Inside the door was an even deeper, thicker, inky darkness.

A figure appeared silently in the darkness in the center of the doorway.

He was an elderly man wearing a dark blue long gown that had been washed until it was faded and starched until it was crisp.

His face was stiff, like a mask covered with a thick layer of cheap chalk; his skin was a deathly bluish-gray, utterly inelastic.

The corners of his mouth were pulled upwards at an extremely bizarre angle, forming a fixed, unchanging, and chilling "smile".

The strangest thing was his eyes—

His eyes were cloudy and yellowish, like two dusty glass beads, devoid of any life-like luster, only a lifeless emptiness.

He stood there, his hands clasped together in front of him, his fingernails long and black.

A chilling, decaying odor, even more intense than the cold wind outside, wafted in, carrying a heavy layer of dust and an indescribable, cloying sweetness, reminiscent of aged incense ash.

All the players, including Chu Yuan and Lu Jing who were locked in a fierce battle, instantly felt a chill run from their spines to the top of their heads, and unconsciously held their breath.

What the hell is this weird stuff?!

The stiff face turned to the crowd outside the door, its cloudy eyes slowly sweeping over the bewildered faces.

Without uttering a sound, a dry, flat, monotone voice, like the malfunctioning of an old phonograph, resonated directly in the minds of every player, coldly etching itself into their hearts:

Welcome...distinguished guest...to the Qin residence...for...a joyous occasion...

The rules are as follows...

[First rule: At night, one must...return to one's room...lock the doors...turn off the lights...and must not...peep...]

Secondly: One must not look directly at the bride.

Thirdly: Certain items within the residence must not be damaged, such as red silk, the character for "double happiness," or offerings.

[Fourthly: Before the ceremony concludes at midnight... one must not... leave the West Garden without permission...]

[...]

Finally, I hope that everyone will witness this auspicious occasion...

With each rule recited, the deathly aura in the voice intensified, like invisible ice water being poured into everyone's heart.

As for what the violators will face, Xiao Jin believes that no one needs to explain.

The malice and bloodshed hidden behind the old man's words are enough to illustrate the threat.

The atmosphere instantly became incredibly oppressive, making even breathing difficult.

wedding?

Here?

Looking at the eerie old house before them, combined with the rule of "not being able to look directly at the bride" and the old man's various behaviors, a cold and terrifying word instantly surfaced in the minds of all the surviving players—ghost marriage!

Damn it! I hate this kind of thing the most!

Chu Yuan pressed the tip of his tongue against his cheek, while the other players all felt a chill run down their spines.

The old man's stiff smile seemed to widen slightly, making him appear even more eerie.

【Esteemed guests, I am the steward of the Qin family... Please follow me into the mansion...】

[Go first... change clothes...]

He turned his stiff body to the side, raised a withered hand like a bird's claw, and pointed to the bottomless darkness inside the door.

[The wedding attire...is ready in the mansion...]

Please... change into...

[Wait patiently for the auspicious time... to be married to the bride...]

The word "marriage" was drawn out slowly and deliberately in his rigid voice, like the lingering echo of a death knell, reverberating in front of the silent old house, striking the nerve endings of everyone present.

Darkness, like a living thing, surged behind the open doorway, as if waiting to devour the offerings dressed in "wedding attire."

The butler's words, "marriage completed," were like icicles piercing eardrums, exploding into a collective gasp in the dead silence.

"Wait a minute!" A young male player wearing a plaid shirt and with a face full of freckles suddenly looked up, his voice cracking.

"Wasn't this supposed to be attending a wedding? How did it turn into marrying the bride?"

"So we're not guests, we're the grooms!" His finger trembled as he pointed to himself, then to the equally bewildered crowd around him, and finally to the menacing darkness inside the door.

"What the hell...is this some kind of mass marriage into another family, and they're really going this far?!"

The butler's stiff, pale face remained expressionless. His cloudy eyes slowly turned to him, and his flat voice once again pierced his mind: "[The bride, Qin...seeking a husband...entering the household...all...are...suitable matches...]"

“A good match? A good match my ass!” Another burly, bald man with a thick gold chain around his neck spat, his face twitching.

"I'm here to complete the mission and get the rewards, not to be a live-in son-in-law to a dead man and live off his wife!" He shouted, trying to use his fierceness to cover up the panic in his eyes.

Although the mission statement didn't say anything, it's obvious to anyone that the bride from the Qin family must be a vengeful ghost.

A very soft sneer escaped from Lu Jing's thin, crimson lips.

He swung the bone whip with great interest, the pale knuckles rubbing together to produce a teeth-grinding cracking sound.

"A gigolo? Interesting. With so many people sharing one 'bride,' this gigolo is probably laced with poison, isn't he?"

His gaze swept over the butler's deadpan face, then over the pale-faced crowd, and finally landed on Chu Yuan, where he licked his lips maliciously.

"Hey Chu, with your build, you're certainly tough enough to be a live-in son-in-law, but I wonder if that ghost bride can even handle you?"

Chu Yuan's temple throbbed, and his fist clenched instantly, his knuckles cracking.

But unexpectedly, he didn't immediately lash out. He just glared at Lu Jing and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "This is the first time in my life I've been a gigolo. How novel!"

His tone was three parts absurdity and seven parts the resentment forced out by this godforsaken place; he managed to say the words "gold digger" with the fierce determination to sell everything he owned.

Xiao Jin's eyes, hidden beneath her bangs, remained completely calm, as if they weren't discussing her "marriage."

But then, she was the first to move.

The long sword was not sheathed, but held upside down at his side, its blade reflecting the thicker, darker red glow coming from inside the door.

Amo's gaze lingered slowly on her shoulders and neck, his cold, vertical pupils fixed on the depths of the doorway. Xiao Jin strode forward, heading straight into the Qin residence.

With her taking the lead, Zhan Wenchen pushed up his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses calmly recording every detail of the butler and the old house, and then silently followed.

Wen Baiqiu gracefully dusted off non-existent dust from her white suit, her steps unhurried. Chu Yuan, though grumbling, still strode in after her.

On the other side, Lu Jing chuckled softly, his figure gliding into the darkness like a ghost.

Only after these bigwigs left did the others dare to take a step.

Liu Man's eyes flickered with uncertainty. She gritted her teeth and slipped inside, hugging the wall.

The remaining players looked at each other, and with a shout from the bald man, "Damn it, we're going to die anyway!", they gritted their teeth and charged in.

It's just a wedding, isn't it?

I'm still a virgin, I've never been married, so today I'm finally making up for that regret!