"-II" translates to "Blazing Fire Like a Song - II" in English.

Author: Ming Xiaoxi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: A joyous occasion. The Liefire Villa was decorated with red lanterns and auspicious couplets, casting a crimson glow that made the night sky as bright as day. The aroma of wine mingled with the fragrance of dishes, drifting thickly in the night breeze.
Guests came from all over the land. Under the summons of Mo Yunzhao, the head of the Golden Fire Hall, they took their seats at their respective banquet tables, celebrating and chatting with great enthusiasm. Mo Yunzhao had meticulously arranged where everyone should sit and who should sit at neighboring tables. Otherwise, if the usually hostile martial arts friends were seated together, even though they wouldn’t cause any trouble out of respect for the Liefire Villa, it would still be quite awkward.
Mo Yunzhao, with a radiant smile, greeted the guests while secretly observing the enthusiastic Lie Mingjing, who sat in the main seat at the front of the courtyard.
For over a decade, he had never seen Lie Mingjing so delighted.
Lie Mingjing sat in a purple sandalwood chair with a white tiger fur backrest. His thick white hair was neatly combed, and as he stroked his beard and smiled, the smile was almost benevolent, as if the scars on his face had vanished. Ruge was also surprised. She turned to look at Yu Zihan beside her and laughed, “Look, Dad is so happy it’s as if he’s the groom himself.”
Yu Zihan smiled gently.
Tonight, the master was in high spirits, which was indeed rare.
Lie Mingjing’s expression hardened, “Stop talking nonsense!”
Ruge puffed her cheeks and smiled lightly, “Dad, don’t scare me. I know you’re in such a good mood right now, so I won’t be angry!”
Lie Mingjing glared at her for a moment, then burst into laughter, “Good! Truly my clever and dear daughter! Dad isn’t angry. Dad is really happy tonight! Hahahaha!”
His laughter echoed through the sky, shaking the night filled with bright lanterns.
At the banquet…
Dao Wuxian and Dao Wuheng from the City of No Blades, the Flowing Brow Abbot of Shaolin, the Pine Tooth True Man of Wudang, and the Pure Cloud Abbess of Emei were all taken aback for a moment, looking toward the laughing Lie Mingjing.
Lie Mingjing had dominated the martial world for decades and rarely let his emotions run wild in front of others.
What made him so delighted about the wedding of Zhan Feng?
Could it be true, as the rumors said, that after the Liefire Villa and the City of No Blades were married, Lie Mingjing would pass the position of villa head to Zhan Feng?
Dao Wuxian and Dao Wuheng exchanged glances.
Mo Yunzhao pondered deeply.
Ji Jinglei laughed and broke the seal of the wine jar, raising his head to drink heartily.
Yi Lang, in his gray robes, lowered his head amidst Lie Mingjing’s laughter.
A faint glint of darkness flashed in his gray eyes.
Ruge sighed softly, “Dad, you’re too biased. Is Feng Senior really that important to you in your heart?”
Lie Mingjing raised his eyebrows, “Ruge, are you jealous?” The sourness was so strong.
Ruge pouted cutely, “Yes! I want Dad to only care about me! Feng Senior’s wedding made Dad this happy, and I can’t even do that. No, I’m jealous!”
Yu Zihan’s gaze was as gentle as spring water.
He understood Ruge. Although the loving master was happy for his disciple, he still couldn’t let go of his daughter’s heart. Her pouting made the master realize that the shadow of Zhan Feng had already faded from her heart.
Lie Mingjing chuckled softly, patting his daughter’s hand, “My dear daughter, you are Dad’s most beloved treasure. Dad will give you all the good things in the world!”
Ruge smiled, “Thank you, Dad.”
At that moment…
“A——new——bride——is——here——!”
A joyous announcement sent the atmosphere of the wedding banquet to its peak!
Lanterns on the tree branches and eaves cast the sky half-red.
The late autumn maple trees seemed drunk, their leaves as red as wine.
On the crimson maple path…
Zhan Feng and Dao Lie Xiang stood in bright red wedding robes.
Dao Lie Xiang’s wedding dress was embroidered with golden phoenixes spreading their wings, and her phoenix crown adorned with pearls and jade flowed gracefully, partially obscuring her elegant face.
Zhan Feng also wore a red wedding robe.
His dark, almost blue, curly hair fluttered carelessly on his shoulders; his eyes held a cold, dark blue; and the sapphire in his right ear reflected a chilling brilliance under the red glow of the lanterns.
This icy, dark blue seemed so out of place with his bright red wedding robe.
A crowd of bridesmaids, maids, and children surrounded the newlyweds, laughing and playing as they scattered millet, peanuts, petals, and sugar cubes onto the bride’s head.
Laughter and congratulations surged through the courtyard like tides.
Lie Mingjing laughed loudly.
Dao Wuxian couldn’t hide his smug satisfaction in his eyes.
Ruge felt a deep stillness in her heart.
She looked at the bright red silk ribbon held between Zhan Feng and Dao Lie Xiang.
In the center of the ribbon, a flower was tied.
The red ribbon connected Zhan Feng and Dao Lie Xiang. Amidst the congratulations, under the maple leaves rustling and singing, they slowly walked toward each other.
By the summer lotus pond…
Green lotus leaves, full of lotus flowers.
The blue-clad young Zhan Feng asked the red-clad young Ruge, “Why do you like wearing red robes?”
Young Ruge smiled proudly, “Because they’re pretty!”
“Why are red robes pretty?”
“Dumb!”
Young Ruge teased him.
Young Zhan Feng glared at her angrily. No one could call him dumb! But she laughed again, “Haha,” her laugh as pink and transparent as the lotus flowers in the pond. Young Zhan Feng’s face flushed.
Young Ruge smiled, “You’re really dumb! You forgot, brides wear red robes when they get married! Brides are the most beautiful people in the world, and that’s because they wear red robes! Haha.”
“You’re not a bride.”
Young Zhan Feng kicked at the water in the pond.
“I’ll be a bride when I grow up!” Young Ruge frowned, then sighed, “Ah, that’ll take a long time. When will I grow up?”
Young Zhan Feng pouted, “You really want to be a bride.”
“Yes!” Young Ruge nodded firmly.
“Well…” Young Zhan Feng hesitated for a long time before saying, “Then you can be my bride.”
“Yay!!” Young Ruge jumped excitedly, almost falling into the pond. Young Zhan Feng caught her.
She happily tugged at his sleeve, shaking him and saying, “You said so! You can’t change your mind, or I won’t play with you anymore!”
Young Zhan Feng ignored her.
In the pond, pink lotus flowers bloomed quietly.
Two pairs of small feet stirred ripples in the water.
Young Ruge tilted her head and suddenly had a question, “Why do you want me to be your bride?”
Young Zhan Feng blinked his bright blue eyes, “Because you’re already wearing a red robe, so I can save some silver.”
Young Ruge froze for a moment.
Then, she suddenly stamped her foot, splashing water all over Young Zhan Feng!
The laughter of childhood echoed by the lotus pond filled with flowers.