Volume 1 Chapter 6 - Demonic Wedding. The Crown Prince in the wedding palanquin. Part 1

One of the palanquin bearers carelessly stepped on his arm and cried out first. The escorting party immediately burst into shouts of - well done! Shuh, shuh, shuh, shuh - in a single impulse they bared their glittering swords with cries of "What's the matter?! You've come?!", not knowing where to hide first. The street was filled with clamour, but Xie Lian took a closer look, and contrary to expectations, the headless body was not a human, but a wooden doll.

- How ugly! - Fu Yao spoke up again.

A waiter carrying a copper kettle came up, and Xie Liang, remembering his recent idleness, inquired:

- ''Master, I saw these people making noise in the street the other day, but today they are here again. Why do they do this?

- To spell death," replied the waiter.

- Ha-ha-ha-ha...

- Do they want to lure away the evil spirit of the newlywed? - Xie Lian was not surprised in the least.

- Why else would they do that? - said the waiter. - The father of one of the brides promised a fortune as a reward to whoever finds his daughter and catches the evil spirit. Now this crowd has been making such a ruckus all day long and spoiling the atmosphere.

The father who promised the reward was, of course, the same official. Xie Lian looked at the hastily made female head lying on the ground again and guessed that they were going to use this doll as a fake bride.

Barely listening to the explanation, Fu Yao muttered in disgust:

- If I were an evil spirit of a newlywed and was presented with something so ugly, I would immediately destroy this city.

- Fu Yao, your speeches don't sound like those of a celestial," said Xie Lian. - Also, could you get rid of the habit of rolling your eyes? At first, it's better to set small goals for yourself. For example, something like 'roll your eyes only five times a day'.

- If you set him the goal of rolling his eyes fifty times a day, he still won't have enough! - Nan Feng retorted.

At this time, a young man holding an enthusiastic attitude - apparently one of the leaders - suddenly squeezed through from the depths of the crowd and raised his hand with words:

- Listen to me! Listen to me! This absolutely cannot go on like this! How many times have we passed here in the last few days? Has the evil spirit of the newlywed shown itself?

All the men began to express their displeasure, agreeing with him. Then the young man continued:

- In my opinion, if we started the matter, we should finish it. Let's go straight up to Yujunshan Mountain, search it all together, grab that freak and kill him! I'll lead you! Brave and honourable men, follow me. Let's kill the freak and split the reward money!

At first, only sparse shouts of approval came from the crowd, but gradually, from one person to another, more and more people joined in with a growing buzz, until all of them, contrary to expectations, merged into a single grandiose consensual chorus.

- Freak? Master, what's with that freak they're talking about? - Xie Lian asked.

- ''They say the evil spirit of the newlywed is the ugly man who lives on Mount Yujunshan,'' said the waiter. - It was because he was too ugly that no woman would love him, so he developed a hatred in his heart and deliberately kidnapped other people's brides, preventing them from getting married.

Such a thing was not mentioned in the scroll from Linwen Palace, so Xie Lian clarified:

- Is there any evidence? Isn't this just speculation?

- Who knows,'' replied the teahouse waiter. - They say a lot of people have seen him. As if his face was wrapped in bandages, his eyes were angry, but he couldn't speak, only wheezed and growled like a dog.

- A bandage on the face does not necessarily mean ugliness, - Fu Yao said. - It is also possible that the reason is his exceptional beauty, which he does not want to show to people.

- Who knows," said the waiter after a while of silence. - Anyway, I haven't met him.

At that moment the voice of a young girl was heard in the street:

- You... You don't listen to him, don't go. It's dangerous on Yujunshan Mountain.....

The one who spoke these words was hiding around the corner of the street; she was the young Ying who had come to Nanyang Temple last night to ask for a blessing.

When Xie Lian saw her, his cheek immediately became slightly sore and he unconsciously raised his hand to rub the sore spot.

As soon as Young Peng noticed the girl, he changed his face and pushed her with words:

- Men are having a conversation, why is some girl sticking her nose in?

From his push, young Ying trembled slightly, but after gathering her courage, she again said in a quiet voice:

- Don't listen to him. It doesn't matter whether you are organising a fake bride send-off or going to search the mountain, both are so dangerous! You're not going to go to your death, are you?

- That's a nice way of putting it! - said the young man. - Everyone here is going to risk their lives to fight evil on behalf of the people. What about you? You think only of yourself. You didn't agree to pretend to be a newlywed in a palanquin. Even for all of us, for all the people, you didn't have a shred of courage, and now you've come back to disturb us. What's on your mind?

With each new phrase, he jostled the girl, causing the people watching them from the shop to frown. Xie Lian lowered his head, unwinding the bandages on his wrist and listening to the waiter's words: 

- This leader of theirs, young man Peng, had previously plotted to trick a girl into dressing up as a fake bride, his lips were like honey smeared on her. The young lady did not agree, and now he showed his true face.

Outside, the crowd of men were still clamouring:

- Don't stand there blocking the road! Move aside, move aside!

Young Ying, seeing this state of affairs, completely blushed, and tears came to her eyes:

- You... Why are you saying that?

The young man uttered again: 

- Did I tell the truth or not? When I asked you to pretend to be a bride, you didn't agree, did you?

- I didn't dare, but you shouldn't have cut... cut my skirt either..." Young Ying retorted.

As soon as she mentioned that incident, the young man immediately jumped up as if he had been stepped on and exclaimed, pointing at her:

- "An ugly girl like you shouldn't be throwing mud at people! Did I cut your skirt? You take me for a blind man! Didn't you want to be naked in front of people and cut it? I don't know if anyone even looked at your torn skirt because you're so ugly! Don't cast aspersions on me!

Nan Feng couldn't listen to this any longer, and the tea cup shattered into shards! - The tea cup shattered into shards in his hands. Just as he was about to get up from his seat, a white shadow suddenly swept past him. Peng, who had jumped three chi[1], shouted loudly, covering his face with his palm, and collapsed on his arse on the ground, scarlet blood dripping from his fingers.

Before anyone could see what had happened, he was already sitting on the ground. Everyone thought that it was young Ying's handiwork, but who would have thought that when they turned round to look at her, they wouldn't see her anymore - the white-clothed Daoist had shielded the girl from the crowd.

Xie Lian put his hands into his sleeves and without looking back, he looked at young Ying with a smile. Leaning slightly to be at her eye level, he asked:

- Young lady, may I ask if I may invite you to enjoy a cup of tea?

The face of Young Leader Peng sitting on the ground was throbbing with a searing pain, as if it had been struck by a ganbian[2]. Except that the Daoist obviously had no weapons on him, and the young man didn't notice how he made the throw and what he used. Young Peng stood up, staggered, and grabbed his sword with a shout:

- This man is using sorcery!

As soon as the crowd behind him heard the word 'sorcery', all the people also bristled their swords. But no one expected that Nan Feng, standing behind Xie Lian, would suddenly strike with his palm - snap! Following the sound, the pillar fractured.

At the sight of this inhuman strength, all the men's faces changed, and Young Leader Peng's heart was filled with fear, though he continued to persevere, rushing towards them with a loud shout:

- Today I have been defeated. What doctrine are you followers of? Give us your names so that in the future, we can... can... can... can... again .

Nan Feng did not condescend to answer, but Fu Yao spoke instead:

- No question, no question. He is from the Huge Temple.....

Nan Feng threw another punch, and the two began to fight as if nothing had happened. Xie Lian had originally intended to invite the girl to sit in the tea house, order her a cup of fruit tea and some snacks, but she wiped away her tears and left the scene, so he could only stare at her departing figure and sigh, and then return to the shop alone. As he stepped inside, the waiter reminded him:

- Don't forget to pay for the column.

After that, after sitting down, Xie Lian turned to Nan Feng and repeated:

- Don't forget to pay for the column.

The young man didn't reply anything.

- First of all, let's get down to business,'' Xie Lian said. - Who will lend me some spiritual strength so that I can tap into the spiritual connection to verify the information?

Nan Feng extended his hand, and Xie Lian shook it as if making a vow - one could say they had made a very simple pact that allowed Xie Lian to re-enter the spirit link.

As soon as he did so, he immediately heard Linwen:

- Your Highness, have you finally borrowed spiritual powers? Is everything going well for you in the north? What about the war spirits who have offered their help?

Xie Lian raised his head, glancing at the pillar that was shattered by Nan Feng's palm strike and at Fu Yao resting idly with his eyes covered, and said:

- Each of the war spirits have their own strengths, they are quite talented.

- In that case, General Nanyang and General Xuanzhen should really be congratulated," Linwen laughed. - After all, according to Your Highness' words, these two war spirits are sure to have a great future and their ascension is just around the corner!

At the same instant, Mu Qing's cold voice rang out:

- He didn't notify me that he was going on a journey and left unauthorised. I didn't know anything about it.

Xie Lian thought to himself: "Still, you've really been doing nothing but chastising the spiritual bond all day long..."

- Your Highness, where are you now? - Linwen continued. - The North is under the personal patronage of General Pei, and incense rituals are performed for him in abundance. If Your Highness has a need, you can stay at one of his Clear Radiance temples for a while.

- No need to worry," Xie Lian said. - There were no Clear Radiance Temples in the vicinity, so we are staying at the Nanyang Temple nearby. ''I have one question, Linwen, regarding the evil spirit of the newlywed. Do you have any more information about him?

- I do," Linwen confirmed. - 'Literally just now, my palace determined the rank. "Ferocious."

- "Ferocious!"

In Linwen's palace, any foul creatures that wreak havoc in the human world are categorised into four ranks according to their strength: 'evil', 'cruel', 'ferocious', 'unrivalled'.

"Evil" kills single people, "cruel" can destroy a family, "ferocious" can exterminate an entire city. And the most terrible "unrivalled" - when he comes into the world, he brings misfortune to the whole country and ruins the people, causing chaos in the Celestial Empire.

The evil spirit of the newlywed hiding on Mount Yujunshan suddenly turned out to be "fierce", second only to the "unrivalled". Hence, the people who saw it could hardly leave unharmed.

Therefore, when Xie Lian left the spiritual bonding circle and informed the others, Nan Feng said:

- So that ugly man in bandages is mostly a false rumour. Or else they just saw something else.

- There is another possibility,'' Xie Lian remarked. - For example, under some special circumstances, the evil spirit of the newlywed will not or cannot harm people.

Fu Yao grumbled unhappily:

- ''Linwen Palace is truly inefficient - it took them so long to determine the rank. What good is that going to do!

- At least we have gained some insight into the opponent's strength," Xie Lian concluded. - However, since he's 'ferocious', the magic powers of the newlywed's evil spirit are extremely powerful, it's completely impossible to deceive him with a dummy. If we are going to lure him out, the attendants can't be fake puppets for diversion, also can't carry weapons. Most importantly, the bride must also be a living person.

- Let's look for a woman on the streets of the city, offer her as a decoy, and that's it," Fu Yao said.

Nan Feng however disagreed:

- No good.

- Why not? - Fu Yao was surprised. - Will not want? Give her money, then she will.

- Fu Yao," said Xie Lian, "even if some girl agrees, it's better not to use this method either. The evil spirit of the newlywed has a rank of 'ferocious'. If by chance we miss it, nothing will happen to us, but if the bride is captured, a weak woman will not be able to escape or resist, I'm afraid she will only die.

- Then, if you can't look for a woman, you can only look for a man," Fu Yao summarised.

- Where are you going to find a man who would agree to dress up... - began Nan Feng.

Before he could finish his sentence, both young men's gazes converged at the same point.

Xie Lian was still smiling softly:

-?

Evening, Nanyang Temple.

A bare-headed Xie Lian walked out from the inside of the temple.

As soon as the spirits that watched over the temple gates saw him, Nan Feng immediately fiercely reprimanded:

- Fuck! - And rushed away.

Xie Lian was speechless for a while, and then asked:

- What was he like that about?

If one were to call someone to take a look, anyone would have seen at a glance that there was a handsome young man with a gentle appearance in front of him.

However, it was precisely because of this that Nan Feng's temper flared up. A man of exceptional beauty dressed in a woman's wedding garb - the kind of picture many people would not be able to look at without taking their eyes away. For example, Nan Feng. He might just not have been able to accept it, which was why he reacted so violently.

Xie Lian noticed that Fu Yao remained standing still and was now casting an ambiguous look at him, and asked:

- Do you have something to say?

Fu Yao nodded slightly:

- If I were an evil spirit newlywed and someone sent me a woman like this.....

- Would you immediately destroy this city? - Xie Lian finished for him.

- No. I would just kill that woman,'' Fu Yao said in an icy voice.

Xie Lian smiled:

- 'In that case, it only remains to be said that I am fortunately not a woman.

- I suppose,'' Fu Yao continued, ''You'd better ask the spiritual connection now if there's a celestial who would be willing to teach you the art of changing your appearance. It would be more useful.

There were indeed a few immortals in the Heavens who were fluent in the reincarnation technique for some reason. However, Xie Lian was afraid that he wouldn't have the time to learn this technique right now. In addition, Nan Feng had returned with a green face: having finished scolding, he had calmed down considerably - in this, the war spirit truly resembled the general he served like two drops of water. Xie Lian noted that it was getting darker, and hurried over:

- Enough! Under the wedding veil, everyone is the same.

With these words, he started to cover himself, however, Fu Yao raised his hand, stopping him:

- Don't be in a hurry. You don't know how the evil spirit of a newlywed kills people. If he rips the cover off your head and discovers the deception, in the heat of anger, the spirit can be unpredictable. Wouldn't that cause a lot of trouble?

Xie Lian recognised these words as reasonable, but still took a step forward, followed by a cracking sound.

To tell the truth, the red wedding garment that Fu Yao had found for him didn't really fit him.

It was originally designed for a frail woman, so when Xie Lian put it on, it didn't fit at the waist, but when he tried to lift his arms or move his legs, he felt like he was in a tight fetter, and when he tried to move more freely, the fabric was torn. Just as he was trying to find the tear, a voice came from the temple gate:

- Excuse me...

Trinity turned at the voice and found young In holding the rolled-up white garment with both hands; the girl stood on the threshold of the temple and looked at them timidly.

- I remember," she said, "that I saw you here last night, so I thought I'd come and see if I could meet you again... I've washed the clothes, I'll put them here. Thank you so much for yesterday and today!

Xie Lian was about to smile at her, but he suddenly remembered how he looked now, so he decided that he shouldn't talk too much and scare people after all.

How was he to know that not only would young Ying not get angry at him, but on the contrary, she would take a step closer with words:

- If it's for you... If you like it, can I help?

- No, Miss, don't misunderstand," Xie Lian replied with a stammer. - I don't have any such hobbies at all.

- I know, I know," Young Ying said hurriedly, "I meant that if you don't mind, I could help you. You... You want to catch the evil spirit of the newlywed, don't you?

The tone of her voice, as well as her face, rose slightly as she spoke:

- I... I can alter clothes, I have both needles and thread with me. Anything that doesn't fit well, I can fix. I can also do your make-up and hair. I'll help you!

Xie Liang was speechless.

When the time for two sticks of incense to burn had passed, Xie Lian walked out of the temple with his head covered for the second time.

This time, the bridal bridal veil was already on him; Nan Feng and Fu Yao looked like they wanted to look at it, but in the end still decided to save their eyes. The palanquin they had found was at the temple gate, the carefully selected porters had also been waiting for a long time. As the moon rose in the night sky, His Highness the heir to the throne, dressed in his wedding robes, took his seat in a large red-coloured wedding palanquin.

[1] The chi is a Chinese traditional measure of length, roughly equal to the English foot. Its value has gradually changed over time, from 22.5 cm (12th century BC) to 33.33 cm (modern times).

[2] Ganbian (钢鞭) is an ancient Chinese weapon, a metal whip in the shape of a bamboo stem.