The appearance of the pig's head was so sudden that I staggered half a step back.
As my gaze briefly faltered, Yu Longting covered the pig's head with a piece of red cloth, "Not covering the livestock sacrifice with red cloth allows malevolent energy to clash with the Dragon God."
"But... the one in Baiming Cave... isn't it a fake Dragon God?" the village chief followed up with a question.
Yu Longting's noble and cool lips lightly parted, "Putting on a show, you need to go all out."
"Yes, come on, cover it with red cloth," the village chief yelled. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novｅlfire.net
Bare-chested, muscular men took red cloths and covered the heads of the oxen and sheep as well.
Outside the door, in addition to the table filled with lavish offerings, stood two rows of Wedding Matrons dressed in festive attire.
Each held a tray in their hands, on which lay bridal clothes and jewelry for marrying the Dragon God.
The Wedding Matron came over to me and said, "Lady Dragon God, we're here to help you change."
"Could I... change as well? I wish to join Wanwan," Bai Zanhe walked into the crowd and asked softly.
The village chief waved his hand impatiently, "Girl, what's this got to do with you? Since you've betrayed our village, just leave and never come back."
Bai Zanhe bit her lip, "It was Lord Dragon God who asked me to come."
"What the heck, Yu Longting... asked you to come?" I glanced sideways at Yu Longting, trying to find a trace of truth on his handsome face.
Yu Longting bent down and whispered in my ear, "Without her, the impostor wouldn't be willing to show up, you wouldn't want it to keep raining here, would you?"
A tightness gripped my heart, and my expression grew solemn.
Yu Longting said gravely, "Go inside."
"Let's go, Wanwan, don't delay the auspicious time to enter Baiming Cave," Bai Zanhe took my hand and we entered the house together.
We sat down together in the chairs while the Wedding Matrons bustled about, helping us with makeup and hair.
I had barely sat down when I stood up again, staring at Bai Zanhe as if she were a monster, "You were so opposed to becoming the Falling Cave Girl and marrying the Dragon God, how could you... could it be... did Yu Longting threaten you?"
"No, he said to follow you and protect me, and I agreed," she replied.
Far from showing aversion or fear, Bai Zanhe covered her lips and smiled faintly, pulling me back to sit down with a gentle grace, "The exact words of Lord Dragon God were, 'I've risked my wife and child to protect you. If you refuse, I'll have those two Taoists send you away, far from trouble.'"
I could barely accept this, "That's more like it, he's still somewhat reliable."
"Lord Dragon God also said that the True Dragon's arrival in Barbarian Village is causing a big stir. Even if you enter Baiming Cave, you won't meet the fake one, let alone lure him out," she explained earnestly.
Bai Zanhe calmly continued, "The impostor, taking a desperate gamble, issued a Divine Oracle; the wife he takes must have a great use. If there's someone matching the Divine Oracle in the bait, there's still a chance to draw out the fake."
"So, Yu Longting had prepared well in advance that someone besides me would be arranged," I said, becoming more displeased after hearing Bai Zanhe's many explanations, "You're being used as bait, bait! You could encounter danger at any moment, yet you seem so content with it."
Yu Longting had promised me not to involve other girls, and yet it turned out to be a deceptive trick.
Yet, deep down, I couldn't help but admire Yu Longting's high intelligence and his meticulous planning.
In fact, I had also anticipated that the impostor might not take the bait.
Still, deep down, I hoped that it might be an overconfident fake.
Even if the impostor dared not show up...
It was worth taking the opportunity to enter Baiming Cave, rumored to be the abode of the Dragon God, to look for possible clues.
"Isn't that why you're here to protect me? Ah, Lord Dragon God, this madman of spousal doting, has made such a great sacrifice by arranging for you to protect me," she said.
Unconsciously, Bai Zanhe, who hadn't gotten along with Yu Longting, had started to side with him and even praised him as some fanatic of spousal doting.