A recommendation for a book ^_^ Book Title: Tower Demon (or Ta Mo), Book ID: 1467227 Synopsis: An ordinary youth accidentally stumbles into a mystical magic tower, befriends an eccentric Demon King, and consequently embarks on a path of ceaseless magical ascension. His previously mundane and impoverished life is thus radically transformed. ※※※※※※※※ "Crack! Pop! Bang..."

The deafening sound of firecrackers echoed through the manor, carrying from the eastern end to the western. Every face wore a festive smile. This Lunar New Year felt more laborious than previous years, but the silver and gold disbursed from above had likewise doubled. If such benefits came every year, everyone would gladly endure the extra effort.

The reason for this good fortune was that the manor's Young Master, He Yitian, was to be married.

The young lady the Young Master intended to wed was not from some small, insignificant household, but from the Cheng family, one of the three great clans in Taicang County that stood equal to the He family.

Although the Cheng family had suffered a massive loss of face and numerous casualties the previous year, causing a significant dip in prestige, even a starved camel is still larger than a horse. Neither the Xu nor the He families dared to treat the Cheng family with the slightest contempt.

The main gate of the manor burst open, and a procession emerged, heralded by gongs and drums.

He Yitian was clad in a crimson robe. Though his internal energy had already reached the Seventh Layer, his personal martial prowess seemed inconsequential today. A thin sheen of sweat beaded on his forehead.

This was not from exertion, nor from the weight of his garments, but due to extreme nervousness and a touch of bewilderment.

It was inevitable for a groom to feel this way on his first time.

Following closely behind He Yitian were his brothers—He Yihai, He Yixuan, and He Yiming—all of whom possessed internal energy at the Sixth Layer or higher. Watching their elder brother, they couldn't help but feel amused, harboring a sense of schadenfreude deep in their hearts.

Seeing their unconcealed grimaces, He Quanyi couldn't help but recall his own youthful days. He stiffened his expression, snorted in mock anger, and declared, "You little rascals, I'll have you all married off next year!"

He Yihai and the others immediately suppressed their wicked grins, becoming models of solemnity—only He Yiming’s face continued to twitch uncontrollably.

He had turned fifteen after the New Year. For a common farmer’s son, this might indeed be the age for marriage. But within the He family, especially for a scion upon whom high hopes were pinned, from his grandfather He Wude down to his father He Quanming, marriage was absolutely out of the question for now.

A soft cough sounded from behind the group. Everyone instantly straightened their backs, and even He Yitian spoke respectfully, "Grandfather."

He Wude emerged from the rear of the crowd, a gentle smile gracing his face, his gaze toward He Yitian softening even further.

For an elder, to see his grandson marry and ensure the continuation of the family line was naturally a cause for immense joy.

"Quanyi, when we reach the Cheng residence, keep these few men in check. Do not bring shame upon the He family."

"Yes, Father." He Quanyi replied solemnly, "Rest assured, we guarantee that we will bring Yitian’s bride back to you."

According to local custom, the bridal retrieval procession was meant to be grand, but He Yitian’s grandfather and father could not attend personally. Thus, the task fell to the Third Uncle to lead, and with He Quanyi’s prestige and martial strength, fulfilling this role was more than adequate.

He Wude nodded with satisfaction, then suddenly waved his hand. "Yihai, Yixuan. According to the county regulations, if the bride’s family prides itself on martial arts, they will set up a martial platform. Only the groom's brothers must step forward, defeat the platform’s guardian from the bride's side, and only then can the woman be retrieved. Do you have confidence?"

He Yihai and He Yixuan immediately puffed out their chests, declaring with great spirit, "Grandfather, rest assured, we certainly will not disgrace Elder Brother!"

He Wude roared with laughter, his mirth brimming with indescribable pride.

Yihai and Yixuan’s strength had both reached the Sixth Layer, making them renowned among the younger generation in Taicang County. Although the Cheng family’s younger generation also boasted a few internal energy masters at the Sixth Layer, in several previous sparring sessions, these two had rarely been defeated, which accounted for their current absolute confidence.

The old master’s gaze flickered towards He Yiming, who stood quietly smiling. He hadn't mentioned this youngest grandson, the most formidable of all.

Yiming’s strength had reached the Eighth Layer more than half a year ago. Coupled with his Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting, he was not merely invincible among his peers, but also a figure counted among the elite of the second generation. If he were to unleash that single stunning saber strike from before, no one in all of Taicang County would be able to withstand it.

Therefore, for the marriage retrieval, his role was merely to add to the spectacle; there was absolutely no chance of him needing to fight.

After all, since the Cheng family was marrying into the He family this time, rather than arranging a formal martial contest, the designated defenders on the platform naturally wouldn't be overly strong. If even Yihai and Yixuan couldn't manage them, the shame would fall not only upon the He family but upon both the He and Cheng families.

Bidding farewell to the old master, He Quanyi took the lead, and the younger generation spurred their horses hard toward the county seat.

The He Family Manor was still quite a distance from the county town. Following the custom for marriage retrieval, they were scheduled to stay the night in their courtyard in the town, with the return to the main estate scheduled for the following day.

As for the sedan chairs and the like, He Quanming had long since prepared them in the county town; once the two parties met, they would proceed directly to the Cheng Residence to fetch the bride.

The group rode hard and fast, a whirlwind of movement. Besides the five direct male descendants of the He family, there were also several dozen meticulously selected, dexterous manor retainers. Although the peak strength among these retainers was only around the Third Layer, they were more than sufficient for organizing the family banquet and providing an imposing presence.

After an hour of galloping at full tilt, they arrived in the town.

He Quanming and his wife had made extensive preparations. Today was the day the eldest son and eldest grandson of the He Manor, the first of the third generation to marry, and no one dared to slack off.

For today's preparations, He Quanming and his wife had gone to great lengths, not only cleaning the town courtyard from top to bottom but also ensuring that festive characters and red blossoms were visible everywhere, making the entire compound flawlessly tidy.

The moment He Yitian and his group dismounted, He Quanming and the others rushed out to greet them. As they entered the courtyard, everyone noticed that the two adjacent large courtyards also rang out with sounds of celebration, and their decorations were in no way inferior to their own.

He Quanyi discreetly nudged his elder brother and remarked with dissatisfaction, "Second Brother, are those other two families also marrying today?"

In Taicang County, the He family’s status as one of the three great clans was not merely a title, especially in this remote region where martial prowess held far more sway than wealth or official mandates.

The union between the Cheng and He families was undeniably a major event in the entire county, yet they apparently had rivals competing for attention, and their momentum seemed no smaller than the He family’s. This naturally ignited a fire of irritation in the Third Master He’s belly. Although he wouldn't dare cause a disturbance on this joyous day lest he be ridiculed for lacking grace, he was determined to pay them an unscheduled, covert visit later to reclaim the honor lost today.

He Yiming, hearing his Third Uncle’s question, instantly grasped his intent. Though he vaguely felt such an action was improper, he offered no objection. Because he was certain that if the positions were reversed, the other party would do exactly the same.

Might makes right—this was the absolute truth in Taicang County.

He Quanming's expression momentarily shifted to one of slight awkwardness. He lowered his voice, "Third Brother, don't be rash; don't go causing trouble."

A sharp glint flashed in He Quanyi’s eyes as he pressed, his voice tight, "Second Brother, what is the background of those two families?"

He Quanming coughed lightly. "They belong to Nephew Yitian’s future in-laws."

He Quanyi started, then asked in surprise, "What did you say?"

"Those two courtyards were purchased by Yitian's father-in-law, Cheng Jiahui, and are included as part of Yanli's dowry. If you lose your temper and damage anything, be careful your Elder Brother settles the score with you," He Quanming said, unable to hide his annoyance.

He Quanyi finally understood, letting out two bitter laughs. No wonder the celebratory sounds from those two courtyards seemed even more vigorous than their own—they were welcoming a new son-in-law, and their future prospects now rested in the hands of this new son-in-law; naturally, they had to exert themselves with everything they had.

He sighed softly. "The Cheng family truly has a grand gesture," He Quanyi admitted sincerely.

He Quanming nodded slightly, feeling a touch of awe toward the Cheng family’s financial might. Although the He family’s martial power was formidable, their foundation simply couldn't compare to that of a century-old great clan.

After entering, the group quickly washed up.

The journey had turned their fine new clothes into travel-worn attire. Fortunately, He Quanming had made ample provisions, and everyone quickly tidied themselves up, dressed cleanly, and headed toward the Cheng Residence.

However, among the bridal retrieval party this time, there was an empty sedan chair, specifically prepared for the bride.

Furthermore, among the entire contingent, aside from the groom He Yitian, even the brothers He Quanming and He Quanyi were walking instead of riding horses.

The procession of nearly a hundred people, accompanied by loud gongs and drums, naturally drew countless onlookers.

He Yitian sat alone atop his magnificent steed. As the eldest son and grandson of the He family, though he felt nervous and apprehensive, a gentle smile played on his lips, and his eyes shone brilliantly, drawing gasps of admiration from the passersby.

The He family had prepared generously; candies and fruits scattered along the route elicited shrieks of delight from numerous children. Even some adults shamelessly scrambled to grab a handful before quickly covering their faces and walking away, prompting a chorus of playful scolding.

Their pace was unhurried, and congratulatory shouts were endless.

Finally, as they reached the Cheng Residence, an even louder barrage of firecrackers erupted.

At the gates of the Cheng Residence, Cheng Jiahui boomed with laughter, his face alight with satisfaction as he looked upon the handsome and imposing He Yitian on horseback.

Marrying two daughters to such a figure could certainly be considered enviable.

However, the thought was fleeting. He immediately recalled his eldest daughter, who had become a concubine to the Lin family of Linlang for the sake of the family's future. Though her husband doted on her, would this harmony last when she grew old and her beauty faded?

But this notion flashed through his mind only for an instant before he immediately plastered on a smile and went forward to greet them.

Ps: Oh, the strong recommendation slot opens this afternoon. This is the final recommendation before the book goes on sale, and it is the most crucial one. Following custom, there will be three chapters tomorrow, and I ask my brothers and sisters to support with recommendation votes next week, to see if Bai He can secure the number one spot on both charts—thank you... [bookid=1467227,bookname=《》]