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墨書 Inktalez
Ji Linglong wandered around the foot of the Main Peak with Su Yinyin for a while before being found by several disciples of the Cloud Palace.
They tied them up and took them away. "Be honest! If you dare to run again, don’t blame us for being rude!"
Ji Linglong pretended to be defiant, glaring at them angrily. However, when she caught sight of their murderous glares, she timidly lowered her head.
"Palace Master, we found the last two brides. They match the portraits perfectly; it’s these two."
Ji Linglong felt guilty as she kept her head down. The elder glanced at the portrait briefly, confirmed it was correct, and waved his hand for them to escort the girls toward the Cloud Palace.
The Palace Master’s expression was grim as he looked at the darkening sky. "No need to wait any longer; let’s hold the ceremony soon. Delays could lead to trouble."
For some reason, his heart raced. He stared at the overcast sky, feeling a vague sense of unease. There was no wind or rain, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that something would happen soon.
Unable to pinpoint why, he could only wave his hand, urging those below to expedite the preparations.
The elder bowed slightly and replied affirmatively but hesitated again. "Palace Master, one of the girls has suddenly fallen seriously ill and is in critical condition. Should we find another girl to take her place?"
The Palace Master shot him a glance. "You checked her yourself; is it really a serious illness or just some trick?"
The elder wiped the sweat from his forehead. After hearing this, he too became uncertain. He had seen the disciples bring her in without suspicion and had checked her himself but found nothing unusual. Whether it was genuine or a deception remained unclear to him.
The Palace Master snorted coldly. "Examine her closely again. If she’s a fake, prepare another bride in her place; if she’s real, then let it be."
He muttered to himself, "Even if we lose one, there are still plenty of brides left; the Dragon Lord should be satisfied."
A bead of cold sweat appeared on the elder's forehead as he bowed his head and replied softly, "Understood."
Before long, the sickly girl was brought toward the Cloud Palace. The disciples escorting her looked at her with disdain and disgust in their eyes.
"Feigning illness caused us quite a scare; why didn’t she just die for real?"
As the girl met the concerned gazes of her sisters, tears welled up in her eyes, and she felt a lump in her throat.
"Are you okay? They didn't make things difficult for you, did they?"
She wiped her tears and gently shook her head. "No, it's just that we sisters are all here. It seems there’s no chance of escape at all."
Ji Linglong patted her back, softly comforting her. "Don't worry. Perhaps everything will work out in the end."
The girl paused for a moment before burying her face in Ji Linglong's embrace, sobbing quietly. "Sister Jiang, are we really going to be eaten by that dragon?"
As soon as those words were spoken, the other girls who had been trying to maintain their composure could no longer hold back and began to cry as well.
"It's alright. You have me; don't be afraid." She fixed her gaze on the sky outside, calculating the time. "The elders should be arriving soon."
Boom! Boom! Boom! A large drum made of beast skin and painted red was struck, its sound like thunder, stirring the hearts of the people.
Countless citizens of Jiangling stood on either side, watching this scene with anticipation.
"Great! As long as the Dragon Lord gets married, they won't make things difficult for us anymore."
Some people clasped their hands together and knelt by the riverbank, murmuring prayers. Others gathered with their families, their faces filled with joy after surviving calamity, tears of excitement glistening in their eyes.
A few unaware children clapped and laughed, shouting joyfully about how fun it was.
It was a scene of jubilation, with the citizens filled with happiness.
On the high platform, the Cloud Palace Master, whose face had long been shrouded in gloom, couldn't help but show a hint of a smile upon seeing this scene.
"As long as we complete this ritual, that cursed dragon should calm down, right?"
After the drumbeats faded, a round of firecrackers erupted, and amidst the clamor of gongs and drums, several wealthy families from Jiangling sent forth their lavish tributes that they had prepared long ago.
The offerings consisted of various rare demon beasts, all cooked to perfection—either roasted or steamed—arranged on enormous porcelain platters that required four people to lift, decorated with an array of spiritual vegetables.
Someone lit three incense sticks and recited hymns loudly. With a shout from that person, the citizens on both sides of the river knelt in reverence three times in succession.
Once all the rituals were completed, everyone turned their gaze to the high platform where the Cloud Palace Master finally nodded.
Then a group of brides was ushered onto several bamboo rafts that floated down the river, and everyone watched this scene intently.
If the bride is overturned by the waves before reaching the center of the river, it is said that the Dragon Lord will be very pleased with the offering and accept her. However, if the bride safely drifts past the river's heart, it indicates the Dragon Lord's dissatisfaction, and everything must start over.
Thus, the townspeople clasped their hands together and closed their eyes, murmuring quietly.
"Great Dragon Lord, we implore you to show mercy and accept these young ladies."
"Great Dragon Lord, while these girls may not be breathtakingly beautiful, they are offered with our sincere hearts. Please do not reject them."
Under the weight of everyone's anxious and hopeful gazes, mixed with a hint of fierce scrutiny, several young girls trembled and hurriedly squeezed closer to Ji Linglong.
Ji Linglong quickly reassured them, "It’s alright, it’s alright. We will be fine."
The faces of the girls turned pale; one of them trembled as she spoke. "If we pass the center of the river and are not accepted by the Dragon God, then it truly is over! The surviving girl will surely be scorned and cursed by all the people of Jiangling. They will consider her inauspicious."
"If that happens, I might as well die."
Ji Linglong paused, feeling a mix of emotions. They revered true evil as divine while daring not to mention the wicked dragon, instead dragging innocent girls into this peril.
Though the wicked dragon was malevolent, how kind had these townspeople of Jiangling ever been towards those they wished dead?
"Master, the river's heart is still calm. Could it be that the wicked dragon is dissatisfied and wants us to choose again?"
The master snorted coldly. The creature stirred up storms merely to attract those who brought offerings; now that we presented food before it in good faith, how could it refuse?
"Do not worry; let’s wait a little longer."
As everyone anxiously awaited, suddenly the waters surged violently, a foul stench filling the air. A monstrous dragon with a fierce visage and blood-red eyes, shrouded in dark mist, finally emerged from beneath the surface.
It opened its massive jaws and lunged directly at the bamboo raft.
Upon witnessing this scene, many townspeople of Jiangling fled in terror, covering their eyes in fear, completely abandoning their earlier pious demeanor.
"Ah! How could the Dragon Lord appear like this? This is no divine dragon; this is a demon dragon!"
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