Chapter 1253 - 322: Blades and Swords Entwined with Sweet Words, Chivalrous Hearts and Tender Feelings Around the Painted Pavilion (Part 5)

Immediately afterward, Shi Feiyang instructed Shan Zhi to accompany Bai Zhi to select a site in Ryukyu to establish a secret branch of the Heroic Sakura Association, recruiting impoverished youths in Ryukyu as disciples of the association, and setting up escort agencies, inns, shops, merchant ships, martial arts schools, and more.

Soon after, Shi Xiong was sent in disguise on a ship back to Jiangnan to inform Liao Pei and Lie Quan, the elders of the Heroic Sakura Association, and to connect with the Sea Sand Gang. Utilizing the merchant ships of the Sea Sand Gang, they would bring various products from Jiangnan to Ryukyu for sale, thus compensating for the losses the Sea Sand Gang had suffered during the Heroic Sakura Association’s time of crisis.

A month later, Ryukyu’s midsummer night was stirred into a frenzy by the sound of joyful music. Vermilion Bird Avenue in Shuri Castle was adorned with festive decorations, with shark gauze tassels hanging from a three-zhang high crimson wedding canopy, billowing like red clouds in the sea breeze.

Shi Feiyang, dressed in a ceremonial robe embroidered with golden silk and dragons, was outlined with a golden edge by the morning light, prompting the bystanders to stop and marvel, saying, "This is no mere groom; he resembles a celestial golden boy descending to earth!"

Prince Shangfeng officiated the ceremony himself, wearing a nine-tassel crown and holding a jade-embedded wedding document, proclaiming loudly, "Today, the heroic Shi Feiyang of the Central Plains Heroic Sakura Association and the Third Princess of Ryukyu join in a blessed union, a joy shared by all under heaven and sea!" Before he finished speaking, thirty-six white elephants bearing a flower carriage carved of coral approached slowly. The curtain embroidered with twin lotus flowers shone with a pearlescent glow in the sunlight.

The flower carriage of the Eldest Princess Liu Yue stopped first before the celebration hall. A hand adorned with jade guards pulled open the shark gauze curtain. She wore a dress embroidered with red gold phoenix patterns, with a faint shy smile hinted from under the red veil covering her face.

When Shi Feiyang stepped forward to support her, he touched her slightly cool fingertips and heard her whisper softly, "Thank you for making this possible, Master." The flower carriage of the Second Princess Liuxing landed immediately afterward, and as she stepped out, she intentionally stepped on her dress, fondly pulling on Shi Feiyang’s sleeve, "My lord, you must protect me."

The youngest, Third Princess Liu Ying, directly lifted her veil and jumped in front of him, holding a strand of coral beads, "Brother Shi, I’ve brought my dowry with me!" The guests on the viewing platform erupted in laughter.

Shi Xiong quietly whispered to Shan Zhi, "This spectacle set up by the Grand Squad Leader will surely make the Central Plains Martial Arts envious." Shan Zhi, looking at Bai Zhi in the distance who was overseeing the shop site selection, said in a low voice, "The most remarkable is Madam Miaojiang, this is a game of chess she plays masterfully..."

The auspicious hour arrived, and the sound of ceremony music suddenly intensified. Shi Feiyang, holding three red silk bands, led the three brides slowly into the celebration hall.

A Turtle Shell Divination Master unique to Ryukyu stepped forward with a bronze cauldron, from which the smoke of incense rose in wisps, "With the water of the East Sea as witness, with the stone of the southern mountains as bond!"

The diviner’s voice echoed through the corridors, "The newlyweds drink this cup of shark pearl wine, henceforth joined in life and death!"

As the cups clinked, Shi Feiyang caught sight of Bai Zhi standing behind a corridor pillar; today she had changed into a fiery red outfit, the Golden Silkworm Gu Pouch at her waist swayed slightly with her movements. Their eyes met, and she nodded at him slightly, indicating all was ready.

Shi Feiyang downed the entire cup in one go, the fiery liquor in his throat not matching the fervor of his strategy at heart.

The wedding banquet was held at the Seaview Pavilion by the coast, where 360 Ryukyu dishes filled the long table.

As Shi Feiyang served dishes to the three princesses, Liu Yue gently wiped his mouth, Liuxing fed him peeled pearl oyster meat, and Liu Ying raised her cup to challenge him to a drinking contest. Amidst the cheers of the guests, Shi Feiyang suddenly stood up and declared loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen! The Heroic Sakura Association is willing to open martial arts schools in Ryukyu, to teach the martial arts of the Central Plains, and to protect one side’s peace!"

Prince Shangfeng clapped and laughed heartily, "Good! I will allocate thirty thousand mu of official land to help Hero Shi establish trade caravans!" Before the words were spoken, Bai Zhi entered the banquet hall with a group of robust men. They wore identical dark outfits with bronze tokens of the Heroic Sakura Association at their waists. "These are the newly recruited disciples," Bai Zhi surveyed the whole scene, a glimmer of cunning unique to Miaojiang women in her eyes, "Tomorrow they will escort the first batch of silk merchant ships to sea!"

As night fell, the lights of the Seaview Pavilion reflected on the sea like falling stars.

When Shi Feiyang was led to the bridal chamber, the three princesses were sitting together under the shark gauze canopy.

Liu Yue shyly lowered her head embroidering, Liuxing played with his jade-handled dagger, and Liu Ying was pestering to learn the Bright Jade Technique.

Smiling, Shi Feiyang drew them into his embrace. Outside, the sea breeze brought news arranged by Bai Zhi regarding the opening of the shops; the Heroic Sakura Association’s grand overseas endeavor in Jianghu had already begun. As the moonlight climbed over the coral windowsill, Shi Feiyang and the three princesses gradually fell into a deep sleep.

The rainy season in Ryukyu carries the intertwined salty-sweet sea breeze, gently sweeping the pink-white cherry blossom petals across the Coral Pavilion’s glazed windows.

Outside the shark silk curtains, rain threads fall like a beaded curtain, tapping softly on the bluestone pavement. Shi Feiyang reclines on the tortoiseshell-inlaid imperial lounge, as the Bright Jade Technique circulates, his skin glows with a warm pearl luster, making him appear like a beautiful jade under the moon.

Liu Yue kneels on a brocade cushion, with Persian tribute shark silk laid across her knees. Her fingertips entwine with golden thread, her alabaster wrist glimpsed under candlelight, focused on embroidering auspicious cloud patterns on the new soft silk boot tops for Shi Feiyang.

The Nine Phoenix Pearl Hairpin in her hair trembles gently with her motions, each eastern pearl refracting fine glimmers occasionally landing on her drooping eyelashes. "The other day, when I saw your boots’ seams split during sword practice," her voice is as gentle as springtime catkins, "I especially sought out this shark silk, said to withstand the Hundred Victories Saber Technique’s fierce wind." As she spoke, the needle accidentally pricked her fingertip, a drop of blood emerged, she hurriedly wiped it with a cloth, but Shi Feiyang swiftly caught her hand.

"How could you be so careless?" Shi Feiyang softly kissed her fingertip, "Does it hurt?"

Liu Yue’s cheeks instantly flushed with a rosy hue, like a blossoming peach, her lowered eyes filled with shyness and sweetness: "No... it doesn’t hurt, as long as I can do something for my husband, even greater pain is worth it."

Before she finished speaking, outside the Liuli screen, came the sound of jingling ornaments mingling with joyful footsteps. Liu Xing twirled in, carrying a vermilion lacquered food box, newly picked jasmine by her temples glistening with dew, her hair tips still dripping with crystalline raindrops, a few stray strands sticking to her flushed cheeks adding a touch of charm.

"Husband, look!" She unveiled the gilded food box, revealing intricate pastries arranged in twelve silver dishes, and in the very center, a vivid sugar sculpture of the Hundred Victories Saber, its blade adorned with tiny gold leaf, sparkling under candlelight, "This is sugar simmered from newly landed luminous shells, I sat by the stove for three whole hours, even chased away the master chef!"

She pouted as she offered the pastry to his lips, her coral nails softly glowing under the candlelight, "If it doesn’t taste good, I’ll... I’ll feed them all to the fish!"

Shi Feiyang laughed, biting into it, the sweet coconut aroma mingling with the sea breeze spread on his tongue, with a hint of imperceptible sea salt savor, remarkably layered. Just as he was about to praise, a snow-white bundle leaped into his arms—Liu Ying, with a damp bun hairstyle, her arms hugging the white fox "Xiaoshuang," scattering droplets everywhere, its claws tightly clinging to his coat.

"Brother Shi is being biased!" She straddled the edge of the lounge, her coral bead chain in her hair producing a crisp sound, her shark silk skirt’s hem still dripping, clearly having run through the rain, "You didn’t even see the Ice Soul Cold Prison Cloak I made for Xiaoshuang!"

With that, she revealed the fox fur, the lining surprisingly embroidered with frost patterns using silver thread, edged with tiny blue glass beads, gently swaying with her actions, seemingly exuding an icy aura.

The sea breeze lifted the shark silk curtains, overlapping the trio’s shadows on the painted screen.

Shi Feiyang put his left arm around Liu Ying’s soft waist, his right taking the fragrant tea Liu Yue offered, the scent of jasmine and sea salt lingering at his nose.

The teacup made from warm suet jade, its rim engraved with twin lotus blossom patterns.

"With you all here," he gently kissed Liu Xing’s rosy cheek, watching her flit like a startled butterfly into his embrace, her hair brushing against his chin, tickling, "even the mountain of knives or sea of flames turns into a tender haven."

Liu Yue suddenly pressed the half-embroidered boot against her chest, her eyes shimmering: "That day, watching you fight off pirates at the Martial Arts Arena, though bloodied, still smiling to comfort us... then I thought, if I could mend your wounds for a lifetime, I’d even trade ten years off my life willingly." Her voice as light as falling petals, yet stirred ripples in Shi Feiyang’s heart, as if an invisible hand lightly strummed his heartstrings.

"Don’t say such foolish things!" Shi Feiyang gently embraced her, as the Bright Jade Technique circulated, the warmth dispelling the rain night’s coolness, the air full of enveloping affection.

Liu Ying suddenly raised the white fox, mimicking his Ice Soul Cold Prison moves, in a playful voice said: "Xiaoshuang also wants to protect daddy!"

Even directing the white fox to wave its paw in the air, causing all to burst into laughter, the sounds mingling with the rain, echoing in the Coral Pavilion, seemingly freezing time into eternal sweetness.