Chapter 4: The Oath of Eyes and the Three Wishes
The grand courtyard of the Shia Family's Royal Palace shimmered under the glow of a thousand spirit lanterns, their flames dancing like stars plucked from the heavens. Crimson silk banners, embroidered with phoenixes and dragons, fluttered in the warm evening breeze, proclaiming the union of the Ninth Prince, Shi Feng, and the Female War God, Yun Wushuang. The air thrummed with spiritual energy, as if the Celestial Dominion itself bore witness to this fateful day.
Guests from across Qingyun Province filled the courtyard—sect leaders, noble clans, and imperial envoys, their robes a kaleidoscope of wealth and power. Yet, beneath the festive facade, tension coiled like a serpent. The Shia Family's eight princes stood in a line, their smiles sharp as daggers, while Shi Tianhao, the patriarch, presided from a jade throne, his eyes glinting with unreadable intent.
Shi Feng stood at the altar, clad in a crimson robe adorned with silver clouds, his heart a storm of resolve and anticipation. Beside him, Yun Wushuang was a vision of lethal grace. Her black star iron armor had been replaced with a flowing scarlet wedding gown, its hem embroidered with phoenix flames. A silk veil concealed her face, but her presence was a blade, sharp and unyielding, silencing the whispers of the crowd.
The officiant, an elder from the Celestial Harmony Sect, raised his hands, his voice booming. "On this auspicious day, under the blessings of the heavens, we unite Shi Feng, Ninth Prince of the Shia Family, and Yun Wushuang, War God of the Northern Campaigns, in sacred matrimony!"
As the crowd applauded, Shi Feng stole a glance at Yun Wushuang. My destined one, he thought, his heart firm. This marriage is my path to freedom, to vengeance, and to you. The system's voice, silent since her acceptance, lingered in his mind, promising untold rewards. He clutched the Golden Dragon Armor, hidden beneath his robe, as a reminder of his goal — to rise above his cursed family.
But the heavens never granted peace to the bold.
Before the vows could be exchanged, a voice cut through the ceremony like a thunderclap. Shi Hao, the First Prince, stepped forward, his golden robes gleaming with arrogance. His lips curled into a venomous smile. "Honored guests, a wedding demands a gift of unparalleled sincerity! Our Ninth Brother possesses the rare Double Pupils of Heaven's Sight, a divine gift said to pierce illusions and glimpse fate. Since General Yun lost an eye in battle, I propose Shi Feng offer one of his pupils as a wedding gift — a symbol of their unity!"
The crowd gasped, murmurs rippling like a storm. The Double Pupils of Heaven's Sight were a legendary trait, born once in a thousand years, said to grant insight into the Dao itself. Shi Feng's possession of them was a closely guarded secret, known only to the Shia Family. To suggest sacrificing such a treasure was a calculated cruelty, designed to cripple him and mock Yun Wushuang's disfigurement.
Shi Tianhao's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing, his silence a tacit approval. The other princes smirked, their gazes dripping with malice. The guests whispered, some in shock, others in cruel amusement. The Ninth Prince, already trash, to lose his divine pupils? What a farce!
Shi Feng's fists clenched, his heart burning with hatred. Shi Hao, you dog! You think to humiliate me and my wife? He opened his mouth to retort, but before he could speak, a blur of crimson and steel erupted beside him.
Yun Wushuang moved like a phantom, her speed so blinding that even Shi Tianhao, a Nascent Soul cultivator, barely registered it. In an instant, her phoenix-forged sword was at Shi Hao's throat, its edge kissing his skin. A single drop of blood trickled down, staining his golden robes. Her veil fluttered, revealing eyes that burned with icy fury.
"Speak again of harming my husband, even if he is mine in name alone," she said, her voice a low growl that shook the courtyard, "and I will sever your head before the heavens can blink. First Prince or not, you are but dust before my blade."
The hall froze, the air thick with killing intent. Shi Hao's face paled, his bravado crumbling under her gaze. The other princes stepped back, their hands hovering over their weapons, but none dared move. Shi Tianhao's fingers twitched, but he remained seated, his expression unreadable. The guests held their breath, the weight of Yun Wushuang's Core Formation aura pressing down like a mountain.
Shi Feng's heart trembled, not with fear, but with a warmth he had not felt since his mother's embrace. She… protected me. In that moment, he saw beyond her scars, beyond her legend. He saw a woman who, despite her cold exterior, honored their bond. Wushuang, you are truly my destined one.
Stepping forward, he placed a hand on her arm, his voice gentle yet firm. "Wushuang, lower your sword. Let me speak."
She glanced at him, her eyes softening for a fleeting second before she sheathed her blade. Shi Hao staggered back, clutching his throat, his face a mask of humiliated rage. Shi Feng faced the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the princes, the patriarch, and the stunned guests.
"First Brother's suggestion, though cruel, holds merit," he said, his voice resonating with unshakable resolve. "Wushuang, you are my wife, my family. Your battles are mine, your wounds are mine. My Double Pupils are but a tool, while you are a warrior who shakes the heavens. If one of my pupils can restore your sight, I offer it freely — not as a gift, but as a vow. We are one, now and forever."
The crowd gasped, the princes' smirks faltering. Yun Wushuang's eyes widened, a flicker of emotion breaking her icy facade. "Shi Feng," she said, her voice low, "you are a fool. The Double Pupils are your destiny, your path to greatness. I need no favors, no pity. My scars are my pride, my blindness a badge of valor."
Shi Feng smiled, his heart unwavering. "Wife, if you cultivate with restored sight, you can better protect me, can you not? A weak husband like me needs a strong wife to guard his back." His tone was light, but his eyes burned with sincerity. "Let us share this burden, as we will share all others."
The guests whispered, some moved, others skeptical. Shi Tianhao's gaze darkened, sensing a shift in the tide. Yun Wushuang stood silent, her veil hiding her expression. After a long pause, she spoke, her voice softer than before. "Very well, Shi Feng. I accept — not for pity, but for our pact. Let it be done."
The ceremony paused as the Shia Family's alchemist, a wizened elder named Master Huo, was summoned. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he performed the transplant with ancient spirit techniques, transferring one of Shi Feng's Double Pupils to Yun Wushuang's ruined eye. The process was agonizing, spiritual energy surging like a tempest, but Shi Feng endured without a sound, his resolve unbreakable.
As the transplant completed, a golden light flared in Shi Feng's mind. The system's voice echoed, triumphant: "Gift accepted! Reward: Supreme Celestial Pupils, ten thousand times greater than the Double Pupils of Heaven's Sight. Activation delayed to avoid detection. Host, conceal this power until the time is ripe!"
Shi Feng's heart raced, but he suppressed his excitement. Supreme Celestial Pupils? Ten thousand times greater? The system's reward was beyond imagination, a divine gift that could pierce the heavens themselves. But he knew the danger — revealing such power now would draw the greed of his family and beyond. I must bide my time.
Yun Wushuang, her new eye glowing faintly beneath her veil, turned to him. The scar across her face, partially visible, seemed less a flaw and more a mark of her indomitable spirit. "Shi Feng," she said, her voice carrying a rare warmth, "you have given me more than I deserve. In return, I grant you three wishes. Speak them, and I will fulfill them, even if it means defying the heavens."
Shi Feng's eyes widened, his heart soaring. Three wishes from the War God? The possibilities were endless — power, revenge, secrets of her past. But more than that, he felt a bond forming, fragile yet real. Wushuang, I will prove myself worthy of you.
He bowed, his voice filled with gratitude. "Wife, I will treasure this gift. For now, let us complete our vows and face the future together."
The officiant resumed the ceremony, the crowd still reeling from the drama. As Shi Feng and Yun Wushuang exchanged their vows, the heavens seemed to stir, a faint rumble of thunder echoing in the distance. The Shia Family's princes glared, their schemes thwarted, while Shi Tianhao's expression grew colder, sensing a threat in his youngest son.
Shi Feng, his heart alight with purpose, clasped Yun Wushuang's hand. With the Supreme Celestial Pupils, with Wushuang, with these three wishes, I will shatter this cursed family and ascend to the peak of the Celestial Dominion!
To Be Continued
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