The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 117 Extremely Fearful

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) didn't understand what Du Yuan meant, but still respectfully clasped his hands in greeting:
"Rest assured, Daoist Master, I will do as you say. I will keep everything I have seen and heard to myself!"

He then raised his hand to indicate:

"If anyone else knew, I would be horribly ripped out of my stomach."

Before he could finish speaking, Du Yuan raised her hand to interrupt him:

"It hasn't come to that point yet. It's just that some things can only be decided after we've met with the host."

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) was increasingly confused and had no choice but to lead his horse and follow Du Yuan into Tai'an County.

After walking for a while, he remembered the head镖师 he had seen yesterday and could not suppress his doubts.

Therefore, he led his horse forward and asked:
"Master, I saw that the birth date and time that the thing was holding were exactly the same as the bride's. Do you think that thing approached the bride because of this?"

While it was described as an inquiry, it was in fact an absolute certainty.

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) thought about it all night, but couldn't think of any other possibility.

Unexpectedly, Du Yuan shook her head and said:
You've got the cause and effect wrong.

"what?"

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) had considered that the Taoist priest might say he was mistaken, but he never thought that this was a mistake in cause and effect.

What answer is this?
After scratching his head, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) who was completely baffled asked humbly:
"Master, I am a crude and uncultured mortal, and I cannot understand your profound meaning. Would you please enlighten me a little more?"

Du Yuan sighed and said:
"When we arrive, you will know. Just remember what I said."

Seeing the Taoist priest's words, the head镖师 (bodyguard) dared not ask any more questions and could only suppress all his confusion and follow behind Du Yuan.

As the two searched, they finally found the Li family in Tai'an County, which the bride and her entourage had mentioned.

They weren't a wealthy family, but they were certainly well-off.

At least this house is much better than those of ordinary people.

Upon first seeing the mansion, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) secretly thought: "Since the bride is not very happy in her own family, her situation should improve after marrying into this family."
But as he looked at it more and more, he realized something was wrong.

The bride has already arrived in Tai'an County. Why didn't your family send someone to wait and notify the groom to pick her up? Why didn't you even put up any red decorations?
Oh no! He suddenly realized—so his in-laws didn't treat him well either! No wonder his wife's family only sent one aunt to accompany him.

Wait a minute, the head镖师 suddenly felt something was amiss: if both families were so unwilling, how did this marriage come about?

Countless doubts churned in his mind.

Du Yuan stepped forward and knocked on the tightly closed door.

"Is anyone home? Could you please open the door?"

After a long while, footsteps finally came from inside, and a head peeked out from behind the door.

After recognizing the person and confirming that he didn't know them, he said somewhat embarrassedly:
"I'm sorry, gentlemen, but it's really inconvenient to receive guests at home. If there's anything else, please come another day!"

Before Du Yuan could speak, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) beside her could no longer contain himself and stepped forward urgently, saying:
"Inconvenient to receive guests? It's one thing for your Li family not to hang red silk for your wedding, but you even make it inconvenient to receive guests? The bride has come from nearly two hundred miles away to marry into your family, is she really so unwelcome here?!"

For such a joyous occasion, not only would guests be treated with great hospitality, but even a beggar would be given a special table to be treated well.

Why is it inconvenient to entertain guests?

These were his words to defend the bride.

Unexpectedly, these words caused the other party's expression to change, and they said:
"You two haven't come here specifically to cause trouble for my family, have you? How dare you bring up such a matter?!"

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) grew increasingly furious:
How could you say such a thing?

The other party was also furious:
"I swear to God, why can't I ask you this question?"

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) was about to step forward and drag the man out.

But Du Yuan stopped him directly, saying:
"We came here specifically for the bride!"

Upon hearing this, the other person's eyes instantly reddened, and their voice trembled with grief and indignation:
"My fiancée...she's gone! How can you keep using her happy occasion to hurt my feelings?!"

Upon hearing this, the镖头 (bodyguard/escort) felt a buzzing in his head, and his scalp felt like it was about to explode. The bride... was gone?!
"What nonsense are you talking about?! How come the bride is gone?!" His voice even changed tone.

Upon hearing this, the man assumed the other person genuinely didn't know, and his anger subsided, but he couldn't stop the tears from welling up in his eyes.

She pushed open the tightly closed door while crying.

The mourning hall inside was revealed.

"My brother and sister-in-law were a match made in heaven. They were so in love and were about to get married. How could they have drowned halfway through their wedding?"

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) was even more horrified and exclaimed:

"Drowned?! How did he drown?!"

If the bride and her entourage were already dead, then what were we escorting them all this way?!

Even though the sun was high in the sky, the镖头 (镖头 is a person's name) felt his hair stand on end and a chill run through his body.

"They said they were on the bridge!" The man choked up. "That old bridge had been in disrepair for years, and my sister-in-law and her group were large. Halfway there, the bridge... the bridge suddenly collapsed! More than twenty people! Only a few elders who were at the front managed to escape!"

The man burst into tears. How could such a joyous occasion turn into this?

"The rest of the people searched for several days, but couldn't find a single body!"

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) who heard this was looking at the mourning hall inside.

His legs suddenly went weak, and he stumbled backward.

'No wonder, no wonder!'

No wonder my in-laws didn't send any red ribbons or offer to pick me up or drop me off!

No wonder the bride only had one aunt with her!

'No wonder they ate that deceptive food of snakes, insects, and mud without any ill effects!'

'No wonder we all wanted to run away, but none of the bride's party wanted to leave!'

So, it turns out, the person we've been with all along wasn't even human!
Before he could really collapse, Du Yuan caught him and said:

"That's exactly why we've come! Please quickly inform the head of your household and the groom. I have a matter of life and death that I must tell you immediately!"

This act of support gave the镖头 (bodyguard/escort) boundless courage.

Yes, the Taoist priest is still here!

In that instant, the镖头's legs stopped trembling and his heart calmed down.

He immediately mustered a surge of pride and stood firmly beside Du Yuan.

Seeing how serious Du Yuan's words were, the man wiped away his tears and hurried back to report.

Soon, Du Yuan and the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) were invited inside.

Because she was an unmarried bride, even though the betrothal gifts had already been exchanged, only the groom himself wore plain clothes, and a simple mourning hall was set up at home.

The other elders did not wear mourning clothes, but simply changed into more solemn attire.

After everyone was seated, Du Yuan stood up and addressed the groom:

"I have something of life and death to tell you all now!"

Before they could ask any questions, Du Yuan spoke directly:

"The bride and her entourage have arrived at the boundary marker of Tai'an County!"

Upon hearing this, the hall fell into a deathly silence, and then everyone's expression changed drastically!

Confusion, surprise, and horror were intertwined.

Only the groom exclaimed in surprise:
"But my sister survived by sheer luck?"

(End of this chapter)