Hua Rong sat quietly in the bridal chair, her hands clenched into tight fists on her lap. She tried to steady her breathing, but the fear bubbling inside her was impossible to suppress. It would be a lie to say she wasn't terrified. Ever since she transmigrated into this strange world, she had neglected cultivating any of her supposed spiritual powers. Now, as she sat amidst danger, she regretted it bitterly. Without even the basic skills of self-defense, she was nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter.
From outside the bridal chair, Ling Xiao's infuriating chuckle rang out. "Hua Rong, how's the grand experience of being a bride?"
Hua Rong's eyes darkened, and her lips curled into a bitter smirk. "Come and take my place, and you'll find out for yourself," she snapped.
Ling Xiao wisely shut his mouth after that, staying silent for the rest of the journey.
The plan to lure out the ghost bride had been Yu Chen's idea. He had announced to the entire village that the Yan family was hosting a wedding, using Hua Rong as bait to draw the spirit into their trap. While the Yan family hesitantly agreed to this risky ploy, Hua Rong found herself wishing she could turn back time and refuse. The group had been traveling for quite a while now, yet the ghost bride had not shown herself.
"Could she have figured out it's a trap?" Wei Yu mused aloud, his brows furrowing with unease.
Yu Chen, walking ahead, glanced back knowingly. "That's a possibility, but ghosts are rarely predictable. Keep your guard up."
Suddenly, without warning, the scenery around them shifted. One moment, they were walking along the familiar dirt path toward the village outskirts; the next, they stood amidst the dense, shadowy trees of a forest. The air was cold and heavy, filled with the faint rustle of unseen movement.
"What the—how did we get here?!" Li Ming exclaimed, spinning around in confusion.
"This is a Hallucination Formation!" Yu Chen shouted, his voice sharp with alarm. Before anyone could react, the sound of low growls filled the air. Green-eyed wolves emerged from the shadows, their fangs glinting menacingly under the faint moonlight.
With no time to spare, Wei Yu unsheathed his sword and struck down the first wolf that lunged at him, his movements fluid and precise. The others followed suit, drawing their weapons and engaging the pack in a desperate fight for survival. Their focus remained entirely on the wolves, none of them sparing a thought for Hua Rong, who was still trapped in the bridal chair.
Inside, Hua Rong was seething. Her elegant bridal attire, adorned with heavy jewelry and intricate embroidery, was weighing her down, restricting her movements. She gritted her teeth, frustration boiling over. If I weren't wearing this ridiculous outfit, I'd have bolted by now! No problem!
Then, a sudden chill swept through the air, making her shudder. Her heart thumped wildly as an ominous presence loomed nearby. She couldn't see who—or what—it was, but every nerve in her body screamed that she wasn't alone.
A deep, mournful voice broke the silence. "Mei'er... Is it you, Mei'er?"
Hua Rong froze as the bridal veil was lifted. She found herself face-to-face with a pale, ghostly figure. The man's features twisted into a mask of despair and fury as he realized his mistake.
"You're not Mei'er!" he howled, his voice echoing with a mix of heartbreak and rage. "You dare to trick me?!"
Hua Rong's heart pounded in terror, her mind racing. The wolves, the formation, the ghost—it was all too much. If she didn't think fast, this could very well be the end of her.
The air grew colder, and Hua Rong felt a chill run down her spine as the ghostly figure in front of her emanated a suffocating aura. The man's face was pale, his hollow eyes burning with a greenish glow. His voice echoed unnaturally, a mix of anger and sorrow.
"I didn't trick you! I'm just—just a substitute!" Hua Rong stammered, her hands instinctively clutching the hem of her bridal gown. Her mind raced, searching for a way to placate the spirit.
The ghost clenched his fists, his ethereal body flickering with rage. "A substitute? Do you think this is a game? Where is Mei'er?"
Hua Rong swallowed hard. "I don't know who Mei'er is, but if you let me go, I can help you find her!" she offered, her voice trembling but determined.
The ghost's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing her. "Why should I trust you? You're nothing more than bait they've thrown into my path."
Outside the bridal chair, the clash of swords against the wolves rang out. Wei Yu and the others were fully engaged, unaware of Hua Rong's peril inside. Ling Xiao, however, had been keeping an eye on the bridal chair, sensing something was amiss.
"Hua Rong, hang on!" he shouted, but the moment he stepped toward the chair, a barrier of ghostly energy flared up, forcing him back.
"Damn it!" Ling Xiao cursed. He turned to Yu Chen, who had just dispatched another wolf. "This isn't just any ordinary ghost! It's bound to that formation!"
Hua Rong's heart sank as she heard Ling Xiao's voice, distant and muffled. She was on her own. For the first time, she wished she'd paid attention to the cultivation techniques she had ignored since transmigrating.
"Look," she said, her tone softening as she addressed the ghost. "I don't want to be here any more than you want me to. But if you harm me, you'll never get your answers about Mei'er. I can help you find the truth—"
"Silence!" the ghost roared, the wind howling around them. Hua Rong's hair whipped around her face, and she struggled to keep her balance as the bridal chair shook violently.
In that moment, a flicker of light caught Hua Rong's eye—a faint inscription glowing on the ghost's chest. It was a seal, pulsating weakly. Her mind clicked. This ghost isn't fully free—it's being controlled!
"Wait!" she shouted, her voice firm despite her fear. "You're being manipulated! That formation isn't just to trap others—it's binding you too!"
The ghost froze, his hollow eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"
"You're not acting on your own. Whoever set this up used Mei'er to lure you here, and now they're using you to wreak havoc!" Hua Rong's voice steadied as she spoke. If she could just convince him, maybe she could buy herself some time—or better yet, turn the tables.
The ghost hesitated, his gaze flickering as doubt seeped into his expression. Outside, Ling Xiao struck at the barrier with renewed force, determination flashing in his eyes.
"Hua Rong, just hold on a little longer!" he shouted.
You better hurry, Hua Rong thought grimly. Because I'm running out of ideas here!!