Chapter 6 The Ghost Groom and the Crown Prince in the Bridal Sedan Chair

One of the sedan carriers accidentally stepped on an arm and yelled out.

The wedding procession immediately went into chaos.

Everyone quickly drew out large gleaming knives and shouted, "What's happening?! Is it here?!"

It was unclear where they had hidden those weapons before.

The street was in an uproar. Xie Lian looked closely and realized that the separated head and body were not a real person but a wooden doll.

Fu Yao commented, "It's too ugly!"

Just then, the Tea Master came over with a copper pot. Xie Lian remembered how confident he was yesterday and asked, "Shopkeeper, I saw this group making a racket on the street yesterday and again today. What are they up to?"

The Tea Master replied, "Looking for trouble."

"Hahaha..."

Xie Lian wasn't surprised and said, "Are they trying to lure out the ghost groom?"

The Tea Master said, "What else could they be doing? A bride's father has offered a large reward to find his daughter and catch the ghost groom. This group is causing a ruckus every day."

The father offering the reward must be that Magistrate. Xie Lian glanced at the poorly made woman's head on the ground and realized they were using a fake bride to lure the ghost groom.

Fu Yao said with disdain, "If I were the ghost groom and someone sent me something this ugly, I'd destroy this town."

Xie Lian said, "Fu Yao, that's not something a celestial being should say. Also, can you stop rolling your eyes so much? Maybe set a small goal for yourself, like only rolling them five times a day."

Nan Feng said, "Even if you set it at fifty times a day, it wouldn't be enough for him!"

Just then, a young man from the group, looking energetic and like a leader, shouted, "Listen to me! This isn't working! How many times have we tried in the past few days? Has the ghost groom shown up?"

The crowd of men grumbled in agreement.

The young man said, "I say we stop wasting time and charge into Yu Jun Mountain, search the mountain, and catch that ugly monster! I'll lead the way. Any brave men with guts, follow me! We'll kill the monster and split the reward!"

At first, the group of men responded half-heartedly, but their voices grew louder, and soon everyone was on board, creating quite a commotion.

Xie Lian asked, "Ugly monster? Shopkeeper, what's this about an ugly monster?"

The Tea Master explained, "They say the ghost groom is an ugly monster living in Yu Jun Mountain. Because he's so ugly, no woman likes him, so he gets resentful and steals other people's brides to ruin their happiness."

There was no record of this in the scrolls from Ling Wen Hall. Xie Lian asked, "Is there any truth to this, or is it just a rumor?"

The Tea Master said, "Who knows? They say many people have seen him. His whole face is wrapped in bandages, his eyes are fierce, and he can't speak, only growls like a wolf dog. It's all very mysterious."

Fu Yao said, "Just because his face is wrapped in bandages doesn't mean he's ugly. Maybe he's too beautiful and doesn't want people to see."

The Tea Master was speechless for a moment and said, "Who knows? I've never seen him."

At that moment, a girl's voice came from the street, "Don't listen to him. Don't go. It's dangerous in Yu Jun Mountain..."

The voice belonged to the girl, Xiao Ying, who had come to the Nan Yang Temple to pray last night.

Seeing her made Xie Lian's face hurt a little, and he unconsciously touched his cheek.

The young man scowled at her and pushed her, saying, "Men are talking. What's a girl doing here?"

Xiao Ying shrank back a bit but gathered her courage to say softly, "Don't listen to him. Whether it's a fake wedding or searching the mountain, it's too dangerous. It's like asking for death."

The young man said, "Easy for you to say. We're risking our lives to rid the people of evil. What about you? You're selfish and won't even pretend to be a bride for the sake of the townsfolk. Now you're trying to stop us. What's your motive?"

With each sentence, he pushed the girl, making everyone in the shop frown.

Xie Lian, while unwrapping the bandage on his wrist, heard the Tea Master say, "This Little Peng tried sweet-talking the girl into pretending to be a bride. When she refused, he showed his true colors."

On the street, the men shouted, "Don't block the way, move aside!" Xiao Ying's face turned red, tears welling up in her eyes. She said, "You... you don't have to talk like that."

The young man said, "Am I wrong? I asked you to pretend to be a bride, and you refused."

Xiao Ying said, "I was scared, but you didn't have to cut my dress..."

Mentioning this made the young man jump as if his sore spot had been hit.

He pointed at her and said, "You ugly monster, stop slandering me! I cut your dress? Do you think I'm blind? Who knows if you cut it yourself to show off? Who knows if you did it because no one would look at you anyway? Don't blame me!"

Nan Feng couldn't listen anymore and crushed the teacup in his hand.

Just as he was about to stand up, a white figure flashed by. The next moment, Little Peng, who had been jumping around, screamed, covered his face, and fell to the ground, blood dripping through his fingers.

No one had seen what happened.

They thought Xiao Ying had attacked, but she was nowhere to be seen.

A white-robed Daoist stood in front of her.

Xie Lian, with his hands in his sleeves, didn't look back. He smiled at Xiao Ying, bent slightly to meet her eyes, and asked, "Miss, may I invite you in for a cup of tea?"

Little Peng, with his nose and mouth in pain, felt like his face had been beaten with an iron whip. But the Daoist clearly had no weapon, and no one saw how he struck.

Staggering to his feet, he shouted, "This man used witchcraft!"

The men behind him, hearing "witchcraft," raised their knives. But then, Nan Feng suddenly struck with his palm, breaking a pillar with a crack.

Seeing this display of power, the men's faces changed. Little Peng, feeling intimidated but still defiant, ran while shouting, "I've suffered today. Who are you, heroes? Leave your names, and we'll meet again..."

Nan Feng didn't bother to reply, but Fu Yao said, "Sure, sure, this is Ju..."

Nan Feng interrupted with another palm strike, and the two started bickering quietly.

Xie Lian wanted to invite the girl in for some tea and snacks, but she left in tears, leaving him to sigh as he went back inside. The Tea Master said, "Remember to pay for the pillar."

So when Xie Lian sat down, he told Nan Feng, "Remember to pay for the pillar."

Nan Feng: "..."

Xie Lian said, "Before that, let's get down to business. I need someone to lend me some spiritual power so I can enter the Spirit Communication Array to verify some information."

Nan Feng raised his hand, and they clasped hands to form a simple contract. With that, Xie Lian could finally enter the Spirit Communication Array again.

As soon as he entered, he heard Ling Wen say, "Your Highness finally got some power? How's it going in the north? How are those two junior martial officers helping you?"

Xie Lian glanced at the broken pillar and the indifferent Fu Yao and said, "The two junior officers each have their strengths and are promising talents."

Ling Wen laughed, "That's great news for General Nan Yang and General Xuan Zhen. According to Your Highness, these officers have a bright future and will ascend in no time."

Soon, Mu Qing's cold voice came through, "He didn't report this trip to me, so I know nothing about it."

Xie Lian thought, "You're always in the Spirit Communication Array..."

Ling Wen asked, "Your Highness, where are you now? The north is General Pei's territory, with strong incense offerings. If you need, you can stay at his Bright Light Hall."

Xie Lian replied, "No need. We couldn't find the Bright Light Hall nearby, so we're staying at a Nan Yang Hall. By the way, Ling Wen, do you have more information on the ghost groom?"

Ling Wen said, "Yes, the rating from our hall just came out. It's 'Fierce.'"

"Fierce!"

For demons and ghosts causing trouble in the human world, Ling Wen Hall classifies them into four levels based on their power: "Evil," "Malicious," "Fierce," and "Absolute."

"Evil" can kill one person, "Malicious" can wipe out a family, "Fierce" can destroy a city, and the most terrifying "Absolute" can bring chaos to the world.

The ghost groom hiding in Yu Jun Mountain is rated "Fierce," just below "Absolute," meaning those who have seen him might not escape unscathed.

After exiting the Spirit Communication Array and informing the others, Nan Feng said, "Those rumors about an ugly bandaged man are likely false. Or they saw something else."

Xie Lian said, "There's another possibility. Under certain conditions, the ghost groom might not or cannot harm people."

Fu Yao criticized, "Ling Wen Hall is so inefficient, taking so long to give a rating. What's the use?"

Xie Lian said, "At least we know the enemy's strength. But since it's 'Fierce,' the ghost groom must be very powerful. A fake bride won't fool him. If we want to lure him out, the wedding procession can't use illusions or weapons. Most importantly, the bride must be alive."

Fu Yao said, "Just find a woman on the street to be the bait."

Nan Feng disagreed, "No."

Fu Yao asked, "Why not? If she's unwilling, offer her money."

Xie Lian said, "Fu Yao, even if a woman agrees, it's best not to use this method.

The ghost groom is 'Fierce.' If we fail, we won't be harmed, but if the bride is taken, a weak woman can't escape or resist, and she might end up dead."

Fu Yao said, "If we can't find a woman, we'll have to find a man."

Nan Feng asked, "Where can we find a man willing to dress up..."

Before he finished, both of them turned to look at Xie Lian.

Xie Lian, still smiling, said, "???"

Later that night, at Nan Yang Temple.

Xie Lian, with his hair down, emerged from the back of the hall.

Seeing him, Nan Feng cursed, "Damn it!" and rushed out.

Xie Lian was speechless for a moment and said, "Is it that bad?"

Anyone could see that he was a handsome young man with gentle features.

But because of this, a handsome young man in a woman's wedding dress was a sight many couldn't handle. Like Nan Feng, who couldn't accept it personally, hence his strong reaction.

Xie Lian saw Fu Yao standing there, looking him up and down with a complex expression, and asked, "Do you have something to say?"

Fu Yao nodded, "If I were the ghost groom, and someone sent me a woman like this..."

Xie Lian said, "You'd destroy the town?"

Fu Yao coldly replied, "No, I'd kill the woman."

Xie Lian laughed, "Well, luckily, I'm not a woman."

Fu Yao said, "I think you should ask in the Spirit Communication Array if any god can teach you transformation magic. It's more practical."

Indeed, some gods in the heavenly realm knew transformation magic due to special needs.

But it was too late to learn now. Nan Feng, having calmed down after cursing, was like the general he served.

Xie Lian saw it was getting late and said, "Never mind, covering the veil will be the same."

As he was about to cover himself, Fu Yao stopped him, "Wait. You don't know how the ghost groom harms people. If he lifts the veil and finds he's been tricked, he might get angry and cause trouble."

Xie Lian realized this made sense, but as he moved, he heard a tearing sound.

The red wedding dress Fu Yao found for him didn't fit well.

Women's bodies are generally smaller, and wearing it restricted his movements. A big move caused the dress to tear. As he searched for the tear, a voice came from the temple entrance, "Excuse me..."

The three looked over to see Xiao Ying holding a folded white robe, standing at the entrance, timidly looking at them.

She said, "I remember seeing you here last night, so I came to check if I'd find you... I washed the clothes, and here they are. Thank you for yesterday and today."

Xie Lian was about to smile at her but remembered his current appearance and decided not to scare her.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Ying wasn't frightened. Instead, she stepped forward and said, "If you like, I can help you?"

"..." Xie Lian said, "No, miss, don't misunderstand. I don't have such a hobby."

Xiao Ying quickly said, "I know, I know. I mean, if you don't mind, I can help. You're... you're going to catch the ghost groom, right?"

Her voice and face brightened, "I can alter clothes. I always carry a needle and thread. I can fix anything wrong, and I can do makeup. Let me help you!"

"..."

Two incense sticks later, Xie Lian emerged from the back of the hall again, head lowered.

This time, the bridal veil was in place. Nan Feng and Fu Yao seemed curious but ultimately decided to spare their eyes.

The sedan chair they found was at the temple entrance, and the carefully chosen carriers were waiting. Under the dark night sky, the Crown Prince, in his new bridal attire, sat in the red bridal sedan chair.