Chapter 308: Madam Wang! The Old Residence! Wedding and Funeral in Conflict! A Miasma of Darkness!

“It would be discourteous to decline your invitation, madam. In that case, I shall impose upon you,” Cao Xing replied.

With that, the litter was gently set down. One of the maidservants stepped forward and lifted the heavy curtain. Out stepped a delicate and charming young young lady, with fine, elegant features and willow-like brows, looking every bit the image of a respectable wife.

She walked up before Cao Xing, and offered him a graceful curtsey.

“Greetings, young master. I am surnamed Wang. Please forgive my forwardness, I could not bear to see you standing out in the cold wind.”

“Not at all, madam, you are too kind. But... might I ask, what place is this?”

“This is my mother’s home. Alas, my fate is bitter. After three years of marriage without bearing children, my husband’s family deemed me ill-starred and unworthy, and cast me out to return here.”

“Outrageous! Madam, your husband’s family shows no humanity. How could such a matter be blamed entirely upon you?”

The young young lady lifted her head slightly, her eyes reddened.

In a tender, delicate voice, she said, “Young master, you’re truly a rare man in this world, one who understands reason. These words of yours... they leave my heart a tangle of emotions, which are hard to put into words.”

“Madam, you are so beautiful and captivating. I have never encountered such beauty in my life. To wed you as a wife would be a blessing earned over three lifetimes. That your husband failed to cherish you makes him nothing but a colossal fool.”

A faint blush of shyness spread across Madam Wang’s face, enhancing her striking beauty.

“Young master, you must be jesting. I, with my paltry willow-like figure[1], could never be as fine as you describe.”

“Every word I speak is true. If there is a single falsehood in what I’ve said, I willingly submit to your reproach. Beat me, scold me as you will. Never would I dare lie.”

“Do you truly mean it?”

“As true as can be!”

“If you deceive me, then I... shall simply eat you whole!”

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

“So you also have a playful side! If it were possible to be eaten by you, madam, I would ask for nothing better!” Cao Xing’s heart burned hot. He felt there was hope!

This young young lady not only carried herself with charm and allure, she was also easy to tease, perfect for some fun time.

As Madam Wang walked into the old residence, her swaying figure made Cao Xing’s eyes burn red and his throat go dry, as he followed closely behind. Meanwhile, the two maidservants and the four litter bearers remained outside, waiting in place.

Creak!

A harsh sound rang out, and the great doors shut tight.

The night wind blew cold, stirring the red lanterns hanging high above, and it seemed as if they flickered with a faint greenish glow.

Then, the red lanterns turned into a pair of white lanterns bearing the character “Offering[2].”

It was a clash of wedding and funeral, as well as joy and mourning. It was an omen of great misfortune!

Just then, gusts of yin wind swept through. Greenish ghost-flames lit upon the faces of the maidservants and litter bearers, making their expressions look twisted, ghostly, terrifying. They were, unmistakably, paper effigies painted with thick rouge upon their cheeks.

Then, from afar came the sound of hooves. The white paper lanterns bearing the “Offering” character twisted and warped, returning once more into red lanterns. But the paper effigy maidservants and litter bearers standing stiffly by had suddenly vanished, which was truly eerie and uncanny.

In the distance, a vigorous donkey, grinning with a wicked, unrestrained smile, trotted forward slowly.

A handsome young man dressed as a Daoist rode atop the donkey. His expression was calm, and at his waist hung a straight, ancient, and unadorned long saber.

“An old residence deep in the mountains... How interesting...” His gaze was incomparably clear, bright as could be.

He then urged the donkey forward, slowly approaching the ancient house. Once he drew near, his body flipped lightly as the free-spirited man leapt down from the donkey’s back effortlessly and gracefully. Even while riding a donkey, he managed to convey a certain air of poetry.

Knock knock knock!

He stepped forward and knocked gently on the great door. Tilting his head, he listened. For a long while, there was no response.

Suddenly, with a

creak

, the heavy door opened a crack. Half a face appeared; it had fair and delicate features, belonging to a houseboy.

He looked quick-witted enough, yet in his eyes... there was only a dead blankness as he stared straight ahead, which was chilling to behold.

“You’ve arrived!” The houseboy’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“Mm.” Li Yanchu was inwardly a little surprised. Could the Illusory Form Daoist art really be this effective!?

The houseboy pushed one of the doors wider open, warmly inviting Li Yanchu inside. Beyond the threshold stretched only darkness without any light.

Li Yanchu led Blackie along, strolling in at an unhurried pace. The old residence sprawled across a vast tract of land, which was something Li Yanchu hadn’t expected. A faint aura of ghostly qi shrouded the place, though it was carefully concealed. If not observed with care, one would hardly sense the cold, yin chill of it.

From outside, the residence appeared pitch dark, yet once within the courtyard, it seemed lively. Many people were there, drinking and making merry!

“I heard that Grand Marshal Xu’s daughter is a rare beauty, and when it comes to exterminating sect strongholds, she shows no mercy at all. She’s burning hot like strong liquor!”

“Mr. Chang, don’t tell me you’ve set your sights on the Grand Marshal’s daughter?”

“But of course. If I could but taste her fragrance once, I’d die without regret!”

“That’s easily done. I’ll summon her for you, Mr. Chang, to liven up our drinking!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a young fop with peach blossom eyes[3] drew a sheet of paper from his robe.

His fingers deftly folded it a few times. Then, with a sudden puff of breath...

“Lu Li, come forth at once!”

The young man’s words had just fallen when the folded paper ignited of its own accord. In an instant it was reduced to ash. Yet the ash did not scatter with the wind. Instead, it coalesced into the figure of a striking woman in her twenties.

She stood tall and was clad in dark armor, and her eyes carried a trace of heroic spirit. At her waist hung the scholar’s sword of a refined warrior. On her pale, delicate face was a hint of surprise, as though startled by her sudden situation.

“Remarkable!”

“Master Chu, your command of sorcery is truly extraordinary!”

Everyone around beamed smiles of approval. They were men, after all, so they understood.

Then, Young Master Chu gave a slight smile, and his fingers pinched into a spell seal. At once, Lu Li’s body began to twist and sway. This young female general, brimming with killing intent only moments ago, now seemed touched with an aura of ethereal grace. What’s more, she exuded a subtle charm.

Then, Young Master Chu controlled her body, making her move to the pleasure of the crowd, especially the burly man who had just expressed his lust for her. His eyes burned hot, and he couldn’t help but lick his dry lips.

When Li Yanchu entered, none of them paid him the slightest attention. They simply kept on drinking and carousing, and he had not intended to act rashly either.

But seeing Lu Li ensnared and controlled before his eyes, at once, he felt a flicker of displeasure. Yet, he faintly sensed that something was not quite right with this Lu Li before his eyes.

Daoist ancient art, Qi Sight!

Clear light flashed in his gaze. That valiant, aristocratic young female general standing before them was no living being at all, but a finely crafted paper-cut controlled by sorcery and made to strike alluring poses.

Even so, this display still left Li Yanchu puzzled. He had not yet spoken up to put a stop to it when a stern voice rang out beside him.

“Outrageous! What kind of place do you think this is, that you dare toy with women here?” It was a middle-aged scholar, elegant in bearing, who rebuked them coldly.

He wore plain white Confucian robes, and his temples were dusted with gray. He exuded the calm assurance of a man of mastery, and his gaze was piercing to the extreme.

Young Master Chu forced a sheepish smile. “Mr. Hua, you’re right. I was reckless!”

Clearly, Mr. Hua held great authority among them. His eyes swept the group with icy detachment, and he seemed utterly impassive.

Then, a woman’s gentle voice sounded. “No need to be so strict. Everyone gathering here to amuse themselves is nothing unusual.”

The speaker was a woman of burly frame, every bit as robust as that towering man from before. Her face was unspeakably ugly. And yet, she somehow gave off an air of tenderness and allure! Her eyes especially looked as if they were shrouded by a veil of mist.

1. 薄柳之姿 is a poetic way to describe a woman as slender and graceful, like a willow swaying in the breeze. ☜

2. The character 奠 (diàn) means to offer, dedicate, or pay respects, especially in a ceremonial or memorial context. When seen on a white lantern, it typically signifies that the lantern is part of a funeral or memorial ritual, symbolizing an offering to the deceased or honoring ancestors. White is the traditional color of mourning in Chinese culture, so a white lantern with 奠 conveys solemnity, reverence, and remembrance. ☜

3. The term 桃花眼 (táo huā yǎn) literally means “peach-blossom eyes” and is a classical Chinese expression used to describe a certain shape and aesthetic of the eyes. These eyes are typically almond-shaped, slightly upturned at the corners. In literature and art, 桃花眼 is associated with a romantic or flirtatious appeal, suggesting a person whose gaze can be captivating or enchanting, much like the delicate and attractive appearance of peach blossoms in spring. ☜