The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call

Chapter 1713 Marriage Night

The moon hung low in the sky, and the slender figure seemed to mold seamlessly into the darkness. He walked forward soundlessly, bathed in moonlight.

The "River God", Zhask, was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. "How dare a foolish mortal trespass on a god's domain? Do you have no regard for your life?"

It advanced step by step, prepared to strike mercilessly-until the figure drew nearer. Under the moonlight, a refined and noble face was revealed.

Zhask froze in its tracks, stiffening in fear.

Before it could speak, the black serpent's head shot out from a nearby cage. "How bold of you! Speaking to the lord like that it seems like you are prepared for death!"

Zhask looked at the black serpent before darting its gaze toward the figure again. The moonlight shone brightly, and Dalton's visage became fully visible.

One look was enough to send a cold shiver down its spine. It shuddered violently and immediately reverted from its human form. "M-My lord! What brings you here? Weren't you..."

Zhask didn't dare speak his mind any longer, though he was sure Dalton had been sealed away by that most talented grand master! It remembered clearly Dalton had defied the heavenly laws by questioning its fairness. How had he broken free? When did this happen? Why hadn't the old cultivator given it even a hint of this news? Zhask trembled uncontrollably. If it had known Dalton was free, it would never have dared to meddle in this village! It couldn't help but wonder if he knew that it had also been tampering with the weather cycles.

It dared not to lift its head any longer, its mind racing with desperate thoughts of self-preservation.

It would never forget the first time it encountered Dalton. Back then, it was nothing more than an ordinary snake. He had passed by, and so happened to have casually saved it. However, in a matter of days, it had managed to evolve into a dragon.

Everyone knew it owed its existence to the heavenly luck. Even the most venerable cultivators bowed to it, all because of the faint trace of Dalton's energy lingering on its body. That energy alone had elevated its destiny.

Zhask knew well enough who gave it the life it had today. But now, it was terrified that Dalton had come to reclaim what was his.

Dalton's pitch-black eyes were like black holes with impenetrable depth. His entire being radiated a terrifying presence, as if he could see straight through Zhask's thoughts.

Step by step, he advanced toward the trembling creature, each footfall sending shockwaves through its very soul, rendering it utterly immobile.

"I hear you've been living quite the luxurious life as a 'god' here," Dalton said, his voice low but bone-chilling. Zhask shuddered violently, the gold coin it had been holding in its mouth clattering to the ground.

Its cave was a chaotic blend of gleaming treasures and scattered skeletons.

The black serpent saw red at the sight. Emboldened by Dalton's presence, it raised its head and hissed sharply," Didn't you hear the lord's question? Weren't you bragging about killing him just now? What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"

Zhask hurriedly wiped his sweat. "M-My lord, this wasn't my idea! An old cultivator threatened me! He said he'd destroy my soul if I didn't obey. You know how it is I couldn't resist someone with that kind of power! I didn't have a choice."

Its sudden surrender was almost laughable. One moment, it had been ready to kill, and the next, it was groveling in fear.

Dalton arched his eyebrows. "An old cultivator?"

Zhask sensed an opportunity to mitigate its predicament. "Yes, yes! An old cultivator with extremely high cultivation! But it's not just his power-it's because he carries something of yours, my lord!"

Just as Dalton was about to press for more details, the commotion outside the water cave suddenly ceased. Instead, the sound of musical instruments drew closer, followed by a loud cry. "Set the carriage down!" The ornate red carriage was placed at the cave's entrance. Inside, Wynter sat motionless, her face devoid of expression, as lifeless as a puppet.

It turned out that the River God's wedding didn't involve letting the carriage drift along the river. Instead, it traveled a short distance over water before the bearers lifted it and carried it into a mountain cave.

Standing outside the cave was Layla with a head full of silver hair. Leaning on her cane, she scattered golden parchment offerings toward the sky, her tone reverent. "Oh, esteemed River God, the offerings for this year have arrived. Would you come out to take a look?"

Zhask wiped its sweat anxiously, too terrified to step forward.

Turned out, Layla wasn't just any common mortal, but someone capable of communion with the divine. It was no wonder she acted more like a cult leader than a clan leader.

She mistook the silence for displeasure and hurriedly continued, "River God, please calm your anger. This year's bride will surely bring you joy."

Still, there was no response from within the cave.

Hamilton furrowed his brows. "Mom, isn't the River God usually quick to appear to personally bring the bride inside? Why isn't he responding today?"

God's moods are not for you to question." Hamilton replied anxiously, "I was just worried that he might not heed our prayers despite us bringing the bride." Layla raised the gold ingot offering in her hands high above her head. "Oh, mighty River God, you may not know this, but the villagers

you hold dominion over the rivers and the flow fortune. For the sake of devotion, we implore you to grant us a sliver of your

remained

for you. I trust in your compassion

that said, she made a hand gesture, signaling for the others to

protest but stopped at a

reject the bride. This is a

the past weren't lucky at all. It was simply because the so-called River God

been the River God's brides would mysteriously end up pregnant. The so-called River God was nothing more than

you enlightenment-follow Heaven's will and do not summon rain of your own accord. It seems my slumber has lasted

of that old cultivator! I wouldn't dare

harming innocent human girls! Do you

wedding?' Do you even realize who's sitting in that carriage? That's the lord's fiancée! You've got some

a sidelong glance at the black serpent, and it immediately

"My lord, I wouldn't have dared

one in the carriage was your fiancée! This was all the humans' doing! They brought her here of their own accord. I didn't

accept her?" Dalton's eyes swept over the piles of skeletons in the cave, their

toward Zhask, his tone still calm as ever. "Rape, murder, and plunder. You

quivering with desperation, "My lord, I swear I'm not that

raised a single

without a

features frozen in shock. "My lord is

surge of relief that it hadn't

Zhask's fate.

heed to the serpent's remarks. Instead, he turned and strode

water cave.

on the river's surface, reflecting off the gently

truly resembled a paradise, with a thin veil of mist draping over the mountain valley, dotted with clusters

not for the ominous legends of the River God, this would undoubtedly be a haven that

could clearly sense someone approaching. He had

urgency.

Danger loomed mere steps away, yet she waking. Was she really going to

showed no signs

entertain such nonsense!

was merely a serpent who had transformed into a dragon! Under normal circumstances, Wynter could have easily subdued it and used it as a skipping rope. Yet, was she now about to

Leo muttered fiercely, determination blazing in its eyes. He had to protect Wynter at all costs. No matter how powerful the dragon was,

Wynter. Meanwhile, Dalton was already striding toward the carriage. He lifted his hand and pushed the curtain aside. "You disgusting snake! Go to hell!" Leo shouted, launching himself toward Dalton's chest with all his might. But before he could land a finger on Dalton, he suddenly stopped mid-track. Leo's round eyes widened in

he had imagined, this was the last it expected. The person lifting the curtain wasn't

taken..." Leo didn't finish his sentence. He had wanted to ask how he was here if the villagers had taken him away. But realizing how ridiculous his question was going to sound, he stopped himself. long as he was

known-Dalton always seemed to know

nothing he wouldn't know.

this situation in advance and arranged to intercept them here. If so, that

calculation was terrifying.

be messed with. He was overwhelmed by a

stories he had heard about

tales spoke of his deep disdain for cultivators, especially his penchant for using grand masters'

cleanse his resentful energy.

time, Leo couldn't deny that Dalton had posed no direct harm to Wynter. He had provided

question. His actions had nearly

that innate sense of unease

fiancé. And though moments earlier, he had secretly hoped for his arrival,

was the right move to step aside. After all, Dalton's power

a child. With

gain 100 years of fortune. Though the idea of such power thrilled Leo,