Chapter 10: Groom, the Auspicious Hour Has Arrived
Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Groom, the Auspicious Hour Has Arrived
The Kunpeng trait could only be used for one minute at a time.
Ten years of his life in exchange for one minute. Zhu Ge naturally had to cherish and make the most of it.
However, even with the enhanced thinking power granted by the Kunpeng trait, Zhu Ge couldn’t fully analyze a few of the bizarre points.
Hua Xiaomei.
Yu the Scholar.
The insect chirping.
The rooster.
Two sets of memories.
The marriage.
Among these, Hua Xiaomei was surrounded by the most suspicion.
This included the two sets of memories concerning her, his marriage to her, and the change in Yu the Scholar’s expression upon hearing her name.
The chirping insects were another strange point of suspicion. Zhu Ge temporarily categorized them as having an unknown purpose, but their actions seemed to be a warning, which suggested they were on his side.
But from the moment he had transmigrated until now, the chirping had only ever occurred at night, and he had no idea how to investigate it.
Zhu Ge frowned and sighed.
’Too many!’
’There are too many possibilities!’
But now, the crux of the problem had shifted from finding the Tiger God’s shrine to Hua Xiaomei.
After all, it wasn’t even certain if the Tiger God existed.
’Looks like I’ll have to go ask Yu the Scholar...’
Zhu Ge thought about Yu the Scholar from earlier that day.
Just now, when he had scanned the entire village, he hadn’t seen Yu the Scholar’s soul when looking toward his house.
This was normal.
Because Yu the Scholar was a Confucian Cultivator, it was reasonable for him to be special in some way.
Besides, Yu the Scholar seemed to know something, so it was the perfect opportunity to ask.
’What should I ask...?’
’What other points of confusion are there...?’
’These things need to be verified, too...’
’Those two areas feel strange...’
For one full minute, Zhu Ge’s mind raced, coordinating, organizing, pondering, and analyzing all the information from the day.
Finally, when the time limit was up, he felt his thoughts slow to a crawl.
"Hooo..."
His thoughts concluded, Zhu Ge sat up and let out a long breath.
If his thought process just now had been a high-speed train clocking three hundred miles per hour, now it was a rickety tractor in a forest. The difference in speed was night and day.
’Forget it. I’ll sleep for now and get my energy back...’
In just two days, he had used up twenty years of his life for two minutes of enhanced thought. This kind of consumption took a huge toll on his body.
Zhu Ge had to rest as much as possible, or he might not even be able to get out of bed the next day.
"Time to sleep."
"I’m sleeping too."
His parents beside him mechanically got into bed and lay down, preparing to enter the land of dreams.
But at that very moment, a sharp sound suddenly came from outside the already open door and windows.
CLANG!!
’What was that sound?!’ Zhu Ge’s bloodshot eyes snapped open.
That sound was definitely not natural. It had a heavy, metallic quality to it.
’Some kind of musical instrument!’
’Why does it sound so much like cymbals?’
Zhu Ge frowned.
And as the first sound faded, more followed.
DONG!
BANG!
CLANG!
CRASH!
Gongs and drums beat deafeningly as suonas blared in unison!
’This is...’ Zhu Ge was stunned.
’Why does it sound so... festive?!’
’It’s the middle of the night!’
The crucial part was... the melody sounded just like wedding music!
’It can’t be...’
An ominous premonition grew in Zhu Ge’s heart.
But there was nothing he could do. He could only close his eyes and lie as flat as possible.
At this moment, even as festive music echoed through the village, the surroundings were utterly silent. Not even the insects chirped.
Inside the house, his parents’ breathing was even, clearly "acting out" the normal state of human sleep.
This made Zhu Ge all the more certain that the "festivities" outside were anything but simple.
’It looks like there really are two ’things,’ definitely not just one.’
Zhu Ge was now sure of it: there were two distinct anomalies in Jianshan Village.
And while his heart pounded with anxiety, the music from outside gradually drew closer to him.
Closer and closer...
So close that the THUMP-THUMP of Zhu Ge’s heart became louder than the blaring suonas outside, feeling as if it would burst from his chest.
"Groom, aren’t you coming out? Such a fine and beautiful night is perfect for a wedding!"
A cheerful voice called from outside, like someone with a wide, beaming smile shouting excitedly from beyond the door.
It was Ma Laizi’s voice.
’Ma Laizi?!’
Zhu Ge’s heart sank.
’It seems Ma Laizi and the others fell into its trap during the day!’
’Another god? Why are all these gods so peculiar...’ Even without using the Kunpeng trait, Zhu Ge figured it out instantly.
Because only a "god" would be interested in a person’s spirit—that is, their joy, anger, sorrow, fear, and faith.
The entire village had lost their spirits, but they exhibited two different states. Clearly, there were two "gods"!
’Maybe my initial guess was right. One Tiger God, and one... Wedding God?’
Zhu Ge’s brow furrowed tightly.
Zhu Ge didn’t know if the first of these two gods was the Tiger God.
But based on the current situation, the second one was very likely the Wedding God.
’It’s related to the marriage!’
’And my memories come from the original owner of this body. What if his memories were tampered with before I transmigrated?’
’Was the original owner really engaged? Is the Wedding God using this as an opening to exploit?’
’After all, everyone in the village has had their spirit stolen. I’m the only one left. If it wants to make a move, I’m the natural target.’
’What do I do now...’
Zhu Ge was still a little panicked.
He even considered using the Kunpeng trait right away.
But then he remembered he only had about thirty years of life left, and he discarded the thought.
’I have to break this dependency!’
Some things aren’t mastered through one’s own hard work, but simply appear out of thin air.
’I must stop relying on such things.’
’My own strength is the only reliable thing to depend on!’
’There’s no need to use it unless it’s a critical moment!’
Zhu Ge forced himself to calm down and think of a countermeasure.
"Groom, if you don’t come out soon, you’ll miss the auspicious hour! That would be a great misfortune, you know!"
Ma Laizi’s voice was like a eunuch’s, deliberately high-pitched and shrill, perfectly capturing the festive air of a wedding master of ceremonies.
But compared to the usual bully, he was like a completely different person.
’If they’re going to push me like this, it’s the perfect chance to test the idea I just had...’
Zhu Ge narrowed his eyes and finally swung his legs over the side of the bed and got up.
"Can’t sleep again?" his father’s voice chimed in at just the right moment.
"Yes, the insects are a bit loud," Zhu Ge replied softly. "Can’t you hear them, Father?"
"Just don’t listen to them." In the darkness, his father’s body fell back onto the bed. "Don’t go out. Don’t open the window. Don’t let your spirit be stolen."
His father hadn’t noticed that Zhu Ge had already opened a corner of the window, allowing the wind and moonlight to reach him.
"Okay," Zhu Ge responded to his father, then tiptoed off the bed and toward the door.
Outside, gongs and drums thundered. Inside, it was as quiet as ever.
The bizarre contrast made Zhu Ge feel like he was caught between a wolf and a tiger.
Then, he opened the door and walked out.
Zhu Ge didn’t see that as he opened the door, both of his parents behind him opened their eyes at the same time.
Four numb, vacant eyes stared fixedly at the main door, utterly silent.