Chapter 374: Jisierk’s Wedding Night

Chapter 374: Chapter 374: Jisierk’s Wedding Night

The sixth day of the tenth month.

The people of the Grassland didn’t consult the almanac for weddings or funerals. For a joyous occasion like a wedding, any even-numbered day would do.

Vast Sea City, already bustling, reached a new peak of excitement today.

In addition to the three-day-long banquet that filled an entire street, every household in the city was gifted a sheep, a bolt of cloth, and a bag of pastries today.

Vast Sea City had at least two hundred thousand households. A sheep and a bolt of cloth for each one—how many silver taels must that cost?

Everyone in the Lindi Clan, from the highest to the lowest, was bustling about.

Those of higher status received guests, while those of lower status were busy with servants’ tasks.

Throughout the entire estate, only Chu Fan and the other twenty-three Guards had it relatively easy.

Even the Maids by Li Haiqin’s side were busy.

At 3 p.m., the Third Young Master came to the guest courtyard to lead Li Haiqin to the main hall of the primary residence.

She was accompanied only by two matrons, two Maids, and two Close Guards.

The Close Guards were, of course, Chu Fan and Kemoqi, whom Chu Fan had specifically chosen.

The rest of the retinue was taken to the residence where Li Haiqin and Jisierk would live after their marriage.

Weddings on the Grassland were completely different from those in the Central Domain and the Eastern Domain.

Their weddings began in the main hall of the groom’s family home, where the new couple would kneel before the most noble person in the groom’s clan. Under the blessing of this most noble person, the couple would be joined as partners.

Afterward, a bonfire party would be held in a large open space, with countless people eating, drinking, singing, and dancing together.

When the bonfire’s flames died down and the moon was high in the Middle Heaven, the newlyweds would be ushered into their bridal chamber. The others would continue to sing and dance, only dispersing once the bonfire had completely burned out.

The most noble person in the Hanmo Clan was, of course, the Clan Leader, Zerkar.

In the main hall, Zerkar sat in the seat of honor. Behind him were the ancestral tablets of the past clan leaders of the Hanmo Clan. Jisierk’s parents and Li Haiqin’s father stood on either side of the hall.

The new couple walked into the main hall, knelt before Zerkar, and kowtowed. Afterward, they remained kneeling, waiting for Zerkar’s address.

"Li Haiqin, you are the most gorgeous Sandalwood Flower on the Grassland. It is my grandson Jisierk’s fortune to be able to marry you. From this day forward, you are one of the Hanmo Race. Today, in the presence of the heroic spirits of the past clan leaders, I will write your name into our Hanmo Clan’s family register. I hope that you two will love each other, share in honor and disgrace, taste bitterness and sweetness together, and never abandon one another, until your hair turns white."

As he spoke, Zerkar opened a family register, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote her name inside.

After putting down the register and brush, Zerkar turned to Jisierk. "Jisierk, by marrying the most beautiful Sandalwood Flower of the Grassland, you can now be considered a true man, a true warrior of the Grassland. From this day forward, you have a new identity: a woman’s husband. As a husband, you must understand the responsibility you bear on your shoulders. You must protect this delicate flower with your own life, ensuring she never suffers any grievance or humiliation, and that she finds happiness within our Hanmo Clan. Before long, you will also become a father. You must raise your children well, so they may become the eagles of the Grassland."

"Yes!"

The two answered in unison.

"May the great White Wolf King bestow his blessing and grant you, the new couple, a happy and blissful marriage."

And with that, the wedding blessing was complete. The next event was the bonfire party in the large, open space of the rear courtyard.

Zerkar personally led them to the rear courtyard.

Seeing the rear courtyard—a vast, open space even larger than the Martial Arts Arena of the Lingyun Sect—Chu Fan couldn’t help but feel surprised.

In the very center, a bonfire built from more than ten massive logs, each as thick as a man’s embrace, had already been lit. The pyre itself was over thirty feet tall, and with the flames, it reached a height of more than fifty feet.

Besides the main bonfire, nearly a hundred smaller fires burned in a large circle around it, roasting whole cattle and sheep.

The rear courtyard was packed with people. Some were grilling the meat, others were happily eating large chunks of it, and still others were holding wine flasks, challenging people to drinking contests.

The scene was incredibly lively.

Of course, there was also a band playing music.

As Li Haiqin’s Close Guards, Chu Fan and Kemoqi stayed close behind her and Jisierk.

Although they were in the main residence of the Hanmo Clan, with so many guests present, no one could know if there was danger lurking. After all, the Grassland had not been peaceful these past few months.

Chu Fan’s gaze swept the area. Thanks to his powerful Spiritual Power, he quickly spotted the figures of the two sisters, Ran Lin and Ran Fei.

They were currently with Li Haiqin’s other Maids, silently eating meat. They didn’t look out of place at all.

As for Moqish, Chu Fan couldn’t find any trace of him.

According to Ran Lin’s plan, he was supposed to have disguised himself as a guest to sneak in, so he must have been wearing a human-skin mask to alter his appearance.

If they were face-to-face, Chu Fan was confident he could spot the human-skin mask at a glance.

But finding him among these thousands of people was much more difficult.

’But that doesn’t matter. After all, he’s bound to show up when it’s time for the bridal chamber.’

’The poison should have been administered by now, right? I wonder what kind it is.’

Of course, Chu Fan had no intention of exposing this plot. After all, his target was also the Profound Iron Order.

It was enough as long as the few people he cared about weren’t poisoned.

Thus, he stayed close behind Li Haiqin, silently swapping the drinks in her and Jisierk’s hands.

As the music swelled, the party grew even more boisterous.

Under the dual influence of alcohol and music, many people began to dance with wild abandon.

Chu Fan also knew that at parties like this, many cheating men and women would inevitably find a quiet corner to engage in some... primal activities.

Of course, Chu Fan also sensed two incomparably tyrannical auras secretly observing the entire estate.

’These should be Half-Saints, right? I wonder if two Half-Saints will be enough to stop that group,’ Chu Fan thought to himself.

No one was happier today than Jisierk. Marrying Li Haiqin was a dream come true.

But because of what Chu Fan had told him, a faint worry lingered in his heart.

As time passed, the sky quickly darkened, and the revelry of the party reached its peak.

With the exception of a few individuals, even the Hanmo Clan Guards standing watch on the sidelines began to sway gently to the music.

Even the Maids and matrons with Ran Lin and Ran Fei started to dance.

Ran Lin and Ran Fei had no choice but to join in and move their bodies to the rhythm.

Because of their beauty, many men drew near, like dogs in heat seeing a bitch, doing their utmost to suck up to them.

At 9 p.m., with a great CRASH, the upper logs of the massive central bonfire, now thoroughly burnt, came tumbling down.

This was the signal that it was time for the newlyweds to enter the bridal chamber.

Chu Fan, Kemoqi, and a few Hanmo Clan Guards escorted the new couple to their private residence.

After Li Haiqin and Jisierk entered the room, the four of them stood guard under the long corridor by the door.

Chu Fan pretended to have a stomachache, excused himself to the other three, and hurried away.

He did indeed go to a latrine first, but after casting the Inner Binding Seal, he returned to the courtyard.

Once in the courtyard, he passed directly through the wall and into the bedroom.

Inside the bedroom, he saw Moqish sitting on the nuptial bed with a smug look on his face.

Jisierk and Li Haiqin stared, dumbfounded, at Moqish, who had somehow arrived in the room before them.

How did he manage to evade the patrols and get here?

This time, Jisierk completely and utterly believed Chu Fan’s words.