Cultivation: Starting from a Fighting Cock

Chapter 73 The Rooster Worship

Today, the Zhao family is filled with joy and celebration, with neighbors from all directions and many families from Wuzhen coming to offer their congratulations.

Both the front and back yards were quite crowded, so Ji Cheng was locked in a cage and kept to himself.

Big Yellow was led out and tied to a small hill behind the Zhao family's house, so as not to frighten or bump into the guests.

Because of her fellow discipleship with Cui Xiangxue, Fairy Su also came to the Zhao residence to witness her junior sister Cui and Zhao Kun's wedding ceremony.

"The auspicious hour has arrived, let's set off to fetch the bride!"

Earlier, a feng shui master and the master of ceremonies had been asked to determine the auspicious time and the entire wedding procession. Now, with a shout from the feng shui master, the wedding procession began to beat drums and gongs, carrying Zhao Kun to the Cui family.

Typically, the groom rides a tall horse to fetch the bride.

Because Zhao Kun was physically weak and suffered from a strange illness, he could not withstand the bumpy ride of horseback riding, so he switched to riding in a sedan chair.

That is, the wedding procession carried two sedan chairs.

Zhao Qian and Zhao Yan naturally stayed by his side, feeling happy and delighted for Zhao Kun.

When they arrived, the wedding procession circled the street, with men, women, and children standing on both sides, all offering their congratulations and best wishes to Zhao Kun.

Zhao Kun lifted the sedan curtain, cupped his hands to express his gratitude to the villagers, while Zhao Qian and Zhao Yan distributed candy and coins to the children watching.

Zhao Kun started coughing after interacting with the villagers for a short time. Zhao Yan lowered the sedan curtain and told him not to be exposed to the wind and to rest properly inside.

The journey there took a long time, but the return trip was much faster.

After picking up the bride, there were no further activities along the way; they were taken directly to the Zhao residence.

"This...isn't this...the groom?"

"Why is it a rock?"

Back at the Zhao residence, the master of ceremonies announced that the groom should help the bride alight from the sedan chair.

Zhao Kun remained motionless. The master of ceremonies called out again. He was anxious and didn't want to miss the appointed time.

Zhao Kun still didn't react. Zhao Qian stepped forward, lifted the curtain of the sedan chair, and was immediately stunned.

Then, the entire wedding procession was dumbfounded. In one of the sedan chairs, the groom Zhao Kun, who should have been sitting there, had turned into a stone.

So, the wedding procession was carrying a single stone the whole way?
People searched everywhere, even turning the bridal sedan chair upside down, but they couldn't find Zhao Kun anywhere.

In another bridal sedan chair, Cui Xiangxue, wearing a red veil, heard the noise outside but dared not get out of the chair herself.

The Zhao family was extremely worried. Where on earth had Zhao Kun gone?
Zhao Qian and Zhao Yan also looked extremely grim. They had spoken with Zhao Kun on their way back, wondering when exactly the stone had been replaced.

At this moment, the guests began to discuss among themselves, saying that such a thing happening on the wedding day would probably be talked about by the people of Wuzhen for the rest of their lives.

Madam Zhao was so anxious that she was at a loss. She quickly grabbed Zhao Qian's hand and asked him what was wrong. Zhao Qian said, "Mother, don't worry, I'll go find Brother Kun right away!"

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the Zhao residence, searching along the way.

He was furious and filled with murderous intent. If he found out who had kidnapped Zhao Kun, he would fight them to the death.

The Zhao household was in complete chaos.

Fairy Su was slightly surprised, and immediately stepped forward to say to Master Zhao, "Master Zhao, there is no need to panic. I will have the Green Bamboo Gang search everywhere."

Immediately, Fairy Su mobilized the Green Bamboo Gang to question the Snake Gang in detail, to see if Zhou Mu and his group were responsible.

The crowd waited at the Zhao residence for a full hour, but still could not find the groom, Zhao Kun.

Cui Xiangxue's legs went numb from sitting in the bridal sedan chair.

Seeing this, the master of ceremonies felt that this was not a good thing. The auspicious time had already passed, but the wedding still had to go on, and everyone couldn't just sit there waiting.

He then went forward to communicate with the Zhao family.

The Zhao family members looked at each other in bewilderment. The groom was nowhere to be seen. How could they continue the wedding?

At this moment, an elderly man of high standing in Wuzhen stepped forward and suggested, "We can find a rooster to stand in for the groom and perform the wedding ceremony with the bride."

This is called the Rooster Bow. It is a unique marriage custom in the southwestern border region of the Ji Kingdom.

When the groom is unable to attend the wedding for some reason, a rooster can be used to complete the wedding ceremony in his place. In this ceremony, the bride's sister-in-law usually holds the rooster, presses the rooster's head, and bows to the bride. After the ceremony, a red cloth is hung around the rooster's neck and it is temporarily kept in the bridal chamber.

It is said that "the aunt stands in for the wedding ceremony, and the rooster accompanies the bride in the bridal chamber."

When the old man suggested the "rooster worship," the surrounding crowd praised it as a good idea, as it was perfect for this situation.

Helpless, Master Zhao waved his hand and sighed, "Then let's find a rooster!"

Zhao Erye, who was sitting in a chair unable to move, spoke up. Zhao Yan understood and went to the yard to take the family's ever-victorious fighting rooster out of its cage.

“Grandpa, having the ever-victorious general stand in for my second brother to perform the wedding ceremony is not an insult to him.”

Zhao Yan held Ji Cheng in her arms and showed him to Master Zhao and the official in charge of ceremonies.

The master of ceremonies saw that the rooster and the young lady were both present, so everything was ready. He immediately arranged for the relevant personnel to prepare for the rooster worship ceremony.

It had been quite a few years since a rooster had been seen performing a wedding ceremony in Wuzhen, and the guests gathered around to watch the spectacle.

Cui Sheng's expression was quite unpleasant.

He thought to himself, "If I had known, I would have advised my daughter to cancel the engagement with the Zhao family. Now she's getting married to a rooster. What kind of situation is this?"

Upon learning that she was to marry a rooster, Cui Xiangxue was filled with regret.

Unfortunately, having come this far, she had no reason to back down and could only grit her teeth and persevere.

"Worship heaven and earth!"

"Two thanks to the high hall!"

"Couple greetings!"

"Send to the bridal chamber!"

Ji Cheng was completely dumbfounded. He had only ever seen such a scene in movies and TV shows in his previous life. He never expected it to happen to him one day.

And he wasn't the groom, but the rooster who was supposed to be performing the wedding ceremony!
He sighed inwardly, "Sigh, I've experienced all sorts of outrageous things in my life."

Soon after the wedding ceremony, he and Cui Xiangxue were led to the bridal chamber.

The bridal chamber was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, filled with festive red hues. Brand new quilts and mattresses, along with bright red candles, illuminated the room.

Ji Cheng wore a large red flower made of red cloth around his neck and had red ropes tied around his legs. He stayed obediently in the bridal chamber.

Cui Xiangxue, dressed in a festive red bridal gown and wearing a red veil, sat motionless on the edge of the bed with her hands and feet neatly placed.

"The second young master still hasn't been found?"

"Sigh, we've searched everywhere, even the Green Bamboo Gang helped us look, but we still can't find them!"

"This is truly bizarre. Could it be that the Second Young Master is no longer in Wuzhen?"

"Today is his big day, how could this happen..."

They searched the Zhao residence thoroughly, using every available resource, but Zhao Kun was still nowhere to be found, even as night fell.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhao were heartbroken and cried several times, their eyes red and swollen.

Zhao Yan came in, comforted Cui Xiangxue, brought her some food, and then left.

Cui Xiangxue had no appetite, so she sighed and lay down on the bed.

Tomorrow, Senior Brother Chen will come to guide her to the Three Immortals Cave.

She wondered if it was Senior Brother Chen or Senior Sister Su secretly preventing her from marrying Zhao Kun.
"What's this?"

Ji Cheng was somewhat surprised, as a piece of information had appeared in his mind at some point.

[Marry a Chicken, Follow the Chicken] (Trial Version)
[You will marry a human woman and gain the opportunity to transform into a human for one time. If you fulfill the marriage vows, you will permanently obtain this title.]

(End of this chapter)