Cierra la puerta con llave

Capítulo 3

Reply [9]: Four

When Master Fang woke up, he found himself lying in bed with a group of wives and concubines surrounding him. His first wife was crying her heart out, and even the old master Fang himself came, leaning on his cane and trembling.

"Seventh...Seventh...Seventh Concubine...is here!" Master Fang's eyes were filled with panic, and his mouth trembled.

"Sir, what's wrong?"

"Seventh...Seventh Concubine, wasn't she missing a long time ago?"

Where is the Seventh Concubine?

"Master, our Hongliang... he's dead!"

"What? Hongliang is dead?" Master Fang snapped out of his panic, his eyes darting around. "Hongliang... Hongliang... Hongliang was... scared to death by Seventh Concubine!"

“How could Seventh Concubine scare Hongliang? Besides, we didn’t see Seventh Concubine!” Third Concubine said.

"It was...it was Seventh Concubine! It must have been Seventh Concubine who scared...scared Hongliang to death!"

"Alas! De'er, what... what exactly happened?" Old Master Fang asked with a heavy sigh.

"Father!..." Master Fang hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.

"Speak!" Old Master Fang smacked the floor with his cane.

"Father, I..." Master Fang lowered his head, his face showing shame and remorse. "Butler, you, you speak!"

"Yes...yes, sir!" The butler walked to Old Master Fang's side, bowed his head and clasped his hands, and recounted the scene in the woods three years ago, but he concealed the fact that the seventh concubine was pregnant.

"What a tragedy!" Old Master Fang sighed, and everyone else was so shocked that their mouths dropped open! It turned out that the Seventh Concubine's disappearance was not a disappearance at all, but that Old Master Fang had buried her alive!

“Father, Hongliang went to play in the woods behind the mountain and then… disappeared, and then… Father, it must have been Seventh Concubine who scared him to death!” said Master Fang.

"And that maniacal laughter...that's Seventh Concubine's!" the butler said.

"I mean, that laughter sounded somewhat familiar, kind of like Seventh Concubine's." The concubines started whispering among themselves.

"Father, what should we do now?" Master Fang looked at Old Master Fang anxiously, hoping he could come up with a foolproof plan to escape this disaster.

"Sigh, I'm just an old man with nothing to fear! You, just leave it to fate!" After saying this, Old Master Fang stood up and walked away shakily with the help of his servants.

"Father, please...please think of a way!" Master Fang pleaded, watching his grandfather Fang Lai's departing figure.

"De'er, hurry up and burn incense and pray to Buddha for peace!" Old Master Fang turned around and instructed.

"Yes, Father," Master Fang replied, then glanced at the group of wives, concubines, and attendants surrounding him and shouted, "What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and get ready!" Then Master Fang called the steward to his side and whispered, "Make proper arrangements for Hongliang's funeral. Take a few servants to the woods behind the mountain to burn incense for three days. Alas, I hope Seventh Concubine will spare us!"

The Fang family mansion was busy for a whole week with Fang Hongliang's funeral arrangements and the constant burning of incense and praying to Buddha. During this week, the seventh concubine did not come, and Master Fang's complexion improved, and his spirits had almost recovered. He was even able to stroll around the courtyard occasionally.

"It seems everything is alright now!" said Mr. Fang, teasing the parrot in front of him.

"Yes, we burned so much paper money for her, hoping she can be content in the afterlife," the butler said softly from behind, still feeling lingering fear as he thought about it.

"Oh dear, I've been stuck in this courtyard for a week now. Butler, how about we go out for a stroll tonight?"

"Sir, you know I'm not good at this, so please go by yourself!"

"Haha, you! Alright, I won't make things difficult for you. Just remember to burn incense every day!"

“I remember, sir.”

"Alright then, you can go back now."

"Yes, sir." The butler carefully backed away, walked out of the courtyard, and hurried home. Although nothing had happened this past week, the thought of the eldest young master's tragic death still sent chills down his spine. He needed to hurry back to check on Shan Dou. Remembering that he had been present at the events of three years ago, he feared that the seventh concubine might also be a threat to Shan Dou!

Wangchunlou is the largest brothel in Pingshan Town.

As night falls and the city lights come on, women are as numerous as clouds and men as woven together.

Master Fang strolled into Wangchun Tower.

Ever since the ghost incident, the First Concubine has been weeping every day, the Sixth Concubine has gone back to her parents' home, and the Fifth and Eighth Concubines have also fallen ill from fright and returned to their families. The Second and Third Concubines are old and faded, and the Fourth Concubine is bedridden. Alas, Wangchun Tower is still the best; there are many women there, young and beautiful, where one can have a good time and wash away all this bad luck. Master Fang walked along, lost in thought, a smug smile appearing on his lips.

---janeadam

Reply [10]: "Oh my, isn't this Master Fang? Why haven't you come for so long? The girls have missed you so much." The madam swayed her fat body as she came to greet him.

"Oh, really?" Master Fang narrowed his eyes into slits and casually patted the madam's plump buttocks.

"Master Fang, if you are satisfied, I can keep you company tonight!" The madam followed Master Fang upstairs.

"You should take a look in the mirror first!" Master Fang stopped in his tracks because a dozen or so beautifully dressed young women were blocking the stairwell.

"Get out of the way, don't block the way!" Master Fang pushed several girls aside.

"Master Fang, all the young ladies have arrived. Which one would you like to choose?" the madam greeted him from behind.

Master Fang squinted at the glamorous women standing in front of him, then turned to the madam and asked, "Is Xiao Lan here?"

"You're looking for Xiao Lan? She only ever keeps guests company while they drink tea and chat." The madam waved a handkerchief in front of Master Fang's eyes.

"Hey, stop shaking me. I'm asking if she's there?"

"Yes, of course I am, but the price isn't as high as the other girls!"

"Haha, do you think I'm a penniless person?" Master Fang said, pulling out a handful of copper coins and putting them in the madam's hand. "Go, quickly call her over. I want the best room."

"Alright then, you wait here, Master Fang!" The madam swayed her hips and happily ran off to call the girl named Xiao Lan.

The curtain was lifted, and a delicate, sweet fragrance wafted out. Master Fang couldn't help but close his eyes and take a deep breath, exclaiming, "Ah, how fragrant!" He opened his eyes, and a strikingly beautiful young woman stood before him: a typical Jiangnan girl, with cherry lips, willow-leaf eyebrows, bright, large eyes, a delicate oval face, and a slender figure. She wore light makeup, like a lotus emerging from water, radiating youthful beauty. Master Fang's mouth watered as he gazed at her.

Master Fang quickly stood up and leered at her, saying in a honeyed tone, "Xiao Lan, I've been waiting for you! Come, sit here, sit here." As he spoke, Master Fang's hand reached out to put his arm around Xiao Lan's slender waist.

Xiao Lan gently blocked the way with her hand, quickly walked to the table in the middle of the room and sat down, calmly saying, "Sir, what would you like to hear?"

Old Master Fang rubbed his hands together incessantly, circling around Xiao Lan, his eyes never leaving her beautiful, youthful face: "No rush, no rush, I have plenty of time today. Xiao Lan, you're so beautiful, much prettier than my old hags, tsk tsk, truly beautiful, so beautiful!"

"Master, have some tea!" Xiao Lan poured a cup of hot tea for Master Fang and handed it to him.

With a gentle push from his left hand, Mr. Fang took the opportunity to touch Xiao Lan's fair and rosy hand with his right hand, and said, "No, we won't drink tea today, we'll drink wine!"

"Sir, you know I don't drink alcohol."

"It's rare for the master to be in such a good mood today, you must drink with me, you absolutely must!" Master Fang sat down, poured a glass of wine, and handed it to Xiao Lan. His lecherous eyes gleamed with a burning desire, a fire fueled by coercion and enticement. Xiao Lan glanced at it and quickly lowered her head, whispering, "Master, I really don't drink."

"No, how can you not drink! I'm willing to spend any amount of money today, as long as you drink." Master Fang had already brought the wine glass to Xiao Lan's lips.

Xiao Lan was startled and stood up. With a "bang," she accidentally knocked over the cup in Mr. Fang's hand. Xiao Lan stood nervously to the side and said timidly, "I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean to."

"You ungrateful girl!" Master Fang raised his hand, ready to strike, "But I really can't bear to hit you." Master Fang withdrew his raised hand, poured another cup of wine, and said, "Come, I don't blame you, drink this cup!"

"Master, I..." Xiao Lan tried her best to refuse.

"You, you, you, you... what? You have to drink it whether you want to or not." With that, Master Fang poured the wine in his glass into Xiao Lan's mouth. Xiao Lan was choked by the strong smell of alcohol and coughed repeatedly, clutching her chest, spitting out a lot of the wine that had been poured into her mouth.

"Haha...that's a good girl, come on, another cup!" With that, Master Fang poured another cup of wine and poured it into Xiao Lan's mouth.

"Master, you..." Xiao Lan's face turned bright red from the choking, but under the candlelight, she looked even more beautiful and charming, leaving Master Fang stunned! Master Fang couldn't help but put down his wine glass, put his arms around Xiao Lan's slender waist, and pout his big, fat mouth to kiss her pink face.

"Master, you..." Xiao Lan struggled and pleaded, "Master, please let go, please let go!" But her voice grew weaker and weaker, and her body began to go limp.

"My darling, you're mine tonight!" Master Fang picked up Xiao Lan and threw her onto the bed, then began to undress impatiently.

"Master, you..." Xiao Lan had just climbed out of bed when Master Fang pressed her back down onto the bed, his mouth already kissing her face and chest in a flurry of kisses.

Two loud bangs, and somehow the door opened.

"Ugh!" Old Master Fang had no choice but to get up, pull up his pants, and close the door. After closing the door, he hurriedly climbed back into bed.

Two loud bangs followed, and the door opened again!

"Damn it, who is it?" Old Master Fang cursed angrily, but had no choice but to run back and close the door again. After closing the door, he hurriedly ran to the bed, where a little beauty was waiting for him!

---janeadam

Reply [11]: “Waaah—waaah—” A baby’s cry came from afar.

"Damn it, what a spoilsport!" The old man's lust was dampened by this disturbance, but when he saw the little beauty in front of him, who was already drowsy and breathing fragrant air, his lust quickly surged up again. He ignored the crying and climbed on top of Xiaolan and began to kiss her passionately again.

"Whoosh—whoosh—" The sound seemed to be coming from the roof.

Mr. Fang suddenly felt a chill; that voice sounded so familiar! But the crying stopped abruptly.

"Ha-ha-" A strange, maniacal laugh came from afar.

"Ha-ha-" The maniacal laughter grew closer and closer, seemingly coming from the rooftop.

Good heavens, it's the seventh concubine! It's the seventh concubine! Master Fang was so frightened that his face turned pale. He didn't even have time to fasten his belt and ran towards the door while holding up his pants.

"Ha—ha—" The laughter was right behind him, right behind his ear! Master Fang was so frightened he almost collapsed to the ground. He desperately tried to pry open the door, but somehow it seemed locked shut, no matter how hard he tried. Master Fang dared not turn around, dared not imagine what a hideous ghost of the Seventh Concubine would look like standing behind him. He could already sense a long shadow behind him; he knew it must be the Seventh Concubine coming to claim his life. But the overwhelming fear prevented him from facing the vengeful spirit of the Seventh Concubine, while the will to survive drove him to desperately hold onto the tightly closed door.

"Master!" A gentle, sweet, and teasing voice sounded softly from behind.

"Hey!" Master Fang turned around reflexively and responded, suddenly realizing that the voice was so familiar, so eerily alluring, so... Heavens, it's Seventh Concubine! It really is Seventh Concubine! Standing before him was indeed the Seventh Concubine who looked just like the real Seventh Concubine!

"Ah Ping, you...you...want...to...do...what?" Looking at the resentful eyes of the Seventh Concubine set in her pale, bloodless face, Master Fang was almost scared out of his wits. His voice was barely squeezed out from between his teeth. Compared to the Seventh Concubine's paper-white face, Master Fang's complexion was almost the same.

"Master, how cruel you are!" The Seventh Concubine's voice was completely devoid of any resentment, a stark contrast to her hateful eyes. If Master Fang didn't know that this floating Seventh Concubine was a ghost seeking revenge, he might have taken her gentle, coquettish voice as a pleasure and become intoxicated by it.

Whenever Master Fang's eyes met Seventh Concubine's menacing and murderous gaze, he would quickly close them again in fright. His entire fat and round body would curl up by the door, making him look more like a sleeping bear, if not for the violent trembling in his body.

"Master, where is my child? Give me back my child!" The seventh concubine suddenly leaned closer. Although her eyes were tightly closed, Master Fang could feel those fierce and resentful eyes staring intently at him, as if they were about to rip his heart out. "Ah... Ah Ping, I... I... I'm... I'm sorry... Please, for the sake of... us... as husband and wife, please... please spare me!" Master Fang wasn't begging; it was just his survival instinct keeping him going.

"Husband and wife? Haha—husband and wife!" The seventh concubine suddenly laughed twice, her laughter filled with bitter hatred. "If you considered us husband and wife, would you be so cruel as to bury me alive? If you thought of our marital bond, would you even spare the child in my womb?" The seventh concubine's voice was no longer gentle; her tone revealed a gnashing hatred and a bone-chilling coldness.

"Ah... Ah Ping, you... you... have killed my son, please... please spare me!" Master Fang was almost about to kowtow and beg for mercy.

"Spare you? I'm already a resentful woman while I'm alive, and you'll be a resentful ghost even after I'm dead. Even if I peel off your skin and dig out your heart, it won't relieve my hatred between the living and the dead. Fang Tiande, you'd better give me your life!" With that, the Seventh Concubine stretched out her sharp, thin, and long ghostly hands and reached for Master Fang's throat!

With a bang, the door opened, and Master Fang fell straight backward, his eyes wide open, the terrifying figure of the Seventh Concubine still reflected in his pupils. His mouth was agape in a natural "O" shape, half of his tongue sticking out, but there were no marks on his neck indicating strangulation. Perhaps he was strangled to death, or perhaps he was scared to death. The only witness, Xiao Lan, only saw a flash of red light before seeing Master Fang lying there stiffly. No one dared to investigate the cause of Master Fang's death anymore, because the Seventh Concubine's affair had become a terrifying legend that terrified the entire Pingshan Town. Everyone lived in constant fear, perhaps one day the Seventh Concubine would come knocking on their door.

The most terrified place was the Fang family mansion. Men, women, and children were all so frightened that they kept their doors tightly shut and hid in their rooms every day to burn incense and pray to Buddha. The huge mansion had become a sacred place for worship. However, even the sacred place could not make them feel safe and secure. A terrifying atmosphere always shrouded every corner of the courtyard and in the hearts of everyone. After finishing the funeral arrangements for Master Fang in grief and fear, they all scattered and went their separate ways.

Old Master Fang stood before the giant lion, leaning on his cane, and sighed, "Alas, this is the foundation of the Fang family for over a hundred years! Now, some are dead, some have left, what use is there for this old man like me? Ah Ping, the Fang family has let you down!"

"Master, let's go!" the attendant said, helping Master Fang up.

"Alas, what a tragedy!" The trembling figure of Old Master Fang finally disappeared from the Fang family mansion, and from Pingshan Town. Since then, the Fang family had never returned, leaving behind only an empty mansion standing in the northeast of the town. No one dared approach this eerie and terrifying courtyard, nor dared anyone venture into the woods behind it. Some people, in the dead of night, seemed to hear a sobbing sound from the back mountain, followed by a cold laugh echoing in the courtyard. But after a while, the crying and laughter ceased. The Fang family mansion and the woods behind it remained a forbidden zone in Pingshan Town, and no one dared to approach again.

---janeadam