The Fitting Room

A short moment later Smiles and I had arrived in the room where all my mothers were getting the last touches on their wedding outfits. However, I wasn't brought here primarily for my opinion on how they looked. Rather there was a more pressing issue… 

"Ah, there you are, son." Hua Qing Si shouted, with a clearly worried tone. 

"Hmm, what are you so worried about, Mother Hua? Is it not supposed to be a happy time?" I asked, curiously. 

"You really don't know? I thought you knew everything in Star Boundary." Hua Qing Si asked, confused. The others in the room laughed a little in response. 

"While that is possible for me, it is also possible for any of the Great Emperors of Star Boundary. But it's not as if I enjoy peeking in on every little thing that happens. Plus I was in a hyper focused state these last several days. I can't have my alchemy have even the slightest mistake after all, the stakes are simply too high." I chuckled, explaining how it works. 

"Oh, I see, well. We've been having guests arrive from all the Cave Heaven Paradises. And they seem to be getting a little impatient." Hua Qing Si said, opting to ignore her previous misunderstanding. 

"I see… And my father is…" I murmured, gently rubbing my chin as I sensed what Yang Kai was up to. "Hmm, it seems coming out like that before to rain down divine justice took quite a toll. He's been stabilizing his cultivation for a while now. He should be wrapping up tomorrow though it looks like." I said, with a sigh. "I really caused him a problem this time. Very well, I'll formally welcome our guests in his stead this time. If they have a problem then so be it. They'll just have to tough it out." I chuckled out.

"Don't think that way! What happened wasn't your fault and everyone knows it. So don't put yourself down like that. Or I might just have to tease you." Shang Qing Luo yelled, floating over to me.

"Ahahaha, don't worry, I don't look down upon myself. In fact I'm still shocked I managed to hold out as long as I did. I wonder… Did something help me? Did something else come into play without my realizing it? I've analyzed that fight at least ten thousand times by now and I'll be honest… I don't think I'd pull it off that well again if I tried. Though, I'm stronger now so a fair comparison can't really be made." I laughed, then dived into murmuring my thoughts. 

"It doesn't matter now. You're here now, alive and well." Shang Qing Luo smiled, running her finger under my chin. "Now…" She continued, backing away and twirling. "What do you think?" She asked. 

"My Father will have just as much difficulty finding the right words to properly describe the vision of beauty before him, as I do now." I said with a smile. 

"Oh? And how about all of us?" Yu Ru Meng spoke up, puffing her cheeks as she posed in a way that left hardly anything to the imagination. 

"For you specifically, Mother Yu… Perhaps you should try to give the seamstresses time to properly finish the outfit before striking such an overly sexual pose." I sighed, turning my head away at once. 

"Oh…" Yu Ru Meng said, looking down. "Sorry about that. Oh…" She started, but I cut her off before her words came out. 

"I'm sure that what happens in private quarters will be as intensely sensational as you can imagine." I said, hoping that would sate Yu Ru Meng, thankfully it seemed to have done just that. "That being said, all of you look outstanding. Beauty for all others to look up to." I continued, getting ready to vanish again. 

"Is that so?" Hou Lei said, getting up close and in my face about it. "What about us?" She asked, half joking and the other half teasing. 

"Naturally, my love, you are a beauty I could never compare to anyone else. The other half of myself. A beauty our children will grow up to admire and aspire towards. Such a thought is too much." I said, a little nervous but, deciding it didn't matter what happened next. 

"Hmm, I'll accept that answer. Even though I know it means nothing to what I feel here." Huo Lei said, placing her hand upon my chest and stared into my eyes. 

To the others in the room, it looked as if time stood still. That was, until Xiu Che spoke up. "Ah, that's not fair sister. Husband belongs to all of us. Though I guess that's just the difference between being first and not." She complained, though her tone was more teasing than anything. She knew what she was getting into when she opted to marry me. 

"Oh don't be like that sister, all of our Husband's Children will have many beauties to look up to. But most of all, a powerful man who would topple reality upon its very head, just to see them smile." Huo Lei giggled, adding onto the teasing. 

"Hey now, I might be mighty, but toppling reality is a bit much. Not even Ink could pull that one off." I said, slightly flustered. 

"Pfft, you're cute like this. Sorry for teasing you so much Husband." Huo Lei said, kissing me. "Now go and take care of what's left. We're going to help all our mothers make their perfect." She smiled. 

"Go easy on them, alright." I smiled and vanished from the room. 

The fitting room, full of women, went into a stir after I left. Su Yan smiled in a mirror before her. 

"Mother, what is this smile for?" Huo Lei asked, returning a smile, as she helped with the fittings. 

"I'm glad he has you girls. The love you share is genuine. Free from any guilt even if the whole world shunned you for it… It wouldn't matter. Young though my adorable son may be, he is still a man. And a Man needs a woman by his side. And in his case, this is an immutable fact. I suspect that's why my Husband had decided on your engagement." Su Yan explained. 

"To me, it doesn't matter what the reason why father approved. All that matters is how thankful I am to have a husband like Leiji. I should thank you as well, mother, for honoring…" Huo Lei said. 

The conversations continued as work continued. All awaiting the day of the wedding.