Ning Wei circled the graveyard, finally discovering a new grave pit.
Seeing this, she had a sense of what was to come.
The joyous occasion about to take place would undoubtedly be another ghost marriage.
She just didn't know if the groom would be the same person, the young master of the village chief's family, Young Master Zhou.
Lost in thought for a moment, a rustling sound suddenly came from the woods, indicating someone was approaching.
Ning Wei glanced around, then chose a sturdy tree. In a few swift movements, she climbed up, using the thick branches and leaves to conceal herself.
This skill was thanks to her time spent at the Taoist temple. A senior brother there would always bring her delicious food whenever he returned from his trips. However, he would invariably get into trouble, enraging their master who would chase him with a thick tree branch.
Whenever this senior brother returned to the temple, he would simply hide in the trees, and Ning Wei would join him.
Hidden amongst the branches, they would eat together, watching their master, who puffed up like a pufferfish, pace beneath the tree.
Those times were truly unforgettable.
As she was reminiscing about the past, a familiar figure walked past directly beneath the tree.
It was Yuanyuan!
She was wearing a wedding dress she had acquired from somewhere, its hem covering her feet. As she walked on the fallen leaves, it produced the rustling sound Ning Wei had heard earlier.
She first went to Young Master Zhou's tombstone, carefully dusting it off and sweeping away all the fallen leaves from the semicircular mound.
Her actions were like tending to a beloved lover, or like a loyal and devoted servant from the past, both faithful and sacred.
After finishing these tasks, she approached the newly dug grave pit. To Ning Wei's astonished gaze, Yuanyuan jumped straight into it.
Ning Wei pushed aside the obstructing leaves and saw Yuanyuan lying in the pit, her eyes tightly shut. Her red dress made her skin appear exceptionally pale, truly like a corpse.
After a moment, she suddenly opened her eyes, her hands fumbling around her. Finally, she stretched out her hand to gauge the size.
She muttered to herself, "It's still a bit small. I can't lie down comfortably."
Ning Wei's heart sank. Seeing Yuanyuan's reaction, she knew she must have been entranced by a ghost.
This ghost was also formidable, appearing and disappearing like a divine dragon, never showing itself, yet easily controlling the people around her.
She stared intently at Yuanyuan, waiting to see if she would do anything more incomprehensible.
Yuanyuan lay in the pit for a while before getting up. Standing up, only a small part of her dark head was visible.
Given her height, it was impossible for her to climb out on her own.
Yet, with just a slight exertion of her legs, she miraculously appeared outside the pit, as if someone had specifically lifted her up.
Having tidied the grave and tested her own burial pit, she was content. Dressed in her red gown, she left the woods once more.
As she walked past the base of the large tree again, the small white flower on her head was exceptionally conspicuous.
Ning Wei recognized the flower. It was the one that had been attached to the herbs yesterday during the so-called "cleansing of bad luck."
She had thought it was just an ordinary flower, never imagining it would become a tool for Yuanyuan's bewitchment by a ghost.
After Yuanyuan disappeared into the woods, Ning Wei heard a single sound composed of different pitches: a long, drawn-out sigh.
Ning Wei was perplexed. She jumped down and surveyed the graves again, but saw no ghosts, especially not the usual groom, Young Master Zhou.
Where did this sigh originate?
Why was it filled with endless sorrow and resentment?
Unable to figure it out, Ning Wei kicked Young Master Zhou's tombstone forcefully and then strode away.
After she had gone some distance, a plume of white smoke rose from Young Master Zhou's tombstone, and a male figure flickered within the smoke.
The man let out a soft chuckle, as if mocking someone's overestimation of their own abilities.
The next second, Li Ye appeared.
The aura emanating from him was not to be trifled with. The man vanished in an instant, as if he had never been there.
Now it was Li Ye's turn to let out a cold laugh. He casually swept his gaze across the graves, causing the surrounding leaves to tremble as if forced into submission.
Ning Wei returned to the village. The atmosphere was still cheerful, as if everyone was happy for the couple about to be married.
But Ning Wei couldn't feel happy, for the unlucky bride was someone close to her.
She returned to the courtyard. Everyone was there except for Yuanyuan.
She casually asked, "Where did Yuanyuan go?"
Everyone looked around, but no one knew.
"We all went out to watch the festivities and didn't really pay attention. I'll go see if she's sleeping again; she's been very drowsy these past couple of days," Zhu Yilian replied.
At that moment, Wang Jing walked out from inside, "No need to look, she's not here."
"She might have gone out to play. Today is the third day, and there's been no sign of anything unusual, so there's no need to worry so much. We'll just leave when the time comes," Mei Nan advised Ning Wei not to overthink it.
Little did he know, his words would be immediately proven wrong.
Aunt Zhang walked in, holding a red cloth bundle. She placed it on the table, saying, "This is the bride's dress, it's been altered. This time, it's guaranteed to fit."
Everyone was bewildered, except for Ning Wei.
Mei Nan asked in confusion, "Who is the bride?"
Aunt Zhang refused to say, "You'll all know tonight. The dress is here, and the bride knows to wear it herself."
She then left. As the matchmaker, she hadn't been idle all day and had no time to waste with this group.
If it weren't for the bride, why would she bother visiting this dilapidated courtyard every day?
She was surprised that Young Master Zhou was so capable. Having just married Xiao Shui a few days ago, another young girl from outside was now willing to marry him.
Truly worthy of being the first village chief, his charm was limitless!
The matchmaker recalled that she had arranged for no less than eight or nine brides to marry Young Master Zhou.
It was a shame she was getting old; Young Master Zhou looked down on her. Otherwise, she would have been very willing to marry the young master herself.
After she walked away, the group gathered around the red cloth, none daring to make a move.
Mei Nan frowned, "We haven't been separated at all, so how could someone still have fallen victim?"
Zheng Qu, on the other hand, seemed excited, "Who is the bride, after all?"
Song Zhi also said, "Who is the bride? Come out quickly! Don't forget the coffin we saw before we came. No matter who the groom is, marrying him means dying!"
The four girls present all claimed it wasn't them. Just then, Yuanyuan walked in from outside.
Her eyes immediately fell on the red cloth on the table. She ran over with surprise and directly opened the cloth, revealing the wedding dress inside.
Holding up a sleeve, she held it against herself to gauge the size. "I didn't expect Aunt Zhang to be so skilled. She fixed it for me so quickly."