25. The Mrs. Long San Whose Love Seems Aroused
Translated by Ju Hua
Edited by Pu Er
Feng Ning let loose the sword in her hands, and with one large stride rushed up to check the man’s jugular vein. He really was dead. Even though this matched what she was seeing, Feng Ning couldn’t help but tremble.
The woman’s scream attracted a crowd of onlookers, with many people sticking their heads out and looking around in an “oo la la” manner, causing the area to be surrounded. Long San suddenly in one big stride went over, and placed Feng Ning horizontally against his chest before Feng Ning could react. Just as she began struggling, Long San pressed her head into his chest, causing her hat to become crooked which ended up concealing her entire face.
Long San loudly exclaimed, “Aiyah, there’s a dead person, how frightening. My family’s little servant fainted, please give way. Xian Er guniang[1], I must trouble you to clear the area.”
Feng Ning’s eyes were blocked, and she could only hear a lot of noises nearby. Long San used force in particular to hold onto both of her arms. Feng Ning suddenly understood. If the person who killed the large man did not leave too far, and if that person had similar goals as the large man, then just a moment ago her appearance there was pretty much like walking into a trap.
Feng Ning couldn’t help but shiver a little. What was happening exactly? Why were there people trying to kill her one after the other? Why did the person who was trying to kill her meet with misfortune?
Long San held her and entered a room. Feng Ning heard the sound of the door shutting, and then she was placed on a chair. She lifted her hand to fix the large hat, causing her little face to be revealed.
Lifting her head, she was met with the sight of Long San’s serious and extremely angry face.
“When I left earlier, what did I tell you?”
“No mischief, no sneaking around, and no losing temper.” Feng Ning replied properly. From the corner of her eyes she cast a glance at the woman that was standing by the doorway covering her mouth and sneakily laughing, the same woman who just earlier was hugging and holding onto Long San.
Laughing, laughing about what? The two of them were a married couple discussing things, what did this have anything to do with an outsider like her?
Long Sang extended his hands to hold her face and brought her gaze back to him. “Then why didn’t you listen?”
“You didn’t say I couldn’t go find you. I was worried you were in danger, so I brought you the sword.” Feng Ning replied. The slight guilt she originally felt was extinguished because of the woman who was sneakily laughing, leaving her mind only full of resentment.
Long San stared at her while she stared at the woman, and finally Long San could only voice out, “Xian Er, could you see what the situation is outside?”
The woman who was called Xian Er shot a smile at Feng Ning, and leisurely swayed on out.
“That person is in this city. Since you’ve brought me here, naturally it would be dangerous here.” Feng Ning was not convinced.
“The place I arranged for you to stay at is safe.”
“The world has many people who look alike. If I’m not there, then how would you confirm if the person was him?”
“I have a probing method, and when the time came for you to personally confirm it, I would have naturally allowed you to see.”
“So hugging a woman is a way to probe? This method is really good.” Feng Ning’s mouth pouted enough to hang a bottle of oil from [2].
Long San stared at her, and she bravely glared back at him. Feng Ning was reflected in Long San’s eyes, but his mood was unclear. He suddenly sighed. “Feng Ning, we’re now something like good partners, and good friends of justice. In this sense we get along. But anything further, towards you, I feel that it’s inappropriate.”
The topic changed quickly. Feng Ning understood, but was really shocked, and could only feel the rims of her eyes growing hot with tears almost spilling out. She blinked her eyes, blinked again, and then blinked hard, finally holding back the painful feelings.
“Okay, then let’s agree, whoever likes the other first, is a pig!” Feng Ning spoke with emphasis on the word “pig,” making it resounding.
Long San gritted his teeth, and reached his hand out wanting to stroke her face but before he could say anything comforting, Feng Ning had already smacked his palm away. She asked, “The person is dead, so what should our next move be?”
Long San carefully looked at her and replied, “There are friends here who will help us investigate further. We temporarily can’t leave, so we’ll stay here for two days first. As for the inn, I’ll find someone to bring our baggage over.
“Why must we stay here?”
“The most dangerous place is the safest. If the opposing party really is after you, then killing the large man was to get rid of him before he could speak, which means he knows our whereabouts and motives. This is a crime scene, he wouldn’t think that we would remain here instead of leaving. Once we’ve figured out what’s going on, and that it’s safe, then we’ll leave.”
“Okay.” Feng Ning didn’t object or argue, nor did she find anything wrong with them staying in a brothel. She replied straightforwardly, then lowered her head and didn’t look at him.
Long San stared at her slightly damp forehead, and with this kind of appearance, he felt an anguish in his heart he couldn’t voice out, and extended his hand to stroke her hair. Softly he said, “Feng Ning…”
Just after he spoke, he saw Feng Ning raise her head and fiercely glare at him. “Why do you bother liking me? It’s not my fault that I am lovable. If you do like me, then you’re a pig! Fat pig! Stupid pig! Foolish pig! Dwarf pig! Meaty pig…!” Full of anger, she continuously cried out pig, and Long San could not help but laugh.
“What are you laughing at?! Silly laughing pig!”
Long San widely grinned, “I also don’t know why. Every time the mood is depressing and somber, you cause me to laugh.”
Feng Ning glared hard at him, glared and glared, making him unable to laugh anymore. He gently looked into her eyes. “The current you, is really a nice guniang.”
Feng Ning grit her teeth, “He’s a liar.”
“Who?”
“He had told me, as long as you are sincere, then you would receive the same back but, what he said is wrong. Even though I am sincere, with all of the things that I’ve done in the past, how is it possible for me to get past it?”
Her voice choked a little, and her eyes were red. “I don’t even know what I did in the past, but because of the things I did everyone doesn’t like me. Someone wants to kill me, someone hates me, and there isn’t a single person who cherishes me. On one hand I’m worried that I’m a bad person, on the other I’m worried that I will forget the present, but no one cares. Long San, this kind of treatment is unfair to me. I would be scared. I really am scared.”
She rambled on and on, and finally couldn’t hold back. The tears spilled down. “Being sincere is no use. I was a bad person in the past, and all of you guys only remember that. Even if I do my best to be good, it’s no use. No one will like me.” The more she spoke, the more hurt she felt, and the harder she bawled.
Long San embraced her into his chest. “Feng Ning, that isn’t the case.”
“Yes it is! You’re afraid that I like you, and afraid that I will bother you. You’re only taking care of me like you would a friend. You pity me, and you’re only treating me like a moocher. That’s what you really mean!”
“Feng Ning, is this how you think I am?” Long San pulled her face out, and looked into her eyes.
Feng Ning’s mouth twitched and said, “You are, you are.”
“You know that I’m not. You know this clearly in your heart.”
“You are, you are.” Feng Ning turned her head and once again buried her head into his chest, smearing her snot and tears all over him.
“If you really considered me like that, then you wouldn’t treat me like this.” Long San gently caressed her hair. She asked such silly questions, how could he not understand?
“This morning I clearly saw it. You treat all women well, you love smiling at them, and treating them gently.” Feng Ning’s voice was muffled with her head buried into his chest.
“I don’t worry if they will starve, or worry if they’ll have a nightmare and can’t sleep…” Before he could finish, Feng Ning abruptly raised her head. “You can’t like me, or else you’re a pig!”
“Ah, I know.” Long San actually responded. The two of them stared at each other in silence. After a long while, Feng Ning rubbed her eyes, and heard Long San softly say, “You’ve forgotten the past, so would be afraid towards me who’s unfamiliar. I remember the past, so towards this unfamiliar you, I would also be hesitant.”
Feng Ning imagined Long San’s face twisted in fear, and amused herself with the image. She thought and thought, and finally felt what Long San said made sense. If she was in his position, she was afraid she wouldn’t be so open-minded, but would definitely drive the hated person far, far away, telling her to go die. Yet the way he treated her should be regarded as good.
She thought for a bit, and finished with a nod. “Then let’s agree, we need to get along.”
“Yes.” Long San replied. Even though he was the one who mentioned it, and it went the way he wanted it to, he felt a brief sense of loss.
“Long San, that person didn’t speak Xiao country’s language.” Feng Ning changed the topic quickly, but Long San followed up.
“How have you heard him speak? Did you recall something?”
“I dreamt of him yesterday. He told me that everything was my fault for being nosy. I didn’t think much of it while dreaming, but just now I remembered that it wasn’t the language of Xiao country, but the language of Xia country.” Feng Ning very naturally spoke the dialect smoothly, giving herself a scare. “Long San, why do I know that it’s Xia country’s language? Where is Xia country? I can actually speak it.”
Long San was also surprised and suspicious, but he said, “Maybe you remembered it from the dream. Xia country and Xiao country are neighboring kingdoms, and have mutual exchanges. You might have previously also heard someone else speaking it. I can also speak a few words. It’s not anything out of the ordinary.”
“You travel extensively, and knowing the language isn’t strange. But I’m a lady from a wealthy family[3], ok?” She blatantly praised herself, making Long San amused again. Once he was amused, Feng Ning couldn’t help but glare at him.
Long San lightly coughed twice, and said, “What you’ve just said, I’ll remember it. I’ll investigate this person’s background, and also the relationship between your maternal home and Xia’s people.” Feng Ning nodded her head, while Long San added, “This time you will be obedient, and not randomly run around, alright?”
Feng Ning lifted her eyes and sadly looked at him, so Long San said, “When I’m out investigating, I really can’t bring you along. This room is clean, and this side is also peaceful. There won’t be anyone bothering you.” From the door he took his sword over. “Here, I’m leaving my sword in your care. Don’t just randomly leave it someplace, I really treasure it.”
Feng Ning took the sword, and brought it to her chest. Just casually throwing it away earlier made her feel a bit bad. Long San knelt down, with his eyes facing her eyes. “I’ll be back very soon, ah.”
Long San quickly left, and once he closed the door, Feng Ning suddenly felt like there was emptiness around her. She held onto the sword, and sat in the room in a daze. Her mind was sort of in a mess, but also like it was empty. Not knowing how much time had passed, she faintly heard through the partitioned door a woman’s voice softly saying, “…asked is very lively, food portions are large, loves smiling…”
Feng Ning couldn’t hear clearly, so she moved, only to discover that she had fallen asleep at the table. She was confused, and saw Long San push the door open to enter. She rubbed her eyes, and massaged her stiff face. Seeing his expression, she knew what he wanted to say, and rushed to say, “I didn’t sleep. I’ve been waiting for you. Do you have any news?”
Long San replied, “There really was someone asking about you. I’ve already arranged for someone to take him to another city. If everything goes as planned, then he’ll leave very soon. Then tomorrow we’ll go in a different direction.”
Feng Ning wrinkled her brows. “Then can I secretly take a look at him? Maybe I’ll be able to recall something.”
“I’m afraid they might be an organization. Right now the situation is unclear, it’s not a risk we should take.” Long San explained, “Currently we can’t be sure if the person who’s asking about you is the same person as the murderer in the brothel. If someone notifies him, and there’s any information then I will know. Additionally, the large man who was killed today was indeed not a Xiao citizen. Temporarily I haven’t discovered any accomplices, but we can’t be careless. If everything goes according to my plan, then tomorrow we’ll leave in disguises.”
“Long San, I have an idea.” Feng Ning felt her patience running out.
“Right now we can’t use your idea. We don’t have enough help, and I’m not confident enough.”
Feng Ning pouted. “I haven’t even said it yet, how do you know it won’t work?”
“Isn’t it that you want to use yourself as bait, to lure the person out?” Long San completely understood her intentions, and said, “Don’t worry, the truth will eventually come out. It’s not worth it to gamble your life on.”
The next day, everything was as Long San expected. The person who was secretly inquiring about Feng Ning was tricked into going to a different city, and Long San had arranged people in that city to purposely hinder him. Long San finished packing, and personally took Feng Ning to mix into the caravans, and then left the city in a different direction. He planned to travel through a detour, first taking Feng Ning back home, making sure that she’s in a safe place, then discussing other matters.
At dusk, the two of them sat in the woods and ate dry rations after making a campfire. Long San unloaded the baggage from the horse’s back, and brought the horses into the woods to graze. By the side of the campfire he spread out a blanket, intending to spend the night there.
Feng Ning pretended to be busy eating, and sneakily looked at him, stealing a glance, and then another… looked enough that Long San felt uncomfortable all over. After paring a long, slender, sharp branch, he walked over to the nearby little stream to catch fish.
He took off his shoes, rolled up his trousers, and stepped into the stream. Feng Ning saw his back facing her, and courageously looked at him in detail. Long San only felt his back suddenly burning with an itch, and no matter what he did it wouldn’t go away. The fish were arrogantly swimming by his feet, and even though he stabbed a few times, all of them missed.
Feng Ning looked at his clumsy movements, and inwardly criticized, “So silly, if it was me, I would’ve already caught about 8 to 10 fishes to serve.” She stared fixedly at Long San. The more she looked, the more she felt he was stupid, and ‘ha ha’ laughed.
She didn’t get to be proud for long, because she suddenly saw Long San throw away the wooden branch, turning his body around with a murderous aura and rushing over. Before Feng Ning could react, he already took his arms and seized her, carried her entire body, and actually walked towards the little stream.
Feng Ning finally regained her senses, and was panicking, loudly crying. The little stream was shallow, and was only as deep as Long San’s big thigh however the water area was wide. Long San had spent a long time persuading her before she was willing to sit at a far distance in the woods, and if it wasn’t for Long San walking barefeet into the water, she wouldn’t have gone over to see. And now he wanted to throw her in there? She would die.
Feng Ning loudly cried. Her two arms were tightly hugging onto Long San’s neck, and she loudly begged for mercy. “Hero, I was wrong, please don’t throw me down. Third master, I was wrong, I know I was wrong.”
“What did you do wrong?” Long San snapped. This crazy woman would just foolishly cause trouble. If he didn’t give her a little scare, it would be hard to extinguish the “anger in his heart.”
Feng Ning stared at Long San with big eyes. “That’s right, what did I do wrong?” She stiffened her body, and tried her best not to think about the water below her. She saw that Long San had no real intention to throw her in, and while tightly holding onto Long San arrogantly said, “I haven’t done anything, so what did I do wrong?”
The innocent and pitiful appearance she put up was very cute, and Long San gazed at her for a moment, speechless. The two of them stared at each other, their gazes in a stalemate. Enveloped beneath the golden light of sunset, the entire atmosphere seemed to heat up.
A sharp sound rang out at this moment and ruined the moment. Long San’s ears acted, and he quickly turned his head only to find that an arrow had landed in front of him. If he just quickly dodged, Feng Ning would definitely be thrown into the stream. Long San subconsciously turned his body to dodge, and used both arms to hold Feng Ning, taking her towards the shore.
Then, a muffled “pu” sound was heard. An arrow had pierced into his shoulder.