Beyond the Timescape

It was halfway through the twelfth month of the year 2999 in the Dao Finale of the Nineshores calendar. That meant there was only half a month left until Immortal Lord Nineshores stepped down and Immortal Lord Aurora was inaugurated. It also meant that the wedding day of Young Lord Aurora and the daughter of Immortal Lord Nineshores was just around the corner.

Ordinarily speaking, that wedding would be a major event in the Fifth Star Ring, and would cause countless cultivators to make the long journey to the court to offer respects. In fact, all of the Immortal Lords would come as well, along with their apprentices and followers. However, it was a sensitive time, and not an occasion for ostentatious displays. Therefore, Immortal Lord Aurora refused to have any visiting guests, and would instead have a limited number of attendees to a ceremony held in the immortal palace itself.

That said, it was only natural that there would be gifts and decorations. Lanterns were being hung throughout the palace, and colorful banners were put up everywhere. All of the ladies dressed up. That was especially true in Young Aurora Hall.

All of these were things that had happened historically speaking, but interfering with them wouldn’t have done much. So Xu Qing just let the master of ceremonies continue with all the decorations and other preparations for the wedding.

He was currently in the main hall furthering his study of the sand of time. If situations arose outside that needed to be handled, he would send Zhong Chi out to deal with them.

Time passed slowly. Eventually, the setting sun cast its warm glow into the sky. Within Young Aurora Hall, the master of ceremonies was putting the last wedding decorations into place.

Zhong Chi was making a final inspection of everything.

Pointing at the embroidered balls hanging from the eaves, he frowned, looked at the master of ceremonies, and said, “There’s something wrong with the color of the balls. At first glance they look like they’re made entirely from shivering immortal roses. But in the light of the setting sun, you can clearly see that they have imperfections. What’s more, the total number is inauspicious! There needs to be an even number! Take them down immediately![1]

“And look at the red silk banners! They’re not shiny enough. The magical techniques and immortal power aren’t flowing through them naturally. Take them down! Also....”[2]

Li Mengtu as Zhong Chi was being very responsible and diligent. He felt that it was important to put on a good show. After all, just the day before, Young Lord Aurora really had said some nice things about him to Little Hui from the Spiritguiding Palace. Given his host’s personality, it made sense that he would be profoundly grateful. That said, Li Mengtu was sighing inwardly, as he knew that, historically speaking, the wedding... would turn out to be a bloodbath.

In half a month, the young lord will die violently in this place.... In fact, nobody will make it out alive. Given all the time I’ve spent with Young Lord Aurora recently, I have to admit that he’s a nice person. He’s somewhat given to lust, true. But given who he is, that fact that he’s only somewhat given to lust... makes him nearly perfect.