Chapter 35

Author: 甜画舫
Tags: Supernatural, Horror, Devoted Love,万人迷, Modern

But the land surrounding the house was covered in inedible red vines. Clearly, no one had taken proper care of it for years.
The moment they pushed the door open, a whole cloud of dust burst out, making Tang Yu rub his nose.

If they were planning to stay here tonight, they would need a thorough cleaning.

Yu Gu set Tang Yu down.
“Wife, this is it!”

At that moment, Tang Yu heard a system notification:

…Huh? A player has arrived?

Tang Yu blinked, looked at Yu Gu—who had already rolled up his sleeves ready to start cleaning—and said:

“Yu Gu, you don’t need to clean this.”

Tang Yu planned to have the players serve as free labor.
But when he saw Yu Gu looking a bit disappointed after being stopped, Tang Yu softened his tone:

“You’re still pregnant right now. You can’t get too tired.”

Yu Gu: “!!!”

That sounded like…

“It’s Li Sheng!”
The players entering the Li Sheng dungeon outside the sedan chair instantly recognized the “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix” tune. They all turned toward the source of the suona sound.

At the end of the pitch-black mountain path, a thick fog suddenly rolled in.

Sheets of spirit money surged out of the fog. A cold wind blew through. The wedding procession passed under the red lanterns hanging at every household—the red glow landing on everyone’s shoulders, looking like flickering life-flames that could be blown out at any moment.

Why was Shen Junxing here?

Through the sedan window, Tang Yu saw Shen Junxing’s anxious expression. He seemed to be searching for something. Only when he reached the front of the sedan did he show a hint of joy.

“小郁……咪咪！”

He closed his eyes and collapsed into deep sleep in the passenger seat.

Tang Yu heard Yu Gu’s voice beside his ear:

“We’ll be there soon.”

There? Where?

A voice in the back of Tang Yu’s mind seemed to answer:

“Of course, you’re returning to Twin Happiness Village.
You’re marrying Yu Gu there.”

…Twin Happiness Village?

Thick eyelashes trembled. Tang Yu opened his eyes.

Outside, the sky was dim—he didn’t know when the sun had set. Looking around, the endless mountain range under the darkening sky looked like crouching beasts… or shifting walls.

“Wife, you’re awake?”

The van jolted violently along the mountain road, shaking Tang Yu.
He looked blankly toward the driver’s seat—Yu Gu was gripping the wheel, foot pressed hard on the accelerator, speeding forward as if in a sprint.

Tang Yu was startled by Yu Gu speeding on such a steep mountain road. His heart almost leapt out of his throat—

—but that image of something crawling out of his throat made him feel strangely uncomfortable. He didn’t know why. Uneasy, he pressed a pale hand against his chest.

A mountain wind carrying hints of floral scent blew through the car window, lifting the hair on Tang Yu’s forehead.

Then he heard something sharp—Yu Gu had run over something with the van.
Before Tang Yu could think further, the suona blared louder. He instinctively looked ahead—

A village silhouette appeared.

It looked like an ordinary countryside village—wheat fields by the entrance, and a pagoda tree growing there.

The pagoda tree’s branches were strikingly red and white—the red from twisting vines, the white from fluttering cloth strips.

But Tang Yu’s attention wasn’t on the branches.
His gaze drifted unconsciously toward the empty space beneath the tree.

He felt… that something should appear there.

What would appear?

The van entered the village, but Tang Yu couldn’t help turning to look—staring at the base of that pagoda tree.

“Wife, don’t stick your head out while I’m driving~”

A cold wind brushed Tang Yu’s face and neck.

Then he saw it—
A white figure standing under the pagoda tree.

He couldn’t see its face, but the feeling it gave him was—

It was staring straight at him.

The wind blew, lifting its long black hair.

“Whooo—”

Cold strands seemed to brush the exposed skin on his neck.

Tang Yu’s heart stopped for a moment. Panicking, he ducked back inside.
Yu Gu’s concerned voice sounded:

“What’s wrong? Feeling cold, wife?”

Tang Yu’s bloodshot blue eyes trembled as he glanced at the rearview mirror. In the darkening sky, the pagoda tree grew smaller as they drove away.
The base of the tree was empty. Nothing was there.

“N-nothing.”
His heart raced wildly. He quickly reached to raise the car window.

He wasn’t fast enough.

A piece of thin spirit money slipped through the gap in the closing window. It landed lightly against his neck with a soft rustle—like a fragile kiss.

Yu Gu slammed on the brakes.
Frowning, he stared ahead.

“Aiya, aiya, so many dirty things.”

Tang Yu clutched his neck, trembling.
In front of the vehicle stood a group of villagers dressed in mourning clothes—men and women, young and old—blocking their path.

This was clearly a funeral procession.
A black coffin.
Two tall paper effigies held aloft.
Someone blowing suona.
Someone scattering spirit money.

Yu Gu honked, the blaring horn mixing strangely with the funeral music—yet still clearly meant to drive them away.

But the villagers stood firm.

One even pointed at the van and cursed:

“Ptui! Ungrateful brat!”

“Yu Gu! You finally know how to come back?!”

“You still have the face to return?! Get down here!”

“…”

“Hurry down and attend your grandfather’s funeral!”

What?

Tang Yu was stunned. What were these villagers doing?
Why were they scolding Yu Gu? And… attend his grandfather’s funeral?

At first, Yu Gu had only squinted at them, unmoving, gripping the wheel.

But the moment the old man shouted “your grandfather’s funeral,” Yu Gu’s expression darkened instantly.

…Damn.

He knew what that bastard Li Sheng was trying to pull.

A cold wind swept through.
The red lanterns extinguished—white lanterns lit up.

At the end of the foggy path, figures dressed in gaudy red and green, carrying white lanterns, hopped toward them.

They were unbelievably light—each hop was nearly a meter.
As they approached, the eerie glow revealed pale faces, pitch-black eyes, bright red blush, and identical smiles—

A paper-doll procession.

Inside the fog, eight players lifted a pitch-black coffin.

The wreath and the white “Offering” character on the coffin strangely mirrored the decorative patterns and “Joy” character on the wedding sedan.

Eight coffin-bearers vs. eight sedan-bearers stood on opposite ends of the narrow country path.
Only one team could pass.
Both were given tasks requiring them to finish the road first.

A black cat perched on a branch above, staring down as the red and white processions collided.

Red vines shot out, piercing the eight coffin-bearers.
Blood splattered—
All eight players were wiped out instantly.

As their bodies vanished, the giant paper effigies stepped onto their shoulders, lifting the heavy coffin effortlessly.
In the hands of paper figures, it seemed weightless—gliding over the red wedding sedan and sending a cold wind sweeping past.

Red and white flames flickered on candles.
Lanterns swayed violently.
Countless shadows rushed past the ground.

Inside the spinning sedan, Tang Yu stared blankly as the characters painted on the paper figures blurred and rotated—the words “Coffin” and “Joy” spinning over and over.

A red wedding veil dropped over Tang Yu’s head again, blinding his vision.

The dizziness grew stronger until he couldn’t stay upright—his body went limp.

But in a sedan chair, you shouldn’t be able to fall backward…

Yet Tang Yu did fall backward—
It felt like he was lying in a long rectangular box.

“Bride out of the sedan! Blessings arrive!”

The curtain lifted.
The coffin lid slid open.

Laughter echoed from near and far—
faintly mingled with distant sobbing.

A cold hand clasped his and guided him gently but firmly outside.

“Bride enters the house! Fortune overflows!”

A fire basin covered with red cloth appeared ahead.
Tang Yu couldn’t see the ground but clung tightly to that cold hand as he stepped over the blazing fire.

Handfuls of red wedding candies rained over him, rustling against his wedding robes.

But when a few candies fell into the fire, the flames licked the red wrappers—

—in an instant, they turned into spirit money.

Tang Yu froze.
Was he hallucinating?

“Bride crosses the saddle! Peace and blessings!”

That cold hand led him across the threshold.
From the corner of his eye, Tang Yu saw the man beside him wearing a red wedding robe.

Pitch-black eyes stared unblinking at him.
His handsome face filled Tang Yu’s vision—closer and closer—
as if he would crawl right out of the screen…

“Shen Junxing.”
Tang Yu sat up in bed.

He pulled up his pant leg—
His knee was bruised purple-blue, like a child who had tripped and fallen.

Naturally, dependently, he said:

“My knee hurts.”

“And I’m so sleepy.”
He yawned, his blue eyes narrowing lazily.

“I’m going to sleep.”

“Good night, Shen Junxing.”

There was no response from the phone, but Tang Yu didn’t mind.
He set it aside, crawled back into bed, found a comfortable position, and drifted off.

He must’ve been exhausted—
He hadn’t been lying down long before sleep overtook him.

Half-dreaming, he heard a deep, gentle male voice:

“Good night, Xiao Yu.”

Tang Yu, eyes closed, face soft like an angel, reflexively murmured:

“Good night… big brother.”

Chapter 28 (short section included by the author)

Tang Yu got out of bed and opened the wardrobe.
There weren’t many clothes—mostly ones players had bought before, many in bright colors.

His personal clothing style was always low-key—if he bought clothes himself, they were usually grayish. He rarely even wore plain white.

Remembering Shen Junxing saying the third day was the mourning day, Tang Yu chose a white shirt and black trousers.

He tidied up briefly and headed toward the door.

Suddenly, he stopped.

Through the broken door lock…

He saw an eye staring in.

…
The nest wouldn’t attack itself.
The players surrounded the nest, at a complete loss for the moment.