Ancient Strengthening Technique

AST 1580 - Marriage, Becoming the Guardian of the Sea King’s Palace

Qing Shui had also thought about what Yiye Jiange said. The women at his side were ever-changing, or rather, it could be said that they all kept moving ahead. They weren’t just pretty bystanders and they didn’t want to stick to a man. Mainly, the cause for this was that there were several women at Qing Shui’s side.

All of them had now found their own paths and Qing Shui also didn’t reject this. It was a good thing to have some appropriate distance. Yet, he felt an indescribable feeling in his heart, as it was common for a man to wish that his woman relied on him.

“I’ll support you no matter what you do, but you’re forever my wife. My embrace will be open for you eternally so you can return to my side when you feel tired.” Qing Shui rustled her beautiful hair.

“Are you angry?” Yiye Jiange raised her head, looking at Qing Shui.

“Why would I be?” Qing Shui looked at her in a daze. He thought he had handled it properly this time and all of his words were from his heart.

“Don’t they say that men like to keep their women close?” Yiye Jiange looked at Qing Shui shyly.

“That... aren’t you doing that right now?” Qing Shui laughed, looking at their intertwining bodies.

“Little Scoundrel, you really only know how to talk nonsense.” Yiye Jiange said to him.

After a few words of teasing, Qing Shui said: “I love you and everything about you. I’ll stand by your side no matter what you want to do. Also, I can come find you if I miss you. Don’t they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder? Right, I still haven’t held a marriage ceremony with you.”

“I don’t care about that, I’ll just do it if you want to.” Yiye Jiange shook her head.

“We can’t skip this. It’s my good fortune that such a good girl wishes to marry me. You tell me. Shall we hold it here or back home?” Qing Shui said solemnly.

Yiye Jiange couldn’t help but laugh when she heard Qing Shui refer to her as a girl. She looked at him, saying, “We’re already husband and wife. I really don’t care about those things.”

Qing Shui saw that she was serious and thus nodded.

Yiye Jiange smiled, saying, “Get up or else it’ll turn dark by the time we do.”

“We won’t need to get up if it turns dark.” Qing Shui kissed her face once and then the both of them dressed up properly.

Qing Shui took Yiye Jiange outside but she felt puzzled and immediately said, “I’ll make food for you.”

“Wait a moment. Let me show you a place.” Qing Shui pulled her towards the rear court, because he wanted to look for a hill.

Qing Shui came in front of the hill and felt amazed when he discovered two huge stone statues. They were stone statues of a man and woman entwining, the scene quite vague yet vivid with grace.

“This is the Husband and Wife Stone. It’s said that if a man and woman come here to make a wish, they’ll become husband and wife thereafter.” Yiye Jiange smiled at Qing Shui.

Qing Shui laughed and pulled her close, “With the Heaven and Earth as witnesses, and all living things as matchmakers, today, we pledge to become husband and wife in front of the Husband and Wife Stone!”

Yiye Jiange didn’t like public displays, but their marriage needed some kind of announcement at least.

Yiye Jiange looked at Qing Shui with happiness, nodding, “I never knew you could be so mindful sometimes. Good.”

Qing Shui knelt down while holding her hand: “Today, with the Heaven and Earth as witnesses and the Sun and Moon as matchmakers, I, Qing Shui, and Yiye Jiange hereby become husband and wife. From today, no matter what happens, we’ll never leave each other, and be faithful till death.”

“With the Heaven and Earth as witnesses and the Sun and Moon as matchmakers, I, Yiye Jiange, and Qing Shui hereby become wife and husband. From today, no matter what happens, we’ll never leave each other, and be faithful till death.”

Qing Shui and Yiye Jiange didn’t make some kind of vicious oath because he felt that there was no need to. An oath actually didn’t have much binding power. A person who’d betray an oath could make any kind of vicious oath he’d wish to. Hence, a true oath was something made in the heart. The ceremony Qing Shui performed today was a kind of spiritual harmonization, and also a kind of sublimation.

“Jiange, you’re my wife from now on.” Qing Shui stated his feeling happily while holding her hands.

“Husband!” Yiye Jiange called out to him with a alluring blush on her face.

Qing Shui looked at her in a daze. That deep emotion of love made her lower her head from shyness. Recalling the past, the scene when he first saw her appeared in his mind.

She seemed like a fairy untainted by sin. Her strength was powerful and she was extremely pure. Qing Shui couldn’t have any selfish thoughts when he had seen her because she had saved him and his family. He was a person who returned his favour and debts. Therefore, he told himself that if Yiye Jiange were to ever face any trouble, he’d even die to help her.

In order to save Qing Shui, Yiye Jiange had accepted Qing Shui as a disciple. They became a bit closer due to this layer of relation, but Qing Shui had never had any dirty intentions because he felt that he didn’t deserve her.

……

Yiye Jiange’s expression softened as she saw Qing Shui stare at her blankly. She waved her hands in front of him to interrupt his thoughts, “What are you thinking?”

“When I thought of you, I felt an unspeakable sense of satisfaction. Feeling that no one is as blessed as me. Fortunately, I’m a man or else I would’ve died from the regret that I could only keep looking at you but do nothing.”

“No good words are to be expected from a scoundrel.” Yiye Jiange reached out to hit Qing Shui’s head. She realized the ambiguity in the words he spoke.

“You’re already my wife, so don’t think you can run away in this lifetime.” Qing Shui pulled her, taking a walk at the hill.

“You don’t have confidence in yourself or in me?” Yiye Jiange said softly.

“I don’t have confidence in myself because I’m always afraid you’ll fly out of this vast universe one day.” Qing Shui sighed. He wasn’t saying this randomly, as even such a thing as him arriving in the Nine Continents was possible. Furthermore, looking at the Sun, Moon and Stars during the chaos of the Five Elements during battles made him feel that this world was quite dangerous. Even though he still hadn’t encountered any Divine experts, they were real existences.

The departure Qing Shui spoke of wasn’t just one kind. Losing one’s life was also another.

“Since when did you lose your confidence? No matter what happens, I’m your woman during my lifetime.” Yiye Jiange smiled at Qing Shui. These words were enough to make a man feel bliss from happiness.

Qing Shui sensed something different, because a woman like Yiye Jiange wasn’t a woman who decided on something easily. She’d hold onto her beliefs till death.

“You’re my woman in this lifetime, and in the next, and after that. Don’t think you can escape.” Qing Shui said quite despotically.

“I’ll never try to find a fickle scoundrel like you in my next life.” Yiye Jiange laughed.

Qing Shui laughed, feeling embarrassed. Although this world didn’t have the rule of monogamy, women always wished for a man who’d only love them.

“I was just joking. You’ll have to find me soon in the next life or else I won’t be able to become your woman.” Yiye Jiange held his arm and said somewhat angrily.

Qing Shui felt his body go numb all over. Yiye Jiange’s tone was a little languid, and also contained a feeling of acting spoiled. An expression like that from a woman like her really emitted an overwhelming stimulation.

Qing Shui hugged her and kissed her earlobes. “I really like the way you act spoiled.”

Yiye Jiange trembled due to his kiss and the following words caused her to blush. She pushed him and walked away, leaving him to the side, but Qing Shui caught her hand, so she couldn’t walk far.

“What’s up? Shy Little Gege.” Qing Shui laughed.

“Aaaahhhh! Don’t call me that. So corny!” Yiye Jiange said powerlessly.

“What should I call you then? Little Darling? Ok. I got it. So, you like being called like that. I’ll change it.” [ED: Dahlinnnnnnn]

“I dare you. You’re not allowed to call me that.” Yiye Jiange turned back to cover his mouth with her hand.

Qing Shui caught her arm and hugged her waist, laughing at her ears: “You’re my Little Darling, forever.”

His words seemed quite casual and the two of them couldn’t even see each other’s faces but Yiye Jiange didn’t stopt him. She hugged him back or else he’d see her shameful blushing expression.

After snuggling for a good while, Yiye Jiange raised her head to look at Qing Shui. A warm happy sensation spread throughout her body. She knew how much this man had paid for her and also knew his affection for her.

“My plan is to stay here and expand the Sea King’s Palace.” Qing Shui addressed this subject again. After all, it was improbable that there’d be another large battle within in the short term again.

“You’re fine with me being here?”

“I already said that I’ll support whatever you wish to do. Women who have their own goals possess one kind of charm. I like your charm when you fulfill your responsibilities. You are my goddess.” Qing Shui laughed, but he was serious.

“You really can’t say any proper words.” Although she said this, she felt happy. She knew she couldn’t stop Qing Shui from saying corny words, and since she couldn’t prevent it, she didn’t even try. Moreover, the tone with which he said these words wasn’t too serious, so it wasn’t that awkward. Only he knew how serious they were in his heart.

“I am serious.”

“Qing Shui, why don’t you join the Sea King’s Palace? How about becoming the guardian of our Sea King’s Palace by joining with my open invitation?” Yiye Jiange thought for a bit.

“Since the lady has spoken, there’s no problem. What does your Grand Palace Master think about this?” Qing Shui didn’t reject this idea. There were many people in Sea King’s Palace and this battle had really brought him a lot of fame.

“There’s no problem, it’s settled then.” Yiye Jiange said.

“I won’t stay here forever.”

“I know. It’s ok if you’re here for just a bit. It’s fine if you rush here in case there are circumstances like today.” Yiye Jiange explained.

“If a situation like today happens, I’ll surely rush over when I hear of it, as long as you’re here.”

……

By the time they returned, the banquet was already prepared. This was the celebration of a heroic deed. Everyone became a little excited when they saw Qing Shui. Muyun Qingge looked at Qing Shui and then again at Yiye Jiange. Yiye Jiange nodded at her.

After everyone was seated, Muyun Qingge stood up with a smile: “I have good news to announce today. Qing Shui’s the Guardian of our Sea King’s Palace from today onwards.”

All the chiefs nearby were shocked and then issued a happy cheer. This came from the bottom of their hearts. They had personally witnessed his strength. They didn’t feel jealous towards Qing Shui and felt happy that he’d become the Guardian of the Sea King’s Palace. It was quite difficult for the Sea King’s Palace to exist in the huge ocean domain. If a powerful Guardian like Qing Shui joined, it’d guarantee their livelihood.