The girls stood in a line. Xie Jinwen took her place at the very end. Beside her stood Zhang Cui’er, her face wrapped in a cloth mask, revealing only a pair of eyes filled with resentment.
Three days ago, she had been ambushed in the forest. When she woke up, she found her face scratched by what looked like sharp bird claws. The marks were still there, and it would take at least a month to recover—her face was essentially ruined.
Seeing Xie Jinwen again only intensified Zhang Cui’er’s hatred. She muttered viciously, “Xie Jinwen, why aren’t you dead yet?”
Wang Ping was her most obedient dog. Whenever she cried a little, he would be furious on her behalf and rush off with a machete to fight Xie Jinwen.
Why target Xie Jinwen?
Heh. Because in this village, only Xie Jinwen was considered truly strange.
Xie Jinwen heard the curse and remained indifferent. She replied calmly, “You ordered Wang Ping to injure me. There will be backlash. Your marriage with the Wang family boy won’t succeed.”
Zhang Cui’er’s expression darkened. “Don’t you dare curse me!”
Xie Jinwen shrugged. “We’ll see.”
Soon, the village youths stepped forward one by one holding embroidered sachets. Most went straight to their chosen target, handed over the sachet, and led the girl down from the platform.
The process was quick because this was only a formality.
Before the coming-of-age ceremony, parents had already arranged matches. Both sides had already agreed.
The Zhang family and Wang family had also finalized an agreement. However, Zhang Cui’er still hadn’t received Wang’s sachet, and Wang’s young man hadn’t even appeared. The Wang family was nowhere to be seen.
Now only Xie Jinwen and Zhang Cui’er remained unchosen on the altar.
Zhang Cui’er finally panicked. Was Xie Jinwen’s curse about to come true again?
The Zhang family grew anxious as well. They understood what it meant to remain unchosen.
Footsteps sounded in the distance. The Zhang family assumed the Wang family had arrived and quickly looked over. Zhang Cui’er also turned nervously.
The Wang family did arrive—but they were chasing someone.
It was Wang Ping.
Wang Ping rushed forward desperately, the Wang family chasing behind him. Before anyone could react, Wang Ping jumped onto the altar and shoved something into Zhang Cui’er’s hands.
She instinctively caught it.
A sachet.
She had received Wang Ping’s sachet.
The Wang family stopped below the altar, looking devastated, as if they had no choice but to accept fate.
Wang’s aunt shook her head. “Forget it… it’s fate. Seems our Wang family has no such blessing.”
With that, they turned to leave.
The Zhang family was stunned. Zhang Cui’er’s mother reacted first and grabbed Wang’s aunt. “What do you mean no blessing? What’s going on?”
Others from the Zhang family also shouted in confusion, asking where Wang’s young man was.
But he still hadn’t appeared.
Wang’s aunt pulled her hand away stiffly. “Your girl already accepted another man’s sachet. She’s going to marry him. Our two families are off.”
She sounded regretful, but her eyes carried relief—like she had just shed a burden.
The Wang family had already heard: Zhang Cui’er’s face was ruined. She was now disfigured. Their young man was outstanding—he would never marry a disfigured woman.
But since the marriage had already been arranged, they couldn’t cancel it outright. So they staged this situation.
Wang Ping was the least favored in their family. Since he liked Zhang Cui’er, they simply let him take her.
Wang’s aunt sighed. “Let it be. It’s fate. Otherwise your Cui’er would’ve been chosen by the Mountain God.”
Zhang’s mother’s face turned ugly, but she also understood the implication. Those not chosen during the ceremony would be selected by the Mountain God.
She now realized the Wang family had backed out because of her daughter’s disfigured face, and used Wang Ping as a substitute.
Fine. They would deal with it after the ceremony. Once her husband and the others returned, the Wang family would not get away with this.
Wang’s aunt then said, “Cui’er, come down with Wang Ping.”
Zhang Cui’er was nearly exploding with rage. She glared at Wang Ping, who was smiling foolishly at her, wanting nothing more than to slap him.
Who would marry Wang Ping? He wasn’t worthy of her in any way.
But she still had sense. She needed the sachet to leave the altar.
And someone… did not have one.
Thinking of this, she looked at Xie Jinwen with disdain. “At least I’m wanted. Unlike you.”
Xie Jinwen replied lightly, “Yes. Whoever you marry, you marry.”
That almost made Zhang Cui’er lose control again.
Wang Ping took her hand. “Cui’er, let’s go down.”
She instinctively tried to pull away, but seeing everyone watching, she forced herself to endure it.
They stepped down.
A gong sounded.
“The Mountain God’s bride has been selected! Send Xie Jinwen to the Saintess and complete the marriage ritual!”
The elders on the platform announced loudly. Several pre-arranged men rushed up to drag Xie Jinwen toward the Drowning Immortal Pool, intending to complete the ritual sacrifice.
Xie Jinwen looked at them coldly. Their eyes were filled with greed—clearly wanting to take advantage of her before she died.
“Heh.”
“Selfish, greedy, foolish humans. Today is your end.”
The men lunged—but missed.
They froze in shock.
Xie Jinwen was floating in midair.
“Demon!”
“It’s a demon!”
Panic erupted. The elders on stage went weak in the knees.
“…A… a monster!”
Anyone who could fly was not human.
A thunderous crack split the sky.
Dark clouds surged in instantly, swallowing the horizon. A suffocating pressure covered the land.
“An earthquake is coming! Everyone run!”
The outsider who had been shouting warnings for days appeared again, screaming in panic.
No one had believed him before. But now—floating girl, celestial phenomena—fear finally spread.
Earthquake.
Lao Wo Village was surrounded by mountains. If it collapsed, the entire village would be buried alive.
People scattered in panic—some running out of the mountains, some deeper into the village, some grabbing valuables, some even carrying chickens and ducks.
“Run to Rooster Peak!”
“Her grandmother is buried there!”
Some shouted, and many began running toward Rooster Peak, believing Xie Jinwen was behind it all and that her filial nature might offer safety.
Xie Jinwen hovered in the air, watching the chaos below with amusement.
Then she heard water.
She looked toward the Drowning Immortal Pool.
The water was overflowing—rapidly expanding as if a dam had opened. Its color gradually turned red, finally resembling blood.
The sealing formation was loosening.
Her time to leave the mountain had arrived.