Invincible Dad-Chapter 503 Faceless Flower_1

Chapter 503: Chapter 503 Faceless Flower_1
Xu Lai gritted his teeth. "...Alright, whatever my wife says, goes."
"Wow! The coolest brother-in-law and the most beautiful sister in the world! I knew you two doted on me the most!" Ruan Lan exclaimed, excitedly rubbing her little hands. "Then tonight, let’s start with a milk tea, then some grilled prawns, a plate of Coca-Cola chicken wings, oh, right, and some braised pork ribs!"
Ruan Lan rattled off a long list of dishes, her mouth watering from just the descriptions.
"Yiyi wants to eat too!" Xu Yiyi’s voice called out from the sofa.
"Okay." Xu Lai rubbed his daughter’s head and went to the kitchen. "Lady Ruan has been hungry all afternoon. My fault."
A pillow came flying at him, accompanied by a voice full of embarrassed anger, "Xu, shut your mouth!"
...
「February twenty-ninth.」
Xu Lai and Ruan Tang got married.
This day, momentous enough to be recorded in the annals of the Immortal Domain, caused some commotion in Jiangnan and Jiangbei but didn’t create significant waves throughout the rest of Hua Country.
By the time the news reached the Holy Island of the Moon Sect in Sakura Country, a full day had passed.
Crown Princess of the Moon Clan, Ji Jie, sat before her dressing table. She drew her gaze away from the bright, clear moon in the sky and looked into the Bronze Mirror before her.
The Bronze Mirror was ancient. A startling crack ran across its surface, a clear sign it had been weathered by the river of time; its preservation to this day was a wonder.
Dressed in a red palace gown, Ji Jie applied blush to her cheeks and rouge to her lips. Gazing at her reflection, her lips curved into a smile. "I really look like a bride."
But the person in the mirror was expressionless. Their indifferent gaze seemed almost tangible as it reflected out from the mirror. Only after a long moment did their lips curl into a mocking smile.
Those lips were also red—an enchanting red.
The slightly pale lips of the person in the mirror parted as if whispering something, but unfortunately, no one aside from Ji Jie saw this eerie scene.
The great hall was silent for a long time. It was so quiet that heartbeats could be heard—not just one, but two.
Ji Jie spoke with a lazy air, "Xu Lai and I have a partnership, yet he gets married without even notifying me. Prepare a congratulatory gift. I want to deliver it personally to celebrate this... auspicious occasion."
She put heavy emphasis on the words "auspicious occasion."
But it was unclear to whom she was speaking.
...
...
「In the following days.」
Xu Lai and Ruan Tang both took time off from work. They didn’t go on a honeymoon, however, choosing instead to stay nestled at home, enjoying the sweet bliss of their newlywed days.
"Xu Lai, let’s go get our marriage certificate this afternoon," Ruan Tang said, looking at her reflection in the dressing mirror. Her complexion was much rosier than usual.
She turned to Xu Lai, who was still lazing in bed, and chided, "Get up! It’s already noon!"
Having been taking it easy for the past few days, Xu Lai finally got out of bed with a yawn, stretching his neck and limbs.
Pinning up her hair, Ruan Tang teased, "What’s wrong, is your back sore?"
Xu Lai: ???
He replied seriously, "I won’t go easy on you tonight."
Thinking about the frenzy of the past few days, Ruan Tang grew a little flustered. She feigned calmness and said, "I have to sleep with Yiyi tonight. She’s been having trouble sleeping lately."
Xu Lai fell silent, just staring at her. Ruan Tang blushed and said, "Hurry up and get changed! Or do you not want to get our marriage certificate after all?"
「Two hours later.」
Outside the Civil Affairs Bureau, Ruan Tang placed their two red marriage booklets into the storage ring Xu Lai had given her. "This thing is really convenient," she praised.
"Isn’t it?" Xu Lai persuaded gently, "Why don’t you start your Cultivation? Things like flying up to the clouds like we did the other day... you’d be able to do that yourself after just three to five days of practice."
Ruan Tang shot him a glare. "We are never doing that on the clouds again!"
Xu Lai: "..."
Wait a minute. That’s not what I was talking about! Where did her mind even go?
"I’m going to swing by the company this afternoon. You can head home on your own," Ruan Tang said.
"Alright."
Xu Lai left the car for Ruan Tang and walked back to Haitang Court.
Spring had already arrived. The trees along the streets were sprouting new branches and leaves, and a few wildflowers had broken through the soil in quiet corners. Xu Lai had never realized the world could be this beautiful.
But his good mood was shattered as he reached the foot of Mount Haitang.
A security guard stopped him, saying respectfully, "Mr. Xu, there is a gift for you."
"A gift?"
Xu Lai took the box. It was made of jade. Inside was a small, pure white flower with a single drop of dew on its petals, which radiated a bright light in the sun.
Xu Lai’s brow furrowed slightly.
This was a Faceless Flower. It grew on top of a corpse. It could keep the body of the deceased from decaying for a million years, preserving it in its most perfect state. And that drop of dew on the flower was the most precious part; absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, it could enhance the strength of one’s Divine Sense! The enhancement was equivalent to ten thousand years of secluded, arduous Cultivation. The Faceless Flower had once fetched an astronomical price in the Immortal Domain. Many Holy Masters from various Tao Lineages wished for their divine bodies to remain immortal after death. As for Corpse Cultivators, they considered it an ultimate treasure!
Xu Lai was astonished.
Who would send him such an extravagant gift?
"There was no name, only a surname: Ji," the security guard said cautiously. "It was just delivered. The person said it was a belated wedding gift."
It’s Ji Jie!
Xu Lai nodded. "Thanks."
With a sweep of his Divine Sense, he located Ji Jie, dressed in a red palace gown, walking along the sandy beach.
His figure flickered, and he reappeared ten meters away from her.
Holding the hem of her gown, Ji Jie walked barefoot on the damp sand. When the seawater rushed in, she would retreat a few steps in a fluster, looking every bit a young maiden.
There were quite a few tourists strolling by the sea. The men among them all noticed Ji Jie. Struck by her otherworldly beauty, they watched with admiration. The few who tried to strike up a conversation were completely ignored, leaving them to appreciate the beautiful scenery from a distance.
"A wedding gift of a Faceless Flower, which grows on the dead," Xu Lai said calmly. "My wife and I both thank you."
Though he said "thank you," his words were laced with a thread of icy chill.
"Don’t mention it." Ji Jie seemed to have known he would appear and acted as if she hadn’t heard the murderous intent in his voice. She turned with a smile and said, "I heard that in the Immortal Domain, this thing’s value is equal to three ten-thousand-li-long Dragon Veins."
Xu Lai said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
A corpse that could grow a Faceless Flower had to be at least one hundred thousand years old, and the deceased’s Boundary must have been at or above the Immortal Venerable Realm. In other words, it was likely found in that dead Quasi-Emperor’s Tomb.
"Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t find it, nor did I locate the Quasi-Emperor’s Tomb. It was a... well, a friend, let’s say. She gave it to me," Ji Jie said calmly. "However, Jing Ke has been searching for the Faceless Flower. If you release the news, he might just come to you on his own. This grand gift... are you satisfied with it?"
Xu Lai’s gaze was profound. Even he, an Emperor Realm expert, had seldom seen a Faceless Flower. Yet Ji Jie’s friend was generous enough to give one away, and it happened to be the very Spirit Plant Jing Ke was seeking.
"Tell me," Xu Lai said calmly, "what do you want?"
"Nothing." Ji Jie shook her head and chuckled sweetly. "I already told you, it’s a wedding gift."
"Then please take it back."
Xu Lai tossed the Faceless Flower toward Ji Jie. She didn’t catch it, letting it fall directly onto the sand.