In the morning Wei Ganju arrived at their door before the morning light began to peek over the mountains. He immediately burst into Mareus’ room. “Little Brother! How long do you plan to sleep? Oh, you’re already getting dressed.”

Mareus tied the silk sash around his hanfu, it was a solid red adorned with his family colors of black and blue. He turned to face the friendly intruder with a practiced smile.

“You’re the only one who would sleep in today, Big Brother.”

Ganju grappled him and danced around the room. “You dare insult me like this?”

A loud smack rang out before he finally stopped.

“Please don’t ruin my grandson’s clothes before today’s events even begin.” The elder tapped her fan against her palm.

“Yes Master!” He shouted. “If you’ll excuse us, we will be on our way to join the others.”

Her stern look softened, “Very well. Go now, before I change my mind about letting you skip this morning’s training.”

The two of them were halfway down the cliff by the time she finished her sentence. Thinking they were far enough Ganju quickly sat Mareus on his shoulder.

“You’re not going to fight me today?” He smiled.

Mareus pretended to think for a moment. “Are you kidding? This is the highest place of honor. Who else can say they got to ride the groom on his wedding day?”

Ganju’s face turned bright red before he changed the subject. “Do you even know what we’re about to do?”

“Granny said we have to break down a gate to steal Sister Mai. But her house doesn’t have a gate. Is she trapped somewhere?”

He frantically spat out an explanation. “No, no. It’s more like… a game? Yes, a game. Grandpa Gin is like an evil guard keeping her trapped at home and he gathered all of the women to keep her there. Now all of the men have to save her and bring her to the wedding.”

“So it’s a game before the wedding?” Mareus tilted his head, still confused. “That sounds like fun!”

“Yes! You’re in for some fun Little Brother.”

It wasn’t long before they joined the rest of the men at the entrance to the Wei family compound.

“Master’s grandson is here!”

“There’s no way we can lose now!”

“That old man will call me father after today!”

Their high spirited shouts came one after another, mostly random nonsense let out in the heat of the moment. But the warriors didn’t let that distract them from their goal. Only now did Mareus realize that some of the villages fighters were missing.

“Big Brother, where are the rest of the warriors? None of the women are here.”

“Don’t worry about that, we’ll be seeing them soon.” Ganju raised his voice above the mob. “Won’t we, men?”

Cheers shook the sky only for higher pitched cries to answer them a moment later.

“Good, it looks like everyone is ready.” Ganju stepped on top of a crate and addressed the crowd.

“Men!”

“Sir!” They replied in unison.

“Today, we are prepared to fight with our lives on the line.”

“Sir!”

“Today, we shall not cower in fear!”

“Sir!”

“Today, we will not fear the scolding of our mothers nor wives!”

Ganju thrusted his fist into the air.

“…sir?”

“We march!”

After some confused missteps the men fell into loose formation behind Ganju and Mareus. Who practically had to jog to keep pace with the grown men.

Thankfully it didn’t take long for another mob to come into sight, this one mad up of all women. They stood guard before Grandpa Gin’s place armed with basket armor, brooms, whatever they could get their hands on really.

“Ganju! You disrespectful brat! How dare you recruit my grandson?” Grandpa Gin posed atop his own roof, his outer robe draped across him like a cape.

“Who is your grandson? I only have my master’s grandson that has so bravely chosen to fight by my side.” He called back.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Boy, you are now my adopted grandchild. Quickly come up here and help me kill that fool.”

Mareus took a half step when Ganju’s hand landed on his head.

“It is your loss for not thinking of this advantage! I shall take my bride from your home today!”

Grandpa Gin muttered to himself as if to find words appropriate to say in front of women and children. He settled on, “You, just you wait. And you, smaller brat! Don’t think I’ll forget your betrayal!”

Ganju knelt in front of Mareus. “We’re going to create a distraction, your job is to sneak past them and spirit away Mai. Once you get behind us light this firework and we’ll retreat with you to the Elder’s hall. Got it?”

Mareus nodded excitedly and tucked the firework away in his inner pocket.

“Men! Have no fear, our actions today will make tomorrow worth it.”

The thought of their wive’s punishment the next day flashed across some of the men’s faces.

Battle cries came from both ends of the makeshift battlefield. “Charge!”

As soon as the street erupted into a mass of bodies shoving each other, sandals and baskets flying in the air. Mareus snuck around through the stalls and buildings crowding the street, easily making it past the front line before a broom came sailing over his head. Afraid he was caught he peeked between the cracks of the boards next to him.

One of the more burly women lifted her husband overhead before tossing him back into a squad of men.

“I’m glad I got the sneaky job.” He mumbled.

Mareus crept forward until he reached the side of the tavern before hesitating because he couldn’t see a way to sneak in without being seen. Then a flash of red caught his attention and he noticed Mai waving him over from behind a barrel.

With a series of clumsy acrobatics in and out of the random furniture barricading the street he made his way over to her.

“Thank goodness you made it.” She whispered.

Mareus tried to steady the spinning world before replying. “Aren’t you supposed to be inside?”

“Juju and I made this plan beforehand, if this goes on too longs he’ll start getting a little crazy.” She pointed at the old man still on the roof and busy prying open a crate. “Please don’t tell him we did this. He’s stubborn when it comes to traditions like these.”

“It’s our secret.” His serious expression twisted into a wide grin. “Can I please call Big Brother Juju at least once?”

“If you can escort me to the Elder’s hall.” She laughed.

Mareus nodded. “Right!”

They quietly took the same path back. Not counting a few close calls when a stray sandal flew by or one of the men landed in front of them only to immediately be ripped away back into the fray. Everything went smoothly.

When they made it past the last group throwing all of their weight into the hoard, Mareus took her hand and started sprinting. With the other he took out the firework and struck it on the ground and pointed it to the sky just before the burning ball launched above their heads.

A golden light exploded over the battle and outshone the morning sun.

“You’ve done it now!” Grandpa Gin’s roar echoed through the street. “Eat my golden bombs of despair!”

He threw one of the balls with enough force that the impact blew a pile of baskets onto the nearby rooftops.

“What is this stench?” One of the male warriors complained.

The elder’s crazed grin ushered in a certain kind of terror on both sides of the battle.

One of the men warned, “Run! That insane bastard is throwing pi-” before getting knocked off his feet as one of the balls exploded in his face.

“Time’s up.” Ganju barreled in from behind and plucked them up as he sprinted towards the hall.

Screams and a single distinct laughter haunting their tracks.

Moments later the three landed on the steps to the Elder’s hall that acted as their finish-line. Seeing the end of his game Grandpa Gin violently launched his remaining ammunition towards the sun. Everyone’s cheers flooded the village and their fear began to wash away. It’s time for the ceremony to begin.

It isn’t necessarily rare for the general public to be allowed in the Elder’s Hall. Although, the hall’s doors were only held open for two of the most important events in a villagers life. The day you got married, and the day everyone celebrated your life. It also happened to be the only indoor venue big enough for a couple hundred people at once.

The hall was decorated in ornate patterns of red and gold, handmade tapestries passed down from the various families in the village, and thousands of flowers arranged in nine colors. Sitting at the center of it all were the families of Elder Wei and Grandpa Gin. Who, after cleaning himself up, looked far more respectable than Mareus had ever seen him.

He got the feeling that if he weren’t already kneeling, the shear awe of everything would bring him to his knees.

How could people make something like this? He wondered.

As he took in the sights, his eyes kept being drawn back to the two table’s positioned in the center. Almost as if every decoration drew an invisible line for them all to connect at the most important point. Right where his eyes naturally wanted to land were Wei Ganju and Gin Mai. And sat in front and below them were all of the elders with Elder Wei and Grandpa Gin sharing the center seats.

Despite their roles or positions, no one was above the couple on their wedding day. Even their robes were comparatively less intricate and gradually became more plain the further you looked in either direction.

Hua Gongzhu sat off to the far left side in muted robes accessorized only with a stern face and a simple wooden flower in her bun. He had no idea how such a delicate looking pin was able to hold back her wild locks. It had to be some specialized martial technique designed to keep her hair from blinding her mid battle.

While dressed to draw as little attention as possible and sitting out of the way. The aged warrior gave off the impression of a mountain that would block anyone from approaching the couple. If they dared to try that is.

Granny Zhu always insisted that a true cultivator allowed their skill to speak for them more than their appearance. Because of this, he often was saddled with extra chores and errands under the guise of training. Making Mareus known around the entire village as one of the most promising future warriors despite not yet stepping foot into the world of cultivation.

A world he was told he’d never be able to step foot in now.

Mareus shifted in place as he looked at his grandmother, the lingering pain in his stomach creeping towards the front of his mind. She had already made him drink several bowls of medicine for the pain in the few hours he was awake. But even if he took a legendary elixir it wouldn’t be able to heal the real issue.

He would never be allowed to practice anything beyond physical exercise and techniques that didn’t utilize qi. What could he have done in a past life that this was his karma? How was it fair to take away a child’s only dream before it could even begin?

Granny Zhu met his eyes for only a breath, but that instant sent a powerful chill that could freeze his blood.

He must have been fidgeting or something similar that was on the verge of causing a scene. The last time she gave him a look like that was for accidentally setting their laundry on fire when he tried to dry them faster using the wok.

That’s right. I need to settle down. Today is a special day. One to be cultivated with love. He reminded himself.