Chapter 8 Hit the Jackpot

As soon as Lei Dong returned, Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, and Fang Zhe snapped back to their senses. Seeing the displeasure plastered across Lei Dong's face, they did not know what to say, and everyone simply sat in silence.

As the sky gradually grew dark, the laughter of Feng Shang and Lei Cong echoed from outside. After spending a day getting acquainted, the two had already become very close brothers. Upon walking into Lei Dong's home, however, they sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat amiss.

Lei Cong asked, "What is wrong?"

Lei Dong managed a bitter smile and said, "It seems I cannot escape my uncle's coercion!"

Lei Cong replied, "Actually, this is also a good thing. You are currently living alone; with someone else to keep you company, the house won't feel so desolate!"

Lei Dong glanced at Lei Min's spirit tablet, then turned and said, "Lei Min only recently passed away!"

Lei Cong also glanced at Lei Min's spirit tablet and said, "If Sister-in-law Lei Min's spirit in heaven is aware, she would also wish for you to find a companion again!"

It turned out that Lei Cong's father had sought out Lei Dong to arrange a remarriage for him. However, out of lingering devotion to Lei Min, Lei Dong had refused the good intentions of Lei Cong's father. Yet how could Lei Cong's father bear to watch his nephew live all alone like this, so he strongly insisted on finding Lei Dong a new bride.

Lei Dong had no idea how to refuse, which was why he had returned home feeling so vexed.

Lei Cong continued, "Actually, over the past few days, Father entrusted me with making sure I persuade you to remarry, and I have laid my words out here. Cousin, I genuinely believe you ought to remarry, but the final decision rests with you; I will not force you!"

As soon as Lei Cong spoke these words, the atmosphere inside the entire room instantly grew heavy.

Seeing the awkwardness of the atmosphere, Feng Shang abruptly broke the solemn silence and said, "Let's put this talk aside for now. Today I took a stroll down the street, and it is so lively! Lei Dong, why don't you take us out for a wander tonight?"

Lei Cong glanced at Lei Dong and took his leave, saying, "Cousin, I have been out for a long time. No doubt Father will send people to look for me again soon, so I will head back first. Think it over carefully!"

Lei Cong departed.

Feng Shang looked at Lei Dong, who was sitting with his head lowered in silence, and urged, "Lei Dong, take us out for a stroll!"

Although Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, and Fang Zhe had no real inclination for sightseeing, they could tell from the conversation that Lei Dong was currently in low spirits, so they also agreed, saying, "Right, Brother Lei Dong, take us out for a walk!"

Hearing everyone's eager requests, Lei Dong nodded and said, "All right, I will take you out for a turn!"

Fire Thunder Mountain City remained the same all year round, caressed by a warm breeze. Walking along the streets, one could catch faint, refreshing scents of grass. Han Tianyue and the others followed Lei Dong out of his house. The initial path was quiet and secluded, but after passing that stretch, a bustling, lively avenue opened up before their eyes.

Though it was already night, the crowds were extremely dense. Passersby laughed and chatted as they browsed the small wares on both sides of the street, while the vendors shouted out their joyous pitches.

Even after coming out, Lei Dong still wore an expression of sorrow.

Feng Shang tugged at Lei Dong's arm and called out, "Lei Dong, introduce us to your Fire Thunder Mountain City!"

Lei Dong managed a strained smile and said nothing.

Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, and Fang Zhe had no heart for amusement.

Thus, the five men wove their way through the bustling avenue.

As they walked, a crowd blocking the way ahead caught their attention, gathered around something.

Feng Shang strode forward and shouted, "Come over quickly, everyone! There's a good show to watch over here!"

Unsure of what was happening ahead, Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, Fang Zhe, and Lei Dong followed after him.

"Over here, over here, over here!" the crowd surged and shouted. Lifting their heads to look, they saw it was a silk ball-throwing ceremony to choose a husband.

"Hurry and squeeze in!" Feng Shang pulled Han Tianyue and the others into the throng. Reaching the center of the crowd, he exclaimed, "I never expected that tossing a embroidered ball to choose a groom was still a trend nowadays!"

Lei Dong took a glance and said, "This is a tradition of the Lei family, unchanged for thousands of years!"

Just as he was speaking, a young woman walked onto the platform, holding an embroidered ball in her hands. The crowd below surged frantically, each person shouting at the top of their lungs, "Over this way, over this way!"

"Is that the woman choosing a husband?" Feng Shang moved with the crowd, continuing to press with questions.

Lei Dong shook his head and replied, "She is not. The bride-to-be will be out in a moment!"

Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, and Fang Zhe stood amidst the crowd like three wooden pillars; had it not been for Feng Shang's insistence, they likely would have left by now.

At that very moment, a veiled woman in white stepped onto the platform, as gentle and soft as white silk. Fang Zhe abruptly raised his head. "Though she bears a threefold resemblance, she is not Baiyi!"

By now the crowd was in a complete uproar, and Feng Shang joined the frenzy, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Over here, over here!"

The veiled woman in white scanned the surroundings from the platform, took the embroidered ball from the hands of the previous woman, and swept her gaze across the crowd once more.

The people below boiled with excitement, following the white-robed woman's every glance.

Though he had no intention of catching the embroidered ball, Han Tianyue was stirred by the seething crowd and looked toward the veiled woman in white on the stage. He saw her gaze fall upon him, her eyebrows twitching slightly as one of her hands gently lifted her veil—

"Whoa!" The roar shook the entire Fire Thunder Mountain City.

"Over here, this way, this way!" The crowd below swarmed forward, pushing the atmosphere to its absolute peak.

The woman, having removed her veil, offered a slight nod and tossed the embroidered ball in the direction of Han Tianyue.

The embroidered ball flew straight toward Han Tianyue. With a wave of his sleeve, Han Tianyue deflected it off its original trajectory, sending it flying toward another side.

The woman's expression flickered slightly.

Feng Shang sprinted in the direction where the embroidered ball had flown. A small whirlwind whipped up the ball, causing it to change course and hurtle toward Lei Dong.

As the ball hurtled toward him, Lei Dong glared angrily at Feng Shang and hastily waved his hand, sending the ball back into the air.

The crowd lunged toward the newly projected path of the ball.

The woman watched the flight of the embroidered ball with a tense expression.

Seizing this exact moment, Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, Fang Zhe, and Lei Dong hastily retreated to the side. Meanwhile, Feng Shang charged back into the crowd, and amidst another small gust of wind, the embroidered ball flew back toward their side.

"Watch out!" Feng Shang cried out.

Han Tianyue hastily turned around, only to find that the embroidered ball had already landed right in his hands.

Upon seeing this, the woman's expression shifted slightly. She then looked toward Han Tianyue, nodded in a gesture of courtesy, put her veil back on, and retreated backstage.

Han Tianyue, holding the embroidered ball, glared daggers at Feng Shang, wishing he could cleave him in two. Just then, three attendants sent by the bride approached them and said, "Young master, please follow us this way!"

Han Tianyue turned around helplessly to look at Mao Xuanzi, Fang Zhe, and Lei Dong. "Can I elope to avoid this marriage?"