If she hadn't been constantly conversing with Mu Anqi, listening to such a meeting would have made Ji Huaichu struggle to stay awake.
At times like these, Ji Huaichu couldn't help but sigh: If only Xia Fenghua were as versatile as Wan Jin. Just look at Lady Red—she could host banquets whenever she wished, go out to have fun as she pleased, with all matters great and small handled neatly and orderly for her. Even for a major event like the Feast of Extreme Bliss, held only once every ten years, Wan Jin single-handedly managed everything for her.
As for Xia Fenghua… she still had a long way to go. Fortunately, with the recent establishment of the "Yinming" Black Mirror Elimination Headquarters, Xia Fenghua could take this opportunity to gain more experience and grow.
Listening to Wan Jin list out suggestions and opinions one by one, Mu Anqi realized just how many thoughts and voices the residents of the Shattered Mirror Continent had. Setting aside the identities of demons and ghosts, along with the unique background and technological needs of the Shattered Mirror Continent, Mu Anqi found the Feast of Extreme Bliss surprisingly down-to-earth at this stage.
Of course, she also noticed the General's boredom. Given Ji Huaichu's personality… she truly didn't pay much attention to these matters.
"Will the General be busy after the meeting ends?" Mu Anqi asked.
"They will indeed be busy," Ji Huaichu replied solemnly, staring at the screen in the meeting room while conversing with Mu Anqi in her mind. "It's merely clearing out Black Mirror vortexes. The three Deputy Generals will make excellent commanders, and as for personnel assignments… Xia Fenghua is capable of handling that."
Ah, it seems our General is planning to slack off. Mu Anqi blinked but didn't call her out on it.
The meeting lasted until evening before concluding. According to Ji Huaichu, previous Feast of Extreme Bliss meetings hadn't been so rushed. Wan Jin used to spread the discussions over three days, taking her time without any hurry. But for some reason, this time Wan Jin seemed determined to cover everything in a single day—hence the marathon session.
"Though it's just as well," Ji Huaichu said. "The time saved means I can spend more of it with you."
Mu Anqi pondered this thoughtfully. Could it be that because Lady Red was injured by Ji Huaichu's spear, Wan Jin was in a hurry to end the meeting and take Lady Red back to recuperate? After all, she wasn't very familiar with how ghosts and spirits recovered from injuries—it was just a guess.
[Game Clearance: Feast of Extreme Bliss. Level Evaluation in Progress—]
[Level Evaluation: S (Congratulations~)]
[Passive Triggered! Obtained Clearance Points: 2500]
[Drawing Formal Player Clearance Reward Item—]
[Congratulations, Player Obtained Item: Mystery Gift Box]
[Mystery Gift Box]: A blessing from the Nirvana Space. Upon opening, it allows for one lottery draw.
[Special marker detected!]
[Correction detected, loading in progress…]
[Ding! Player, please proceed to the next game within fourteen days! We wish you a pleasant life~]
[Teleport back to Nirvana Space?]
Mu Anqi was stunned. It seemed the Nirvana Space system was right—she really must be on the Outstanding Tools Registry. This… getting proposed to within the game actually earned her gifts and double vacation time?! For a fleeting moment, Mu Anqi considered getting proposed to every single day.
"What's wrong?" Ji Huaichu noticed Mu Anqi's excited expression. "Did you get something good?"
"I got a fourteen-day vacation," Mu Anqi blinked, "and… wait a moment." As she spoke, she rubbed her hands together excitedly and mentally opened the Mystery Gift Box!
She was a player blessed with the passive skill 'Divine Fortune'! Luck stat, go max out!
[Ding! Congratulations, Player, for obtaining a "Ten-Day Random Dimension Tour Ticket"~!]
"And a ten-day honeymoon trip to a random dimension." Mu Anqi looked at Ji Huaichu. "General?"
"That's truly wonderful." Ji Huaichu held Mu Anqi's hand and led her out of the hotel, planning to take the airship back to the General's Manor. During this time, she could discuss the wedding arrangements with Mu Anqi. "What style of wedding do you prefer? As for the date… how does seven days from now sound?"
Originally thinking Mu Anqi only had seven days off, Ji Huaichu had prepared to have her subordinates work overtime to get everything ready. But since the Nirvana Space was being so generous… the wedding could naturally be planned more thoroughly.
As for funds? No need to worry! Emptying the General's Manor treasury was perfectly fine!
The only one having a hard time was Xia Fenghua. No sooner had the Feast of Extreme Bliss ended, and before she could even rejoice about the Storyteller and Dramatist still being away for training with Miss White—meaning she was temporarily free from game-related duties—she found herself overwhelmed with the double whammy of Black Mirror eradication and wedding preparations.
The wedding robes needed designing, right? Draft after draft was rejected, leaving the gathered designers from various regions questioning their life choices as they revised the designs endlessly. The city needed decorating, right? All sorts of red silks and lanterns had to be arranged. The General's Manor needed repairs and decorations too, right? And the banquet for the occasion needed setting up, right? Wedding invitations needed sending out, right?
If it weren't for Mu Xiaobai being around, Xia Fenghua would have had to go elsewhere to kidnap a skilled chef.
What does "running around like a headless chicken" mean? This was it.
On the second day after returning from the Feast of Extreme Bliss, Bai Yulai came to help. Because the Nirvana Space hadn't given Wu Sansheng and the others any vacation, they had teamed up right after the Feast to speed-run a Shattered Mirror game. In their rush to clear it quickly, they had no qualms about playing in the most ruthless way possible.
On the third day, Lady Red's airship arrived at the General's Manor. For a ghost like Ji Huaichu to find a partner was nothing short of a miracle. Now that she was holding a grand wedding, Lady Red—not one to hold a grudge—naturally came to help and show her support. As for wedding preparations and banquet arrangements? When it came to these matters, no ghost could surpass Wan Jin.
If the score before Wan Jin's arrival was a passing 60, after she took charge, it shot straight up to 90+! Such was the terrifying capability of an all-rounder ghost.
On the fourth day, a group of ghosts from Illusionary Dreamland came to help. Of course, the main contributor was Yu Chuhan. As the "number one" ghost in illusions, she could effortlessly produce any special effect Ji Huaichu desired. (Although she found Ji Huaichu's request for the "Dragon and Phoenix Auspicious" effect rather tacky, she didn't dare say it.)
Also arriving that day were He Guxia, Xia Yun, and the rest of their player friends. They had cleared their game by playing in an utterly ruthless manner, reducing the other players and ghosts in the game to tears.
On the fifth day, Miss White and Mr. Black arrived, along with the Dramatist and Storyteller, who had completed their studies. Their learning outcomes remained unknown, but both ghosts were thoroughly satisfied to be exempt from work. Especially since the moment they returned, they saw Xia Fenghua on the verge of collapse from exhaustion, which only deepened their satisfaction and relief.
Following them were the Ghost Kings and Demon Kings from the previous team-building event. With the camaraderie forged during that event, they naturally came to lend a hand for the wedding.
Everything was being prepared at a frantic pace.
On the seventh day, the Grand Wedding.
After much discussion, Ji Huaichu and Mu Anqi decided to forego most of the cumbersome rituals. In this land, they had no elders or relatives. This wedding was more about the vows and promises between the two of them.
The moment the sun climbed halfway up the sky, the city erupted in excitement. Firecrackers popped and fireworks bloomed incessantly, filling the city with a boisterous, explosive energy. One airship after another flew in. Even the Ghost Kings and Demon Kings who couldn't attend personally sent shipments of lavish gifts.
Guests packed the city to the brim. Pastries made by Mu Xiaobai were brought out plate after plate, only to be devoured completely by the assorted ghosts. Even before the wedding ceremony began, they couldn't help muttering among themselves, "Where did General Ji find such an excellent pastry chef?"
Wan Jin, Xia Fenghua, and the three Deputy Generals worked together to maintain order. It wasn't until the afternoon that the beautiful pair, clad in magnificent red wedding robes, made their appearance. Over the past few days, they had planned numerous procedures, but ended up scrapping them one by one, finally deciding—who said ghost weddings had to be so troublesome? By the end of their discussions, Ji Huaichu was half-tempted to just take Mu Anqi for a quick stroll outside and then carry her money tree straight to bed.
Toasting the guests? Ji Huaichu might be bold enough to offer the toasts, but there were very few ghosts brave enough to drink them—or so she thought.
Golden light shimmered brilliantly, and celestial maidens presented gifts. Yu Chuhan really didn't want to comment on Ji Huaichu's creative ideas; she just resigned herself to the role of "special effects" artist, creating a "fairyland" with dazzling, moving petals and ethereal mist to welcome Ji and Mu.
The officiant for the wedding was the Ancestor of the White Fox Clan. She smiled warmly at the beautiful couple. "Ji Huaichu, as a ghost, do you vow to restrain your hatred, desires, and malice, to forever stand by Mu Anqi's side in the days to come, to protect her, cherish her, and grow together with her?"
Ji Huaichu tightened her grip on Mu Anqi's hand. "I do."
"Mu Anqi, as a player, do you vow to remain forever in the Shattered Mirror Continent by Ji Huaichu's side, to care for her, cherish her, and never regret your choice?"
"I do." Mu Anqi's eyes shone with intensity. After her answer, she cupped Ji Huaichu's chin and actively leaned in to meet her.
The venue instantly erupted! Cheers and roars of approval rose together. In such an atmosphere, who cared about daring to drink or not?
As a delighted Ji Huaichu led Mu Anqi down, Lady Red immediately approached them with a wine cup. "Ji Huaichu, it wouldn't be fitting not to drink a few cups, would it?"
"General Ji, are you satisfied with my special effects? If you are, down three cups first." Yu Chuhan followed close behind. With a snap of her fingers, countless heart-shaped bubbles materialized between Ji Huaichu and Mu Anqi. She swayed her wine cup lightly and smiled.
"With all our years of friendship, and today being your grand wedding!" Even Bai Yulai, who had always been on the receiving end of Ji Huaichu's bullying, straightened her back now and smilingly crowded in front of Ji Huaichu.
With these three leading the charge, the remaining demons and ghosts, caught up in the festive mood, enthusiastically gathered around.
Who among the present couldn't see the murderous glint in Ji Huaichu's eyes? But on such a joyous occasion, who was afraid of her? This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Eager to have some alone time with your beloved? Dream on!
Even the dedicated tool, Xia Fenghua, resolutely picked up a cup of fruit wine and walked over. So many years of exploitation and camaraderie—if nothing else, it all came down to this moment!
Ji Huaichu: "…"
Important note: Ghosts and monsters don't get drunk from alcohol.
But these fellows were so enthusiastically urging her to drink, one round after another… clearly, they had no intention of letting her escape!
…If Mu Anqi hadn't been holding her hand so tightly, Ji Huaichu really wasn't sure she could resist drawing her blade.
Forget it. Since these guys were tactful enough not to target Mu Anqi… she'd just drink.
Author's Note:
Note: Minors, please do not drink alcohol. Excessive drinking is harmful to health! If you drink, don't drive; if you drive, don't drink!
The grand wedding is here!~ What remains will cover the officially established game, the honeymoon trip, and then the advanced tool missions for the players of the Nirvana System.
Finally, here's the upcoming novel: "The Necromancer on the Run" ID: 3350096
Tagline: I cast curses, play with skeletons, summon undead, command vengeful spirits, consort with ghosts and succubi—but I know, I'm a good person!
(If interested, you can bookmark it first. It's a fantasy novel set in an alternate world, following a system progression stream.)