I turned a deaf ear to their cruel words.

Could eloping with a poor student really be the key plot point?

I stared at the paper, both surprised and doubtful, but I had already made up my mind. Whatever happened, I had to go and see for myself.

When night fell, I followed the address written on the piece of paper and arrived at the rendezvous point. Immediately, I spotted the black-haired male student—currently being role-played by the snake-man—standing with his hands behind his back.

"Hey, is eloping the key plot point?"

I wasn't afraid. Compared to all the half-human, half-demon creatures lurking in the dark, this snake demon, who looked more human than not, actually seemed safer.

"Elias Vaughn," he said, turning his head slightly.

Under the pale moonlight, his usually sharp, deep features seemed exceptionally gentle. The sight of this spectacular, god-like beauty stunned me, and it took me a long while before I realized he'd been telling me his name.

After a few seconds, I asked again, "Does this count as the key plot point?"

Elias didn't answer. He just stared thoughtfully past me.

Realization struck, and I spun around, only to find the middle-aged couple chasing after me, like vengeful spirits here to drag me into the abyss.

They drew closer and closer. I panicked and grabbed Elias' hand, wanting to run. Elias, however, remained rooted to the spot.

As I saw the distance between them and us closing fast, an idea struck me like a bolt of lightning.

Looking at his gorgeously beautiful face, I steeled myself and leaned into him, pressing my lips against his. The cold breath he exhaled brushed evenly across my face.

Elias' golden pupils dilated slightly, reflecting my face, which held an equal measure of horror and bashfulness.

"What about this? Does this count?"

His warm fingertips brushed my cheek, and his usually stoic and indifferent expression now held a trace of flustered helplessness. Pursing his lips tightly, he looked at me with an exasperated look that suggested he was at a loss for words.

For a few seconds, everything went silent. Then, suddenly, I found myself plummeting downward. He had pushed me straight into the river below the bridge.

Icy river water mixed with mud rushed into my body. I felt like a kite with a broken string, diving lower and lower.

Just as I felt like I was about to die, a warm current suddenly surged in, enveloping my entire body.

My vision blurred from the mingling lights. Through the water, I caught sight of Elias' slightly guilty-looking face.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the paper effigy shop. I tried to move but found that I couldn't. Only then did I realize that my whole body had been bound.

A blubbery face zoomed into view. He grinned at me before turning to Mrs. Effin, the middle-aged woman.

"This is the deposit. Once we consummate our marriage tonight, I'll give you the rest of the money."

Great. I'd been sold again. Soon, I'd be tied up and thrown into the bridal carriage, again, and delivered to wherever it was he was going to consummate the marriage.

Suddenly, fragmented memories flooded my mind, finally settling on the day we first arrived at the village. There had been a middle-aged couple standing right in the center.

Even though their faces had been shrouded in black mist, the couple shared one identical feature—both their heads had been cleanly severed. That was why they had looked so familiar to me. The Effins had been from this very village, too.

Snapping back to reality, I glanced at them. Sure enough, I found a faint, almost invisible red line around their necks.

"Mom, Dad… I've come to my senses. I'll marry him. That poor student? He can get lost."

At my words, the Effins' heads twisted unnaturally, turning in unison to look at me with vacant eyes.

All the gazes in the room fell on me, carrying a deadly chill. Combined with the already dark and gloomy room, I dared not move a muscle for a moment.

"That's good. Marrying a butcher means you'll never have to worry about feeding yourself again, even in the next life."

However, he still didn't untie me. While the Effins were busy talking, I quietly worked at the bindings around my wrists until they came loose.

Just then, a chilling voice belonging to a little boy rang out.

"Sissy, where are you going?"