As Tang Weimin lifted away the gold-threaded silk, a stand carved from Hetian jade in the shape of a jade ruyi was revealed.
The light of the tallow candles spilled over it, making the mutton-fat white jade appear all the more warm, lustrous, and luxurious.
Even an ordinary person who knew nothing about jade would understand with a single glance that this stand was surely exorbitantly expensive, not something the average wealthy family could afford.
Yet now, such a precious Hetian jade ruyi was only a stand. Resting upon it was a golden buyao hairpin.
The body of the hairpin was one chi long. If one looked closely, one could see “Tao Yao” from the Book of Songs engraved upon it in tiny regular script, using peach blossoms to liken a beauty, a blessing for a bride on her wedding day.
The head of the hairpin was a phoenix with wings spread as if about to take flight. Every strand of its feathers was lifelike, reflecting the lights of countless homes. Beneath it hung nine strings of pearls, each one made of identical Hepu pearls.
Putting aside how ingeniously crafted the golden hairpin was, and how it must have come from the hands of a top master goldsmith after years of painstaking effort, those dozens of Hepu pearls alone were already priceless, enough to let an ordinary family of four live ten lifetimes without worrying about food or clothing.
The girls fell in love with the golden buyao after just one look.
In ancient times, this would undoubtedly have been a headdress only a legitimate daughter of imperial kin, aristocratic clans, or powerful families was qualified to wear when she married.
Jiang Shan looked at the golden buyao, then turned to glance at Tang Weimin in puzzlement.
What did this mean?
Was he making Lu Jiuling marry this golden buyao?
If he wanted to choose a girl as the bride, she should have changed clothes together with Lu Jiuling, but Tang Weimin had not mentioned that at all.
Tang Weimin looked at the golden buyao with lingering fear. In order to obtain this forbidden object, he had nearly lost his life in that ancient tomb in Xijing. It was only because the “Professor” had acted in time and helped him greatly that he had succeeded in getting it.
But these risks had been necessary.
Because this golden buyao was the most important part of this wedding!
“Lu Jiuling, pull yourself together. Prepare to bow and be married!”
After Tang Weimin finished speaking, he took a deep breath. Once he had adjusted his emotions, he began to chant loudly.
“Be it proclaimed:”
“In the year 2100, the Gengshen Year, the third month of late spring, on this auspicious full-moon day.”
“The groom, Lu Jiuling, and the bride, Luo Yuzhen, respectfully offer the rites of three sacrificial animals and wine, of incense, candles, flowers, and fruit, and devoutly declare before August Heaven, the Supreme Lord, the gods of the earth, and before the spirits of the ancestors of the Lu clan and the Luo clan:
Thus:
Since Heaven and Earth join in harmony, all things shine with radiance; since human relations first began, marriage has been of utmost importance.
Now there is Lu Jiuling, son of the Lu clan, handsome in bearing, clear and elegant, gentle and jade-like; and Luo Yuzhen, daughter of the Luo clan, intelligent, virtuous, worthy and fair in both conduct and appearance.
The two are bound by fate through three lifetimes, their affection tied for this one life.
The red cord was long ago fastened; the covenant of red leaves may be entrusted. Jade is planted in Lantian; the good match between Qin and Jin is already complete.
In accordance with ancient rites, they hereby join in a mandarin-duck pledge.
On this auspicious day and hour, the wedding ceremony is respectfully performed.”
Tang Weimin intoned the words with rising and falling cadence. At this point, he bowed respectfully toward the memorial tablets on the offering table, then continued chanting in a clear voice.
“Groom and bride.”
“First bow to Heaven!”
“Heaven bestows this good match; sun and moon bear witness together.”
Tang Weimin stared fixedly at Lu Jiuling. The advancement ritual had already reached its critical moment and could not tolerate the slightest mistake. If this brat refused to bow, he would flay him alive.
Every student from Grade Twelve Class 287 present was as silent as cicadas in winter. They looked at Lu Jiuling, then at the golden buyao on the Hetian jade stand.
In their hearts, they felt it was both absurd and eerie. Tang Weimin was actually making Lu Jiuling hold a wedding ceremony with a golden buyao?
Was there something wrong with his brain?
But when they thought about those urban legends spreading online...
This had to be some kind of bizarre ritual.
690 was probably going to die after the wedding.
Lu Jiuling bowed down.
He noticed Tang Weimin staring unblinkingly at him. The other man was absolutely focused right now, on guard against everything, so this was not the perfect chance for a sneak attack.
Wait a little longer!
“Second bow to Earth!”
“Earth presents auspicious qi; the five grains flourish!”
Lu Jiuling bowed again.
“Third bow to the ancestors!”
“The ancestors’ virtue leaves lasting fragrance; their grace and blessing endure forever!”
Because the parents of both sides were not here, there was no need to bow to the honored elders; the ancestors stood in their place.
Lu Jiuling knew that bowing was the most important part of a wedding. This step was about to end, so his nerves were stretched to the limit as well, constantly watching for sudden changes so he could respond in time.
“Husband and wife bow to each other!”
“Luan and phoenix sing in harmony, of one heart and one virtue!”
It’s about to succeed! It’s about to succeed!
Tang Weimin stared tightly at Lu Jiuling. As long as he and the golden buyao completed their mutual bow, then once he spoke a few more auspicious words, reverently informing Heaven and Earth and asking for the ancestors’ shade and protection to bless this newlywed couple to grow old together, this advancement ritual would be complete.
He would be able to ignite the fire of his soul, step into the sequence of gods, and become a “Yue Lao”!
Tang Lei and the baby-faced Li Jiayao’s hearts clenched at once as they looked at Lu Jiuling with faces full of worry. Because Lu Jiuling had rejected her confession, Xu Shaowei had always felt a trace of unwillingness and resentment in her heart, but now, seeing that something was likely to happen to Lu Jiuling, her expression was still anxious.
“How can I help him?”
Jiang Shan racked her brains, but when it came to these mysterious and bizarre events, she was completely in the dark.
Lu Jiuling pressed his lips tightly together. He knew he had to make a decision. Otherwise, once the ritual was complete and Tang Weimin advanced, his combat strength would probably become even greater. But at the very instant Lu Jiuling was preparing to gamble everything, the golden buyao on the wedding tray held in both hands by the little wedding attendant moved first.
It was like a flying sword hurled by an immortal, shooting out with terrifying speed and stabbing toward Lu Jiuling’s brow.
Whoosh!
Lu Jiuling, who had been watching the golden buyao all along, raised his hand and grabbed the moment it suddenly moved.
The next instant—
Hiss!
The golden buyao pierced through Lu Jiuling’s palm.
Drip! Drip!
Blood gushed out, flowing along Lu Jiuling’s palm toward his arm, then dripping onto the bluestone floor.
“Ah!”
“Fuck!”
“Hiss!”
Only then did Xu Shaowei, the baby-faced girl, and the others react. They looked in terror at the golden buyao gripped in Lu Jiuling’s hand and cried out in alarm.
If Lu Jiuling had been even a little slower, his head would already have been pierced through by the golden buyao, and he would have died on the spot.
“Shit!”
Zhang Shuai cursed under his breath. Not seeing Lu Jiuling die left him depressed.
“This guy’s reactions are so fast!”
Xu Shuo sucked in a cold breath. He knew that if he encountered such a sudden ambush, he would definitely die.
There was no helping it.
It was too fast!
Impossible to dodge!
Absolutely impossible to dodge!
Clatter! Clatter!
The strings of Hepu pearls hanging from the head of the hairpin knocked against one another with crisp, pleasant sounds, like a mermaid humming a love song.
“Huh?”
Tang Weimin was greatly shocked.
What was going on?
He was not shocked because Lu Jiuling had blocked the golden buyao from piercing his brow. He was baffled because the golden buyao had moved at all.
The Professor had explained every step of the advancement ritual in detail. There had been no scene in which the golden buyao suddenly shot out to kill the groom during the bow between husband and wife.
Could the Professor have hidden something from me?
No!
If my advancement fails, there’s no benefit for the Professor either. Then why would this happen?
Could there have been a mistake in some part of the ritual?
Tang Weimin immediately recalled the process. The more he thought, the tighter his brows furrowed, almost squeezing into the shape of the character “山.”
Everything was right.
There was no problem!
Tang Weimin sized up Lu Jiuling, then looked at the golden buyao still stuck in his hand and clutched by him. He could not help letting out a breath of relief, praising him inwardly.
Lu Jiuling,
well done!
If the groom died, this advancement ritual would fail. Although something had gone wrong in the process now, there was still a chance to remedy it.
“Lu Jiuling, put the golden buyao back and continue the husband-and-wife bow!”
Tang Weimin ordered.
“...”
Lu Jiuling had originally thought the golden buyao’s stab was part of the ritual, but he noticed Tang Weimin’s stunned and panicked expression. Clearly, this scene had also exceeded his expectations.
Did that mean the ritual had failed?
Could I start fighting back now?
Lu Jiuling tightened his five fingers, gripping the golden buyao firmly!
The intense pain of his palm being pierced did not make him panic or tense up. Instead, he was even calmer than usual.
Just as Lu Jiuling was preparing to pounce on Tang Weimin and kill him, the little wedding attendant holding the wedding tray beside him suddenly stepped forward on its short legs and ran toward one of the Eight Immortals tables.
Li Yinuo and the others sitting at that table felt their hearts leap into their throats in an instant, so nervous they did not even dare breathe.
The little wedding attendant stood in front of Ning Qian, blinked its big eyes, and looked up at her.
It should have been an adorable little expression, but because its face was covered in thick white powder, it appeared eerie and horrifying instead.
Gulp!
Ke Xinyi swallowed a mouthful of saliva and looked at Li Yinuo and Ning Qian beside her.
Ning Qian held her head in both hands and lay sprawled on the Eight Immortals table, acting like a turtle hiding in its shell. Li Yinuo’s body trembled as she shifted her gaze away, desperately praying that the little wedding attendant would not come for her.
The other students sitting at the same table were also so nervous they felt they might die.
After waiting for about six or seven seconds, the little wedding attendant saw that Ning Qian was still frozen in her seat. It blinked hard, lowered its head to glance at the wedding tray in its hands, then continued staring at Ning Qian.
“What... what does it want to do?”
Ning Qian was so frightened she started crying. Could someone please come and drive it away?
No one could answer.
Because no one knew the answer.
Ning Qian was already scared senseless, her mind a muddled mess, unable to think. When she looked around and her gaze finally landed on Lu Jiuling, her eyes lit up.
Right.
I can ask 690. Before entering this courtyard, his performance was amazing!
“Lu—”
Ning Qian had only just opened her mouth and had not yet called Lu Jiuling’s name when the little wedding attendant lost its patience. Its palm-sized little face darkened. Its left hand reached to its waist, pulled out a sewing needle, and stabbed Ning Qian in disgust.
“Ah!”
Ning Qian was badly startled and instinctively dodged to the side, but unfortunately, she was too slow.
Through her hoodie, Ning Qian felt a stab of pain in her arm, as if she had been stung by a scorpion. Immediately after came a swollen, numb sensation.
“It’s over!”
Jiang Shan closed her eyes, unable to bear watching any longer.
After Ning Qian’s arm was pricked, her whole body was like it was being inflated by a high-pressure air pump, swelling visibly to the naked eye.
“A human-skin balloon!”
Xu Shaowei shuddered and immediately remembered the terrifying scene they had seen outside the main gate earlier.
“I... I don’t want to die!”
Ning Qian sobbed and shouted, “Save me!”
Ning Qian was like a hot-air balloon, swelling at an extremely rapid speed. In just a few breaths, she had expanded into a huge ball of skin.
Rip! Rip!
Ning Qian’s jeans and hoodie were torn apart by her swollen body. She herself floated toward the sky, but because there was a ceiling, she was blocked.
The students raised their heads, looking at Ning Qian with faces full of terror.
This quiet and gentle female classmate, who was usually so refined, now had all her clothes burst apart. She looked like a fat, huge white balloon.
“Hurry and think of a way to save her!”
Zhou Yuanhang had a favorable impression of Ning Qian and shouted subconsciously.
But before his voice had even faded, he watched with his own eyes as Ning Qian exploded with a bang.