On the starskiff, Teng Xiao happily chatted with his subordinate.
Xiaolin was full of doubts, but none of it showed on his face. He looked like he was listening attentively, nodding from time to time.
Ever since he received Zero's wedding invitation, he had been confused.
For example, the place where Zero was holding the wedding was a venue Luofu used to receive foreign guests.
Officially, it was for entertaining visitors, but in reality, it was rarely opened to outsiders.
What? Just because the Luofu Sword Champion was involved, an exception could be made?
And then there was General Teng Xiao.
Why was the general traveling with him?
Before Xiaolin could figure it out, the starskiff stopped.
A guard in the distance made a hand signal, indicating that they should cooperate with the inspection.
And now, what puzzled Xiaolin the most was this. He was following the Luofu General, on Luofu territory, so why did they still need to go through inspection?
Completely baffled, Xiaolin watched as Teng Xiao stepped off the starskiff first and hurriedly followed.
After the inspection was over, the general suddenly decided he didn't want to ride the starskiff anymore and insisted on walking with Xiaolin to the banquet hall.
When the boss spoke, how could a subordinate refuse?
Xiaolin could only follow behind Teng Xiao.
After saying goodbye to the guards, the first thing they saw was a screen wall.
The materials used were ordinary, and different kinds of waves were carved on it. Looking more closely, there were eight ships sailing on the sea.
Turning their heads, they saw a boundless lake.
The two chatted as they walked.
Having just arrived here, Xiaolin was amazed, but he couldn't help secretly estimating the cost.
After a while, he asked Teng Xiao, "May I ask which general was responsible for this?"
How did they dare?
Were the Three Clans sold wholesale?
Teng Xiao laughed heartily and, as usual, brushed him off with vague words.
Unfortunately, it didn't work this time.
Xiaolin pretended to be surprised.
"Could it be the Imbibitor Lunae?"
After saying that, he nodded firmly.
"That makes sense. Besides Lord High Elder, who else could it be?"
"I've heard he throws money around like dirt. Just taking out any random residence of his would make others think it's one of our Xianzhou's historical landmarks..."
There was nothing strange about Xiaolin's tone, but to Teng Xiao, it sounded more like sarcasm.
Xiaolin held a great deal of prejudice against Dan Feng.
According to Xiaolin's calculations, the Imbibitor Lunae would commit a major mistake.
Luofu would lose many people.
Fortunately, the Reignbow Arbiter had appeared on Luofu and reversed the omen.
Teng Xiao had tried to persuade Xiaolin before, saying he didn't believe in omens and only believed in himself.
It had been useless.
Whenever his subordinate spoke, he either brought up conflicts caused by alien races and indirectly targeted the Vidyadhara, or he talked about the Vidyadhara's tax revenue.
Those who are not of our kind must have different intentions.
Not to mention that they were an alien race that controlled countless amounts of money and resources.
Any ruler would have doubts.
When Teng Xiao first learned how much tax the High Elder alone paid, even he had hesitated.
At the same time, he developed some admiration for the Marshal.
Did the Marshal really trust the High Elder that much?
If so, Teng Xiao could work under her without worries.
Later, after meeting Dan Feng several times and understanding his temperament, he completely put his mind at ease.
Teng Xiao opened his mouth, trying to speak in the High Elder's defense.
His subordinate didn't buy it and still wore a professional smile.
Teng Xiao gave up and skipped the topic, changing the subject to one of the newlyweds.
The reason he had come with Xiaolin was to hint at something.
That person wasn't being forced by Jingliu.
He wasn't the type to swallow his anger and let others bully him.
Very naturally, Teng Xiao shifted the topic to one of the newlywed's surname.
The previous files hadn't recorded that person's name. In a few months... Xiaolin would understand.
Teng Xiao said meaningfully, "That surname is really rare."
Xiaolin nodded along.
He found it hard to imagine that such a rare and pleasant surname could produce such an awful name.
His parents were too careless. The name Zero didn't sound like a proper name at all.
Thinking this, Xiaolin subconsciously said, "This name... affects his fortune."
Teng Xiao thought to himself, 'Affects his fortune?'
'It was just a name. How could it possibly affect that person?'
After thinking it over, he decided to give an even clearer hint.
Teng Xiao told his subordinate the birth data of the previous Marshal.
Xiaolin frowned deeply.
'It had been six thousand years... Could this be the previous Marshal's birth data?'
After considering it for a moment, he said, "This person is famous and respected by everyone."
Teng Xiao's eyes lit up.
After making calculations in his mind, Xiaolin fell into thought.
Judging from the birth data, this person was self-centered and had strong pride.
But their financial luck was average. No matter how much money they had, it would be hard to keep. If they started a business with others, they would most likely suffer losses.
As for children... if there was a daughter, it would probably be harmful to her physical and mental health.
It didn't seem like the previous Marshal's birth data.
Carefully choosing his words, Xiaolin only said nice things.
"This person is destined to establish a family away from their ancestors. Their family background is well-off. No, I should say they're extremely wealthy."
"But they still can't compare to the Imbibitor Lunae..."
After walking for half an hour, they finally arrived.
The Luofu General and the Luofu Diviner were stopped by guards once again.
The second checkpoint was to inspect invitations.
While waiting, Xiaolin had nothing to do and took out his jade abacus.
He immediately thought of his subordinate who was marrying Jingliu and instinctively opened the office software.
Zero absolutely couldn't resign. He had to have a job.
Xiaolin opened the personnel transfer information. Sure enough, he found Zero's name.
After the incident, he had asked Zero what he thought. His subordinate had no plans to resign and had even asked about marriage leave. So why was he resigning now?
Xiaolin was frustrated at his lack of ambition, and then became confused.
Logically, the process shouldn't be this fast. At the earliest, it should take half a month.
Because of Jingliu? Impossible.
She was a Cloud Knight. It was one thing to interfere with the Alchemy Commission through Dan Feng, but how could she reach into the Divination Commission?
What was going on?
Were spouses of Xianzhou's upper management forbidden from working in the Cloud Knights or the Six Commissions?
There wasn't such an unwritten rule.
As Xiaolin pondered this, after meeting the current Marshal and exchanging a few words, he remembered the birth data Teng Xiao had given him earlier.
The doubts in his heart instantly disappeared.
The current Marshal had come to Luofu again, not for Jingliu.
But for Zero.
She had attended the wedding as Zero's elder and even thanked his superior on Zero's behalf.
In the entire Xianzhou, who else could bypass Xiaolin and decide the employment of personnel in the Cloud Knights and the Six Commissions?
Xiaolin nodded slightly and put on a humble attitude.
No wonder General Teng Xiao hadn't said it outright and had given so many hints.
So the immortals were fighting.
Forget an age-gap relationship.
It was already good enough that his subordinate had managed to stay alive.
As for what came next... it was no longer something he could get involved in.
After exchanging some compliments, they took their seats under the guidance of an attendant.
Hua remained where she was. While thinking, Guanliang appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall carrying a cat.
After taking a closer look, Hua couldn't help commenting, "Why is this cat built like a bodybuilder?"
After saying that, she asked, "Right, you said there was still one thing left. What was it?"
There was a trace of satisfaction in Guanliang's tone.
"He suspended me, so I fired him."
Hua, "..."
'It's already been a thousand years! How do you still remember that?!'
Hua recalled the strange look the Diviner had given her earlier.
She sighed, "Thanks to you, I'm now the villain who lacks tolerance and suppresses the descendants of the former Marshal."
Guanliang thought for a moment and casually scratched the cat under its chin.
"Your line of thinking is much more reliable than his image as a kept man."
"Where would you find that many hopeless romantics? Saying he lived off a woman and betrayed the Xianzhou for love... Your explanation is more logical and stands up better."
After a moment of silence, Hua said,
"So... you accidentally helped him?"
Guanliang didn't answer and simply said, "I'm leaving Luofu early."
Hua, "...."
'If you're afraid your father will retaliate...'
'Then don't cause trouble!'
Hua raised a hand to her forehead.
"Don't go to Starskiff Haven. There are too many people there. Use the route reserved for foreign guests."
As soon as she finished speaking, the center of the topic, Zero, appeared dozens of meters away.
He was still wearing the riding outfit he had on when he parted with Guanliang, and three people of different heights and builds surrounded him.
They were the friends Zero had made at the academy.
Judging from the files, they had become friends after fighting?
The Sky-Faring Commission member looked full of admiration.
"As expected of Boss! The sister-in-law you found is actually the Luofu Sword Champion!"
He looked up at the gradient-colored rose wall and couldn't help sighing.
"If you'd told me earlier, I could've helped you secure the flowers for the wedding."
The Realm-Keeping Commission member nodded hard.
"Boss! You're amazing! That's the Emanator chosen by the Reignbow Arbiter! I even said before I'd help you find Cloud Knights to chop off limbs... Who needs me for that?"
The Cloud Knight somehow produced a handkerchief and kept wiping his face.
"Boss, I finally get to drink your wedding wine, sob sob sob..."
Zero, "...Come on, stop crying."
Guanliang and Hua, "..."
Even taking ten thousand steps back, even if Hua really suppressed him... would it matter?
Wasn't this exactly the same as the Xianzhou people before?
If there were more of them and another few hundred years passed...
They'd definitely start another "When Xianzhou rises, the King of Luofu rises" movement.
The two quietly watched as Zero persuaded the three into the banquet hall.
Afterward, Zero came over and asked Guanliang, "Where's the bouquet?"
Seeing this, Guanliang immediately relaxed.
Zero had been busy taking pictures and hadn't had time to check his jade abacus.
With a gentle expression, Guanliang said, "The bouquet and corsages are all in the dressing room."
Zero gave an "oh" and said, "Cancel the bouquet toss."
Hua joked, "What? Are you planning to reserve it for me? Or Daiyang and Chanzhen?"
As long as it wasn't Matthias, everything was negotiable.
Zero and Jingliu had already decided to give it to Baiheng.
He didn't want either side to have any misunderstandings or dissatisfaction, so after thinking for a moment, he asked instead, "Who do you want to marry? Since when?"
The corner of Hua's mouth twitched.
"...Nobody. I just said it casually."
She instantly lost interest in continuing the conversation and hurriedly said goodbye to the two.
Guanliang watched Hua leave, then turned his attention to Zero.
The other party raised his hand and felt around his sleeve.
Guanliang took out his own jade abacus first, checked the time, and told Zero. Only then did Zero stop and say, "It's about time. Time to change clothes."
Zero had cut down the wedding process again and again, leaving only the couple's entrance and the banquet itself. Naturally, there was no need for many bridesmaids or groomsmen.
Baiheng was helping Jingliu, and Guanliang had also taken on the duties of a groomsman.
His task was to introduce guests to the newlyweds.
On the way to the dressing room, Guanliang asked, "Why do you like her?"
Zero chuckled.
"There are too many good points."
"I couldn't finish listing them in a short time."
Guanliang, "...Different question. When did you start liking her?"
Zero blinked slowly.
At first, they had met in a tavern.
He hadn't made a reservation and had happened to run into Jingliu and Baiheng.
Zero had agreed to share a table with strangers.
He clearly liked being alone, yet as time passed, he stopped rejecting Jingliu's invitations.
When he learned that she liked him, he hadn't rejected her immediately.
Someone like him, how could he hesitate?
He obviously liked Jingliu.
Even Zero himself had been fooled by himself.
He couldn't answer Guanliang's question. Tilting his head, he smiled and said, "I don't know. Maybe..."
"Love at first sight?"
At the same time, Baiheng, who had changed into her formal dress, couldn't help sighing.
"Fine, I reluctantly approve of him."
"During the entire process of taking pictures with you, he kept thinking about you. His mood stayed steady, and even when he had to repeat the same movements, he never became impatient."
Jingliu looked straight at the mirror and cooperated with the stylist, letting the other party arrange her hair.
"You praised his emotional stability when we first met him."
Baiheng pouted.
"That's different."
One was a friend, and the other was her best friend's partner. How could they be the same?
Thinking back on the past, Baiheng couldn't help sighing.
"But seriously, he waited for half a system hour back then, and when it was finally his turn, the shop owner said reservations were required..."
"Honestly, if it were me, I'd definitely have gotten angry..."
Baiheng rolled her eyes and looked at Jingliu's reflection teasingly.
"You weren't in love at first sight, were you?"
Jingliu laughed too.
"How could that be?"
The stylist softly said, "Done."
Baiheng quickly moved over. Without blinking, she circled Jingliu once. Only after carefully checking everything did she nod and give Jingliu's reflection a thumbs up.
"Very pretty."
The Foxian counted on her fingers and checked the details again.
From makeup to hairstyle, to the clothes and corsage.
Baiheng looked around the dressing room and suddenly cried out, "Oh no, the medals haven't been put on yet."
Jingliu didn't speak and stuffed the bouquet on the table into Baiheng's hands.
Baiheng suddenly understood.
She was responsible for carrying bags and keeping track of Jingliu and Zero's valuables.
But this bouquet...
She looked troubled.
"Jingliu, if I put flowers in the bag... they might get crushed."
After a moment of silence, Jingliu sighed softly, "I know. Bouquets have other meanings."
"I also know that future Nameless travelers won't stop for anyone."
Baiheng froze.
She lowered her head and looked at the bouquet in her hands.
It was a bouquet of pink peonies. Layer upon layer of petals bloomed at their fullest.
Visually, the flower heads were much larger than the other flowers.
The Foxian stretched out a hand and gently touched the petals with her fingertips. They felt softer than her carefully maintained tail.
Jingliu said to her, "But Zero said this is our wedding."
"So its meaning is naturally decided by us."
"I hope you..."
Jingliu paused.
She knew she wasn't good with words and couldn't say anything especially pleasant.
"When you're driving starskiffs, take it easy."
Baiheng's ears immediately drooped.
Whenever Jingliu was in situations like this, the colder her expression and tone became.
After a long while, she finally adjusted her emotions and continued, "Now, I give it a new meaning."
"This bouquet has nothing to do with love or marriage."
Jingliu looked at Baiheng.
The bad things her friend casually mentioned often came true.
Fortunately, she always turned danger into safety and found hope in desperate situations.
Jingliu closed her eyes briefly, then smiled.
"Baiheng, I hope you..."
"Will always be free..."
"And always be lucky."