Une relation tragique

Chapitre 26

Xiao Qing nodded gently and said, "I'm a little tired!"

Zhang Xiang said very gently, "Then you should get some rest!"

Xiao Qing looked at Zhang Xiang with surprise. Usually, men who booked overnight stays would be incredibly sexually aroused. The last time Xiao Qing had an overnight stay was with a sixty-year-old man who relentlessly pursued her all night. He was still going at it near dawn, almost foaming at the mouth. Xiao Qing was worried the old man might have a heart attack from exhaustion. It was rare to see a man like Zhang Xiang who booked an overnight stay but only wanted one time. Actually, she really hoped Zhang Xiang would want it again; after all, he was quite handsome and had good stamina, and she had just experienced a rare orgasm during their encounter.

Xiao Qing asked in confusion, "Aren't you coming again?"

Zhang Xiang shook his head and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. He pulled Xiao Qing into his arms, gently patting her with one hand and placing the other on her neck. Xiao Qing looked at Zhang Xiang gratefully; he treated her with the tenderness of a lover.

Zhang Xiang's hands roamed over Xiao Qing's beautiful neck, making her feel a little ticklish, as if he really liked her neck. I'd only ever heard of "foot fetishism" and "hand fetishism," never "neck fetishism"! But it wasn't a big deal; in fact, Xiao Qing kind of liked him touching her like that.

Xiao Qing closed her eyes, feeling the warmth from the rough hand. The hand stopped at her throat, then suddenly tightened. Xiao Qing immediately felt breathless. Opening her eyes, she saw a crazed flame burning in Zhang Xiang's eyes. Instantly, her mind flashed through various news articles: those who lured prostitutes into prostitution and then robbed them, those deranged killers who dismembered women. Not long ago, there was a report about a university teacher who murdered three women, cut off their heads, and froze them in a refrigerator; what was the killer's name again? She couldn't remember.

Terrified, Xiao Qing struggled fiercely, trying to pry open the hand gripping her neck. But how could she, who usually couldn't even lift a bucket of water, possibly move Zhang Xiang's strong hand?

She felt like she was about to die, unable to breathe. She wanted to shout at Zhang Xiang, "If you want money, I'll give you my card and the PIN. There's 50,000 yuan in it! Just don't hurt me." But she could only open her mouth in vain, making a hissing sound in her throat, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Xiao Qing's vision gradually darkened, and her fingernails left marks on Zhang Xiang's arm. Zhang Xiang's grip tightened even more, until finally Xiao Qing released her grip, her body twitching a few times before ceasing to move. Her mouth was wide open, and her tongue was sticking out. However, Zhang Xiang didn't care about her appearance. He released his grip, stretched his arm, which was a little sore from the exertion.

Zhang Xiang carefully examined Xiao Qing's body and found no wounds. He was very satisfied; the skin used for practicing "Yin Corpse Skin" absolutely could not be damaged.

He got out of bed, opened the closet, and took out a large jar. The jar contained mercury, which he had bought at a high price a few days ago.

Zhang Xiang took out a small silver knife, spread a layer of oilcloth on the ground, and dragged Xiao Qing's body down.

Turning Xiao Qing's body over, Zhang Xiang used a knife to make a long cut starting from the Baihui acupoint at the top of her head and extending down to her waist. The cut was perfectly straight, as if it had been made with a ruler. He couldn't help but feel a little proud; most people couldn't make such a straight cut.

Zhang Xiang then carefully peeled away the flesh and skin near the incision with a knife. He opened the jar and slowly poured mercury into the wound above the head. The heavy mercury flowed down the peeling skin, separating the flesh from the skin bit by bit. After he finished pouring the jar of mercury, the skin of the upper body had detached from the flesh. He then stood the corpse upright, and the mercury continued to sink until it reached the feet.

Zhang Xiang whistled with satisfaction, then pulled the skin along the incision on the back, peeling it off completely without a tear. Only Xiao Qing's skinned corpse remained on the ground, blood seeping through the tarpaulin and pooling around her. But Zhang Xiang had no time to admire the red flesh. He was holding the skin up to the light, examining it closely as if appreciating a beautiful landscape painting. It reminded him of a skin he had peeled years ago; that woman's skin was more perfect and beautiful than this one, but it lacked its spirit and the same level of resentment. Because that woman was kind; although he had killed her, her desire for revenge was minimal.

He carefully unfolded the skin and laid it on the open ground. He took out a small bottle and carefully sprinkled the powder from it onto the skin. The powder dried quickly. After covering the entire skin with powder, he picked it up, shook it, and stretched it hard; it was incredibly flexible. Zhang Xiang held the human skin to his nose and took a deep sniff. The lingering smell of fresh blood excited him greatly.

Zhang Xiang set the skin aside, dragged the skinless corpse to the living room with an oilcloth, grabbed a kitchen knife, and started chopping. If Lao Si were there, he would surely laugh at him for not knowing anything about dismemberment. In Lao Si's view, dismemberment was an art; how to cut at the joints, how to open the chest cavity—there could be no room for error. But Zhang Xiang just chopped away forcefully with the kitchen knife, completely disregarding the artistic merit of dismembering the corpse.

He chopped the body into more than a dozen pieces and then put them into garbage bags.

Zhang Xiang was carrying four garbage bags in his hands, because he couldn't carry any more. The four women, when they were on top of him, resembled a snake, but after they died, they were as heavy as a pig. Just lifting their legs and arms was unbearably heavy.

Arriving near a dry toilet in the small town, and seeing no one around, Zhang Xiang found a large rock in the roadside bushes and tied all four bags to it. Then he picked it up and threw it into the toilet.

Zhang Xiang clapped his hands in satisfaction. By the time others found him, only bones remained. He'd dispose of the rest tomorrow night; he felt too exhausted this year and needed a good rest.

Back in the house, Zhang Xiang, too lazy to clean up the remaining body parts, collapsed onto the bed in the bedroom. The lingering scent of Xiao Qing's perfume, mixed with the strong stench of blood, filled the air and assaulted Zhang Xiang's nostrils. He took a deep breath, then turned over and fell asleep.

Volume 2, Chapter 35: The Ghost Marriage (3)

In his hazy sleep, Zhang Xiang felt something watching him from inside the house. He suddenly sat up, the feeling of being glared at intensified, but when he looked around, he saw nothing.

What's wrong? Could it be that my perception is wrong? Zhang Xiang wondered.

Zhang Xiang looked at the body parts on the ground; the blood had already congealed. Disturbed by the sensation he'd just experienced, he couldn't sleep anymore, so he decided to clean up. He found several large garbage bags and collected all the body parts. Then he went to the kitchen, fetched water, and scrubbed away the remaining bloodstains.

Suddenly, he felt a chill run down his back. He turned around abruptly, but there was nothing behind him. A sense of dread began to rise within Zhang Xiang; he hadn't felt this way in years. Human fear stems from the unknown; people are always afraid of what they don't know. Like the darkness of night, it's an instinctive fear hidden deep within us.

But Zhang Xiang was different; he could see things in the dark world from a young age. At first, he was afraid and uneasy, but as he grew older, he gradually became accustomed to those things that lurked in the darkness. Upon graduating from junior high school, he unexpectedly met a master. Seeing his exceptional intelligence and extraordinary physique, the master took him as a disciple, teaching him not only Taoist magic and spells but also training him to possess exceptional martial arts skills. This master continued to tirelessly instruct him until he graduated from university.

During his university years, Zhang Xiang helped a classmate who was possessed by a vengeful ghost. The classmate, out of gratitude, not only treated him to a lavish meal but also gave him a substantial reward. From then on, Zhang Xiang realized he could make money with what he had learned. He then traveled with his master to the ethnic minority areas of Yunnan and Guizhou, where he acquired a set of unorthodox skills. Just when he realized he had surpassed his master, his master became his first victim.

No vengeful spirit or malevolent ghost could gain the upper hand in his presence, and over time, he lost the feeling of fear. But when did this feeling return to his body? Perhaps it was from the appearance of that damned Lin Feng. The first time he saw Lin Feng, he knew something was wrong with this guy. He was surrounded by deathly aura, yet he was still lively and energetic. Even more terrifying was the woman who helped Lin Feng; those malevolent ghosts fled at the sight of her. This forced him to reassess Lin Feng, a guy whose Taoist skills were only rudimentary.

But now? Why be afraid? That damned Lin Feng isn't here, and that woman isn't here either. The house is quiet; the dim light can't hide anything.

"This can't go on," he thought. Zhang Xiang rummaged through the cabinet and pulled out a talisman; he wanted to see what was causing the trouble.

He turned off the lights, lit a red candle, and took out a peach wood sword. He sprinkled water all over the living room and placed the candle in the center. He took out a long talisman, threaded it onto the wooden sword, lit it over the candle, and then began to circle around the candle, closing his eyes and chanting incantations.

After circling around a few times, he placed the sword between his eyebrows and suddenly opened his eyes. There was no wind in the room, but the candle flame suddenly stretched out and flashed to the left, as if something unseen was guiding it.

Zhang Xiang hurriedly looked to his left, where a person was standing. Those eyes, those eyebrows, were unmistakably Xiao Qing's.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it was Xiao Qing. It's normal that some people who have just died haven't yet had their souls fully formed, so they can't see each other. Usually, after seven days, once the three souls have been gathered, he will be able to see them.

But he vaguely sensed that something was wrong. He looked at Xiao Qing and was immediately shocked.

Xiao Qing's entire body was enveloped in a concentrated, unyielding aura, showing no sign of dispersing. It shouldn't be this fast; either the soul disperses upon death, or it doesn't disperse at the moment of death. If it didn't disperse at the time of death, he would have seen it immediately. Even if it dispersed, it shouldn't be possible to gather her soul pieces so quickly; it's only been a little over two hours since she died. The clock is pointing to twelve o'clock; how could she possibly find them so quickly?

Zhang Xiang felt sweat trickling down his forehead, dripping onto the ground with a faint sound. He then realized how nervous he was, to the point that he was even sweating profusely.

Xiao Qing slowly raised her head and stared at him intently. She simply raised her head and made no other move, not even lifting her little finger.

But Zhang Xiang felt a terrifying panic pounding in his chest. He tried desperately to calm himself, but his heart continued to race. Why, why? he kept asking himself. It was a sign of danger, but he had never been afraid of ghosts in all these years, so why was he so terrified today?

He racked his brains, trying to recall what had gone wrong. Suddenly, he remembered carefully observing Xiao Qing's body before skinning her. On her right arm, there was a small birthmark-like mark, with a rather strange shape. Now that he thought about it, it resembled the jade ghost head that people often wore at their waist for protection.

What does that mean? Zhang Xiang searched his memory. He remembered what his master had once said: that she was a woman chosen by a ghost.

That's fucking awful. I actually cuckolded a ghost and killed the woman he had his eye on. Anyone would be unhappy to be cuckolded, even a ghost, who might not be happy either. Even though this woman was just a whore, he was still very unhappy.

Zhang Xiang glanced around, but saw nothing. Yet, the chilling aura grew stronger. He realized the threat wasn't coming from this woman, but from somewhere else. Perhaps it was that unfortunate ghost who'd been cuckolded. But whether it was his bad luck or that ghost's, he no longer cared to investigate further.

Because he was facing someone he couldn't see, since this person could leave a mark on a woman's arm. That expression indicated he wasn't a recently deceased ghost; on the contrary, it showed he was very powerful. He knew how to conceal his ghostly aura, able to evade the sight of those with "yin eyes." He was a dangerous figure lurking in the darkness, capable of taking someone's life at any moment.

Zhang Xiang wanted to slap himself for actually cuckolding such a guy. He'd been so excited when he saw the woman's skin was suitable for making "Yin Corpse Skin" that he'd completely forgotten what his master had said.

Volume 2, Chapter 36: The Ghost Bride (4)

The woman remained motionless, and so did Zhang Xiang. But he felt as if his internal organs were exposed to the air, chilled and devoid of warmth. Cold sweat trickled down his spine, sticky and uncomfortable. Xiao Qing's continued stillness intensified the pressure, a sense of oppression that seemed to emanate from nowhere.

"This won't do," Zhang Xiang thought to himself, "I'd better strike first." He flipped his peach wood sword, ready to charge. But just as he took a step, he felt a hand suddenly grab his neck and lift him up into the air.

He couldn't see anything in front of him, only felt his throat tighten. The sword in his hand weakly thrust forward, but it all fell into thin air.

Zhang Xiang felt all his strength being squeezed out of his body, bit by bit. His vision blurred, and the word "retribution" suddenly flashed through his mind! He had just strangled Xiao Qing to death, and now he was about to be strangled by someone else. And he hadn't even seen her face; it was utterly humiliating. But who told him to be so unaware of the situation and cuckold someone he shouldn't have!

Just when Zhang Xiang thought he was going to die, his throat loosened, and his body fell to the ground with a thud. Although he was in pain from the fall, he was overjoyed to have been miraculously saved, but at the same time, he felt even more uneasy.

"Who are you?" Zhang Xiang shouted in a hoarse voice. His voice was so hoarse that he could hardly believe it himself; in extreme fear, his voice had become dry and hoarse.

There was no sound around him, and everything seemed the same as before. Zhang Xiang swallowed hard. A fear he hadn't felt in a long time was now fully unleashed, like wave after wave crashing against the deepest part of his soul.

"Who are you?" Zhang Xiang's voice trembled violently, already on the verge of tears. The terror he felt made him unable to control his emotions.

The surrounding air suddenly dropped and became icy cold, as if the harsh winter had arrived prematurely in this small room. Zhang Xiang looked around cautiously. The peach wood sword that had fallen to the ground suddenly jumped up and then snapped in two with a "crack." Zhang Xiang braced himself with his hands on the ground and slowly retreated.

He could feel that the thing was right in front of him, facing him.

In a light mist, a faint shadow appeared beside Xiao Qing, who had remained motionless. Xiao Qing's facial muscles suddenly twitched; it looked like a smile, but to Zhang Xiang, it was more like crying. Her appearance was incredibly eerie; something seemed to flash in her eyes, shining like two flickering stars in the darkness. The window, which had been open, was slammed shut with a loud bang.

Xiao Qing slowly raised her right hand, and the white shadow also raised an arm. Their hands seemed to clasp together, their posture elegant and graceful, like two lovers about to step onto the dance floor. Then they walked quietly towards Zhang Xiang together, without making a sound.

By the time they reached Zhang Xiang, the white shadow had become clearer.

A handsome, refined face, gaunt and pale with a sickly bluish tinge. His hand was clasped in Xiao Qing's; in any other setting, they would have been mistaken for a beautiful couple. But now, the man was deathly pale, and the woman's smile was eerie. Zhang Xiang was already paralyzed with fear. If he had any strength left, he would have already fled, employing the best of the thirty-six stratagems.

The man smiled sinisterly and said, "You've got some nerve, judging by your background. You even dared to touch the woman I released the 'Ghost King Seal' on!"

Zhang Xiang stammered, "I...I..." He was so nervous that he couldn't get a coherent answer.

The man said coldly, "What do you mean, 'what about me'? You dare to touch my woman, and you're afraid I'll cause trouble? Judging from your actions just now, what happened to you?"

Zhang Xiang suddenly pointed at the man and said, "You...you are the Ghost King?"

The man, with a smug look on his face, said, "Not bad!"

Zhang Xiang was on the verge of collapse. He had inexplicably provoked the Ghost King; he was incredibly unlucky. He slumped to the ground, completely losing the will to resist. He knew the Ghost King's power; even with him, he might not be a match. Resistance would only enrage the Ghost King and lead to a more gruesome death.

Looking at Zhang Xiang's ashen face, the Ghost King seemed to see through his thoughts and said in a low voice, "I won't kill you! You're still very useful!"

Zhang Xiang could hardly believe his ears that he had actually escaped. But then he thought, how could the treacherous and cruel Ghost King let him go so easily? He must have some even more terrifying methods to inflict on him, and he would surely suffer a fate worse than death. It would be better for him to die now.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xiang closed his eyes, ignoring the Ghost King, took a long breath, and said, "Just give me a quick death, why torture me like this!"

The Ghost King laughed and said, "Do you know what I want you to do?"

Zhang Xiang shook his head.

The Ghost King said, "I see that you are ruthless and efficient. My 'Seven Imperial Guards' are one short, and I want you to join them!"

Zhang Xiang stared blankly at the Ghost King, gave a miserable laugh, and said, "You might as well kill me. I don't want to be your subordinate! Besides, I'm one of the 'Seven Attendants'!"

The Ghost King said "Oh" and then said, "How about I forgive and forget what happened in the past as long as you join the 'Seven Imperial Guards'? I've always valued talent!" After saying that, the Ghost King revealed a meaningful smile, and a little color seemed to return to his pale face.

Zhang Xiang spat and firmly said, "No!"

The Ghost King, his face contorted with rage, his brows furrowed, gritted his teeth and said, "You really won't join? Do you know what the consequences of refusing me will be?"

Zhang Xiang closed his eyes and remained silent.

The Ghost King suddenly burst into laughter and said, "You've got guts! It doesn't matter if you don't agree. No one can stop me from doing what I'm about to do. Even if you can't join the Seven in life, I'll make sure you do in death." After a pause, the Ghost King continued, "Don't you really like this woman? I saw you two were really into it just now, so I let you marry her. You should thank me for making your marriage happen!" With that, he laughed loudly.

The rolling laughter assaulted Zhang Xiang's eardrums. Zhang Xiang was completely stunned. He knew what the consequences would be if he were asked to marry this woman.

Volume 2, Chapter 37: The Ghost Bride (5)

Zhang Xiang knew that whether he was made to join the "Seven Imperial Guards" or to marry Xiao Qing, a ghost, the consequences would be the same: he would never be able to turn his life around.

The word "御前" originally meant omen or harbinger. It refers to subtle spiritual phenomena that appear before a major disaster or event occurs.

For example, if you are walking down the street at night and are suddenly struck by an indescribable fear or feel a chill, this is what is known as encountering the "Gozen Wind." The Gozen appears in the form of wind. The Gozen is originally an evil spirit, but it is believed to bring great curses, and therefore has been feared since ancient times.

So, this group of seven became known as the Seven-Person Imperial Guard. Those who frequently read manga or are familiar with Japanese history know that the "Seven-Person Imperial Guard" appeared in Mihara City, Hikarishima Prefecture, Japan, and there are also records of seven people dressed as monks being seen in Tokuyama City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

It is said that anyone who sees the Seven Knights will surely die, especially those who abduct women and children, so people are terrified and dare not go out at night. One way to avoid encountering the Seven Knights is to walk with your thumbs clenched, but the effect is inconsistent. Currently, besides avoiding nighttime travel, there is no other effective way to avoid them!

However, few people know that the "Seven-Person Imperial Guard" first appeared in ancient China, much earlier than in Japan.

In fact, the earliest prototype of "Seven People Before the Emperor" refers to "Seven Killing Stars" (another theory is that it refers to "Big Dipper", which is associated with death, killing and other ominous events!). "Seven Killing Stars" can be scattered into seven, but when they come together, they become one.

The most famous example of this in ancient times is Zhang Xianzhong, a bandit leader during the Ming Dynasty, who erected the "Seven Killings Stele": "Heaven creates all things to nourish man, yet man has no virtue to repay Heaven. Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!" This chilling inscription is a prime example of the "Seven Killings" principle.

The "Seven Warriors Before the Emperor" legend originates from the battle between the Yellow Emperor and Chi You, who was the first "Seven Killers" in ancient China. This guy was extremely powerful and cruel. Moreover, he created what is probably the first zombie in ancient China, and the world.

The first recorded zombie in China is Hanxiao, the daughter of the Yellow Emperor. Legend has it that Chiyou placed a curse on the Yellow Emperor before his death, the nature of which remains unknown. However, because Chiyou was severely weakened by the Yellow Emperor after casting the curse, his power was greatly diminished, and thus Hanxiao became a zombie after her death. Afterwards, most zombies are said to have Hanxiao's bloodline.

Now that the Ghost King wants Zhang Xiang to join the "Seven Kills," isn't that the same as making him neither able to die nor live for the rest of his life? How could he possibly agree to that?

The concept of "ghost marriage" also terrified him. Ghost marriage, also known as a spirit marriage, still occurs occasionally in modern China. Typically, one party in the marriage is a ghost, and the other is a human.

Zhang Xiang was utterly despondent. He made up his mind to bite his tongue and commit suicide to avoid this endless torment. But as soon as he opened his mouth, the Ghost King reached out and grabbed his chin. No matter how hard he tried, his upper and lower teeth wouldn't close, let alone bite his tongue to commit suicide.

The Ghost King chuckled and said, "Someone like you is afraid? Someone like you is afraid of not being able to be reborn after death? The things you've done are enough to make you suffer in hell for a hundred lifetimes!"

Zhang Xiang had completely broken down; his upper and lower teeth were chattering uncontrollably, yet they couldn't meet. He looked utterly ridiculous, and tears and snot streamed down his face uncontrollably.

The Ghost King laughed heartily, but before the laughter subsided, Zhang Xiang suddenly felt a wave of weakness wash over him; he couldn't even lift a finger. He immediately realized with despair that he was finished, then his consciousness blurred, and he knew nothing more.

Zhang Xiang lay stiffly on the ground. The Ghost King smiled contentedly, waved his hand lightly, and Xiao Qing, who had been standing beside him, suddenly vanished like a wisp of smoke. Then the Ghost King disappeared as well. The entire house was pitch black, as if nothing had happened.