A day later, she set out on the road again.
Taking the blueprints and Yin Wuxin, along with a large group of craftsmen recruited with hefty payments.
Yin Wuxin would travel with them for a stretch, then return to the Heavenly Maiden Sect. She promised that along the way, she would teach the craftsmen Jing Hengbo had found all the shipbuilding and equipment-making techniques she knew.
Pei Shu had lost ten matches, so naturally he kept his promise and followed her. Yelu Qi, however, left without saying goodbye again, leaving only a note saying “Until we meet again in the martial world.”
Ying Bai expressed his desire to visit the world-renowned Master Ziwei, so he also traveled along with them. He didn’t talk much with Jing Hengbo, but loved most to compete in drinking with Qi Sha’s eldest member, Qi Yi. Both had carefree, rakish appearances and got along well. Under Ying Bai’s influence, Qi Yi gradually fell in love with wine as well. The two often embraced each other, staggering and toasting each other mutually. When drunk, they’d lie on each other’s bellies to sleep. Jing Hengbo remarked that the bromance was overflowing.
She felt that since leaving the palace, Ying Bai’s fondness for alcohol had risen dramatically, as had his interest in appreciating women. Truly, wherever he went he was drunk in wine country, wherever he went he attracted admirers, but his attention to her was declining. Sometimes he even seemed to intentionally avoid her.
But this feeling wasn’t very obvious, because she now had quite a few people around her. The seven goofballs of Qi Sha were noisy enough, and because she had ditched them to steal blueprints from the palace without taking Qi Sha along to play, they said Bo Bo was very disloyal and definitely wouldn’t play with her in the future.
Jing Hengbo thought it would be best if they didn’t play with her – playing with them for too long might give them longevity, but the person playing with them would only have a short-lived fate.
After leaving Zhanyu they quickened their pace, because that batch of Pei Shu’s subordinates who came out of Tianhui Valley didn’t have Pei Shu’s constitution or his good luck – the Qi Sha brothers were only most interested in Pei Shu and willing to put effort into researching solutions for his poison. But asking them to detoxify dozens of people one by one – the seven goofballs found it troublesome, tiring, and no fun. They worked three days and rested two, passing the buck and arguing with each other. Those poor fellows’ poison was treated chaotically with signs of outbreak, only then did Qi Sha realize the urgency and hurried to reach Seven Peaks Mountain to find the old fellow.
This day they reached the foot of Seven Peaks Mountain. At the mountain’s base was a small town that from afar showed people in colorful clothes weaving through like fabric, with a very peaceful and harmonious atmosphere. Jing Hengbo praised it, and Yi Qi said proudly: “This is our lawless zone. No one can control it, so no one is allowed to control it, making it most leisurely and carefree.”
“What do you mean?”
“This is the border area between Dai Mao, Shang Kingdom, and Meng Kingdom. One Seven Peaks Mountain with seven peaks – the western foothills’ two mountains belong to Shang Kingdom, the eastern foothills belong to Meng Kingdom, and the southern peak belongs to Dai Mao. For many years the two kingdoms and one clan have fought bloodily over Seven Peaks Mountain, all wanting to claim the entire resource-rich Seven Peaks Mountain for themselves. Both kingdoms and the clan have briefly brought Seven Peaks Mountain under their control, but none lasted long. When Seven Peaks Mountain belonged to the three territories, it was peaceful and quiet. Once it belonged to a single power, when that power entered the mountain to organize and govern, troubles would come – fierce beasts would frequently appear, ghosts would wail at midnight, people in camps would often disappear, those entering the mountain would encounter various supernatural barriers, and however many came, none would return. After this happened multiple times, whichever power occupied Seven Peaks Mountain would find it troublesome and lose interest. When others came to seize it, they’d conveniently let it be taken back, and whoever seized it would have their own bitter medicine to swallow.” Si Si leaned over with a grinning smile.
“Over time, none dared want it anymore.” Shan Wu played with his new puppet, a little figure that looked very much like Pei Shu. “Seven Peaks Mountain became a lawless zone. Because of its detached status, gradually those from Shang Kingdom, Meng Kingdom, and Dai Mao who couldn’t survive locally, who were oppressed and couldn’t stay, as well as criminals and troublemakers, all flowed here. Over time it became Seven Peaks Town. But Seven Peaks Town is magical – those bandits, criminals, burners, killers, and kidnappers who fled here seeking refuge also couldn’t stay. They’d always encounter various strange incidents. Before long they could only slink away to Black Water Marsh. Those who remained here were all good people who had suffered oppression. Hey, as I said, how could such a sacred place as Seven Peaks Mountain allow itself to be defiled by such scum?”
“Amitabha.” Wu Shan said with a righteous expression. “Heaven sees all – this is divine will from above to maintain the sanctity and purity of our Seven Peaks Mountain. Those in power with ulterior motives and criminals will be punished by heaven itself.”
“Bah.” Jing Hengbo said. “What strange incidents in Seven Peaks Mountain, what heaven sees all. These deities are yourselves, right? You’re clearly protecting territory and competing for food, but insist on making it sound noble. Be careful that real deities hear you impersonating gods and strike you dead with lightning.”
Qi Sha chuckled. Qi Yi draped his arm over his good buddy’s shoulder, drunkenly saying: “So we are the gods of Seven Peaks Mountain. So the people of Seven Peaks Town love, worship, and revere us like deities. You’ll see when we get there…”
As they spoke they were entering Seven Peaks Town. When their carriages entered the town, many people stopped what they were doing to curiously observe the carriages. Jing Hengbo lifted the curtain to carefully observe their expressions. Indeed, most had serene, peaceful expressions with slight smiles, showing no hostility toward outsiders – this was the civil state that only places of peace and prosperity could have.
She heard someone say in low voices: “More newcomers have arrived…”
“How did they avoid Qi Sha’s inspection?”
“Qi Sha aren’t here…”
“Ah, thank heaven and earth. But they’re not coming back, are they?”
“How is that possible? Would they honestly ride carriages back? They would definitely…”
The rest was drowned out by voices, because Yi Qi, eager to show his popularity in front of his wife, had already stuck his head out and waved loudly: “Hey everyone! I’m back!”
Instant silence.
Then.
Boom – the marketplace exploded!
Snap snap snap – windows facing the street all slammed shut. Too nervous and using excessive force, many windows broke.
Swish swish swish – street vendors quickly packed up their stalls in two or three moves, balancing them on heads, tucking under arms, strapping to backs, fleeing like lightning into various alleys. Those with no nearby alleys to hide in frantically sweated and pounded on nearby shop doors: “Please be kind and open up, let me hide! The Seven Locusts are back!”
Shop owners pressed their backs firmly against doors: “No! Can’t open! If they take the chance to barge in, we’re finished!”
Ahhhhh! Screams filled the street. The marketplace atmosphere that had been peaceful and harmonious just moments before instantly plunged into hell’s end times. Girls ran wildly through the streets, losing their embroidered shoes. Young men displayed potential they normally couldn’t achieve, leaping onto rooftops in one bound. Old men threw away their canes, changing from trembling shuffles to fleet-footed running.
Jing Hengbo just blinked three times, and the street that had been bustling with flowing crowds and harmonious atmosphere suddenly became empty and chaotic.
A group of people stared dumbfounded at the long, empty street. Not a single person in sight. The ground was covered with dropped shoes, rotten vegetable leaves, and various fallen miscellaneous items – truly a scene of devastation, as if swept by locusts.
“Holy crap…” Jing Hengbo stared wide-eyed, murmuring: “Even a locust swarm doesn’t have this destructive power…”
Er Gouzi’s green bean eyes were round with shock: “Green mountains lie north of the city walls, white waters circle the eastern town, Qi Sha returns to their hometown, scaring my soul to death.”
Feifei slowly rolled through the street, picking up those embroidered shoes one by one, finally selecting the most delicate one, sniffing it, then urinating in that shoe.
Ying Bai’s wine flask finally left his lips, spraying a mouthful of wine on Qi Yi’s vest.
Tian Qi played with her hair, looking comforting: “This is what you call notorious… Back when I was sad and depressed over that little rejection, it was completely unnecessary!”
Pei Shu was stunned for a long while, then suddenly slapped his thigh: “Good! Only now do I think you Seven Kill qualify as real men! When men walk the world, this is how it should be! Storms pass through, making all who hear flee in terror!”
Zirui said worriedly to Yong Xue: “Look at Qi Sha’s reputation… Master’s future days will be difficult…”
“No matter.” The young girl said calmly. “I think if Master could really learn Qi Sha’s shamelessness, she’d definitely be invincible in the world.”
…
“This is your popularity, worship, and divine reverence?” Jing Hengbo asked Qi Sha.
“Yes.” Yi Qi showed no embarrassment, raising his head proudly. “If we didn’t have such a special image and deep-rooted status in their hearts, would there be such a big reaction? It’s just a different way of expressing it!”
“Let’s hurry up the mountain.” Jing Hengbo climbed back into the carriage. She had originally wanted to spend a night in town to understand local conditions, but now it seemed unnecessary. Would any inn dare accommodate them? Wouldn’t people be scared to death if they stayed?
“Didn’t you say you wanted to stay a night?” Lu Er said. “Stay then.”
“All the shop doors are closed, dear.”
“Oh well, break in then.” The answer came in unison, so matter-of-fact.
Jing Hengbo looked to the sky: “You’re not Qi Sha, you must be called Qi E (Seven Evils).”
“How did you know?” In unison again.
…
In the end Jing Hengbo still drove away. She felt that if they lingered a few more hours, the local residents’ heart attack rate would increase by thirty percent.
And she couldn’t stand those countless eyeballs peering through door cracks either.
All along the main street, she saw those eyeballs in door cracks joyfully seeing them off – that feeling was really not good.
She could vaguely hear discussions behind the door panels.
“Ah, newcomers are going up the mountain this time.”
“Good, good. Now Qi E won’t have time to mess with us.”
“Sigh, more people are going to be unlucky.”
“If she doesn’t enter hell, who will? Thanks to them for saving us.”
“Come, let’s drink to their good luck.”
“Cheers!”
…Cheers my ass!
The carriage had just turned from the main street when suddenly there was a storm of crashing sounds behind them, as if countless things were being thrown.
Jing Hengbo lifted the curtain to look out, but Yong Xue grabbed her and pulled her back: “Be careful!”
An egg grazed her nose tip and smacked into the horse’s rear with a splat.
The sounds of things hitting the carriage back were endless. Zirui listened while squinting: “Vegetables… eggs… bamboo shoots… purple melons…”
“You can tell all that from listening!” Jing Hengbo was amazed.
“Master, we female officials must learn hundreds of skills after entering the palace. We must learn all palace departments. So I also managed the imperial kitchen for a while, weighing and selecting dishes myself. I know what kind of food it is just by the smell.”
“Good thing I have you two.” Jing Hengbo sighed. “You make me feel life is still normal, that these days are still manageable. Otherwise, mixing with such a bunch of abnormal people for long, becoming neurotic would be the only outcome.”
She opened a crack in the curtain and saw Qi Sha moving freely through the storm of vegetables and eggs, each carrying a basket, catching things while shouting: “See who catches the most! Whoever loses has to go see the old witch!”
Jing Hengbo wondered what new trouble was brewing. Didn’t they say everyone was going to see Master Ziwei?
She had originally been quite reverent toward this figure who was nearly divine in Dahuang’s legends. In the legends, Master Ziwei was born poor, with phoenix birds flying across the sky at his birth. At seven he was struck by heavenly lightning but didn’t die, catching the eye of a famous hidden sect’s leader who took him as a personal disciple. After joining the sect he quickly distinguished himself with exceptional talent, having prospects to inherit the leadership, thus arousing jealousy from fellow disciples. Before long he hung his sword from the temple roof and left the sect, wandering the world and saving people. With his universal knowledge and stunning brilliance, he gradually gained supreme fame. His original sect actually declined. Legend said he was naturally comical and whimsical, with unpredictable moods, not following conventional patterns. After middle age his traces gradually disappeared, like a divine dragon showing head but not tail, adding to his mystery and gradually becoming a legendary figure.
This legend was actually vague in details, with ordinary experiences like official boilerplate that could apply to any master. Jing Hengbo seriously suspected that Master Ziwei’s real experiences were definitely much more awesome and unconventional than these dry legends. Precisely because they were too unconventional, out of respect for the venerable, these legends remained so faceless.
Why this speculation? Just look at Qi Sha.
“Let me tell you, wife,” Yi Qi stuck his head in, handing her an apple while crunching on another himself. “The townspeople being so afraid of us really isn’t our fault.”
“It’s the old fellow who often goes down to harass people.” Er Lu stuck his head in.
“The old fellow loves molesting women.” Shan Wu stuck his head in.
“He also loves molesting men.” Si Si stuck his head in.
“Even elderly ladies aren’t spared. Amitabha.” Wu Shan stuck his head in.
“He often takes things from stalls.” Lu Er stuck his head in.
“He often extorts wealthy households.” Qi Yi stuck his head in.
“So,” Qi Sha declared in unison, “it’s not our fault! The old man is too despicable! We’re implicated!”
“Go die!” Jing Hengbo slammed the carriage door shut, forcefully knocking out the seven heads.
…
The carriages reached the halfway point up the mountain where they could go no further. Halfway up was a mountain dwelling that served as Qi Sha’s usual resting place. The carriages and horses were left there with dedicated caretakers. The mountain dwelling was very simple – three tile-roofed rooms with one still locked.
The caretakers of that mountain dwelling were an elderly couple, the only two people Jing Hengbo had encountered on this journey who didn’t show fear or avoidance toward Qi Sha. However, whatever they did, they kept half their bodies turned away, trying to avoid getting close to Qi Sha, making their postures look very strained and awkward.
Too many people shouldn’t go up the mountain. Jing Hengbo left the titled officers and Pei Shu’s group of subordinates behind, giving them money to solve the problems of buying materials and building houses themselves.
She naturally knew these two forces were mortal enemies, and Pei Shu knew too. Neither managed them – survival of the fittest, natural selection. If they had hostile feelings, let them be hostile. Anyone must learn to protect themselves in harsh, difficult environments. If they couldn’t even do this, what talk was there of protecting others in the future?
Jing Hengbo didn’t raise useless people, and Pei Shu had even more confidence in his subordinates.
Dealing with the townspeople afterward, as well as buying materials and building houses, all counted as tests for them. Whether they competed with each other, set aside grudges to cooperate, or temporarily cooperated then fought later – it was all up to them. Jing Hengbo and Pei Shu wouldn’t bother mediating.
On the road, Jing Hengbo suddenly thought of a question – the seven goofballs took pleasure in toying with people, so why hadn’t they toyed with her? Though they caused various troubles, their main inclination was good and their attitude proper. Why was this?
“Because you’re my future wife.” Yi Qi answered with a grin.
“The old fellow said though offending you would make future life very joyful,” the other six said. “After discussion we decided not to offend you.”
Jing Hengbo felt the latter explanation was more reliable.
“Why?”
“The old fellow hasn’t done a single good thing in his whole life. Following him, you just need to remember one thing.”
“What?”
“Do the opposite of what he tells you to do, tentatively try what he doesn’t tell you to do, and don’t do what he doesn’t care whether you do or not.”
“Why?”
“You’ll know later!”
Jing Hengbo looked at Qi Sha’s flushed faces and curved lips, shivered, and had the urge to turn and flee.
…
Walking up the mountain, the old fellow didn’t live in some unknowably deep clouds as the world imagined. He lived at the summit, closest to heaven and clouds. Qi Sha said this was because: first, he thought the air there was moist and good for beauty. Second, there was more lightning on the mountaintop, convenient for striking his seven disciples dead sooner.
Qi Sha expressed their complete agreement. The moist air there was convenient for poisoning their master. With more lightning on the mountaintop, and his love of playing ghost in lightning storms, it was convenient for striking him dead sooner.
Just as they neared the summit, Qi Yi suddenly said: “Oh my, I really drank a lot today…” He swayed and fell, rolling down the cliff.
Jing Hengbo was alarmed and rushed to rescue him, but Lu Er loudly said: “I’ll rescue him!” and jumped off the cliff with a smack.
The others showed regretful expressions at missing their chance.
“Ah! Look! Buddha’s light!” Wu Shan suddenly pointed joyfully at the sky. Jing Hengbo looked up – the sky was bright and clear, where was any Buddha’s light?
“Buddha’s light is rarely seen in a hundred years, this monk must immediately worship! Farewell everyone!” Wu Shan disappeared at light speed.
“Buddha will strike you dead sooner or later.” Jing Hengbo cursed loudly.
She turned to stare at Si Si. Si Si grinned: “Why are you looking at me? They’re afraid of being punished by the old fellow. I didn’t offend the old fellow when I left. Ah, the gentleman is open and at ease, while the petty man is always anxious.”
“Right, if you have the guts, stay open and at ease.” Jing Hengbo stroked her chin.
Moments later, Si Si said he saw a century-rare medicinal herb on that cliff over there and had to pick it for Jing Hengbo to treat poison. As a doctor, this was his unavoidable duty. Everyone watched him climb that cliff. Jing Hengbo said: “Let’s go.”
No one objected or said to wait – Si Si wouldn’t be back anytime soon, they understood.
Next on the mountain path, Ying Bai, Pei Shu, and Tian Qi started betting, chattering about who knows what.
They could already see the clouds and mist of the summit, wispy like smoke and ribbons.
“Ouch, my stomach hurts.” Shan Wu suddenly bent over, clutching his belly and diving butt-first into the bushes.
“Hahaha I won, escape by urination, escape by urination!” Pei Shu laughed loudly, holding out his hand. “Pay up!”
“No creativity!” Tian Qi grumbled while pulling out silver. “This is my private savings for buying flowers to wear.”
Walking a few more steps, Er Lu looked up: “Master!” He rushed forward with tears in his eyes: “Master! How have you been lately? This disciple has missed you to death!”
Everyone looked up in alarm – the mountain path ahead was completely empty, where was anyone?
No need to search, Er Lu had definitely disappeared too.
Jing Hengbo turned around, stroking her chin, staring at Yi Qi.
“Wife, am I more beautiful today than yesterday?” Yi Qi also held up his chin to look at her.
“I say, you’ve been calling me wife for quite a while.” Jing Hengbo said slowly.
“Yes, when shall we get married? Since we’ve come back to the mountain together, how about asking Master to officiate? What do you think of the third day of the third month? Or the second day of the second month?”
“No matter what day, I’m saying,” Jing Hengbo said, “you can’t just call someone wife for fun. At the very least, don’t run away. Honestly bring us up the mountain to meet your master, then you can scram. That would at least show your sincerity toward your wife, right?”
“Wife, what are you saying?” Yi Qi widened his eyes. “Do you think I’d run away halfway like them? Am I like them? Am I as shameless as those people? I’m the eldest senior brother of Qi Sha! I’m Master’s most beloved disciple! I’m the most upright and reliable one among Qi Sha! I’m full of righteousness with clean hands, though three-hearted and two-minded, I reach all directions. Unlike them who all offended Master and snuck down the mountain, I’m eager to see Master! He must miss me very much too! I have absolutely no need to sneak away!”
“Ah, yes, fine, remember your words.”
“Ah wife, there’s a silly roe deer over there! Roe deer are fattest and most delicious this season! How about we hunt one to honor Master…”
“Even if all seven peaks collapsed, they couldn’t fill your pit…” Jing Hengbo sighed. Without turning around, she knew someone had definitely gone to catch the silly roe deer and wouldn’t return until tomorrow without catching it.
“Everyone.” She looked up at the summit – it wasn’t far anyway, and without a guide they could probably find it.
“Let’s go meet that old fellow, old fraud, old bastard, old witch ourselves…”
…
But soon everyone was dumbfounded.
The seven peaks of Seven Peaks Mountain were almost connected, and though the path to the summit wasn’t far, the summit itself covered a very large area. Above the halfway point, clouds and mist obscured everything, making buildings invisible. In Qi Sha’s words, they did have houses, and many of them, all built piecemeal over the years. Lost a bet, build one room. Got constipated while defecating, draw a line where they defecated and build one room. Wanted to see scenery, build one room on the absolute peak. But whether these built houses were for living in was uncertain. Qi Sha always had abundant entertainment spirit and absolutely refused to honestly sleep in houses and lie on beds. Houses were for raising mice, bugs, and snakes. They might live in caves, might string up ropes to hang between two peaks, might make hammocks in trees, or might drive away black bears and sleep in the bears’ tree holes.
Of course, their old fellow was the same.
So now, finding Master Ziwei on the summit – how easy could that be? Searching house by house was one thing, but cave by cave, nest by nest – Jing Hengbo felt she would go mad.
“Not searching! I don’t believe they’d be willing not to play with newcomers!” Jing Hengbo was decisive. “Let’s each find houses and rest and sleep!”
Everyone else agreed – none of this group loved following rules anyway. Only Zirui was somewhat uneasy, knocking on doors whenever she saw a house, then having someone behind her kick the door open.
Qi Sha was right – indeed most houses were crudely made and bizarre, most harboring mice and insects. Jing Hengbo finally found a house behind some mountain rocks – red tiles, white walls, green bamboo fence, built with great style. Three small rooms, just right for her to have one, Zirui and Yong Xue to share one, with one remaining for receiving guests.
Opening the door, it was surprisingly quite clean, probably because it was newly built. This house had an excellent view – behind it was a cliff. Opening the windows, you could see iron-blue cliff walls hung with silvery-white floating clouds. Ancient pines stretched vigorous branches from black mountain crevices, with tiny purple and yellow scattered wildflowers dotting sparsely among the blue-green pine needles. These somewhat sparse and dignified colors appeared lively and bright.
Overhead were floating clouds with heaven very close – blue to the point of transparency. Large patches of white clouds drifted like Penglai, faintly revealing distant indigo undulating mountain colors in the distance, like scattered sea-water pearls on a jade plate, elegant and immortal.
Living in such a place easily broadened one’s state of mind, inspiring great ambitions and the feeling of ruling the world.
Jing Hengbo found the location of this house somewhat strange. According to the goofballs’ logic, such a beautiful, suitable place for building houses definitely couldn’t be used for building – reasonable things were all too boring!
Their houses were either built on shady mountain sides with dripping dew, or near wind caves with constant howling gales, or near wild beast gathering places with endless wolf howls, or in various places unsuitable for building houses like cliff gaps and sunken areas on broken stones. The shapes were also all kinds of bizarre. Just now on her way here, she’d seen a triangular tree house hanging under a big pine tree, with ropes gnawed full of holes by birds and beasts, making one worry it would crash down thunderously the next moment.
Being able to see such a normal house, Jing Hengbo felt lucky.
Having decided on this suite, they had to clean the rooms first. The room surprisingly had complete beds, tables, and chairs. The mountain summit had good air with not too much dust. Zirui and Yong Xue diligently found brooms and began cleaning, while Jing Hengbo, having nothing to do, also took a small bucket, preparing to fetch water to wash rags.
During this she passed the houses those people had chosen. Tian Qi seemed to really like her room but was too embarrassed to compete with her, settling for second choice – a wooden house in a mountain hollow sheltered from wind, as he feared mountain wind would wrinkle his skin.
Ying Bai preferred spaciousness and lived in a stone house on a small peak’s summit, facing a hanging silver waterfall. Though the setting was beautiful, it was actually very noisy, but this had no effect on Ying Bai – most of the time he was drunk and couldn’t hear anything anyway.
Jing Hengbo couldn’t find Pei Shu anywhere. After thinking, she looked up, and sure enough, Pei Shu’s handsome and heroic face poked out from that triangular tree house, raising his eyebrows at her: “How’s this house? Very suitable for me, right?”
As soon as he spoke, the scarred rope hanging the tree house began trembling, making one very worried it would snap the next moment and send the tree house crashing down.
A wild bird flew over and habitually pecked at the rope. Pei Shu raised his hand and caught it lightning-fast. The bird struggled in his hand, trying to peck his hand with its sharp beak. Pei Shu grinned savagely and twisted with one hand – crack.
Jing Hengbo sighed – watching any of Pei Shu’s actions made you feel life was fragile.
Having nothing good to say to such a violent maniac, she carried her bucket and walked quickly past, hearing Pei Shu lazily call behind her: “Hey, you’re a queen anyway, why carry water yourself? Make those two do it…”
She sighed again – this was the difference between mixing in ancient times versus modern times. Back at the research institute, forget carrying water herself – she didn’t even need to get her own food with a crook of her finger. Now? Despite supposedly having many suitors, these ancient male chauvinists were lucky if they didn’t need serving themselves, let alone understanding the gentlemanly manners cultivated in modern civilization.
If Yelu Qi were here, he would have taken the bucket – that one had a sister’s training and knew how to cherish women. Yi Qi would at most kick his junior brothers to make them do it. If it were him…
Her heart suddenly ached. She shook her head and lowered it, quickening her pace. Those sudden thoughts were always like ice blocks floating in water – each time they suddenly surfaced, they stabbed her heart with pain.
Her mind somewhat distracted, she walked quickly. Pei Shu poked his head out from the tree house rather puzzled, not understanding how this woman missed the small water channel right there on the nearby cliff and wandered off like sleepwalking with her bucket.
…
Having missed that small water channel, finding water became more difficult. She could vaguely hear water sounds but kept failing to find the source, unknowingly walking farther and farther.
The water sounds grew clearer, and there was also faint singing drifting on the air – light and beautiful, seemingly a female voice.
Jing Hengbo stopped, her skin suddenly breaking out in goosebumps.
Seven Peaks Mountain had changeable weather. This area of mountain foothills was green and spring-like. Now evening was approaching with sunset gradually fading. The gorgeous sunset light filtering through dense forest shade was visibly flickering and disappearing at eye-catching speed. Losing light, the dense forest changed from light green to deep green, deep green to ink green, ink green to somber black. Those more distant trees swayed in the wind with whooshing sounds, like monsters lurking in the dark.
Very quiet, so all sounds were magnified. This ethereal female voice in the dim environment seemed desolate and profound, making one think of various classic horror movie scenes.
Jing Hengbo turned to leave – all curiosity should be based on safety, otherwise it was just recklessness.
Turning too quickly, her foot slipped. She hadn’t noticed the slight curve underfoot covered by fallen leaves. Unable to control herself, she slid two or three meters, looked up, and froze.
Combing hair.
Damn it, combing hair again!
Damn it, a woman combing hair again!
Ahead was a small pond, clear as a mirror, surrounded by green vines with countless hanging purple irises. At first glance it seemed like an egg-shaped makeup mirror inlaid with green vines and purple flowers.
By the pond were white stones like jade, with a mirror and handkerchief placed on the white stones. At the stone’s edge, sitting with her back to Jing Hengbo, was a beauty in purple clothing.
Yes, a beauty.
Even from behind, one could definitely confirm she was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.
From those straight, exquisite, slender shoulders.
From that slender waist like a bundle of silk.
From those long, snow-white hands and pearl-like crystalline fingernails.
From that indescribable wonderful grace surrounding her whole being.
From that head of amazing hair – not arranged in a chignon, flowing like water and satin, lustrous pure black, bright enough to reflect images. Hanging straight past her waist, flowing like water on the ground with more than a foot to spare. Such long hair, from roots to tips, all equally lustrous, the tips sparkling with deep red and golden heavenly light.
From every detail around her, one could confirm she was a beauty – touching and pitiful, absolutely exquisite.
Jing Hengbo liked beautiful people and things. For a moment she felt dazzled and enchanted.
But she really hated the action of combing hair!
She immediately walked over quickly with heavy steps, making the fallen leaves rustle loudly.
She didn’t turn and leave because she felt this woman was waiting for her. If she turned away, she might see her again elsewhere before long.
Walking closer, she could hear the other party’s song.
“Big fox got sick, second fox looked, third fox bought medicine, fourth fox boiled, fifth fox died, sixth fox carried, seventh fox dug pit, eighth fox buried, ninth fox cried, tenth fox asked why do you cry? Ninth fox said old five went away never to return…”
Jing Hengbo blinked – holy crap. Such a beautiful melody, such a lovely voice, and she was singing a nursery rhyme!
“Hi.” She sat down on the white stone, casually pushing aside the mirror she hated most, giving a relaxed greeting: “Good afternoon.”
The woman combing and singing stopped her hands and looked up at her.
Jing Hengbo felt her eyes brighten, as if seeing beautiful jade blooming into flowers, and couldn’t help exclaiming in admiration.
Having seen quite a few beauties since transmigrating, she’d never seen anyone so eye-catching. Perhaps only when she herself was in good condition, admiring herself in the mirror, could she be this dazzling.
But this woman’s beauty was different from her own. More gentle like jade yet with heroic spirit. She inexplicably thought of a famous modern actress who was devastatingly beautiful in her youth, most rarely having natural heroic spirit without losing gentleness. Dressed as a woman she was elegant and noble, dressed as a man her bearing improved even more. She had a cross-dressing male role that remained an unsurpassable cross-dressing classic in film history.
The person before her had that actress’s rare transcendent beauty. Compared to her, He Wan was just an immature little girl, Yin Wuxin just a piece of frozen wood. Compared to her, Fei Luo was like a withered out-of-season flower, Ming Cheng just wild grass by a fence.
The beauty looked at her once but didn’t answer, seemingly shyly lowering her head with black hair covering her cheeks.
After a moment, Jing Hengbo heard her ask softly: “Do I sing well?”
Jing Hengbo was silent about this question for a long while, picking up a stone to skip across the water surface.
“This song of yours – I’ve heard a similar version before. Its name was The Fox Murder Case.”
The beauty looked up with somewhat curious and surprised eyes. Then her head drooped again, lowering her head and saying in a thin voice: “Nonsense, this song is about a group of foxes who love each other dearly, showing mutual affection and feeling sad and crying over losing family…”
“Being foxes, what’s this dear love nonsense.” Jing Hengbo smiled mockingly, grabbing a handful of her hair to rub – ah, such good texture.
The beauty was very obedient, blinking big eyes at her without any resistance, letting her have her way.
Jing Hengbo was in an excellent mood. As a beautiful version of a wicked witch, she loved beautiful lolis most, loved bullying beautiful lolis even more, and if she could shatter beautiful lolis’ fairy tale fantasies, that would be even better!
“Here, let me carefully analyze this nursery rhyme for you. I actually think this is a horror story reflecting darkness…” Jing Hengbo said with a smile. “First, this is metaphorical – foxes refer to people. This kind of metaphor is very common, right? Big fox is the leader. When the leader gets sick, he must be cured at any cost, such as sacrificing a fox as medicine.”
“Fifth fox suddenly died – this word ‘suddenly’ is very meaningful, dear, because he was harmed by his own people and taken as medicine.”
“Second fox is the doctor, so second fox suggested to big fox and decided fifth fox’s death.”
“Buying medicine should be a metaphor – so-called buying medicine means killing, so third fox is an assassin.”
“Why did second fox want fifth fox to die? There could be many reasons, but what’s the most likely reason among fellow disciples? From later text we can deduce it’s most likely a crime of passion over a beautiful female fox.”
“Who’s the female fox? Whoever loves crying is the female fox – naturally it’s ninth fox.”
“Ninth fox is crying, crying that fifth fox went away never to return. Ninth fox loved fifth fox, while second fox loved ninth fox, so second fox used someone else’s knife to kill fifth fox.”
“Sixth fox carried. This is strange – how does one fox carry? So it’s sixth fox being carried. He also died. The two foxes carrying him, one digs pit one buries – that’s seventh and eighth fox.”
“How did sixth fox die? Who killed him? Since seventh and eighth foxes went to dig and bury, the killer should be someone else, like third fox. Why did third fox kill sixth fox? Very likely sixth and fifth fox had a good relationship and were together at the time, or sixth fox discovered third fox attacking fifth fox, so third fox conveniently killed sixth fox too.”
The beauty’s blinking eyes had stopped blinking, looking stunned. Her gaze at Jing Hengbo was full of fear and worship – someone who could interpret such an innocent, cute, slightly sad nursery rhyme this way must be so dark…
“Not finished yet,” Witch Jing said vividly. “The truth hasn’t been completely unraveled yet. There’s another character in this story who seems to appear meaninglessly, but obviously every character has connections – this character wouldn’t appear randomly. So who is he? What’s his reason for appearing?”
The beauty looked at her dumbly and cutely. Jing Hengbo thought the saying about beauty and intelligence being inversely related was indeed true, though she herself was a wonderful exception.
“Tenth fox! Tenth fox must have his function. He definitely wouldn’t be there just to comfort ninth fox with one sentence. So what’s his function? He’s the mastermind!”
The beauty cried “Ah!” and quickly covered her mouth with her hands.
Jing Hengbo vaguely felt this “Ah!” was somewhat wrong, but being immersed in her own thoughts at the moment, she didn’t think much of it.
“Ninth fox is female, tenth fox stays by her side caring for her – he should like her. Tenth fox likes ninth fox, but ninth fox doesn’t like him, she likes fifth fox. In jealousy, tenth fox poisoned big fox. He knew very well that second fox also liked ninth fox and would definitely use big fox’s illness as an opportunity to eliminate fifth fox. So tenth fox is the mastermind, dear!”
The beauty stared at her dumbly for a long while. Jing Hengbo felt she looked really adorably dumb – clearly a woman with flowing spiritual radiance and immortal aura looking like jade and a bodhisattva, but when dumb and cute she made one feel she was charming, lovely, soft and nice to touch. She couldn’t help extending her wolf claws to pinch the beauty’s face unceremoniously, laughing: “Scared you.”
After touching, she couldn’t help rubbing her fingers – wow, so smooth, so smooth.
The beauty had a good temper and didn’t get angry. She lowered her head again and said ethereally: “Never thought it could be thought of this way, so it was like this…”
“Right? Isn’t it a murder case with ups and downs, fully reflecting all aspects of life?”
“Murder…” The beauty stared dazedly at the water surface, the light in her eyes absent. Suddenly she covered her face with both hands and shouted: “So it was like this!”
Her voice actually had several parts shrillness.
“Hey, you’re not traumatized, are you?” Jing Hengbo became nervous and reached out to pull her.
“So it was actually like this!” She shouted again.
Her voice was hysterical. Jing Hengbo was frightened. Her hand loosened, the beauty’s sleeve slipped from her hand, her body leaped, and splash – she jumped into the pond!