167: Chapter 167 Wait a minute

The Master of Ceremonies cleared his throat and shouted loudly.

"First bow to Heaven and Earth—"

Fang Hansu did not move.

She stood there stiffly, like a stake driven into the ground.

Two maidservants supported her on either side, trying to press down on her shoulders.

But her body was so stiff they couldn't budge her at all.

The murmurs in the hall rose again, this time tinged with surprise and schadenfreude.

"Oh? Is she unwilling?"

"Nonsense, who would want to be someone's tenth concubine?"

"What's the use of being unwilling? The Fang Family is gone. What ripples could she possibly make?"

Wu Hao's face darkened.

He took a step forward, leaned into Fang Hansu's ear, and lowered his voice, his tone thick with threat.

"Miss Fang, don't be ungrateful when I'm giving you face."

His voice was very light, heard only by the two of them.

"With so many people watching, if you make me lose face, I guarantee your maidservant Cuier will die a miserable death tonight."

Fang Hansu's body shuddered violently.

Under the bridal veil, she bit her lip hard, drawing beads of blood.

Tears slid down silently, dripping along her cheeks and onto the bright Red Wedding Dress, soaking into a small patch of dark stains.

The light in her eyes was gone, leaving only an ashen despair.

A moment later, Fang Hansu slowly bent her waist.

Her movements were stiff, like a puppet controlled by others.

A smile reappeared on Wu Hao's face, and he followed suit, bending down.

"Second bow to the parents—"

The two bowed again.

"Husband and wife bow to each other—"

Fang Hansu turned numbly and bowed toward Wu Hao.

Her tears dripped onto the ground, one drop, two drops, blooming on the green bricks.

Wu Hao looked at her bent figure, catching glimpses of her curves beneath the wedding dress.

The triumph in his eyes was almost tangible.

A confident smile curled at the corner of his mouth as he imagined the scene in the bridal chamber tonight.

"Send them to the bridal cham—"

Before the Master of Ceremonies could finish the last word.

A calm voice rang out from a corner of the courtyard.

It wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Wait."

Two words, neither heavy nor rushed.

Everyone turned in unison toward the sound.

Their gazes fell upon a young man in grey robes in a corner of the courtyard.

He sat in the most inconspicuous spot.

Before him sat a pot of wine and a few half-eaten side dishes; he still held a wine cup in his hand.

His posture was as casual as if he were sunbathing in his own yard.

"Who is this guy?"

"I don't recognize him. From which family? Why is he sitting in a corner like that?"

"Daring to shout 'Wait' at a Wu Family wedding? Is he tired of living?"

The guests whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with surprise and the excitement of watching a drama unfold.

Wu Hao's brow furrowed, the triumph on his face not yet fully faded.

It was abruptly cut short by that "Wait."

He turned around, his gaze landing on Ye Yun, sizing him up.

Grey robes, ordinary fabric, not a single valuable item on him, and a very unfamiliar face.

Wu Hao's lip twitched, a hint of disdain surfacing in his eyes.

Where did this suicidal fool come from?

Fang Hansu's body, however, shuddered violently.

Like a bolt of lightning hitting her spine, she felt numb from the top of her head to the soles of her feet.

This voice.

She had heard it before.

On that pitch-black night.

By the campfire in the Fengyun Mountains, in those desperate moments surrounded by Yao Beasts.

It was this very voice that had calmly said, "As you wish."

Fang Hansu's fingers gripped the sleeves of her wedding dress, her knuckles turning white.

She didn't dare turn around, fearing she had misheard, fearing it was just a hallucination.

But the voice spoke again.

"Let her go."

Ye Yun placed the wine cup gently on the table with a faint clink.

He stood up and brushed off non-existent dust from his robes.

Lifting his eyelids, his gaze crossed the hall full of guests and landed on Wu Hao.

"I can pretend today's events never happened."

His tone was very calm, as if he were speaking of a trivial matter.

But the meaning behind those words caused the entire Main Hall to erupt again.

"Did I hear that right? He's telling Young Master Wu to let her go?"

"Is he here to snatch the bride?"

"Crazy, absolutely crazy. Coming to the Wu Family alone to snatch a bride? This kid must have a death wish."

"Maybe he's some hidden Young Master from a great family? But he doesn't look the part in those clothes."

"No matter who he is, I'm afraid he won't be walking out of the Wu Family's gates today."

The guests' discussions rose and fell, some surprised, some mocking, others waiting to see the show.

Not a single person thought Ye Yun could leave alive.

Wu Hao was so angry he laughed.

He took a step forward, hands on his hips, chin tilted high, looking down his nose at Ye Yun.

"Who the hell are you?"

His voice was loud, filled with utter impatience and contempt.

"Do you know where you are? Do you know whose big day it is? Coming to my Wu Family to act wild—did a donkey kick you in the head?"

Several Wu Family disciples nearby also began to clamor.

"Where did this stray dog come from, barking at the Wu Family?"

"Brother Hao, don't waste your breath on him. Just have someone beat him out of here!"

"Beat him out? For causing trouble at Brother Hao's wedding, break both his legs before throwing him out!"

Wu Hao sneered and waved his hand, his tone nonchalant.

"Men."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried full confidence.

"Take down this blind fool for me."

"No need to leave him alive."

As soon as he finished speaking, over a dozen figures immediately surged from around the courtyard.

They were all Wu Family Guards and Servants, each burly and armed with sabers and swords, surrounding Ye Yun.

The onlookers automatically retreated several dozen feet, clearing a large space, fearing blood might splatter on them.

Just then.

"Stop!"

A hoarse and trembling female voice suddenly rang out.

Fang Hansu broke free from the support of the two maidservants and stumbled forward a couple of steps.

She raised her hand and tore off the Red Bridal Veil from her head.

The bright red silk fluttered to the ground like a torn piece of sunset clouds.

An exquisite face was exposed to everyone's gaze.

Fang Hansu stood there, her slender frame wrapped in the bright Red Wedding Dress.

The collar was slightly open, revealing a section of lustrous white collarbone.

The silk ribbon at her waist was tied tight, outlining a waist that could be spanned by a single hand.

Below that were the rounded curves that even the wedding dress could not hide.

Her face was covered in tear tracks, her eyes red and swollen, tiny teardrops still clinging to her eyelashes. Her nose was elegant, and her lips were a vivid red.

Even as haggard as she was, and even though her makeup was ruined by crying, that face was still breathtakingly beautiful.

Her skin was as white as jade, glowing softly under the candlelight. Her features were as delicate as if they had been painted stroke by stroke by the heavens.

There was a sense of cold, broken beauty that made it impossible to look away.

The Main Hall fell silent instantly.

Everyone stared blankly at her, their mouths open, but unable to make a sound.

Those few Loose Cultivators who had been the most vocal with their foul language just moments ago.

Their eyes were nearly popping out, their Adam's apples bobbing as they swallowed hard.

"She's so damn beautiful..."