Marrying Medusa, the Wedding Night!

The next day, the sun shone brightly in a clear, cloudless sky.

The Temple City did not display the festive joy typical of human weddings; instead, it appeared exceptionally solemn. Every household hung signs marked with red and black snake patterns, creating a grave and reverent atmosphere. Countless Snake-People stood before their doorways with hands raised high, their expressions stern and dignified. Within their diamond-shaped pupils, a look of deep devotion flickered as they bowed repeatedly toward the direction of the Snake-Person Temple, murmuring obscure and difficult ancient chants, as if offering blessings or prayers.

Deep within the Snake-Person Temple, nine stone pillars engraved with nine types of serpentine magical beasts guarded an ancient Sacred Altar. The altar was carved with profound and primitive snake-script, heavy with the scent of passing ages. It was covered in dense cracks and appeared so dilapidated that it seemed as if it might collapse at any moment.

The Four Great Elders had changed into solemn and sacred sacrificial robes, each holding a divine staff. Their hunched bodies were now straightened, standing tall at the four corners of the altar. Their aged faces were incredibly stern as they chanted, reciting the same words as the Snake-People in the city, though their version was far more complex and long-winded.

Beneath the altar lay a long black carpet, fashioned from the skin of a Tier 6 serpentine magical beast, extending for several dozen meters.

Standing on either side of this serpent-skin carpet were the seven great leaders of the Snake-People Tribe, along with representatives from other medium and small tribes. With the exception of the Great Commander, who was still in seclusion, nearly all the high-ranking members of the Snake-People Tribe were present.

They kept their heads bowed, chanting the sacrificial rites of the Snake-People along with the Four Great Elders, the atmosphere heavy, solemn, and immensely dignified.

As the Four Great Elders concluded their rites, a Tier 5 serpentine magical beast that had just been slain was carried onto the altar to sacrifice to the Ancestral Spirits of the Snake-People.

"I invite the Queen to welcome the Wang Fu."

The next second, the Great Elder's shrill voice rang out, and two figures emerged from either side of the altar.

Medusa wore a black wedding gown that clung to her full, graceful, and mature body. Her three thousand strands of dark hair were tied up, and her stunningly beautiful, bewitching face was adorned with light makeup. A crimson snake mark was dotted between her brows. Her expression was solemn, and her temperament had undergone a significant change; the usual majesty of the Queen was gone, replaced by a more dignified, noble, and elegant grace.

Her original purple snake tail had transformed into a pair of slender, rounded, and peerless legs, and she walked forward in an orderly, unhurried pace.

Behind her followed Hua She'er, who had also transformed into human form to serve as her maid of honor.

On the other side, Gu Shenge walked forward, also dressed in a black wedding robe. His figure was tall and straight, his appearance handsome and heroic, and his presence was extraordinary. The Sun God Mark between his brows added a touch of sanctity and nobility, making him appear transcendent and refined. His aura was even more profound, as the Top-Grade Huangji Pill had yielded him significant gains.

Following behind him was Yue Mei.

When they reached a distance of half a meter from each other, they both stopped and looked at one another.

Medusa's expression was complex, and she appeared slightly dazed as she looked at Gu Shenge's handsome face. Gu Shenge felt a small surge of excitement within, but he did not lose his composure.

"Reporting to the Ancestral Spirits of our tribe..."

The Great Elder spoke again, first informing the Ancestral Spirits of the Snake-People and the past Medusa Queens that the current Queen was marrying a human, praying for the spirits to bestow blessings to protect the Queen and the Wang Fu, and even adding a few words about hoping for early offspring.

This caused Medusa's brows to furrow slightly, while the corners of Gu Shenge's mouth curled into a smile.

Following the Great Elder's long-winded prayer, she took a heart from the carcass of the Tier 5 magical beast on the altar, which emitted a thick, bloody stench.

"Queen, Wang Fu, please partake."

The Great Elder held the magical beast's heart in both hands between Gu Shenge and Medusa.

What? Gu Shenge stared at the still-pulsing heart of the beast, completely dumbfounded.

Are Snake-People weddings this brutal? Eating a heart raw?! Was it too late for him to regret this?

Medusa did not hesitate; she picked up the heart and consumed half of it in three or four bites. Her already vibrant red lips, stained by the fresh blood, looked even more bewitching, making one want to taste them.

She handed the remaining heart to Gu Shenge. Seeing Medusa's decisiveness, Gu Shenge did not hesitate either. He reached out and took it; it was just a heart, and if Medusa could eat it, so could he.

Gu Shenge endured the bloody smell radiating from the heart and ate it in large bites. As long as I eat fast enough, the nausea won't catch up to me.

As he finished the heart, the Great Elder shouted aloud.

"The Sacred Altar bestows its blessing, the Ancestral Spirits bear witness, the ceremony is complete!"

Medusa and Gu Shenge accepted the blessing of the Sacred Altar, and with the Ancestral Spirits as their witnesses, the wedding was officially concluded.

There was no bowing to heaven and earth as in human traditions, nor was it as festive as a human wedding; there was only solemnity and gravity.

The Snake-Person Queen looked at Gu Shenge, whose lips were still stained with a trace of blood, and took a large step forward. Right in front of the Sacred Altar, the Ancestral Spirits, and all the Snake-People, she kissed Gu Shenge!

"Mmm~"

Feeling the softness of Medusa's lips, a flash of surprise crossed Gu Shenge's eyes. Is she really this direct?!

He also raised his arms to embrace Medusa's slender waist, lingering in the kiss with her.

This scene caused the Elders to reveal expressions of gratification.

Mo Basi watched as the Queen he adored offered a kiss to a lowly human, his eyes turning blood-red with extreme rage. He wanted to step forward to stop them, but he was held back firmly by two other leaders.

Within the Snake-People Tribe, a wedding held before the Sacred Altar was sacred and inviolable.

Even if one had objections, it was absolutely forbidden to cause trouble during the wedding. No matter how dissatisfied one was, they had to endure it; what happened afterward did not matter.

After a long while, Medusa and Gu Shenge parted their lips. They slowly separated, yet both seemed somewhat reluctant to let go.

Next came the gift-giving segment, where the high-ranking members of the Snake-People Tribe and the tribal representatives began to present their congratulatory gifts to celebrate the Queen's new marriage.

Afterward, Medusa and Gu Shenge boarded a carriage pulled by magical beasts to tour the city, accepting the worship and blessings of the Snake-People subjects, which was also part of the wedding aftermath.

The sky gradually darkened as the sun set in the west.

By the end of the wedding, Gu Shenge felt physically and mentally exhausted, and even Medusa seemed somewhat tired.

After the wedding concluded, under the "escort" of the Four Great Elders, Medusa and Gu Shenge returned to the palace where they would rest, while Hua She'er and Yue Mei stood guard outside the door.

The Great Elder had been very thoughtful; the furnishings and decor inside the palace were based on human bridal chambers, festive in bright red and very meticulous. On the table sat four plates of wedding fruits, a pot of clear wine, two jade cups, and red candles burning with faint flames. The bed was draped in mandarin duck curtains, waiting for its masters.

Gu Shenge looked at the room's arrangement and was quite satisfied. He walked to the table, poured wine into the two jade cups, and invited Medusa to take a seat.

The Snake-Person Queen pouted her rounded, full, peach-like hips and sat lightly on the stool. She extended her jade-like hand, painted with red nail polish, to take the cup of nuptial wine Gu Shenge had poured. Their arms intertwined as they held their cups, and they drank the wine together.

Nuptial wine, red candle flames.

The red candles seemed to sense the movements of the newlyweds, their once-faint flames burning brightly, illuminating the faces of the two.

As the nuptial wine went down, Gu Shenge gently set his cup aside, gazing at the stunningly beautiful Snake-Person Queen before him. Her exquisite and enchanting face was reflected in his pupils, revealing his affection, and he could not help but lean in to kiss her vibrant red lips.

Medusa did not refuse Gu Shenge. Since they had already received the blessing of the Sacred Altar and, under the gaze of the Ancestral Spirits, had shared the same heart and food, she was now his wife, never to be parted from him.

Gu Shenge took the opportunity to lift Medusa into his arms and walk toward the bed, gently laying the Snake-Person Queen down. Medusa looked at the man who had schemed to marry her, her voice cold as she issued a warning.

"Gu Shenge, if one day you betray me, even if it means we both perish, I will never let you go."

Gu Shenge smiled slightly, nodding as he promised Medusa, "Rest assured, my dear wife. I, Gu Shenge, swear that I will never fail you."

Having said this, he lowered his head once more to kiss Medusa.

The red curtains slowly fell, concealing everything that transpired within.

~

PS: Gu Shenge made the vow, what does that have to do with me, Juan Shoutian?