter stocky father and son, into the main house.

From a distance, the entrance to the main house seemed bustling with excitement, a stark contrast to the quietness of the side annexes they were in.

"The day set, is it today?" Lin Xinyuan suddenly realized.

"Yes yes, elder brother is getting married today. Invitations have all been sent out, and people have been arriving continuously. The rooms in the main house are almost all occupied," Huang Guangbi said cheerfully. He had been a regular playmate of Lin Xinyuan after Xinyuan left; straightforward in nature but often offending others with his words, only a few, including Lin Xinyuan, got along with him.

They hadn’t walked far when they saw a group of people walking and chatting along a bamboo-lined path, heading towards them.

"Xinyuan? Hurry, hurry!" The person was none other than Zhao Ye, Lin Xinyuan’s uncle, who was leisurely strolling with a man in brocade robes and several younger relatives.

Seeing Lin Xinyuan and Huang, Zhao Ye immediately beamed with joy.

"Huang Ze, come here, let me introduce my niece Xinyuan," Zhao Ye pulled Lin Xinyuan over for introductions. "This young master here is an officer in the Xuan Ying Court, a talented youth. My niece loves nothing more than riding and archery," he said, suggesting the younger generations of both families could mingle.

Having no children of his own, Zhao Ye treated Lin Xinyuan as if she were his own daughter.

Lin Xinyuan wanted to avoid the situation but was too late; she had to go over and make small talk with another handsome young man, trailing behind the group.

Huang Guangbi could only helplessly follow along. Their plans for a horse ride were thus cancelled.

Ever since the wedding invitations had been sent, the local nobility from different parts of Yuefu City, and those who had connections, had made the long journey for the chance to be seen by the Lin family’s master.

Lin Xinyuan genuinely despised these gathering—a weary feeling sinking into her heart. Thinking about her brother marrying a delicate, frail woman made it feel as though a needle was pricking at her heart.

"Golden Jade Sect, Fairy Lu has arrived!"

Suddenly, a sharp voice, tinged with excitement, carried from the direction of the main house through the bamboo grove to where they were.

"A high disciple of the Golden Jade Sect coming in person to show support! Worthy of being the master of Lin Family Manor!" the man in brocade couldn’t help but shudder, his remarks tinged with admiration.

Zhao Ye was all smiles, continuously humble.

"Pinesword Sect Master Huang has arrived!!"

Another loud announcement followed.

"Peacock Sect’s junior sect master, Master Kong has arrived!"

"Myriad Phenomena Sect’s sect leader, Master Shu has arrived!"

Hearing one announcement after another, Lin Xinyuan and the others quickened their pace towards the outskirts of the bamboo grove, already able to glimpse through the trees a bustling scene on the main avenue with many carriages and horses moving about, the noise almost resembling a busy market.

Lin Xinyuan faintly saw Lin Xin walking and chatting with a few tall and graceful men and women, surrounded by many skilled protectors.

"Brother Huang, Yuhui, Ruofei, and Yue’er, I didn’t expect you all to come together," Lin Xin, after dealing with Myriad Phenomena Sect’s leader, came over joyfully taking the yellow-robed Kong Yuhui by the arm, striding into the main house. They found seats at the front of a densely packed row of seats and took their places.

Kong Yuhui, accompanied by Cheng Ruofei and Jiang Yue’er, came over as well. Hearing the remarks, he also laughed.

"I’m fine, but Ruofei and Yue’er have special identities. Coming here has some significant impacts, so they just decided to mix in with me."

"What do you mean by ’mixing in together’? Don’t you want me to be with you?!" Jiang Yue’er seemed to still have the same temper as she reached out to pinch the soft flesh on Kong Yuhui’s waist, causing him to cry out for mercy in pain.

Cheng Ruofei covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, her gaze at Lin Xin carrying a touch of melancholy.

"Lin Xin, I suppose I should address you as Brother Lin now. I didn’t expect that in just one year, you would have improved so rapidly."

Ever since the last Yin Blood incident, after consuming half a drop of Yin Blood, she had broken through to the Second Layer. After only accepting a few simple missions to stabilize her cultivation, she heard the news of Lin Xin’s promotion to a formal disciple. Shocked, she hurried over.

"Do we really need to be so formal with each other?" Lin Xin laughed.

"It seems your relationship is better than I thought," the man in a yellow robe said after sitting down and taking a sip of tea. "Brother, I have set up the formation for you. Don’t forget, after the wedding, you need to return to the Sect within a year."

"Understood, Brother Huang, rest assured, I naturally won’t forget," Lin Xin smiled.

"Go greet the disciples of the Golden Jade Sect. They should be traveling nearby and came to attend the wedding as well," the man in yellow smiled and said.

"Then, please excuse me for a moment. You all sit and have some snacks; I’ll be back soon," Lin Xin nodded.

Turning around, he went to greet a few people from the Golden Jade Sect.

Lu Qianqiu from the Golden Jade Sect, a disciple in the Third Realm of the Postnatal stage, was on a mission outside. Hearing that Lin Xin was getting married, he indeed decided to come over to celebrate, but to Lin Xin, this guy seemed only interested in joining in the fun. Coming to congratulate someone he didn’t know could hardly be anything but.

More and more guests sat down, led by servants and family members according to their status.

The courtyard with over a hundred seats was almost full. The area was festooned with bright decorations, and a stage set up in the front had already begun hosting a troupe performing operas, the sounds of gongs and drums filling the air. Far away, someone set off firecrackers, and children clapped and laughed merrily, while maids stood by each seat, ready to cater to the guests’ needs at any moment.

Everything appeared noisy yet orderly.

Lin Xin changed into a red outfit, his long hair that had not been cut for a long time was tied up, and he wore a white belt embroidered with silver phoenix patterns on his waist. Apart from a slender, inconspicuous Red Flower Sword, he carried no other weapons.

Letting family members and servants attend to the guests, he also took his seat and quietly chatted and watched operas with Kong Yuhui, the man in yellow, and a few other Sect people.

As time passed, most of the distinguished guests had already arrived. As evening approached, the opera performers were replaced by a troupe of musicians.

Everything was meticulously prepared, and his parents presided over the main seat.

Dressed in brilliant red, Lin Xin unwound his Red Flower Sword and handed it to the man in yellow for safekeeping. He smiled as he walked to the center of the hall, watching Xiao Lingling being led by a group of women.

Xiao Lingling, covered by a red veil, was slowly guided towards him by two beautifully dressed children, hand in hand.

Behind her were Zhao Yu Niang and his second aunt, smiling as they watched.

The sound of strings and bamboo instruments flowed softly. Lin Xin smiled tenderly at the veiled figure of Xiao Lingling. Through the red veil, he could faintly see the happy and sweet smile on the woman’s face inside.

Reaching out, he gently took Xiao Lingling’s hand.

Snap.

Suddenly, a crisp sound, as if something had broken, rang out.

This noise sounded exceptionally abrupt over the clamor of the main hall, almost drowning out all other voices and was very conspicuous.

Lin Xin couldn’t help but follow the sound and look towards the courtyard’s entrance.

There, a lone figure stood in the middle of the yard, a familiar silhouette that he least wanted to see at this moment.

His hand froze mid-air, a distance away from touching Xiao Lingling’s hand, and he did not move it any further.

Xiao Lingling waited for a moment, puzzled as she looked at Lin Xin, only to see the originally smiling expression on his face slowly turn somber.

The surrounding people also grew curious, whispering among themselves, and Lin Zhiwen sitting in the high seat looked towards the courtyard entrance.

The music, which should have been reaching its climax at this point, noticed the anomaly and gradually came to a disordered halt.

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