The matter of such great importance was easily settled between the two, and neither showed any sign of excitement.

It wasn't until Jiang Qinghong finished tidying up the meal containers and stood up to leave that her face gradually flushed, her beautiful eyes glistening with a subtle charm, a hint of shyness. She had spoken with Grandma Jinhua the previous night, who had kindly offered her some advice on such matters...

"Hurry! Faster! Faster!"

After Jiang Qinghong left, Jiang Xuan immediately went into a fervent state of practice with his sword, growing more and more obsessed as if he had endless energy to expend.

It was unclear how much time passed.

Finally, Jiang Xuan suddenly reclined backwards, falling onto the grass. His body sprawled out in a large shape, his chest heaving violently, breathing heavily, his bright eyes staring at the sky. He seemed to have finally calmed down, though it might also have been that he was simply too exhausted to move.

"Father, are you still alive?"

"Mother, I will save you."

"I’m getting married."

Jiang Xuan stared blankly at the sky.

"You’re getting married?" The ethereal voice suddenly came through.

"Senior." Jiang Xuan immediately sat up, turned his head toward the transmission stone, "This morning I spoke with Qinghong Jie, and we decided to get married tonight."

"Congratulations, you've grown up." The voice from the stone seemed to carry a tone of sentimentality. Indeed, it was a sentiment. She had known Jiang Xuan for eight years now, and when they first met, he was just a seven-year-old child, his voice still full of childishness. Now, he had become a man.

"Senior, uh..." Jiang Xuan suddenly stood up, cleared his throat, and walked over to the transmission stone, his hand resting on it. He hesitated for a moment, "There’s one thing..."

"What is it?" The ethereal voice asked.

"About the wedding... the wedding night... um... how should I... I mean... how can I... get Qinghong Jie pregnant... you understand, right?" Jiang Xuan stammered out. He truly had no one else to ask.

His father was absent, his mother could not return, and there were no other men in the Jiang tribe except for him. Asking his aunts or even his grandmother was far too embarrassing; it was much easier to ask the Mysterious Stone Senior.

There was a long pause on the other end.

Far away, at Xianlu Palace.

The figure in the phoenix crown and ceremonial robe, lying on a long couch, one hand propped under her head, the other holding a fruit that resembled a miniature star, was eating... When the strange question came through the transmission stone, she froze for a moment, her movements stopping entirely.

This was an unquestionably inappropriate question, especially given the difference in gender between her and Jiang Xuan. However, she clearly couldn’t fault anyone for this, as the world had already reduced her to a symbol.

Jiang Xuan didn’t know her true identity.

"Senior?" The transmission stone’s voice sounded again, as the Qian Emperor had been silent for a while.

"Hmm..." After a brief pause, the Qian Emperor sat up, glancing at the purple-robed maid, Rong’er, who was standing in the corner.

Rong’er felt the gaze of the Qian Emperor, raised her head, and then shook it.

She had accompanied the Qian Emperor for thousands of years, but even she didn’t understand such matters.

"Hmm... I’ve never been married, so you shouldn’t be asking me for advice."

After some contemplation, the ethereal voice finally spoke again, "But don’t worry, although you are the last man of your tribe, the experienced women may not be able to teach you, but they will certainly teach your Qinghong Jie. So, there’s no need to worry. You don’t need to know anything in advance, just be ready to be the groom."

"Understood." Jiang Xuan nodded.

In the afternoon, when it was time for Jiang Qinghong to bring the afternoon meal, it wasn’t Jiang Qinghong who arrived, but several middle-aged women from the tribe—women Jiang Xuan should refer to as aunts.

They took Jiang Xuan away.

It was time to prepare!

Jiang Xuan and Jiang Qinghong were not the first couple to marry during the three-year life-and-death battle. Every year, a few couples would marry before their husbands went to the arena to fight to the death. Jiang Qinghong was not the first woman to make such a choice.

Since there were precedents, the wedding process followed those same traditions.

There was no grand ceremony.

There would be no outsiders invited to observe.

During the life-and-death battle, people died every month—many people. In such an environment, the simplest way of conducting the wedding was the most suitable. Even though Jiang Xuan was now the tribe leader, this was still how it should be... Only about twenty people would attend this small tribal wedding, which would take place in Jiang Xuan’s own courtyard.

That night, a fire was lit in the courtyard.

Jiang Xuan, dressed in the traditional wedding attire of the Jiang tribe, stood alongside Jiang Qinghong, who was also wearing traditional attire, adorned with ornaments. Beneath the moonlight and firelight, they pledged themselves as husband and wife.

Since Jiang Qinghong's mother had passed away and her father had died in battle, and since Jiang Xuan's father was missing and his mother couldn’t return, Grandma Jinhua took on the role of blessing the newlywed couple.

Following tradition, they made offerings to the warriors who had died for the tribe.

They then danced and sang around the fire, holding hands in a circle, singing the tribal songs.

The wedding ceremony still had many steps, but it was much more intimate with fewer guests.

The tribe’s wedding was simple—only two types of food were served: roasted meat and wine, as per tradition. The newlywed couple had to first cut the most delicious part of the roasted meat and offer it to their elders before anyone else could eat.

Later that night, as the fire was dying down, amidst the teasing of Jiang Cuiyun and other boisterous female warriors, Jiang Xuan picked up Jiang Qinghong and carried her toward the candlelit wooden building.

It was time.

Jiang Xuan carried Jiang Qinghong in his arms, kicked open the door with his foot, and walked steadily into the room. He gently placed Jiang Qinghong on the bed. Jiang Qinghong, her hands around his neck, blushed deeply. Whether from the wine or something else, her eyes were filled with affection as she looked at Jiang Xuan.

Jiang Xuan set her down.

But she didn’t release her arms from around his neck until Jiang Xuan said, "I... need to close the door."

Only then did she let go.

Jiang Xuan walked over to close the door.

Jiang Qinghong sat up from the bed, glanced at the candlelight on the table, and listened to the distant noise outside, her heart feeling more bashful. Although she had already received some advice, this matter was not something that could be rushed.

"Qinghong Jie..." Jiang Xuan walked over.

"Still calling me Qinghong Jie?" Jiang Qinghong raised an eyebrow at Jiang Xuan, teasing him.

"Wife... Madam? Lady?" Jiang Xuan slowly sat next to Jiang Qinghong.

"You’re a chatterbox." Jiang Qinghong smirked, "I’m not a city person, so why call me Madam?"

"You’re right, wife." Jiang Xuan said, jokingly.

He just wanted to ease the tension, make Jiang Qinghong relax. He needed to relax too. Both of them were nervous. Jiang Xuan moved his hand from the windowsill, gently placing it on the back of Jiang Qinghong's hand. She flinched slightly, then allowed him to hold her hand.

"How about... we chat first?" Jiang Xuan suggested.

"Hmm, Xiao Xuan, you..."

"What did you call me? Still calling me Xiao Xuan?"

"Are you copying me?" Jiang Qinghong shot him a playful glance before adopting a softer tone, "Husband! My dear husband!"

"Let’s be normal, alright?" Jiang Xuan said, feeling goosebumps rise.

"You look so funny in this outfit."

"What’s funny about it? Doesn’t it fit?"

"No, I mean, I’ve never seen you wear this before, and now it’s on you, it just feels... How about me, how do I look in my wedding dress?"

"It’s fine."

"What do you mean by 'fine'? Are you saying I don’t look good?"

"No, I’m saying you look good. Your dress looks good too."

"Xiao Xuan, you’ve grown taller than me now. I remember you used to be much shorter than me."

"I’m a few years younger than you, so of course, I was shorter. You grew up first."

"So you think I’m old now? You think I’m too old?"

"...Qinghong Jie, let’s not do this."

"Qinghong Jie, will you leave after this?"

"No, I won’t leave. If you lose, I’ll stay with you."

"That table... it seems a bit uneven."

"Is it? Hmm... it does seem like it is a bit."

From casual chatter to silence, as the night deepened, the noise outside finally faded, and even the most dedicated drinkers had left.

The world seemed to quiet down.

"How about... I fix it?" Jiang Xuan suggested, pointing to the table before standing up.

Jiang Qinghong grabbed Jiang Xuan’s hand and pulled him back down. He turned to look at her, and she shook her head. He slowly sat back down beside her, moving closer, gazing into her eyes.

"Qinghong Jie..."

"Huh!"

Suddenly, Jiang Qinghong raised her hand, releasing a burst of energy that blew out the candles, leaving the room in darkness. She pushed Jiang Xuan down onto the bed.

The two consummated their marriage.