?Chapter 1713 Marriage Night


    The moon hung low in the sky, and the slender figure seemed to mold seamlessly into the darkness. He walked forward soundlessly, bathed in moonlight.


    The "River God", Zhask, was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. "How dare a foolish mortal trespass on a god''s domain? Do you have no regard for your life?"


    It advanced step by step, prepared to strike mercilessly-until the figure drew nearer. Under the moonlight, a refined and noble face was revealed.


    Zhask froze in its tracks, stiffening in fear.


    Before it could speak, the ck serpent''s head shot out from a nearby cage. "How bold of you! Speaking to the lord like that it seems like you are prepared for death!"


    Zhask looked at the ck serpent before darting its gaze toward the figure again. The moonlight shone brightly, and Dalton''s visage became fully visible.


    One look was enough to send a cold shiver down its spine. It shuddered violently and immediately reverted from its human form. "M-My lord! What brings you here? Weren''t you..."


    Zhask didn''t dare speak his mind any longer, though he was sure Dalton had been sealed away by that most talented grand master! It remembered clearly Dalton had defied the heavenlyws by questioning its fairness. How had he broken free? When did this happen? Why hadn''t the old cultivator given it even a hint of this news? Zhask trembled uncontrobly. If it had known Dalton was free, it would never have dared to meddle in this vige! It couldn''t help but wonder if he knew that it had also been tampering with the weather cycles.


    It dared not to lift its head any longer, its mind racing with desperate thoughts of self-preservation.


    It would never forget the first time it encountered Dalton. Back then, it was nothing more than an ordinary snake. He had passed by, and so happened to have casually saved it. However, in a matter of days, it had managed to evolve into a dragon.


    Everyone knew it owed its existence to the heavenly luck. Even the most venerable cultivators bowed to it, all because of the faint trace of Dalton''s energy lingering on its body. That energy alone had elevated its destiny.


    Zhask knew well enough who gave it the life it had today. But now, it was terrified that Dalton hade to reim what was his.


    Dalton''s pitch-ck eyes were like ck holes with imprable depth. His entire being radiated a terrifying presence, as if he could see straight through Zhask''s thoughts.


    Step by step, he advanced toward the trembling creature, each footfall sending shockwaves through its very soul, rendering it utterly immobile.


    "I hear you''ve been living quite the luxurious life as a ''god'' here," Dalton said, his voice low but bone-chilling. Zhask shuddered violently, the gold coin it had been holding in its mouth ttering to the ground.


    Its cave was a chaotic blend of gleaming treasures and scattered skeletons.


    The ck serpent saw red at the sight. Emboldened by Dalton''s presence, it raised its head and hissed sharply," Didn''t you hear the lord''s question? Weren''t you bragging about killing him just now? What''s wrong? Cat got your tongue?"


    Zhask hurriedly wiped his sweat. "M-My lord, this wasn''t my idea! An old cultivator threatened me! He said he''d destroy my soul if I didn''t obey. You know how it is I couldn''t resist someone with that kind of power! I didn''t have a choice."


    Its sudden surrender was almostughable. One moment, it had been ready to kill, and the next, it was groveling in fear.


    Dalton arched his eyebrows. "An old cultivator?"


    Zhask sensed an opportunity to mitigate its predicament. "Yes, yes! An old cultivator with extremely high cultivation! But it''s not just his power-it''s because he carries something of yours, my lord!"


    Just as Dalton was about to press for more details, themotion outside the water cave suddenly ceased. Instead, the sound of musical instruments drew closer, followed by a loud cry. "Set the carriage down!" The ornate red carriage was ced at the cave''s entrance. Inside, Wynter sat motionless, her face devoid of expression, as lifeless as a puppet.


    It turned out that the River God''s wedding didn''t involve letting the carriage drift along the river. Instead, it traveled a short distance over water before the bearers lifted it and carried it into a mountain cave.


    Standing outside the cave was La with a head full of silver hair. Leaning on her cane, she scattered golden parchment offerings toward the sky, her tone reverent. "Oh, esteemed River God, the offerings for this year have arrived. Would youe out to take a look?"


    Zhask wiped its sweat anxiously, too terrified to step forward.


    Turned out, La wasn''t just anymon mortal, but someone capable ofmunion with the divine. It was no wonder she acted more like a cult leader than a n leader.


    She mistook the silence for displeasure and hurriedly continued, "River God, please calm your anger. This year''s bride will surely bring you joy."


    Still, there was no response from within the cave.


    Hamilton furrowed his brows. "Mom, isn''t the River God usually quick to appear to personally bring the bride inside? Why isn''t he responding today?"


    La narrowed her eyes, her voice low and firm. "Silence. The River God''s moods are not for you to question." Hamilton replied anxiously, "I was just worried that he might not heed our prayers despite us bringing the bride." La raised the gold ingot offering in her hands high above her head. "Oh, mighty River God, you may not know this, but the vigers have been gued by illness. What starts as a mild sickness ends in death without fail. our generations


    "Esteemed River God, you hold dominion over the rivers and the flow fortune. For the sake of devotion, we implore you to grant us a sliver of your fortune."


    The cave remained eerily quiet.


    Though disappointed, La knew better than to push it. "River God, I shall leave the bride here for you. I trust in yourpassion and believe you will not allow your worshippers to fall into ruin."


    With that said, she made a hand gesture, signaling for the others to retreat.


    Hamilton opened his mouth to protest but stopped at a single nce from La.


    "We''ll discuss thister. Remember, the River God didn''t reject the bride. This is a sign of his favor," she said firmly.


    In truth, those girls who survived in the past weren''t lucky at all. It was simply because the so-called River God didn''t fancy them, and the vigers conveniently found an excuse to marry them off elsewhere.


    Just like in those old myths, girls who had once been the River God''s brides would mysteriously end up pregnant. The so-called River God was nothing more than a lustful serpent blessed with heavenly luck.


    Dalton gazed down at the Zhask. "I warned you when I granted you enlightenment-follow Heaven''s will and do not summon rain of your own ord. It seems my slumber hassted too long, and even you have forgotten the rules."


    Zhask could no longer hold itself upright, its legs trembling uncontrobly. "My lord, I swear, it was all because of that old cultivator! I wouldn''t dare disobey your orders, not even if I had a thousand lives to gamble with!"


    Before it could finish pleading, the ck serpent interjected again, "Never mind your private rainfall. Let''s talk about you harming innocent human girls! Do you know your crime? The only reason you''re even groveling now is that the lord has arrived.


    "And what''s this nonsense about a ''River God''s wedding?'' Do you even realize who''s sitting in that carriage? That''s the lord''s fiancée! You''ve got some nerve!"


    Dalton cast a sidelong nce at the ck serpent, and it immediately lowered its head in silence.


    Hearing that, Zhask immediately knelt. "My lord, I wouldn''t have dared to entertain such thoughts if I had known


    the one in the carriage was your fiancée! This was all the humans'' doing! They brought her here of their own ord. I didn''t even want to ept her!"


    "Didn''t want to ept her?" Dalton''s eyes swept over the piles of skeletons in the cave, their surfaces still emanating suffocating waves of resentment.


    He walked toward Zhask, his tone still calm as ever. "Rape, murder, and plunder. You shall face torment in the Eternal Abyss. No reincarnation, ever."


    Zhask frantically pleaded, its voice quivering with desperation, "My lord, I swear I''m not that kind of snake! The old cultivator forced me into this!"


    Dalton raised a single finger. "Perish."


    In an instant, Zhask vanished without a trace, its existence obliterated.


    The ck serpent stared wide-eyed at the spectacle, its serpentine features frozen in shock. "My lord is still the same as ever-turning creatures to dust with just a flick of his finger."


    Simultaneously, it felt a surge of relief that it hadn''t crossed Dalton. Otherwise, knew it would have shared


    Zhask''s fate.


    Dalton paid no heed to the serpent''s remarks. Instead, he turned and strode toward the carriage sitting outside the


    water cave.


    The night was breathtakingly beautiful, with moonlight dancing on the river''s surface, reflecting off the gently swaying water lilies.


    The ce had always been considered a blessednd, and for good reason. It truly resembled a paradise, with a thin veil of mist draping over the mountain valley, dotted with clusters of blooming purple asters.


    If not for the ominous legends of the River God, this would undoubtedly be a haven that everyone longed to visit.


    Inside the carriage, Leo could clearly sense someone approaching. He had never felt such a genuine surge of


    urgency.


    There was no response from Wynter no matter how much he shook her. Danger loomed mere steps away, yet she waking. Was she really going to be this so-called River God''s bride? Leo refused to


    showed no signs


    entertain such nonsense!


    He knew there was no such thing as a River God. It was merely a serpent who had transformed into a dragon! Under normal circumstances, Wynter could have easily subdued it and used it as a skipping rope. Yet, was she now about to marry it? It was unthinkable!


    "No way!" Leo muttered fiercely, determination zing in its eyes. He had to protect Wynter at all costs. No matter how powerful the dragon was, he would stand his ground even if it meant sacrificing his own essence!


    Leo braced himself for ast-ditch effort to defend Wynter. Meanwhile, Dalton was already striding toward the carriage. He lifted his hand and pushed the curtain aside. "You disgusting snake! Go to hell!" Leo shouted,unching himself toward Dalton''s chest with all his might. But before he couldnd a finger on Dalton, he suddenly stopped mid-track. Leo''s round eyes widened in shock." My... My lord?"


    Of all the scenarios he had imagined, this was thest it expected. The person lifting the curtain wasn''t the "River God"-it was Dalton!


    "Weren''t.... Weren''t you taken..." Leo didn''t finish his sentence. He had wanted to ask how he was here if the vigers had taken him away. But realizing how ridiculous his question was going to sound, he stopped himself. long as he was willing think, there was


    He should have known-Dalton always seemed to know everything.


    nothing he wouldn''t know.


    Perhaps he had even predicted this situation in advance and arranged to intercept them here. If so, that level of


    calction was terrifying.


    Leo knew he wasn''t one to be messed with. He was overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions, torn by the weight of


    the stories he had heard about Dalton.


    The tales spoke of his deep disdain for cultivators, especially his penchant for using grand masters'' souls to


    cleanse his resentful energy.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    And yet, over time, Leo couldn''t deny that Dalton had posed no direct harm to Wynter. He had provided whatever


    she desired without question. His actions had nearly lulled Leo into letting his guard down entirely.


    But now, that innate sense of unease wed its way back.


    Dalton was Wynter''s fiancé. And though moments earlier, he had secretly hoped for his arrival, his sudden appearance and in such amanding manner-left Leo unsure of what to do.


    He wasn''t sure if it was the right move to step aside. After all, Dalton''s power far surpassed that of 100 dragons.


    Dalton didn''t need to ask to know what Leo was thinking. However, he had no intention of reasoning with a child. With a flick of his wrist, he grabbed Leo and tossed it to the crow, who had assumed a human form.


    With a Savior''s blessing, one could gain 100 years of fortune. Though the idea of such power thrilled Leo, he wasn''t about to betray Wynter for personal gain.


    "My lord! If you do this... My master won''t be pleased when she wakes up!" Leo eximed with all the courage he


    could muster.


    Dalton repliednguidly, "I don''t want to hear unpleasant words on my wedding day. Silence it."


    The crow replied curtly, "Understood."


    With a wave of his right hand, the atmosphere shifted immediately. A dense mix of fortune and spiritual energy


    began to permeate the air.


    Creatures of the mountain and wandering spirits were drawn to the scene. Even the restless demons lurking


    underground stirred, daring to poke their heads out.


    They couldn''t resist. After all, a single breath of this air might help them escape some future tribtion. This wasn''t the kind of ceremony that could belong to a mere River God.


    Even the local mountain deity and a dryad emerged from the ground, bearing gifts.


    Originally, the dryad had weak spiritual energy without the sustenance of faith. However, with this grand wedding,


    he was suddenly revitalized, his glory shining once more.


    "Have you heard? That lord is getting married!"


    "Which lord?"


    The dryad pointed toward the sky. In such a vige, a faint trace of a phoenix could be seen gliding gracefully


    through the clouds.


    The vigers, too, were astonished. This wasn''t like any previous River God wedding.


    "What''s going on? A whole flock of birds is flying that way!"


    "Are they carrying flowers in their beaks?"


    They were also carrying wine, though they were not visible to ordinary mortals.


    La furrowed her brows in puzzlement. She couldn''t tell that a great blessing was happening, given her limited


    spiritual prowess.


    "All right, everyone. Let''s not disturb the River God," she addressed the others.


    The vigers nodded, retreating toward the foot of the mountain. Meanwhile, Wynter sat quietly in the carriage''s center. Her borate outfit only enhanced her ethereal beauty, as


    if she was an angel descended from the heavens, untouched by mortal concerns.


    Dalton looked at her face, his brow arching for a moment. Then, he bent down and lifted her out of the carriage in


    his arms.


    He gently touched her cheek. "It''s a pity that you''re not awake to see what''s before you."


    This scene was eerily familiar. But back then, she had despised him greatly.


    His gaze then shifted to the flower hairpin in her hair. From the moment he entered this vige, he had sensed the


    presence of something of his own nearby. He hadn''t expected it to be the hairpin he had crafted- the very one that had caused Wynter to be unable to move.


    His eyes turned to the purple sugilite pendant hanging around her neck. He said casually, "If she finds out even a fraction of this, your souls will cease to exist."


    The spirits inside the pendant dared not lift even a finger after hearing his words, fearful of being destroyed by


    him.


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