Chapter 1747: Stage

Zuan couldn't help but glance at Jing Teng, feeling a pang of doubt. However, seeing her expression was normal, he dismissed it as mere coincidence.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Jing Teng couldn't help but ask.

“Why do you go by that name? Is it your real name?” Zuan still couldn't resist asking, wondering if it was a case of meeting an old acquaintance in a strange land.

“When I was with that person and our relationship was good, he called me ‘Sweetie.’ After he learned my true identity, he started calling me ‘Vine Demon,’” Jing Teng said, a chill in her voice.

Qiu Honglei couldn't help but say, “Since you use a name full of such memories, do you still have strong feelings for that person?”

Jing Teng’s expression was icy. “I merely use it to remind myself not to forget the pain of betrayal.”

Everyone was silent.

Zuan also breathed a sigh of relief. It really was just a coincidence.

He then asked why she didn't reveal her true name. Jing Teng replied, “Many supernatural beings in this world can use abilities tied to names, so it's best not to reveal your real name if you don’t know someone's background.”

“Fortunately, you reminded us,” Zuan remarked with feeling. Without someone native to this world, they would have taken many detours.

“You flatter me,” Jing Teng said, giving a slight nod. Her expression was no longer as cold as before.

Wei Suo, standing nearby, cast his gaze between the two, then secretly glanced at Qiu Honglei. Seeing her composed expression, he couldn't help but admire Zuan inwardly. His boss was truly something else, openly flirting with other women while his girlfriend seemed to condone it.

Why does nobody like someone as devoted and pure as me? What kind of world is this, damn it!

“I still need to patrol the area, so I won't accompany you further. Someone from the manor will lead you inside,” the dark-faced man named Zhang Yong said, cupping his hands in greeting.

“You’re too kind. Thank you, Brother Zhang!” Zuan returned the gesture, then watched as they disappeared into the distance.

These people had some cultivation, but it wasn't particularly high; even Wei Suo could easily overpower them. It seemed like an ordinary manor indeed.

Next, Uncle Wang personally led them inside, which surprised Zuan. “You don't need to trouble yourself, do you?”

Given his apparent status as the manor's steward, personally leading them seemed overly solicitous. Could it be because of the gifts they had just given?

“No trouble at all, no trouble,” the old man said with a smile, already leading the way. “Most of the guests have arrived, and I don't expect any more visitors, so I have nothing much to do.”

The group stopped declining and followed him.

The courtyard was festively decorated with large red lanterns hanging under the eaves, each adorned with a big “囍” (double happiness) character.

Zuan noticed Qiu Honglei staring intently at the lanterns and quietly asked, “What's wrong?”

“I just find these lanterns a bit strange,” Qiu Honglei said, pointing. “They’re so large, they should be very bright, but the light inside seems sealed, unable to illuminate the surroundings at all.”

The others paused, then noticed that the lanterns were indeed a somewhat eerie, flamboyant red, yet the area around them remained dark and unlit.

Their cultivation levels were high, allowing them to see clearly in the dark, which was why they hadn’t noticed it at first. However, Qiu Honglei was a light-element cultivator, making her particularly sensitive to such things.

Wei Suo dismissed it. “Perhaps it’s just a show for appearances in this remote place. They want lots of lanterns to look grand, but they’re too stingy to use big candles, so they’ve used small ones, causing this effect.”

He was still annoyed by the old man's earlier request for a gift of money.

“Everyone, stay alert and be cautious,” Zuan said in a low voice.

At that moment, Qiu Honglei flashed a sweet smile at the steward ahead. “Uncle Wang, what’s your young lady’s name?”

She was already stunningly beautiful, and her charm arts were perfected; every smile and frown exuded boundless allure. Even Jing Teng couldn't help but take another look at her.

The old man Wang was momentarily stunned, then said with a benevolent expression, “Our young lady’s surname is Zhang, and this is Zhang Family Manor. As for her given name, only the master and madam, and some of the women in the inner quarters, know it. It’s only because you asked, young lady; if anyone else were to inquire about her given name right away, old Wang here would definitely send them packing.”

Zuan mused that the customs in this world seemed quite conservative; typically, only parents and the future husband would know a maiden's given name.

“Oh, I'm so sorry, that was presumptuous of me,” Qiu Honglei said, her face full of apology, looking truly pitiable.

Old man Wang, on the contrary, became flustered and urged her not to worry about it. Qiu Honglei then took the opportunity to inquire about various details of the manor.

From the steward, they learned that this Miss Zhang was a renowned beauty in the surrounding villages for miles, with a constant stream of suitors. Even the City Lord's son was infatuated with her and wanted to marry her.

However, she had a childhood sweetheart. Their families had been old friends, but the young man’s family had suffered a reversal of fortune, leaving him barely able to make a living alone. Despite this, Miss Zhang showed no disdain; instead, she was deeply devoted to him.

Her parents were initially reluctant, but seeing their daughter's deep affection, and considering the young man was the son of an old friend, they eventually agreed. The condition, however, was that he become a live-in son-in-law.

Given the vast disparity between their families now, combined with the beauty of his childhood sweetheart, the young man naturally wouldn't refuse.

Today was the auspicious day for their grand wedding.

Even Qiu Honglei was infected by the festive atmosphere, instinctively wrapping her arm around Zuan's, fantasizing about their own wedding.

Perhaps due to Qiu Honglei's charm, Zuan and his companions, originally seated in the outermost corner, were now led to a table closer to the front.

“Please sit here, everyone. The wedding hasn't begun yet, so you can enjoy the play for now. I have other duties, so I'll take my leave,” Uncle Wang said with a smile, cupping his hands before departing.

Only then did Zuan and the others notice a spacious stage ahead, where a troupe of actors was singing and performing. Guests at the surrounding tables cheered enthusiastically, creating a lively atmosphere.

Zuan and the others had traveled all day, so sitting down now brought a great sense of relief. Wei Suo, in particular, grabbed the fruits and pastries prepared on the table and began stuffing them into his mouth.

“Are you that hungry?” Jing Teng couldn't help but glance at him, seeing his ravenous eating.

“We just paid the gift money, so I need to eat more to get my money's worth,” Wei Suo mumbled in reply. “Besides, I threw up so much earlier, I'm starving now.”

Jing Teng and Qiu Honglei discreetly withdrew their hands, which had been reaching for melon seeds, clearly disgusted by him.

As one play concluded, a new one began, captivating everyone who had previously seemed distracted.

It was a story about a young lady and her beloved, who shared various romantic moments under the moon and flowers. Jing Teng and Qiu Honglei watched with delighted 'auntie smiles,' clearly touched by such a love story.

However, the scene quickly changed. A rich young master appeared, smitten with the young lady, and pursued her using various elaborate methods.

But the young lady was utterly devoted to her lover and gave the rich young master no quarter, so he had to leave in disappointment.

Next, the lovers finally united, getting married and holding their wedding.

Qiu Honglei breathed a sigh of relief. “I knew it! It had to be a happy ending, especially since this is a wedding banquet.”

Jing Teng nodded in agreement.

However, the two women's expressions suddenly froze as the plot began to take a strange turn.

The rich young master also appeared at the wedding. After getting the groom drunk, he helped him to the bridal chamber and took the opportunity to assault the bride.

Not only the two women but even Zuan stared in shock. This seemed like a plot from an adult film.

At this point, the bride’s parents rushed in upon hearing the commotion, only to be beaten to death by the enraged young master, who then fled in fear.

The bride wept inconsolably. She had intended to report the crime and avenge her parents the next day, but to her surprise, government officials arrived that very night, claiming the groom, in a drunken state, had become lustful and suddenly gone to his sister-in-law's bed.

Seeing this scene, Zuan felt a sense of déjà vu. When he first arrived in this world, he too had apparently been framed and ended up in Xiao Zhao's bed.

The play continued on stage. The officials declared that when the groom was committing the assault, his in-laws had rushed in and cursed him as a beast, only to be accidentally killed by the groom. The bride, having lost her husband, was also imprisoned. In the end, both were sentenced and drowned together in a pig cage.

Qiu Honglei watched with a furious expression. “This is outrageous! That corrupt official has no conscience.”

Jing Teng, comparatively calmer, said, “Officials in this world are often like this. You get used to it after seeing it enough.”

Zuan, meanwhile, scanned his surroundings. The nearby audience members were all watching with rapt attention, completely absorbed as if in a trance.

He wondered, was it appropriate to stage such a play on a joyous wedding day?

Something about this situation seemed off.

He stood up and tried to strike up a conversation with the guests at a nearby table, hoping to gather some information. However, each person wore an eerie smile and didn't respond to him, instead staring intently at the stage.

A chill ran down Zuan's spine. He returned to their table and quietly warned everyone, “Something isn't right!”

Qiu Honglei and Jing Teng both nodded. They too had sensed that something was amiss.

At that moment, Wei Suo, while shelling peanuts and popping them into his mouth, pointed at the stage. “Look!”

Just then, the play took another turn. An imperial envoy from the palace happened to pass by, reviewed the case, cleared the couple’s names, and sentenced the rich young master and the officials he had bribed to extreme penalties.

Some officials were cut in half at the waist, others beheaded, and some were even subjected to death by a thousand cuts.

This wasn't the crucial part, as it was just a play after all.

However, in Zuan's and the others’ eyes, the actors portraying those characters were directly pressed onto execution tools. Blades flashed, and blood streamed, making it all too realistic.

A human head rolled right in front of them, its eyes bulging and bloody tears seeping from the sockets. It was no prop; it was a real human head!

“Stop!” Zuan roared. What on earth was this manor doing? Or was someone committing murder under the guise of a play?

At that moment, Qiu Honglei suddenly let out a gasp. Zuan quickly turned to look and saw that the tea in their cups had turned a deep, blood-red, and the plates of fruit and pastries had all transformed into maggots and rats.

Wei Suo, who had been enjoying his meal, froze instantly at the sight!