Chapter 152: It Has Appeared

Night fell.

The Yuan family hosted twenty banquet tables.

Amidst deafening firecrackers, Yuan Jing and the bride bowed to heaven and earth.

The bride's head was covered with a red veil, concealing her entire face completely.

However, her graceful figure still allowed everyone to see that she was a beautiful woman of pure and refined elegance.

Yuan Jing moved through a sea of congratulations.

Everyone wore a smiling face, but beneath the smiles lay too many complex emotions and unease.

Lu Ao not only came himself but also brought many plainclothes officers who blended in with the guests.

After the guests had eaten and drunk their fill and dispersed, Yuan Jing, supported by servants, walked toward the bridal chamber in the back courtyard.

Ma Chulan sat nervously on the wedding bed.

Although she knew in her heart that the marriage was fake, it was still the first time in her life experiencing something like this.

She was tired, and even more nervous.

Especially when she heard chaotic footsteps outside, signaling Yuan Jing's approach, her heart leapt straight into her throat.

The door opened. Through the veil, she saw a pair of male feet drawing closer, finally stopping just a meter away from her.

In the next second, the veil was lifted.

Yuan Jing's gaze collided awkwardly with hers.

For a moment, neither knew what to say.

Recalling Su Yan's instructions, Ma Chulan forced out a sentence from her throat: "Brother Yuan."

A single title made goosebumps rise all over her body.

Yuan Jing was equally uncomfortable, but having married three times before, he was familiar with the proceedings.

"Lanlan, thank you for being willing to marry me. Let's drink a cup of cross-cupped wine."

The wine bottle had long since been swapped for plain water, but Yuan Jing still poured two full cups seriously and handed one to Ma Chulan.

Ma Chulan tensed her body and cooperated to finish the drink.

However, at every step, she silently chanted in her heart that it was all fake.

Red candles flickered.

The two sat on the bed, only able to stare at each other helplessly.

Because the only thing left to do next was... the consummation.

Yuan Jing kept checking the time. The previous few times, it was almost always at this point that he would inexplicably pass out.

Time ticked by second by second, yet everything remained eerily calm.

Could it be that the terrifying events from before wouldn't happen this time?

"Um... Brother Yuan, it's getting late. Why don't we just rest?" Ma Chulan suggested proactively.

Having said that, she began to slowly undo her buttons.

Yuan Jing naturally knew she was play-acting, but letting a young woman undress was really bad for her reputation.

Just as he wanted to signal her to stop, a strange feeling suddenly assaulted his heart.

This feeling was exceptionally familiar to him; it was exactly like this before every incident.

Before he could even issue the slightest warning to Ma Chulan, he lost consciousness.

Ma Chulan had barely managed to undo the buttons on her wedding gown, shed the outermost layer, then quickly kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the bed.

It was just for show; naturally, she couldn't really take all her clothes off.

"Brother Yuan, you've been tired all day. Get some rest."

Suppressing her discomfort, she called out to Yuan Jing, who had his back to her, feeling he should understand her meaning.

Yuan Jing, who should have collapsed, seemed to have turned into a different person at this moment; his whole body exuded a gloomy, sinister aura.

His gaze was twisted. The next second, he slowly turned around to face Ma Chulan.

Ma Chulan lay stiffly on the inner side of the large bed. Just as she was about to say something, Yuan Jing lunged at her with a ferocious expression.

All ten of his fingers had grown black nails over ten centimeters long, terrifying beyond words.

Ma Chulan's pupils contracted violently. In her terror, she quickly rolled off the other side of the bed.

"Mr. Yuan, wake up! I'm Ma Chulan!"

Yuan Jing let out a sinister laugh. Though he didn't speak, Ma Chulan was certain—the current Yuan Jing was no longer Yuan Jing!

His eyes held only killing intent.

When "he" attacked Ma Chulan again, a talisman was flung out by her.

The talisman's light landed on "him," causing "him" to twist and struggle.

Ma Chulan's palm was already slick with cold sweat. Seeing "him" finally restrained, she was about to breathe a sigh of relief when the talisman was instantly corroded by Yin energy.

In just a few seconds, Ma Chulan was completely at a disadvantage.

She found it unbelievable, even forgetting to dodge.

By the time she wanted to escape, it was too late.

Yuan Jing's terrifying face was right in front of her.

Was she going to die here?

She really didn't want to become a desiccated corpse!

With a sorrowful scream in her heart, the door was kicked open violently from the outside, followed by a sharp sound of wind.

*Crack!*

Something struck hard against Yuan Jing's black fingernails, completely stopping him from approaching Ma Chulan.

Even in her terror, Ma Chulan recognized at a glance that it was the iron rod Su Yan always held in her hand.

Before she could react, Su Yan had already arrived behind Yuan Jing.

"Su Yan, it really is him!"

Su Yan slapped a talisman directly out.

The talisman didn't land directly on Yuan Jing but emitted a powerful suction force.

Yuan Jing instantly revealed a pained expression, his entire body twisted into a state impossible for a normal person.

At this moment, Ma Chulong, Cao Meng, and Sun Mang rushed in, along with Lu Ao, who had stayed behind after the banquet.

Although no one had told him the wedding was fake, the fact that everyone, including Su Yan, had positioned themselves guarding the four sides of the room the moment Yuan Jing entered made him instantly realize something was wrong.

"Little sister, are you okay?"

Ma Chulong was most concerned about Ma Chulan, rushing over to check on her.

Sun Mang looked at Su Yan and Yuan Jing, while Cao Meng's gaze fell on the talisman floating in mid-air.

Stunned and shocked.

Lu Ao froze directly; the scene before him, Yuan Jing's state, had completely exceeded his understanding.

"Su Yan..."

Sun Mang wanted to go help but was grabbed by Cao Meng, who shouted sternly: "Don't go interrupt her! She's trying to pull the thing hiding inside Mr. Yuan's body out!"

At this moment, not only Cao Meng, but even Ma Chulong and Sun Mang were astonished.

They had searched for so many days, never imagining the one with the problem was actually Yuan Jing!

Ma Chulan, still in shock, finally recovered. "Yes, Su Yan told me this morning she suspected that thing was hiding on Mr. Yuan. She was right."

It was precisely because of Su Yan's judgment that she had been prepared in advance, allowing her to react in time the moment Yuan Jing lost control.

Under the talisman's suction, a black shadow violently tugged against Yuan Jing's body, becoming clearer and clearer.

It was like a black skin, being forcibly peeled off Yuan Jing's body.

"Th-this... what is this thing?" Sun Mang's scalp went numb watching; he felt extremely sick.

(End of Chapter)