Heiraten - Kapitel 5
I'm just afraid she won't see it.
Tang Shijiu smashed the wine jar, bowed to Xie Dongsheng from afar, and said meaningfully, "I wish my junior brothers and sisters a good meal and drinks!" With a flick of his long braid, he picked up his Xuanbei sword and drifted away like a red cloud.
Xie Dongsheng sighed, looking thoughtfully at Xu Ziqing, who remained silent with her lips pursed. Gu Yan noticed someone watching her, turned around and met Xie Dongsheng's meaningful gaze, feeling a chill run down her spine.
That day, the grand banquet at Xiaoyao Manor lasted until late at night.
That night, the disciples took turns going to the toilet until dawn.
Chapter Three: The Bride Robbery
Ma Qianli usually rode a fine Ferghana horse, pampered with good food and drink, and could travel a thousand miles a day when in a good mood. Now, however, this once-proud steed was harnessed to a dilapidated carriage. Ma Qianli, who loved his horse dearly and couldn't bear to see it suffer, was even more resentful now that his prized horse was being used as a mule pulling a cart, forced to traverse muddy and difficult mountain roads. His face was contorted with rage.
The lean man sitting next to him remained silent, but his eyes revealed a fierce and ruthless glint. After hearing Ma Qianli sigh a few more times, he finally couldn't help but speak up: "Old Ma, don't sigh. If it weren't for this bastard in the carriage, we two brothers wouldn't be reduced to driving carriages, even though we are such big shots."
Ma Qianli glared at the carriage with resentment and said, "Old Ma was born to be with horses. Whether I'm driving a carriage or delivering messages, I'm happy as long as I'm with horses. It's just a pity for Brother Zhang, the dignified Black Vulture Demon has become this kid's bodyguard."
The man surnamed Zhang sighed, "Don't bring up that Black Vulture Demon stuff anymore. This kid crippled my left hand a year ago, leaving me with only one wing. I can't be considered a vulture anymore." His beady green eyes flashed with a sinister malice as he glanced sideways into the carriage, "Luckily, the Third Young Master had a way. He fed him some Hundred-Day Pastry and captured him. Otherwise, if he really started causing trouble, even the eldest brother wouldn't have been able to handle it."
Ma Qianli spat out a mouthful of saliva: "Damn it, it's a pity the boss said we can't touch him now, otherwise I would definitely teach him a lesson!" Black Vulture Demon said in a low voice: "That brat knows something important, the boss insisted on asking him himself. It's a pity we had to rush to send him to Jinhu Manor, and we couldn't rest all night, it was really hard work."
Ma Qianli chuckled: "Brother Zhang isn't troubled by not being able to rest; he probably has something that's making him uncomfortable."
A glint of cunning flashed in Black Vulture's eyes as he chuckled, "Brother Ma really knows his stuff. Once we get back to the manor, I'll definitely catch a few fresh ones and feast for three days. Brother Ma, you absolutely must come and join the fun!"
This Black Vulture Demon was originally a scourge of the northern desert. Not only was he cruel and bloodthirsty, but he was also extremely lecherous. He often captured young and beautiful women and subjected them to all sorts of humiliation. Rumors circulated that he could not go a day without a woman, and there were even legends that he had the ability to sleep with seven women at the same time.
Ma Qianli said with a forced smile, "Brother may not be very skilled, but I'd like to see what Brother Zhang is capable of."
A chilling glint flashed across Black Vulture's face as he glanced venomously at the carriage before changing the subject, urging Old Ma to hurry on their way.
It was a sweltering summer night. Although the forest offered some shade, the old horse was greasy and covered in sweat. Rolling dark clouds obscured the bright moon, making the woods even quieter, with only the rumbling of wheels and the horse's heavy breathing coming from its snorts.
Ma Qianli took a breath: "Brother Zhang, you said it's July now, there might be something unclean in these mountains and forests, right?"
The Black Eagle Demon glared at him: "You're a coward, aren't you? You're such a big guy. I've killed countless people, I don't care about ghosts or monsters."
Ma Qianli gave a forced smile. He was tall and strong, but his greatest fear was ghosts and monsters. Two years ago, he was tricked by a ghost pretending to be a spirit, and was so frightened that he wet his pants. Although it was later proven that it was a person and not a ghost, he still harbored some apprehension.
"What night is this? I row my boat midstream. What day is this? I am able to share a boat with the prince!" A song drifted from the woods, not melodious at all, terribly out of tune, and with a chaotic rhythm. Yet the voice was extremely mournful, making the listener feel quite heartbroken.
Ma Qianli jumped up: "Brother Zhang, listen to this singing!"
A cruel glint flashed in the Black Eagle Demon's eyes: "Not a ghost, but a person. Presumably a woman!" He turned his head to listen again, only to hear the song sing the second half.
"The mountain has trees, but the trees have no branches; I speak of you in my heart, but you do not know!"
This line was sung over and over again, each time with a different pitch, yet never accurately. Black Eagle Demon sneered, "Still a madwoman. Old Ma, ignore her, getting on with the journey is the priority. Otherwise, if things get delayed, neither of us can afford the consequences."
Ma Qianli couldn't wait to leave this mountain forest, so he disregarded the fact that Qianli's rear end was in great pain and whipped it several times.
The song grew closer and closer, becoming increasingly mournful.
A red shadow hung in the distance from a tree, long, black hair swaying in the wind. Old Ma had sharp eyesight and spotted a woman hanging upside down from a branch, her long hair disheveled. The moon weaved through the dark clouds, occasionally shining on the woman's face, making it especially terrifying. It was hardly a human face!
Two thick, dark lines hung at the corners of his eyes, resembling tears but not quite, their true nature unclear. His lips were dripping with blood, so red it looked as if he had just eaten a corpse.
Even the Black Eagle Demon frowned and whispered, "Ignore her, charge over there."
Old Ma gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and lashed the thoroughbred horse with his whip. The thoroughbred had never been treated like this before; its front hooves reared up, and it let out a long, mournful cry.
It was unclear whether the horse's mournful neighing startled the female ghost or if she had caught the scent of a living person. A red shadow tumbled, and the woman had leaped down from the tree, standing in the middle of the road, carrying something in her hand. The old horse couldn't see clearly, only that the object was round, and looked...like a human head!
Could this woman be an evil spirit from the underworld, drawn by the scent of living people to devour them?
The female ghost opened her blood-red maw and smiled brightly at the two of them: "Where do you two come from and where are you going?" Her voice was hoarse and really unpleasant to hear.
The Black Vulture Demon initially thought the woman was a beauty because of her slender figure, but now that he saw her clearly, he was startled: "We are just two passersby. Please do us a favor, young lady." He naturally knew she wasn't a ghost, but the woman's behavior was truly bizarre, and her movements were extremely fast; she was not someone to be trifled with.
The woman made a "hoarse" sound in her throat, it was hard to tell if she was laughing or crying. Ma Qianli was so frightened that he went limp and collapsed, and the Black Vulture Demon also changed color.
"You two are too ugly, no good." The woman shook her head, seemingly speaking to herself, yet also to the two of them, then pointed to the carriage, "People inside, come out and let me see!"
The Black Eagle Demon's expression was strange: "Miss, my young master is not in good health..."
"Young master? A young master? Very good, very good. How old are you, young master?" The female ghost seemed very interested.
"Uh, about twenty." Old Ma was so scared that his mind couldn't process it, and he answered whatever was asked.
"Around twenty, very good, very good. Let me see what he looks like." Before the words were finished, a red figure flashed past the two of them and reached out to lift the carriage curtain.
Seeing her agile movements, the Black Vulture Demon dared not be careless and drew his long sword, aiming for the woman's waist. The woman frowned and said, "You start fighting after just one glance? Martial arts people are so petty. You didn't tell me to look, but I'm going to look anyway!" She blocked with something in her hand, which shattered upon impact, revealing it to be a wine jar.
The curtain was lifted, revealing a person lying inside. His features were blurry and indistinct in the darkness, but his fair skin was discernible. The woman nodded and said, "Not bad, not bad, he'll do, he'll do."
When she said the second "It'll be him," her voice was already shrill, tinged with a slight sob, clearly struggling to hold back her tears. As she spoke, the Black Vulture Demon's longsword arrived again; he had made up his mind to kill this woman!
The woman exclaimed "Huh!" and said angrily, "Why are you so vicious for no reason?" Her figure flickered, and she returned to the treetop, drawing a long, dark sword.
"This old lady is in a bad mood. If you want to come, this old lady will play with you to your heart's content!" She reeked of alcohol, but her steps were steady. As she spoke, she wielded a large knife with impenetrable skill, displaying extreme dominance. Ma Qianli secretly clicked his tongue in amazement. She must be a demon or monster! Otherwise, how could such a petite woman wield such a large knife!
The Black Vulture Demon was no pushover either; after all, he was a seasoned veteran, and his skills were formidable. The black-clad and red-clad warriors clashed fiercely. The woman, having drunk a great deal of wine and being a woman herself, gradually found herself outmatched.
With a "whoosh," something shot out and struck the Black Vulture Demon's elbow. The Black Vulture Demon felt a sudden weight on his hand, and the dark, massive blade was already close at hand.
Ma Qianli felt a stench hit him, and a few drops of liquid splashed on his face. When he touched it, it was all blood!
Looking again, Black Eagle Demon's right arm had fallen to the ground, and the nerves in his fingers seemed not to have reacted yet, still twitching continuously.