I nodded and took the lantern.

Liu Sandao suddenly coughed twice, took out a copper bell, and tied it to my belt.

"Stop when you get to the third one, got it?"

The words "Soul Suppressor" were engraved on the copper bell, and the edges were wrapped with broken hair, making it unusually shiny.

When the lantern light swept across the third girl, she suddenly trembled violently.

"This one will do."

Liu Sandao stood silently in front of the girl, and quickly wrote the word "go" in my palm with his fingertip.

The villagers cheered immediately.

Aunt Wang brought over a bowl of red date and lotus seed soup.

Just as I was about to take it, Liu Sandao suddenly knocked over the bowl: "What's the rush? We'll drink when the auspicious time comes!"

As dusk settled over the mountain, I was ushered into the bridal chamber, which was covered with talismans.

Liu Sandao shoved an oil paper package into my arms and whispered, "Open it precisely at 1:45 AM. Inside is 'exorcising powder'."

"Remember, no matter what noise you hear, don't open the door. Follow the bell."

As he turned around, I caught a glimpse of half a bloodstained red veil peeking out of the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

The cries of girls could be heard outside the bridal chamber, mixed with Zhou Guilan's sharp scolding.

"Quiet down, all of you! Otherwise, something unclean might hear you!"

Through the crack in the door, I saw them being pushed into the next room. Each girl had a human skin patch sewn onto the back of her red wedding dress, with the words "substitute" embroidered in gold thread on it.

Ah Xiu was tied to the end of the corridor. Suddenly, she twitched the corners of her mouth at me and grinned.

The copper bell at his waist had changed its sound at some point.

The characters “镇魂” (zhenhun) oozed black blood and became “镇魂” (zhenhun).

The clump of severed hair wriggled in the moonlight, transforming into Ah Xiu's blood-written message: "They are all living people whose faces have been peeled off, and you will be next."

Am I next?

What does that mean?

"Hey, what are you thinking about? You're so engrossed!"

I was suddenly patted hard on the shoulder.

I turned around and saw it was Liu Sandao.

No, what's he doing here?

When I turned around again, I found myself lying in bed, and it was already broad daylight.

The girl disappeared, and everything around her disappeared as well.

etc!

This isn't right!

"Are you still half asleep?"

Liu Sandao waved his hand in front of me: "You drank too much last night, didn't you? It's already afternoon, what are you dawdling around for? They're all waiting for you."

My mind is still a little hazy.

But I realized what was happening.

It all seems like a dream before.

But isn't this just too real?

I rubbed my head and asked, puzzled, "Who's waiting for me?"

"Your wife, of course! Who else could it be? Hurry up and go out to choose a wife!"