"So you’re Rook, the guy who got chased so hard he lost his pants!"

"Shut up, you... Everyone, don’t listen to his nonsense. That absolutely never happened."

Celeste Grant listened quietly to their gossip, finding it thoroughly entertaining.

She was all too familiar with these topics. This trope was running rampant in cultivation dramas. She was already desensitized to the endless love tribulations that popped up at a moment’s notice.

Killing one’s wife to prove the Dao, killing one’s husband to prove the Dao, undergoing a love tribulation—these were all plot points she thought only existed in melodramatic cultivation novels. ’So they have them here in the Cultivation World too,’ she thought. ’I guess art really does imitate life.’

Just as she was lost in thought, she saw Yvonne Sawyer and Victor Rhodes boarding the ship.

Once aboard, Victor Rhodes had the timid expression of a new bride meeting the in-laws, leaving the onlookers completely stunned.

Even Celeste Grant had to admit, ’This kid’s adapting to his role as the live-in husband a little too quickly.’

"Greetings, Uncle. Greetings, respected elders."

"Greetings to The Exalted One. Greetings to you, My Lady."

"At ease, at ease."

Elder Sawyer was still not satisfied with him. However, since his niece adored him, he grudgingly accepted the man as well—love for the house extends to the crows on its roof.

He snorted. "Since Yana has chosen you, you’d better treat her right from now on. If I find out you have ulterior motives or do anything to let Yana down, you’ll answer to me first."

Victor Rhodes said, "I wouldn’t dare, Uncle, I wouldn’t dare... I only have room in my heart for Yana. I swear that if I ever mistreat her, may I be smote by Heavenly Tribulation and die without a grave!"

Yvonne Sawyer smacked him on the head. "You can’t just throw around a Heavenly Dao vow like that!"

Victor Rhodes replied, "I’d do anything for you."

Cringing, Celeste Grant rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. "A terminal case of being love-struck. You’re a lost cause. Just hurry up and get to the wedding chamber already."

Yvonne Sawyer blushed.

One of the Demon Cultivators burst out laughing.

"HAHAHA! Alright brothers, let’s head for home!"

The banners of the Bloodfiend Den fluttered in the breeze.

The ship, flying high in the air, quickly vanished from sight.

The Demon Cultivators came and went in a flash.

Crash the wedding, grab the groom, and go.

Not until they had left...

...did the people present begin to snap out of their stupor.

The disciples of the Falling Snow Sect huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.

"The Sect Master is so biased."

"Exactly. I saw the Second Young Master decked out in treasures before. Then look at our Young Sect Master—he had nothing. If it were me, I’d have left too."

"Didn’t you hear? The moment he joins them, he gets top-grade magic tools and Magic Treasures."

With an offer that good, they’d be willing to live off a woman too.

Regardless of what anyone else thought, the marriage alliance between the Falling Snow Sect and the Crimson Sun Sect had been thoroughly sabotaged.

Celeste Grant and the others returned to the Bloodfiend Den.

「That night.」

The Bloodfiend Den was decked out in celebratory lanterns and decorations, and magical fireworks bloomed in the sky.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Yvonne Sawyer and Victor Rhodes bowed to the heavens and the earth. They exchanged marriage vows written in blood, officially becoming Taoist Companions.

Celeste Grant and Javier Sinclair sat together, presiding over the ceremony.

This was the first time Celeste Grant had witnessed such a scene since arriving in this world.

Before her, an ancient rune materialized on the foreheads of both Yvonne Sawyer and Victor Rhodes, then vanished. That was the Taoist Companion contract.

It was said that once two people willingly became Taoist Companions, their Primordial Spirits would be imprinted with each other’s mark. This meant that even after death, as long as one’s Divine Soul remained intact, they could find their other half through the contract.

Thus, in the Cultivation World, becoming Taoist Companions was a bond that lasted for lifetimes.

"So that’s a Taoist Companion contract."

Hearing her words, Javier Sinclair turned to look at her.

"Want to give it a try?"

The moment he opened his mouth, a firework exploded in the sky.

Javier Sinclair: "..."

"What did you say, The Exalted One?"

Javier Sinclair turned his gaze back to her. "If you didn’t hear me, just forget it."

Celeste Grant smiled.

’Of course I heard him.’

"Are you envious, The Exalted One?"

Javier Sinclair sneered. "It’s just becoming Taoist Companions. If I wanted to, I could do it eight hundred times over."

’The Archfiend was all talk and no action; the only tough part about him was his mouth.’

Celeste Grant tilted her head, giving him a menacing look.

"Oh, really, The Exalted One? You want to do it eight hundred times? In that case, should I do it eight hundred times, too? Start my own harem?"

Javier Sinclair reached out, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close. "Celeste Grant, even if you do it eight hundred times, it can only be with me."

Celeste Grant burst out laughing.

"So petty. And getting jealous, too."

Javier Sinclair blushed.

He turned his face away.

"This isn’t jealousy, it’s a matter of pride! You’re the mother of my child. If you went and became Taoist Companions with some other man, I’d be completely humiliated!"

Celeste Grant rolled her eyes at him. "Oh, please, The Exalted One. Weren’t you the one who said you wanted to do it eight hundred times? Why is it suddenly not okay for me?"

Javier Sinclair said, "I was just running my mouth. You actually believed that?"

Celeste Grant smiled and leaned in close.

"Archfiend."

"What? You trying to summon my spirit?"

"When you smile and call my name like that, you’re definitely up to no good."

She pinched him.

"Can’t you think something positive for once?"

"Never mind. I’ll tell you later when we’re alone."

That night, the Bloodfiend Den was bustling with excitement.

「Late into the night.」

Javier Sinclair hadn’t forgotten that Celeste Grant had something to tell him. He might have looked indifferent, but deep down, he was curious about what she was going to say.

When they left the banquet, Celeste Grant had had too much to drink. She walked beside him with the imperious swagger of a villainess who wouldn’t give her own family the time of day.

"Hey, Archfiend, look at me. Do I look like a Demon Concubine or what?"

Javier Sinclair replied, "More like a freak gust of wind."

He reached out, grabbed Celeste Grant by the collar, then bent down and slung her over his shoulder.

"You are not allowed to drink anymore."

"Heehee, I’m happy today, Archfiend. How about I sing you a song to celebrate?"

"You can sing?"

"Don’t underestimate me! I’ll have you know I once won first prize in a children’s singing competition."

’This woman was always saying things he didn’t understand.’

’Whatever.’

’He wasn’t going to argue with a drunk woman.’

"Fine, then. Sing. Let’s see if you can sing so well that flowers start blooming."

「A quarter of an hour later.」

Javier Sinclair sat on the floor beside the bed, one hand resting on the mattress, with an expression that said he had lost the will to live. On the bed next to him, Celeste Grant was in the middle of a passionate performance.

"Calabash Brothers, Calabash Brothers... seven gourds on a single vine, AHHHH..."

"Brother Monkey, Brother Monkey, you’re so incredible... The Five Elements Mountain couldn’t hold you... out jumped Pilgrim Sun..."

"AHHH, SERGEANT BLACK CAT..."

’Goddammit.’

’This was too much.’

’The off-key melodies.’

’And those bizarre, bizarre songs.’

’He felt like his ears were being tortured.’

He turned to look at her on the bed.

He was utterly speechless.

But seeing how happy she looked—for whatever reason—Javier Sinclair didn’t have the heart to spoil her fun. He waited until she was exhausted, her head coming to rest against his hand as she gazed at him quietly.

’She was being rather well-behaved for once.’

Javier Sinclair reached out to stroke her hair.

"You’re such a handful. I’m the only one who can put up with you."

Celeste Grant looked at him.

"You’re so good to me, Archfiend."

"Flattery will get you nowhere."

She pushed herself up, leaned in, and kissed his face.

"I really like you, Archfiend."

"You think that’s going to work on me?"

Despite his words, he was already pushing her down onto the bed and leaning in to capture her lips with his.

With a wave of his hand...

...the bed curtains fell.

Concealing a room full of passion.