Volume 12, Chapter 802 – If I Don’t Act Soon, You’ll Become a Widow

Qi Huang sat unceremoniously in the bridal sedan chair, legs crossed, cracking melon seeds. The bright red wedding skirt clashed absurdly with her current posture. Every slight movement made the phoenix crown on her head rattle noisily, and every glance downward revealed the exquisite bridal cape across her chest. The entire experience felt bizarre to the extreme.

‘I never imagined that after living over thirty years as a man, one day I’d actually wear wedding clothes and be married off.’

Qi Huang silently grumbled again.

“Hey, how’s that assimilation progress coming along? If you haven’t finished by the time we get to the Cao family, we’re going to be real sisters forever.”

Cheng Hongling’s mental transmission rang out. She was currently seated in the other sedan chair ahead.

“Don’t worry. How could I let some other man take advantage of you? I’m not into that type of stuff after all.”

Qi Huang replied casually.

“You’d better worry about yourself first. Don’t forget, you’re not exactly in a safe position either.”

Cheng Hongling reminded her sharply.

“It’s fine. If push really comes to shove, I’ll just tell Young Master Cao I’m actually a man in disguise. I’d love to see if he still has the guts to make a move.”

Qi Huang joked.

“Pfft. You think he’d believe you?”

Cheng Hongling chuckled at that.

“Doesn’t matter if he doesn’t. I’ll just release a male soul right in front of him and scare him to death.”

Qi Huang said smugly.

“Even if he did believe you, so what? With the way you look at night, even if you were a pig in a past life, he wouldn’t mind. Be careful, or even your male soul won’t keep its chastity.”

Cheng Hongling teased.

“Wife, are you calling me a pig?”

Qi Huang asked, mock offended.

“Just an example.”

Cheng Hongling brushed it off offhandedly.

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“Alright, jokes aside, I’m just a sliver away from fully assimilating the souls of those two doppelgängers. Didn’t the Cao family set the wedding for noon on the 16th of the tenth month? The timing should be perfect.”

Qi Huang got serious.

“Good.”

Cheng Hongling finally relaxed, falling silent again. She was someone who only opened up a little when it came to Qi Huang.

The Honghua Sect’s bridal procession traveled westward. At their normal speed, it would’ve taken them eight to ten years just to reach Central Continent. By then the bride would’ve long turned to dust.

Qi Huang had the ability to fast-track the journey herself, but as today’s bride, it was hardly proper for her to act personally.

The Cao family understood this too, so they respectfully requested Cao Yin to step in.

Naturally, Cao Yin had no reason to refuse. He summoned a massive shield-shaped magical artifact, allowed the entire wedding party to board it, and then controlled the artifact to move rapidly toward the Central Continent.

In other words, the Honghua Sect’s bridal procession was currently standing on this magical artifact. No effort was required on their part, they just needed to maintain their balance.

Cao Yin was well aware of how fragile cultivators’ bodies were, so he didn’t use his full strength while flying the artifact. Even so, less than an hour after departure, the procession arrived at the Cao residence.

The Cao mansion was already bustling. The enormous estate was decked out in lanterns and festive decorations, with crowds surging through the gates. These were all major figures from the cultivation world. Regular cultivators could only watch from beyond the courtyard walls, clogging the streets of the entire imperial capital.

“Cao Yang’s marrying Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang. That’s basically giving him control over the Dao Alliance. After this, the cultivation world’s basically unified and no one can challenge the Cao family!”

“Exactly. And both Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang are stunningly beautiful and terrifyingly powerful. That lucky brat Cao Yang, I’m green with envy.”

“Sigh, too bad we don’t have Immortal bloodlines. Just goes to show that those bloodlines really are supreme in this world. Even if you suck, you can still ride your ancestors’ coattails.”

“Didn’t Qi Huang once openly denounce the bloodline theory in public? Doesn’t this outcome basically make her slap herself in the face?”

“Seems like the bloodline theory is indeed an iron law in the cultivation world. If even she can’t overthrow it, no one ever will.”

The onlookers gossiped animatedly.

The Cao family, naturally, grinned from ear to ear… except for Cao Kun’s branch, who looked like they’d swallowed dog turd.

When the Honghua Sect’s wedding procession arrived, the Cao family’s wedding party made a token gesture of coming out to receive them. Firecrackers exploded, drums thundered, it was quite the spectacle.

Cao Yang had been waiting with bated breath. Like a starving dog, he rushed up eagerly, even trying to lift the bridal curtain himself.

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“Don’t break the rules. The hour hasn’t arrived.”

Cao Hui frowned and reminded him.

“Ah, sorry. I’m just too excited.”

Cao Yang awkwardly retracted his trembling hands. In that moment, he looked nothing like the Cao family’s eldest son, more like some groveling fool.

Inside the sedan chair, Qi Huang heard the commotion and impatiently pulled the red bridal veil back over her head, continuing her soul assimilation of Cao Yin’s two doppelgängers.

At this point, one of Cao Yin’s doppelgängers still stood guard by the spatial rift overhead, while the other had already arrived at the Cao mansion meant to represent their revered ancestor during the ceremony.

“Wait, why are there two bridal sedan chairs?”

“One’s for Cheng Hongling, the other for Qi Huang, obviously.”

“You realize they’re the same person, right? What’s the point?”

“Doesn’t matter what we think. Young Master Cao insisted on marrying both the main body and the doppelgänger.”

“Damn! So they’re going to the bridal chamber together? Two women serving one husband… Cao Yang really knows how to enjoy life!”

The crowd at the entrance erupted again in hushed chatter.

The Honghua Sect’s wedding party waited outside the gates for a full quarter hour. Noon approached.

“Junior sister, come out. The auspicious hour has arrived.”

Outside the sedan, Yun Fei called out to Qi Huang.

Qi Huang stood, extended her fair hand, and stepped down with the help of her second senior sister. Ahead, Cheng Hongling was also stepping out, assisted by Ruan Lingyu.

“I’ll carry you!”

Cao Yang excitedly rushed to Cheng Hongling.

“You’ll carry her? What about me?”

Qi Huang didn’t want that guy getting any advantage over Cheng Hongling, so she immediately spoke up.

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Cheng Hongling understood her meaning perfectly and, naturally, wasn’t about to get jealous.

“Uh….”

Cao Yang froze, utterly flustered. He suddenly realized he’d oversimplified the situation. All he’d thought about was holding one in each arm, completely forgetting he only had two hands and two legs.

“What if I release a doppelgänger to carry the other bride?”

Cao Yang thought of this immediately, but quickly dismissed the idea. A doppelgänger was still a doppelgänger, and he didn’t want to “share” his wife with another version of himself.

“This Cao Yang is such an idiot. Since the two brides are a main body and doppelgänger, why doesn’t he just release a doppelgänger himself to solve the problem?”

“You’re the idiot! A doppelgänger’s still another man. No real guy would let another man touch his wife, even if it’s himself.”

“True that. This is going to be fun to watch.”

The onlookers muttered under their breath.

Cao Hui and his wife exchanged glances, their brows furrowing. They hadn’t expected such an odd dilemma. After all, no one had ever heard of a man marrying two main wives at once.

“How about… ah, dear bride, why don’t you put the doppelgänger away for now? Then once we’re inside, you can bring her out again for the ceremony?”

Cao Yang could only plead with Cheng Hongling.

“You looking down on me?”

Qi Huang stepped forward and questioned coldly.

“N-no, not at all…”

Cao Yang immediately became a flailing mess.

“Damn, only this woman would dare glare down the Cao family’s eldest like that!”

The surrounding crowd watched in awe.

“Just walk in. Who said you have to be carried?”

Seeing things going sideways, Cao Hui hurried to step in and mediate.

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“Hmph…”

Qi Huang snorted coldly. This was the exact reaction she’d been aiming for. She took Yun Fei’s arm and strode toward the main gate.

Cheng Hongling ignored Cao Yang entirely and followed behind with Ruan Lingyu.

Cao Yang had no choice but to give up on his attempt to play the hero and scurried in after them.

Cao Hui and his wife looked sour, but considering the brides’ beauty and strength, they had no choice but to swallow their frustration.

“I’m asking you seriously now, have you finished assimilating yet? We’re about to do the ceremony. If you delay any longer, I’m going to end up killing my own husband.”

Cheng Hongling stepped over a fire basin, just about to enter the main hall, and finally lost her patience.

“Relax. Unless I die, you’re not becoming a widow.”

Qi Huang replied confidently with a smile, then calmly lifted her skirt and stepped over the fire basin.

The three of them entered the ceremonial hall. Cao Yin’s human soul doppelgänger had already been waiting. Cao Yang’s parents were also taking their seats.

“Honored guests, the time has come! Groom Cao Yang, brides Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang, the wedding ceremony is about to begin. Let the officiants perform their duties, the attendants attend to theirs, and the guests bring joy to the event…”

The master of ceremonies bustled about, making sure no detail was overlooked.

Cao Hui and his wife gradually forgot their earlier awkwardness, their faces once again blooming with joy.

Cao Yin’s Humanly Soul doppelgänger showed no change in expression. In fact, a trace of wariness flickered in his eyes, still entirely unaware that he had already been assimilated.

Qi Huang continued to act patiently. After a series of complicated rituals, the time for the formal wedding finally arrived. And at that very moment, she completed the assimilation of both of Cao Yin’s doppelgängers.

“Groom and brides, first bow to the heavens and earth!”

The officiant shouted with great enthusiasm, hoping to earn the Cao family’s favor.

“To hell with your heavenly bow!”

Qi Huang suddenly flung off her veil and cursed aloud.