The Bridal Chamber Gambit

The three-story bridal chamber was ornate and splendid, with floors paved in jade, windows framed in rosewood, and inlaid agate ornaments. Fragrant scents wafted through the air, soothing the senses. Though small, the building was exquisitely crafted, full of refined beauty.

The boisterous crowd refused to disperse, pushing Xiao Chen toward the second floor. They opened the violet jade door, and crystal lamps bathed the new chamber in soft, warm light, suffusing it with an air of tenderness.

But this was only skin-deep. The minds of those at the center of events were far different from that gentle scene.

Hai Yunxue sat quietly at the edge of the bed, her wedding garments like a fiery red cloud. Two young maids stood by her side. The pearl chains beneath her headdress hung perfectly still, showing that she was calm inside, not the least bit anxious.

Yes, for her, the wedding was merely a formality. Xiao Chen was by no means her ideal match. Her heart had already flown beyond the Southern Wastes, toward the lands of the north. The vast Central Plains were a land of outstanding talent, filled with heroic tales to move heaven and earth. She did not want to confine herself to the small Southern Wastes... Xiao Chen had no background—how could he compete with the kings of the world or contend with ancient aristocratic families that had passed down their legacies for millennia? Hai Yunxue was a woman unwilling to live an ordinary life. She wanted to stand on the foundation of a great power that could sweep across the world. She longed for fame that would shake the world.

She felt she was a different species from those vulgar women who craved wealth and status. She believed her choice was not mercenary; it was simply because she was calm and realistic. Standing atop a "great mountain" would bring her closer to the "high heavens." She needed a commanding height. She did not want to begin climbing from the foot of the mountain.

Xiao Chen had already lost his Dragon King advantage; he could not give her what she wanted. Hai Yunxue had already sentenced him to death in her heart. Once the matter was settled, Xiao Chen could not be allowed to live. All traces of this wedding must vanish.

As the door opened, Xiao Chen entered with a faint smile on his face. The crowd behind him, clamoring to crash the bridal chamber, crowded the doorway and even rushed in.

"Lift the veil!" "Pick up the bride!"

The boisterous crowd urged him on. Xiao Chen was utterly composed—at this point, what did he have to fear? It was the Hai family that should be worried. He lifted the red headdress, revealing a face of national beauty and heavenly fragrance. Hai Yunxue's skin was like congealed fat, her beauty like that of a celestial immortal. Her loveliness was dizzying. Many of the young people causing a ruckus felt their mouths go dry. The clamorous scene fell completely silent for a moment, all of them stunned.

"What a pity!" someone muttered softly. "If I could, even knowing I'd die, I'd trade places with Xiao Chen for just one night." Awareness returned as if from a dream. The crowd sighed and shook their heads, then began to stir again. They knew Xiao Chen lacked the fortune to enjoy such a beauty—the Hai family would never let this marriage become reality.

"Crossed cups!" "Bite the apple!"

Hai Yunxue's calm expression finally rippled. She wondered why her family had not yet contacted the Tiger Servant. They had let Xiao Chen live until now, and why did they not stop these people? How could they allow such a commotion in the bridal chamber?

She stared coldly at Xiao Chen, her beautiful eyes devoid of emotion, filled only with warning.

"You've gone too far..." Xiao Chen laughed, fending off the crowd's urging. Since he had already let himself go, what was there to fear? The divine light that flickered faintly in his eyes showed how calm and composed he was at this moment.

Ignoring Hai Yunxue's warning gaze, Xiao Chen teasingly reached out and lifted her chin. Borrowing the words of the ancients, he remarked: "Her shoulders were as if carved, her waist as if bound with a white cord. Her neck long and slender, her skin gleaming white. Fragrance unadded, powder unapplied. Her cloud-like coiffure rose high, her long brows gracefully curved. Red lips shone bright, white teeth within gleamed. Her bright eyes sparkled, and her charming cheeks lent her enchanting beauty—a rare and elegant grace, her manner tranquil and refined."

He showed no emotional fluctuation at Hai Yunxue's peerless beauty. With an indifferent tone he casually asked, "Tell me, is my new wife beautiful?"

The crowd in the bedchamber was both envious and thoroughly enchanted. They all shouted: "Beautiful! Truly the form of a celestial maiden! The pearl of the Southern Wastes!" "Comparable to the Luo River Goddess!" "Surpassing the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden!" "A moon goddess descended to the mortal world!"

The onlookers were somewhat dazed. Even though they had come to make trouble, most of their praise came from the heart.

The old Hai family retainer who had been shadowing Xiao Chen was growing frantic. Two people of unfathomable depth had appeared beside him, blocking his path, making it impossible to lock onto Xiao Chen any longer.

Damn it! He cursed inwardly. Although both of them had used mystical arts to veil their true features with illusions, instinct told him they were not young—at least fifty or sixty years old. What were people of such advanced age doing crashing a bridal chamber? They had clearly come to block him.

The old Hai retainer ground his teeth in fury. He knew this must be the work of other major families, but at this moment he was helpless. The two men's cultivation was frighteningly deep, flanking him left and right, completely immobilizing him.

And at that moment, how could Xiao Chen miss the opportunity? Though he did not know that someone had blocked the old retainer, he sensed the oppressive aura that had been locked onto him fade away. He reacted instantly.

An opportunity not to be missed. Naturally but firmly, he seized one of Hai Yunxue's jade-like hands and said with a free and easy laugh, "From this day forth, husband and wife share one heart, flying wing to wing."

The crowd immediately stirred: "Kiss her!"

Under these circumstances, Hai Yunxue wore a faint smile, but Xiao Chen could clearly read the coldness in her eyes—killing intent, anger, and a trace of disdain.

Xiao Chen laughed. Already trapped in a predicament, he grew even more unrestrained. Was there anything worse than death? When the Tiger Servant arrived, his crisis would truly begin. For now, he could completely let loose.

One hand firmly gripping Hai Yunxue's jade hand, the other teasingly lifting her chin, he said, "Kissing her is not out of the question, but to do it right here in front of all of you would be too indecent." As he spoke, he moved his palm, gently stroking her cheek, then carefully parted a strand of hair that had fallen before her eyes.

If they had truly been husband and wife, such an action would have counted as intimacy and warmth. But the relationship between the two newcomers was exceedingly delicate. Flames seemed to leap in Hai Yunxue's eyes—she felt as if she were being molested. Yet she quickly calmed down, and with a charming smile, she appeared alluring and seductive.

Xiao Chen inwardly tightened. This woman was extremely formidable. To remain so composed under these circumstances showed a depth of cunning.

"No, kiss her!" "Drink the crossed cups!"

The crowd, eager to see chaos, kept up their urgings. Such fierce disruption of a bridal chamber was rare.

Xiao Chen laughed heartily. "What's so special about that? Isn't it just a kiss? There are even more exciting things we could do. How about a novel way to crash the bridal chamber? Let's go outside, somewhere more spacious, and my wife and I will perform a double flight for you!"

As he spoke, a burst of forceful energy surged from his palm into Hai Yunxue's body, overwhelming her Ninth Heaven power, which could not resist. Xiao Chen pushed open the rosewood window, grabbed Yan Qingcheng, and lightly flew into the night sky. First, he would leave the Hai mansion. With this hostage in hand, they should not dare to kill him outright.

The crowd was stunned and immediately came to their senses, realizing Xiao Chen was about to act. They hooted and hollered, rushing out of the building and leaping onto the rooftops. Tonight, everyone had come for the show, and the best part was just beginning.

The old Hai retainer responsible for keeping Xiao Chen locked down was so furious his intestines nearly turned green. This brazen Xiao Chen had gone too far, daring to do such a thing! In truth, since Xiao Chen had taken Hai Yunxue as a hostage, even if the retainer could act, he would be hampered by fear of harming her. What made it even more infuriating was that the two mysterious experts from powerful families, their identities hidden, still had him pinned down. He could not move.

Xiao Chen did not flee into the sky. Instead, he stood casually and composedly in the air, holding Hai Yunxue. It was not that he did not want to escape, but the Hai family's defenses were too tight. Old men stood motionless in the void to the east, west, south, and north.

If he could escape now, Heavenly Emperor City was vast enough that he might hide for a while. Perhaps he could even earn a chance to live.

Slowly descending to the ground, Xiao Chen wrapped an arm around Hai Yunxue's slender waist and said to the crowd with a smile, "You've watched enough of the show, haven't you? How about seeing my wife and me off?"

Hai Yunxue did not struggle. She let Xiao Chen hold her lightly, showing no sign of fear.

The crowd leaped down from the buildings, knowing that Xiao Chen was about to lay his cards on the table. He was preparing for a complete break and escape. Staying here would lead to only one outcome: the Tiger Servant and Tiger Guards would kill him. Yet they also felt a shiver—this Xiao Chen had audacity, daring to take the Hai family's noble daughter hostage.

"It seems my fate is already stamped with the word 'death.' No matter what I do, can it be worse than that?" Xiao Chen laughed loudly and called out to the old men on all sides: "If you want to kill me, go ahead. But I warn you, my ability is sufficient to take your family's Pearl of the Southern Wastes with me before I die."

"Xiao Chen... Our Hai family has treated you well, even giving you the most beautiful woman in the Southern Wastes as your wife, yet you are so ungrateful, repaying kindness with hatred, doing such a thing! Why?" a middle-aged man from the Hai family shouted.

"Hmph, I won't bother with you. There's no need to say much—everyone here understands the situation. If your Hai family continues to play the innocent, you are insulting my intelligence. Get out of my way! If you want Hai Yunxue to live, clear a path!" Xiao Chen's hair whipped in the wind without a breeze, and the killing intent emanating from his body caused the surrounding flowers to wither, their petals falling like butterflies.

The old Hai retainer could now move. The two experts who had locked him in place had vanished into the crowd in an instant. But restoring his mobility was too late.

The wedding banquet stirred such a huge wave that the Hai mansion erupted like an explosion. Voices buzzed and people poured out of their rooms, rushing toward the scene.

Everyone had to admire Xiao Chen. The boy was ruthless and decisive enough—he had actually dared to act in such a setting, and had succeeded with an expert shadowing him.

"Xiao Chen, how can you do this?" Hai Fanyun, the head of the Hai family, asked coldly.

"I want to live. Clear a broad road. I don't want to waste words!" Xiao Chen waved his hand, and a cultivator's long blade instantly flew into his grip. The cold blade replaced his hand, pressing against Hai Yunxue's snow-white neck.

"Let him go!" Hai Fanyun was also very decisive.

Without looking back, Xiao Chen pressed on with Hai Yunxue. Instead of taking the main gate, he headed straight for the wall. With a sweep of the long blade, divine light exploded, and the high courtyard wall shattered with a bang.

Thus, Xiao Chen walked straight out, his acute senses raised to the limit. Everything within a hundred meters was clearly reflected in his mind.

The unexpected turn of events meant the wedding banquet could not continue. Everyone had come for the show, but this drama was too direct, not nearly intense enough.

All followed Xiao Chen's steps, chasing after him into the street.

Xiao Chen unfurled the Undying Wings and shot into the sky, but he was forced back down by a pressure from above.

"Want to escape Heavenly Emperor City? Hmph, then release Yunxue first. If you truly want to kill her, go ahead and try." The hoarse voice was ice cold, leaving no doubt about his words. The Hai family could not tolerate Xiao Chen actually fleeing Heavenly Emperor City.

"What is there to fear? Kill her, then!" Xiao Chen was very decisive. The long blade pressed down without mercy. Blood burst forth at once, and a bloody gash appeared on the side of Hai Yunxue's neck.

"Stop!" The old man in the sky immediately changed color. "You are very capable! If you truly could become my Hai family's son-in-law, that would indeed be excellent. What a pity..."

Xiao Chen wiped his hand over Hai Yunxue's neck, staunching the bleeding. Without another word, he transformed into a streak of divine light and shot into the sky.