Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 426 - 377: Engagement

Li Ang’s feet were rooted firmly to the ground, as if by countless roots. The Paper Groom’s curse and Mo Si warred within his body, creating a dense, piercing pain, like a thousand needles.

He was immobilized.

"This creature is at least a Second-level Alien, and we simply do not have the strength to resist it," Sun Xinzhi said urgently. "Luckily, it strictly adheres to the rules and won’t act until the bridal procession ceremony is completed. It’s time to make a decision."

Mr. Wan, a Cloud Patrol Realm cultivator from Hedong’s Pei Family, had not even used his trump card. Merely being looked at, he was assimilated—a fate worse than death.

Pei Jing’s expression changed several times, the Canghai Sword by his side spitting out sword light, reflecting his tumultuous emotions.

What to do?

He racked his brain, recalling any possible escape route. The Paper Groom stuck to the bridal procession rules, not retaliating even when the bride’s relatives pretended to beat him. It was only after that part of the ceremony ended that he suddenly lashed out, killing Mr. Wan.

Which part of the upcoming ceremony could be exploited?

"Stop hesitating!" Sun Xinzhi declared sternly. "Think of your family!"

Pei Jing followed his gaze and saw his own younger brother, born of the same parents, cradled in a guard’s arms.

Pei Qilang, still young and naive, only knew that those around him were in danger. Grandpa Wan, who had always been kind to him, had turned into a lifeless paper figure. This realization caused him to burst into loud sobs. The Spiritual Power instinctively emanating from his Qi Sea made the shards of glass scattered across the corridor tremble slightly.

Pei Qilang was a Heavenly Awakened, his Spirit Vein having awakened far earlier than ordinary people. Even within the Academic Palace, one might not see another case like his for twenty or thirty years.

But he was too young to be of any help in the current situation.

The chanting of the three Paper Grooms continued. Seeing Pei Jing’s indecision, Sun Xinzhi clenched his teeth and, ignoring the objections of other passengers, dragged a young girl from Luoyang up from the ground.

"Judge Sun, please, I don’t want to die, please—" the girl wept bitterly.

Her parents, also fighting desperately, clung to Sun Xinzhi’s limbs, yelling, "Judge Sun, don’t take her! Take us instead, please!"

"Let go!" Sun Xinzhi’s body shook, sending the girl’s parents flying. His eyes were bloodshot as he said, "If she doesn’t go, we all die."

THUD.

He Fanshuang stepped forward, blocking Sun Xinzhi.

"Are you stopping me too?" Sun Xinzhi said through clenched teeth. "Academic Palace Disciples are like flowers in a greenhouse. Didn’t your teachers ever teach you? When facing Aliens, there are only bad and worse options. Wanting no one to get hurt, to suffer no harm, is nearly impossible..."

"No," He Fanshuang said coldly. "I’m just reminding you, one bride is not enough."

"Hmm?" Sun Xinzhi paused a moment, then turned to look, only to find the groom transformed from the Pei family guards and the one transformed from Mr. Wan now standing behind him.

They were smiling at him while chanting the wedding poetry, also holding the "knee cover" red cloth in their hands.

A chill ran down Sun Xinzhi’s spine. Three knee covers... that meant...

"Three brides are needed," Sun Xinzhi spoke with difficulty, looking around the corridor.

It was late at night, and the train to Chang’an was mostly carrying families. Among all the passengers, only two women fit the criteria of being of age and unmarried.

Not enough...

Despair engulfed Sun Xinzhi. His expression changed several times as he once again circulated his Qi Sea.

He Fanshuang frowned and said coldly, "What are you going to do?"

"Kill," Sun Xinzhi gritted his teeth. "Since there are only two unmarried women, we have no choice but to kill one of the husbands in the carriage. That would make his wife a widow eligible for remarriage."

Pei Jing couldn’t believe what he was hearing. "Have you lost your mind?!"

"I am not insane!" Sun Xinzhi roared. "Killing one to save sixty is considered a fair trade according to the garrison’s principles."

After saying this, he bowed his head, scanning the people in the aisle, ignoring the passengers’ cries for mercy, searching for his target.

He Fanshuang took a deep look at Li Ang’s rigid face, suddenly turned her head, and interrupted the dispute between Sun Xinzhi and Pei Jing. "I’ll go."

"What?" Pei Jing did not react immediately, staring in astonishment.

He Fanshuang calmly said, "Three knee covers correspond to three brides, don’t they?"

Pei Jing hesitated. "But you are not yet engaged..."

"Now I am." He Fanshuang removed a silver bracelet from her palm and stuffed it into Li Ang’s arms. "This was given to me by my grandmother, meant to be kept until I marry. Theoretically, it meets the conditions of a pledge. In Alien Study, as long as the concept fits, it works."

As she spoke, He Fanshuang slowly reached out and took the red knee cover cloth from the Paper Groom’s hand.

The Paper Groom made no attempt to resist. He merely shut his mouth suddenly, ceasing to recite the bridal poetry. His smile grew even more sinister.

"Indeed, it works." He Fanshuang took a long breath and turned to Pei Jing and Sun Xinzhi. "If I’m not mistaken, once the three brides wear the knee covers, the ritual will be complete. This carriage is trapped here because of it. Once it leaves, you must immediately notify the Academic Palace and the garrison. They might still be able to come and rescue us."

"I’ll go too." As a direct descendant of the Pei family, Pei Jing couldn’t accept letting a female classmate die to save his own life. He immediately stepped forward, trying to snatch the knee cover from the Paper Groom at the front of the carriage.

However, the Paper Groom’s figure flickered, evading Pei Jing’s action like a ghost.

"No, only a woman who meets the conditions can get the knee cover," He Fanshuang spoke calmly. She approached and snatched the second and third red knee cover cloths from the Paper Groom, tossing them to the other two sobbing, age-appropriate women. She stated faintly, "Sun Xinzhi wasn’t wrong. Only this way can everyone, including yourselves, have a chance at survival. I will join you on this path."

Li Ang stood motionless, continuing the standoff with the Paper Groom’s curse. The previously invincible Mo Si had finally met its match; each inch of progress consumed a substantial amount of Mo Si.

He desperately drew out a sliver of his consciousness and gently wrapped a hair-thin strand of Mo Si around He Fanshuang’s ankle.

At this moment, the three Paper Grooms stopped reciting their poetry. Each drew out a paper goose from within their robes and threw it onto the floor of the aisle.

Presenting the geese, a custom known as Funeral Goose, is the most critical part of a traditional wedding.

Once the Funeral Goose rite was completed, it signified that the marriage contract was officially established and irrevocable.

SWISH—

The three knee covers vanished at once, simultaneously appearing on the heads of He Fanshuang and the other two women, obscuring their faces. They, too, instantly became immobile.

The ritual was complete.

The three paper figures quickly sank into the ground. The motionless trio, He Fanshuang and the two women, also rapidly descended, plunging through the floor of the aisle and disappearing underground in the blink of an eye.

The parents and family members of the two women awakened as if from a dream, continuously slapping the ground and crying out.

Pei Jing burst the aisle floor open with Canghai Sword Qi, stabbing towards the ground beneath the carriage, but he could only break through the sleepers and gravel, finding no sign of them.

The disappearance of the Paper Grooms weakened the curse’s power inside Li Ang. Mo Si took advantage of this to launch a massive counterattack, regaining control over his body.

Without hesitation, he shouted at Pei Jing, "Notify the Academic Palace!" while he himself threw several Melt Soil Charms at the ground, melting the soil.

He enveloped himself in Telekinesis and leaped into the muddy mess. Like a drill, he burrowed downward, simultaneously extracting the Ten Thousand Spirit Book from his bosom.