RPS – Chapter 68 The Wedding

“We?” Li Feng turned his head to look at Li, surprise written all over his dark eyes. Hadn’t they already bowed to heaven and earth before he arrived? Why would Li want to do it again? Could it be… he knew that he was no longer the original Feng? Or did he simply want to properly hold a wedding ceremony? Of course, beyond his worry, there was also a faint sense of secret joy deep within his heart. Although Li and Feng had performed the traditional ceremony, that wasn’t truly him. The body hadn’t changed, but the soul—the most important part—was no longer the same. How could it be considered the same marriage?

“Yes, us! How about we do it together with Nuo and the others? I wronged you last time… we didn’t even have a proper ceremony…” Li looked at Li Feng with equal seriousness. During their migration, no one had the time or energy to hold any sort of proper ritual. It had been a simple affair with just a few people and the tribe leader presiding. Now was a perfect chance to do it right.

“This is allowed?” In Li Feng’s understanding, even though the ceremonies here were far simpler than modern ones, they were considered sacred. Wouldn’t it be improper to hold the ritual a second time? But… was it really allowed?

“Our previous ceremony was just a simple formality. Of course we can hold a grander one now!” Li saw the hesitation in Li Feng’s eyes and responded firmly and confidently.

Li Feng stared at Li for a while, then slowly broke into a smile—a pure, beautiful expression. In that moment, Li Feng felt maybe… just maybe… he could truly spend a lifetime with Li. Since heaven had brought him here, and now he had the chance to have a wedding ceremony again, wasn’t that a sign? A sign that this was a brand-new beginning between him and Li? That everything was real… and he could finally find his own happiness?

“Alright, let’s do it together!”

Bu and Nuo sighed beside them. These two were originally talking about their wedding, but now they had completely been ignored. The focus had shifted entirely to Li and Li Feng. Seriously! Had they forgotten that this was supposed to be their moment? They were supposed to be the main characters today! But Li Feng clearly couldn’t hear their complaints right now.

He didn’t even know how to describe his own emotions. He was happy—undeniably so—but also a little conflicted. He was getting married. And it was to another man. Although he’d already accepted that he was in a relationship with a man—and even had a child with him—it still felt different now. Over time, he had slowly come to terms with his feelings for Li. He had gradually opened his heart, accepted him, and when Li was injured, he’d realized just how important Li was to him. That man… he’d never forget him for the rest of his life. And hadn’t he promised himself that if Li woke up, he would agree to anything Li asked? That meant they would be together—forever.

He had already thought it all through. Since there was no way for him to return to his original world, and since he did have real feelings for Li, then why not just settle down and live life with him? But now that they were going to hold a second wedding ceremony, his heart was in a bit of chaos. It was both sweet and nerve-wracking. This ceremony would be a declaration to heaven and earth that they would be together forever—a wedding between two men!

“Whatever. We’re getting married, that’s it! It’s already come to this—we even have a child—so what’s the big deal about a wedding?” Li Feng stood up, brushing off his pants. What was there to worry about? They were both men, and Li wasn’t worried—so why should he be? There was nothing to be afraid of. He should be happy, actually, because this was their ceremony, not Feng and Li’s. This was Li and Li Feng’s special day.

Since he had thought it through and already agreed to it, now it was time to start preparing for the ceremony. He didn’t really know what the wedding customs here were like, but since he was getting married, then of course he wanted to make it beautiful. And besides, Nuo and Bu were getting married too, so they had to throw a unique and unforgettable wedding!

And so, without delay, Li Feng began the preparations. Of course, Nuo and the others were dragged into the planning as well. Mostly, it was Li Feng talking while everyone else listened, occasionally offering suggestions or ideas. After all, there were things Li Feng hadn’t considered, and since he’d never been married before, there was a lot he didn’t know. Although the wedding customs here weren’t as complex as modern ones, there were still many important steps. Li Feng was determined to throw a grand wedding—an unprecedented, one-of-a-kind celebration in this primitive society, a Li Feng-style wedding ceremony.

From the day they decided to get married, they chose the date for the ceremony: the tenth day after their decision. Li Feng didn’t know whether the day was auspicious or not, but that’s what they settled on. The tribe leader had already spread the word, and as for the rest of the tribe—well, the village wasn’t large to begin with, and since most people were idle at home during winter, word spread fast. After a long period of sorrow hanging over the tribe, they really needed a joyful occasion to lift their spirits.

And what better than a wedding to lift everyone’s mood? The people had nothing better to do anyway. A lively, festive celebration was just what they needed. What’s more, the sacred wedding rituals were always welcomed. Although Li and Feng didn’t have a formal ceremony the first time, the tribe was happy they were making it up now. Back then, everyone had been exhausted from the migration, food was scarce, and people were on edge, constantly watching for wild beasts. No one had the energy to celebrate.

But things were different now. Now, they had food, clothes, and shelter. In this cold and lonely winter, a bustling, cheerful gathering was the perfect way to liven up daily life!

Ten days—neither too long nor too short—passed quickly, and soon it was the day of the wedding.

That morning, Li Feng and the others got up early, including Mo, Lu, and the baby. Everyone was dressed in new clothes—well, they were still made of animal hides, but they’d been modified by Li Feng. Li wore a leopard-print hide coat. Originally, Li Feng had wanted to tailor it into a suit, but lacking the skills—and the proper fabric—he couldn’t make it look crisp like a real suit. Still, he had already cut the pieces, so he went ahead and sewed it in a suit-like style. It wasn’t elegant, but thanks to all his sewing practice lately, it turned out pretty well.

Unexpectedly, the leopard-print “suit” achieved a surprising effect. Though it wasn’t as sharp as a real suit, it looked formal yet relaxed. And paired with Li’s tall, slender figure, it was just as striking as the first time Li Feng had seen him wear that leopard-print vest. Li’s hair had also been styled using the comb Li Feng had made when bored. Although it had been hacked unevenly with a shell knife before, it now looked like purposefully styled layers—messy but fashionable. Combined with the leopard print, he looked incredibly sexy.

Li Feng was dressed similarly, but his hair was styled into an ancient look—tied up at the crown with two locks left at the temples and a thin layer of hair left at the back. Surprisingly, it gave him the look of a gentle scholar. Especially with the fox-fur scarf around his neck, he gave off a lazy nobility that stunned Li. The moment he was dressed, Li pulled him into a tight hug and gave him a long kiss, making Mo and Lu giggle behind their hands. Li Feng tried to kick him but missed. Hmph, it’s the wedding day, no point getting mad—Li Feng thought to himself, unaware that Li was secretly thinking: Tonight’s the bonding ritual. After the feast, that outfit’s coming off… piece by piece…

Li Feng had no idea what was running through Li’s mind. Right now, he was helping Mo and Lu fix their clothes. Since they’d dressed themselves, parts were twisted or crooked. As for the baby, of course Li Feng had dressed him earlier. The three children were all wearing matching outfits: deerskin boots, deerskin jackets, and a red fox-fur scarf around each neck. The fluffy scarves made them look especially lively and adorable.

“Let’s go!” Li Feng waved and led them out of the house. The wedding ceremony would be held in the tribal gathering square.

As soon as they stepped outside, they saw Bu and Nuo had also dressed up. Bu was also wearing leopard print—same style as Li’s. That had been decided back during the planning phase: Li Feng made Li’s, and Nuo made Bu’s. Bu’s build was similar to Li Feng’s—lean and long-legged, the ideal “nine-head” ratio—and looked just as good in the outfit. However, their temperaments were completely different, so the effect was naturally distinct. Though Bu didn’t speak much either, he lacked Li’s wildness but had a mature, silent charisma—manly and magnetic.

Nuo was dressed just like him, wearing gray-white wolf-skin knee-high boots and a leopard-print coat, with a white fox fur scarf wrapped around his neck. His already cute and round face looked even more adorable, making him appear a few years younger. Since he had his long hair combed just like Li Feng, he looked especially energetic.

Because they were all men and didn’t have any so-called “bride’s family,” and since they all lived together anyway, they simply set off for the plaza together. When the four adults and three children arrived, many people had already gathered in the plaza.

The weather today was wonderful. The sun had risen early, and there was no wind, so it didn’t feel cold even outdoors. As they arrived, many children from the tribe ran over, crowding around them and cheering loudly. After all, the four of them were dressed up in their “formal wear” today, and each looked especially handsome or cute, each with their own charm.

Li Feng took out the snacks he had prepared over the past few days to serve as wedding treats—various dried fruits he had saved up, plus some dried meat and meat nuggets he had made. After all, he was a food journalist and part-time magazine editor in his past life. These simpler recipes that didn’t require modern tools were no problem for him. And since he had all the raw ingredients at home, it worked out. Although there was no actual candy, these made decent substitutes. It was just a pity they didn’t have honey or anything sweet like that—otherwise, he could have made something even more festive. They hadn’t found any sugarcane or sugar beets around here, let alone malt syrup. The wheat was still growing in the fields. Li Feng had even thought about postponing the wedding to spring or summer—when there would be flowers to scatter around and make everything look more romantic. After all, what’s a wedding without flowers? But unfortunately, it was winter now, and not a single flower seemed to be blooming.

So, although Li Feng had grand ideas at first, he soon realized that many things were lacking. The fact that they could even pull off a wedding was already quite an achievement. Still, he did his best to make it as complete as possible. After all, this was marriage—it only happens once in a lifetime. Though their bodies had technically married once before, for Li Feng, this was still his first time!

After giving out all the snacks from the basket to the kids, Li Feng and the others walked to the tall stone platform in the center of the plaza. On it were already placed offerings of three sacrificial animals and six types of livestock, along with pine branches soaked in animal fat burning in pottery jars—this served as incense. As for wine, they simply used water as a substitute.

All of this had been arranged by Li Feng with help from the tribe. The livestock came from their own household, and after the offerings were made to the heavens, the meat would be shared with the tribe. This way, it would carry the wedding’s joyous aura and divine blessings. Once Li Feng explained this to the chief and the tribe, everyone thought it was a great idea. They were already very reverent toward the heavens, believing that everything—including their lives—was a gift from above. So it was only right to make offerings in gratitude, especially when they were already kneeling to heaven and earth during the ceremony. However, from what Li Feng had learned, the concept of deities here wasn’t very developed. People believed in gods, but there weren’t any concrete images or roles yet—no shamans or organized religion.

So, Li Feng felt a bit more at ease. He should be safe—no one would discover that he was a soul from another world. He was lucky that their culture hadn’t yet evolved enough for someone to identify him as an outsider. Of course, that assumed any future shamans had real supernatural abilities.

Li Feng had always been skeptical about ghosts and gods, but after his own experience, he had no choice but to believe. He now trusted in the will of heaven. Therefore, he approached this offering to heaven and earth with great sincerity—this was his big day, after all. Since heaven had brought him here, surely it would also bless his union with Li, and witness their ceremony!

As the sun climbed higher, more people arrived. Many had already started preparing food for the day, since everyone would be eating outside. Most brought their own meals or shared among groups. Each household contributed some food—there was no way Li Feng’s family alone could prepare enough for everyone.

Even though the kids had received snacks, none of them were willing to go off and play. They continued circling around Li Feng and the others, trailing behind them and curiously eyeing the altar piled high with sacrificial animals. But since their parents had already warned them not to get too close, they just watched from a distance, chattering away and asking Li Feng questions.

Before long, it was noon. The tribal chief and other elders had arrived, and as the sun reached its peak, the chief led the tribe in worshiping heaven and earth. They used this wedding as an opportunity to officially hold a ritual of thanks. After three sincere kneelings, they lit the pine branches and placed them into the pottery jars filled with soil. Then, all kinds of food were set on the altar. The stone platform was quite large—it wasn’t clear where they’d found such a massive slab of rock.

Then came the most sacred moment for Li Feng and the others. Li Feng had asked the chief to act as officiant, and had already gone over all the ceremony details with him. It was a blend of Eastern and Western traditions.

“Li, do you wish to be partners with Li Feng, to stay together through wealth and poverty, in health and in sickness, for all time?” the chief asked, standing on the platform and watching the two holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes.

“I do.” Li looked at Li Feng tenderly, his eyes full of affection. His normally stern face was especially gentle today, radiating warmth and love.

“Li Feng, do you wish to be partners with Li, to stay together through wealth and poverty, in health and in sickness, for all time?”

“I do.” Li Feng nodded at Li. He had simplified this vow himself. Though short, every word struck deep into his heart. Especially when Li firmly said “I do,” that moment made him feel like their hearts were completely in sync. No matter what happened, they would be together forever, never to part!

Right after Li Feng answered, Li leaned down and kissed him on the lips—softly, gently, with a heart full of devotion. It wasn’t lustful but rather sincere, an expression of deep emotion that reached the soul through their mingling lips.

Below, the tribespeople cheered loudly. Even the baby in Mo’s arms laughed happily, waving his hands and watching his two dads lost in a kiss on the stage. His red fox scarf made his chubby cheeks look extra rosy and cute. Mo glanced at Li Feng and couldn’t help planting a kiss on the baby’s tender cheek—so soft and fragrant! Uncle Li Feng said it was a milky smell—so nice!

No one on the platform or below noticed the actions of the two little ones. Only the baby giggled, drooling, while Mo laughed foolishly alongside him. Both wore deerskin outfits with scarves—looking utterly adorable!

Li and Li Feng were caught up in their kiss, and the chief didn’t interrupt, letting them express their emotions freely. But as the chief, he still had duties—there was another couple waiting! Just like with Li and Li Feng, he asked the same vows and received the same answers. They too sealed it with a kiss.

Finally, there was one more step—something Li and Bu had specifically asked the chief about. After both couples had kissed, especially as Li Feng and Nuo were still dazed from their kisses, they felt something slip onto their fingers—a ring. Li Feng looked down in surprise. It was a ring! Made from a beautiful shell they had picked up by the river, polished smooth. Who knew how long it had taken him to make it? When Li had asked about wedding customs, Li Feng casually mentioned that wearing a ring meant being bound to each other for life. He hadn’t thought much of it, but clearly, Li had taken it to heart. Looking at the simple, pure white ring on his finger—it was rough and not particularly pretty—but Li Feng loved it from the bottom of his heart.

Smiling, he took the other ring from Li’s hand and gently slid it onto his finger. Their hands clasped together, the rings reflecting each other in the light. No diamonds, no platinum shine, no golden luxury—yet so pure, so perfect for them, as if they were destined to be together. In fact, both rings had been carved from the same shell, and Li had gone through quite a few before finally getting two usable ones.

Both couples exchanged rings at the same time. Nuo was so moved, he clung to Bu and began crying and laughing at the same time. The tribe clapped along, finding the ceremony novel and romantic—so much better than just having the chief act as witness and bowing to the heavens twice. Many unmarried folks decided they would hold weddings like this in the future too!

That afternoon and evening was a time of celebration—bonfires, roasted meat, whole lambs, songs and dances. Even Li and Li Feng danced the tango together—of course, it was Li Feng leading. But Li was the one dancing the “female steps,” since he was shorter and naturally followed along. Li had a great sense of rhythm, and it had taken Li Feng quite some humming to get the drummers in the tribe to catch the beat—since he wasn’t exactly musically trained.

Joyful singing and dancing always passed quickly. But for Li and Bu, the day seemed to go on forever—they couldn’t wait to whisk their beloveds away to the wedding chambers. According to Li Feng, there was something about “wedding wine” and red dates in the bridal room too—he wasn’t sure how that worked?

Li said goodbye to the chief, then scooped up a flushed and full Li Feng in his arms and headed home. As for Baby, Mo, and Lu, they were handed off to Ka to take care of for the night. Anyway, Ju and Hao and the others liked playing with Mo and would all sleep together. All of Baby’s things were packed into Lu’s basket. Tonight, no one was allowed to disturb them!

Bu and Nuo also held hands and went home together to enjoy their special night. Nuo wasn’t shy like Li Feng—he was full of joy and affection the whole way back, showering Bu with kisses and hugs. They laughed and teased each other, chasing and running toward home, with Bu happily chasing behind…