"It's only right. As their son-in-law, I ought to pay my respects to her parents."
The fleet slowly turned and headed toward Peach Mountain.
With his arm around the Monkey King’s neck, he talked and talked—from Princess Yara’s suppression under Peach Mountain, all the way to the Investiture War and the battle at Guang River Estuary—repeatedly reminding the Monkey King to treat Anna Yang well. To emphasize the consequences of treating her well or poorly, the always refined General Erlang even resorted to threats.
As the sun rose, lords and nobles everywhere caught wind of the news and rushed to send envoys bearing gifts, all hurrying along the road.
It seemed as if the massive fleet was deliberately moving especially slowly, to leave plenty of time for the upcoming wedding preparations.
But the news that the Monkey King had brought the Holy Mother home had already swept through every street and alley of Blossom Mountain. Lanterns and banners hung from every door, and the entire mountain was alive with celebration.
Qi Tian Palace was draped in crimson carpets, hung with red silk, and adorned with red lanterns. The character for 'double happiness' was pasted in every corner.
To ensure proper ceremony, the palace officials specially invited several elders versed in human rituals. In the shortest time, they pieced together a set of wedding rites unique to Blossom Mountain, rehearsing them over and over in the Ten Thousand Demons Hall.
The musicians began composing new pieces early, rehearsing them again and again to set the wedding's festive mood.
The maids started preparing performances for the wedding day.
Though it was only a matter of moving things from one room to another, Daisy Grass still emptied the entire treasury, carefully sorting and recording every valuable item, dividing them into the bride-price and the dowry.
Every demon grinned with delight; even the air itself seemed fresher than ever.
There was no doubt—this would be a wedding for the ages.
In a quiet corner, Belle, dressed in violet, quietly slipped the last letter into its envelope and tucked it away with the others.
She blinked her emerald eyes and smiled, a look of gentle relief.
Carrying the letters, she stepped out of her courtyard, slipped past maids in festive dress marveling at the Great Sage's wedding, crossed the bustling drill grounds full of practicing soldiers, left Qi Tian Palace by the back gate, and, using her meager spiritual power, soared over three floating stones to land in front of a small courtyard by the military harbor.
Taking a deep breath, she blinked and gently tapped the brass knocker on the door.
"Cloudnymph Sister, are you in?"
Gazing at the clouds rimmed with gold, the Monkey King softly said, "I'll have them get ready. Once we're back at Blossom Mountain, let's get married—no need to wait for any auspicious date. All right?"
At Crescent Star Cave’s Hall of Silent Meditation, Master Subhuti and Elder Gale sat facing each other in silence—one serene, the other looking as if his soul had left him.