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

Chapter 119 I Can Save

Wait until the sun rises three poles.

The belated groom finally appeared in everyone's sight riding a fine horse.

Upon seeing the newcomers, the bodyguards were overjoyed and exclaimed:

"He's here! He's here! The groom has finally arrived!"

Hearing this, the bride and her entourage were overjoyed.

The bride, sitting in the sedan chair, was extremely shy, her delicate hands twisting the hem of her dress under the red veil.

The groom rode his horse to the bridal sedan chair, and stared at the red sedan chair, momentarily stunned, as if in a dream.

Until Du Yuan reminded me with a smile:

"Groom, the auspicious time has arrived; it is time for the bride to depart."

The other party then realized what was happening and said to the bridal sedan chair:

"Hey girl, I'm here to pick you up."

However, there was silence inside the bridal sedan chair, and no response was heard.

The groom was at a loss for words and looked at Du Yuan in bewilderment.

Upon seeing this, Lady Quanfu, who was sitting in front of the sedan chair, couldn't help but laugh and scold:

"Oh, my silly son-in-law! My daughter is a perfectly good young virgin. It's her first time getting married, and she's so embarrassed. How could she possibly answer you in this situation?"

The slight bewilderment had just subsided like the tide.
It then transformed into a gentle spring-like expanse in her eyes.

This made the only two镖头 (bodyguards/escorts) who knew the truth extremely emotional.

The two are clearly a match made in heaven, so how come...
He dared not reveal anything, and could only hurriedly wipe his eyes and say:

"Oh dear, I wasn't as handsome as this kid back then."

The bride and her entourage slowly departed, led by the groom.

The procession passed through the city gate and slowly made its way along the rather quiet streets of the county town. Occasionally, curious villagers would peek out from the sidelines, intending to share in the joy of the wedding, but when they saw who the groom leading the procession was, they would all turn pale and retreat.

Tai'an County is small, so news spreads very quickly.

Fortunately, the bridal sedan chair curtains were tightly closed, so neither the outside nor the inside could see inside. Only the red sedan chair itself, under the midday sun, was dazzlingly red.

Finally, the group arrived at the Li residence. The gates were wide open, and silk ribbons and red brocades were already hanging there.

Firecrackers and drums have also been arranged.

As the two horses sang together, the groom dismounted, his first step somewhat unsteady, but he walked with increasing determination until he reached the bridal sedan chair.

This time, without needing any prompting, he took a deep breath, bowed deeply to the sedan chair door, and looked at the bridal sedan chair with deep affection, saying:

"Young lady, we're home. Get out of the sedan chair, let's get married!"

The sedan chair curtain was gently lifted by Madam Quanfu. The bride, dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, with her veil covering her face, was slowly stepped out of the sedan chair, supported by the groom and Madam Quanfu on either side.

Whether it was their imagination or not, everyone who knew the truth felt that the bride's steps under the red veil seemed too unreal.

The groom's hand trembled slightly. He could feel that the delicate hand he was "holding" was so cold it seemed inhuman, yet he held it even tighter, his boundless tenderness and love unspoken.

Under the complex and unspoken gazes of the guests—some fearful, some confused, some sympathetic—the newlyweds were led to the decorated hall.

The groom's grandfather was officiating at the wedding. His aged voice rang out in the silent hall, each word clear and distinct:

"Worship the heavens and the earth-"

The groom bowed deeply. The bride stood beside him, bowing gracefully as well, her red veil draped over her shoulders, her posture flawless.

"Second worship high hall-"

The groom's parents sat at the head of the table, their faces pale, their eyes filled with complex emotions as they looked at their son and the faceless "daughter-in-law." The groom bowed again. The bride followed suit.

"Husband and wife pay homage——"

The groom slowly turned around, facing his "wife," so close yet separated by a red silk ribbon. He had so much to say, so many emotions to express. Because even if Du Yuan hadn't said it, he had already guessed.

It's over, and his girl is leaving him again.
But after a moment he swallowed everything and then bent over deeply.

If a wife is found like this, what else can a husband ask for?

To have this moment is already a great fortune.

Under the red veil, the bride seemed to pause slightly before bowing gently in return.

"The ceremony is complete!"

The old man's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.

The moment the last word "success" was uttered, a sudden change occurred!

The groom, who was trying his best to remain composed, was suddenly startled—the bride whispered to him:
"Sanlang, have I caused you trouble again?"

"A girl?!" the groom exclaimed in astonishment.

The bride lowered her head even further, her voice barely audible:
"Sanlang, I... am I... actually dead already?"

Beneath the red veil, the sobs, though low, were so clear they were almost piercing.

These words sent chills down everyone's spine and made their hands and feet go cold.

Apart from the parents and the officiating elder who remained in the hall, the rest of the guests had already screamed and scattered in all directions!
The Taoist priest had said that she hadn't yet become a red demon because she was unaware that she was already dead. Now that she remembered—wouldn't she become a demon immediately?
Panic spread like a plague.

Only the groom rushed forward, wanting to reach out and grab the bride's hand:

"Girl, don't talk nonsense! You're perfectly fine! Look, I can still hold you."

The words stopped abruptly.

The groom's hand froze in mid-air, standing rooted to the spot—

He couldn't hold onto her anymore.

It's like a reflection in water, visible but untouchable.

This made the bride sob even more. The aunts and sedan bearers standing outside the hall were shocked to find themselves completely soaked, as if they had just been pulled out of the water.

Just as he was about to ask the people around him why, he saw them rushing away in a panic!

"Sanlang, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I never expected it to turn out like this, I really never expected it to turn out like this!"

The bride was still sobbing, repeatedly apologizing. The groom, however, remained unusually resolute:

"Don't apologize. You are my wife, we are husband and wife, how can we be different?"

"But, but I'm already dead!" the bride's voice was filled with despair. "How can a dead person be worthy of being your wife?"

She wasn't yet dripping wet like the travelers. But the chilling, sinister aura she exuded was becoming increasingly biting.

Even though it was midday, the entire hall felt like it was in an ice cellar.

"I don't care!" the groom shouted, his words ringing out.

"If I say you're worthy, then you are! Marriage is a private matter between two people—"

What does it have to do with others?
What does it have to do with heaven and earth?
It has absolutely nothing to do with life or death!

These words are unequivocal and can be witnessed by heaven and earth.

Therefore, the bride was immediately stunned. The biting cold also made her feel suffocated.

Before the echo had faded, a loud laugh, like a thunderclap, swept through the area, instantly calming all the chaos and confusion.
"Very well, very well! In that case, I can return to you a living, breathing bride!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was greatly shocked and turned to look at the door.

Du Yuan stood with her hands behind her back in the wide-open courtyard.

He strolled over, looking completely at ease.

(End of this chapter)