Chapter 64.1 Crazy Love Season
This wasn’t the first time that the Red Jacket Lady’s family had sought a son-in-law, but Wen Shi was the first one to come out of the mountains alive. Others never even got a chance to enter the mountains. They were burned to ashes at the wedding feast. The ashes were put in bowls on a front table, mixed with incense, and as the incense burned in the second yard, the food in the bowls slowly disappeared.
Originally, they thought Wen Shi would end up like that too.
But he came back, standing outside the front gate, looking strange yet oddly distinctive.
Cats were taboos in Sealed Coffin Village, where people had produced burial goods for generations. Villagers thought cats brought bad luck. By the door, the chief attendant stared at the groom, who had features resembling a cat. For a moment, he didn’t know which one of them seemed less human.
A’Sang held Wen Shi’s slightly cold hand and kept complimenting, “Dad smells good!”
It looked like that was the only praise he knew.
In the moonlight, those enigmatic eyes that looked like a pair of mandarin ducks seemed to be half-smiling as they looked at the chief attendant. “Are you purposely keeping me from entering the bridal chamber?”
The chief attendant felt like he was waking up from a vivid dream. Under the weight of the accusing words, he turned around and led the way.
Walking back into the corridor, Wen Shi’s mood was completely different now. His soft voice reached the chief attendant’s ears, “Honestly, I don’t mind playing the maze game again. I know the way.”
He said “know the way” in a hushed tone, sending shivers down the chief attendant’s spine this time.
Seeing the chief attendant leave, the players in the hall grew curious and followed to stand at the door. The distant corridor had a tall figure in red walking alongside the chief attendant. It was obvious who had returned.
Yan Yan’s face turned pale, but he quickly regained his composure.
Being alive was good, even though Pei Wenwei would surely seek revenge. But as long as the one he opposed was in place, he never had to worry about the spotlight.
The bridal chamber was set up in the main building of the second courtyard. Several thick, long red candles were burning inside, with oil lamps as well. A’Sang waited at the door first, and Wen Shi entered shortly after. Just then, the coffin was brought in, precisely at midnight.
The chief attendant reluctantly called out, “The ritual is complete—”
The system’s cold notification tone came almost as sharp as his voice:
“Dark Wedding side quest has been completed.”
“Quest rewards have been added to the player’s inventory. Please check.”
The chief attendant exited the room. A’Sang, holding a bowl, cautiously poked half his head in from behind the door frame, calling softly, “Dad.”
Wen Shi waved, signaling that it was okay to come in.
The task was done, and there weren’t as many concerns now. A’Sang, being quite open, hopped onto the coffin directly and kept his gaze fixed on the wound on Wen Shi’s shoulder.
The skin cracked open, infected where the rain had soaked it, with the surrounding skin showing an unhealthy shade of red.
“If you’re feeling really uncomfortable, tell me,” A’Sang said seriously.
“……”
Was this a good time to transform into a zombie? Wen Shi couldn’t process this display of filial affection just yet. He had just taken out the reward calendar when he caught sight of something on A’Sang’s chest, and his gaze suddenly froze.
“This is…” There was an eye inside the vial, lifelike, just like a real one. Wen Shi felt an odd sense of familiarity.
A’Sang described Jian Qingrong’s appearance briefly, “He gouged it out.”
Wen Shi looked up abruptly. A’Sang sat on the coffin lid, his expression serious. He couldn’t be lying. So, did Jian Qingrong lose his rationality? The realization made him break into a cold sweat. After calming down, he thought again: Jian Qingrong had always been into researching various ways of death and supernatural transformations.
Staring fixedly at the eye in the vial, Wen Shi lightly tapped the vial with his finger and scolded, quite discontentedly, “I saved your life, every part of your body is closely linked to me. Who gave you permission to damage someone else’s private property?”
Speaking in a tone as stern as a school principal’s, even A’Sang instinctively tensed up.
In the eye that should have been terrifying, human-like emotions appeared. Wen Shi glimpsed a trace of guilt and reached a conclusion: it was alive.
This big eyeball was a living creature!
There were too many weird things in the game. Wen Shi had seen plenty of ghosts, but he was still surprised by this living eyeball. Jian Qingrong was undeniably human, so why did his body’s structure seem more outlandish than the mutated sea monster?
His myriad questions remained unanswered, but conveniently, A’Sang spoke up, shifting Wen Shi’s attention. “Dad, what are we going to do next?”
The child expressed guilt, “Since I came, I haven’t really been of much help.”
All he did was eat a meal. He hadn’t contributed much else.
…Look at this modest child.
Wen Shi’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke with a slightly dry voice, “You’ve done a lot. It might get troublesome from here, though. But they’re all grown-up worries.”
A’Sang asked humbly for guidance.
Wen Shi explained concisely, “The candidate I was paired with is gone now. The show’s producers will send another eventually. Earlier, I could choose my match on the dating show, but not anymore. The newcomer is bound to be more difficult to deal with.”
A’Sang asked, “Does Dad want to form a pair, then?”
Wen Shi thought for a moment and nodded, “Pairing up a few more times might bring unexpected gains.”
Like boosting achievements or something.
Based on the pattern he had deciphered, as the game became more outrageous, the easier it was to earn achievements. Even though the current achievement bonuses were baffling, having something was better than nothing.
The sound of rain outside gradually lessened. A’Sang fell silent, lost in thought.
Wen Shi was still dressed in the ominous-looking wedding robe, his soft cat tail curled up as he leaned against the bed, quietly studying the calendar.
July tenth, favorable for construction, travel, burials, rituals, weddings.
There were no mentions of things to avoid.
Wen Shi analyzed that this calendar was likely compiled from a ghost’s perspective. Reflecting on the daytime game segments, Hide and Seek was centered around Li Xiaoluo’s story, the side quest involved a burial. Red Jacket Lady was eager to utilize a boy for the human foundation establishment event, aligning with construction. The Dark Wedding confirmed the wedding aspect.
“It’s like a range of topics for the questions.” The game’s daily segments were designed according to the suitable activities of that day.
He flipped to the next page.
July fourteenth, favorable for opening markets, acquiring livestock, breeding livestock.
While Wen Shi was deeply engrossed in studying the calendar, A’Sang’s pitch-black eyes flickered a few times. With movements even gentler than a cat’s, he slipped out of the room.
He decoded Wen Shi’s words: to choose a match on his own, one that is weaker and lacking.
The kid was incredibly swift. In the village under the blood moon, many lurking malevolent creatures hadn’t even had a chance to strike before he vanished.
Upon reaching a less ominous house, the child slowed down and proactively knocked on one of the doors.
Confirming the presence of a child through the gap, a man with a deformed head in his teens opened the door, revealing a gluttonous expression. He had been hungry for too long, and the taste of a child must be especially delicious.
“The people in the grand mansion aren’t very welcoming to me.” The child held onto his bowl tightly. “It’s really cold outside. Could you give me some hot water to drink?”
It was well-known in Sealed Coffin Village that the Red Jacket Lady had brought in a son-in-law with a child. The deformed man entered the kitchen, sharpening a knife, and asked knowingly, “Where’s your dad?”
“In the bridal chamber.”
The deformed man’s knife-sharpening hand paused. “He’s back?”
The child nodded.
Before the deformed man could process this fully, the child spoke with innocence, “Dad said that family is really wicked, but he passed the test. He’s definitely become a son-in-law they can’t get rid of now. All the family’s property will be his in the future.”
Hearing about property, the deformed man’s mind began to wander. The Red Jacket Lady’s family was a super wealthy household in the village.
“Dad’s worried that one person can’t manage so much wealth alone. He wants to find a good person who’s willing to accept me, to share the family responsibilities together.” To make sure he was understood, A’Sang deliberately spoke slowly. He looked toward the kitchen. “Uncle, I think you’re a good person.”
The deformed man put down a knife he hadn’t washed for years, and his face lit up with a broad smile as he came out, as if he had transformed into a different person. “The little kid has such good judgment. Uncle is the most compassionate.”
A’Sang smiled lightly, “But Dad fell for a trick once. He said this time he’d evaluate people thoroughly. Tomorrow, is Uncle willing to compete with others for the position?”
“……”
Who taught this kid idioms without a care? If he weren’t so young, the deformed man would have thought the kid was messing with him.
The eye in the vial also widened, almost wanting to jump out and give this little scum a beating.
“Y-yeah…” A’Sang got excited, his speech becoming unclear again. He found his focus once he touched the bowl. “The program chooses one from many people. Your introduction is the best. I’ll go look for it. Tomorrow, Uncle takes the position.”
The deformed man reasoned it out, understanding the child’s meaning: “Crazy Love Season” was still being recorded. With Red Jacket Lady gone, there was one less candidate. Tomorrow, he would actively compete. Before that, he’d instigate some villagers who weren’t up to his level to sign up as well. Relying on the contrast among peers, he would definitely stand out easily among a group of people with lesser skills.
It was a good idea. The deformed man patted the child’s head.
A’Sang looked up at him for a moment.
This guy’s head is so big. It must be satisfying to whack. A’Sang resisted the urge to use the cracked bowl to smash his head open.
The deformed man led the child outside and gestured to a few houses of not much significance. “Don’t say it was me who told you, tell them your dad intends to bring a substantial dowry and find a new match. Those folks will surely be willing to participate.”
A’Sang noted the directions and thanked politely, “Kind Uncle, I’ll go then.”
The deformed man automatically slipped into the role of a stepfather, waving affectionately behind him. “Be careful on the slippery roads when it gets dark. Don’t knock on the wrong door, okay?”
…
Bridal chamber.
Wen Shi put down the calendar. The fifteenth day of July was marked “everything is favorable” and “all things are auspicious.” Any lingering hope was dispelled, making him realize he must prepare for the opening of the Ghost Gate.
Lost in thought about strategies to deal with it, he glanced sideways and froze at the empty space above the coffin.
Where’s my child?
Where’s my innocent and well-behaved child?!
“A’Sang?” Wen Shi opened the wardrobe, checked every possible hiding spot, even lifting the coffin lid.
The ash from the incense choked him. Wen Shi poked it a few times with the wooden sword, sensing something underneath. When he retrieved it, he found a wooden carving. Dressed in a black mourning robe, Red Jacket Lady’s features were intricately carved on it.
Wearing red clothing in Sealed Coffin Village was seen as borrowing longevity, so the contrast of red and black on this day of great joy indicated that Red Jacket Lady’s father was still clinging to hope. He foolishly attempted to use this method to extend his daughter’s life.
Wen Shi dusted off his hands, disdainfully tossed the wooden carving back, and focused on finding the child.
Given A’Sang’s capabilities, he couldn’t have been taken away without a sound. The most likely scenario was that he had ventured out on his own.
Just as Wen Shi worried, a small figure crawled in through the window, the bowl entering the room before the person did. “Dad.”
Wen Shi stood up and scooped him in his arms. “Where did you go?”
“I wandered outside a bit.” A’Sang, who had spoken a lot that day, sounded tired. “Let’s sleep.”
The eye in the vial could only wish it could speak.
Wen Shi took off the wedding robe. The wound on his shoulder was beyond his control. He had already consumed health-restoring potions, the rest depended on his own healing abilities.
If the wound kept closing without fully healing, he would lose a bit of health every few hours, forcing him to buy more potions to replenish it. The game was indeed a savvy merchant.
Before sleeping, Wen Shi changed into a white robe, lying on the bed alongside A’Sang and the eye in the vial.
Just before he closed his eyes, Wen Shi turned his head and said, “Dad’s going to speak a few heart-to-heart words to you. It’s almost the Ghost Festival, so we two should be cautious and not draw too much attention.”
A’Sang bit the corner of the blanket, images of the wedding scene playing in his mind.
He counted on his fingers, “One, two…”
Including humans and ghosts, Dad had definitely taken down more than fourteen today.
He cooked during the day, Dad feasted in the afternoon, and when properly counted, it was his turn again tomorrow morning. But he hadn’t finished digesting his food yet, so he needed to figure out a solution.
His chest turned icy, bones almost freezing into bits. A’Sang discontentedly tapped the vial, making the chill spread even more fiercely. He had tried many methods, finally putting the source of cold beside his pillow. The eyeball in the vial could perfectly see Wen Shi’s sleeping face, and then he finally calmed down.
The room was silent.
A tranquil night passed by.
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