Lan Hua had been a formidable cultivator at the eighth level of body refinement, yet she was hanged from a beam without making a sound or putting up a fight. This grim outcome made Zhou Chang and the others visibly anxious and more cautious.
They quickly rushed toward the area with the four lantern riddles. Qin Ming and Qing Xuan followed closely behind.
On the back of each lantern, there was the same word written: "Betrothal Gift".
"Since the ghost bride is planning to marry, these betrothal gifts make sense. But what exactly are they?" someone asked.
Qin Ming stared at the riddles written on the lanterns and said,
"They must be the answers to these four riddles."
The first lantern bore a riddle in crooked handwriting:
"Together until white-haired old age."
Da Kui scratched his head, looking totally lost.
"I wasn't very educated back on Blue Star. How the hell am I supposed to solve lantern riddles?"
Zhou Chang was just as confused. He looked over at Qin Ming.
"Officer Qin, everyone knows you're clever. Like you said, we're a team now. Only by completing the ghost bride's underworld wedding can we escape the spirit realm. Don't hold back—help us figure these riddles out."
Qing Xuan thoughtfully touched her chin, still pondering.
Qin Ming, however, had already figured them out—it actually wasn't that hard. He had some basic knowledge of ancient wedding customs and knew what typical betrothal gifts were.
"This first one: 'Together until white-haired old age'—should be a comb."
"A comb?" Qing Xuan considered for a moment, then nodded.
"Makes sense. A comb symbolizes growing old together."
"The second riddle goes:
'A bit of iron, a bit of copper,
A bit of wood, a bit of rope.'
What's that supposed to be?" Da Kui asked, baffled.
Little Stool's eyes widened.
"I know this one! I used to work in the palace pharmacy. Iron, copper, wood, and rope—this must be a scale!"
Qin Ming nodded.
"Correct. In olden times, a scale was often called a 'wish-fulfilling scale' among wedding gifts."
The third riddle:
"Thin in summer, thick in winter!"
Qing Xuan immediately answered,
"That's a quilt. Thin in summer, thick in winter."
Qin Ming gave her an admiring glance.
"Well guessed, junior sister. Yes, it's a quilt."
"This fourth one looks like a tongue-twister," someone muttered.
'Seated facing south, facing north in return.
Reflecting joy and sorrow alike.'
It sounded cryptic, but Qin Ming immediately recognized it.
He'd read this riddle before—it came from Dream of the Red Chamber. Lin Daiyu had once posed it.
"It's not that difficult. This refers to a mirror."
"A mirror?... Of course!" Zhou Chang's eyes lit up, giving Qin Ming a thumbs-up.
"Officer Qin, you're brilliant. It is a mirror."
Da Kui grew impatient.
"So we've got the four betrothal gifts figured out: mirror, comb, scale, and wedding quilt. Now what? The front door is still closed—there's nowhere to go!"
Zhou Chang glanced around.
"I've served in the palace a long time. I've seen wedding ceremonies. Since we now know what the gifts are, we must search these rooms for them. Once we've collected the gifts, we'll be able to pass through that big gate."
"But there are only four gifts—and five of us," Little Stool pointed out a critical flaw.
The implication dawned on everyone at once:
There were only four items—but five people.
That meant… at least one person had to die in this round.
No one wanted to be the first to go. Without a word, everyone split up and hurried off to search for the betrothal gifts.
Qin Ming went straight for the room on the left.
In ancient mansions, the eldest daughter's chambers were usually on the left wing. The right wing was typically for maids. So, if he was going to find a mirror, comb, or quilt, this was the best bet.
A golden bronze lock hung on the door.
Qin Ming clenched his fist and BAM!—
Crack! The lock shattered, and the door swung open.
A chilling aura washed over him—cold enough to pierce the soul.
The room was pitch-black.
Qin Ming raised his right hand, unleashing his flame affinity.
Fwoosh—a red flame flared up in his palm, casting a bright glow across the room.
He'd guessed right—this was the young lady's room.
A screen depicting mandarin ducks played in the water stood in the center.
Delicate blue-and-white porcelain vases adorned the shelves and tables.
Each vase bore a pair design—either magpies or ducks, symbols of love.
Qin Ming flicked his fingers, sending a flame to the candle holder on the table.
Whoosh! The tall red candle, nearly two feet high, burst into flame.
Thick red wax melted and dripped down like blood.
He scanned the room quickly—no mirror, no comb in sight.
He rushed to the bed.
There was a quilt on it—but it was green.
A green quilt at a ghost wedding? That had to be an ill omen.
He turned to leave, then spotted a drawer beneath the desk.
He yanked it open.
Inside, laid perfectly centered—was a red mirror, facedown.
Qin Ming flipped it over.
Though it was just a bronze mirror, the surface was startlingly clear.
Suddenly, a system message flashed:
[Warning: Danger level increased by 100x! During danger, luck points will increase at the same rate.]
Whoosh!
In the reflection, a shadow passed behind him.
"What the hell?!" Qin Ming spun around.
Nothing. The room was empty.
He looked back into the mirror—
And there she was. The ghost bride in her red veil stood one meter behind him.
A chill crawled up his spine.
Goosebumps exploded across his skin.
He ignited a ball of fire and spun around—still, nothing there.
But in the mirror—she remained.
The ghost bride was slowly lifting her red veil.
Qin Ming's heart pounded wildly.
What was beneath that veil?
A skull? A rotting face?
She didn't seem to fear the flames at all.
Her powerful yin aura could probably overwhelm even spirit realm cultivators.
The veil rose to her chin, revealing a red mole on the left side of her neck.
Higher still—
A pair of cherry-red lips emerged, slowly parting into a smile.
Qin Ming's body tensed.
He'd had enough.
Smack! He slapped the mirror face-down and shoved it into his palm.
Then turned and bolted.
As he threw open the door, a force tried to pull him back in.
Qin Ming flung his arm behind him—
Boom! A burst of flame exploded.
The ghostly clawing vanished instantly,Qin Ming dashed out of the room.