The zombie loved the stolen harp, but unfortunately, apart from the tunnel, he had never had the opportunity to go on a music tour. All the waiting was worth it. Although he was not very smart, he knew that today was a big event and he could perform on stage.
Steward Li knocked on the door again. This time he stood outside the room and did not leave. "Sir, there is one more thing you need to prepare."
Wen Shi glanced at Youshi, and without him having to explain much, Youshi hid in the closet with the zither in his arms.
After the door opened, a mixture of fragrant and fishy smells of raindrops drifted in. Manager Li was holding a tray. The bright red veil was so thick that it seemed to be dripping with blood. A copper coin was hung on each corner of the veil. The ancient coins were originally used to ward off evil spirits. However, this coin was rusty and there was yellow mud stuck in the lines, as if it had been unearthed not long ago.
Wen Shi looked at the stooped Li Guanshi in front of him and raised his eyebrows: "Isn't this thing for the bride?"
Steward Li responded fluently, "The master has lost his beloved daughter. To him, you are a part of his daughter. By putting on this veil today, you are both marrying and taking her in."
Wen Shi really wanted to lift up the skulls of this family and see what they were thinking.
The housekeeper glanced around the room and asked, "Where's the child who came with you?"
Wen Shi didn't know if the tea party was over yet. He was about to make an excuse by saying he had been playing around and didn't know where to go when suddenly an empty box in the room opened from the inside, revealing half of a child's overly pale face. "Hide and seek, want to play?"
The program team did not reveal the cause of death of the woman in the red coat, as no one would believe it even if they did. The host simply said that she had encountered something strange in the mountains and that the woman in the red coat was in great danger.
If it were any other time, the Red Coat Woman and her family would definitely investigate everything. But now, the ghost gates are almost open. Every year at this time, all kinds of strange things happen frequently, and if you are not careful, you will offend some evil spirit. The people in the old house subconsciously thought that the Red Coat Woman had bumped into something she shouldn't have bumped into, and that's why she suffered such a misfortune.
"Young Master will be a member of our family from now on." Old Li said with a smile, "Let's go together. It's time."
Under Lao Li's motionless gaze, Wen Shi sneered, pulled the veil from the plate and casually put it on his head. Almost at the same time, the system prompt sounded -
[Side quest 1: Ghost marriage.]
In a blind date show, you who have been single for a long time finally succeeded in holding hands with someone. However, things happen unexpectedly, and the unlucky girl stayed on Nanshan Road forever. Fortunately, her family is understanding and willing to rekindle your relationship.
This is a special wedding, and the process for this important occasion must not go wrong! Please follow these three points:
1. Worship Heaven and Earth. Always remember the gift from the elders and do not refuse it.
1. Respect guests from all directions. The left hand is the sacrificial hand, so do not hold the cup with the left hand.
3. Entering the bridal chamber. "Three days of no distinction between young and old" is a common practice in Fengguan Village. No matter what happens during the bridal chamber, you must not get angry. Remember, smiling is important. Amidst the joyful atmosphere, please remember the time; you must successfully enter the bridal chamber before midnight.
The wedding is almost here, go enjoy this unprecedented and unique ceremony!
Mission Reward: A Fengguan Village Calendar.]
In order to make it easier to see the road, Wen Shi covered her head with a veil that was shorter in the front and longer in the back.
Seeing this, Ah Sang took his hand and led the way. The wishing bottle hanging from his neck swayed slightly as he moved. The rainy day lacked sunlight, and the eyes within the bottle seemed to rob the room of the last shred of light, making it even darker. Everywhere was a damn red, a swirl of red stimulating the eerie eyes within. Thunder rumbled in the distant sky, lightning illuminating the small room. Beneath the red veil, the loud noise made Wen Shi's long eyelashes tremble slightly. His eyebrows were picturesque, but the corners of his mouth curled up slightly amidst the lightning and thunder.
"Rainy days are perfect for exterminating families."
The silent murmurs that one mutters to oneself should have been unknown to anyone, but now they all fall into the eyes of the wishing bottle.
The anger in his eyes gradually subsided, and someone outside shouted at the top of his voice: "Welcome—"
Rows of servants stood in the rain, each leaving an equal amount of space between them. The protagonist of the wedding finally appeared. When Wen Shi crossed the threshold and took his first step, everyone tilted their heads, their pale faces smiling in unison. A chilly breeze blew, lifting a corner of the fluttering veil. Wen Shi could clearly see the scene around him. All the servants were dressed festively, but too formally, as if they were the ones getting married today.
Manager Li stood in front, his aging face painted with rouge and powder, as if he was also one of the grooms, waiting for the bride to approach.
The veil fell again, Wen Shi walked straight forward, passed through the door and entered another courtyard.
The moment he appeared, four people carried the coffin at the same time. There were too many incense sticks burning on the ground, and countless wisps of green smoke intertwined, creating a false illusion of smoke like lotus.
The coffin bearers waited until Wen Shi came close and was level with the coffin before they began to move forward.
The coffin was lifted very high, as if it was level with Wen Shi's shoulders. When passing through the last door, Wen Shi adjusted his sleeves and threw off his overly long wedding gown, his expression cold.
"The bride and groom are here!"
The guests looked towards the door and saw a young man wearing an incongruous red veil appearing amidst the beating of gongs and drums. Steward Li reminded them, "You have to carry the coffin in."
The white hands rested on the edge of the coffin, contrasting sharply with the dark wood.
Wen Shi walked all the way to the main hall and finally met the father of the woman in the red coat through a layer of red gauze.
The real owner of the old house had gray hair on his temples, looked energetic, and had a pair of bright eyes that seemed to be glued to Wen Shi.
"Bow to Heaven and Earth, and our parents—" the best man shouted.
Fengguan Village is different from the outside world. People in it bow to heaven, earth and parents.
Wen Shi perfunctorily bowed to the old man, muttering to himself, "Don't be angry, don't be angry, it's all money, money for the funeral..."
The mumbling appearance pleases the eyes in the wishing bottle.
The old man handed Wen Shi a cup of tea after he bowed.
Ever since entering Fengguan Village, Wen Shi has been avoiding anything with soups and water. This tea gives off a strange fragrance, and it's obvious that it's not a good thing.
He was covered with a veil, so even if he didn't drink and pretended to drink, he wouldn't be discovered. Considering that the task required him to receive a gift from an elder, he didn't dare to refuse. Wen Shi hesitated for a second, then raised his head and drank it all in one gulp.
Only then did a hint of satisfaction flash across the old man's face.
"A toast to the guests—"
There was no wine or people sitting on the table in front. The best man was walking behind Wen Shi with a pot of wine in his hand.
Wen Shi did not ignore the empty table and stopped in front of the main seat.
You shouldn't hold the cup with your left hand, but he chose to do so. The front row usually holds relatives, but the guests eating the rice mixed with incense ash are definitely not human. Holding the cup with your left hand represents respect for the deceased, and these few empty tables just met the need.
The best man saw him stop and then poured a glass of wine for each empty seat.
When clinking glasses, Wen Shi deliberately lowered his glass by one level to each position as a sign of respect.
This scene was seen by all the players. Yan Yan looked at the other players who were taking note of every detail and sneered, "So, what's the point of putting up a memorial archway? Fortunately, Pei Wenwei went up first."
If it were them, it would probably be difficult for them to consider it so carefully.
"Husband and wife bow to each other!"
Without waiting for Wen Shi to offer his respects to the villagers and other guests, the servants picked up their knives to kill chickens and geese. The coffin bearers changed the direction of the coffin to face Wen Shi, who bowed again.
The best man's mouth opened a little: "Enter the bridal chamber——"
The wind made the wooden door creak and the red lanterns suddenly began to shake violently. Except for the players, everyone present knew that the most lively part had begun: the bridal chamber prank.
Every visiting villager stood up and surrounded Wen Shi. A ceremonial procession, accompanied by drums and gongs, entered. Lion dancers and paper money scatterers happily ran back inside, continuing their singing and dancing. Amidst the singing and dancing, the paper coverings of the red lanterns gradually melted, the flames blazing fiercely. The lion dancers dropped their lion heads and began to play with fire. Flames rippled through their bodies, yet they remained unscathed. Sparks flew everywhere, inevitably catching Wen Shi.
In an instant, his shoulder caught fire. Although Wen Shi put out the fire immediately, his shoulder was directly burnt and the pain did not subside immediately after taking the medicine.
There were laughter and joy all around, and the villagers' coffin-like faces finally showed human expressions, clapping excitedly. A group of demons and monsters shook their shoulders and kicked their legs in a strange dance amid the mottled sparks:
"Teasing the groom, teasing the bride, and not letting the groom enter the bridal chamber—"
The cameraman stood on a chair, unwilling to miss any embarrassing moment of Wen Shi.
The host introduced the couple enthusiastically: "Dear audience members, let's shout together, for three days, no one will be separated by age, and newlyweds should laugh instead of cry...hahahahaha..."
He himself was laughing so hard that he was shaking all over.
Sitting on the high seat, the old man watched the noisy scene with a smile. The whole wedding was filled with smoke. He clapped his hands, not knowing who he was congratulating.
The paired guests were moved to tears. Some leaned on the players' shoulders, while others took the players' hands and said similar words: "We will definitely have such a grand wedding in the future."
The player shuddered.
Zhou Lulu suddenly said, "There's something wrong with the tea."
After drinking that cup of tea, Pei Wenwei felt like a fragile paper shell, ignited at the slightest touch. Surrounded by a group of people playing with fire, if he continued like this, he would be burned to ashes sooner or later.
Zhou Lulu frowned, unable to think of a way out. She wasn't the only one, and the other players were racking their brains, wondering if they would be the next person forced into a ghost marriage.
Ji Yuanzhi was just considering whether to use his magic to get his son off his hands when he heard a low, unfocused voice break through the annoying noise: "That's it?"
Wen Shi had tolerated them for a long time. If it weren't for the need to complete the first two mandatory processes, he would not have waited so long.
Sensing a hint of annoyance in his words, the villagers who were making a fuss in the bridal chamber became even more excited. They held hands and circled around him. The lion dancers who were playing with fire made the flames spray higher and wider.
Amidst the clamor, Wen Shi took off her red veil, looked at the group of demons and monsters, and said coldly, "Play some music."
The suona player thought he was talking to himself and wanted to blow into Wen Shi's two ears.
These people surrounded Wen Shi with his back to the door. A tall and thin figure with a stiff body and strange behavior appeared silently at the door. At Wen Shi's command, the zombie's long and thin blue nails began to pluck the strings.
A melody thousands of times more unpleasant than the cry of a crow sounded, and all the guests suddenly heard as if there were ten thousand carpenters sawing in their ears. Covering their ears could not stop the impact of the sound waves. Every note was a heavy punch to the soul!
The banquet included soup made from corpse oil and pieces of meat infested with maggots, but at this moment, compared with the sound of the piano, they could all be called the ultimate delicacy.
Ah Sang cried and tried to bury his head in the bowl. The eyes in the wishing bottle lost focus for the first time, as if the piano music had materialized to a degree that was unbearable to watch.
"Your warrior is using the Harp."
The system prompt sound was three seconds late.
Wen Shi closed his eyes, suppressed the urge to vomit, and activated [One Sword to Alleviate All Evil].
"Since this is your first time using this skill, the [Peerless Dancer] effect is activated simultaneously."
The noise caused all the guests to move slowly and their reaction abilities were greatly reduced, so no one noticed that the newlyweds, dressed in bright red wedding gowns, had a long green wooden sword in their hands.
The host was the first to notice something was wrong. Why did he pull out a weapon out of nowhere?
The staff, seemingly protected by the game's will, unconsciously retreated. The next moment, they witnessed the most shocking scene of their lives: the darting flames coalesced into balls of fire amidst the sword's gleam. It wasn't Wen Shi dancing, but the sword itself. The sword itself became the core of the flames, soaring through the air like a nimble dragon, weaving through the bodies of the villagers. The black shrouds ignited with a blazing flame. Wen Shi stood at the center, his skin appearing even whiter. A crimson glint etched his eyes, his wide sleeves billowing in the wind.
The sword dances and the man stands, so beautiful that he can captivate the whole city.
The red light was also imprinted on the bottom of the eyes of the wishing bottle. The outline that should have been blurred in the firelight was seen extremely clearly, and its eyes outlined the lines of the young man's waist inch by inch.
The monster villagers screamed frantically in the firelight: "Help, help!"
When the fire burned Wen Shi's shoulders, they danced with joy, but when it was their turn, they could only curse in pain.
Seeing the sword clanging wildly, the old man in the red coat was so scared that he almost fell off his chair.
All the players were stunned. Only Ji Yuanzhi held up the frame and said, "Baby."
For some reason, the female guest next to him was frightened by his shouting.
"How can you see the dragon dance clearly from such a distance?" Ji Yuanzhi smiled, grabbed her wrist and rushed into the fire without warning.
Judging from Wen Shi's current expression, he is still rational. It would be better to burn more than just one.
"Ahhhhh——" The paired guests were frightened.
Wen Shi didn't mind helping Ji Yuanzhi take down one of his paired guests. After all, these paired guests, whether human or ghost, delighted in slaughtering players. Unfortunately, in her current state, the female guest barely counted as a human, and the game wouldn't allow her to be killed. Aoki Ken simply walked past her knee, injuring her leg and causing her to fall to the ground, weeping.
Ji Yuanzhi half-knelt beside her and gently wiped away the cold tears on the girl's cheeks: "Don't cry, dear, even if you are disabled, I will not abandon you."
The sword energy raged, and the entire Fengguan Village shook. Farther away, the coffins in the cemetery were shaking violently back and forth, and the corpses inside were almost shaken out.
One by one, the skeletons crawled up in a panic, with only two holed eye sockets left staring at the green mountains in the distance to the south.
Damn, is there going to be another landslide?
The only one who remained unmoved from beginning to end was the best man.
The bodies of the monster villagers were roasted and eventually beheaded by Qing Mujian. With a gurgling sound, their heads rolled to the ground like balls. Qing Mujian danced to several empty tables in the front row and stabbed at every empty seat where a wine glass was placed.
Screams echoed in the air, and the smoke vanished, leaving behind an unwilling rebuke:
"Unfilial descendants, even after death they still want to betray their ancestors—"
The Qingmu sword moved around and returned to Wen Shi's hand.
Steward Li and his servants were terrified and scrambled on the ground. Their survival was the will of the game. Some NPCs in a dungeon could be killed violently, while others could only be killed through rules or other means.
Wen Shi did not forget his mission, which was to enter the bridal chamber before midnight. With the tip of his sword against the ground, Manager Li, who was lying like a dog, raised his head tremblingly.
"Which one is the wedding room?"
Steward Li burst into tears: "The best man, only the best man knows."
He doesn't look like he's lying.
Wen Shi raised his eyes coldly and looked at the best man who was still smiling: "Lead the way."
A Sang wanted to follow, but the best man raised his hand to stop him.
Wen Shi nodded to A Sang, indicating that he could go. He didn't know if bringing the child into the bridal chamber would violate any rules.
He was forced to get a little wet in the rain before, which was one of the reasons why Wen Shi was easily ignited. Now that the wedding farce was coming to an end, he did not hesitate to open the big black umbrella that he had snatched from the old lady.
Before leaving, Wen Shi looked at Yan Yan and said, "Be prepared." He mouthed the last few words: You're next.
In terms of cunning, no one was better at exploiting the rules than Wen Shi, so it wasn't difficult to trick a player into death. However, it wasn't yet time for the group game, and besides... Wen Shi didn't mind giving the other player one last taste of the fear only a living being could experience.
Yan Yan tried his best to suppress the trembling in his voice: "Why are you so proud? We don't even know who will die first."
The strange attitude of the best man indicates that there are still difficulties to overcome in the ghost marriage.
At this point, Yan Yan had no way out and even took the initiative to move closer to the camera lens, hoping to further create highlights for the audience.
After leaving the house, the best man walked in front, and Wen Shi strolled in the rain with an umbrella. He rarely looked at the green scenery of the corridor with appreciation. Now that he was married, he would be the master of his own house.
The best man turned into the rain corridor, and Wen Shi's interest in enjoying the scenery gradually faded. He had been walking along this long path for nearly ten minutes, and the horizon seemed endless. The red lanterns hanging on either side shone brightly in the rain, and only the two frail figures of them stood in front and behind. Time passed, and the rain gradually intensified. Wen Shi's legs felt like they were filled with lead, and he felt more and more tired with each step. His shoulder injury hadn't healed yet, and he felt a burning pain from time to time.
The smell of corpse oil became stronger and stronger, and the pungent smell affected his consciousness. Wen Shi felt as if he was back in the factory and was experiencing a ghostly experience.
Double images appeared in front of my eyes, and everything around me turned into a blur. There was only one thought left in my mind: keep going.
Supported by this thought, Wen Shi unconsciously walked through the corridor, out of the gate, and finally walked towards the dark forest in the eyes of the villagers who were peeking at him from the windows at the village entrance.
The old lady whose umbrella was snatched away by Wen Shi still didn't know what had happened to the red-coat woman's family. Seeing this, she closed the window with satisfaction and muttered happily: "The groom has gone up the mountain to feed the wolves!"
The mountain road was rugged, and the distance between Wen Shi and the prime minister was getting farther and farther. He tried hard to catch up with him, but in the end he could only watch the prime minister's figure gradually become blurred until it was dark all around.
The weeds on the ground were growing wildly, and Wen Shi accidentally tripped and hit his forehead on the ground, scraping his hand.
Wen Shi suddenly woke up from the double stimulation of the cool breeze and pain.
"Where is this?"
It was a strange environment, with no red lanterns lighting up the area, let alone the winding and mysterious rain corridor.
The air was filled with a rotten damp smell. Wen Shi climbed up and the gloomy ancient trees made the light even dimmer.
Currently, his vision can only reach two meters away.
My leg muscles were extremely sore, but Wen Shi knew his body well and knew that he wouldn't be so tired without two or three hours of race walking.
"Damn it…"
He must rush back before midnight, otherwise the mission will fail.
The roar of jackals came from across the mountains, and Wen Shi subconsciously took a step back. The deep mountains and old forests were enough to trap him without a compass, even if he didn't encounter ghosts.
There were dots of blue light ahead, flickering like beacons in the darkness. Wen Shi hissed as he approached.
It's a will-o'-the-wisp!
The black umbrella was lost somewhere and his clothes were all wet.
Ever since Wen Shi drank that cup of tea and got caught in the rain, he has become extremely sensitive to any source of fire. The will-o'-the-wisp fire, which is obviously not dangerous and will not burn anything, seems to be able to ignite his internal organs.
"That's too much..." Wen Shi sighed softly, his voice like a ghost, "How can you abandon the groom?"
He originally wanted to save some money and tried to find it back along the mountain road, but unfortunately the villagers of Fengguan Village did not give him the opportunity at all and took him to some shameful ravine.
The sound echoed in the inky night, and before it completely dissipated, cat ears and a tail grew out of Wen Shi's body.
Wen Shi spent 400 points to activate the intermediate "Drunken Life and Dream Death" skill: Homecoming. With this skill, he could always find his way home no matter how hard he tried.
There was a trace of blood in the full moon in the dome, shrouded in silver mist, and there was an additional sound in the mountains and forests... the sound of a rushing wind. A cat-like flexible and light body shuttled freely in the mountains and forests, heading towards the old house in the distance.
…
House.
The best man returned alone. The wedding scene was in disarray. The red-coated woman's father seemed to have grasped at a lifeline: "That beast..."
He adjusted his breathing and changed his words in time, "Where is my good son-in-law?"
The red lanterns were burned, and the house was dark. The best man was half shrouded in shadows. "It seems the new son-in-law has some second thoughts about this wedding. Perhaps he regretted it and chose to flee the village."
Upon hearing this, the red-coat girl's father suppressed his joy and slammed the table in an angry tone, "That's too much! I wanted to give him my inheritance, but if he doesn't come back by the end of the day, this marriage will be canceled."
"I will also inform all the villagers," the bridesmaid picked up the red veil on the ground, "Fengguan Village does not need people who are unfaithful in love."
It was almost eleven o'clock now. The host regained his spirits and said to the camera with an exaggerated expression: "I wonder if Mr. Aaron will have a change of heart and come back to complete this marriage."
Every ten minutes, he would announce: "Viewers can participate in the prize-winning guessing game on the program's official website and bet on whether the groom will return to his former love. There's also a mysterious grand prize waiting for you~"
In a blink of an eye, it was already eleven forty, and Liu Yun felt a little anxious.
Unlike her, Yan Yan wished that one minute could turn into ten minutes and reach midnight quickly.
The other players had their own thoughts. Some hoped that Wen Shi would come back alive, while others didn't. Ji Yuanzhi still made a gentle promise to the paired guest, as if he was not the one who caused her leg disability.
Outside the old house, A Sang sat on the stairs holding a bowl, waiting for someone quietly in the cold wind.
A blood-red moon hung high in the sky, a storm raged, and in the distance, a familiar figure suddenly appeared from the end of the path. In the moonlight, his pale skin seemed to be covered with a faint sheen. The young man slowly approached, his light-colored pupils exceptionally clear.
"Pa... Dad," Ah Sang tried hard to find the correct pronunciation, stood up and said, "Good, it smells good..."
A good fragrance is his highest praise for everything in the world!
The eyes in the wishing bottle were completely blank.
The wedding gown was wet and stuck to his body. His tail, which had been hanging down to the ground, stood up after he saw the big house with three entrances and three exits. The cat groom stepped onto the stone steps, lowered his head slightly, and the rain flowed down his ears.
With pale fingers clenched loosely, Wen Shi knocked heavily on the door, his voice bewitching: "Open the door, open the door quickly——"
The one who came out to open the door was the best man. His face, devoid of any human emotion, was also stunned when he saw the person standing outside.
The dazzling wedding gown turned dark red after being soaked in the rain. The cat groom slowly smiled and said, "There is a kind of cat that can find its way home."
The best man held his breath, glanced at the slender tail with the corner of his eye, and his heart beat wildly.
"Lead the way." A chilly tone appeared beneath the corner of his mouth. "Don't make my bride wait anxiously."