Published at 24th of January 2021 10:38:20 AM
Chapter 72
Chapter 72 – Bridal Procession
“Yun Xie!” Jiang Xunyi’s cry of anger stunned the birds in the forest .
Yun Xie chuckled softly, “Don’t be angry, A’Xun . If you feel so upset, I can let you kiss me back!”
Jiang Xunyi made a “pei” sound . “Okay, let’s enter the city quickly . If you dare to mess around again, I will hack you up!”
He was like a teacher with a group of misbehaving children on a field trip . First, he had to scare Yu Hong, next he shouted at Yun Xie . He hauled the group into the city . But when they walked on the street, they found that this place was far from the desolate city in their imagination . On the contrary, the sound of drums rang out, the streets were bustling with excitement, and the music was clearly meant for a wedding .
When Yu Hong saw Jiang Xunyi glance over, he felt that the skin on his body tightened, and he said quickly, “Martial Uncle, I didn’t lie to you . I only told you what the people who came to ask for help said, and I didn’t miss a word!”
“I know . I just think it’s a bit weird . Isn’t it a wedding? Why isn’t there a bridegroom riding a horse in front?”
At the sight of Jiang Xunyi’s slight frown, Yu Hong immediately stepped forward and said, “Martial Uncle, why don’t I go and ask?”
Yun Xie glanced at him and was suddenly knocked on his shoulder .
Jiang Xunyi said, “Stay standing, you don’t need to do this . Yun Xie, you go ask . ”
Ma Bin quickly interjected, “Why don’t I…”
Before he could finish speaking, Yun Xie hummed in response and happily headed over to inquire about news .
Ma Bin: “…”
In all honesty, Yun Xie was indeed the most suitable person to inquire about news . His appearance was gentle and refined, one-of-kind, and he had the ability to speak like a person with people, speak like a ghost with ghosts[1] . After heading over, in just a moment, he was able to understand the whole story . Turning back, he said, “It is indeed a marriage, but it is a ghost marriage . ”
Yu Hong said, “Martial Uncle Yun, are you talking about the kind where single men and women who die are buried together to accompany one another in the afterlife?”
Yun Xie replied, “Yes . With how big the wedding ceremony is today, it can be assumed that the only child of a wealthy family in the city has died suddenly . He bought a beautiful fresh female corpse that had only been buried yesterday to be his wife . For this, the family gave the father and mother quite a sum of money to dig the corpse out of the soil again . Here, the coffin is at the back, so it’s coming here soon . She is said to be a beauty that only comes once in a hundred years, so if we want to see, we have to hurry . ”
Jiang Xunyi hummed, “Ignorant . You can even believe this kind of nonsense? If it were me…”
He originally wanted to say, “If it were me who died”, but Yun Xie’s words from before suddenly rang in his mind, and he immediately shut his mouth before reflexively looking back at Yun Xie . He found that the other was looking back at him seriously .
When their eyes met, Jiang Xunyi turned his head away first, changing the topic . “Anyways, it’s just not true . ”
Yu Hong laughed . “What Martial Uncle said is right . Even the couple who look good together will quarrel, but after one dies, they just carelessly matchmake like this . Are they not afraid that mismatched temperaments would cause loud squabbling in the underworld?”
Yun Xie smiled slightly . “It’s probably because loneliness is really terrible . But for me, there is only one person in the world that I would want to accompany me . If I die first, I will wait for him at the entrance of the Naihe Bridge[2] . If he is the one to lie in the coffin first, I would just split the earth to uncover the grave and jump down to go with him . ”
Yu Hong was confused, “Martial Uncle Yun, the words you just said, why does it… makes people feel uncomfortable for no reason?”
Without looking at Yun Xie, Jiang Xunyi flicked his fingers on Yu Hong forehead, casually saying, “What do you mean uncomfortable . If two people are are fated and love each other, of course they would wish to live and die together . If it were me, I would wish for the same . ”
These two city people messed around too much, and even facing each other, they had to speak indirectly through Yu Hong . Yun Xie’s throat felt dry and his heart was tender . Just as he was about to say a few gentle words, he suddenly heard a thunderbolt-like loud noise behind him and many people turned their heads at the same time . Separated by the dense crowd, they were not even able to make sense of what was happening before they heard someone shouting hoarsely, “The corpse is rising! The corpse is rising! The bride is going to crawl out of the coffin!”
Jiang Xunyi had just stepped forward when his arm was immediately caught by Yun Xie, who rushed to say, “I’ll go . ”
At this time, the coffin containing the female corpse shattered . As the crowd cried out, a woman in a red wedding gown staggered and stood up from the ruins . She was indeed very beautiful, but her face had turned blue and her seven orifices were bleeding . No matter how pretty she was, no one would dare to look anymore . Shocked, the people on the street screamed and fled, but they trampled each other in the stampede, and the more they ran, the more chaotic the scene became .
The woman stretched her arms, her five fingers suddenly growing until it was two feet long, and grabbed the throat of a person who was carrying the coffin next to her .
Ma Bin exclaimed and was about to draw his sword, but just after pulling only a few centimeters of the blade out, a hand suddenly reached over his side, and with a push, his sword was involuntarily sheathed .
Ma Bin looked up, and when he saw Jiang Xunyi, he said angrily, “What are you doing? Do you care about their life and death?”
Jiang Xunyi said flatly, “You don’t need to interfere . ”
Ma Bin blurted out, “You really are as vicious and inhumane as the rumors say! Cold-blooded and selfish!”
Yu Hong furiously yelled back, “What are you talking about?! You want to fight?”
“Enough!” Jiang Xunyi commanded . “Everybody shut up . If you are stupid and deaf, then observe what others are doing . This bride is clearly not an ordinary corpse . If you go up and beat her with a sword, how can you investigate the matter? Do you think everyone only relies on guts like you?”
He really didn’t care to argue with a little kid like Ma Bin . Although his manner of speaking was not angry and pretentious, the people next to him suddenly did not dare to speak again . At the same time, Yun Xie had already made his move .
The man who was carrying the coffin was already scared half to death when he saw the coffin burst open . At the sight of the grim woman stretching out five sharp fingers towards him, his soul flew away and in the moment, he forgot to dodge .
A hand was stretched out and directly grasped the wrist of the female corpse . A man’s voice shouted, “By my order, the evil spirits retreat!”
A yellow talisman attached itself to the female corpse’s forehead, and she suddenly keeled over . The more courageous people in the crowd looked back at this scene and stopped their stampede, standing still and looking over .
Although this was a world where cultivators and mortals coexisted, in the eyes of an average person, a true immortal would wield a long sword, the spiritual energy floating about them . Those who use such simple yellow talismans were generally street fortune-tellers or ghost hunters . Thinking about it this way, a ghost that can be handled by a yellow talisman is not a terrible ghost and of course is not scary .
The man carrying the coffin hurriedly said, “Thank you, little brother . It really scared me just now . ”
Yun Xie smiled . “It could be dealt with just a wave of a hand . It’s really not a zombie, and it’s nothing terrifying . Just a word of advice . This situation is likely happening because the astrological birth chart of your family’s young master does not match well with this girl . If this marriage could be canceled, you should just cancel it . ”
Jiang Xunyi, who was listening from a distance, couldn’t help laughing . Yun Xie’s words were pure nonsense . The man was dead and gone, what astrological birth chart? However, the tone he used was so serious, people stopped to listen . The passersby who had just been frightened broke out in discussions, all asking both sides to stop the marriage so as not to harm the innocent .
However, before the man’s side could give any answers, the man next to the coffin was already furious and shouted, “Where did this litte kid spewing nonsense come from! My sister and the Li family’s son are clearly a match made in heaven, which is why I am willing to send the body to the Li house . With just a few words, all of this is ruined? You liar, you’re still not running away!”
Right after he said this, a man next to Jiang Xunyi was already whispering, “What match made in heaven? It’s all nonsense . Hmph, the Yang family’s young master obviously took money from Master Li and dug out his sister from the grave to give the body away . He’s just afraid of losing the money . Of course, he has to vehemently deny . In my opinion, what this little brother said is very reasonable . Otherwise, why would the corpse rise for no reason?”
Yun Xie was not angry after being scolded, merely touched his chin and saying, “Oh, you don’t believe me? If you don’t believe me, that’s fine . I’m just casually saying this anyways . But, as a brother, you are way too careless in choosing your brother-in-law . If your sister is angry later, don’t say that I did nothing to save you . Then I’m leaving . ”
Having said that, he shook his head, seemingly helpless, took the yellow talisman off the body, and turned around to leave .
As soon as the yellow talisman fell away, the mana that was forcibly suppressed was suddenly released . Yun Xie had only turned his body halfway, and already he heard several screams coming . Among them, Young Master Yang was the most high-pitched . “Quick! Come back! Th-Th-The female corpse is rising again!”
Yun Xie turned around and said in astonishment, “Who do you want to come back? Sorry, was it me? But you obviously let me go?”
Young Master Yang was almost crying . “You can go, but put the yellow paper back! Quickly put it back… Ah, she, she, she, she is here!”
Yun Xie glanced in the direction of Jiang Xunyi in the crowd, and then slowly smiled . “That won’t work . My spiritual paper is very expensive . If I don’t diligently stay frugal and instead throw this all over the street, my wife will scold me when I go back . My family’s wife, pei, is super powerful . ”
As he spoke, he turned towards the crowd and raised his voice . “Isn’t that right, wife?”
Yu Hong smiled dumbly . “Martial Uncle Yun is really interesting . He says it like it is true, hehehe . ”
Jiang Xunyi: “…”
Very good, you both are dead!
Slight discoloration had set in on her hand, and the contrast to her originally snow-white skin only increased the horror . Just as she was about to reach Young Master Yang, he shouted hoarsely, “No, no, no, Young Master I am wrong . I will cancel this marriage, please stop her!”
At this time, the escorts from the man’s side of the family also called out from afar, “Young Master, please take care of this female ghost . No matter how much money you want, our Li family will pay!”
Yun Xie laughed, the yellow talisman twirling in his hand .
“Don’t scratch your head and pose, hurry up!”
Yun Xie heard Jiang Xunyi’s imperial decree and without hesitation, he immediately flicked his hands and pasted the yellow talisman on the forehead of the female corpse . She immediately collapsed again .
In front of Young Master Yang, who was full of tears and snot, Yun Xie’s originally not burly figure appeared extraordinarily tall . Paired with his perfect face, this added a lot to his image . The people on the street exclaimed in admiration, and Jiang Xunyi seemed to see the shining halo of the protagonist above his head .
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He looked at Young Master and couldn’t help but think, This is true cannon fodder .
His insignificance and ignorance only served to amplify the protagonist’s tall figure, his selflessness, fearlessness, and how he would heroically face death . As for himself, it really was a mess . Even as a villain, he could be so handsome, how unprofessional of him .
Thinking about it, he felt a little bit pleased .
The members of the Li family only dared to come over when the female corpse was down and immediately stated that they would send the Yang family bride back into the ground for safety, canceling this ghost marriage . Then, they invited Yun Xie to eat at their home .
Yun Xie humbly refused, “No need, there is always a reclusive hermit that appears during these so-called crisises . I am like this . Today I have successfully sent back the spirit, and you will not be in danger as long as you don’t break the ward, so leave . ”
Jiang Xunyi said in a low voice, “Go quickly, let’s find a place with only a few people to wait, we are too eye-catching . ”
Yun Xie squeezed out from the crowd, but his face was expressionless, lacking the happiness he expressed while speaking just now . It was not until he saw Jiang Xunyi, who was waiting for him in the distance, did he slightly calm down, striding over with big steps .
Jiang Xunyi said, “Did you see it clearly? How exactly did it happen, is it tricky?”
Yun Xie smiled, and when he lowered his head, he saw a little dust on the hem of Jiang Xunyi’s robe, so he bowed and patted him . Only after he completed this did he continue, “Nothing is tricky . I’m just a little angry . ”
Yu Hong: “…”
Martial Uncle Yun looked happy when he was angry, and bystanders really can’t tell…
“I could tell,” Jiang Xunyi said . “Then say, what’s hidden behind this incident?”
“Go, go, go, let’s find a place to sit down and talk, don’t drink wind on the edge of the street . I’ll find someone to pay the bill later . ”
Under the leadership of Yun Xie, the four of them found a restaurant and sat down . Without looking at the menu, Yun Xie casually ordered a whole list of dishes and a small pot of wine .
Jiang Xunyi said, “Yu Hong, Ma Bin, you two have dinner . ” He also poured Yun Xie a glass of wine . “The woman died injustly, was it caused by the Yang family or the Li family?”
Ma Bin couldn’t help but ask, “How did you know that the woman must have died injustly?”
Yun Xie sipped his wine with a smile . “Our Young Master Jiang’s ingenuity goes beyond mere insight into things . You will know in the future . Don’t interrupt your seniors, go eat . ”
He put down his wine glass and paused . Remembering what happened, the smile on his face gradually faded, and he turned to Jiang Xunyi . “A’Xun, your eyesight has always been good . For you to ask me something like this, you must have seen something just now . The woman had only died recently and her body was already discolored . In addition, it was dark purple . She was clearly suffocated to death . And when I held her hand…”
“Wait,” Jiang Xunyi suddenly interrupted, “Did you wash your hands?”
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“…”
Yun Xie gave him a look, and said sullenly, “Don’t you know what a purification spell is?”
Only then did Jiang Xunyi come around . After all, he came from the present, and it was already ingrained that not washing with water would be unclean .
Thinking of Jiang Xunyi’s terrible cleanliness addiction, Yun Xie suddenly thought of the not-guaranteed happy future and suddenly felt a little worried .
Seeing his melancholy expression, Jiang Xunyi misunderstood . He raised his arm to fill Yun Xie’s wine glass again, pushed his hand, and smiled . “Alright Brother Yun, I’m not disgusted by you . Now can we talk?”
Yun Xie recovered his spirit when he found that Jiang Xunyi’s fingertips brushed his hand . It was the smallest touch, but his heart skipped a beat, and he dryly coughed before he quickly continued . “Oh… . When I grabbed her hand, I found something similar to dust or sawdust between her nails . The time was not right, so there was no way to check it carefully, but I think it should have been left from scratching the coffin . ”
When Yun Xie spoke up to here, his complexion grew heavy . “In my opinion, this matter has nothing to do with the Li family . The family has money . After their son died, is it really that hard to find a good-looking corpse? Most likely, rumors spread that the Li family was looking for a corpse bride, and in order to get money, Young Master Yang suffocated his sister . ”
Jiang Xunyi’s knuckles knocked on the table, and he thoughtfully said, “Then I understand why the female corpse was violent . She had died unjustly, and her body carried resentment . Then, she wore the all-red wedding robes . The red color usually wards off evil spirits, but at this time it is also the easiest way to provoke bloody evil, and it will definitely cause…”
When he said that, he suddenly stopped and looked at Yun Xie . The two said in unison: “The red wedding robes!”
Yu Hong was listening to Yun Xie’s account from the side . He was very angry at first, but since he came from a big sect, he had a much better education than Ma Bin . He only listened without interjecting in the middle . At this point, he still hadn’t caught up, and seeing that the two of them had both stopped talking, he couldn’t help but ask, “Martial Uncle, what happened to the wedding dress, is there something weird?”
Jiang Xunyi said, “Do you remember what we came here for? The bridegroom always died inexplicably on the day of marriage! Previously, I thought it was nothing more than foxes and other things, but then I thought about it more and felt that there was something strange – in just one month, so many people died . For a common fox spirit just trying to gather strength, why make such a big ruckus? Now it seems that the red wedding robes happen to coincide with something, causing death . ”
After speaking all of this in one breath, Yun Xie nodded in agreement . Although the two people did not discuss this, their opinions were the same .
Jiang Xunyi continued, “Moreover, there are two things I really want to know . That is, what were the conditions of the grooms’ death, and what is happening to the women who married them . ”
Yun Xie smiled as he said, “I’ll go ask for you . ”
“In my opinion, this doesn’t need much work . Get married and then you’ll know . ”
Yun Xie’s expression looked both weird and expectant . “Get… married…?”
Although Jiang Xunyi didn’t know what he was thinking, he could tell that this person seemed to have no good intentions . He rolled his eyes at Yun Xie, and at the moment he was about to speak, and a person came up behind him, and with a move of a stool, plopped down by their table .
[1]人说人话见鬼说鬼话 – to be able to get along with different people very well
[2]奈何桥 – the bridge leading to the Underworld