Chapter 1176: The River God’s Bride 11

Tang Wan was momentarily stunned by Bingtong’s eager attitude. The way he leaned toward her, his eyes bright with anticipation, made it seem as though he had been waiting for this moment far longer than was reasonable. For a brief instant, she could not help but wonder if this River God of hers was some kind of starving soul, so impatient and earnest that it bordered on endearing.

Looking at him, she asked with a hint of curiosity, “Tongtong… do you like this kind of thing very much?”

“Of course!” Bingtong replied immediately, his answer coming without the slightest hesitation. “They all say that once you marry a wife, you can have as many baby fish as you want. I’m still young right now…” As he spoke, his voice gradually softened, and a faint blush spread across his face. He looked at her with a trace of nervousness as he added, “My lady… you won’t refuse, will you?”

“Of course not,” Tang Wan said at once, her tone calm and reassuring.

Relief washed over Bingtong instantly. “That’s good,” he said, his expression turning serious in a way that only made him seem more earnest. “Then let’s begin. Don’t worry, I promise I won’t hurt you.”

“I believe you,” Tang Wan replied with a small nod.

What followed was far less uncomfortable than she had initially expected. Though Bingtong was a demon who had taken human form, his instincts were still closer to that of a creature of nature, simple and unrefined. Yet precisely because of this, there was a certain straightforwardness to his actions, devoid of any malice or force. More importantly, he seemed constantly mindful of her reactions, as though afraid of displeasing her even in the slightest. That cautious attentiveness softened the experience, making it easier for Tang Wan to accept.

When Tang Wan opened her eyes the next morning, the first thing she saw was Bingtong in his original form once again, his fish-like head flushed with a faint redness as he hovered nearby. The moment he noticed she was awake, he spoke with a mixture of eagerness and shyness. “My lady, you’re awake? It’s time to eat.”

The sudden sight nearly startled her, but she quickly composed herself, making sure not to show any hint of fear. If she reacted poorly now, it might undo the trust she had carefully built.

After a brief pause, she spoke gently, “Tongtong… could you talk to me in your human form? I really prefer how you look like that.”

Hearing this, Bingtong nodded without hesitation. “Of course! As long as my lady likes it, anything is fine.” With that, he transformed once more into the slender young man from before. However, because his body was still somewhat slight compared to the clothing he wore, his robes hung loosely on him, giving him a slightly disheveled appearance.

Seeing this, Tang Wan could not help but remark, “Your clothes don’t seem to fit very well. Do you have others?”

“Yes, I’ll go change right away. My lady, please eat first,” Bingtong said quickly before hurrying off.

Tang Wan nodded and made her way to the table, but the moment she saw what had been prepared, her expression stiffened slightly. The dishes laid out before her consisted entirely of raw fish, live shrimp, and freshly opened shellfish, all glistening in their natural state.

For a creature of the water, this was undoubtedly a feast. But for a human, it was another matter entirely.

At that moment, Tang Wan finally understood why so many of the previous brides had reportedly died after refusing to eat. It was unlikely that they had chosen starvation out of stubbornness alone—more likely, they simply had nothing they could bring themselves to swallow.

Suppressing a sigh, she sat quietly, waiting.

Before long, Bingtong returned, now dressed in a more fitting set of clothes. When he saw that Tang Wan had not touched the food, his expression shifted immediately to concern as he hurried over. “My lady, why aren’t you eating? These are the freshest and most delicious foods I carefully selected for you.”

Tang Wan shook her head gently, her tone patient as she explained, “Tongtong, humans don’t eat food like this. We need it to be cooked. Do you have fire here?”

Bingtong froze for a moment before shaking his head. “No… there can be no fire underwater. There’s no way to cook here.”

“In that case,” Tang Wan continued softly, “could we prepare food on land instead? Otherwise… I’m afraid I might end up like those brides who died from not eating.”

Her words carried a quiet vulnerability, and the effect on Bingtong was immediate. His expression turned anxious, his earlier calm completely replaced by urgency. “How can that happen?” he said quickly. “No, that won’t do at all! I’ll find a way to get you proper food right away!”

Having finally found a wife who was willing to stay by his side, there was no way he would allow something as simple as food to harm her.