"What is this step called?"
Yet in the next instant, her vision was blocked by cloth, leaving Acheron able to see only a vague silhouette.
"Crossing the Brazier."
Lin Shuang's voice came through the cloth. Acheron nodded lightly and said nothing more.
Lin Shuang, however, became somewhat nervous. Acheron's repeated questions forced her to speak more.
And the more she said, the more likely she was to slip up. Lin Shuang couldn't be sure that every word she spoke would perfectly avoid the keywords and keep the Synesthesia Beacon from revealing the meaning of this ritual.
"Phew..."
Taking a deep breath, Lin Shuang calmed herself down.
They had already come this far. She had no intention of harming anyone. Next, they only needed Bowing to Heaven and Earth, Crossing Cups, and Tying the Hair Together. That would basically complete the ceremony.
As for Acheron, she was more curious at the moment. She wanted to know why Lin Shuang was performing this ritual and what it meant.
Crossing the Brazier.
Simple words, yet through the Synesthesia Beacon, Acheron realized that in Lin Shuang's eyes, this ritual symbolized warding off misfortune and ushering in prosperity.
So when Lin Shuang's cool little hand took hers and led her across the fire, Acheron merely paused for a moment and did not pull away.
The intimate contact, along with its symbolism of blessing and warding off evil, seemed to fit Lin Shuang's explanation of the ritual.
Acheron pondered in silence.
Lin Shuang nervously waited for Acheron's reaction, her heart beating furiously.
Only when she saw that Acheron had no intention of shaking her hand free did she finally relax.
"Next... we'll Worship Heaven and Earth. But it's just bowing... is that okay?"
Acheron paused upon hearing "Worshipping Heaven and Earth," but she did not object. She followed Lin Shuang's movements.
"Then we bow to the parents. Since Miss Acheron is cooperating with me, we only need to bow to mine..."
"Parents..."
Acheron sighed softly. Though her expression remained unchanged, she had already begun weighing things in her mind.
Blessings, auspicious omens, Worshipping Heaven and Earth, and now bowing to both parties' parents.
The meaning contained in this ritual was probably far from ordinary.
Perhaps it was some kind of contractual relationship.
But... if she wanted to establish some kind of contract with me, why hide it?
Continuing to follow Lin Shuang's guidance, the two faced each other and bowed. Acheron grew increasingly puzzled.
Up to this point, these rituals had truly been nothing more than symbolic acts, with no power displayed whatsoever.
What was the point?
Acheron did not understand, but she did not interrupt.
Lin Shuang had said she would gain power after the ritual. Could it be that the important part was not the ritual, but Lin Shuang herself?
As she thought this, the red bridal veil over Acheron's head was lifted.
Their eyes met once more.
Lin Shuang's face was slightly flushed. Her bright gaze was fixed intently on Acheron, stirring a subtle flutter in her heart.
"This is the second-to-last step."
As she spoke, Lin Shuang held two cups and handed one to Acheron.
Under Lin Shuang's guidance, their arms intertwined, drawing them even closer together.
Though Acheron did not understand this action, she could still tell that it was undoubtedly an extremely intimate ritual.
They drank half the water in their respective cups, then exchanged cups and drained them.
Acheron set down her cup, becoming even more certain that this was a ritual for some kind of intimate relationship.
But just as Lin Shuang had said, after doing all this, Acheron felt no change at all.
Watching Lin Shuang let out a breath of relief and relax completely, then move behind her and begin untying and retying her hair.
Acheron played with the cup in her hand. Her gaze quietly shifted, and she suddenly asked:
"What are these final two steps called?"
"Crossing, um... Exchanging Cups and Drinking, and tying the hair."
The words Crossing Cups had nearly slipped out, but Lin Shuang slammed on the brakes and swallowed them back down.
She quickly replaced them with another term.
But at that moment, Lin Shuang suddenly noticed that Acheron's hair was turning white.
The sight nearly made Lin Shuang jump straight up.
She could neither toss away the long hair draped over her hands nor continue tying it.
Yet Acheron could now reach a conclusion.
This ritual had to be one for an intimate relationship.
But Lin Shuang was unwilling to tell her.
That sent a faint ripple through Acheron's emotions.
She had invited her to perform the ritual, yet concealed its meaning. Wasn't that rather dishonest?
With that thought, Acheron, whose long hair had already turned white, turned her head. Scarlet eyes appeared before Lin Shuang.
Acheron looked at Lin Shuang.
A barely noticeable smile curled at her lips. She raised a hand, gently pinched Lin Shuang's cheek, and parted her crimson lips.
"Not honest."
Then, before Lin Shuang's terrified eyes, the white receded once more, returning to its former deep blue.
And that somewhat bewitching expression returned once again to its tranquil, unreadable state.
Since They Were Already Here, They Might as Well Make Up What Was Missing
Acheron, restored to her previous state, looked at Lin Shuang's frightened expression and quietly withdrew her hand.
"What's wrong?"
"N-No, nothing..."
Lin Shuang shook her head and quickly denied it. She gathered Acheron's long hair again. As for that fleeting glimpse from before, there was no way she could mention it.
Did Acheron guess it? But I clearly didn't say any keywords...
Lin Shuang sank into deep confusion.
But the one who had spoken just now was clearly that "Inner Acheron," so Lin Shuang couldn't exactly ask.
It's fine, not a big problem. If Acheron isn't saying anything, then she doesn't know!
They had come this far already. Could she possibly regret it now?
With a nervous heart, she encouraged herself and focused on tying the hair.
As for kissing and consummating the marriage.
That was definitely impossible. No matter what, there was no way she could explain away that level of intimate contact.
Of course, Lin Shuang was also a little worried. She did not know whether the system would recognize such a crude ceremony.
Fortunately, the moment Lin Shuang clumsily finished tying Acheron's long hair.
The system notification for completing the Novice Mission popped up.
Target: Acheron Relationship: Spouses Novice Mission: Propose Love to Acheron. The more passionate your feelings, the deeper the impression they will leave. (Exceeded completion requirements) 'Tricking an innocent older sister into marrying you—doesn't your conscience hurt? As expected, you're a natural-born playgirl and scumbag!' Novice Mission Reward: One purple draw, additional reward: one Pair of Rings Taking shortcuts will lower the reward tier. The next reward will be downgraded to green.
Reward downgrade? Additional reward?
Lin Shuang froze. It seemed that although her shortcut had caused the reward to be downgraded, the Novice Mission still counted as overcompleted.
So it gave her a pair of rings?
She temporarily set aside the draw and turned to inspect the description of the Pair of Rings.
Pair of Rings: A pair of perfectly ordinary Wedding Rings.
'The rings may be ordinary, but true love is eternal, and not even time can make it fade. Of course, you marriage-swindling scumbag, just look at them. This wasn't written for you.'
"..."
Her fists clenched.
Who the hell wrote this stupid review?
"Phew..."
Lin Shuang let out a long breath and forced herself to ignore the comment.
When Acheron in front of her felt the hands in her hair loosen, she turned to look at Lin Shuang.
"Done?"
"Mm, it's done."
Lin Shuang nodded. After suppressing her thoughts, she took a pair of rings from her pocket.
The silver-white metal bands were beautifully engraved, delicate but not overly elaborate.
"I had these on me before I fell here. They happen to be useful. They're proof of the ritual, worn on the ring finger of the left hand. Would you mind putting one on?"
As she spoke, Lin Shuang lowered her gaze to Acheron's left hand, covered by a black glove.
Then she saw Acheron raise her hand, gently remove her glove, and offer her crystalline, slender fingers—seemingly crafted by heaven itself.
"Are we supposed to put them on each other?"
Now that the mission was complete, there was theoretically no need for them to put the rings on each other.
Yet Acheron's decisive action inexplicably made Lin Shuang's heart flutter.
She carefully took Acheron's hand. Her palm was delicate and soft, nothing like that of a warrior who wielded a great blade.
Lin Shuang looked at the ring raised in her hand, then at the hand resting peacefully in her palm. An inexplicable stirring surged from deep within her.
"Y-Yes..."
Lin Shuang swallowed. She did not understand why, after staring at such breathtaking beauty for so long.
She was acting so pathetically now that Acheron had removed her glove and she was holding her hand.
Carefully, she slipped the ring onto Acheron's ring finger. Though it had initially been somewhat loose, it automatically tightened, fitting Acheron perfectly.
Then.
Before Lin Shuang could react.
Acheron had already taken Lin Shuang's hand in return and turned it over, leaving the back of her hand facing upward.
Picking up the other ring, she decisively put it on Lin Shuang.
"Is the ritual complete?"
She did not immediately let go. Acheron's voice roused the somewhat dazed Lin Shuang.
"Oh, oh, yes, it's complete. Thank you, Acheron, for being willing to indulge my nonsense."
Before you continue