A wave of emotion stirred within Ren Yuanhao as he witnessed the traditional wedding ceremony.
Red candles wept, flutes and drums played, wine flowed, and the bridal chamber was veiled. When the veil was lifted, Ziyuan's breathtaking beauty would surely stun everyone present.
"I wonder which son of a bitch has such good fortune. It's truly enviable."
Ren Yuanhao stepped through the grand entrance. The couple's bow had already concluded in the main hall. He stood quietly behind the crowd, silently observing Ziyuan, while holding aloft the goblet he had taken from a table, drinking by himself.
A pile of betrothal gifts stacked outside the door flashed through his mind, sparking a sense of confusion.
Just then, the guests began to clamor for the bridal chamber games.
"Get out, get out, everyone move aside! Don't mess around. I have the beauty in my arms today. You scoundrels, come back tomorrow morning to drink with me!"
The groom was about to lift Ziyuan when he was stopped by his friends.
"Hey, Wumu, we traveled a long way to catch a glimpse of Miss Ziyuan. According to tradition, shouldn't we lift the veil?"
"Yes, yes, lift the veil!"
"Exactly. Once this veil is lifted, your six wives will pale in comparison!"
A flicker of anticipation crossed the face of the middle-aged man named Wumu. Beauty, at many times, was far more satisfying than flaunting one's wealth and status.
However, when Ren Yuanhao heard that this man already had six wives, his face instantly dimmed.
Though his interactions with Ziyuan were not deep, he knew she was a remarkably stubborn woman, willing to risk her life for her kin. How could such a fiery woman not mind her man having six other wives?
As his thoughts wandered, the man impatiently lifted Ziyuan's veil.
Everyone held their breath, their gaze first falling upon Ziyuan's unique silver hair, then her delicate figure. But when they saw Ziyuan's face, they were abruptly stunned!
Wumu's face turned ashen!
Her face was covered in small scratches, like exquisite white porcelain cracked with several unsightly fissures!
"H-how could this be!" Wumu staggered backward.
"These injuries look like they've ruined her face~"
"What a shame, such a perfect woman~"
"Wumu must be going mad!"
Wumu suddenly raised his hand, about to slap Ziyuan, but she caught his hand.
"Let go! What happened to your face!"
Wumu exclaimed in shock. With a gesture, seven or eight burly men surrounded them.
"To obtain what is on the map, I, Ziyuan, will pay any price. Patriarch Wumu, don't you know what kind of place the map indicates?"
Ziyuan's words carried a tone of desperation.
"You hideous creature, get out, get out!"
Wumu broke free from Ziyuan, and the seven or eight large men closed in on her. Just then, Ren Yuanhao pushed his way through the crowd and into the hall.
The situation changed abruptly. Upon seeing Ren Yuanhao, Ziyuan's heart fluttered, but she feared he would see her disfigured face and instinctively tried to cover it, staggering backward.
"Who dares touch her! The ceremony is over, and you want to break the engagement? Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed? Oh, right, you already have six wives, so why would you care about ridicule?"
Ren Yuanhao's voice was steady and reserved, yet full of power. Hearing this, Ziyuan felt immensely comforted. At least, her disfigurement had resulted in that man's complete recovery.
"Fine, you're also causing me trouble. I was just looking for a place to vent my anger. Attack!"
Wumu waved his hand, and the seven or eight strong men drew their curved sabers, encircling all of Ren Yuanhao's escape routes.
The corners of Ren Yuanhao's lips turned upwards slightly, and he said again, "Seven or eight useless underlings want to stop me? Patriarch Wumu, isn't that a bit too trifling?"
His gaze swept over a few of the strong men, and they recoiled as if their skin had been cut by sharp blades, simultaneously clearing a path.
"Are you fools? Attack!"
Wumu shoved aside the crowd, snatched a curved saber from one of his men, and, already unnerved by Ziyuan's disfigured face and his subordinates' cowardice, his temper flared. Gripping the saber, he lunged to strike Ren Yuanhao from behind!
But Ren Yuanhao remained unfazed. He strode forward, scooped up the cowering Ziyuan in his arms, and as Wumu's blade descended, Ren Yuanhao turned, his golden pupils seemingly shooting out sharp, tangible rays of light, which even stunned the murderous man.
"Ziyuan is a woman I've embraced. You trash don't have that fortune. If you know what's good for you, move out of my way now."
Ren Yuanhao's voice was exceptionally calm, yet sharp as a blade. Ziyuan, covering her flushed face, remained silent.
"Do you think my Wumu clan is your backyard, where you can come and go as you please?"
As Wumu uttered these words, Ren Yuanhao let out a cold scoff, "No, you're mistaken. My backyard wouldn't be so chaotic, and it wouldn't let any sort of riff-raff in."
At this declaration, Wumu and his men finally raised their sabers to attack!
Ren Yuanhao smirked and advanced instead of retreating. The suppressed earth-attribute true qi within him erupted like shattered earth and stone, repelling each curved saber aimed at him. In the next instant, Ren Yuanhao was already in the central courtyard.
"Damn it, to be bullied by a brat in my own home! How will I, Wumu, ever show my face if this gets out? Stop holding back, all of you! I'll make him pay!"
Wumu was the first to pick up his curved saber and charge forward. But the men behind him, attempting to re-grip their sabers, found their hands shaking like willow branches in the wind, unable to even hold their weapons. They were greatly alarmed!
Seeing no movement from behind him, Wumu hesitated, then shouted, "Where is the Shaman?"
As the words left his mouth, the Shaman appeared at the entrance, leaning on an ancient vine staff, moving like a ghost, blocking Ren Yuanhao's path.
"What, the elderly are also going to stop me?"
Ren Yuanhao could sense a subtle aura of danger from the Shaman.
"No, I am not so foolish as to fight a lion." As he spoke, the Shaman directly made way for him.
Ren Yuanhao nodded his thanks and, with a light tap of his foot, vanished into the moonlight like a swift gust of wind.
Witnessing this, Wumu's fury ignited. He rushed forward and questioned the Shaman, "I always thought you Shamans feared nothing. I didn't expect to see a mere youth today, and you're so scared you're letting him pass. Very good!"
The Shaman's expression was serene, and he said sternly, "Patriarch Wumu, I advise you not to set your sights on him again. 'Chaotic Demonic Pulse,' his aura is contained, his power is restrained. I misjudged him earlier. If you wish for your clan to be annihilated, then by all means, provoke this lion. I apologize, but this old man will not be drawn into this mess."