Cassie Cao was at a loss, never expecting Joe Di to truly save her.
Boom! The roar of an airplane thundered overhead, jolting Joe Di awake. He opened his eyes and exclaimed joyfully, "Cassie, you're completely healed!"
Cassie looked at Joe Di in confusion. "Joe, haven't you always called me 'sis'? Why did you start calling me 'senior sister'?"
Joe Di was momentarily stunned. Indeed, he had unconsciously begun calling Cassie 'senior sister.'
Seeing Joe Di in a daze, Cassie reached out and plucked a blade of grass from his clothes, smiling as she said, "'Senior sister' does sound nicer. Let's stick with that. I don't think we'll be able to meet up with Marlon Mao and the others easily here... This place—"
Cassie didn't bring up Joe Di's proposal again, deliberately changing the subject. But another burst of airplane noise interrupted her.
Joe Di peered out from behind a crack in the rocks, puzzled as he looked at the plane overhead. "Senior sister, weren't we told that planes can't enter Tianhuang District? Why is this one flying here?"
Cassie also stared curiously at the plane above. After a while, she suddenly said, "That must be a drone. It looks like it's searching for something."
Joe Di frowned, then muttered, "Could it be searching for me?"
Cassie shook her head. "We're just sneaking into Tianhuang District. People like us do it all the time, so the drones wouldn't waste their effort on us. You know, half the drones that enter Tianhuang District end up getting taken down by flying beasts."
Joe Di said firmly, "No, that plane must be searching for me. Back at Jinhai Hospital, I saved a poisoned martial artist from Tianhuang District. That incident probably brought trouble my way."
"What?" Cassie stared wide-eyed at Joe Di. After a long moment, she finally caught her breath and said, "Ah Joe, you really have guts. To reveal your abilities like that, you..."
After learning that Joe Di had cured her poison, Cassie knew he absolutely couldn't expose his skills. Now, hearing he'd already revealed them, she realized Joe Di could never leave Tianhuang District again.
With Joe Di's abilities, surviving in Tianhuang District for even half a year would depend on luck.
She had originally decided to tell Joe Di to forget about his earlier proposal, but now Cassie suddenly changed her mind. She grabbed Joe's hand and gazed at him tenderly. "Ah Joe, since that's the case, let's get married here in Tianhuang District."
Joe Di was stunned again. "Senior sister, Tianhuang District is so dangerous. If we get married here, then..."
Cassie gently touched the large wound on Joe Di's shoulder and spoke softly, "Ah Joe, you're just like me. If my face is seen, I'll never have a day in the sun again. That's why I decided to flee to Tianhuang District. Your medical skills mean you'll never leave here either. Since that's our fate, let's get married here. Maybe tomorrow we'll be eaten by beasts, but today, we still have each other."
Deep inside, Joe Di felt as if something had exploded. Unable to resist, he pulled Cassie into his arms. He understood her meaning—she believed he couldn't escape, so she chose to stay with him. In truth, Cassie, despite her stunning beauty, could still leave if she wished.
"Thank you, senior sister." Joe Di felt a warm current rise in his heart, filling him with the urge to never let Cassie suffer hardship again.
Boom! In the distance, a roar sounded, followed by a burst of fire.
Cassie said urgently, "That was a drone brought down by a beast! We need to leave, now."
Joe Di responded with a grunt and immediately hoisted Cassie onto his back. Cassie quickly protested, "I'm completely healed now. I can walk."
"Senior sister, where I come from, it's tradition for the groom to carry the bride on their wedding day. Today, you're my bride, so I'll carry you." Joe Di turned and smiled gently.
Cassie's cheeks flushed slightly. She softly murmured her assent, no longer resisting Joe Di's gesture.
With Cassie on his back and her holding his backpack, the two carefully left the hollow. Only then did Joe Di whisper, "Senior sister, that plane wasn't a drone—it was piloted by someone."
Cassie was taken aback and immediately asked, "How do you know?"
"I have a feeling that, to those powerful figures, the lives of these pilots are worth less than ants." Suddenly, Joe Di felt a strong desire for power. Perhaps only by becoming truly powerful could he openly leave Tianhuang District with Cassie.
Cassie hadn't eaten for a long time, and with her poison only just cured by Joe Di, she soon fell into a deep sleep on his back.
Joe Di hadn't eaten either, but at this moment, he was full of energy. Even if he were slow-witted, he knew exactly why—his cultivation, the cycle of training in his mind, was making him stronger.
With keen eyesight and sharp hearing, Joe Di managed to avoid several close encounters with seven or eight fierce beasts. Four hours later, he carried Cassie to a well-hidden mountain hollow.
Cassie was still asleep. Joe Di cleared a patch of ground and gently set her on a boulder. With his bamboo knife, he began building a shelter nearby. Cassie had chosen to stay in Tianhuang District for him—he had to do something for her in return.
"Ah Joe..." Cassie woke and found Joe Di gone, sitting up in alarm.
A faint glow appeared. As Cassie looked around, she instinctively covered her mouth in surprise.
She was in a small hut, hastily built by Joe Di. On the wooden wall, Joe had woven a 'Double Happiness' character from rhododendron flowers. At this time of year, only Tianhuang District had rhododendrons.
Below the Double Happiness symbol, Joe Di had carved a line: 'Congratulations to Joe Di and Cassie Cao on their wedding!'
An alcohol stove sat on the newly made wooden table, casting a soft light. In front of the table were two straw mats woven from wild bamboo.
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"Senior sister, today is our wedding day. Though there are no guests, having you is enough." Joe Di entered from outside the hut, walked to Cassie's side, and took her hand.
"Ah Joe..." Cassie couldn't hold back any longer and threw herself into Joe Di's arms. She wasn't naive—she knew Joe hadn't intended to propose before, but she understood his heart now.
But at this moment, Cassie was certain Joe Di was truly proposing. Otherwise, he wouldn't have created such a wedding room in these conditions. It looked rough, but every detail showed Joe Di's care.
She had once envied others' weddings. Today, she finally had her own—a man she wanted to marry had made it for her. Every part of it made her feel warm inside.
"Thank you for making me a bride too. From now on, I'll never be alone again..." Cassie stroked the jade hanging at her chest, feeling as if everything she'd lost was slowly returning. With Joe Di by her side, she would never feel lonely or helpless again.
Joe Di helped Cassie to the mats. "Senior sister, today, under heaven and earth, we become husband and wife. Heaven above, earth below, I, Joe Di, vow to marry Cassie Cao and never betray her for all eternity. If I break this vow..."
Cassie stopped Joe Di from finishing his vow, looking at him gently. "Ah Joe, I always felt I was the master of heaven and earth too. It sounds silly, but since we're married, I can say it to you. So let heaven and earth witness our marriage—our vows live in our hearts."
Then Cassie looked forward and spoke softly, "Heaven above, earth below, I, Cassie Cao, willingly marry Joe Di. From this day on, I will honor my husband, and never betray him for all eternity!"
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)