General volador Fengcheng

Capítulo 2

Yes, in Qingyan's eyes, my things were just children's toys, how could I take them seriously? She indulged my nonsense because we were friends, good sisters. Deep down, she didn't trust me.

"Who is so lucky to marry Qingyan?" I asked with interest.

Qingyan blushed and said, "He is the son of Mr. Wang, the owner of the embroidery shop."

At that time, I didn't understand love, nor did I comprehend the joy and happiness hidden in Qingyan's shyness. The witch only felt regret and sorrow for losing her sister.

That night, after Qingyan left, I caught a glimpse in the water mirror of that young master Wang flirting with other women. I was shocked. Was Qingyan's future really going to be entrusted to such a person? Poor Qingyan, if she knew all this, she probably wouldn't have married him. I secretly rejoiced, thinking I had finally found a way to win back my friend.

But Qingyan didn't believe me. She repeatedly defended her son, saying, "He has to do business, so naturally he has to deal with all sorts of people. Xiao Luo, I know you don't want me to get married, but please don't say anything bad about him. It would be bad if others heard it."

My good intentions have been completely wasted. If my Water Mirror skill were not so great that outsiders could see it, I would definitely have dragged her to see it to prove that what I said was true.

However, Qingyan gradually distanced herself from me. She was happily busy preparing her dowry, ignoring my advice. Often, as soon as I opened my mouth, she would change the subject: "Xiao Luo, do you think this bracelet is pretty?" "Xiao Luo, do you think this wedding dress is embroidered well?" "Xiao Luo, which hairpin do you think is prettier?"... I could only swallow my words silently.

As Qingyan's wedding day drew closer, I grew increasingly anxious. After a night of deep thought, the witch finally began to act.

I changed into the pleated skirt Qingyan had given me, and slowly combed my long hair in front of the bronze mirror. Looking at myself, I couldn't help but smile. The witch wasn't beautiful, but with her all-powerful potion, what was there to fear? For the first time, I went out like a lady. For Qingyan, any sacrifice was worthwhile.

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [6]: In the embroidery shop, the young master Wang was dozing off against the counter. It was the perfect opportunity. I quietly approached him, glancing around to make sure no one else was there. I blew the sleeping potion from my palm, and it drifted straight into his nose. He sneezed and woke up, staring blankly at me. Under the influence of the sleeping potion, he was seeing illusions. I was a stunningly beautiful woman standing in front of him.

I sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm. "I'd like to buy some embroidered handkerchiefs."

The young master Wang hurriedly agreed and pulled out a pile of various embroidered items. What a waste of his good looks! This pig-headed fellow wants to marry Qingyan? I secretly felt sorry for Qingyan.

I pretended to carefully select colors, looking troubled: "With so many colors and patterns, I don't know which one to choose."

"This one is good, look how beautifully the peach blossoms are embroidered." As he handed me the embroidered handkerchief, he took the opportunity to touch my hand.

I was secretly annoyed, but on the surface I only feigned shyness: "Young Master Wang, you..."

"Miss, what's your name? Where do you live?" the young master Wang asked impatiently.

"Young Master Wang, you can just call me Xiao Luo." I forced a bright smile.

Just then, Mr. Wang coughed from the inner room. My heart skipped a beat, and I tried to run away. But Mr. Wang grabbed my sleeve: "Miss hasn't chosen her embroidered handkerchief yet."

"Meet me under the locust tree to the east at midnight tonight." He hurriedly said this, pulled back his sleeves, and ran off.

The witch was flustered and confused on her first mission, but she managed to complete it. That night at midnight, I waited anxiously under the locust tree, afraid that I had misjudged the situation and that the effects of the sleeping potion would wear off by sunrise the next day. Qingyan was hiding in a corner, spying on me. I coaxed her by saying that I also had someone I liked and asked her to watch from the side. Qingyan, full of joy, believed me completely and had no suspicion of me at all.

The moonlight was as clear as water, and I paced impatiently back and forth under the locust tree. A sound of footsteps approached from afar.

"Xiao Luo, I'm here." I heard his voice, which he deliberately lowered.

I suppressed my joy, and just as I expected. "Young Master Wang, you really came. I thought your wedding was approaching and you wouldn't come to see me."

The young master Wang, with a fawning expression, said, "How could that be, Xiao Luo? How can Qingyan compare to you? I'll have someone cancel the engagement tomorrow." Before he could finish speaking, Qingyan slowly walked out from the corner.

Young Master Wang exclaimed in surprise, "Qingyan! What brings you here?"

I caught a glimpse of the tears and sorrow in her eyes, and stepped forward to comfort her: "Qingyan, you don't need to be sad for someone like that. I told you before..."

A hard slap interrupted me, the pain piercing my heart. I never expected that the delicate green smoke would hit me.

"He Xiaoluo, I have no friends or sisters like you. From now on, we are strangers." I had never seen Qingyan's eyes so resolute, filled with hatred, as if she wanted to kill me.

I was somewhat alarmed: "But Qingyan, I wasn't the one who made the mistake!"

"Who knows what underhanded methods you used, poisoning people all day long. Others advised me to stay away from you, but I didn't believe it. I thought that if I treated you well, you would be grateful. Who knew that this would be your way of repaying me?" Qingyan's teeth-gritting appearance chilled me to the bone, and I swallowed my original explanation.

Perhaps my drug could induce hallucinations, but that would only work if the person consented. But what's the use of saying all this? Qingyan already hates me to the core; my good intentions have only resulted in a complete break. Over a decade of friendship has vanished like smoke, leaving us as strangers.

I stared intently at the smoke, but she turned her face away, refusing to look at me again.

It was a matter of mutual consent, why should I interfere? There's no such thing as fairness or unfairness, right or wrong in the world of relationships. I was just young and didn't understand those things back then; my meddling caused me pain.

Since that incident, Qingyan and I have been like strangers. In the end, Qingyan still got married, and she still married Young Master Wang. On the day of her wedding, my tears fell into the water mirror, and the water rippled, blurring her image.

Qingyan's life wasn't good. Young Master Wang took a concubine, and she was neglected, gradually becoming haggard. Because of the slap she received, I hardened my heart and deliberately ignored her. It was her own choice; who could she blame?

Later, after experiencing my own emotional turmoil, I gradually began to forgive Qingyan's actions. However, when I wanted to do something for her, she had already passed away prematurely. It is said that she called my name before she died, asking me to forgive her. In my rage, I used witchcraft to kill that young master Wang. I had never hated anyone so much before, yet, losing Qingyan, even if that young master Wang died dozens of times, it would not make up for it. What does it matter if I defy the heavens or go against nature? I only care about venting my anger.

Thinking back on the past, I couldn't help but burst into tears. Qingyan, you don't need to forgive me. We are sisters, and sisters don't need these things. I can't bear to face that irreparable wound, so I can only deliberately try to forget it.

Tonight is another full moon night, its soft light streaming through the window. I fondly recall everything about Qingyan, as if I can still smell the faint fragrance of her skirt as she moves, and hear her shy laughter as she calls to me: "Xiao Luo, come see the dress I made for you." "Xiao Luo, I saved you a piece of sweet cake." "Xiao Luo, come, let me comb your hair." "Xiao Luo, we'll always be sisters..."

The little girl who made a pinky promise on the edge of the field will remain in the witch's memory forever, forever and ever, until the day the witch dies.

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [7]: On a rainy night, the sound of raindrops falling on the leaves is like someone weeping. The dim light of the lamp illuminates the small house, making it seem even more quiet. In this scene, even a witch with a heart of stone would feel sorry for her. The water mirror reflects the light, and a faint sigh echoes in her ears.

The sigh was so familiar that I hesitated for a moment. After searching my mind for a moment, I immediately remembered that it was Kui'er. The water mirror gradually became clear, revealing what I was thinking. Kui'er, dressed in a light lotus-colored shirt and a white pleated skirt, smiled like a flower. Her dark eyes seemed to shine. I could almost see the auspicious pattern embroidered on the hem of her pleated skirt. The familiar sight was right in front of me.

I first met Kui'er on the street. She looked to be only five or six years old and was mixed with a group of beggars. She was covered in dirt and her face was almost unrecognizable. Only her eyes were bright. The street was crowded, but her gaze was fixed on me. A steamed bun was enough to make her willingly walk with me.

"From this day forward, your life belongs to me. Remember, never leave me or betray me," I knelt down and solemnly told her.

The little girl nodded repeatedly, trembling with fear. At that moment, I felt that Kui'er had a maturity beyond her years.

The witch, having lost her friend and suffered a heartbreak, was disillusioned with the world. Kui'er brought interest to my life. I provided her with everything she needed, and she helped me with cleaning and shopping. Although I was always kind to her, Kui'er remained timid and submissive, always agreeing with whatever I said. Gradually, I lost interest in her, focusing instead on concocting potions and learning spells, only providing her with the money and necessities she required.

The witch's house was in the suburbs, a place frequented by different people. Various trees were planted outside, and a plot of land in the yard was used to grow the herbs I needed. Sometimes, Kui'er would quietly observe my actions, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. I smiled faintly and showed her how to look in the water mirror. She looked surprised and bewildered, staring at me blankly.

"What's this?"

“It’s a water mirror; you can see anything you want to see,” I explained.

A hint of joy flashed across Kui'er's face: "Are you a deity?"

I couldn't help but laugh out loud: "No, I'm a witch."

A look of both respect and fear flashed in Kui'er's eyes, and she quietly shrank back a step unnoticed.

Every day after I finish cooking, Kui'er runs outside to play until dark. I don't think much of it; the area is very safe, there are no wild animals to harm people, and children are naturally playful, so it's good for her to play outside while I concentrate on refining medicine.

Spring comes and autumn goes, the osmanthus in front of the door has been fragrant for another season, and chrysanthemums of all colors are blooming in the yard. Having seen the changing seasons so often, how could I care about the passage of time? Time has frozen over me, while Kui'er grows up day by day. Occasionally, I catch a glimpse of her melancholy eyes and feel ashamed, secretly annoyed that I haven't paid enough attention to her. I plan to ask her in two years, when she is eighteen or nineteen, if she would like to live as long as I do, as a way of making up for my neglect over the years.

That day, Kui'er seemed uneasy, frequently glancing at me, but I didn't notice anything amiss. After lunch, as usual, I closed my door and prepared medicine in my room. A moment later, I smelled smoke, a sense of unease flashing through my mind. I tried to open the door, only to find it locked from the inside. Smoke seeped in through the cracks, choking me and causing me to cough repeatedly. I could also faintly see flames licking in from the cracks in the roof.

Fortunately, there was still half a basin of water in the water mirror inside the house. The witch chanted a spell, and the water in the water mirror gradually overflowed and spread to the outside. For a while, there was a constant hissing sound, and the fire gradually subsided. With a gentle push, the wooden door fell down. After the fire and water were gone, the house was a mess, with broken objects everywhere, but Kui'er was nowhere to be seen.

Whether it was sadness or anger, I felt as if something was stuck in my chest, almost making it hard to breathe. Kui'er, after raising you for so many years, is this how you repay me? Raising a tiger to cause trouble—this is the worst possible outcome.

Finding Kui'er's whereabouts was a piece of cake for the witch. I intercepted her at a suburban inn, and with her was a scholar. When they saw me, they both looked flustered.

I glanced at their faces and sneered, "Kui'er, I've treated you well."

Kui'er, who had always been timid, suddenly became agitated: "Yes, you provide me with food and clothing, but you only treat me like a kitten or puppy. You coax me a few words when you're happy, but most of the time you only care about yourself and ignore me. I'm tired of living in fear under your thumb."

"If you don't want to, just leave. Why did you have to kill me?" I asked, puzzled.

Kui'er glanced sideways at the scholar, who was already drenched in sweat and trembling. Kui'er held his hand with pity, her face resolute: "Will you let me go? Being with him is happiness, and killing you is the only way to give me freedom."

I simply couldn't believe that those were the words of the delicate and beautiful Kui'er, as if I were a stumbling block to her happiness, and that if I were removed, she would be happy and fulfilled from then on.

“Kui’er, you’re wrong. If you had told me the truth, I would have set you free.” I sighed.

She looked at me with disbelief and argued, "I will always remember your warning when we first met. You said my life belongs to you and that I must never leave you or betray you."

I never expected that Kui'er would still remember what I said when we were little. No wonder Kui'er has never been close to me all these years. Even when I tried to get close to her, she always faced me with timidity. So that's where the knot in her heart lies. The words I spoke back then were just the words of a witch after endless loss. How could they be taken seriously?

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [8]: I was wrong. I shouldn't have said those things to the young Kui'er. Kui'er was also wrong. After so many years together, she still misjudged me.

I sighed, "Kui'er, you always have to pay the price for doing wrong."

"It's just taking my life, take it if you want. You've raised me all these years, so we're even." Kui'er glared at me disdainfully, while the scholar beside her kept wiping the sweat from his forehead and secretly tugged at Kui'er's sleeve, signaling her not to speak like that.

Kui'er stared wide-eyed, so beautiful and dazzling, like a golden sunflower blooming brilliantly in the sunlight, proudly holding her neck high.

I smiled faintly, "What would I do with your life? I just want your beauty to use in my medicine making." I gently chanted a spell and slapped her cheek with my palm. I heard the scholar cry out in surprise and fall down. Kui'er looked around in alarm, trying to find a mirror to see what had happened.

"Kui'er, we're even now." I waved my sleeve and left happily, while Kui'er's heart-wrenching screams echoed in the distance. What would happen to a beautiful woman if she lost her beauty? The witch maliciously speculated in her heart.

Having left the place where she had lived with Kui'er for over ten years, the witch began her wanderings. During her wanderings, the most interesting thing was watching Kui'er's life through the water mirror. Seeing her abandoned, heartbroken, remembering her own past love troubles, she took out a handkerchief and shed two tears. Seeing her ragged and adrift, I sighed. Seeing her collapse by the roadside and rescued by a farmer, I felt relieved.

When the witch grew tired of wandering and felt utterly bored, she decided to visit Kui'er, whom she hadn't seen for two years. Passing through fields and groves, she saw lush green seedlings, swallows flying low, and distant green mountains and white clouds—a beautiful scene. A small thatched-roof farmhouse stood nearby, a peach tree in full bloom outside, and a woman in simple clothes, carrying a baby on her back, was busy spinning yarn in the yard.

"Kui'er," I called softly.

She paused, her hand trembled, and the ball of yarn fell to the ground, rolling slowly towards me. I bent down to pick it up, and gently handed it to her. Kui'er looked up, trembling, and a face covered in pockmarks came into view.

"What else do you want? Please don't hurt my child." Kui'er knelt down with me and begged me.

I was both amused and exasperated. I helped her up and said, "Kui'er, how could you think of me so badly? I'm just here to visit an old friend."

Kui'er was half-believing and half-doubting. Perhaps ever since I took away her beauty, I have become the person she hates the most.

I sat down on the wooden bench without ceremony. "Kui'er, how about I return your beauty to you now?"

"Why?" A hint of doubt flashed across Kui'er's face.

The witch smiled faintly: "There's no reason. You've forgotten that I'm a witch. Witches do things based on their likes and dislikes. There are no 'whys' for me. You just need to answer whether you want it or not."

Kui'er thought about it seriously. Only her eyes were still bright and familiar. Where was the beauty and charm of yesteryear? I would be more than happy to restore her beauty. Many women value their appearance more than their lives.

But Kui'er's answer surprised me: "No, thank you for your kindness, but I don't want it."

The baby on her back woke up, sobbing softly. Kui'er carefully untied the baby, held the child in her arms, gently rocked and soothed the baby in soft voices. The baby was indeed lovely and resembled Kui'er seven-tenths of her.

"Why?" I didn't understand why she would refuse.

Kui'er gently smiled and coaxed the child until the child laughed, then looked up and replied to me, "I have already found happiness even without my beauty, so what use is beauty to me now?"

Upon reflection, I couldn't help but laugh, realizing that my visit had been completely unnecessary.

I tied a gold lock around the baby's neck. Kui'er hesitated to refuse, but I said calmly, "Ensuring her safety and health is the most important thing in life." Kui'er thanked me softly.

I clapped my hands and said goodbye to Kui'er. Just as I reached the door, I heard Kui'er ask hesitantly, "You didn't do what you did back then just because you hated what I did, did you?"

A smile crept onto my face. I said nothing and walked away, leaving her in suspense to ponder. In the distance, I saw farmers returning home, their warm interactions with Kui'er and her child a source of comfort. I quietly left. That was the last time I saw Kui'er; the witch never appeared in her life again.

"Witch, it's been a long time." A soft voice interrupted my thoughts.