Chapter 1171: The River God’s Bride 6

As he stood beside the bed, gazing at Tang Wan’s sleeping form, the fish-headed figure of the River God’s attendant seemed to grow increasingly restless. A faint reddish hue spread across his slick, glistening face, and the long whiskers beside his mouth twitched and curled uncontrollably, betraying his agitation. After a moment of hesitation, a thin, almost imperceptible male voice slipped from his lips, soft and uncertain, as though afraid of being heard. “You… are you really willing to marry me?”

As he spoke, a slender, bluish hand extended cautiously from within his wide sleeve, its surface damp and faintly sticky, moving slowly toward Tang Wan’s face. His fingers trembled slightly as they approached her cheek, stopping just a breath away from touching her skin. Yet in the end, he hesitated. The thought of waking her made him abruptly withdraw his hand, retreating as though burned. It would be better not to disturb her… better not to risk frightening her.

Even so, he did not leave.

After a brief internal struggle, he quietly sat down at the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on her as though he could not bear to look away. In his mind echoed the words of the older River Gods he had once heard. They had often said that human women were unwilling to marry beings like them, that they found their kind monstrous and repulsive. But if, by chance, one were to meet a woman who truly accepted them, who was willing to marry them of her own heart, then a happy life would surely follow.

And Tang Wan… the mayor had said she was willing. That she had accepted this marriage without resistance.

If that was true, then perhaps… perhaps his future would be just as the elders had described.

With that thought, his imagination began to drift, weaving visions of a life he had never dared to hope for. The more he thought about it, the deeper he sank into those fantasies, and the red tint across his face grew more pronounced, like a shellfish being slowly steamed. He sat there for a long while, lost in his own thoughts, before finally slipping away as silently as he had come.

By the time dawn broke, he was gone.

When Tang Wan awoke the next morning, the room appeared no different at first glance, yet a faint, lingering fishy scent hung in the air, subtle but unmistakable. Before she could dwell on it, Little Cutie’s excited voice rang out in her mind, brimming with delight. “Congratulations, Host! The villain Bingtong’s favorability has increased by fifty points! It’s now at fifty!”

Tang Wan froze, momentarily caught off guard. “What?” she murmured, her brows knitting slightly. She had done nothing but sleep—how could her favorability rise so dramatically overnight?

Sensing her confusion, Little Cutie placed her hands on her hips, her tone full of pride as she said, “You didn’t notice anything different? Doesn’t your room smell a little… unusual?”

At that, Tang Wan’s eyes widened slightly as realization dawned on her. “You mean… he came here last night?”

“Of course he did!” Little Cutie replied quickly. “Not only that, he stayed here watching you like a lovestruck fool. From what I heard, he thinks you’re genuinely happy to marry him!”

Hearing this, Tang Wan felt a flicker of understanding settle in her heart. It seemed that Bingtong, now possessing supernatural abilities, had already sensed her attitude, which explained the sudden surge in his favorability. In that case, things were proceeding even more smoothly than she had expected.

With the foundation already laid, all that remained was to follow through. In three days’ time, she would become his bride, and from there, she could gradually draw closer to him.

Her gaze flicked briefly around the room, her nose wrinkling ever so slightly at the lingering scent in the air. It was not a pleasant smell by any means, but after a moment, she dismissed it with quiet resolve. If it was for Tongtong’s sake, then she could endure even this.

The three days passed quickly.

On the morning of the appointed day, nearly the entire population of Yutang Town gathered along the wide riverbank, the atmosphere filled with a strange mixture of solemnity and anticipation. Tang Wan had already changed into her bridal attire, her figure draped in bright red as she was led from the house. Outside, a bamboo raft had been prepared, waiting silently as though marking the beginning of her final journey.

Tang mother, her eyes red from suppressed tears, helped Tang Wan step onto the raft with trembling hands. Though she tried to remain composed, her grip lingered for a moment longer than necessary before she finally let go. Once Tang Wan was seated, four sturdy men lifted the raft and began carrying it toward the river.

Perhaps because this was the day of the River God’s wedding, the weather was unusually clear and bright, as though even the heavens had chosen to cooperate. Before long, Tang Wan was brought to the river’s edge, where a witch stepped forward to conduct the ritual. She circled the raft, chanting in a low, rhythmic voice, her movements deliberate as she performed the necessary rites.

Time passed slowly, and after nearly half an hour, the witch finally turned to the mayor and said, “The auspicious hour has arrived. The River God urges us to send the bride on her way.”