The next day, the sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky.
Temple City wasn't decked out in the festive decorations typical of a human wedding. Instead, it seemed especially solemn. Every household had hung up a plaque painted with black snake patterns, and countless Snake-People stood outside their homes with their hands raised high. Their expressions were grave, reverence showing in their diamond-shaped pupils as they repeatedly bowed toward the Snake-People Temple, murmuring obscure ancient words that sounded like blessings and prayers.
Deep inside the Snake-People Temple, nine stone pillars carved with nine kinds of snake-type magical beasts stood around an ancient Sacred Altar. Its surface was engraved with mysterious, archaic snake script, bearing the weight of ages. Cracks covered it, and it was so dilapidated that it seemed ready to collapse at any moment.
The Four Great Elders had changed into solemn, sacred ceremonial robes, each holding a ritual staff. Their hunched bodies were now straight as they stood tall on the four sides of the Sacred Altar. Their aged faces were utterly solemn as they chanted, just like the Snake-People throughout the city, though their recitation was far more elaborate and lengthy.
A long black carpet had been laid beneath the Sacred Altar. It was made from the hide of a sixth-tier snake-type magical beast and stretched for dozens of meters.
On either side of the carpet stood the seven leaders of the Snake-People Tribe, along with representatives from its other medium- and small-sized tribes. Except for the Great Commander, who was still in seclusion, nearly all the Snake-People Tribe's upper ranks had gathered.
They bowed their heads and joined the Four Great Elders in reciting the Snake-People Tribe's sacrificial prayer. The atmosphere was solemn and weighty.
When the Four Great Elders finished their ceremony, a fifth-tier snake-type magical beast that had just been killed was carried onto the Sacred Altar as an offering to the Snake-People's Ancestral Spirits.
"Let the Queen and her consort come forward."
The First Elder's shrill voice rang out. The next moment, two figures emerged from either side of the Sacred Altar.
Medusa wore a black wedding gown that hugged her full, graceful figure. Her long hair was pinned up, and her exquisitely beautiful, bewitching face was lightly made up. A crimson snake pattern adorned the space between her brows. Her expression was solemn, and her bearing had changed considerably: she no longer exuded her usual queenly authority, but instead seemed dignified, noble, and elegant.
Her purple snake tail had transformed into a pair of long, shapely legs. She advanced in measured steps, neither hurrying nor dawdling.
Behind her was Hua She'er, serving as her maid of honor. She, too, had taken human form.
On the other side, Gu Shenge approached at an unhurried pace, dressed in a black wedding robe. He was tall and slender, handsome and distinguished, with a heroic bearing. The Sun God Mark between his brows lent him an even more sacred and noble air, setting him apart from the world. His aura had grown richer as well; the Top-Grade Huangji Pill had brought him considerable gains.
Yue Mei followed behind him.
When they stood half a meter apart, they stopped and looked at each other.
Medusa's expression was complicated as she gazed at Gu Shenge's handsome face, momentarily dazed. Gu Shenge felt a little excited inside, but he kept his composure.
"Let us inform the Ancestral Spirits..."
The First Elder spoke again, first reporting to the Snake-People Tribe's Ancestral Spirits and the generations of Medusa queens that the current Queen was marrying a human. She prayed for the Ancestral Spirits to bless the Queen and her consort, and even added a few words about hoping they would have children soon.
Medusa furrowed her brows slightly, while Gu Shenge's lips curved into a smile.
After the First Elder's lengthy prayer, she took the heart from the corpse of the fifth-tier snake-type magical beast on the Sacred Altar. It gave off a strong, bloody stench.
"Your Majesty, Consort, please partake."
The First Elder held the magical beast's heart out to Gu Shenge and Medusa with both hands.
What? Gu Shenge stared at the still faintly beating heart, utterly dumbfounded.
Were Snake-People weddings really this savage? They had to eat a heart raw?! Was it too late for him to back out?
Medusa didn't hesitate. She picked up the heart and ate half of it in three or four bites. The blood made her already lovely red lips look even more alluring, tempting anyone to taste them.
She handed the rest of the heart to Gu Shenge. Seeing how decisive Medusa had been, Gu Shenge didn't hesitate either. He reached out and took it. It was just a heart. If Medusa could eat it, so could he.
Gu Shenge endured the bloody stench and wolfed it down. If I eat fast enough, the disgust won't catch up with me.
After he finished the heart, the First Elder cried out:
"The Sacred Altar bestows its blessing, and the Ancestral Spirits bear witness. The ceremony is complete!"
With the Sacred Altar's blessing and the Ancestral Spirits as witnesses, Medusa and Gu Shenge's wedding was officially complete.
There was no bowing to Heaven and Earth as at a human wedding, nor was there any of the usual human festivity. Only solemnity and gravity.
The Snake-People Queen looked at Gu Shenge, whose lips still bore traces of blood. She took a big step forward and kissed him in front of the Ancestral Spirits at the Sacred Altar and all the Snake-People!
"Mmm..."
Feeling the softness of Medusa's lips, a flicker of surprise crossed Gu Shenge's eyes. She's that straightforward?!
He raised his arms and held Medusa by her slender waist, kissing her passionately.
The elders all looked on with relieved smiles.
Mo Basi watched the Queen he loved kiss a lowly human. His eyes turned bloodshot with fury. He wanted to rush forward and stop them, but two other leaders held him back firmly.
Among the Snake-People Tribe, a wedding held before the Sacred Altar was sacred and could not be desecrated.
Even if they had objections, they absolutely couldn't disrupt the wedding. No matter how dissatisfied they were, they had to bear it. Whatever happened afterward was another matter.
After a long while, Medusa and Gu Shenge finally broke their kiss and slowly drew apart, though neither seemed willing to let go.
Next came the gift-giving ceremony. The Snake-People Tribe's leaders and the tribal representatives stepped forward one after another to present their wedding gifts and congratulate the Queen on her marriage.
Afterward, Medusa and Gu Shenge rode through the city in a magical-beast-drawn carriage, accepting the worship and blessings of the Snake-People. That was another part of the wedding festivities.
The sky gradually darkened, and the sun sank toward the horizon.
By the end of the wedding, Gu Shenge felt utterly exhausted, body and soul. Even Medusa was a little tired.
After the ceremony, the Four Great Elders "escorted" Medusa and Gu Shenge back to the palace where they were staying. Hua She'er and Yue Mei stood guard outside the door.
The First Elder had made careful arrangements. The palace chamber had been decorated in the style of a human wedding room, all bright red and festive, with great attention to detail. Four plates of wedding fruits sat on the table beside a pot of wine and two jade cups. Red candles burned with faint flames, and the bed was draped in a bridal curtain, awaiting its occupants.
Gu Shenge was quite pleased with the room's decorations. He went to the table, poured wine into the two jade cups, and invited Medusa to sit.
The Snake-People Queen perched on the chair, her full, rounded backside jutting out. She reached out with her red-painted hand and took the nuptial cup Gu Shenge had poured. Their arms linked as they held their cups, and they drank together.
The nuptial wine, the red candle flames.
As if sensing the newlyweds' actions, the red candles' faint flames suddenly flared, illuminating their faces.
After drinking, Gu Shenge gently set down his cup and gazed at the breathtaking Snake-People Queen before him. Her stunning, bewitching face was reflected in his eyes, which brimmed with affection. He leaned toward Medusa and kissed her luscious red lips.
Medusa didn't resist Gu Shenge. They had already received the Sacred Altar's blessing and shared a heart before the Ancestral Spirits. From that moment on, she was his wife, and she would never leave him.
Gu Shenge swept Medusa into his arms and carried her to the bed, gently laying the Snake-People Queen down. Medusa looked at the man who had schemed to marry her. Her voice was cool as she warned him:
"Gu Shenge, if you ever betray me, I won't spare you, even if it means we both die."
Gu Shenge smiled faintly and promised Medusa, "Don't worry, my beloved wife. I, Gu Shenge, swear I will never betray you."
With that, he lowered his head and kissed Medusa again.
The red curtains slowly fell, concealing everything that happened within.
P.S. Gu Shenge made that vow. What does it have to do with me, Juan Shoutian?
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