Arts anciens et merveilleux

Chapitre 8

He knelt down before the short man and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Alright, I won't force you. The choice is yours!" the short man said casually, taking a step back.

Suddenly, the tall man felt as if he had been electrocuted, and he collapsed to the ground, convulsing, screaming shrilly, "No, no!"

The middle-aged man angrily charged at the short man, only to find that the latter had appeared a few meters behind him. He tried several more times before finally realizing that the short man was a ghost and that he couldn't possibly catch him.

He tried to help his father up, but even though his father was right in front of him, he couldn't reach him.

The tall man suddenly stopped convulsing.

The short man said calmly, "Kill or not?"

"No, please, don't..." Before he could finish speaking, the tall man screamed again, writhing on the ground in pain.

This was repeated three times. The tall man then drew a dagger from his waist, slowly stood up, and his eyes gleamed.

"Stop trying to outsmart me. Haven't you had enough of your tricks in the last twenty years? If you want your son to suffer the same fate as you, then keep trying to outlast me."

The tall man shook his teeth: "Son, it's all my fault! I had no choice. You might as well die and be reincarnated sooner!"

"Dad, no!" The middle-aged man collapsed to the ground, wanting to run, but he had no strength left.

The tall man closed his eyes and plunged a knife into his son's heart.

......

The short man watched as the tall man's trembling hands slashed his own son's body, one cut after another, laughing cruelly, but his laughter turned into sobs.

"Bian Jizhong, now you know what it's like to lose a son! Haha, you killed your own son with your own hands!"

"You're a devil! A devil! God, please send me to hell! What have I done!"

Bian Jizhong smashed his son's skull with a final blow, threw down the knife, and clutched his head in anguish!

A clap of thunder sounded, and suddenly the rain poured down like a flood. The candlelight went out, and everything fell into darkness.

"Dad, Dad! Dinner's ready!"

The innocent voices of several children could be heard from not far away.

......

The sky gradually darkened.

The young man, wearing an empty raincoat and carrying a small snakeskin bag, walked down the slope step by step.

He had delicate features, large, bright eyes, and long eyelashes; he was a handsome young man.

He probably didn't eat much all day. He felt weak all over, his heart was racing and he was very dizzy. He had to stop after walking a few steps and his movements were as sluggish as an old man's.

There was a stream at the foot of the mountain, and a bridge just a little further ahead. The young man walked and walked, and before he knew it, he had walked in a circle and returned to the mountainside.

He rubbed his eyes, wondering if he had made a mistake.

He continued downhill, and this time he heard the river again. He quickened his pace and walked for another half a day before suddenly finding himself back on the mountainside.

Again and again, he always ended up back on the mountainside. He slapped his face hard to make sure he wasn't dreaming, but finally, disappointed, he collapsed onto the wet ground, exhausted.

It was completely dark by then.

Not far away, there were two figures, one tall and one short.

"If you want to kill him, then kill him. Why toy with him like this?" the tall man said timidly.

"Ha, I don't want this feast I've waited twenty-one years to end so easily!" the short man sneered. "Only a hungry cat would catch a mouse and swallow it whole."

The rain started to fall harder, and the accumulated water rushed down the mountain ridge.

The thin figure struggled to stand up on the ground, but failed.

"Alright, the show's just beginning. I hope you won't disappoint me." The short man suddenly called out softly, "Xiao Bao, Xiao Bao~"

The young man was hungry and cold, the rain pattering against his body. He was exhausted and longed to lie down and fall into a deep sleep.

But his survival instinct told him that waiting here would only lead to his death!

He forced himself to stand up, but failed; he was too hungry and too tired!

He looked up, letting the cold rain wash over his face, and cried bitterly, feeling wronged and helpless.

"Xiao Bao, Xiao Bao, Xiao Bao~" It was the voice of a woman and a man.

Who's calling? He tilted his ear to listen for the sound, which seemed to come from near and far.

"Dad, Mom! I'm here!"

"Dad, Mom! It's me, Xiaobao! I'm here!"

......

His consciousness was blurred, and it was impossible to tell whether the water on his face was tears or rain.

In the hazy light, two dark figures approached.

Who are you?

The tall man drew his dagger, and a cold glint flashed into the young man's heart.

......

Twenty-one years later, this young man, like his father, fell on this desolate mountain, dying at the hands of the ghost of his own grandfather.

"Why! Heaven, how much longer will you punish me!" Bian Jizhong roared at the heavens. Suddenly, he charged at the short ghost like a roaring lion, but missed.

"Ah!" he screamed, fell to the ground, whimpering like a dog, writhing in pain.

Another flash of lightning appeared, and the short ghost was laughing loudly, his face indistinguishable between tears and rain.

......

The rain kept falling in a drizzling manner.

The river continues to flow gurglingly, day and night.

The stone bridge over the river is still there.

Nature is a patient artist; it uses flowing water and the footsteps of hurried passersby to polish the stone bridge until it is smooth and lustrous; it also uses wind, moss, and algae to etch the marks of time onto the bridge.

Stone bridges are works of art created by both human effort and nature, becoming historical relics on the river.

There were two dark figures, one tall and one short, on the bridge.

"Twenty-one years have finally passed. I hope your children and grandchildren prosper! Haha~" the short man chuckled wickedly.

"Master, I am willing to be your slave for all eternity!"

I alone have committed these sins, so let me alone bear this endless burden of guilt. I beg you, spare my poor descendants!

"You've only lost one son and one grandson!"

"Master, they are all innocent..."

"Don't talk to me about innocence! I begged you so desperately, did you ever show me even a shred of pity?"

When I think back to that time, I feel ashamed!

People have always worshipped me, but I've never knelt before anyone! How dare I kneel and beg for mercy, you bastard!

I know you hate me, you hate me to the core every moment.

"I don't......"

"Haha, the more you hate me, the happier I am. Otherwise, how will I pass the long hours in the grave?"

There's something I've never understood.

"I'm in a great mood today, tell me what it is."

"I am a bandit, but even bandits have their rules. Blood debts must be paid in blood, a father's debt must be paid in son's, and a life must be paid in life. Disputes in the martial world should be resolved within the martial world; we will never bring hatred into the other party's home. I have already paid with the lives of three generations of my family, why are you still so relentless? Why don't you come out of the dark grave sooner and be reborn as a human being?"

To be honest, I don't know what your principles are, but I really... really..."

"Really what? You really despise it?"

"..." The tall man gritted his teeth. "Yes, I despise you!"

"You think you only killed me, do you?"

"I killed seven or eight people, but they were Han Chinese. It has nothing to do with you!"

"Bastard! Do you know how many people your stupid actions have killed? If you had only killed me, I would have forgiven you long ago!"

"How many people have I killed?"

"Three hundred and seventy-one! You destroyed my entire tribe! You only lost one son and one grandson, you only witnessed a few tragedies!"

I'm telling you, that's far from enough! I will use your descendants to atone for your sins!

"Just kill them all! This dragging on won't win anyone. Do you enjoy this dreary existence?"

"You don't need to worry about it! I don't want to waste my breath on you! You decide, which descendant will you offer as my sacrifice today?"

"......"

"Don't want to talk about it? Fine, then let's try something different this year and compare them one by one before making a decision!"

The sound of rain outside the window was like a harmonious melody; such a night was perfect for sleeping. The young man was snoring softly in his sleep, completely unaware that two ghosts had suddenly appeared in the room.

The short man paced around the room, finally stopping at the table. He picked up a framed picture containing a photograph of a young couple: the man had striking eyebrows and bright eyes, while the woman was gentle and charming; the two were affectionately linked arm in arm.

"Excellent, excellent! They are a perfect match, a match made in heaven. Look at the wonderful girl your great-grandson found for you."

The tall man, with a pained expression, didn't respond. Taking advantage of the short man's back being turned to the bed, he secretly made a hand gesture. The young man on the bed suddenly groaned in his sleep, as if greatly frightened. Hearing the sound, the short man walked to the bedside. The young man suddenly woke up and opened his eyes. They stared at each other for a few seconds, then the short man disappeared.

......

A man's loud snoring came from inside the room. A newlywed couple slept soundly, embracing each other. The gilded "double happiness" character on the wall still gleamed. The short ghost quietly entered and stared at the man's forehead.

The tall ghost in the pigpen kicked a pig hard. With a scream, the two ghosts quickly left.

......

In the women's dormitory, two ghosts silently appeared in the middle of the room. The girl slept sweetly in bed, a strand of hair brushing her forehead, her small nose slightly upturned. This pretty and lovely little girl was unaware that death was approaching.

The shorter man suddenly grabbed the taller man's hand, which was pointing at the kettle: "Don't try to be clever. If I want to kill someone, can you stop me? Let's choose a different girl this year. Anyway, she'll get married sooner or later, and her children won't have the Bian surname, right?"

The tall man had barely opened his mouth when a withered hand grabbed his throat. He tried to pry open the iron-like hand, but to no avail.