Chapter 3007 - 3008: The Zhong Family’s Secret

Chapter 3007: Chapter 3008: The Zhong Family’s Secret

"Does he think he’s some kind of love saint? Just because he caught feelings, everyone else has to put him first? Ao Song’s life was saved by the Astrologer. If she marries him, no one has any grounds to object." Jiang Yichun spoke very crisply, like he’d just handed Bai Ruozhu a calming pill.

Yeah, both emotionally and logically, there’s really nothing unreasonable about Ao Song marrying the Astrologer.

Bai Ruozhu felt a bit better, and the guilt she had toward Sangta eased a little. Even the people involved can’t control matters of the heart—so what about her, just a bystander?

The night passed without further talk. By the next day, it would be decided whether the Astrologer could be saved. Except for the three kids who didn’t know what worry was, no one else slept peacefully.

Early the next morning, Ao Song went to serve tea to her parents, and Zhong Kui gathered the Clan Elders to carry out the ceremony of accepting a newcomer.

The others weren’t in a position to go. Bai Ruozhu explained a few things to them, then went to meet up with Ao Song.

"Outsiders should step back," the rather stubborn Third of the Clan elders said, looking at Bai Ruozhu.

"Third Grandpa, Sister Ruozhu is his disciple, she’s already half a Zhong Family member. She even saved my life. Just let her join us. I believe Sister Ruozhu will keep her mouth tightly shut." Ao Song said.

The Third of the Clan elders kept a stern face. "What half a Zhong Family member, there’s never been such a rule."

Zhong Kui also spoke up. "The circumstances of this incident are strange. There may be things even we don’t fully understand. Having one more person to help isn’t a bad thing."

The other Clan Elders were half in favor, half against, with the Third of the Clan elders being the most insistent.

"Unless she also joins the Zhong Family and accepts the newcomer ceremony, and one of her children must also join the Zhong Family," the Third of the Clan elders said.

"That’s a good idea. Her Magic Technique comes from the Zhong Family anyway, so there’s nothing wrong with her joining," another Clan Elder chimed in.

"The Zhong Family needs people right now. This works out well." Someone else echoed.

Good for your sister. You all think it’s great—did you even ask what I think? Bai Ruozhu cursed inwardly. She didn’t even know what this so-called ceremony was. How could she dare agree? If it were just her, fine, but they even wanted one of her children involved. What if it was something bad, or directly added another shackle to the child?

Sorry, she couldn’t agree to that.

"I don’t even know what your newcomer ceremony is, or what I’ll be facing. I can’t agree," she said.

"Then please leave," the Third of the Clan elders said bluntly.

Anger rose in Bai Ruozhu’s heart. "Fine, I won’t bother you."

"Sister Ruozhu!" Ao Song called after her, wanting to speak up on her behalf. But once the Third of the Clan elders made that proposal, almost all the Clan Elders sided with him.

"No need to trouble yourselves. I’ll go back and rest." She finished speaking and left the main hall, but soon found a convenient spot for peeking and whoosh, slipped into the Space.

If they wouldn’t let her attend, couldn’t she just spy from herself? Did they really think she had to beg them?

Over there, Ao Song argued for her for quite a while, but the Clan Elders refused to budge. Seeing no way around it, Zhong Kui told Ao Song to stop talking.

Ao Song sighed. "Then let’s begin."

There was no time to lose. The Clan Elders didn’t dare delay and agreed immediately.

The ceremony wasn’t held in the main hall. Zhong Kui told the Servant to carry the Astrologer, and everyone headed toward the Back Garden.

Bai Ruozhu followed from far behind, occasionally hiding in the Space, so even though the Zhong Family people were being extremely cautious and constantly checking their surroundings, they never discovered her.

Though several times she’d almost been exposed, leaving her drenched in cold sweat.

Finally, they reached the Artificial Hill in the backyard. Once Zhong Kui had again confirmed no one was nearby, he gathered the other three Clan Elders and covertly triggered the Mechanical device. The Artificial Hill moved aside, revealing an opening in the underground that extended downward.

Everyone went in one after another. The Servants carrying the Astrologer followed behind, carefully carrying him down as well.

Bai Ruozhu silently cursed. Not good—once the Secret Passage closed, she wouldn’t be able to see anything.

"Be careful," Ao Song suddenly circled to the rear and blocked the door that was about to close, pretending to help straighten the Astrologer’s quilt.

She casually glanced outside, looking like she was searching for Bai Ruozhu’s figure.

Ao Song guessed she’d follow and was creating an opening for her.

Bai Ruozhu’s figure flickered as she tumbled into the Secret Passage, landing in a corner.

Seeing her, Ao Song let out a breath of relief and shifted her feet to block her behind her own back. Bai Ruozhu had already entered the Space, but her heart felt warm. This girl was wracking her brains to help her.

Fortunately, Ao Song’s actions didn’t arouse any suspicion. Everyone continued onward, and Bai Ruozhu didn’t dare follow too closely, trailing well behind.

"Why is this Merfolk Lamp so much dimmer? Has someone been in here?" Zhong Kui looked at the oil lamp beside the Secret Passage wall with some surprise.

Through the "big screen" of the Space, Bai Ruozhu saw a lamp placed at the corner of the Wall up ahead. No, strictly speaking, it was actually a burning Sea Monster.

Many ancient tombs used Merfolk lamps, rumored to be made from Merfolk corpses because mer-oil could burn for a thousand years without going out.

But Bai Ruozhu had seen real Merfolk and had even been to the distant Donghai, so of course she knew this lamp wasn’t fueled by real Merfolk.

It was just a kind of Sea Monster that somewhat resembled a human. Kind of like this saying: if the upper body is human with a fish tail, it’s called a Mermaid, and if it has a fish head with a human lower body, it’s called a Fishman.

This kind of Sea Monster could come ashore, so they had strong lower limbs and could stand upright. Their legs were a bit like a frog’s, only many times larger.

So the first people who saw them thought they were human legs topped with a fish head and assumed they were Merfolk.

Real Merfolk were much better-looking than Fishmen, and the oil from Fishmen could burn for a very long time, so it was made into these Merfolk Lamps.

"It does seem that way. What do you all think?" the Third of the Clan elders asked, looking at the others.

The other Clan Elders also felt something was off. Madam Zhong said, "Of course there’s a problem. Otherwise how would Ao Song have been backlashed?"

"Let’s walk faster," Zhong Kui said with a sigh.

Very soon they reached the end of the Secret Passage, a very spacious Secret Chamber. Complex patterns were drawn on the floor, like some very ancient formation diagram.

Bai Ruozhu got a bit closer, then ducked into the Space again, not daring to approach any further.

"All right, let’s begin the ceremony," Zhong Kui said.

Everyone went to their assigned spots, filling the eight positions of the formation, while Zhong Kui stood in the center.

He took a Jade Pendant from his waist and placed it at his feet. The ground actually sank a bit, letting the Jade Pendant sink in.

The ceremony began. Zhong Kui started chanting obscure spells, and the Clan Elders in the eight directions followed along. Slowly, the Jade Pendant actually began to emit light, and then it split apart down the middle!

Bai Ruozhu squinted to look more closely. That wasn’t a crack; it was too neat. Either the Jade Pendant was originally made of several pieces fitted together, or something similar.

Right after the Jade Pendant split, the ground also slowly parted, and a black, gaping hole gradually opened up.

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Guess what it is? I feel like no one can.

Going to sleep. Gotta get up at 6 a.m. tomorrow, sob sob sob