The wedding customs of the Yan people had almost no fixed rituals.
There was no need to say things like, do you wish to marry, do you wish to take as wife.
There was not even a need to bow before the hall. The only truly ceremonial thing was to use a thin black rope to twine both parties together before the statue of the Sea God, signifying that from now on the two people’s fates were intertwined.
This ceremony was called the Sea God’s Binding.
However, completing the Sea God’s Binding was extremely, extremely difficult.
Because before that, the Yan pirates would set up many challenges and obstacles. Only after all were completed could the final Sea God’s Binding take place, truly becoming husband and wife.
As for what challenges must be completed, that depended on the mood of the wedding officiant.
And the ones officiating the wedding for Soren (Shen Lang) and Yan Xue’er were precisely her elder brother Yan Mo, the new generation Yan King, along with all the island chiefs large and small within the great hall. They would all become wolves tonight, desperately tormenting the two main characters of the wedding.
Soren and Yan Xue’er came to the centre of the great hall. The surroundings had already been completely cleared out. Over a hundred Yan pirate chiefs were watching the two. Queen Yan also sat upon the throne with a smiling expression, witnessing the wedding.
As the wedding officiant, Yan Mo walked to the centre of the great hall, before Soren and Yan Xue’er.
He glanced at his younger sister. Of course he could not bear to make things difficult for her. So all the firepower from here on could only be borne by Soren.
Looking at his ill intentioned gaze, Soren only felt his scalp go numb one wave after another.
He recalled certain vulgar customs of wedding night torment on Earth. And now he was situated in a pirate den. The torment would only be even more severe.
He truly did not know how this half brother would torment him!
“Shen Lang, as a man, what do you think is most important?” Yan Mo said.
Soren said, “Strength!”
“Correct, strength!” Yan Mo said, “A man must have strong arms to protect his woman from bullying. Are your arms strong enough?”
“Enough!” Soren said, then secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This first challenge was fortunately not extremely vulgar.
“Stretch out your right hand.” Yan Mo said.
Soren stretched out his right hand, straight and unmoving.
“Have your woman sit upon your fingers, and go toast every island chief. Not a single drop of wine may spill midway.” Yan Mo said, “Her bottom may only sit upon your fingers, not exceeding half a palm.”
With the help of several Yan women, they had the little princess Yan Xue’er sit upon half of Soren’s palm. Immediately, Soren only felt his arm go soft and smooth, with enchanting elasticity.
Then, he stretched out his arm like this, bringing Yan Xue’er to toast every island chief, not spilling a single drop midway.
Soren could still support it at first. In the end, his entire palm was almost breaking.
If one’s martial arts were insufficient, one could not even get married!
A full quarter hour later, Soren finally had the Yan woman walk upon the back of his half hand, completing all the toasts.
He received the acknowledgement and blessings of all island chiefs.
The first challenge was completed.
“Shen Lang, besides strength, what else is most important for a man?” Yan Mo asked.
“Wisdom.” Soren said.
Yan Mo said, “Correct, wisdom! Even in darkness, a man should know the direction, leading your woman towards the light.”
Soren was startled. What method was he going to use to torment him now?
“Xue’er, ride upon your man’s neck.” Yan Mo said.
This was the first time he had asked the little princess Yan Xue’er to do something.
Immediately, several Yan female generals gigglingly lifted Yan Xue’er, having her ride upon Soren’s neck, and also had her gauze skirt cover his head.
Yan Mo said, “Shen Lang, from here on you must close your eyes. Of course even if you open them no one will know. Only the Sea God will know. Opening your eyes means dishonesty, means blasphemy against the Sea God.”
Soren immediately closed his eyes tight. Immediately before him was complete darkness. He only felt smoothness and subtle fragrance.
Yan Mo said, “Xue’er, as the princess of the Yan people, although you are marrying a man from the human kingdoms. But our Yan people’s rules are like this. A Yan woman can marry anyone, as long as she herself is willing.”
The little princess blushed until her face was completely red, nodding her head in half understanding.
Yan Mo said, “But, my younger sister, you must learn to drive your man.”
The little princess was now completely at a loss, her face blushing and embarrassed to the point of nearly dripping blood. She could not help but look towards her most beloved mother.
And Queen Yan merely smiled gently towards her.
Yan Mo said, “Next, your man has his eyes closed and completely cannot see the direction. And you must point out the direction of advance for him. You cannot speak, nor can you use your hands. You can only use your thighs to control whether he goes left or right. Then go toast every island chief. Only when all have acknowledged and are satisfied will this challenge be considered passed.”
“Understood? My precious younger sister.” Yan Mo asked.
Yan Xue’er nodded. She felt this idea was quite interesting.
This was also truly Yan Mo’s good intentions. He did not wish for his younger sister to be bullied, so he had her ride upon Soren’s head to drive him.
Next, Yan Xue’er had immense fun, using her legs to clamp Soren’s neck, controlling whether he went left or right.
The two were extremely in tacit understanding. Although Soren completely could not see, under the little princess’s command, every movement was extremely precise.
He precisely toasted every island chief present.
Then, he received everyone’s acknowledgement and blessings.
Originally at ordinary people’s weddings, these island chiefs would desperately torment the bride. Some even went overboard, requiring them to hold wine cups in their mouths to toast, or even clamp wine cups between their chests to toast.
However, facing the little princess Yan Xue’er, all island chiefs only showed affection, without any deliberate difficulty. They smilingly drank the wine she offered.
And some female island chiefs, seeing the pure and flawless little princess, could not hold back the affection in their hearts. They reached out to lightly pinch her small face.
The second challenge passed.
Soren secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although the customs of the Yan people were very crude and uninhibited, towards the little princess Yan Xue’er they were still very affectionate and loving. Nothing unbearably crude occurred.
Now came the third challenge, also the final one.
Yan Mo’s gaze towards Soren was suddenly filled with ill intention, making his heart tremble. He immediately felt something was amiss.
“Shen Lang, what do you think is most important between husband and wife?” Yan Mo asked.
“Loyalty, trust.” Soren said.
“No, it is to be strong and powerful, to be able to satisfy your woman, from her twenties all the way to her seventies or eighties.” Yan Mo said, thrusting his hips and roaring, “A man’s capital must be fierce, must be strong!”
Then, he said to Soren, “Tonight, your final challenge is to stand like a pillar!”
The moment Soren heard this term, his heart trembled and his hair stood on end.
Then, all the Yan island chiefs present let out wolf howls and roars, wave after wave of cheers, wave after wave of shouts.
The entire wedding entered its climax, as if about to lift off the roof.
“What you need to do is, become hard as iron. Then have your woman sit upon it, walk a circle around the entire great hall, and toast every island chief. When they feel your sincerity and strength, and give you their acknowledgement and blessings, you will have passed the challenge…”
The moment Soren heard this, he nearly spat blood.
He recalled training root strength on Earth, hanging a stone from that place. And these Yan people were even more ruthless, directly having the bride sit upon it, and even walk a circle.
Soren could not help but look towards Queen Yan.
Please, this game is so over the top, and you are not coming out to intervene? This is a fake wedding after all.
However, Queen Yan merely watched with a smiling expression, without any intention of coming out to intervene.
Then, a crowd of pirate island chiefs cheered and roared like a tsunami.
“If you cannot do it, sorry, you are not strong enough. My younger sister cannot marry you. Even if she married you, she would not find happiness.” Yan Mo laughed heartily.
Originally, this required the bride to personally arouse the groom to complete this challenge. However, Yan Xue’er was pure as a blank sheet of paper, knowing nothing.
“Which Yan woman present is willing to serve as the test stone?” Yan Mo shouted.
Then, to his astonishment, Tulingduo walked out. Of course, at this time she was playing the role of Haowuyan’s attendant maid.
“I will…” Tulingduo, disguised as a sea woman, came before Soren, gazing at him with fiery eyes.
Next, amidst the cheers and wolf howls of countless island chiefs, Soren truly gritted his teeth and completed the final challenge, standing like a pillar.
The little princess Yan Xue’er sat upon it, toasting every island chief!
After the last Yan pirate island chief nodded in acknowledgement, his entire person was nearly exhausted.
…
Three challenges had passed.
Finally, the only ritual remained, the Sea God’s Binding.
Queen Yan held Soren with one hand and the little princess Yan Xue’er with the other, coming outside the palace, beneath the massive Sea God statue.
And all the guests, including Yan Mo, were all inside the great hall.
Even, Queen Yan ordered the great hall doors to be closed. Thus, for the final Sea God’s Binding ritual, there were only three people.
Queen Yan held a black rope in her hand, one end twined around the little princess Yan Xue’er’s body.
“My child, I entrust little Xue’er to you. You must protect her for your entire life.” Queen Yan looked at Soren and said.
“I will, Aunt.” Soren looked sincerely at Queen Yan.
Queen Yan circled round and round, twining the other end of the black rope around Soren’s body.
The thin black rope twined around Soren and Yan Xue’er, representing that from now on the two people’s fates were connected.
Then, the entire wedding ceremony was completely concluded.
Queen Yan stepped forward, embracing her daughter, gazing at her innocent and flawless eyes. She had thousands of words in her heart, yet could not speak a single sentence.
In the end, all worry and longing transformed into only a kiss of tender love.
Then, she came before Soren, cupping his face. Similarly, she did not say a single word. Thousands of words also transformed into a kiss of tender love.
For some reason, in Queen Yan’s gaze, Soren saw a terrifying light, a fanatical light of eternal farewell.
“All the fleets of Queen Island, the Yan people have already assembled and are waiting for you at the harbour.” Queen Yan said, “Go, leave immediately, leave now…”
Soren was startled. Leaving so urgently, so suddenly? Without even a farewell to Yan Mo?
But he had not yet washed away his disguise. He had not yet let Queen Yan see his true face. Although his true face was also not his real face.
“There is no need. I only need to see your heart.” Queen Yan said, “We Yan women see people entirely by feeling. When I took a fancy to your father it was like this. Now taking a fancy to you is also like this.”
“Go, leave immediately, leave now…” Queen Yan said.
The little princess heard that they were leaving now, and immediately her eyes reddened, about to cry directly.
She had never left her mother’s side. Now she was actually going? Although she trusted and was close to Soren, that did not mean she was willing to leave her mother!
“Shen Lang, take your wife and leave Yan Island immediately. Do you hear?” Queen Yan said coldly.
Soren’s expression turned solemn and he said, “Yes!”
Then, holding the reluctant little princess Yan Xue’er’s hand, he walked out of the Yan Island royal palace, came outside the city walls, and rode an iron cage down from the royal palace several hundred metres high to the sea surface.
And not far ahead, nearly two hundred ships and ten thousand Yan people had already fully assembled, waiting for the two of them.
As soon as Soren and the little princess Yan Xue’er boarded the flagship, they would immediately set sail and leave Yan Island.
…
The doors of the Yan Island royal palace great hall slowly opened!
Seeing only Queen Yan enter alone, Yan Mo was startled and said, “Mother Queen, where are younger sister and brother in law?”
Queen Yan said, “They have already left with the Queen Island fleet.”
The moment these words were spoken, Yan Mo’s expression changed and he said, “Why did they leave so urgently? Without even saying farewell to me?”
And below, Tulingduo’s expression completely changed.
Queen Yan directly said to Yan Mo, “Kneel.”
Immediately, Yan Mo knelt before her.
Queen Yan removed the crown from her own head and placed it upon Yan Mo’s head, saying, “My son, from now on you are the new generation Yan people’s king. Everything is entrusted to you. Whether survival or destruction, whether strength or decline, all of this is entrusted to you.”
Yan Mo was startled, then his eyes turned red. He kowtowed and said, “Your command is received.”
“Ascend the throne.” Queen Yan said.
Yan Mo rose and walked to the Sea God throne.
Immediately, all island chiefs present knelt down and said, “We pay respects to our King.”
From this moment, Yan Mo became the new generation Yan King, receiving the allegiance of all island chiefs.
The throne succession ceremony was completed just this simply and directly.
…
“Today there is still one final great matter, and that is the sacrifice!” Queen Yan said while speaking, opening the mechanism on the throne.
Immediately, the entire floor of the great hall began to rotate, opening a massive hole. Beneath the great hall was an unfathomable abyss.
“The Sea God is angry, cutting off our fresh water, making us unable to survive on Yan Island.” Queen Yan said, “Originally, the water level overflowed the ground. But now, there is completely no trace of water level. Our fresh water can only sustain us for one or two months.”
Immediately, all island chiefs leaned forward to look. Indeed there was only an unfathomable abyss, dry, without any water level visible.
All island chiefs’ expressions changed dramatically in terror.
Other things could rely on plundering. Without fresh water, the Yan people would go extinct.
Queen Yan said, “I do not know whether this is the Sea God being angry, or her giving us a command to leave Yan Island. So we must perform a sacrifice, to seek the Sea God’s command.”
“Roar…”
At this moment, from beneath the abyss, a sudden violent sound came.
Making the entire royal palace tremble and shudder.
Then, a pair of blood red, piercingly bright eyes abruptly opened, illuminating the entire dark abyss.
This was a terrifying beast. Merely one eye was one metre in diameter. It was the symbol of the Sea God, existing for over several thousand years.
And the so called sacrifice was to throw living people down the abyss, for the beast below representing the Sea God to devour.
Yan Mo fiercely waved his hand.
Immediately, several Yan warriors carried ten completely naked Yan women, all pure virgins.
There was no fear on their faces, only sacred, fanatical light. Because they were about to serve the Sea God with their bodies.
Queen Yan said, “If after the living sacrifice, the Sea God grants us fresh water, then it proves she was merely angry. And after the sacrifice, if she still does not grant us fresh water, then it means she is not angry, but has given us a new command. To make us leave Yan Island, to make us expand, to conquer, to occupy the entire world.”
The moment these words were spoken, Yan Mo’s heart trembled.
He had not expected that after abdicating, Mother Queen would still bring him tremendous help. Even, she would help him pass through the most difficult hurdle.
To make all Yan people leave Yan Island, to break the thousand year old conventions!
Because Mother Queen had always known that he wanted to expand, wanted to conquer more land, and not merely be trapped upon Yan Island.
But the rules of the Yan people were too ancient. Almost no one dared to violate them. To make the Yan people leave the Yan pirates, there was incomparably tremendous resistance. Even a Yan King’s order would be useless.
Almost all island chiefs were unwilling to leave the land of their ancestors, the Yan Islands.
Queen Yan said loudly, “Are you willing to obey the Sea God’s command? If, after the living sacrifice, fresh water is restored, then everything remains as before. If after the living sacrifice, there is still no fresh water, all Yan people must leave Yan Island, go conquer new islands, new land. Are you willing to obey?”
Immediately, all island chiefs knelt down in unison and said respectfully, “Your command is received!”
Then, Yan Mo raised his hand, about to order the ten virgins to be thrown down the abyss, to feed the beast below, performing the living sacrifice.
And at this very moment, Queen Yan said, “To sacrifice to the Sea God, relying on the weight of ten virgins is insufficient. It cannot represent the sincerity and fervour of our Yan people. So what is needed is a queen’s sacrifice. Therefore, I have decided to feed myself to the god!”
The moment these words were spoken, the entire hall was shaken. Almost no one could react.
Queen Yan said to Haowuyan, “Please tell your father, I already have a husband, so I cannot marry him. But, I will give him an explanation!”
Then, Queen Yan leaped fiercely towards the abyss, using her own body to perform the living sacrifice.
“No…” Yan Mo roared madly, almost about to rush and jump down the abyss, but was desperately held back by Haowuyan behind him.
“No…”
All island chiefs let out heaven shaking cries, completely unable to believe everything before their eyes.
Queen Yan closed her eyes, continuously falling, falling within the abyss.
“Roar…”
And below, the heaven shaking beast opened its terrifying bloody maw, letting out wave after wave of roars.
The entire island, the entire sea trembled.
“My love, my husband, I have come to accompany you…”
Queen Yan’s heart was filled with sweetness, tranquility. Her mind recalled every scene, every night with Count Suo Long.
That sweetness, that fervour.
When golden wind and jade dew meet once, it surpasses countless moments in the human world!
…
“No, Mother Queen…”
And at this time, Soren, holding Yan Xue’er’s hand, rushed fiercely into the great hall.
But he was still one step too late. He only saw Queen Yan leap into the abyss, feeding herself to the beast, an incomparably sacred and resolute scene.
The little princess Yan Xue’er threw herself to the edge of the abyss, only seeing two incomparably massive eyes shoot out terrifying light, and a hundred metre long terrifying bloody maw.
Mother Queen’s figure was already no longer visible.
Immediately, the little princess Yan Xue’er’s beautiful eyes rolled back, and she directly fainted.
And at this very moment, Tulingduo pointed at Soren and said, “King Yan Mo, the man before your eyes is not Shen Lang, but your half brother Soren. He has deceived you. In order to obtain the Queen Island fleet, he actually married his own elder sister Princess Yan Xue. He is simply worse than a beast. Please immediately execute him!”
The moment these words were spoken, Yan Mo’s expression completely changed!