Just a short while ago, after all the remaining villagers had fallen asleep, they had all experienced the same dream. In the dream, a woman whose face was obscured told them she was a messenger sent by the River God.
The scene was dominated by a familiar sound of drums and gongs echoing through the village. At the stroke of midnight, what had been a dead silent village suddenly burst into life, with lights flickering on in every corner.
At the same time, the villagers, who should have been sound asleep, began to stir.
Dim lights glowed in every room, casting shadows that flickered mysteriously, obscuring what the villagers were actually doing.
Xu Bai, though residing in the temple on the mountain, did not stop watching over the village.
Sensing the change, his eyes narrowed as he looked directly at Jiang Xiuxiu.
"What did you do?" he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Somehow, he had already moved to stand beside her.
They were so close that the proximity between them could almost be considered intimate.
Xu Bai’s deep, dark eyes bore into Jiang Xiuxiu, as if he was trying to see through her calm exterior to uncover her true intentions.
"Aren’t you going to check on the village?" Jiang Xiuxiu suggested with a relaxed smile, not responding directly to Xu Bai's question.
She deftly redirected the conversation back to the strange occurrences in the village. "If something happens, it could be really bad, don’t you think?"
Xu Bai chuckled softly at her words. "What could happen?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, his tone indifferent. "Do you really want me to go down there?"
Although Xu Bai hadn’t directly expressed his thoughts, Jiang Xiuxiu could sense that he wasn’t angry or displeased with her defiance.
On the contrary, he seemed to find it intriguing.
"Think whatever you like," Jiang Xiuxiu replied, refusing to be baited.
She smiled casually at his question, "I was just making a suggestion."
Her tone was calm, and as she lay leisurely on the bed, she appeared utterly relaxed.
Perhaps it was the impending sense of doom, but Jiang Xiuxiu, who had been feeling a bit uneasy, now felt a strange sense of calm.
After all, being trapped in the game was only temporary.
She was confident in her plan, and even if it failed, it didn't matter.
In the real world, she had spent a fortune on a robotic butler to take care of her. If the nutrient fluid in the holo-chamber ran out, it would send her to the hospital.
Xu Bai seemed to have figured out her plan, which Jiang Xiuxiu had anticipated.
At a time like this, with such an unusual occurrence, it would be impossible to deny her involvement.
But would Xu Bai really go down to the village?
Jiang Xiuxiu couldn’t help but feel curious.
On the other hand, Xu Bai studied Jiang Xiuxiu for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly.
After a brief silence, he looked away and made his decision.
"As you wish," he said. "I’ll go and take a look."
But after saying this, he tilted his head and added, "Of course, I’ll be taking you with me."
Jiang Xiuxiu: “…”
Jiang Xiuxiu: "Aren’t you afraid I’ll run away halfway?"
Her expression changed instantly, and she sat up straight in shock.
She was so surprised that her voice rose involuntarily.
Seeing her exaggerated reaction, Xu Bai blinked innocently, a pure and harmless smile on his face.
"You don’t want to go?" he asked.
"No, it’s just that…" Jiang Xiuxiu struggled to find the right words, finally managing to force out a polite yet awkward smile. "I was just worried about you. After all, I’m known for being tricky and enjoying a good challenge."
"How could that be? I’ve always trusted you," Xu Bai said softly, lowering his head. "But if you really did something like that, I’d be very disappointed."
His tone was gentle, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.
Jiang Xiuxiu: “…”
He trusts her to try to escape, doesn’t he?
"Fine, whatever," Jiang Xiuxiu muttered, a helpless smile on her lips. "Just don’t regret it."
For the first time, a hint of an unusual expression flickered across Jiang Xiuxiu’s usually flawless face.
It wasn’t relief, joy, or fear, but rather… embarrassment.
She hadn’t expected Xu Bai to actually insist on bringing her along.
She wasn’t afraid for herself, but Xu Bai might face some trouble...
Anyway, escaping the game was crucial for her.
Even if the scene in the village might cause some harm to Xu Bai, she hoped he would understand.
Jiang Xiuxiu comforted herself with this thought.
Meanwhile, in the village below, many of the villagers had already stepped out of their homes.
After playing joyful wedding tunes, they all gathered in the open area at the center of the village, without exception.
Braving the cold wind, they stood there, their faces pale from the biting night air.
Despite the harsh conditions, they gritted their teeth and remained standing in the freezing air.
"Father, do we really have to do this?" a young man in his twenties finally broke the silence, asking his father in a low voice.
His father, a man in his fifties with a head full of white hair, stood beside him.
The old man’s weathered face, darkened by years of hard labor, was deeply lined with wrinkles, his hands just as gnarled.
But in that moment, his eyes flashed with determination and a touch of tragic resolve. "For the sake of the village, we must."
The young man hesitated. "But, Father…"
"There’s no ‘but’," the old man interrupted, his voice firm. "This is the only chance the River God is giving us. We can’t miss it."
Earlier, after the remaining villagers had fallen asleep, they all had the same dream.
In the dream, a faceless woman appeared, telling them that she was a messenger sent by the River God.
"The River God is willing to forgive you," the woman said, "but to appease his anger, you must make a small, insignificant sacrifice."
The River God...
The old man closed his weary eyes at the thought.
If this was what the River God wanted, then they were willing to do whatever it took.
So when Xu Bai arrived, carrying the powerless Jiang Xiuxiu, this was the scene he witnessed.
All the surviving villagers, young and old, male and female, were gathered in the center of the village.
They wore nothing but simple undergarments, the men bare-chested, and the women in thin dresses.
"The River God’s messenger has arrived!" someone shouted, and all eyes turned to Xu Bai.
They looked at him with fervent loyalty and anticipation.
The old man stepped forward from the crowd, his face alight with excitement.
"Everyone, let’s show the messenger our sincerity," he croaked.
At his words, the villagers closed their eyes and, in one swift motion, removed the last of their coverings.
Yes, they stripped off their remaining clothes.
Rows of exposed bodies stood in the darkness, every detail laid bare, a sight as startling as a low-budget cabaret.
If it were possible to call the police, someone would have done so by now to report this indecent display.
In the midst of it all, the old man stood with a solemn expression, his weathered face full of grim determination.
Despite the overwhelming shame, he was driven by a sense of duty to sacrifice himself for the village.
He recalled the woman’s words from the dream.
"The River God is angry because he is displeased with the brides you’ve offered," the woman had said. "Each one has been rebellious, causing him great trouble."
"What should we do?" the old man had asked, terrified.
"It’s simple," the woman replied. "Let the messenger choose a pious and obedient bride from among you for the River God."
"Choose?"
"Exactly."
The woman had nodded, lowering her voice. "I was once a villager here. As your ancestor from centuries ago, I wouldn’t lie to you."
Before leaving, she had added a pointed reminder. "Remember, the River God dislikes outsiders not only because they’re disobedient but also because they’re all show and no substance."
With the ancestor’s careful guidance, the old man had finally understood what needed to be done.
"After midnight, the River God’s messenger will come to inspect the village," the woman had said. "You must present yourselves and try to please him."
With that, she had left, and the old man and the others had awakened from their dream.
All show and no substance...
The ancestor’s words had been tactful, but the old man had instantly grasped the deeper meaning.
Indeed, these outsiders not only indulged in promiscuity, but the men were impotent, and the women as frail as bean sprouts.
Recalling the desperate pleas of the outsiders to avoid death when they were cast into the river as brides, the old man felt a deep sense of agreement.
The River God had been angered, and the dead could not return.
To ensure the survival of the living, they had to act according to the River God’s will.
Though he was over fifty years old, the old man was willing to sacrifice himself for the village and the River God’s happiness.
As these thoughts filled his mind, tears slowly streamed down his wrinkled face. "Messenger of the River God, the entire village is here. Please, choose the most suitable bride."
Xu Bai: “…”
Xu Bai: “…”
In an instant, the world fell into a dead silence.
Jiang Xiuxiu squeezed her eyes shut, unable to bear the sight of the grotesque scene before them.
No one spoke. Even the sound of a leaf falling to the ground could be heard in the eerie stillness.
The silent riverbank village tonight was shrouded in stillness.
"Jiang Xiuxiu."
After a long time, Jiang Xiuxiu heard Xu Bai's cold and distant voice by her ear.
"I think I need an explanation," he said.
His tone was calm, indifferent, with no hint of emotion.
But the moment Jiang Xiuxiu heard Xu Bai's words, she felt a chill run down her neck and couldn't help but shiver.
"Ahaha, well..." she forced out an awkward yet polite smile, "I just thought that since you wouldn't have a bride in the future, I wanted to help you out..."
"Help?"
Xu Bai suddenly laughed after hearing her words.
"Interesting," he chuckled softly, "Jiang Xiuxiu, you never fail to surprise me."
"Well, it was just for convenience..." Jiang Xiuxiu nervously laughed twice, sensing Xu Bai's overwhelming murderous intent, and tried to explain, "You see, most people these days are superficial. Who would take the time to deeply understand a stranger?"
Xu Bai tilted his head slightly, "So, you decided we should face each other directly?"
Jiang Xiuxiu: "Yes."
The two stared at each other in silence, with nothing more to say.
On the other side, the villagers, unable to withstand the cold air, hesitated and tentatively asked Xu Bai, "Honored emissary, are you satisfied with us?"
"Satisfied?" Xu Bai turned his head and smiled ambiguously, "Satisfied, yes, quite satisfied."
Then, his voice suddenly turned cold, "However, I don't believe I need to look at these things to choose a bride."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiuxiu's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that he's going to harm the villagers again?
But the next moment, Jiang Xiuxiu felt Xu Bai's hand tighten around her neck.
Two long, slender fingers gently pressed against her throat, like two cold snakes coiling around her, their fangs aimed at her vulnerable neck.
A sharp pain pierced through her skin and into her nerves, reaching deep into her heart.
His grip was as strong as ever, making Jiang Xiuxiu feel a sense of suffocation.
It seemed that with just a little more force, he could snap her neck completely.
Jiang Xiuxiu: "..."
Wait, why is he choking her?
"You’re very disobedient," Xu Bai said softly, looking at Jiang Xiuxiu’s wide, shocked eyes, "I don't like that."
He had a warm smile on his face, but the deep blackness in his eyes was filled with a chilling coldness. "I was planning to wait until after midnight, after the ceremony, to kill you. But now, I guess I'll do it early."
Just then, something unexpected happened—
*Beep* "Inappropriate behavior below the neck detected in the game."
Just as Jiang Xiuxiu thought she was going to die, a dull but clear mechanical voice suddenly sounded in her ear.
Following that, a series of notifications popped up continuously—
*Beep* "NPC behavior anomaly detected, violating national treaty regulations."
*Beep* "An error has occurred."
*Beep* "System check in progress."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiuxiu's heart was filled with overwhelming joy.
It’s the game system!
The game system finally detected the anomaly in this level.
Her savior had finally arrived.