Cataclysm Chapter 124: Extras·Ghost Marriage 04

Chapter 124: Extras·Ghost Marriage 04

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Both Grandpa Wu and the ghost matchmaker were momentarily stunned upon seeing Du Shuo. Grandpa Wu patted the ghost matchmaker’s shoulder in gratitude, saying, “I didn’t expect the talent you spoke of to truly be this outstanding.” The ghost matchmaker remained expressionless, offering no response, but his gaze carried a hint of surprise. However, seeing that Du Shuo did not seem out of place, he assumed this must be the true groom for the Ghost Marriage.

Chen Yang stood shyly before Grandpa Wu, smiling faintly. Grandpa Wu, filled with both comfort and sorrow, spoke to them, “Originally, Ghost Marriages don’t require a formal ceremony, only a bow to heaven and earth, and a deep bow to the ancestors. But since Yang Yang is still alive, the marriage will only be official after a proper ceremony.” He added with a kind smile, “Yang Yang, your grandfather has also come.”

Chen Yang widened his eyes and looked towards an empty spot. As the moonlight streamed down, the seat at the high table, previously vacant, suddenly revealed an elderly man with white hair and a kind expression. It was Chen Yang’s grandfather, who had passed away. Chen Yang, with tears in his eyes, was about to rush over and call out when Grandpa Chen raised a finger to signal him not to speak. With a smile, he said, “On your wedding day, you can only speak to your groom.”

Chen Yang wanted to kneel and bow to him, but the ghost matchmaker stopped him, saying, “Once you’ve completed the ceremonial bows, you cannot bow again. You can fulfill your filial duties later.” The rituals of a wedding were strict, and the elderly believed in following them precisely. With no choice, Chen Yang rose, taking the red silk that the ghost matchmaker handed him.

The other end of the red silk was handed to Du Shuo, who held it in his hand. The room was filled with ghosts, their numbers countless. These were wandering spirits who had never seen the Emperor of Fengdu before. Du Shuo, suppressing his aura, ensured they wouldn’t recognize him; otherwise, they would all flee. The ghosts, eager to fill their stomachs and receive red envelopes, gave Du Shuo face and remained respectfully silent.

The ghost matchmaker sang, “First bow to heaven and earth!”

Chen Yang hesitated, but he still knelt, looking up to meet Du Shuo’s gaze. After a moment, Du Shuo also knelt, and together they bowed to heaven and earth. They then stood, turning to face Grandpa Wu and Grandpa Chen.

The ghost matchmaker continued, “Second bow to the ancestors!”

They bowed again. When the ghost matchmaker sang, “Husband and wife, bow to each other!” Chen Yang and Du Shuo stood facing each other. Chen Yang swallowed nervously as he prepared for the final bow, the last step before their marriage was sealed before heaven and earth, acknowledged by their ancestors. There would be no turning back from this commitment — to support each other through life, never to part, unless their relationship was severed. Only death could separate them.

Du Shuo’s gaze deepened as he looked at the still young boy in front of him, who bowed with a determined look in his eyes. He couldn’t help but find it amusing. However, as they bowed, Du Shuo realized halfway through that he had followed suit, his own body moving without conscious thought. Still, he couldn’t back out now. He hadn’t truly taken the marriage seriously — once the time came, their bond would be severed.

The ghost matchmaker sang, “Take them to the bridal chamber!”

Both Grandpa Wu and Grandpa Chen’s faces changed instantly, their warm smiles turning into twisted expressions. Grandpa Wu pulled Chen Yang aside, warning, “Go to the bridal chamber, but don’t undress and sleep, understand? Not yet, at least.” After a moment, he remembered what the Fengdu ghost officer had said about only repaying a debt of gratitude and not truly consummating the marriage, but he was still uneasy. His expression grew serious as he added, “Men are all pigs, especially old ones. You can’t trust a word they say, got it?”

Chen Yang nodded.

Despite their reluctance, Grandpa Wu and Grandpa Chen, following the traditions, sent the newlyweds into the bridal chamber. They stood anxiously outside, straining to listen to what was happening inside. After a while, Du Shuo turned to Chen Yang and said, “You should sleep first.”

Chen Yang looked up, confused. “Aren’t we… supposed to consummate the marriage?”

Du Shuo turned around and said, “You’re still young. We’ll talk about it when you come of age.” After saying this, he opened the door and walked out.

Chen Yang let out a sigh of relief. He wasn’t ready for the idea of consummating the marriage, and thankfully, Du Shuo didn’t actually have such intentions. He had been terrified and nervous for no reason.

Outside, Grandpa Wu and Grandpa Chen quickly hid when they saw Du Shuo coming out. Du Shuo spoke calmly, “Follow me.” He walked into another room, and although Grandpa Wu and Grandpa Chen were displeased by his tone, they still followed him inside. The moment they entered, they were overwhelmed by Du Shuo’s terrifying aura and found themselves frozen in place.

Grandpa Wu managed to stay on his feet, but Grandpa Chen immediately curled up in fear. Beads of sweat formed on Grandpa Wu’s forehead as he cautiously asked, “Who are you?” His heart filled with regret—he had thought he had found a good match for Chen Yang, but now it seemed they had invited an even more terrifying entity. Could this be a demonic being who had crossed into the mortal world? Or an Asura?

Du Shuo cast a cold glance over them before retracting his aura slightly, easing the pressure they felt. He absently stroked the jade ring on his thumb, spinning it slowly, and said, “You really have guts, hiding a person with an extreme yin fate for sixteen years. Not even Fengdu knows about it, and the underworld hasn’t caught wind of it either. All those evil spirits and malevolent beings have failed to harm him. And now you even have the audacity to attempt a Ghost Marriage. What a reckless move!”

Grandpa Wu gasped, his mind racing, and he had a vague idea of who this person might be. He gave up resisting and bowed respectfully. “Please show mercy. The Chen family has been practicing kindness for generations. Now, Chen Yang is the last of our bloodline. He has never done evil, and his strange fate should not mean he is deprived of a chance to live.”

Du Shuo responded coldly, “So, you want to tie this last bloodline to a Ghost Marriage with a man, severing the Chen family’s legacy?”

Grandpa Wu nodded earnestly. “The ancestors of the Chen family have always followed the natural flow of destiny, never doing anything against their hearts. If the Chen family line ends, it is the will of heaven. We do not seek to alter fate. But since Chen Yang is part of the Chen family, if there is a way to save him, why not try? The Chen family has always been kind to others, valuing life. Why should we not do the same for our own descendants? A strange fate is not a crime, and the Chen family is willing to sacrifice their lives to protect Chen Yang. With such love and devotion, shouldn’t he be allowed to live?”

Du Shuo’s expression remained stern. “Those with strange fates have always been a source of calamity in the mortal realm. How can you be sure that Chen Yang won’t bring disaster?”

Grandpa Wu bowed deeply, his voice filled with sincerity. “If you believed so, you would not have agreed to the Ghost Marriage with Yang Yang.”

Du Shuo stopped spinning his jade ring and looked at Grandpa Wu. The elder continued, “Great Emperor, your union with Yang Yang has been witnessed by heaven and earth. You have already bowed to the ancestors. You cannot abandon him now.”

A vein twitched on Du Shuo’s temple, and after a long pause, he spoke. “I will give Chen Yang a chance and protect him until he is eighteen. If he causes any trouble before or after reaching eighteen, I will personally kill him. As for you, I will also hold you accountable.”

“Thank you, Great Emperor!” Grandpa Wu exclaimed.

Seeing Grandpa Wu so serious, Du Shuo felt a headache coming on and waved his hand, signaling for them to leave. But Grandpa Wu, undeterred, asked, “Great Emperor, may I ask, after Chen Yang turns eighteen, what will happen to your marriage with him?”

Du Shuo replied with finality, “It will no longer count.”

“Great Emperor, you are wise!” Grandpa Wu exaggeratedly bowed, nearly pressing his forehead to the floor.

Du Shuo winced, his eyes aching. He decided not to look at Grandpa Wu any longer; it was bothersome. Little did he know, every time he saw Grandpa Wu, now that the old man had become the city god, his headache and eye pain would only worsen. This was because, every time they met, Grandpa Wu would cast a sideways glance at him, his eyes filled with cold indifference and fury: “You big pig’s hoof!”

Back in the bridal chamber, Chen Yang was already fast asleep on the large, red wedding bed. His skin was fair, and his youthful face and frame created a pleasing contrast with the deep red surroundings. However, Du Shuo only thought it looked good—he had no other thoughts. In his eyes, Chen Yang was still a child. Du Shuo could have easily been his great-grandfather.

He covered Chen Yang with a blanket and then sat in a large chair beside the bed, clasping his hands in front of him and closing his eyes to rest. After a while, he opened his eyes and glanced at Chen Yang, who was sleeping soundly, but remained silent.

Du Shuo realized that Chen Yang’s extreme yin fate had become apparent around two months ago, when he discovered that there was a ghost officer from Fengdu who had secretly arranged a Ghost Marriage with a living person in the mortal realm. Initially, Du Shuo thought it was an abuse of power by the ghost officer. But upon investigation, he found that the person with the extreme yin fate, who had been living in the mortal realm for sixteen years without the knowledge of Fengdu, was Chen Yang. Thinking back to the extreme yin fate that had caused chaos between the mortal realm and Fengdu 700 years ago, Du Shuo felt disgusted and decided to personally eliminate Chen Yang.

When Du Shuo arrived in the mortal realm, it was during the Ghost Festival. He saw Chen Yang being chased by ghosts, desperately trying to survive in a most pathetic yet vibrant manner. Curiously, Du Shuo decided not to intervene. He coldly thought that, even if he didn’t act, Chen Yang would surely die under the pursuit of the ghosts. The gods saw him as an evil spirit, and the evil spirits saw him as prey—no one could help him. Chen Yang was utterly alone.

Du Shuo expected Chen Yang to die during the Ghost Festival, but to his surprise, Chen Yang managed to escape, even outrunning a Yaksha. He was intrigued and decided to observe him for a couple more months. He was astonished to see that Chen Yang repeatedly survived death, time and time again, his vitality nearly indestructible.

Eventually, Du Shuo came to a realization. Since Chen Yang had survived to the age of sixteen, he must have a deep understanding of the ghosts’ nature and developed considerable skills. Someone with such a background and a strange fate, if allowed to grow, could become a great threat. Du Shuo decided to take action and remove his heart, as killing a person with extreme yin fate required shattering their heart into ashes. However, when he reached inside, he found a drop of jiangshi blood—a two-thousand-year-old feijiang’s blood.

At that moment, Du Shuo’s curiosity was piqued. He wondered just how many people wanted Chen Yang to survive—humans, Tianshis, ghosts, the ghost officers of Fengdu, and even thousand-year-old jiangshis were all trying to keep him alive. At that instant, Du Shuo changed his mind and decided to see how far Chen Yang could go. He became one of those who would help him survive, protecting him until the end of his life. Even after death, Du Shuo would continue to protect him, sharing the same grave.

Du Shuo turned the jade ring on his thumb and disappeared from the room, returning to Fengdu Mountain to attend to affairs. By the time the rooster crowed at dawn, he was back. He saw that Chen Yang had turned over and was still holding the blanket, continuing to sleep. He smiled, leaning back in his chair to rest.

At six-thirty the next morning, Chen Yang woke up, the sun already risen. He got up and realized he hadn’t even changed out of his wedding clothes from the night before. As he looked around, he noticed that his ghost husband was nowhere to be seen. He blinked, guessing that Du Shuo had probably returned to Fengdu for work.

After washing up in the bathroom and changing out of his wedding attire, Chen Yang noticed another set of wedding clothes in the laundry basket. He paused, cleared his throat, and nonchalantly tossed his clothes in. The two sets of wedding clothes were folded together, like they had been discarded after the wedding night.

Chen Yang patted his flushed cheeks, calmed himself down, and went downstairs to prepare breakfast. However, as he passed the door, he saw Du Shuo standing in the yard, watching Grandpa Wu perform Tai Chi. Du Shuo, dressed in traditional Tang attire, seemed to be enjoying a peaceful moment with Grandpa Wu, who was also in similar attire.

Chen Yang hesitated for a moment before choosing to head to the kitchen. As soon as he entered, Du Shuo suddenly turned to glance at him, his expression unreadable.

Grandpa Wu finished his Tai Chi and appeared right in front of Du Shuo, blocking his view. He asked warily, “What are you looking at?”

Du Shuo glanced at him indifferently and walked past him into the house. Grandpa Wu, seeing the hidden meaning in that glance, muttered to himself, “How could the great Emperor of Fengdu have fallen for a child? But Yang Yang is so outstanding, shouldn’t he be noticed? Luckily, his Ghost Marriage partner is him; otherwise, those careless men would definitely steal him away.” He patted his chest, muttering, “But I’m uneasy, anxious… Why am I so flustered?” Shaking his head, unable to figure it out, Grandpa Wu decided to watch over Chen Yang after his death.

Chen Yang brought the prepared breakfast to the table: three bowls of colorful and fragrant congee, steaming and full of flavor. After placing the bowls in front of everyone, he returned to the kitchen to bring over fried eggs and crispy egg pancakes. The eggs were golden and slightly crispy, and the pancakes were packed with ingredients like ham, bacon, enoki mushrooms, and beef, all wrapped in layers of lettuce to absorb the grease and balance the richness.

Du Shuo picked up the soup spoon and stirred the congee in front of him, noticing that it was also rich in ingredients. He could already see minced meat, fresh shrimp, small pieces of mushrooms, and corn, with green onions sprinkled on top, making his appetite stir.

Chen Yang sat down and glanced at Du Shuo, softly saying, “I didn’t know your taste, so I made a simple breakfast. If you’re going to eat here regularly, you can tell me if there’s anything you don’t like.”

Grandpa Wu looked up at the two of them and said, “Yang Yang, he doesn’t live here often—”

Du Shuo interrupted Grandpa Wu softly, “I don’t like ginger or cilantro, everything else is fine.” He took a spoonful of the hot congee and found it thick and smooth, incredibly delicious. After a few more bites, he discovered dried scallops inside, which was a pleasant surprise, like opening a treasure chest only to find more hidden wealth in the corners.

Chen Yang smiled and said, “Got it.”

Grandpa Wu, feeling frustrated, buried his head in his food, slurping loudly.

After breakfast, Chen Yang had to go to school. He softly said to Du Shuo, who was standing by the door, staring at the eaves, “I’m off to school.” Du Shuo remained silent for a moment before responding, “Mm.” Hearing the response, Chen Yang smiled and grabbed his bicycle, heading out to school. For a long time after he left, the sound of the bicycle wheels rolling on the cobblestones could still be heard, along with his cheerful greeting to the neighbor.

Du Shuo stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky as dark clouds gathered from the mountain top, slowly covering the sky overhead. The clouds were heavy and dark, like a sponge soaked with water, ready to fall.

He remembered that Chen Yang had left without an umbrella.

Chen Yang had been worried about not having an umbrella on his way back, but it hadn’t rained until lunchtime. He slowly relaxed. After lunch in the cafeteria, he took a nap and then woke up to attend the first class. Halfway through the class, the wind suddenly picked up, and lightning flashed with thunder rumbling. Moments later, a heavy downpour began, and many in the classroom complained about not bringing umbrellas, anxiously watching the rain, hoping it would stop by the end of the day.

Chen Yang was also concerned that Grandpa Wu might sneak some wine while he was at school, and after a nap, he would miss the time to pick him up. What he feared most was staying at school too long and attracting ghosts. He had once been trapped at school by ghosts and almost died. The school wasn’t peaceful; it had once been a mass grave. During the war, bodies were piled up there, forming small hills.

When he had been trapped, he had seen that mound of corpses. Over the years, the bodies had fused together—fat and flesh blending, making it hard to distinguish one from another, limbs like insect segments, faces melted away. But there were still many eyes on the surface of the mound, and when they sensed his presence, all the eyes opened, staring at him, lined up in rows.

Chen Yang sighed silently. A female classmate nearby seemed to sense something and turned to look at him. Her lips moved, wanting to say something, but she held back and turned back around. During class, she was distracted and was called on by the teacher to answer a question, but she didn’t even know what the question was. Just as she was awkwardly fumbling, she saw Chen Yang tapping his book, catching a glimpse of the question and answer. She quickly answered, and everything was fine.

After class, the female classmate thanked him. Hesitant to speak earlier, all her words came out at once, “Chen Yang, be careful after school. It’s best if you find someone to walk back with.”

Chen Yang was puzzled, “Why?”

The female classmate looked terrified and said, “Recently, there’s been a headless woman with a black umbrella appearing on the road from the school to the bridge. She only shows up on rainy evenings. I’ve heard that if someone tries to talk to her, they’ll find out that she has no head under the umbrella, but there’s a mouth inside it. That mouth will eat the person’s head.”

Chen Yang was shocked. “I walk that road often and have never seen the headless woman with a black umbrella.” When she mentioned the woman, he recalled seeing a headless woman with a black umbrella when he was a child, but the memory was fuzzy and terrifying, and he couldn’t quite remember what she looked like.

The female classmate said, “I’m serious.” She glanced around and lowered her voice. “I saw her. A while ago, my dad was driving by there, and I saw a man talking to her. She was wearing a beautiful qipao, but her head was hidden under a big black umbrella. I was curious, so I kept staring at her. When the car turned a corner, I saw the umbrella take the man’s head. It ate it.”

Her voice trembled with fear as she warned, “You mustn’t talk to her. If you do, take another route. With this rain, I just feel uneasy.”

Chen Yang was a bit surprised but then took out the protective charm Grandpa Wu had given him from his bag. “Take this,” he said.

The classmate looked like she wanted to refuse, but Chen Yang’s expression turned serious. “Sometimes, people’s feelings are right. Don’t ignore them. Take it.”

He wasn’t sure whether the headless woman with the black umbrella really existed, but if she did, even if he didn’t approach her, she would likely come after him. Grandpa Wu had told him that he had entered a Ghost Marriage with a Fengdu ghost official, so his fate should have changed. He shouldn’t attract ghosts anymore, but the effects might not be immediate. There would still be large ghosts seeking him out. After all, his fate was infamous in the ghost world, and those ghosts came because of that, not because they had discovered his fate.

From the classmate’s description, he thought that the woman with the black umbrella didn’t belong here and had probably come from elsewhere. Powerful ghosts couldn’t leave their bodies unless they had cultivated into something more or possessed objects. Chen Yang guessed that the female ghost had likely possessed the black umbrella and was going around killing people.

The road from the school to the bridge was the only way home, so he realized he’d have to wait for Grandpa Wu at the school. Looking at the heavy rain, still not showing signs of letting up after school, he thought to himself.

The female classmate hesitated before inviting him to walk back with her, but Chen Yang shook his head and refused. “Thanks, but you should go ahead. I don’t have the ability to protect myself yet, and I don’t want to drag anyone else into this.”

The female classmate couldn’t do anything else, so she glanced at him and left with her umbrella. Soon, the bustling classroom was empty, and there were no students in the hallway or at the school gate. The classmates who had complained about not having an umbrella had either shared one with others or had their families bring them one, and they all left.

The clock in the classroom ticked away, and the wind and rain outside hammered against the windows, making a loud, sharp sound. Suddenly, the clear sound of high heels echoed from the hallway. Chen Yang froze, then quickly stood up, closed the door and windows, and turned off the lights, hiding under the window. After the student on duty left, they had drawn the curtains. It was a little after five o’clock, and due to the heavy rain, it had gotten dark early.

When the lights were off, the classroom became dark. The sound of the high heels grew louder and closer, echoing clearly in the empty hallway. This was a second-year classroom, and female teachers rarely wore high heels. They needed to stand for an hour during lessons, sometimes even two or three hours, so they typically wore low heels or platform shoes, which wouldn’t make such a sharp sound. The distinct click, sounding like it came from a concentrated point of force, was unusual.

Chen Yang had heard his female classmates talk about this, but never expected it to come in handy now. The sound of high heels stopped nearby, then moved, circling around the classroom before finally stopping above his head.

Chen Yang looked up and suddenly saw a woman in a qipao pressed against the window glass. He couldn’t see her head because it was obscured by a large black umbrella. This was the headless woman with the black umbrella his classmate had mentioned. He hadn’t expected her to find her way to the school when she couldn’t find him.

Blood seeped from the black umbrella, slowly sliding down the glass. The woman stood there for a while, staring into the classroom, before she finally left. Chen Yang breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, but suddenly, a grotesque man’s head slammed into the window with a soft ‘thunk.’ As Chen Yang stood, he locked eyes with the head, which was now grinning eerily.

His pupils constricted as he reacted quickly, running forward. The next second, the glass behind him shattered, and shards cut into his skin. He didn’t have time to care about the pain as he sprinted for the door. But before he could make it to the hallway, the woman in the qipao grabbed him by the throat and slammed him against the wall. The man’s head fell to the ground, and with her other hand, she opened the large black umbrella. From within, a gaping mouth with serrated teeth appeared, dripping white saliva, the stench overwhelming.

Chen Yang struggled to breathe, his right hand tearing at the red string on his left hand. Just as he was about to use the red string and copper coin to escape, it was as though a massive force yanked the woman back violently. She was torn from him and thrown against the wall, then ripped apart in mid-air. The black umbrella, jumping down from the hallway, was also torn in half and ignited with ghostly blue fire. The cold flames consumed both the headless woman in the qipao and the strange black umbrella, turning them to ash.

Chen Yang propped himself up against the wall, coughing violently, tears filling his eyes. Through the haze, he saw Du Shuo holding the black umbrella and reaching out toward him. “I’m here to take you home.”

 

Author’s note: To those who say the Emperor is stealing or deceiving in marriage, the Emperor is watching you!

Grandfather Wu: What do you think of this match? 

The Emperor (decisively): It doesn’t count!

 

 

 

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