A Human Face or a Ghost's Face

On the ninth day of the tenth lunar month last year, three people from the Tong Household attended Tang Tiansong's engagement banquet: Tong Changjian, Tong Jiuyue, Tong Lingling.

The Tong Household proposed a marriage alliance with the Tang Household, wanting Tong Lingling to marry Tang Tiandong.

The Tong Household has been cultivating immortality for over five hundred years, residing on Red Copper Mountain at the southern foot of Gazing Dragon Lake.

Tang Tiansong initially had some reservations about the Tong Household's initiative to arrange a marriage with the small Tang Household, fearing that the Tong Household might have some ulterior motives.

After making inquiries from various sources, Tang Tiansong finally dispelled his concerns and agreed to the marriage between Tang Tiandong and Tong Lingling.

The Tong Household had two ancestors: Tong Changgu and Tong Changjian, who were brothers and both had reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

Tong Changgu had three sons, the eldest of whom Tong Jiuyue, was also at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Tong Changjian was devoted to spiritual practice and had only one son, Tong Jiujing.

However, more than ten years ago, Tong Jiujing failed to break through to the Foundation Establishment and died. Tong Lingling is Tong Jiujing's only child.

Although Tong Changjian had already reached the Foundation Establishment Peak, he failed to break through to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, resulting in physical and mental damage, and his life was nearing its end.

To give his deceased son some closure, and to prevent the Tong Household branch from looking down on him, Tong Changjian arranged for Tong Lingling to marry into the Tang Household.

As expected, Tong Changjian died shortly after arranging his marriage to Tong Lingling, before the beginning of this year.

With Tong Changjian's death, the Tong Household became even more anxious, thinking that Tong Lingling and Tang Tiandong would get married this March.

Tang Tiansong was naturally very happy to be able to form a marriage alliance with the Tong Household, which is among the top five in Gazing Dragon Lake. He instructed Tang Tiandong to make sure to complete the exchange of wedding invitations and set a wedding date that night.

Tang Tiandong also had some expectations about marrying Tong Lingling.

First of all, Tang Tiandong had met Tong Lingling a few times and exchanged a few words with her, and his impression of her was quite good.

Secondly, the Tong Household powerful while the Tang Household is weak. Tong Lingling is also a direct descendant of the Tong Household, and in order for the Tang Household to have a backer, she cannot tolerate Tang Tiandong's opposition.

"Fourth brother, eldest brother has already said that your wedding day can be before his."

Have you thought it through...?

"Once we enter Purple Moon Market and meet the Tong Household, I'll exchange engagement cards with Tong Lingling and set the wedding date. You can't go back on your word now." Tang Tianlan patted Tang Tiandong on the shoulder.

"The Tong Household is not like the Ye Household in Iron Bridge Village. Once engaged, breaking off the engagement is not so simple."

"Don't worry, Second Sister, even if Tong Lingling is a pig, I, Tang Tiandong, will definitely not break off the engagement." Tang Tiandong patted his chest.

Tang Tianlan chuckled, "My silly little brother, how do you describe your future wife like that?"

Haha, don't worry.

Women understand women. I've carefully observed Tong Lingling's figure. She's not only sure she'll be stunningly beautiful, but she'll also be very fertile, easily giving birth to two or three big, healthy boys.

Tiandong, you must cherish your wife from now on.

"Okay, I understand." Tang Tiandong nodded, looked at the entrance of Purple Moon Market, and frowned: Long Zhiyu was standing at the door.

Tang Tianlan also saw the Long Zhiyu and immediately raised her eyebrows and smiled, "I didn't expect you to have such good luck with women, Fourth Brother."

This Long Zhiyu from Divine Dragon Island, disregarding a woman's modesty, has come to our house time and again, proposing to marry you. As a woman, I truly admire her."

"What 'lucky romance'? I think it's more like a 'female calamity'," Tang Tiandong said, pursing his lips.

"I offered to make Long Zhiyu a concubine, but she refused."

Tang Tiandong also has a fondness for Long Zhiyu.

Firstly, Long Zhiyu is indeed a beauty with considerable cultivation, and more importantly, she is backed by the powerful Cage Family, the Dragon-Taming Clan- Long Household.

Secondly, for some reason, Tang Tiandong also quite liked Long Zhiyu's free-spirited and fiery personality: now that the Tang Household is weak, the Tang Household all live a quiet, low-key, and cautious life of self-cultivation.

Sometimes, Tang Tiandong also felt a bit tired of this oppressive path of cultivation.

What are you thinking about?

Although the Long Household doesn't have many powerful cultivators, they have a giant dragon, so their strength isn't much weaker than the Tong Household's.

Why would someone allow their legitimate daughter to become a concubine?

Moreover, even if the Long Zhiyu is willing to become a concubine, she must wait until you and Tong Lingling are married.

"Only after your wife, Tong Lingling, agreed to your taking a concubine can you take the Long Zhiyu." Tang Tianlan gently flicked Tang Tiandong's forehead.

"Second sister, I'm sacrificing myself for the Tang Household." Tang Tiandong stuck out his tongue and stepped forward...

"Hey, the Long Household is no less powerful than the Tong Household."

I've taken a liking to you, Tang Tiandong, and my family's betrothal gift is a hundred Spirit Stone!

And I've also agreed that our child will have the surname Tang, and you can come back to Dangwu Yuan often.

I will have my Long Household send a giant dragon to reside permanently in Dangwu Yuan, at least until you reach the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement before returning to Divine Dragon Island.

"What else do you have to worry about? I advise you not to marry Tong Lingling, marrying me is the best course of action." Long Zhiyu followed behind Tang Tiandong and his sister, rambling on and on.

The conditions offered by the Long Household were indeed generous, but the Tang Household had already agreed to a marriage alliance with the Tong Household, so what could Tang Tiandong do even if he was tempted?

"It's just that I, Tang, am unlucky..." Tang Tiandong smiled helplessly and continued walking.

"Actually, if you just agree to be my concubine, everything will be solved..."

"Tang Tiandong, don't push your luck!" Long Zhiyu's face flushed red, and her lips twitched. "Fine, I, Long Zhiyu, originally didn't want to be a villain. But, what can I do? I'm kind-hearted, and I don't want you to jump into a fire pit."

Marrying Tong Lingling will make you suffer for the rest of your life.

"What do you mean?" Tang Tiandong stopped in his tracks.

The Long Zhiyu put on a soundproof shield, a slight smirk playing on its lips. "Why do you think Tong Lingling wears a mask every day?"

"What do you mean?" Tang Tiandong frowned.

"Hehe, I know you married Tong Lingling for the sake of your Lineage, so that the Tang Household could have the Tong Household as a backer."

However, for your own happiness, I hope you will think it through.

"You can ask Tong Lingling if she's willing to take off her mask and be honest with him." The Long Zhiyu put away the soundproof cover, whistled, and turned to walk away.

Take off the mask?

Could it be...?

Tang Tiandong touched the engagement invitation in his pocket...

... In a private room at the Drunken Immortal Tower Pavilion in Purple Moon Market, the old nun from the Tong Household took out an engagement letter.

Tang Tiandong touched the engagement invitation in his pocket, sighed softly, stood up, and bowed respectfully, "Senior, Fellow Daoist Tong."

Tiandong has a favor to ask, since Fellow Daoist Tong and I are about to get married.

Today, could Fellow Daoist Tong remove his mask and let Tiandong see his beautiful face?

Tong Lingling's body visibly trembled.

The old woman from the Tong Household lightly slapped the table. "How dare you! You rude boy, do you think Lingling's appearance is flawed?!"

"Senior, you misunderstand. We are all cultivators, how could we care about appearances?" Tang Tianlan quickly cupped her hands in greeting, her brows slightly furrowed as she looked at her fourth brother.

"Tiandong had no other intentions, he just... just wanted to see his future wife's face..." Tang Tiandong said sincerely.

"Even an ugly daughter-in-law has to meet her in-laws eventually." The female cultivator from the Tong Household sighed softly and nodded at Tong Lingling.

Tong Lingling stood up, her body trembling slightly. She closed her eyes briefly and removed her mask.

"A ghost..."

No, no, Tiandong, you've been rude.

"I'm sorry..." Tang Tiandong was shocked when he saw Tong Lingling's true face under the mask and lowered his head.

"Tang Tiandong, didn't you want to see my real face? Why are you looking down? Why don't you look up and take a closer look!"

"Is it because my terrifying appearance scared you?" Tong Lingling roared hysterically, tears streaming down her face.

Tang Tianlan was also somewhat surprised by Tong Lingling's appearance: was it a human face or a ghost face?

Tong Lingling had deep-set eyes, high cheekbones, a gaunt face, and tight, almost fleshless skin. In some places, you could even see a thin layer of white bone beneath the skin.

Half of his face was a chilling white, and the other half was a bluish-black.

The key issue is a scar, resembling a terrifying centipede, diagonally running from her forehead to her chin, lying across Tong Lingling's face.

It gives people a feeling of oppression, discomfort, or even nausea.

Tang Tianlan kicked Tang Tiandong hard, then stepped forward and silently put the mask on Tong Lingling.

Holding Tong Lingling in her arms, Tang Tianlan whispered with a look of tenderness, "Lingling, it's my Tiandong's fault."

Lingling, don't worry.

If Tang Tiandong ever bullies you again, tell your second sister, and she'll definitely teach him a lesson.

If he talks nonsense again, I will cut out his tongue.

Despite the pain in his right leg, Tang Tiandong swallowed nervously...