Just A Daoist Who Occasionally Kicks Ass
Chapter 78: The Bride

Chapter 78: The Bride

His status in Wei City was somewhat unique. After all, together with Bai Hongtu, he had slain evil spirits and put a stop to the blood money curse that had been harming the townsfolk.

Because of this, Magistrate Xu had specially issued an order exempting the two of them from the city's curfew restrictions, and granted them official tokens from the yamen. Even the city gates could be opened for them on demand.

After all, these two frequently caused quite a stir at night. If something were to happen and they were mistaken for criminals, it could become a serious problem.

This sort of privilege was the first of its kind in Wei City. Though they weren't technically part of the government, they were granted the authority to act independently and decisively.

The two of them followed the trail all the way through the city, eventually finding that the aura led to an ordinary residential house.

“It's in there,” Li Yanchu said gravely.

Bai Hongtu nodded and gestured for Li Yanchu to break the door down.

Seeing this, Li Yanchu shook his head. “Why are you always so brutish? We're refined martial artists, aren't we?”

And with that, he leapt lightly onto the wall and flipped over into the courtyard.

“....” Bai Hongtu's mouth twitched. Then he took a few steps back, steadied his breath, and barely managed to vault up onto the wall.

“Come down already, what are you doing up there?” Li Yanchu whispered.

Bai Hongtu smiled bitterly. He had simply failed to make the jump in one smooth motion. He landed softly, his movements elegant and graceful.

At first glance, he really did look the part of a promising young hero from the jianghu with a longsword at his waist and a sharp face like carved jade.

The house before them was pitch-dark. It was deep into the night, after all. Not just here, but the entire city of Wei City was cloaked in darkness and silence.

At this time, the two of them walked straight in. Li Yanchu glanced back at Bai Hongtu tiptoeing behind him and couldn't help but laugh.

“What's so funny?” Bai Hongtu frowned.

“We're here to catch ghosts, but why do we look like a couple of thieves?” Li Yanchu said with a grin.

Bai Hongtu blinked, then chuckled too. “You're right, it really does look like we’re up to no good.”

Bai Hongtu immediately realized what was going on and grumbled, “This is all your fault for making the atmosphere so tense. If you ask me, we should’ve just broken down the door and gotten it over with. That would’ve been much more quick and clean.”

Li Yanchu gave him a glance and said calmly, “The way you’re acting right now, you really do look like some back-alley cutthroat bandit.”

“...” Bai Hongtu was speechless.

Following the trace of aura he’d been tracking, Li Yanchu walked straight inside. He gave the door a gentle push, and it opened easily as it wasn’t locked.

Inside, the room was pitch-black, so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. The silence was unnatural. Even with Li Yanchu’s keen hearing, he couldn’t pick up a single breath other than their own nor any sound of life at all.

Unable to see clearly in the darkness, Bai Hongtu took a fire striker from his robes to light the room. The fire flared to life and instantly revealed a horrifying sight.

Right beside the bed sat a bride in a bright red wedding gown. She sat there silently, unmoving.

Seeing this, Bai Hongtu’s hand trembled. He immediately launched a talisman spell, sending a burst of blazing flames that lit up half the room.

But just as suddenly, the bride in red vanished! Even the talisman’s fire failed to ignite anything, as she had vanished into thin air.

At that moment, Bai Hongtu felt a chill crawl up his spine. And in the weak flicker of the fire striker in his hand, he suddenly caught sight of a red bridal veil...

She’s behind me.

His heart turned cold. Without hesitation, he formed a spell seal in his hands, and a radiant golden light enveloped his entire body, illuminating the entire room.

“I’ve found you!” Li Yanchu suddenly shouted coldly and charged toward the side of the bed. He had been silently tracking the position of the bride in red the whole time.

Rip!

With a swift motion, he drew the Jiaoslayer and slashed toward her. In his ears came a strange sound, like a painted curtain or backdrop being violently torn apart.

The room instantly lit up with brilliance, and gone was the shabby commoner’s home. In its place was a lavish bridal chamber, resplendent with gold and intricate carvings. Lanterns and streamers hung everywhere, looking very red and festive. A large red "double happiness"[1] character was even pasted on the wall.

On the table was a full spread of exquisite dishes, and next to a grand, elegantly crafted bed sat a woman in a crimson wedding gown. There was no trace of eerie ghostly presence in the room. Instead, a faint fragrance lingered in the air, calming the mind.

“I’ve put aside my shame to invite the two of you here. Since you've already slain my servant, why have you come again in the middle of the night?” said the veiled bride softly.

Li Yanchu replied nonchalantly, “To kill the wicked.”

The bride seemed momentarily startled, then said gently, “Daoist Master Li, you're still just as blunt. That doesn’t feel much like a Daoist’s demeanor, more like a man of the jianghu.”

Li Yanchu arched his brow. “You’re Guo Caiyun, the one on that paper boat from the Five Lakes Gang last time?”

“Yes, that was me. I hope you won’t take offense that I played a little trick on you earlier, Daoist Master,” said the bride in red softly.

Li Yanchu and Bai Hongtu exchanged a glance, reading each other’s thoughts instantly.

Then Li Yanchu continued, “We’ve got nothing to talk about to practitioners of the sinister Art of Skin Painting like you.”

Bai Hongtu spoke sternly, “That’s right. I will never associate with evil cults or Demonic Daos.”

The bride in red replied gently, “Who says I practice the heretical Art of Skin Painting? I am a successor of the Painting Dao, a disciple of the Painting Saint, and one could even say I follow the Confucian path.”

Bai Hongtu sneered, “And those litter bearers just now? All made of human skin. Did you think I couldn’t tell?”

The red-clad bride responded softly, “You misunderstand, Mr. Bai. Those were all vicious criminals from nearby cities. I simply borrowed their skins for my paintings.”

At her soft “Mr. Bai,” the corner of Bai Hongtu’s mouth twitched. He barked, “What a silver-tongued vixen. Flaying people for paintings, passing off fakes as real... How dare you call yourself a disciple of a Saint!”

“Please don’t be angry, Mr. Bai. Allow me to clarify. Those twelve were all murderers. The young man who played the suona was named Sui Liang. He killed a friend out of greed, then destroyed the body and escaped justice. Tell me, does he not deserve to die?”

“That’s just your one-sided claim, and that’s hardly convincing evidence,” Bai Hongtu said coldly.

“What I say is all true. They took lives, betrayed trust, and their deaths were deserved. I merely carried out justice on Heaven’s behalf,” the bride in red explained softly.

Li Yanchu suddenly asked, “May I ask your name, miss?”

The bride replied gently, “My surname is Wang, given name Simu[2].”

“Very well, Miss Simu. Whether or not this is truly the Art of Skin Painting, let’s set that aside for now. You previously sent word that you could shed light on the mystery of the Elixir of Immortality and Lady Qingyi. Was that true?”

Li Yanchu’s tone was calm and courteous, so much so that no one could find fault with it.

The red-clad bride answered softly, “I had intended to inform you both, but since you acted without distinguishing right from wrong and killed my servant, it’s no longer something I can reveal so easily.”

Hearing this, Bai Hongtu’s heart sank. He couldn’t help but prepare to strike!

Li Yanchu gave him a little shove and smiled, “Didn’t Miss Simu want to marry my friend here? If your words prove true, if you’re not of the Demonic Dao and can dispel our doubts, I’ll vouch for you. You two can share a bridal chamber tonight.”

“...” Bai Hongtu was speechless at his words.

1. In Chinese culture, 喜 (xǐ) means "joy" or "happiness", and it holds deep cultural significance, especially in celebrations.

Most notably, the character 囍 (double happiness), a stylized form of 喜喜, is a powerful symbol of marital bliss and is commonly used in weddings. It represents the happiness of two people coming together and is often seen on red paper, decorations, and gifts during wedding ceremonies. ☜

2. 思 (sī) means "to think of," "to long for," or "to miss." It often expresses introspection or emotional yearning. 慕 (mù) means "to admire," "to long for," or "to be drawn to with affection or respect." Together, 思慕 conveys a strong sense of yearning, admiration, and deep emotional attachment, often romantic. It evokes the image of someone with a tender heart, quietly longing or holding someone dear in affection. ☜