Eternal Emerald Dragon

The Southern District had a sudden influx of powerful cultivators from across their world. While some were caught off guard, the Frey Clan made sure to prepare as much as possible. The Gu Clan worked with them in exchange for some future endeavors but honestly they saw only the benefit of getting closer to Lind Frey.

"How do you feel?" Lind was standing with his arms behind his back as Sheyra was sitting in the lotus position in front of him. Of any 6 elemental alive, she was perhaps the best he knew. He had sent her every scrap of knowledge no matter what he was doing and his new revelations in the Relic were included.

She had been ahead of him in the Soul Realm but worked hard to improve her foundation when he revealed his discoveries of elemental cores and their relationships. He was so glad she had not tried to force her breakthrough in the years he was gone.

Apparently part of it was giving birth to their child and not wanting to risk Qi deviation along with simply enjoying time with them.

Lind watched carefully as her dantain settled. He saw her balance was different from his but the blue colored sand happily bubbled at the center of her 6 fonts. It was completely stable and there was no deviation that he could see.

Fetid breath left her body as she smiled up at him.

"I did it!" Lind smiled back and glanced over to see Teylin nearly collapse in relief. His Big Brother had become a worrywart it seemed. Lind thought it fit him well. He was always over protective of him and Teyla back in their youth.

"Congratulations mommy!" Min was jumping up and down but Fain had his eyes closed as he was meditating not far away. Lind had helped guide the boy in the Body Refining Realm and the results had shocked Sheyra and Teylin both. Lind was a phenomenal teacher.

"Ssshh. Your brother is concentrating, Little Min." Lind smiled warmly while she put her tiny hands over her mouth. Fain, for all the noise, was very focused. Lind nodded in approval. Shi had made massive improvements under his guidance but she was now with her mother doing something he was not allowed to know about.

In fact, Lind had been a little bored as he was not allowed to roam around much. He was simply too attention grabbing and frankly he enjoyed the peace at first.

"Lind, before I forget, the Gu Clan had a present for your upcoming marriage but it's a little unique." Sheyra stretched and let her newly improved Qi flow in her meridians as he nodded at her.

"I thank you in advance but the only gift I could ask for, I already met!" Lind smiled warmly at his niece and nephew. They were bright spots in his life now and he would never let any harm come to them if he could help it.

He produced a few elixirs to help Sheyra stabilize her newly created fonts but then engaged in a bit of sparring to see how much had changed. They kept it loose and light as the big day was finally around the corner.

"So, I was meaning to ask Lind, but how did you reach an agreement with the 4 of them?" Teylin nearly choked on his tea when Sheyra asked that question but both were stunned when he laughed heartily.

"Me? Make them reach an agreement? I spoke openly about my feelings and was informed they would not let me go. If anything I simply followed my promises and kept my word as much as I could." Lind looked chagrined as he clearly went back into his memories. "Cyntilla risked so much to defy Darkmoor and the Empire to give me hope so I never stopped thinking about her. Shoti and Qing agree we simply grew closer before really thinking about how we felt."

Lind saw Teylin staring at him but he only shrugged at his Big Brother.

"Annabelle never once let me slip away and you can't help but love her. She was the one I think smoothed the way for all 4 to be together with me. I will never claim to have pulled them in but the other way around." Lind did not know why he was so fortunate but he did not take it for granted. He had to make sure none of them ever felt unhappy or left out as much as he could.

He actually felt more nervous as the time got closer.

"Big Brother!" Fey suddenly came running in and all froze. She was in resplendent robes of crimson and white. She had her brown hair braided beautifully to put it up almost like a crown around her brow. The simple bows added to her beauty as they complimented her robes.

"Very pretty, Little Fey." Lind meant it and she beamed up at him but did not hug him like she normally would. She did not want to ruin her makeup and robes.

"Thank you! I am here to guide you to your room to be prepared. Aunt Nya will be here to show you where to go Uncle Tey!" Teylin grunted as he had grown up in the Clan but the obvious changes for the day meant he nodded and simply took over for Fain from Lind.

Lind was led into halls he hardly recognized. New drapes were set up in crimson, white, and black but they were marked with the symbols of the Fang Clan on the black, Heavenly Maidens Sect on the white, and the Frey Clan on the crimson.

He was not familiar with the practice but he felt it blended well with the wooden halls that opened onto several decorated courtyards. Tables were being set up and padding for kneeling later. He could also start to smell food wafting in the air that made his mouth water.

Lind kept up with Fey but he saw she often checked a few corners when coming to the intersections. He wondered what she was looking for but then felt surprised as he guessed what it was.

"Are you by chance making sure I do not see my brides early?" Fey jumped and looked a little sheepish as she nodded.

"Grandpa always told me it was bad luck but I have not learned why. I just…wanted to make sure no bad luck came to you today." Lind nodded but also wondered where her grandparents had wandered off to as they had arrived a week ago.

"I am familiar with it but I do not see anyone coming with my Eyes aside from some Sand and Stone Tiers." Fey relaxed and moved far more smoothly. Lind smirked and finally arrived at a room Kor was standing outside of.

Much like Fey, his robes were now of high quality but the familiar crimson, black, and gold of the Frey Clan. Lind smiled wide as Kor looked right back in joy.

He had enjoyed catching up with his blood siblings. They had become much closer and renewed their old bonds from before Lind had to leave.

"You are late, little brother!" Kor was a head shorter than Lind but he took great joy in calling Lind little.

"I am hardly late if Fey came for me. She is the epitome of on time!" Lind acted all indignant but did notice Fey blushed a bit. Maybe she was supposed to get him earlier? He went into the room and froze as he found his sisters waiting for him.

"Finally, you are late!" Seyla began to pull off his robes but he fought back. Why were they changing him?! What was going on?!

"Better not to fight the oldest of us. She will always win." Nya was smiling evilly while looking shy at the same time. How was that even possible?! Kor then walked in and sighed before shooing both away from Lind.

"I got it, I got it. Just a moment." Kor then pulled Lind after him to an area divided by a screen with the bird in flight emblazoned on it. Lind saw robes that put his current ones to shame.

Fine crimson silk with black lining the back to show off the Frey Clan emblem while gold, real gold, lined the edges of the robe. When was it made? How was it done without his measurements?

"No time to ask questions, you always have questions. Let's go little brother!" Lind was now being undressed by Kor before he shook him off and glared at him.

"I can undress myself quite well, thank you!" Kor only laughed but stood there and held his arms out. Lind sighed and took off his current robes to exchange for the new but froze when he saw Kor glare at him. "Pants too?" The nod made Lind blush and feel like he was a little boy again being told what to do.

"HURRY UP!" Seyla's voice made Lind jump and he quickly put on his new pants and robes with Kor's help. They were heavier than expected but they looked fantastic. He seemed to have a living bird on his back flying through flames.

"Get over here and sit." Lind noticed a very familiar setup of a mirror and chair. He sighed while Kor continued to laugh while pushing him over to get set up for the wedding.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

The main hall had been transformed. The usual array of elder seats were removed to make room for an area for the audience to gather while a pristine white carpet was laid out down the middle. Crimson, black, and gold drapes were hung to make a canopy above the main aisle.

A podium of dark wood was set up with the Grand Master Fu behind it in his best robes while the Grand Mistress stood next to him with her white hair done up in a tight bun. If asked who was officiating, many would dodge the question as it was clear neither would budge on that honor.

"I have known the boy the longest." Granny spoke softly but the Old Man frowned.

"I am the leader of the Frey Clan." A swift glare from her made him wilt. "One of the leaders." She smiled sweetly up at him but before they could continue, Kor lead Lind in from one of the side passages.

The whole room of murmuring guests became silent at the profound aura coming off of him. The new robes made him seem like an expert from the Floating Isles come down to grace mortals with his presence.

His dark green eyes and tanned skin were complimented by the vibrant crimson robes lined in black and gold. The Frey Clan symbol on his back seemed alive.

"I am honored you both want to oversee this ceremony. Thank you." Lind bowed at them so he missed their blushing faces as they quickly smiled wide at him. Many in the crowd from the Clan smirked but kept their opinions to themselves.

"Of course, Lind. This is your home, always and forever!" Granny looked lovingly at Lind while he fidgeted a bit. It broke his image but in an endearing way.

"The honor is ours, Lind." Old Man looked fondly at him and they both suddenly saw Fey and Mira at the end of the aisle.

"ATTENTION ALL! WELCOME THE BRIDES OF LIND FREY!" Fey's voice cut through the room easily and her power at the Gold Tier certainly helped.

Lind turned to look down the hall and nearly fainted.

Cyntilla was in a dark dress that was nearly black that still accentuated her lavender skin and made her virulent green eyes look glorious. Qing was in a dress that hugged her hourglass figure but Lind noted its pale white color shimmered at times blue or green like her pale eyes. Her platinum blond hair sparkled with the lacey veil on her head.

Shoti swayed up in a seductive manner with a dress that was fairly breezy but pure white that made her short green hair pop to draw the eyes. Her veil was water and shadow Qi shards that seemed to move like real water. Her amused smile nearly made Lind giggle.

Annabelle was like innocence made flesh. Her dress was deep sapphire with golden veil combined with her shyly blushing skin made Lind's heart race like a thousand horses.

"-ind. Lind!" Kor's voice jolted him back to the present but meaningful smiles in the room made Lind blush as he realized he had been dazed but his mother only smiled at him.

"I am ready." He straightened his robes and stood tall by the podium. Granny signaled and zithers began to play gentle notes as all 4 women were led forward by Mira. She was in similar robes to Lind but her Frey Clan symbol was in gold, not black.

"I have brought my new daughters whom my son has met on his cultivation journey. They share deep bonds of love and loyalty. I welcome them to the Clan." Old Man and Granny bowed solemnly. Mira then smiled at Lind as she moved up to him and kissed his cheek. "Treat them well, my son."

Lind smiled wide as all 4 women came forward. Cyntilla and Qing on the right of the podium while Annabelle and Shoti stood on the left. He stepped up to the podium center and bowed to the audience before turning back to the 2 leaders of his Clan.

"Friends, family, and guests. We are here to tie together the Fate of these 5 cultivators. Their journey has not been free of tribulation but they have persevered." The Old Man started but then stepped aside as Granny came forward.

"Lind Frey, do you swear by Heaven and Earth to tie yourself to Cyntilla Fang, Qing, Shoti, and Annabelle to walk forward on the path of your Dao? Do you swear to love them and be loyal to them?" Lind felt nervous but a glance to his left or right and it all fell away.

"I swear to Heaven and Earth to walk beside them so long as I am able. I swear to love them all of my days and beyond." A rumble of thunder shocked all but nothing else happened. It was clear how fervent Lind was and it made the glorious brides blush.

Granny turned to the girls and they also swore just as Lind had done. While there was no rumble of thunder, it was unusual for such a thing to occur, their fervor was as great as Lind's.

Granny then bowed back to the Old Man as he stepped forward and controlled Qi into a formation plate. Lind felt something tug on his soul but it was pleasant. For a brief moment he truly felt the 4 women around him.

Cyntilla was fire and ice. Annabelle was mystical, as if she was both there and yet not. Shoti was like a sprite of Earth stories. Her playful nature was clear to him. Qing was a gentle river. The relaxing feeling was very much her.

Lind wondered what he was to them but their serene smiles were enough as the feeling faded.

"You are now joined as Dao partners. Let us welcome the married party to the Clan!" Cheers roared from the audience as lotus petals fell from the drapes on the ceiling. Lind felt so happy he could barely stop the tears falling as he kissed each woman deeply.

Lind Frey was married at last!