Chapter 34

Chapter 34

I pressed her for an explanation, but Tang Tang remained tight-lipped.

“Oh, just listen to me and you’ll be fine. Don’t ask anything else for now.”

It was actually a good thing that she had this level of alertness, so I didn’t push her further.

Over the next two days, I originally intended to take Tang Tang around the town, but to my surprise, she had no interest in going out at all. She stayed in the Pawnshop the entire time, engrossed in studying the antiques.

On the morning of the 4th, Bai Jingmo visited again.

This time, he came to discuss the details of our cooperation. “Grandmother has calculated the most favorable time for our operation. It’s the 7th at 9:15 PM. Xiao Jiu, make sure you’re prepared. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me anytime.”

I nodded and made a mental note of it.

After Bai Jingmo left, Tang Tang rested her chin on her hand and stared at his retreating back for a long time, looking quite preoccupied.

She didn’t snap out of it for a while, so I walked over and tapped her shoulder. “Senior Sister, come back to earth!”

Tang Tang jumped, then reached out to pinch me. “Junior Sister! Don’t you know you can scare someone to death like that?”

I laughed and teased her, “I was just afraid your soul had been stolen away by some wild man.”

“Pah, pah, pah,” Tang Tang declared solemnly. “My heart is made of granite, impenetrable to blades and arrows. Men will only slow down the speed at which I draw my sword.”

I laughed even harder.

After joking around for a bit, Tang Tang suddenly turned serious. “The seven days of the National Day Holiday are mostly over. Junior Sister, I have to head back tomorrow.”

I really wanted her to stay in Wufu Town for a few more days; being with her was truly comfortable and happy.

However, since the operation was set for the night of the 7th, it wouldn’t be convenient for Tang Tang to be here.

I could only carefully select some local specialties from Wufu Town and pack them up for her.

That night, I heard her in the next room talking to someone on the phone. Her voice was kept extremely low. Although I couldn’t hear the words clearly, I could tell she seemed to be pleading with the other person to help her with something.

At noon on the 5th, Tang Tang left Wufu Town.

Afterward, I began preparing for the operation on the 7th.

In the blink of an eye, the evening of the 7th arrived. I tucked the Lingchi Blade and Fu Wan’s letter into my clothes, then performed a hand seal to summon Fengwu before putting the bow back.

Everything went smoothly.

At 8:30 PM, Bai Jingmo arrived to wait at the entrance of the Pawnshop.

Under his watchful gaze, I used a long bamboo pole to carefully unhook the Hexagonal Palace Lantern, holding it steadily in my hand.

The faint firefly-like glow inside the Hexagonal Palace Lantern seemed to sense something, flickering incessantly.

At 9:00 PM, I carried the lantern and, escorted by Bai Jingmo, walked toward the Zhu Pan River.

Tonight seemed cooler than usual, with the chill mixing with the dampness of the river air as it brushed against my face.

Beneath the pitch-black surface of the river, there seemed to be dark undercurrents surging.

I walked very slowly, taking measured steps.

By the time we reached the bank of the Zhu Pan River, the Auspicious Hour had arrived.

By the Riverside, the Bai Family members had long been waiting. An Altar had even been erected facing the water.

At this moment, someone was performing the Yu Steps on the Altar, seemingly conducting a ritual.

Bai Jingmo led me onto the Altar and lit three sticks of Yellow Incense on the Altar Table.

As the practitioner’s Yu Steps grew wider and the incantations more rapid, the Hexagonal Palace Lantern in my hand began to emit wisps of cold air, and the firefly light danced frantically.

*Splash… splash…*

Upon the river’s surface, eight Red Coffins gradually emerged along with the sound of rushing water, though the eight girls who had previously been sitting on them were nowhere to be seen.

Furthermore, the iron chains on the Red Coffins tonight hung naturally into the water, pulled taut beneath the surface. It looked as if they were pulling something from different directions.

Or perhaps they were forming some kind of array to welcome whatever was about to emerge from the depths.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Then, as a column of water erupted from the river and shot toward the sky, Zhao Zixun abruptly appeared on the water’s surface astride his warhorse.

This time, Zhao Zixun was followed by more than a dozen warhorses. The riders were clad in armor, clutching weapons, their faces hidden beneath helmets. All that could be seen were pairs of eyes glowing with a faint red light.
Like fire.

Like blood.

As they appeared, the eight Red Coffins began to tremble violently, their iron chains clashing together with a rhythmic clang.

At that moment, an eerie, operatic voice suddenly rang out: “The Auspicious Hour has arrived! Escort the bride!”

My heart skipped a beat.

The Bai Family really hadn’t intended to cooperate in good faith.

I reached for my Lingchi Blade, but my wrist was suddenly seized.

Before I could react, Bai Jingmo had already dragged me off the Altar, darting to the side.

I was completely bewildered, instinctively assuming Bai Jingmo was acting in defiance of the Bai Family.

The next second, a Red Coffin wrapped in iron chains shot out from the east. It streaked across the Altar and plunged toward the river.

I recognized that Red Coffin-it was the one from the Attic of the Town Head’s Residence.

If Bai Jingmo was saving me, what was the Bai Family using for the Sacrifice?

Surely they weren’t trying to fool everyone with an empty coffin?

The moment the Red Coffin appeared, the Town Head, his son, and Dou Jinsuo all emerged at the Riverside. There were even more Bai Family members present.

They all stared unblinkingly at the water, holding their breath as they waited for that critical moment.

Right then, a familiar voice suddenly cried out from inside the Red Coffin: “Auntie, save me!”

It was Tang Tang!

I couldn’t believe my ears. Hadn’t Tang Tang already left Wufu Town on the 5th? I was the one who helped her book the carpool!

I whipped my head toward Bai Jingmo, my eyes fixed on him in a demanding glare.

Bai Jingmo’s eyes flickered; he was clearly feeling guilty.

I wanted nothing more than to pounce on him and tear him apart, but there was no time. The Red Coffin had already hit the water and was diving into the Zhu Pan River with unstoppable momentum.

Tang Tang kept screaming, “Auntie! Auntie, save me!”

My heart twisted with pain. Tang Tang must have been terrified by the Red Coffin. Her aunt must usually be very good to her for her to be calling out for her like this now.

But I couldn’t dwell on that, because I saw that the iron chains on the Red Coffin were now being held by Zhao Zixun.

With a flick of Zhao Zixun’s hand, one end of the Red Coffin submerged into the water.

I bit my finger and quickly began drawing the Thunder Summoning Talisman that Liu Junyan had taught me in my palm. I would blast Zhao Zixun first and worry about the rest later!

But before I could finish the Blood Rune, a synchronized chanting suddenly erupted from all around us. It felt like a net, descending from above to envelop everything.

Not far away, by the Riverside, stood a tall woman.

Her figure was shrouded in the darkness of the night, making it impossible to see her face, but I could feel a bloodthirsty aura radiating from her!

*Bang! Clang!*

As the net of incantations pressed down, there was a sudden commotion, and the iron chain in Zhao Zixun’s hand… snapped!

The Red Coffin, which was already halfway submerged, finally came to a halt.

The Coffin Nails fell to the ground one by one.

With a heavy thud, the lid was thrown open, and Tang Tang, dressed in a Red Wedding Dress, hopped out from within.

The Bai Family members tried to intercept her, but dozens of figures in black suddenly materialized out of thin air, forcibly driving the Bai Family members back.

Tang Tang flipped Bai Jingmo off with her right middle finger and even made a face at him.

I felt Bai Jingmo’s body stiffen.

Tang Tang, however, had already started running toward the woman in the darkness, crying out as she ran, “Auntie, you’re finally here! Waaaah, I knew you loved me the most!”

The woman grabbed Tang Tang by the ear, making her yelp in pain, and shoved her into a car.

Just as the car door was about to close, Tang Tang, clutching her throbbing ear, leaned out of the window and shouted to me, “Junior Sister, I’m heading out first! Let’s talk on the phone!”