King of Hundred Victories Saber

The guests all rose to their feet, thunderous applause breaking out as they sent their most heartfelt blessings to this perfect couple.

The Martial Arts folk present expressed their respect in their own unique ways: some lightly flicked their sleeves, sending out rays of blessing condensed from their Inner Strength; others chanted under their breath, using Secret Techniques of the Martial Arts to pray for the newlyweds.

Laughter and cheerful voices rose without cease; exchanges and friendly bouts among the Martial Arts crowd added a touch of fun and vitality to the wedding. They discussed insights into martial studies, shared anecdotes from the Jianghu, so that this wedding was not merely a celebration of love, but also became a grand feast of Martial Arts culture.

”First bow to Heaven and Earth!” The master of ceremonies shouted in a high, stirring voice that seemed to reach the clouds. Shi Feiyang and Lan Xiaodie stood shoulder to shoulder and bowed deeply toward the rolling ranges of Miaojiang. The mountain wind howled past; the Five Poison Banner on the altar snapped and fluttered, as if Heaven and Earth themselves were sending blessings to this pair of newlyweds.

”Second bow to the High Hall!” The two slowly turned around and bowed toward the memorial tablets of the successive Sect Leaders of the Five Poison Sect.

Lan Xiaodie’s eyes grew moist; her voice choked slightly. ”Ancestors above, today I finally understand that using poison to save the world is the true path of our Five Poison Sect. I thank Shi Lang—he is the one who helped me find my true direction. Here I swear, I shall join with Shi Lang to carry our Five Poison Sect forward and wide, bringing fortune to all living beings.”

”Husband and wife bow to each other!” As the words fell, Shi Feiyang had already gently lifted Lan Xiaodie’s hand, his eyes filled with deep affection and love.

As their gazes met, a thousand words and ten thousand sentiments were condensed into a single tender look.

The silver-butterfly phoenix crown on Lan Xiaodie’s head lightly brushed against his jade coronet, producing a clear, ringing sound, just like the sound of two hearts slowly drawing close.

In this moment, they forgot the strife of the Jianghu, forgot all troubles; in their eyes there was only each other.

Kong Triangle read aloud the congratulatory message from the Jianghu elders: ”Today, Hero Shi and Master Lan are joined in matrimony; this is truly a great event in the Martial Arts world! For many years, Hero Shi has wielded a keen blade to cut down all injustice; Master Lan has likewise led the Five Poison Sect to turn from darkness to light. Now the two join hands, like the union of Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, their power boundless. May you, within the Jianghu, walk side by side, taking chivalry as your sword and tenderness as your shield. No matter whether thorns crowd your path, or storms and perils arise, may you support each other and weather all hardship together. In the years to come, in leisure may you brew wine and discuss swords, freely settling gratitude and grudges; in busy times, may you eliminate violence and uphold the good, protecting all living beings. May you soon be blessed with children, that they may inherit your peerless Martial Arts and chivalrous hearts, letting the light of justice in the Jianghu be passed down from generation to generation, never to be extinguished.”

The Eagle Beak Rock Sub-Branch Leader from Liaodong, ”Iron Flute Scholar” Xiang Kun, had specially rushed from Liaodong to read the congratulatory message from all the brothers of the Liaodong Eagle Beak Rock Sub-Branch: ”Grand Squad Leader, today you finally hug the beauty to your breast; from the bottom of my heart, I’m happy for you! Our Heroic Sakura Association has come all this way through countless storms, yet you, Grand Squad Leader, have always been the backbone of us brothers. Now you marry Master Lan; in the days ahead you will have a fine lady by your side, and us brothers at your back. Master Lan, if in future there’s anything the Grand Squad Leader does less than perfectly, I hope you’ll be generous and forgiving. May you two be as twin lotus blossoms upon one stem—flowers sharing one root, never to part; like paired birds of shared wings—perching and flying in twos, roaming the Jianghu. If ever you have need of your brothers, Grand Squad Leader, just give the word, and we will go through fire and boiling water without hesitation!”

Elder Qianli Tusu of the Five Poison Sect offered his congratulations: ”Master Lan, today is your day of great joy, and also a great day for our Five Poison Sect. Since you took up the position of Sect Leader and led our sect onto the right path, only then have we been able to enjoy such a flourishing scene as today. Hero Shi’s famed chivalry spreads far and wide; you and he are truly a match made in Heaven. Today, on behalf of all members of the Five Poison Sect, I congratulate the two of you. May your love be like our sect’s thousand-year ancient gu, tenacious beyond compare, growing ever new with time; like the rare flowers and exotic plants of Miaojiang, full of vitality, never withering. In all the days to come, may you use poison to save the world, use love to warm hearts, and spread the reputation of our Five Poison Sect ever more resoundingly throughout the Jianghu, so that all people shall know the deeds of benevolence and righteousness our sect now practices.”

The young hero He Henian of Shandong Martial Arts’ Qingfeng Sword Sect offered his congratulations: ”Hero Shi, Master Lan, to witness the two of you join in blessed union today is truly a fortune for the Martial Arts world under Heaven. In the Jianghu, Hero Shi’s name for chivalry is thunder in the ears, and Master Lan’s gallant bearing has long inspired deep admiration in this junior. The union of you two is like the meeting of the two brightest stars in the Jianghu, radiance blazing in all directions. May you, in the days ahead, continue to travel the world with swords at your sides, acting in chivalrous righteousness, leaving behind ever more legendary tales in the Jianghu. I, this junior, shall take the two of you as models, tempering myself in the Jianghu and carrying on this way of chivalry. I also wish you a loving marriage, harmony at the table, and that you walk together through every spring, autumn, winter, and summer; may your road in the Jianghu forever be smooth and as you wish.”

Once the various congratulatory messages ended, the wedding feast began in earnest, bustling and boisterous. The people of the Heroic Sakura Association and the Five Poison Sect gathered in one hall, jointly celebrating this grand occasion.

”Iron Palm” Wu Zhong strode over with a wine jar in hand, laughing loudly as he walked up to Shi Feiyang: ”Grand Squad Leader, from now on our Heroic Sakura Association and the Five Poison Sect are one family! If anyone dares bully us, my Iron Palm will never stand for it!”

Liao Pei’s Long Arm Fist swung out in a powerful arc, making the ground tremble faintly with numbness: ”Tonight we don’t go home unless we’re drunk—we must properly celebrate this great joy!”

Xiang Kun came forward cradling his Miao flute and began to play the long-lost ’Melody of Phoenixes in Harmony’ of the Five Poison Sect. The lingering, melodious flute notes echoed through the mountain valley, stirring all the birds in the forest to sing in chorus, as if they too were singing for this pair of newlyweds.

After three rounds of wine, the night grew deep. At this moment, brilliant fireworks suddenly blossomed in the sky above the wedding grounds.

Multicolored lights tore through the night, like flowers bursting into full bloom, dazzling and resplendent.