Invincible Dad-Chapter 500 Wedding, Begin!_1

Chapter 500: Chapter 500 Wedding, Begin!_1
Ruan Tang smiled gently. "Alright, it’s a deal. Pinky promise!"
Xu Lai linked pinkies with Ruan Tang, who then tiptoed to plant a kiss on his cheek before getting back to her own tasks.
Xu Lai gazed up at the sky.
The night enveloped East Sea City. In the darkness, it was as if an invisible pair of derisive eyes watched everything unfold. Elder Huang Quan’s words lingered in his mind, refusing to fade.
Why do the eras in which the Netherworld Road appears spell misfortune for the contemporary Emperor Realm? And why do nearly all Emperor Realm powerhouses meet tragic and lonely ends, with almost none finding peace in their old age?
"Daddy, Yiyi is hungry," his daughter’s soft and sweet voice called from the living room.
Xu Lai returned to his senses, pushing his ponderings aside. Even if this world truly harbored treachery and filth, he was confident he could shatter it with a single punch.
For he was the Supreme Emperor of the Heavenly Court.
And he was also the Human Emperor, Xu Lai!
...
In the days that followed, Xu Lai abruptly bid farewell to his leisurely life.
He was busy with the myriad details of the wedding preparations while also teaching Yiyi and Ruan Lan the Emperor Qingfeng Scripture. His daughter’s cultivation progressed with incredible speed, whereas Ruan Lan’s was much slower.
Xu Lai was also preoccupied with engraving various formations and concocting elixirs, spinning like a top without a moment’s rest.
As for his soon-to-be wife, Ruan Tang, he didn’t force her to cultivate. A single Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill would be more than enough in an emergency.
Time flowed on.
Soon, it was February 28th; the wedding was tomorrow.
Despite their great reluctance, Ruan Tang’s parents steeled themselves and flew back from overseas. Upon seeing Xu Lai, their first words were, "Son-in-law, money just isn’t worth what it used to be. It doesn’t go very far."
"..."
Xu Lai understood what his in-laws were getting at. "Don’t worry," he said helplessly, "I won’t ask for anything I’ve given you back."
Only then did Ruan Qingshan and Zhu Fen break into smiles.
Zhu Fen beamed. "Son-in-law, our Ruan Tang is marrying you. You have to treat her well."
Xu Lai nodded.
That evening, Ruan Qingshan and his wife stayed at Haitang Court, insisting they wanted to bond with their two daughters before leaving the country right after the wedding.
The night air was cool as water.
Forced to sleep on the sofa, unable to hold Ruan Tang’s soft, warm, and fragrant body, Xu Lai suffered a rare bout of insomnia.
...
On February 29th, the weather across Hua Country was exceptionally bright and beautiful.
The wedding was held at home.
Ruan Tang didn’t ask her two best friends, Xu Yaoyao and Luo Chu, to be her bridesmaids—not because they were both married, but because their pregnant bellies had started to show.
Ruan Lan, her own sister, eagerly took on this ’arduous’ task. For this, Xu Lai had spent a few nights rushing to make a gown for his sister-in-law. Though it couldn’t compare to Ruan Tang’s wedding dress, which was said to be woven from countless galaxies, it was still breathtaking.
Xu Lai asked Taotie to be his best man. He was the only one of the Hundred Divine Generals of the Heavenly Court whom he had invited.
...
Mount Haitang was open as usual today.
Early in the morning, the foot of the mountain was already packed with luxury cars. Invited guests walked up the path to the summit. Tourists from out of town admired the Haitang blossoms lining the road, feeling a pang of envy for the newlyweds.
"Who’s getting married? This is such a huge affair, and on Mount Haitang, no less! Do they own a mine or something?"
"Honey, I’m so jealous. I want to get married here, too."
"You even get wedding candy for visiting the mountain today! I wish the newlyweds a happy marriage and hope they have a healthy baby soon!"
"..."
The people of Hua Country loved a lively event, especially a wedding, but visitors were not allowed within ten kilometers of Haitang Court. It had always been private land, and so it remained.
However, Xu Lai had instructed the property management on Mount Haitang to give every visiting tourist a box of wedding candies. These candies were actually elixirs. Though they couldn’t extend one’s life, they could improve a person’s physical constitution, making them a rare treasure for ordinary people. Their value was even greater for those with chronic conditions or old injuries.
These young people were now happily eating the candy, but in time, they would be kicking themselves with regret. Seven days later, someone discovered the extraordinary nature of the wedding candies and began offering high prices to buy them. A single candy was worth up to two million, and ten would be twenty million. Even in the incredibly expensive East Sea City, that amount could grant instant financial freedom. What a pity... they had all been eaten.
Haitang Court was no longer its usual quiet self; it was bustling with excitement. Not including the nearly two hundred employees from Above the White Clouds, there were fewer than five tables of other guests, most of whom were close friends.
For instance, there was Mao Dou’s father, Mao Gaoshan, a man from The North whom Xu Lai quite liked. With his family in tow, he kept drinking the wine on the table, smacking his lips. "This wine... it has a peculiar taste. It reminds me of my first love."
Mao Dou’s mother offered a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Yiyi’s father is getting married today, so are we getting a divorce? I’m old and past my prime now, certainly no match for your first love."
"That’s not what I meant. I just think this wine has character, it has a story. This is the true essence of the Way of Wine, it can make people..."
"The Way of Wine, my foot. Just shut up."
"..."
Mao Gaoshan didn’t dare say another word.
"Old Mao, come sit by me later. We’ll have a drink," an old man called out from a short distance away.
Mao Gaoshan’s scalp tingled. It was Old Jiang Ba. "Of course, of course," he said with a sycophantic smile.
The first time he met Eighth Master was at the man’s own resort, where he had mistaken him for some nobody. Though he had been polite, he had ended up drinking with his arm around the shoulder of this tycoon, a man renowned throughout Liu City and Jiangnan. Of course, Mao Gaoshan knew that Eighth Master was only courteous to him because of Xu Lai.
"A man ought to be like him," Mao Gaoshan sighed wistfully.
"There are so few guests today. Mr. Xu truly considers us friends."
Old Jiang Ba looked around at the sparse crowd of fewer than twenty tables, feeling both excited and surprised. Before arriving, he had imagined Haitang Court would be thronged with people. After all, even ordinary weddings had dozens of tables, yet the number of guests here was pitifully small.
And of all the great Wealthy Families of Jiangnan, only he and Su Daiyi had received an invitation.
"Yes, just friends," Su Daiyi whispered, biting her lip hard.
He’s receiving the bride now, isn’t he?
Her gaze was complicated as she looked toward Haitang Court, where she could faintly hear Ruan Lan’s delighted laughter as she teased the groom and the best man.
Old Jiang Ba sighed. He knew Su Daiyi’s feelings were complex today, but unfortunately, matters of the heart could not be forced.
At ten o’clock in the morning, Xu Lai and Ruan Tang walked out of Haitang Court hand in hand. Xu Yiyi followed behind, holding up the train of her mother’s beautiful wedding dress.
At that moment, the noisy venue fell silent.
All eyes focused on the two stars of the day, their gazes filled with awe.
A handsome man and a beautiful woman.
They were flawless.
Especially the bride’s faint, shy blush, which was so endearing that even another woman like Su Daiyi couldn’t bring herself to feel any jealousy.
All she had for them were heartfelt blessings.
...
"Supreme Emperor, the wedding is about to begin," said Taotie. Clad in a black robe, he wore an irrepressible, goofy smile, as if he were the one getting married.
"Let’s begin," Xu Lai said, reaching out to wipe a smear of cream from Taotie’s face—the result of Ruan Lan’s teasing.
Taotie nodded. "Yes." Clearing his throat, he announced, "The wedding ceremony begins!"