Inside sleeping palace inner chamber, jade pendants lightly jingled, robes rustled, accompanied by Hua Lianzhi’s occasional exclamations.

Time seemed to quietly slow its pace. Even Yun Che’s chaotic thoughts were unknowingly drawn in.

Not long after, inner chamber curtain was gently lifted by Hua Lianzhi. Hua Caili slowly walked out. In an instant, all brilliance in courtyard faded. Even sword glow permeating Heaven-Folding Divine Kingdom’s sky, like starlight, became a dim backdrop.

A Xuan-white dress entered his eyes. Its material seemed woven from some kind of jade silk, lustrous as congealed fat, thin as cicada wings. When lightly brushed, it seemed to have flowing light subtly turning. Wind passing through robes was like fireflies dancing under moonlight, immortal aura swirling.

Dress body was adorned with star-like jade ornaments, and still imprinted with sword patterns, but it did not have strong, cold sword intent. Instead, it gently swayed with warm, magnificent, star-river-like sword brilliance... It retained a bit of Heaven-Folding Divine Girl’s aloofness, but more was girl’s delicate agility, because this dress was not for sword practice, but only for person she adored.

Hua Caili slowly walked over, lightly supported by Hua Lianzhi. Her black hair was loosely coiled, with an agate jade hairpin in her hair. Hairpin head was carved into a small sword shape, adorned with tiny jade beads. When she moved, jade beads lightly swayed, bringing pleasant, ethereal sword cries.

Her steps were very slow and light, as if fearing to disrupt this posture presented to her beloved. Her moon-like cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, shyness of a woman adorning herself for her admirer. Her brows and eyes also hid a bit of cautious apprehension and expectation. Her beautiful eyes gazed tenderly at Yun Che, filled with his figure, as if wanting to engrave his current appearance completely into her heart.

Yun Che stared blankly, his Sea of Soul long losing its previously complex thoughts. He only felt something gently tugging at depths of his soul.

His dazed appearance instantly melted girl’s apprehension. Her lips curved with joy. Moment her smile bloomed, it was like an endlessly beautiful, soft light gently crashing into his heart, rippling endlessly.

She released Hua Lianzhi’s hand and slowly walked towards Yun Che. Her skirt gently swayed with each step. Each sway, a dense, brilliant star and sword pattern silently emerged, then quietly disappeared in afterglow of sway, as if spreading a beautiful, brilliant, eternally flowing star river within her dress and grace.

Until she walked closer step by step in world, so close that his breath was filled with girl’s fragrance, he remained motionless, stunned and speechless.

It was like a dream too beautiful, so beautiful it was too illusory... a slight touch, and it would shatter into eternal dust.

"Husband, is it beautiful?" She slightly raised her head, her brows and eyes curved, her gaze flowing with expectation and tenderness. Yun Che’s current expression had already given her most joyful, most satisfying answer.

And her address, after a brief moment of stunned silence from Hua Lianzhi behind her, made her suddenly raise her hand to cover her mouth.

Yun Che opened his mouth. It took a while before he finally found his voice: "Beautiful..."

Two words that were praise in ordinary eyes, yet before Hua Caili at this moment, they were only powerless and pale.

She was already Abyss’s universally known First Divine Girl, a miraculous girl rumored to have gathered all splendid light of Abyss world. And when she actively displayed all her grace, what she presented was an immortal dream so beautiful it should not exist in this dim Abyss world.

But it was also these two exceptionally dry words that made Hua Caili’s smile brighter. She took half a step forward, almost pressing against Yun Che’s chest. Her hands rose, her jade-white fingertips gently brushed over belt at his waist, then softly cupped his face, her upturned eyes gazing fixedly and dotingly:

"Before, I never rejoiced over others’ compliments on my appearance, but now, I am so glad. Because my Husband is most handsome, best smelling... best man in world. I must be good enough to be worthy of my Husband."

Girl’s love words were gentle and direct, yet carried a nearly pious infatuation. Every word seemed to originate from depths of her soul, integrating into this life.

Yun Che almost unconsciously raised his hand, gently covering back of her hand that cupped his face. Her eyes were very close, allowing him to clearly see every ray of starlight within, as if nine heavens’ star river had been crushed and poured into them, rippling with glass-like brilliance. Corners of her eyes slightly upturned, tinged with a faint blush, like rosy clouds dyed with mist, rendering a delicate tenderness and soul-stirring charm that only he was fortunate enough to glimpse.

"Caili..."

He murmured softly, his fingertips passing through gaps between her fingers, gently pressing them, making her palm cling more tightly to his cheek: "To meet you in this life, I... how fortunate I am..."

Hua Caili’s fingers lightly turned, touching his lips, stopping his subsequent words. Half shy, half serious, she said: "I said, it is clearly I who am more fortunate."

Yun Che smiled slightly, his hand sliding down, naturally embracing her slender waist. His movements were light, as if catching a petal drifting from star river into his palm. He pulled her closer, so close that their foreheads gently touched, then a very light kiss on her lips.

So light, as if fearing to awaken something, and as if using this moment’s piety to stamp an eternal mark on this dream, too beautiful to be real, that would be engraved in depths of his soul.

"Mmm..." Girl softly hummed, then quietly nestled her head into his chest, making a soft sound like a kitten: "Lianzhi is still here..."

Hua Lianzhi, suddenly mentioned, seemed to awaken from a dream. She instinctively made a flustered sound: "I... I didn’t see anything... Ah!"

As words left her mouth, she realized she should not have spoken. She hastily covered her lips with both hands, unsure whether to retreat or stay.

Yun Che said nothing more, but gradually tightened his arms... No one knew that his hand, clasped behind Hua Caili’s back, quietly clenched, his fingertips piercing into his flesh, drawing beads of blood.

Just now, what arose in his heart was clearly terror of loss.

So clear, so soul-piercing.

As if fearing shattering of a beautiful dream.

But...

Ultimately, it is just a beautiful dream... it can only be a dream!

And he is Yun Che... no, he is Emperor Yun, bearing fate of his homeland.

Therefore, his only choice is to pierce through beautiful dream with his own hands, at all costs... no matter how painful, he must never truly sink into it.

Absolutely... must... not!

"Eldest Sister, it’s time for sword practice today... Ah!!"

A clear girl’s voice suddenly sounded somewhat abruptly. Yun Che’s gaze shifted. He saw a girl in white holding a sword box, her face full of shock and astonishment. When her gaze met Yun Che’s, she hastily lowered her head, at a loss.

Hua Caili rose from Yun Che’s embrace, smiling faintly: "Biyi, Aunt said that for next three years, I can enjoy leisure and do not need to practice sword."

"Ah... yes." Hua Biyi looked up in surprise, then quickly lowered her head again: "I... I understand, Eldest Sister."

"However," Hua Caili’s tone shifted: "I told Aunt that three months would be enough, because I want to practice sword even harder than before, so I can protect my Husband."

On Eden Cloud Peak, tears staining her cheeks, oath she shouted in front of everyone was not just an empty vow, but deeply engraved into her belief.

In front of others, she always called out "Husband" without hesitation, completely disregarding how intensely these simple two words impacted others’ souls.

Undoubtedly, Hua Biyi’s eyes widened almost instantly, her pink lips parted. It took her several breaths to respond hastily.

"Husband," She took Yun Che’s hand: "First time you came, you faced Father God’s fiercest and most terrifying appearance. I didn’t even have time to properly show you Heaven-Folding Divine Kingdom. Let’s make up for it starting today."

"I want every place I have ever stayed in my life to have Husband’s shadow... Hee!!"

She led Yun Che away, laughing, leaving Hua Lianzhi and Hua Biyi looking at each other, speechless for a long time.

————

Heaven-Folding Divine Kingdom, Sword Intent Corridor.

Sword array hung in sky, like a star river inverted, reflecting sword brilliance that was sometimes bright, sometimes mottled. Yun Che and Hua Caili bathed in sword brilliance, walking side by side along corridor, listening to her tell stories of Heaven-Folding ancestors one after another.

Sword Intent Corridor was carved with sword marks of successive Sword Ancestors, Sword Venerables, and Divine Sovereigns. Each sword mark contained a profound sword intent accumulated over long years. Therefore, countless Heaven-Folding Profound Practitioners came daily to look up and comprehend.

"Look, that’s Aunt’s sword mark! As expected of Aunt, even her sword mark is so beautiful!"

Although it was just a long, narrow, simple sword mark, one could almost clearly glimpse Hua Qingying’s cold sharpness when she wielded her sword. Every wisp of sword intent released from sword mark was like an ice ray condensed from deepest part of moonlight.

"When will I become as powerful as Aunt? Always protected by Husband, I really wish I could protect Husband just once someday."

She yearned, she imagined, she longed... seemingly completely unaware of countless varied gazes cast upon them.

This Sword Intent Corridor was one of places Hua Caili most frequently visited in her leisure time from cultivation. Therefore, Heaven-Folding Profound Practitioners who came to comprehend sword intent often had fortune of seeing her. No one dared to offend, no one dared to approach, but some relatively high-ranking individuals could remotely pay respects, and she would always respond gently.

But today’s Sword Intent Corridor was terrifyingly quiet. One by one, groups of Heaven-Folding Profound Practitioners were either dazed, or dumbfounded... Even those high-ranking Sword Venerable disciples, and even Imperial Princes and Princesses, none came forward to greet them. They even forgot to make a sound.

In past, they often privately called Heaven-Folding Divine Girl "Little Sword Immortal," because she not only possessed a grace that surpassed Sword Immortal of yesteryear, but also gradually acquired Sword Immortal’s cold aloofness.

But at this moment, Heaven-Folding Divine Girl in their sight was not simple, elegant Divine Girl sword attire they knew, but a beautiful, dream-like, immortal-like dress, as if a banished immortal had descended to dust. With every step, it was accompanied by subtle light like shattered moonlight.

And her jade face, her expression, was completely tinged with a soft, delicate charm. Where was slightest trace of her usual cold, noble Divine Girl demeanor? A faint, gentle smile always lingered at corner of her mouth. Those eyes, once like cold moon, were now curved into two crescent moons melted by autumn water, gazing unblinkingly at man beside her.

When he spoke, she looked at his lips. When he listened, she looked at his eyes. Her gaze, reflected in sword brilliance, flowed with a soft, almost viscous affection that no one present had ever seen.

Her posture also remained tightly pressed, leaning towards him, not moving half a step away, regardless of more and more gazes falling upon them. She was completely unaware, completely unafraid.

It seemed she was deliberately, unreservedly telling world that all her grace, all her heart, had been given to person beside her.

Clang!

A Sword Venerable disciple’s sword fell from his hand, making a rather deafening clang, but he was completely unaware. No one around him even glanced sideways because of it. They still stared straight at two figures walking side by side, until they slowly disappeared into gradually receding sword brilliance.

It was like a dream, a dream where Heaven-Folding Divine Girl was beautiful to point of illusion... even quiet admiration seemed like blasphemy.

"Before, when Fate Creation flared up, it would hurt so, so much. Every part of my body hurt. Aunt would hold me tightly, and Father God would be so pained that his facial features seemed to shift positions."

"I often thought, living is truly so painful. I would hurt, and I would also implicate Aunt and Father God in pain. Father God, to save me, had to repeatedly damage himself and endure heart-gnawing suffering... At that time, I tried very hard to persevere, very hard to live. Biggest reason was not to let Aunt have regrets, and even more not to waste Father God’s painstaking efforts."

At end of Sword Intent Corridor, Hua Caili stopped, her arms wrapped around Yun Che’s waist. Her beautiful eyes seemed tinged with a faint mist of tears: "Looking back now, I was really foolish back then. Because living, is truly so good, so good."

"I want to live very hard, live very, very long with Husband... long enough for every corner of this world to bear our shadows."

Yun Che raised his hand, gently stroking her black hair bathed in sword brilliance, softly responding with one word: "Good."

He used his life, his body, his soul... and various means, to obtain her purest, most flawless, even all-sacrificing sincere heart.

More deeply she loved him, more successful he was.

Only...

No! No only!

"Husband..."

Her soft call, for unknown number of times today, sounded in his ear again. And this time, it was stickier than any previous time.

She leaned forward, her lips almost touching his ear. A few unruly strands of hair slipped from behind her ear, clinging to her long, fair neck, all way down to her collarbone, outlining a few faint, elusive curves on that already jade-white skin that made it impossible to look away.

"I want to return to sleeping palace... Today, should be our wedding night, so... Husband can do whatever he wants..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, gradually becoming as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. Her blushing face was deeply buried on his shoulder, not daring to meet his eyes for a long time...

......... (297,000 characters omitted here)

Next day, early morning.

Yun Che sat upright on bed, his posture neat and proper. Hua Caili knelt behind him, holding an exquisite jade comb, meticulously picking up a somewhat disheveled strand of his long hair.

Clearly, this was her first time ever styling someone’s hair. Her careful, clumsy movements carried a sense of piety, as if completing a ritual a newlywed wife must perform. After each comb stroke, she would pause for a moment, carefully examine it, before daring to make second stroke.

Yun Che did not urge her, simply closing his eyes, letting warmth of her fingertips brush through his hair again and again.

After a full quarter of an hour, Hua Caili finally put down jade comb. Then, she leaned over from behind him, her jade-white chin resting on his shoulder, quietly glancing at her "masterpiece." Then, like a contented cat, she curved her beautiful eyes: "As expected of my Husband, no matter from where you look, he is most handsome in world. Others say young masters are like jade, but only my Husband is truly unparalleled in Abyss world."

Yun Che smiled and shook his head: "You’ve almost praised me to point where I’m rare in heaven and nonexistent on earth."

"It’s true." Hua Caili tilted her head, trying to make her tone serious: "From now on, Husband’s hair can only be styled by me. No other woman can touch it, not even your three personal maids!"

"Alright, alright, I remember." Yun Che obediently responded.

"Heehee, we should go pay respects to Father God now."

In Yixin Sword Pavilion, Hua Fuchen and Meng Kongchan were both present, seemingly waiting for them.

"Junior Yun Che, pays respects to two Divine Sovereign Seniors."

As Yun Che finished his bow, Hua Fuchen leisurely spoke: "Hmm?? Divine Sovereign Senior?"

Yun Che was slightly startled, then re-bowed, respectfully calling out: "Father-in-law."

"Mmm." Hua Fuchen slightly nodded, then finally revealed a faint smile. But immediately, Meng Kongchan’s very displeased gaze pierced his face.

I’ve waited so long and still haven’t heard him call me "Father God," yet you’ve already gotten "Father-in-law"!

Beside Yun Che, Hua Caili had already stepped forward, smiling sweetly: "Greetings, Father, greetings, Father-in-law."

Meng Kongchan’s heart instantly bloomed with joy, his face flushed. His previous gloom was swept away: "Good child, good child. Caili, from now on, you are half my daughter, Meng Kongchan’s. If anyone dares to bully you, just complain to your Father-in-law. No matter who opponent is, if they dare to bully my daughter, I’ll flip heaven for them!"

Hua Caili smiled sweetly: "I have best two fathers in world, so no one dares to bully me."

"Hahahaha!" Meng Kongchan burst into laughter, then patted Hua Fuchen’s shoulder: "Brother Fuchen, I was just saying that your greatest achievement in this life..."

"Alright, alright, enough of this nonsense." Hua Fuchen slapped his hand away, then turned his gaze seriously: "Although there was no wedding ceremony, and no grand invitation to world, they are still newlyweds. Are you truly not staying for a bit longer?"

"Ah??" Yun Che looked up, his face full of surprise: "Senior is leaving already? Did something big happen on Dream Weaving side?"

Meng Kongchan shook his head, revealing a comforting smile: "It’s not about Dream Weaving."

His gaze slowly swept over two of them, sighing softly: "Previously, biggest obstacle between two of you, and most difficult part, was Abyss Emperor on Pure Land. But Yuan’er endured it with his body and will, breaking through barrier. Even world’s perception changed because of it."

"And Caili, her heart is pure, resolute, and without regret... In contrast, we two old fellows have always been hesitant and timid."

Hua Fuchen glanced at him: "Finally admitting you’re an old fellow too?"

Meng Kongchan stood up, walked to Yun Che’s side, and looked at him with a smile: "Now, it’s time for us fathers to do our part and clear final obstacles for you."

He slightly turned his head, meeting Hua Fuchen’s gaze: "It’s also to retrieve something we once... no, have always cherished most."