Feng Zhi Wei covered her face, and slowly squatted down against the rock wall as if she was so frightened that her strength had given out. Her eyes hidden behind her hands shone coldly– just a test like this? Aren’t they underestimating her?
The sword lights disappeared and there was no movement in all directions again. Only her tense and rapid breathing could be heard, as the ghostly water vapor swirled around her.
The water vapor seemed to be a little thicker than before, but the pungent watery smell seemed to have faded a bit. There was a strange smell in the air, not exactly stinky but neither is it a good smell. Rather, it smelled heavy and stagnant, reminiscent of all the unpleasant experiences in one’s life.
There was a rattling in the water pool.
The ripples on the water surface grew bigger and bigger. The struggling round object seemed to have been disturbed by the sword lights. The object struggled and squirmed until it finally swam out of the water in a sticky manner, gradually revealing the outline of a person. The figure had its back to Feng Zhi Wei, covered by long hair and something that could either be mud or clothes. It was impossible to discern from the figure’s appearance if it was female or male.
Feng Zhi Wei seemed to have heard the movement by the water pool, but not daring to raise her head, she squatted by the wall and desperately covered her head with her arms.
But a hollow voice, indiscernible of gender, still seeped in.
“My child…”
The voice was empty and cold, the words vague. There should’ve been some distance between them but the voice seemed to be ringing right by her ear.
Feng Zhi Wei who had her face buried in her knees abruptly raised her head.
“My child…” that hollow ghostly voice came closer and closer. The voice was deep, filled with confusion, causing one’s heart to feel as if a hand had reached deep inside, pulling out all the pain and fear hidden deep within.
The figure moved slowly, dragging out mud and water out of the pool, dripping red mud and some unknown sticky liquid that looked like a condensation of blood on the ground.
The wind traversed through the top of the cave, whistling like a howling cry.
“My child…” The voice vibrated through the whole cave, not allowing any escape from it, “…where are you…”
Every single person in this world has a mother.
Everyone in this world has once been pampered in their mother’s arms.
Everyone in this world has given their first nostalgia in life to that milk-scented embrace.
Everyone in this world regards that embrace as the ultimate resting place for their soul, a place to confide their hearts when they are at their most vulnerable.
“…My child…you have suffered…”
That shadow came gradually closer.
Feng Zhi Wei remained squatting, motionless.
She stared at that blurry figure in the glowing light. The figure had a faint blue hue between her brows, there was a look of pain and daze in her eyes.
==============
Ning Yi’s sedan carrier didn’t tell him they were going to go get covers and blankets for him.
Instead, they told Ning Yi they had to go get a new sedan carrier to come after one of the carriers hurt his foot on a rock and could no longer walk. Official Huang told the sedan carriers that he could just walk and admire the surrounding scenery at the same time so the carriers showed him which way to go.
Neither did Official Huang encounter the sword lights or the bubbling spring water. He walked leisurely along the way, admiring the rocks and scenery, chanting a few phrases from various poems from time to time, showing off his scholarly demeanor.
Official Huang didn’t make it too far before a person suddenly came in from the adjacent cave. The person was a beautiful woman with wind-blown hair and jingling pendants. Seeing Official Huang, the woman let out a surprised exclamation and took a step back. Also surprised, Official Huang stared at her with wide eyes, took a step back, and reprimanded, “Who are you? Why are there other women here? Could you be a fox spirit showing up here to enchant people?”
The woman covered her mouth and stared at him blankly. Using the light from a distance, she stared at Ning Yi briefly before suddenly saying with some hesitation, “…could it be Magistrate Huang of Weiming County?”
“How do you know I am Huang Zhiqiu?” Also taken aback, Official Huang stared at the person for bit, “Also, I am no longer the county magistrate. I have been transferred to the post of Inspector of Puzhou Branch Yamen.”
“Official Huang.” The woman suddenly laughed and bowed slightly, “Have you forgotten this humble concubine? I am Xiao Mei from the Linglong Tower brothel in Puzhou. I was best friends with Hongru back in the day. When you had your secret rendezvous with Hongru at Linglong Tower back then, it was me who opened the back door for you!”
“Ah? Ah!” Official Huang was startled, his face suddenly turning bright red before stuttering after a while, “Oh…Miss Mei….I am sorry, I am sorry…why are you here?”
“I was able to get out of the brothel later on.” Xiao Mei smiled, “I got married and moved to the Imperial Capital. My husband works in this villa so I also help out with some small tasks. Who would’ve thought I would run into you sir here. Where is my Hongru sister?”
“She should be here soon.” Official Huang looked back and retreated a bit nervously, “It would be good for you two to catch up.”
“Sir, why are you avoiding me like this?” Xiao Mei chuckled then came closer, her eyes seductive as she said in an alluring voice, “After not seeing each other for so many years, have you never thought of me at all, sir?”
“Miss Xiao Mei…you have a husband and I have a wife, things are no longer the same as back then…” In a fluster, Official Huang pushed her away, his face bright red, “Please…please…respect yourself.”
He took a step back but behind him was the cave wall. Xiao Mei also stopped, with her head lowered, her fingers playing with the knots on her clothes as she said softly, “As they say, people might stay the same but the heart is no longer the same. Zhiqiu…you and I finally could meet here by chance, and it’s just you and me, Why are you still pretending…”
Official Huang’s hand stopped waving, a trace of doubt flashed across his eyes.
However, Xiao Mei was already slowly leaning against his chest, playing with the button on his collar as she whispered softly, “Back then…you had originally chosen me but then, through the screen, Hongru decided she wanted you. She had a domineering personality and forced me to pretend to be sick so she could go see you on my behalf… The next day I saw you and her walking out arm in arm after you redeemed her. I saw it from upstairs, I felt such regret in my heart…so regretful…”
Her voice became lower and lower. Official Huang stopped moving and finally sighed after a long while.
The lights gradually dimmed.
There was a rustling sound in the darkness, a faint sweet fragrance filled the air, Official Huang let out a vague grunt, and more rustling sounds before he said weakly, “…Xiao Mei…this is not right…”
Xiao Mei chuckled softly, her laugh was sweet but her fingers continued to unbutton Official Huang’s long robe without a pause. A large area of jade-colored chest skin gradually appeared in the darkness. Xiao Mei leaned close, her fingers caressing the smooth and elastic tight skin as she gasped in a low voice, “Your body is so good…much better than that useless person I have at my house…if it wasn’t because of Hongru’s back then, you would be mine now…the one you actually like is me, isn’t it? You were snatched away from me back then…now we have this rare opportunity…will you give it to me today?”
================
“…my child…”
The dripping shadowy figure slowly came closer.
In the dim light, Feng Zhi Wei stared at the blurry figure, her eyes were blank and seemingly unable to focus.
That “person” stopped three feet away from her, with her hands outstretched, as if she was about to hold onto or about to embrace someone— a posture all the mothers in this world have done to their children. Such yearning and longing, like a gentle arrow, shooting straight into the most vulnerable and pained heart.
The purest and unadulterated affection that is universally applicable.
In the arms of all the mothers of the world, no children in this world would be able to resist surrendering themselves.
Feng Zhi Wei sat on the ground and stared at the figure blankly, her body began to tremble.
In the misty vapor, she muttered, “Mother…have you come…”
The shadowy figure three feet away, was gazing at her with gentle and trembling eyes.
All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com
Ahhhh cliffhanger! Isn’t Ning Yi also in the hallucinating cave? Thanks for the translation.
Thank you for the translation. Another exciting episode for the two leads. Will they or won’t they succumb to the siren call.
Such a crucial part to end your translation. Can’t wait for the next installment.
Aya yay!!!
Another days of torture!
Hallucinations and hot 🌊💦 water!
Perfect for Halloween!! Thank you!!