Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Young Lady
Knowing there was a task waiting in the dead of night, after a busy day, everyone took a break separately, and Su Tingting volunteered to take the first night watch.
"If anything happens, just call out loud, I’m a light sleeper," Kuang Hongyi passed a look to Su Tingting, it was unclear whether it was a warning or a reminder.
Su Tingting had also understood the current situation; it was very likely that they would have a direct confrontation with the Feng Family soon. If it really came to a fight, she was no match and would have to rely on Kuang Hongyi and Yang Xiao—she needed to maintain good relations with them now, so they might be willing to lend her a hand in the future.
When things quieted down, Su Tingting’s thoughts began to drift uncontrollably. One moment she thought of the terrifying scene under the stage when she sang, and the next, she recalled Manager Liu’s instructions, until at last, Su Tingting turned her head to look at the bed in the right corner.
Yang Xiao was lying on the bed with his hands placed on his lower abdomen, his chest rising and falling slightly as he breathed evenly; he seemed to be asleep.
In Su Tingting’s heart, Yang Xiao was definitely a good person. If it hadn’t been for him, she would have died long ago. As newcomers in the Nightmare World, the two were on completely different levels. She could feel that this man was not as simple as he claimed to be.
As time ticked away, once she could no longer stay awake, she yawned and walked toward Yang Xiao. However, after standing beside him for a while and seeing that Yang Xiao was sleeping soundly, oblivious to someone approaching, she suddenly felt a bit reluctant to disturb him, and eventually turned around, plucking up the courage to wake up Kuang Hongyi.
Yang Xiao was not awoken by someone calling him, but rather by a series of knocks at the door. Half-asleep, he found a stranger standing outside.
The man wore a strange black robe and carried a White Lantern in his hand. His voice was muffled as he spoke, "The three Settle Guests, get ready, follow me to meet Steward Liu."
There wasn’t much to prepare. Yang Xiao wrapped the Coffin-opening Axe in cloth and secured it to his back. But as he was about to leave, the man in the black robe stopped him, "Wait a moment."
The man in the black robe had an ominous look, his face being that of Zhang Sheng, and his attire didn’t seem like that of a servant from the household. "There is a task for you tonight; there’s no need to bring the Coffin-opening Axe."
Yang Xiao was startled upon hearing this. He hadn’t expected the man’s eyes to be so sharp. Even though the axe was wrapped in cloth, he had seen through it. This also gave away the stranger’s identity—likely a senior among those who walked the shadowy path.
"Senior, this Coffin-opening Axe repels evil, it’s also good for bolstering courage," Yang Xiao had no intention of handing it over. After all, it was what he, um... had taken for himself.
To his surprise, the man in the black robe shook his head and spoke harshly, "You misunderstand. I have no intention of taking your treasure. There is no risk involved in tonight’s task. If you bring it along, it might actually attract disaster. The one to die tonight is the Young Lady."
Such blunt disclosure shocked Yang Xiao and his companions. Was this something that could be said so openly? But since it had reached this point, Yang Xiao didn’t argue further. He put the axe back on the bed and covered it with a quilt, sending a clear message that the axe was his to reclaim upon his return.
The group followed the man in the black robe to the lakeside. Many people were already waiting there, in the light of torches and several large red lanterns. The most spectacular sight was a boat, painted entirely red and docked a few dozen meters away on the left bank.
It was obviously freshly painted, its redness striking to the eye. It was clear that the boat had been decorated in the style of the Hebo Xi Ship, but done in haste and thus somewhat perfunctory.
Under the ship’s mast hung a large red lantern that swayed back and forth with the night breeze. At this moment, many people were busily working on the deck: some holding incense burners, some arranging offerings, others lifting paper effigies, and among them, a figure dressed in shabby clothes, dancing wildly like a shaman.
Before long, Shi Dali hurried over.
Upon hearing from the servants that everyone had arrived, Steward Liu slowly turned around. That was when everyone noticed his face looked terrible, his eyes swollen as if he had just cried, "Four Blessing Guests, tonight... tonight will trouble you all once again."
"Today, Master Feng finally saw clearly. This... This sin was committed by the old master, and now it’s the Feng Family’s turn to repay the debt. He has decided to put an end to this evil practice once and for all. Since Young Lady is the most crucial part, we will take her... We will send her off to the lake and leave her to White Lantern’s disposition. Tonight should mark the end of a ten-year grudge." Saying this, Steward Liu couldn’t help but shed tears.
Yang Xiao sighed softly, bowing his hands toward Steward Liu, his face full of sorrow, "We empathize with Master Feng’s suffering. It was the old master’s mistake, and Master Feng’s courage to take responsibility today is admirable and honorable. Young Lady’s willingness to sacrifice herself for the cause is indeed exemplary for us all."
"..." Su Tingting took a deep breath, feeling she had learned a lot as a drama student.
Waving his hand, Steward Liu signaled a servant who quickly ran off into the distance. Shortly after, a group of people returned with him. As they got closer, Su Tingting could finally see a large wooden board being carried by the crowd. The board was covered with a large red wedding quilt, and upon it, lay a person.
It was a heavily pregnant woman, dressed in festive attire, bound spread-eagle to the board, her limbs tied to the corners and still struggling fiercely.
Although the woman’s face was twisted in pain, her delicate features and pale skin made her a rare beauty. She could have screamed loudly, but her mouth had been tightly gagged. Now, she looked like a fish on a cutting board.
"Be gentle with her, don’t let the Young Lady suffer unnecessarily before she leaves," ordered Steward Liu, eyebrows raised as he shouted like an old eunuch.
The servants responded and carried the Young Lady to the prepared Hebo Xi Ship. The boarding plank was already set up, and Su Tingting watched helplessly as they carried the woman aboard and then into the cabin.
Turning around, Steward Liu pointed to three small boats nearby, "Tonight, each of you will need to pilot one of these boats to escort the Young Lady. In addition, one of you will need to go on the Young Lady’s ship to fortify its presence. Who is willing to go?"
At these words, the faces of the four turned sour immediately; it was clear that this night was meant to offer the Young Lady to Ms. Chun for slaughtering—how could anyone on the same ship as the Young Lady have a chance of survival?
Seeing no one speaking up, Steward Liu snorted coldly, "Then let’s decide by the rooms you’ve been assigned. You three will take the small boats to lead the way. Shi Fukui, I’ll bother you to accompany the Young Lady on her final journey."
Hearing this, Shi Dali immediately exploded, "No way, why should it be me? I think Su Tingting is more suitable; she and the Young Lady are both women."
"Exactly because she’s a woman, she won’t do. No unrelated women are allowed on the Hebo Xi Ship, it’s a taboo. Otherwise, all of you will die tonight."
Steward Liu frowned, clearly running out of patience, "Enough, it’s decided. Now, I’ll explain to you the rules of sending off the Hebo Xi Ship."
