I alone am the Honoured One!

"…M-My… wedding?"

Velnorah turned toward Zhou Hanyue in disbelief "What are you talking about?!"

But Zhou Hanyue only giggled softly, covering her mouth with her hand. "What else? Today is your marriage with Tian."

Velnorah's body stiffened and her rate quickened.

Her wedding.

Her wedding?

The cheers of the small crowd grew louder, echoing across the open field, but all Velnorah could hear was the pounding in her ears.

She looked again at Zhao Tian, standing tall in his white robes.

"…This… bastard…" she muttered under her breath, and her face flushed as she realized the truth.

Zhou Hanyue only nudged her gently forward, "Well, don't just stand here glaring. Go on, your groom's waiting."

Velnorah's legs moved as she advanced toward the platform.

She wanted to yell at him and demand an explanation, but all she could do was stare at Zhao Tian standing with a faint smile.

"Bastard…" she muttered again, though her voice cracked this time.

Her long crimson sleeves behind her, as she dashed up the steps of the platform.

The small crowd gasped in surprise looking at Velnorah running toward him recklessly.

The moment she reached him, she didn't hesitate.

She threw herself into his arms, gripping his robes tightly, and before he could say a word, her lips crashed against his lips.

—!

The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps of shock, but Velnorah didn't hear a thing.

Zhao Tian blinked, startled for just an instant, before instinctively wrapping his arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest.

"Vel-" he tried to murmur between the kiss; however, his voice was muffled against her mouth.

She didn't let him, and she pushed harder, kissing him again, silencing whatever words he tried to form.

"…Norah, listen-"

Her hands slid up, clutching at his collar, and she tilted her head, deepening the kiss until his words melted into a muffled hum.

Her teeth grazed his lower lip before she kissed him again, softer this time.

"I hate you…" she whispered against his mouth.

And yet she kissed him again right after, pouring everything she couldn't say aloud into the press of her lips.

Zhao Tian's chest rumbled with a low chuckle, even as he kissed her back.

His hands slid over her back, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.

Her lips moved against his again and again, refusing to give him room to speak.

"You…" *kiss* "…never told me…" *kiss* "…you bastard…" *kiss* "…but if you dare…"

Her voice broke, and she pressed her lips hard against his again, silencing herself this time.

The uproar of cheers and whispers rippled through the entire courtyard as the wedding platform bathed in the morning sun and the vibrant chatter of voices.

Yan Zijin's wide eyes trembled and she leaned slightly toward Rui Lian, "...E-Elder Velnorah was his bride? Since when? Huh?"

Rui Lian's jaw dropped and she looked between Velnorah and Zhao Tian "What the… hell? All this time… Elder Velnorah?! She never said anything! Was she secretly in love with him this whole time?"

Yan Zijin rubbed her temples, muttering to herself in despair. "How am I supposed to record this in the sect records? This… breaks every regulation of conduct!"

Beside them, Li Jia stood with her arms crossed, "So it's finally happened. Sister Norah finally got to marry him."

Meanwhile, Qi Xue and Qi Nue, were utterly flabbergasted.

They clutched at each other's sleeves, speaking in unison as they always did when caught off guard "E-Elder Velnorah?!"

Their eyes darted between each other before landing on Zhao Tian and Velnorah again.

Lan Shuqin stood at the edge of the gathering, her delicate hands clutching her apron tightly, "…So it was… one of the Elders of Jade Eclipse Sect."

Her heart pounded erratically, and a strange mixture of emotions brewed inside her. Relief, confusion, admiration… and a pang of something else she dared not name.

A deep blush painted her face as she looked at Zhao Tian.

In the crowd, Ji Shuang nudged Rui Yuying, and she smiled softly as they clapped together.

Zhao Hanyue skipped toward her mother, the Empress of Jade Eclipse Empire.

She tugged lightly on her mother's sleeve, tilting her head toward the stage where her husband was being kissed breathless "See, Mother? My husband is getting another wife."

The Empress raised an eyebrow before a chuckle escaped her lips and her eyes softened as she gazed at Zhao Tian "Well, that man of yours is certainly charming... so can't help it, I suppose..."

Nearby, Fei Lingxi and Fei Ziyu clapped enthusiastically, "Wahhh! Look at them! Sister Norah looks so beautiful!"

"Our Husband also looks so handsome."

Meanwhile, Shi Yixian had a soft smile on her lips as she looked at them.

Yao Lian, standing a little apart, clapped her hands with delight and her bright foxy ears twitched madly in excitement.

Her tail swished back and forth uncontrollably as her eyes sparkled "Congratulations, Master! Hope you didn't forget your promise to me... that you will drop me in my star one day!"

The sound made Zhao Tian glance briefly in her direction mid-kiss, his lips curving faintly even as Velnorah kept pulling him back in.

All around the courtyard, everyone clapped and cheered.

But no matter what was said, one thing was clear...

On this day, in front of all these people who are dear to Zhao Tian, Velnorah claimed Zhao Tian as hers, and Zhao Tian did nothing to resist.

Zhao Tian's lips were already warm and swollen from the onslaught of kisses, yet Velnorah showed no sign of stopping.

Her arms coiled firmly around his neck with her entire body pressed against him.

Every time Zhao Tian tried to part his lips to say something, whether to calm her or to at least acknowledge the crowd, she immediately swooped in again.

Then, in the midst of the fire, a lighthearted voice cut through "Well, well…"

Ji Shuang strolled gracefully up the stairs of the platform and stopped a few paces away with her hands on her hips. "Love birds, your honeymoon hasn't started yet. Perhaps we should continue with the actual marriage, hmm?"

Zhao Tian managed a muffled sound of agreement, his eyes darting sideways to her with a helpless look.

But before he could even catch his breath, Velnorah leaned back just enough to glance at Ji Shuang with a playful chuckle.

"Honeymoon, marriage... it's all the same, isn't it?"

Velnorah's voice was sultry as her lips brushing his jaw "Everyone present here is close to us. No outsiders. So I can kiss him as long as I want. No one here is going to mind… am I right?"

Zhao Tian smiled dryly, but Velnorah stole another deep kiss before anyone could object.

Ji Shuang raise an eyebrow "Oh, bold words from our Elder. Who would've thought you were hiding such a fiery side all along?"

She chuckled, shaking her head. "But-" she clapped her hands lightly, bringing the atmosphere back into order, "-if we let you two go on like this, the wedding might turn into something else entirely in front of everyone."

"At least let us get through the ceremony before you eat each other alive in front of everyone."

Velnorah nodded her head "Sure."

Zhao Tian glanced at Ji Shuang and his gaze softened as he gave a nod "Let's continue with the ceremony."

---------------------------------------------------

I hope you guys liked this chapter!