Next, they located the Fire Enchanter near the abandoned stage in the west side of the Inner Courtyard.
The stage had been neglected for years, with tattered curtains hanging down and dust accumulating everywhere, on and off the platform.
He sat on a stool with a vacant stare, as if watching a grand opera being performed on the empty stage.
Zhang Yuanqing’s expression darkened. In his view, the Fire Enchanter was shrouded in a thick cloud of Yin Qi, his soul teetering on the brink of departure, close to death.
He hurried over and placed his hand on the Fire Enchanter’s shoulder, his eyes swirling with black as he continuously drew the Yin Qi into his palm, devouring and digesting it.
The Fire Enchanter shuddered, his hollow eyes regaining a trace of life as he instinctively cried out:
“So cold, so cold.”
While shivering, the Fire Warrior looked around and upon seeing Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi not far away, he exclaimed:
“Damn, where did you guys go? Everyone disappeared after leaving the Main Hall.”
“Everyone scattered.” Zhang Yuanqing waved his hand to cut off the question and asked:
“How did you end up here?”
“After we split up, I wandered here without realizing it and then heard someone singing opera.” As the Fire Enchanter recalled, he continued, “I followed the sound and saw a woman performing on the stage. I watched for a moment, and then, then I remember nothing.”
With that, he shivered again, eyeing the long-decrepit stage in the distance. Where did the singing woman come from? Filled with gratitude, he looked at the Night Wandering Deity beside him, “Was it you who saved me?”
“It’s quite obvious.” Zhang Yuanqing replied with a smile.
Whew. The Fire Enchanter, relieved, remembered his recent ordeal, feeling a wave of fear: “My Skills and Items were useless in front of the Vengeful Spirit. Brother Wang Tai, thank you.”
Although each Class has its unique features, the fact that a Vengeful Spirit could silently control a Fire Enchanter was likely due to a level suppression.
Creatures of the Supernatural Type are unpredictable and can be difficult to handle if one’s profession doesn’t match up. However, they also have a drawback; their methods of harming aren’t as direct.
Not as efficient as stabbing with a knife.
The three of them found a Golden Hairpin in a cobweb-filled makeup room by the stage.
Holding the hairpin, the Fire Enchanter felt reassured, having received his Dowry. He then asked:
“What about Xi Shi and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven?”
Xie Lingxi shook her head, “We haven’t found them yet. I hope they’re as lucky as you.”
The Fire Enchanter glanced at her, “Do you wish them dead?”
Xie Lingxi looked pitiful, her face full of grievance: “How could you say such a thing, brother? We’re companions~”
The Fire Enchanter couldn’t be bothered with her anymore. They had quarreled before, and he was quite annoyed by this young girl’s irritating demeanor, not taking much liking to her.
Of course, it was also because she wasn’t the type of woman the Fire Enchanter preferred. Otherwise, it might have been a different story.
Leaving the place, they moved to another compound. The residence was larger than anticipated, with the Backyard divided into several smaller courtyards, some serving as gardens, others with stages set up.
After a while, Zhang Yuanqing, who had the ability to see in the dark, spotted a figure staggering towards them in the distance.
The person was wearing loafers and tight pants, and was dressed as a spirited young man. It was indeed the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
“How did you guys get here?” he asked with surprise as he approached.
Zhang Yuanqing’s eyes were swirling with darkness as he scrutinized the newcomer, confirming his identity.
After the four of them met up, they shared their experiences. The Great Sage Equal to Heaven had wandered off and accidentally entered a courtyard with a house where candlelight was shining. When he pushed the door open to check, the house was empty, but on the bed, there was a neatly folded Wedding Robe.
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven guessed it was part of the Dowry, but he followed his heart’s will and silently withdrew.
He then ran into Zhang Yuanqing and the others.
The Fire Enchanter was stunned, “The most cowardly person turned out to be the safest?”
“What are you talking about? I’m cautious, not cowardly,” the Great Sage Equal to Heaven retorted defensively.
That made sense. Sometimes those who survive aren’t the smartest or the most capable, but rather the most cautious. Zhang Yuanqing interrupted their pointless argument, looking at the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and asking:
“Where is the Wedding Robe?”
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven gestured behind him.
Under his guidance, the group arrived at the courtyard and indeed saw a room lit by candlelight.
Seeing the fear in his teammates’ eyes, Zhang Yuanqing let out a sigh of resignation:
“I’ll retrieve it for you.”
This was the domain of the Night Wandering Deity.
He entered the house and as he crossed the threshold, the Grid Gate closed automatically behind him.
From outside, Xie Lingxi and the others saw the Grid Gate close, and in an instant, ‘Wang Tai’s figure disappeared. The candlelight inside the room was dim, failing to cast his shadow.
After an anxious few minutes, the Grid Gate was suddenly knocked open, and ‘Wang Tai’ emerged clutching the Wedding Robe, looking disheveled with his clothes torn and stained with blood.
“Great Sage, catch!”
Zhang Yuanqing tossed the Wedding Robe to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who caught it with delight, holding it tightly in his arms. He was about to ask what had happened inside the house, but Zhang Yuanqing said:
“Let’s go, and find Xi Shi.”
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, not wanting to press further, continued to explore the Inner Courtyard with his teammates.
The night was deep and without stars or moon, the only source of light came from the Red Lanterns hanging under the eaves, casting a crimson hue over this silent world.
Occasionally, a Yin Wind would blow, causing the lanterns to sway, adding to the terror.
“Come over here, I’m right here.”
Suddenly, a soft and seductive voice came from ahead.
Zhang Yuanqing and the others looked up to see Xi Shi standing under the corner lantern of the eaves, waving to everyone.
She stood there motionless as a Mud sculpture, her stiff waving and the smile on her face also rigid and eerie.
“Xi Shi!”
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, relieved to see her unharmed, was about to go over when the Fire Enchanter held him back.
At the same time, Zhang Yuanqing’s voice sounded in his ear: “Look at her shoes.”
Shoes? The Great Sage Equal to Heaven focused his gaze and his pupils slightly contracted.
She was wearing a pair of red embroidered shoes.
She was not Xi Shi!!
“Come on, come here,”
Xi Shi continued to wave, her smile rigid and strange.
“Ignore her and keep going!”
Zhang Yuanqing whispered.
Seeing the serious expression on the face of the Night Wandering Deity, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven quickly averted his gaze, feeling nervous and daring not to look any longer.
Continuing on for a short while, Zhang Yuanqing looked ahead and said:
“Do you guys remember when Xi Shi entered the house, she said she saw a woman standing under a Red Lantern?”
Hearing this, the Fire Enchanter couldn’t help but look back and vaguely saw the woman standing still, no longer beckoning, just silently watching them.
“That’s really freaking creepy,” the Fire Warrior spat.
Xie Lingxi, puzzled, asked, “Why would she change to look like Sister Xi Shi?”
Zhang Yuanqing looked ahead at a certain spot and sighed, “You’ll know if you go and see for yourselves.”
What did he mean? The three of them didn’t understand at first, but after walking a little further, they vaguely saw a figure hanging under the eaves of a house ahead.
“Sister Xi Shi?” Xie Lingxi exclaimed in shock.
It was indeed Xi Shi, she had been hanged under the eaves. Her beautiful face was distorted from suffocation, her eyes bulged with bloodshot veins, her complexion pale with a blue tinge, and her lips slightly protruded.
Her death was tragic.
Both the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and the Fire Enchanter were shocked and scared, not expecting her to have died so silently here.
Zhang Yuanqing, who had the ability to see in the dark, had seen it earlier and was past the stage of shock. He led the three with complex expressions closer to the body.
Xi Shi hung there quietly. Zhang Yuanqing touched her hand, which was ice cold, indicating she had been dead for over half an hour.
“It’s Sister Xi Shi’s Wedding Invitation.”
Xie Lingxi pointed to a red invitation lying at the foot of the body.
Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the Wedding Invitation but paid it no mind. Instead, his eyes darkened as he communicated with the residual Spirit Body inside Xi Shi.
He needed to verify whether Xi Shi had been killed by a Vengeful Spirit or by some other cause.
Suddenly, his forehead bulged, and memories that were not his own surged in.
He saw several fragments of Xi Shi’s past. She was a Level 2 Water Ghost, a spirit realm walker from Nanhang City in Tong Province, not an Official person but a member of a civilian organization.
In reality, her Class was a Nurse, and she maintained relationships with several men, including the head of her department, a wealthy businessman, and managers within the spirit realm organization.
She was a believer in not marrying and did not believe in love. To her, men were just resources.
She was a socialite who mixed quite well in society.
At the end of the memory, Zhang Yuanqing saw the figure of a Ghost Bride in a Bridal gown appear, and then the scene abruptly ended.
Was she killed by the Ghost Bride?! Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes in astonishment and felt a chill down his spine.
He thought to himself that it couldn’t be possible. Why would the Ghost Bride act prematurely? Wasn’t she waiting to Choose a Son-in-law?
If the Ghost Bride could act at any time, what would be the point of their current task?
Besides, if the Ghost Bride personally took action to kill, why only kill Xi Shi and not attack him and the others? Or, was it just that she hadn’t made her move yet?
At that moment, he heard Xie Lingxi and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven discussing:
“Why is her Gender crossed out?”
“I don’t know, maybe after death, it gets crossed out?”
Zhang Yuanqing was startled and immediately said, “Let me see it.”
Xie Lingxi handed over the Wedding Invitation.
Zhang Yuanqing took a focused look and saw that the “Gender” section of Xi Shi had been crossed out with thick ink.
With her bright eyes wide, Xie Lingxi asked, “Brother Wang Tai, what did you see in Sister Xi Shi’s Spirit Body?”
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven and the Fire Enchanter immediately turned their gazes to him.
“She was killed by the Ghost Bride!”
“What?!”
The three of them were horrified, looking around cautiously.
If the Ghost Bride were to strike, it’s feared no one present would survive. However, that shouldn’t be the case, even for an S-level task. High difficulty or not, there should still be a glimmer of hope for them.
“I have a thought, but the logic isn’t quite there,” Zhang Yuanqing mused, looking towards the alert Xie Lingxi like a deer. “May I see your Wedding Invitation?”
“Oh!”
She was quite cooperative, pulling out the Wedding Invitation tucked into her waistband.
Zhang Yuanqing took it, unfolded it, and his expression turned strange: “Gender: Male?”
The Fire Enchanter and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven peered over, and saw in the Gender section it was written “Male.”
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven lamented dramatically, “You look so delicate and pretty, who would’ve thought you’d be a guy?!”
“What are you talking about~” Xie Lingxi’s face turned red with embarrassment, explaining, “I thought that the Ghost Bride is looking for a groom, and the groom is definitely a man. If I put down that I’m a woman, then it wouldn’t fit the rules, right? Wouldn’t that mean immediate elimination?”
The Fire Enchanter and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven fell into thought.
Xie Lingxi’s Gender was written as male, then my guess was right. In the Old Version, women would pass directly, but in the new version, women are eliminated immediately, because this is an S-level spirit realm task. There’s no such thing as a free pass. Zhang Yuanqing’s speculation was confirmed.
Xi Shi was directly eliminated by the Ghost Bride, because she didn’t fit the Groom’s criteria.
He shared his reasoning, and after hearing it, Xie Lingxi said with a sad face:
“I was just guessing, I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t say anything. If I had known, I would have warned Sister Xi Shi.”
Whatever you say! The same thought emerged tacitly in the minds of the three men.
Now, only four members were left in the team. The Ghost Bride could still kill one more, but at most just one. Relieved at the thought, Zhang Yuanqing took Xi Shi’s body down, gently placed it on the ground, and looked around at the remaining three companions, saying:
“We don’t have much time left; we should find the bridal chamber now.”
Although he hadn’t been counting the time explicitly, he could roughly estimate that it had been almost an hour since they entered the house.
Xie Lingxi, the Fire Enchanter, and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven quickly put the incident with Xi Shi behind them, and braced themselves.
The four of them, each holding their Dowry, continued forward, deeper into the house, silently moving through different gardens, accompanied only by the Red Lanterns.
After wandering for a long time without finding the bridal chamber, they suddenly saw a courtyard ahead, with upturned eaves and windows adorned with Double Happiness Symbols, warm Candlelight shining through.
A crimson carpet was laid on the path leading to the main house from the courtyard.
“The bridal chamber appears once the time comes,” Zhang Yuanqing said softly to his tense teammates, “Let’s go.”
He originally wanted to crack a joke: Don’t be so nervous, the Ghost Bride might be an Elegant Lady with curves in all the right places.
But seeing the solemn expressions of his companions, as if heading to the gallows, Zhang Yuanqing thought better of it and dismissed the idea of lightening the mood.
Up until now, they still didn’t know how the Ghost Bride would Choose her Son-in-law, would it be one out of the four, or did she want them all?
Similarly, they didn’t know if they would be able to survive.
Entering the courtyard and walking across the red carpet, Zhang Yuanqing stopped in front of the door, took a deep breath, and pushed open the Grid Gate with force.
“Bang!” The two halves of the Grid Gate swung open, and Zhang Yuanqing stepped over the threshold, his muscles tensed as he scanned the layout of the room.
The entire room was decorated in festive red, with Double Happiness Symbols posted on the walls. There was a round table in the hall with two candlesticks on it, the half-arm-length red candles flickering. Underneath the candles were several dishes of celadon, containing items such as longan and peanuts.
On the east side was a large bed, the canopy and sheets were of a celebratory bright red, but there were no quilts.
The area beside the bed was empty, lacking the bride dressed in a Bridal Gown and covered with a Red Bridal Veil as imagined.
The Ghost Bride was not there. Zhang Yuanqing’s taut nerves gradually relaxed, and he let out a heavy sigh. Turning to speak with his teammates behind him, he twisted around only to find that he was the only one left in the bridal chamber.
The three teammates had disappeared again.
“Am I the only one who entered the bridal chamber?” Zhang Yuanqing suddenly felt a chill, then realized, muttering to himself, “The Ghost Bride really knows how to play her game, arranging a bridal chamber for each person.”
The situation fit his second earlier speculation: The four Dowries corresponded to four Grooms, and all others would perish.
“Now, just to wait for the bride to grace us with her presence! Just don’t know who she will choose.”
Zhang Yuanqing turned to close the door, silently Summoned Little Goof to perch on his head, and prepared for what was to come.
He patted the Infant Spirit’s head, looking around at the festive scene in the room, and couldn’t help but think of a joke he saw online, thinking to himself that having just gotten married, he now had a husband and a child; the Ghost Bride had reached the peak of life!
The Candlelight was brilliant, illuminating the room brightly. Zhang Yuanqing originally intended to use the burning of the candles to sense the passage of time, but the candles were strangely miraculous, showing no signs of burning down no matter how long they burned.
After an unknown amount of time, the room door was blown open with a “bang” by the Yin Wind, and the candles were instantly snuffed out, the cold wind howling in every corner of the bridal chamber.
The room plunged into darkness, and a shiver ran down Zhang Yuanqing’s spine. The Infant Spirit on his head trembled violently, succumbing to extreme fear as if facing the end of the world.
He stiffly turned his head to look towards the open door, into the pitch darkness outside. With his night vision, he could faintly make out a figure dressed in a Bridal Gown and covered with a Red Bridal Veil, stepping down the red carpet, walking towards the bridal chamber.
Next, they located the Fire Enchanter near the abandoned stage in the west side of the Inner Courtyard.
The stage had been neglected for years, with tattered curtains hanging down and dust accumulating everywhere, on and off the platform.
He sat on a stool with a vacant stare, as if watching a grand opera being performed on the empty stage.
Zhang Yuanqing’s expression darkened. In his view, the Fire Enchanter was shrouded in a thick cloud of Yin Qi, his soul teetering on the brink of departure, close to death.
He hurried over and placed his hand on the Fire Enchanter’s shoulder, his eyes swirling with black as he continuously drew the Yin Qi into his palm, devouring and digesting it.
The Fire Enchanter shuddered, his hollow eyes regaining a trace of life as he instinctively cried out:
“So cold, so cold.”
While shivering, the Fire Warrior looked around and upon seeing Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi not far away, he exclaimed:
“Damn, where did you guys go? Everyone disappeared after leaving the Main Hall.”
“Everyone scattered.” Zhang Yuanqing waved his hand to cut off the question and asked:
“How did you end up here?”
“After we split up, I wandered here without realizing it and then heard someone singing opera.” As the Fire Enchanter recalled, he continued, “I followed the sound and saw a woman performing on the stage. I watched for a moment, and then, then I remember nothing.”
With that, he shivered again, eyeing the long-decrepit stage in the distance. Where did the singing woman come from? Filled with gratitude, he looked at the Night Wandering Deity beside him, “Was it you who saved me?”
“It’s quite obvious.” Zhang Yuanqing replied with a smile.
Whew. The Fire Enchanter, relieved, remembered his recent ordeal, feeling a wave of fear: “My Skills and Items were useless in front of the Vengeful Spirit. Brother Wang Tai, thank you.”
Although each Class has its unique features, the fact that a Vengeful Spirit could silently control a Fire Enchanter was likely due to a level suppression.
Creatures of the Supernatural Type are unpredictable and can be difficult to handle if one’s profession doesn’t match up. However, they also have a drawback; their methods of harming aren’t as direct.
Not as efficient as stabbing with a knife.
The three of them found a Golden Hairpin in a cobweb-filled makeup room by the stage.
Holding the hairpin, the Fire Enchanter felt reassured, having received his Dowry. He then asked:
“What about Xi Shi and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven?”
Xie Lingxi shook her head, “We haven’t found them yet. I hope they’re as lucky as you.”
The Fire Enchanter glanced at her, “Do you wish them dead?”
Xie Lingxi looked pitiful, her face full of grievance: “How could you say such a thing, brother? We’re companions~”
The Fire Enchanter couldn’t be bothered with her anymore. They had quarreled before, and he was quite annoyed by this young girl’s irritating demeanor, not taking much liking to her.
Of course, it was also because she wasn’t the type of woman the Fire Enchanter preferred. Otherwise, it might have been a different story.
Leaving the place, they moved to another compound. The residence was larger than anticipated, with the Backyard divided into several smaller courtyards, some serving as gardens, others with stages set up.
After a while, Zhang Yuanqing, who had the ability to see in the dark, spotted a figure staggering towards them in the distance.
The person was wearing loafers and tight pants, and was dressed as a spirited young man. It was indeed the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
“How did you guys get here?” he asked with surprise as he approached.
Zhang Yuanqing’s eyes were swirling with darkness as he scrutinized the newcomer, confirming his identity.
After the four of them met up, they shared their experiences. The Great Sage Equal to Heaven had wandered off and accidentally entered a courtyard with a house where candlelight was shining. When he pushed the door open to check, the house was empty, but on the bed, there was a neatly folded Wedding Robe.
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven guessed it was part of the Dowry, but he followed his heart’s will and silently withdrew.
He then ran into Zhang Yuanqing and the others.
The Fire Enchanter was stunned, “The most cowardly person turned out to be the safest?”
“What are you talking about? I’m cautious, not cowardly,” the Great Sage Equal to Heaven retorted defensively.
That made sense. Sometimes those who survive aren’t the smartest or the most capable, but rather the most cautious. Zhang Yuanqing interrupted their pointless argument, looking at the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and asking:
“Where is the Wedding Robe?”
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven gestured behind him.
Under his guidance, the group arrived at the courtyard and indeed saw a room lit by candlelight.
Seeing the fear in his teammates’ eyes, Zhang Yuanqing let out a sigh of resignation:
“I’ll retrieve it for you.”
This was the domain of the Night Wandering Deity.
He entered the house and as he crossed the threshold, the Grid Gate closed automatically behind him.
From outside, Xie Lingxi and the others saw the Grid Gate close, and in an instant, ‘Wang Tai’s figure disappeared. The candlelight inside the room was dim, failing to cast his shadow.
After an anxious few minutes, the Grid Gate was suddenly knocked open, and ‘Wang Tai’ emerged clutching the Wedding Robe, looking disheveled with his clothes torn and stained with blood.
“Great Sage, catch!”
Zhang Yuanqing tossed the Wedding Robe to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who caught it with delight, holding it tightly in his arms. He was about to ask what had happened inside the house, but Zhang Yuanqing said:
“Let’s go, and find Xi Shi.”
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, not wanting to press further, continued to explore the Inner Courtyard with his teammates.
The night was deep and without stars or moon, the only source of light came from the Red Lanterns hanging under the eaves, casting a crimson hue over this silent world.
Occasionally, a Yin Wind would blow, causing the lanterns to sway, adding to the terror.
“Come over here, I’m right here.”
Suddenly, a soft and seductive voice came from ahead.
Zhang Yuanqing and the others looked up to see Xi Shi standing under the corner lantern of the eaves, waving to everyone.
She stood there motionless as a Mud sculpture, her stiff waving and the smile on her face also rigid and eerie.
“Xi Shi!”
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, relieved to see her unharmed, was about to go over when the Fire Enchanter held him back.
At the same time, Zhang Yuanqing’s voice sounded in his ear: “Look at her shoes.”
Shoes? The Great Sage Equal to Heaven focused his gaze and his pupils slightly contracted.
She was wearing a pair of red embroidered shoes.
She was not Xi Shi!!
“Come on, come here,”
Xi Shi continued to wave, her smile rigid and strange.
“Ignore her and keep going!”
Zhang Yuanqing whispered.
Seeing the serious expression on the face of the Night Wandering Deity, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven quickly averted his gaze, feeling nervous and daring not to look any longer.
Continuing on for a short while, Zhang Yuanqing looked ahead and said:
“Do you guys remember when Xi Shi entered the house, she said she saw a woman standing under a Red Lantern?”
Hearing this, the Fire Enchanter couldn’t help but look back and vaguely saw the woman standing still, no longer beckoning, just silently watching them.
“That’s really freaking creepy,” the Fire Warrior spat.
Xie Lingxi, puzzled, asked, “Why would she change to look like Sister Xi Shi?”
Zhang Yuanqing looked ahead at a certain spot and sighed, “You’ll know if you go and see for yourselves.”
What did he mean? The three of them didn’t understand at first, but after walking a little further, they vaguely saw a figure hanging under the eaves of a house ahead.
“Sister Xi Shi?” Xie Lingxi exclaimed in shock.
It was indeed Xi Shi, she had been hanged under the eaves. Her beautiful face was distorted from suffocation, her eyes bulged with bloodshot veins, her complexion pale with a blue tinge, and her lips slightly protruded.
Her death was tragic.
Both the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and the Fire Enchanter were shocked and scared, not expecting her to have died so silently here.
Zhang Yuanqing, who had the ability to see in the dark, had seen it earlier and was past the stage of shock. He led the three with complex expressions closer to the body.
Xi Shi hung there quietly. Zhang Yuanqing touched her hand, which was ice cold, indicating she had been dead for over half an hour.
“It’s Sister Xi Shi’s Wedding Invitation.”
Xie Lingxi pointed to a red invitation lying at the foot of the body.
Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the Wedding Invitation but paid it no mind. Instead, his eyes darkened as he communicated with the residual Spirit Body inside Xi Shi.
He needed to verify whether Xi Shi had been killed by a Vengeful Spirit or by some other cause.
Suddenly, his forehead bulged, and memories that were not his own surged in.
He saw several fragments of Xi Shi’s past. She was a Level 2 Water Ghost, a spirit realm walker from Nanhang City in Tong Province, not an Official person but a member of a civilian organization.
In reality, her Class was a Nurse, and she maintained relationships with several men, including the head of her department, a wealthy businessman, and managers within the spirit realm organization.
She was a believer in not marrying and did not believe in love. To her, men were just resources.
She was a socialite who mixed quite well in society.
At the end of the memory, Zhang Yuanqing saw the figure of a Ghost Bride in a Bridal gown appear, and then the scene abruptly ended.
Was she killed by the Ghost Bride?! Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes in astonishment and felt a chill down his spine.
He thought to himself that it couldn’t be possible. Why would the Ghost Bride act prematurely? Wasn’t she waiting to Choose a Son-in-law?
If the Ghost Bride could act at any time, what would be the point of their current task?
Besides, if the Ghost Bride personally took action to kill, why only kill Xi Shi and not attack him and the others? Or, was it just that she hadn’t made her move yet?
At that moment, he heard Xie Lingxi and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven discussing:
“Why is her Gender crossed out?”
“I don’t know, maybe after death, it gets crossed out?”
Zhang Yuanqing was startled and immediately said, “Let me see it.”
Xie Lingxi handed over the Wedding Invitation.
Zhang Yuanqing took a focused look and saw that the “Gender” section of Xi Shi had been crossed out with thick ink.
With her bright eyes wide, Xie Lingxi asked, “Brother Wang Tai, what did you see in Sister Xi Shi’s Spirit Body?”
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven and the Fire Enchanter immediately turned their gazes to him.
“She was killed by the Ghost Bride!”
“What?!”
The three of them were horrified, looking around cautiously.
If the Ghost Bride were to strike, it’s feared no one present would survive. However, that shouldn’t be the case, even for an S-level task. High difficulty or not, there should still be a glimmer of hope for them.
“I have a thought, but the logic isn’t quite there,” Zhang Yuanqing mused, looking towards the alert Xie Lingxi like a deer. “May I see your Wedding Invitation?”
“Oh!”
She was quite cooperative, pulling out the Wedding Invitation tucked into her waistband.
Zhang Yuanqing took it, unfolded it, and his expression turned strange: “Gender: Male?”
The Fire Enchanter and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven peered over, and saw in the Gender section it was written “Male.”
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven lamented dramatically, “You look so delicate and pretty, who would’ve thought you’d be a guy?!”
“What are you talking about~” Xie Lingxi’s face turned red with embarrassment, explaining, “I thought that the Ghost Bride is looking for a groom, and the groom is definitely a man. If I put down that I’m a woman, then it wouldn’t fit the rules, right? Wouldn’t that mean immediate elimination?”
The Fire Enchanter and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven fell into thought.
Xie Lingxi’s Gender was written as male, then my guess was right. In the Old Version, women would pass directly, but in the new version, women are eliminated immediately, because this is an S-level spirit realm task. There’s no such thing as a free pass. Zhang Yuanqing’s speculation was confirmed.
Xi Shi was directly eliminated by the Ghost Bride, because she didn’t fit the Groom’s criteria.
He shared his reasoning, and after hearing it, Xie Lingxi said with a sad face:
“I was just guessing, I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t say anything. If I had known, I would have warned Sister Xi Shi.”
Whatever you say! The same thought emerged tacitly in the minds of the three men.
Now, only four members were left in the team. The Ghost Bride could still kill one more, but at most just one. Relieved at the thought, Zhang Yuanqing took Xi Shi’s body down, gently placed it on the ground, and looked around at the remaining three companions, saying:
“We don’t have much time left; we should find the bridal chamber now.”
Although he hadn’t been counting the time explicitly, he could roughly estimate that it had been almost an hour since they entered the house.
Xie Lingxi, the Fire Enchanter, and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven quickly put the incident with Xi Shi behind them, and braced themselves.
The four of them, each holding their Dowry, continued forward, deeper into the house, silently moving through different gardens, accompanied only by the Red Lanterns.
After wandering for a long time without finding the bridal chamber, they suddenly saw a courtyard ahead, with upturned eaves and windows adorned with Double Happiness Symbols, warm Candlelight shining through.
A crimson carpet was laid on the path leading to the main house from the courtyard.
“The bridal chamber appears once the time comes,” Zhang Yuanqing said softly to his tense teammates, “Let’s go.”
He originally wanted to crack a joke: Don’t be so nervous, the Ghost Bride might be an Elegant Lady with curves in all the right places.
But seeing the solemn expressions of his companions, as if heading to the gallows, Zhang Yuanqing thought better of it and dismissed the idea of lightening the mood.
Up until now, they still didn’t know how the Ghost Bride would Choose her Son-in-law, would it be one out of the four, or did she want them all?
Similarly, they didn’t know if they would be able to survive.
Entering the courtyard and walking across the red carpet, Zhang Yuanqing stopped in front of the door, took a deep breath, and pushed open the Grid Gate with force.
“Bang!” The two halves of the Grid Gate swung open, and Zhang Yuanqing stepped over the threshold, his muscles tensed as he scanned the layout of the room.
The entire room was decorated in festive red, with Double Happiness Symbols posted on the walls. There was a round table in the hall with two candlesticks on it, the half-arm-length red candles flickering. Underneath the candles were several dishes of celadon, containing items such as longan and peanuts.
On the east side was a large bed, the canopy and sheets were of a celebratory bright red, but there were no quilts.
The area beside the bed was empty, lacking the bride dressed in a Bridal Gown and covered with a Red Bridal Veil as imagined.
The Ghost Bride was not there. Zhang Yuanqing’s taut nerves gradually relaxed, and he let out a heavy sigh. Turning to speak with his teammates behind him, he twisted around only to find that he was the only one left in the bridal chamber.
The three teammates had disappeared again.
“Am I the only one who entered the bridal chamber?” Zhang Yuanqing suddenly felt a chill, then realized, muttering to himself, “The Ghost Bride really knows how to play her game, arranging a bridal chamber for each person.”
The situation fit his second earlier speculation: The four Dowries corresponded to four Grooms, and all others would perish.
“Now, just to wait for the bride to grace us with her presence! Just don’t know who she will choose.”
Zhang Yuanqing turned to close the door, silently Summoned Little Goof to perch on his head, and prepared for what was to come.
He patted the Infant Spirit’s head, looking around at the festive scene in the room, and couldn’t help but think of a joke he saw online, thinking to himself that having just gotten married, he now had a husband and a child; the Ghost Bride had reached the peak of life!
The Candlelight was brilliant, illuminating the room brightly. Zhang Yuanqing originally intended to use the burning of the candles to sense the passage of time, but the candles were strangely miraculous, showing no signs of burning down no matter how long they burned.
After an unknown amount of time, the room door was blown open with a “bang” by the Yin Wind, and the candles were instantly snuffed out, the cold wind howling in every corner of the bridal chamber.
The room plunged into darkness, and a shiver ran down Zhang Yuanqing’s spine. The Infant Spirit on his head trembled violently, succumbing to extreme fear as if facing the end of the world.
He stiffly turned his head to look towards the open door, into the pitch darkness outside. With his night vision, he could faintly make out a figure dressed in a Bridal Gown and covered with a Red Bridal Veil, stepping down the red carpet, walking towards the bridal chamber.
