Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Scholar

What in the world...?

Zhu Ge’s pupils contracted the moment he stepped outside.

A group of people dressed in plain black and white clothes stood before his house.

When they saw him emerge, they all turned their heads in unison to face him. Every one of them wore the same strange, forced smile that didn’t reach their eyes.

Zhu Ge’s scalp tingled with dread.

"The groom is here!"

The man in the lead, Ma Laizi, was tall and stout, but he was currently stooped over, the flesh on his face bunching up. He cupped his hands and announced in a loud voice:

"The groom has arrived! Scatter the wedding money!"

The next moment, several people behind him produced a basket, grabbed handfuls of round leaves from it, and tossed them over Zhu Ge.

The leaves fluttered down, landing in his hair and on his shoulders.

Zhu Ge suddenly felt his movements become somewhat mechanical.

’Am I being controlled?’ Zhu Ge was surprised, but he didn’t panic.

He stiffly cupped his hands. "Where is Hua Xiaomei?"

"The bride is waiting at home for the groom to come get her!" Ma Laizi said with a laugh, pointing to the side. "Quick, get in the sedan chair, won’t you?"

Beside them, four men held an H-shaped sedan chair made of wood.

Zhu Ge silently walked over to the crossbar and sat down, trying to steady himself with his hands.

"Lift the chair!"

Ma Laizi shouted.

The crowd immediately began to beat gongs and drums. The men carrying the H-shaped chair rose to their feet and headed toward the north end of the village, the whole scene looking festive and cheerful.

But combined with their plain clothes, it was impossible to tell if this was a wedding or a funeral.

Of course, that wasn’t even the strangest part.

The strangest part was that although Zhu Ge couldn’t see any instruments, the clamor of gongs and drums echoed in his mind.

Bizarre!

Terrifying!

Uncanny!

The hair on Zhu Ge’s arms stood on end, but his expression and his eyes remained as calm as still water.

However, as the procession moved forward, the scenery before him began to change.

The darkness, along with the moonlight, gradually receded, and a crimson glow shone upon Zhu Ge’s face.

A smile suddenly spread across Zhu Ge’s face, as if he had been infected by the atmosphere. He spoke up, "I’m getting married! Where is my bride?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the people around him abruptly stopped.

They paused for only a second before continuing on their way.

Not far off, the bridal chamber was now faintly visible.

The bridal chamber was a square, one-story building, entirely white. A "囍" character was pasted on the main door, which was shut, obscuring the view inside.

Over a dozen people were gathered at the entrance, all wearing similar clothes.

If he had to describe them, their outfits looked more like mourning clothes than festive attire.

Zhu Ge was almost certain that whatever this was, it was definitely related to "囍" and to Hua Xiaomei!

Zhu Ge didn’t know what conditions one had to meet to become a god.

But he had never seen Hua Xiaomei’s body after her death.

Perhaps she had transformed into a Wedding God.

Then she started competing with the foreign god for the juicy prize that was Jianshan Village.

"Congratulations, Zhu Ge! My master hasn’t returned, but having a happy occasion like yours to liven things up is good too!"

Just then, the person leading the group spoke.

Zhu Ge hadn’t recognized him at first, but now he couldn’t help but stiffen slightly.

Yu the Scholar!

Even as a Cultivator, Yu the Scholar was also dressed in a white robe and held a large white flower in his hand.

Yu the Scholar wore a cheerful smile. "Come, groom, put on the wedding flower. I will officiate your rites."

However, the Yu the Scholar before him now was completely different from the one Zhu Ge had seen during the day.

Just like Ma Laizi, he had changed!

Zhu Ge dismounted the sedan chair in silence, took the white flower, and looked around.

The smiles on the faces of the people around him, combined with their plain-colored clothing, created a jarring sense of dissonance.

After he got down, they didn’t go inside. Everyone stood outside the house with the "囍" character, chatting idly, appearing to be in high spirits.

Yu the Scholar was right beside Zhu Ge.

"Zhu Ge, after today, you’ll be a married man. When the time comes, have a big, healthy son, and have him come study the Confucian Dao with me," Yu the Scholar said, his face wreathed in smiles.

Listening to Yu the Scholar’s normal-sounding words, Zhu Ge might have almost believed they were just chatting carefreely.

Unfortunately, the smile plastered on Yu the Scholar’s face was too demonic. There was no way Zhu Ge could feel carefree.

"Yes, Confucianism," Zhu Ge responded with a slight nod.

"Such fine weather tonight!"

"Yes, yes! The moonlight is bright, and the sky is full of clouds. It’s wonderful!"

"Our village hasn’t been this festive in a long time! Look at my clothes, aren’t they festive!"

"May the groom have a son soon! Having eight sons would be best."

The guests’ faces were all flushed a festive red—a red as bright as blood—and their mouths spouted strange blessings for Zhu Ge.

Zhu Ge mimicked the crowd’s smile and moved closer to Yu the Scholar. "Have you forgotten?" he asked softly. "What you said to me during the day."

Zhu Ge didn’t dare speak plainly, fearing it might trigger some strange transformation. He hoped to gather information through conversation to make a judgment.

"During the day? I didn’t come looking for you during the day!" A hint of surprise crept into Yu the Scholar’s smile.

Seeing this, Zhu Ge narrowed his eyes slightly, then chuckled. "You didn’t? Haha."

But after just two "ha’s," he sensed something was wrong.

A faint feeling of happiness and joy was blooming in his heart, as if this really were his wedding.

At this realization, Zhu Ge’s smile vanished.

’I’m being influenced too!’

’Time for some drastic measures!’

Zhu Ge took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Yu the Scholar, didn’t you tell me today that Hua Xiaomei is already dead?"

As his words fell, the surrounding noise abruptly ceased.

Everyone whipped their heads around to stare at Zhu Ge.

Zhu Ge looked at Yu the Scholar with a placid expression.

This time, Yu the Scholar’s smile faltered. A look of struggle appeared on his face.

One moment it was festive, the next it was rigid, then severe...

A moment later, an expression of righteous fury, one that loathed evil, replaced the joyous look on his face.

"Zhu Ge!"

Yu the Scholar’s eyes suddenly flew open. He gasped for breath, staggered back two steps, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

But in the next instant, he steadied himself, his posture suddenly becoming ramrod straight as a layer of visible light emanated from his body.

"Insolence! How dare you lay a hand on my soul?!"

Yu the Scholar roared, flicking his right sleeve forcefully. The character "儒" slowly materialized over his chest.

Confucian!

Confucian Family!

Confucian Dao!

"WHOOSH!!!!"

"WHOOSH!!!!"

The character for "Confucian" acted like a flashlight, cutting a white path through the festive crimson glow.

Within the path, the red light receded like snow and ice under a blazing sun.

"Get back, now!"

Yu the Scholar roared at Zhu Ge. Though his expression was majestic, the veins on his forehead bulged, showing he was in immense pain.

Zhu Ge’s pupils contracted at the sight, but he didn’t immediately do as Yu the Scholar commanded.

He had considered many scenarios the previous night. Although this was sudden, it was one of the possibilities he had prepared for.

The Yu the Scholar who had opened a path for his escape was clearly on his side; the previous version must have been under control.

’So, he’s a vital asset. I have to try and win him over.’

So, Zhu Ge said in a low voice, "Where is the Wedding God?! How can I save you?"

At the same time, the system interface appeared in his mind, ready for him to equip the Kunpeng trait at a moment’s notice.

Seeing Zhu Ge’s defiant stance, Yu the Scholar’s eyes looked ready to pop from his head. "A mortal’s soul cannot leave their body! You can’t harm a god with your physical form! Run!!"

’Soul leaving the body?’

Zhu Ge took a deep breath and declared firmly:

"I can!"

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