Chapter 47
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A wolf’s howl echoed from the forest in the distance, as moonlight pierced through the gaps in the trees. A few lanterns shone through the thin mist, swaying as they approached.
“We’re still far from He Valley Prefecture. I told you not to travel at night. Now look—there’s not even a place to rest…”
“You can’t blame us, there were too many paths. We got lost and don’t even know which direction we’re heading.”
“…Stop talking. I think I just heard a woman’s voice.”
“You’re just thinking about women… Where would a woman’s voice come from in this desolate wilderness?”
“If I pass the imperial examination this time… women will be the least of my worries.”
…
As their soft conversations continued, the distant howls of wolves occasionally broke the silence, sending a chill down their spines. The four figures, hurrying along the night road with lanterns in hand, all wore the robes of scholars. Though slightly worn and washed to a pale shade in some places, their attire and the book boxes on their backs made it clear—they were students journeying for the upcoming autumn imperial examination.
Just as they rounded a bamboo grove ahead, one of them suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“I really did hear a woman’s voice.”
Immediately, one of them lifted his lantern and shone it ahead. The dim yellow light shifted over the ground, faintly revealing the outline of a figure lying on her side.
“There really is someone there…”
Another scholar stepped forward, holding out his lantern. From about a dozen steps away, the warm yellow glow pushed back the darkness, revealing to the four scholars a delicate foot clad in embroidered shoes. The slightly arched instep led upward to a thin, gauzy dress, faintly hinting at skin smooth as jade. The sheer fabric clung to a graceful figure, her long, raven hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders.
Sensing the light, the woman turned her face slightly, her eyes glimmering as she glanced toward the four. “Ah…” she softly whispered, gently rubbing her ankle, her voice tender yet filled with sorrow.
“This humble woman was traveling alone to seek refuge with relatives. The night road has been difficult, and I twisted my ankle. I feared I’d be devoured by the wolves, but fortunately, I encountered you four noble gentlemen. Please, have mercy and lend me a hand…”
As she spoke, she extended an arm, her delicate fingers raised, waiting for assistance.
The four scholars exchanged glances, unsure of what to do. One whispered, “We might as well help her… she’s just a young lady, not a wolf, tiger or leopard…”
The others huddled together, murmuring amongst themselves.
“There are four of us. Who will go?” “How about we all go together?” “Remember, see no evil, hear no evil…”
“I feel like there’s no way there’s a household in these desolate mountains. And the way she’s dressed, she doesn’t look like a decent person. Let’s just leave.”
“That’s right, that’s right… haven’t those strange tales warned us? Encountering a beautiful woman in the depths of the mountains at night—it’s either a demon or a bandit.”
“…Then let’s hurry and leave.”
After a brief round of whispering, the scholar who had first considered helping quickly clasped his hands toward the woman on the ground. “It’s not that we don’t want to help, miss. We four are but poor scholars. We cannot afford to offer aid. Forgive us as we take our leave.”
With that, they lifted their lanterns and hurriedly stepped onto another path.
The woman, her arm still outstretched, fell silent: “…”
Her raised fingers began to twitch, her nails making a cracking sound as they extended into sharp claws. At the same time, the surrounding bamboo grove began to rustle ominously.
Suddenly, a piercing, shrill voice rang out.
“…You four fools think you can escape!!”
A fierce wind kicked up, swirling the bamboo leaves and dust into the air. As the four scholars glanced back, they saw a figure dressed in black silk, barefoot, descending from midair. She landed beside the woman on the ground, and faintly behind both of them, the scholars could make out a furry tail swaying.
The four scholars jumped up in fright.
“It really is a demon!” “What do we do? What do we do?!”
One of them shouted: “Run!”
Abandoning their bookcases, they immediately turned around, lanterns in hand, and dashed off, all pretense of scholarly dignity forgotten. Their legs moved so fast that they seemed to leave afterimages behind.
Whoosh Whoosh…
Whoosh whoosh whoosh…
The eerie wind howled and wailed as the trees and bamboo branches swayed wildly. Behind the four fleeing scholars, a tree trunk exploded into splinters. Sharp claws clung to the wood, and the cold moonlight shone on the lying figure. Her once lovely face had turned a pale red, her mouth jutting forward, baring sharp fangs. Her head tilted at an unnatural angle, and behind her, a tail swayed ominously.
Another pale figure darted swiftly beneath her, charging straight toward the four who were running frantically, and then, the shadow on the tree quickly followed.
The four scholars, gasping for breath, were already struggling. Being mere scholars, they had little endurance and soon found themselves panting heavily, nearly out of breath.
“They’re catching up, run faster!””Don’t stop, keep going—”
“There’s a light ahead!”
In the hazy moonlight that trickled through the trees, they saw a flickering fire at the end of a branching path.
Inside an old, crumbling mountain temple, an old donkey chewed on dry hay on the ground. Near the fire, the occasional sound of pages turning could be heard. Dry branches crackled in the flames, sending sparks into the air.
The wind blew in from the forest outside, fanning the flames.
Lu Liangsheng paused from flipping through his book, lifting his face slightly as he heard the mournful cries of night foxes from afar. He smiled softly and returned to his reading.
“It seems that there are still guests coming to this ruined temple. Master, please don’t say anything later, lest you frighten them.”
Beside the broken arm of the temple’s god statue, the Toad Daoist sat, staring at a pot of rice porridge simmering over the fire.
“As your master, I’m only concerned about when dinner will be ready.”
Outside the ruined temple, the wind grew fiercer. Along the abandoned, muddy path, several figures sprinted forward, their lanterns swinging wildly. Seeing the firelight spilling out from the temple door, they scrambled and tumbled inside in a desperate rush.
Inside, they saw another scholar dressed in a green robe like their own, absorbed in a book.
“Hurry, block the door!”
Ignoring the scholar who had arrived before them, the four quickly grabbed some broken wooden planks nearby and worked together to drag a lopsided incense table over, barricading the door.
“Do you think they can’t get in now…?”
“There’s another scholar over there. Should we tell him?”
One of them nodded and was about to speak to the scholar, still engrossed in his reading when the wind outside suddenly fell silent. The fox’s cries drew closer, and soft footsteps could be heard just outside the door.
The four gulped nervously, sweat pouring down their pale faces.
“It’s over, it’s over.”
“Those two demons…”
“I told you, see no evil… now what are we going to do?”
The fire flickered, casting light on the nearby scholar, who slowly raised his eyes and asked: “Demons?”
The Toad Daoist, lying in a heap, half-opened his eyelids and snorted: “Just two little demons.”
Inside the temple, a sudden gust of cold wind blew through. From beside the fire, a shadow fluttered out from one of the scrolls on the bookcase. The four scholars, who had been hiding nervously behind the clutter, felt a chill down their spines and, trembling, turned their heads.
A vague, shadowy figure rose, its neck crooked at an odd angle.
The sight drained all color from their faces, and with a scream of “Aaaah!”, they darted away from the door and huddled in a corner.
“Why, why is there… a ghost in the temple…”
Outside, a graceful figure walked under the broken eaves. The moonlight cast a long, fox-like shadow on the ground, complete with a swaying tail. Her seductive yet sharp voice gently called out:
“Four noble gentlemen, come out…”
Another figure scraped its sharp claws along the temple walls, leaving trails of powder behind, followed by a sinister chuckle.
“If you don’t come out, this humble girl will have no choice but to come in.”
She reached the wall, which had small holes in it, and pressed her furry cheek against the surface, her elongated snout splitting into a grin.“I can see you…”
Her narrow gaze peered through the hole.
The four scholars, now huddled together in the corner, were staring in terror at something near the fire.
“Huh?”
The slender shadow outside shifted its gaze just as a ghastly face suddenly appeared on the other side of the hole, inches away.
Blood-red eyes stared directly into hers.
“Uwahhhh…”
Whether it was a scream or a roar of rage, the black figure at the hole recoiled several steps back in shock.
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