Longevity Begins With Zongmen Handyman

Chapter 145: Li An's Grand Wedding

Anhetang.

This is the name of Gu Hong's pill shop. In the entire second-tier area, her shop can be considered grand. Several apprentices are busy inside the shop.

Over the years, thanks to Li An's assistance, Gu Hong has developed quite well. Most of the pills in the Treasure Pavilion are supplied by her.

"What kind of pills does the esteemed guest need?"

Li An walked into the pill shop, and a lively young girl had already approached. Her eyebrows and eyes were lively and charming, and her gaze towards Li An became even more enthusiastic.

She knew that Li An's attire definitely belonged to someone important.

"I'm looking for Master Gu Dan."

Li An calmly spoke.

The young girl said, "I don't know what the esteemed guest's business is, but I can report it to my master."

"Just say that Zuo Wen from the Treasure Pavilion is visiting." Li An said lightly.

Upon hearing this, the young girl was greatly surprised. It turned out to be the chief appraiser of the Treasure Pavilion?

This was truly someone not to be offended. She bowed and hurriedly went inside.

Not long after, a woman quickly walked out, and it was none other than Gu Hong.

After many years, she still had her charm, but there was a hint of the passage of time and depth in her eyes.

"Gu Hong pays respects to Chief Zuo."

Gu Hong's face was full of apologies. "My apprentice has eyes but failed to recognize a true god. I made Chief Zuo wait for a long time. It's truly a sin. Please forgive me, Chief Zuo. Please, come in quickly!"

Inner hall.

Gu Hong's lively apprentice, Xu Xiaoxiao, poured tea for Li An with a hint of apology, and then retreated.

"I have come this time to ask for a favor..." Li An took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and got straight to the point.

"Chief Zuo, please speak directly. As long as Gu Hong can do it, she will go through fire and water without hesitation."

"I am over two hundred years old, and there is no hope for me to form a pill in this lifetime. Therefore, I just want to find a companion to spend the rest of my life..." Li An smiled faintly. "In this city, after much consideration, the most suitable person for me is Fellow Daoist Gu."

"So, I have come today to propose marriage..."

To propose marriage!

Clearly, this was the most difficult thing to say between a man and a woman, but for Li An, it was as calm as discussing an ordinary business matter.

Gu Hong was stunned.

She stared at Li An for a long time, and in her beautiful eyes, many indescribable emotions welled up.

"Chief Zuo, with your distinguished status, why did you choose Gu Hong alone?"

After a long time, Gu Hong finally spoke. "In this city, there are countless young Foundation Building female cultivators who want to form a good relationship with Chief Zuo. Gu Hong is already over two hundred years old..."

Her words were filled with a sense of desolation.

"Firstly, Master Gu is a strong alchemist. If we form a family, we will be a powerful force. Secondly, we have cooperated with the Treasure Pavilion for many years, and I trust your character..." Li An was very straightforward.

"Is that all?"

She looked deeply into Li An's eyes.

Li An nodded calmly.

Love? Feelings? Those ethereal things were nothing more than boring fantasies in the limited lives of mortals.

In this cruel cultivation world, everything was calculated.

Marriage was just a combination of interests.

So, making it clear like this, both parties could accept it without feeling exposed.

"During these years, Chief Zuo has stayed in Tianyang City and Baihu City for quite some time, and has seen countless women. Yet, you still feel that Gu Hong is the most suitable?" she asked softly.

Li An still nodded.

"If Gu Hong refuses, what will be the consequences?"

"From now on, the supply of pills from the Treasure Pavilion will be replaced by someone else..." Li An didn't hide his threat. "I am not a magnanimous person!"

"So, Gu Hong has no choice but to marry?"

Gu Hong asked, tears seemingly welling up in her eyes as she listened to Li An's words.

"Yes."

Li An calmly spoke, "Master Gu is a smart person, so I think... you can start preparing for the wedding attire."

Tears couldn't help but overflow from Gu Hong's eyes. She turned her back, wiped away her tears, and said,

"Gu Hong agrees."

"Xiaoxiao, see the guest off..."

Xu Xiaoxiao came in from outside, and Li An got up and left.

He left.

Xu Xiaoxiao ran back, panting, and asked her master with concern, "Master, why are you crying... What happened? Did that old man, Zuo Wen, bully you?"

She picked up a handkerchief and handed it to Gu Hong.

Gu Hong took the handkerchief, wiped her tears, but she was crying and smiling, saying, "Yes, he bullied me... He bullied me!"

Xu Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth and said, "Master, let's go, leave Tianyang City, don't let him bother us! Isn't it just the Treasure Pavilion? It's nothing special! Xiaoxiao will study alchemy hard and be able to support you in the future..."

The determined and serious look of the young girl was so adorable.

But Gu Hong broke into laughter through her tears and said, "No, I want him to bother me... I want him to!"

"Go and prepare a wedding dress for me... Find the best tailor in the city!"

Xu Xiaoxiao's mouth dropped open, "Ah???"

...

In the following days, Li An was quite busy.

On one hand, he continued to negotiate with Zhou Xuan, the old man who controlled the Elemental Pill.

The old man made many harsh demands, and Li An repeatedly struggled and fought with him, finally reaching an agreement.

The old man was no longer fixated on auctioning the pill and agreed to give it to Li An, but at a high price of 180,000 spirit stones, plus a third-grade refining material.

Li An agreed and started raising money.

Over the years, he had accumulated quite a few spirit stones, but a large portion had been used for cultivation, purchasing talisman paper, and so on. He only had seventy to eighty thousand spirit stones left.

But he wasn't too worried because he knew deep down that this pill was intentionally sent to him by the Demon Sect and wouldn't cause any problems.

In a sense, he was just cooperating with the Demon Sect's act. He didn't really need the Elemental Pill.

On the other hand, he was selecting from the list of matchmakers sent by the matchmakers.

He had two requirements for these women:

1. No virgins.

2. No kind-hearted and morally upright individuals.

He wanted those who were promiscuous and morally corrupt as tools. He wouldn't feel guilty about using them.

He selected seven people and handed the list to the matchmakers. The matchmakers were both surprised and delighted, praising Li An for his discernment and enjoyment.

Those promiscuous women were unwanted by them, but now that Li An had taken them, how could they not be happy?

...

Half a month later.

Zuo Wen, the chief of the Treasure Pavilion, got married.

It caused quite a stir in the city.

The chief of the Treasure Pavilion, Su Xiuwan, and the high-ranking members all attended.

The Wang family also sent a representative to show their importance.

All the major and minor forces in the city also presented gifts.

The wedding was extremely grand.

Gu Hong wore a red dress and, in front of everyone, performed the ceremony with Li An.

When she looked up, the candlelight flickered, and Li An saw tears shimmering in her eyes. Li An couldn't figure out whether she was feeling sad, angry, or humiliated.

The bridal chamber.

The golden hook lifted the red veil.

Today, Gu Hong was so beautiful, dressed in red makeup, with enchanting red lips and captivating eyes.

Li An blew out the candle.

...

"It seems that Li An couldn't wait... Hehe, after obtaining the Elemental Pill, he has accelerated his cultivation speed..."

In a secret hall, the Horse-Faced Executioner revealed a smile.

In his opinion, Li An's behavior was normal.

The Elemental Pill was a stimulus for Li An.

So, Li An taking concubines and getting married was naturally for the purpose of cultivating the Yin-Yang Demon Furnace technique, rapidly improving his strength, and preparing for the Foundation Establishment stage.

"He should hurry up..."

Even the Blood Shadow woman in front of him said lightly, "It would be best if he could break through with King Jingbei. That way, both things can be accomplished together..."

She also had no doubts.

...

(End of this chapter)