Chapter 306

Chapter 306

“Everyone, we’re outsiders who came to join the feast today. From what you’re saying, has the Xie Family’s daughter been married several times already?” Qin Nan asked in a deliberately gossipy tone.

His nerves were taut as he posed the question.

Although the ghosts currently looked human and showed no signs of danger, they were still ghosts. Who knew whether they might suddenly spring up and devour him? Qin Nan could not help feeling uneasy.

And the ghosts?

The NPCs gave Qin Nan knowing smiles when they saw him, but answered his question amicably enough.

“That’s right. The Xie Family’s daughter has married many times. Today is the joyous day when she takes her thirty-seventh husband.”

The thirty-seventh…

Qin Nan immediately recalled what Miss Xie had told Jian Fan yesterday.

Miss Xie had said she wanted to take Jian Fan as her thirty-seventh husband. That meant Fang Kang should have been the thirty-sixth. If they were endlessly repeating the same day, she should still be taking her thirty-sixth husband today. Yet the NPC said this was the thirty-seventh. That meant that even though everything appeared identical, certain things were still changing.

The number of grooms was increasing, for one, and Squire Xie’s choices changed according to Miss Xie’s preferences.

Qin Nan rapidly analyzed the clues in his mind while putting on an astonished expression. “Thirty-seven? How old is the Xie Family’s daughter?”

“Miss Xie is sixteen this year.”

Qin Nan was not surprised. Since she could marry every day and was very likely trapped at this age, it would not matter if she married thirty-seven times at sixteen. Even adding another zero to that number would be perfectly possible.

Outwardly, however, Qin Nan looked incredulous. “She’s only sixteen and is already marrying for the thirty-seventh time? That’s… that’s…”

Qin Nan appeared too shocked to speak.

And the NPC?

Qin Nan had expected the NPC to reveal some sort of clue. Instead, the guest merely smiled mysteriously and asked, “Impressive, isn’t it?”

Qin Nan fell silent.

“Very impressive,” Qin Nan said with complete sincerity. How could it not be impressive? She had them trapped here right now, with their lives constantly in danger.

The guest laughed at his response, then said, “Young man, I like your cheerful nature. Since you’re to my taste, I’ll do a good deed today and let you in on something.”

Qin Nan immediately perked up. “What is it?”

“Our Miss Xie admires strength,” the NPC said mysteriously.

Qin Nan, who had expected an important clue, fell silent again.

That was it?

This?

He had learned that yesterday. Did he really need this NPC to tell him?

Even so, Qin Nan had to play along and look surprised. “What astonishing news.”

The guest failed to detect the meaning beneath Qin Nan’s tone and chuckled merrily. “Right? I wouldn’t tell just anyone.”

Qin Nan went numb.

But he was still counting on these NPCs for other clues, so he could only continue the conversation. “Besides admiring strength, what other standards does Miss Xie use to choose a husband?”

“Looks, of course,” the guest replied as if it were obvious.

Qin Nan already knew that too.

So he pressed, “Anything else?”
“No,” the guest said.

The questioning had amounted to nothing.

Qin Nan was about to ask something else when a burst of noise came from outside. The NPC who had been speaking with him turned toward it, then excitedly called to the other guests, “The bridal sedan is here! Come on, let’s go watch the excitement.”

It was not only the NPCs speaking with Qin Nan. All the other guests surged toward the entrance as well.

Qin Nan returned to Jian Fan’s side.

“Nothing useful,” Qin Nan said.

Jian Fan had heard the conversation too. He was already on his feet and walking toward the entrance.

The scene unfolded exactly as it had the previous day. Miss Xie kicked the door of the bridal sedan, and only then did the matchmaker escort the groom out.

Qin Nan’s group stood at the entrance.

The instant the groom stepped out of the sedan, all of them fixed their eyes on him.

Although his face was covered by a red veil, they could still make out his build. This groom was very tall, even sturdier than Fang Kang had been. And that physique…

Qin Nan, Jian Fan, and Qin Weiyi all turned involuntarily to look at Lu Jing.

“Why are you looking at me?” Lu Jing asked, utterly confused.

Qin Weiyi said nothing. He merely reached out and patted Lu Jing on the shoulder.

Lu Jing remained bewildered.

Qin Nan gave him a sympathetic look as well.

Was the groom’s build not modeled precisely after Lu Jing’s? Lu Jing himself was still alive and well, though, so the groom’s true nature remained a mystery.

Miss Xie had already led the groom inside.

Another lively burst of firecrackers sounded at the entrance. Qin Nan’s group followed the crowd into the main hall.

They went through the wedding bows again. Once the bows were finished, Miss Xie briskly reached out and lifted the groom’s red veil.

As the veil came away, the groom’s face was revealed.

And that face…

Everyone was startled.

The groom had no face at all. There were no features, only a layer of skin wrapped around his head. Yet when Miss Xie lifted the veil, he seemed to tug at the corners of a nonexistent mouth. Then, from some unknown place, a voice emerged. “My bride.”

The voice was utterly cold, distorted with static, and sounded almost like a system notification.

“What’s going on?” Qin Nan whispered to Jian Fan beside him.

Jian Fan frowned but said nothing.

After Miss Xie lifted the veil, Squire Xie called for everyone to take their seats. The guests dispersed, and Jian Fan followed the crowd outside. Qin Nan had no choice but to set his questions aside and go with them.

But as they walked, the NPCs headed toward the wedding banquet while Jian Fan waited until no one was looking, turned sharply, and slipped through a small side door.

Qin Nan followed close behind.

The others immediately hurried after them while no one was watching.

Their group was too conspicuous as a whole, so they split into two parties and left through the doors on either side. Once they had circled around the main hall, they regrouped by the artificial lake.

All eleven of them successfully gathered there. Neither the Xie Family nor the ghosts attending the banquet seemed to have noticed anything unusual.

“Where are we going?” Standing beside the artificial lake, Qin Nan immediately turned to Jian Fan.

Jian Fan did not answer at once.

First, he made a quick survey of their surroundings.