Volume Two: An Eventful Autumn, Full of Twists and Turns Chapter 101: Waiting by the Tree Stump — A Painful Reminiscence

“Then I pushed him away twice, and he said it wasn’t off, so he got up and came over. Before I could react, he stole a kiss from me.”

“Oh, it was just a sneaky kiss. Haven’t you two practically reached the point of marriage? A kiss here and there—why are you crying so much? Before, when he wanted to kiss you, I never saw you react like this.”

“It was different before.”

“How so? Did he kiss you with his foot before?”

“He didn’t get handsy before, but…”

Chen Xin hadn’t finished her sentence when Chang Yu’s eyes lit up, swallowing hard.

“Oh my, that coward got handsy with you? Tell me, tell me, how did he get handsy with you?”

Chen Xin lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment. Chang Yu grew anxious. Why stop now at the crucial moment?

“Tsk, come on, say it. Or how about this: after you finish, I’ll tell you how you ruined my plans. Deal?”

Curious, Chen Xin lifted her head and continued, “He stole a kiss, and I got scared and stood up. Next thing I knew, he was holding my waist, his hands wandering restlessly, inching us closer to the bed. I wasn’t willing, so he started pulling at my clothes, saying that when the time, place, and people are right, it should happen.”

Chang Yu almost spat out the tea she had just sipped upon hearing this.

“And then? You didn’t hit him, did you?”

Chen Xin nodded innocently.

“I bit him once. Don’t know if I hurt him. Then I ran out.”

Chang Yu was frustrated. She thought something was about to happen, but the arrow was already drawn and yet nothing occurred. Worse, Chen Xin had spoiled her chance.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt wronged. If only Chen San weren’t so useless! She was already Mrs. Yang! The anger bubbled up until she nearly grabbed the Qing Sword to chop Chen San down.

“What good thing did you have, sister? I didn’t quite catch it earlier.”

Chang Yu sighed, looking utterly dispirited. “That good thing was all Chen San’s doing. I was ready, Yang Chengzi resigned himself, I was loosening my belt, and then the madam knocked and said you stormed out in a huff. So here I am, pulling up my pants to find you!” Her teeth clenched, her voice thick with irritation.

Chen Xin stared at Chang Yu in shock, cheeks burning. “Sister, you… you’re a young lady, and you…”

“What choice did I have? If Yang Chengzi acted like Chen San, would I just stand there like a wooden doll, not moving a muscle? Waiting for that? I might as well wait until the next life to be Mrs. Yang!”

So that was the story. Chen Xin smiled awkwardly at Chang Yu. “Sorry, sister, I ruined your plans. I won’t dare next time.”

With a bang, Chang Yu slammed the table, sending the teapot and cups flying.

“Hmph, it’s all that Chen San’s fault. Can’t even handle his own wife, and now both chances are gone. I’m furious! When he comes back, I swear I’ll give him a good beating.”

“Hehe, calm down, sister. I barely ate anything just now and I’m still hungry. Let me order some food for us.” Chen Xin grabbed the still fuming Chang Yu.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t eaten either. We did drink the nuptial wine though. Ah, so close! Let’s go, let’s see what we can eat.” The two went downstairs for dinner.

That night, Chen Xin and Chang Yu lay in bed whispering, while poor Yang Chengzi and Chen San suffered. Especially Chen San—the courtesan’s nightly vigil was the main event, and aside from the first night, he had been sleeping by the foot of the bed every night.

Yang Chengzi had asked him to sense demonic energy, but Chen San had long since given up on that. He was too busy dealing with lecherous patrons, exhausted, and barely remembering the task. With eyes half-shut, he muttered occasionally:

“Close doors and windows, guard against theft.”

Just then, the night watchman’s gong echoed outside. It was already the last hour of the night. The sudden noise roused Chen San, who wiped the drool from his mouth and tried to go back to sleep.

Suddenly, a strong scent of seductive demonic aura filled the air, instantly awakening Chen San.

“Where is this powerful demonic energy coming from? I have to find Yang Chengzi.”

He carefully stepped over the sleeping man on the bed, clutching his sheer gown, and tiptoed off to find Yang Chengzi.

At the end of the corridor, Yang Chengzi’s door was ajar. The room was empty.

Chen San peered in cautiously, muttering, “Did he go out to fight it alone? He really doesn’t take me seriously, does he? Thinks I’m just here to be a courtesan?” Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and focused on sensing the demonic energy.

The aura crept upward from the floor. That wasn’t right. He checked again carefully.

Puzzled, he muttered, “Why is it coming from the floor? That’s not demonic energy—it’s foot odor!”

Looking around, he suddenly realized, “Oh, right, it’s downstairs. No wonder it seemed to come from the floor.”

He quietly descended the stairs. Below, a young woman in a sheer gown was crouched by the window of that room, peering inside like a cat, unaware of Chen San’s approach.

Chen San froze, startled. Looking closer, it was Yang Chengzi! Since when did the senior disciple of Mount Mao have such a voyeuristic habit?

He crept closer, but before he reached the window, Yang Chengzi raised a hand to signal him to stay back, then after a pause, turned and crept toward Chen San.

“You sensed the demon too? I thought you were asleep.”

“Pfft, how could I sleep? I’m here to help you slay demons, not to be a courtesan.”

“Oh? You got it backwards. I called Wen Liangsheng to find you, shouted for ages with no response, and here you are, ‘helping’ me kill demons. Sounds nice.”

“Next time, tell him to be louder. Who can hear such a whisper?”

“Forget it, no next time. The demon’s already out.”

“Out? You saw it?”

“Of course. No demon, no demonic aura. I’m figuring out how to kill it now.”

“What are you doing?”

“You go see for yourself. What else could a seductive demon be up to?”

“How should I know? Seriously.”

Chen San crept to the window and peeked inside. What he saw made him gasp—then, nosebleed.

The madam and two men were having a wild time inside. The three of them were entwined with only sheer cloth draped over them. The two men were down to just their trousers.

Though the madam wasn’t a beauty by imperial standards, her curvaceous figure and porcelain skin made her look quite young. She wasn’t stunning, but passable.

The three were tangled together in a storm of passion, and Chen San watched, burning with heat and disgust. He cursed inwardly, knowing Yang Chengzi had a voyeuristic streak, and calling him a monster with a human face and beast’s heart.

Yang Chengzi, oblivious to Chen San’s thoughts, frowned and pondered how to slay the seductive demon. Unlike ghosts, these demons, like illusion demons, could cloud the mind. One misstep and you’d be trapped. He had never slain such a demon before and was unsure how to proceed.

After their bout, the madam draped herself in sheer fabric and stood, arms outstretched as if savoring something, eyes closed, absorbing the essence and blood energy drifting from the two men below.

The two men on the floor were entranced, unconscious, wrapped around each other like corpses. With their essence and blood drained, they aged visibly in moments.

The gathered essence and blood energy flowed into the madam and a black jar open beside her.

With a satisfied laugh, the madam gently licked her lips and murmured to herself, “Sister, how does the taste of these filthy men’s essence and blood strike you? Isn’t it delicious? If only you still had a body, it would be even sweeter.”

A burst of demonic energy drifted from the black jar. A stunning soul appeared faintly before the madam, smiling softly.

“This isn’t bad—not only does it strengthen our cultivation, but we remain in the mortal realm to punish these wretched men, shortening their lives. It’s just hard on you, little sister, having to let these men take advantage every time.”

“Who told you sister’s beauty is fleeting? It can’t be helped. If not for earning more medicine money for Father, you wouldn’t have gone with that hunter to the Tianxiang Courtesan House. If you hadn’t gone there…”

The madam fell into a reverie.

More than twenty years ago, north of Yutai Town, there was a small village. Yutai Town was still the prosperous place it had always been, and though this village was on its outskirts, it was home to the poor.

Later, as Yutai Town improved its roads and scenery, it absorbed the village. The villagers earned silver by helping with the town’s development, allowing many to buy farmland and houses elsewhere, finally living comfortably.

But before that, the villagers had lived poorly, with little farmland and many refugees fleeing famine. They depended heavily on Yutai Town.

Though Yutai Town was filled with officials and nobles, their wealth meant high prices. The villagers lived in hardship, grateful just to avoid starvation.

There was one family in the village, barely making ends meet, pushed to the brink by a severe illness.

Old Wu and his family of four came from Wuyang Village hundreds of miles away. His two daughters, peach blossoms in bloom, were named Tao Hua and Tao Ye. They lived simple, peaceful lives until a flood and plague destroyed Wuyang Village.

Though the family survived, their home was gone. Tearfully, they left their ancestral land.

With no food, they survived on wild plants and fruits. With no shelter, they took refuge in ruined temples and places shielded from rain. At least they were together, which offered some comfort.

Just as hope seemed lost, they arrived at Yutai Town—a bustling place that had ruined their lives.

To settle, the family built a crude hut outside town. Old Wu sought work in Yutai Town but, old and illiterate, only found hard labor.

The daughters, unwilling to see their father’s aged body bear the burden alone, secretly searched for jobs in town to ease his load.

If they were boys, jobs would be easy, but as young women—both beautiful, especially Tao Hua, though unadorned—it was tough.

After searching, they only found maidservant positions. For other girls, that was fine, but for these beauties, they attracted unwanted attention. Everywhere, men coveted their bodies and faces. With no choice, they stayed home, watching their father’s health decline.

One day, Old Wu lay coughing blood. The sisters resigned themselves.

They finally found a laundry job at a grand inn, but just then, their father’s illness worsened.

They earned a few coppers, not enough to hire a doctor. A kind-hearted doctor visited but shook his head; the chronic cough required expensive medicine they could not afford. The doctor was helpless.

The sisters wept daily, praying for mercy. To buy medicine, they begged the innkeeper for extra chores cleaning the inn—work not originally theirs. Grateful, they accepted.

With extra income, they could at least buy some medicine, if not the best.

Just as hope dawned, one day while Tao Hua cleaned alone, the innkeeper followed her, locked the door, and abused her. A frail girl could not resist a strong man.

After torment, he tossed a few broken silver coins on the bed with threats before leaving.

Tao Hua cried, curled at the bed’s foot, overcome with pain and shame, wishing for death. But she thought of her sick father, her worn mother, and helpless sister. If she died, who would care for them?

Wiping her tears, trembling hands picked up the coins and resumed cleaning, burying the secret alone.

But once was not enough. The innkeeper repeatedly abused Tao Hua. Over time she became numb. At least he gave her some silver, sparing her family from harsher toil.

Yet things were worse than she imagined. When Tao Ye tearfully told Tao Hua of the innkeeper’s abuse, her sister broke down, unable to believe it happened to her too.

She did not blame her impoverished birth or the flood that destroyed their village. She cursed fate for tormenting her family repeatedly, making them a laughingstock.

“Fine. Since you want to make a joke of us, I’ll give you all the show you want!”

With this resolve, Tao Hua told her sister, “Tao Ye, don’t cry. I’ve already been violated by that beast. Father’s illness worsens, Mother’s hands are ruined from washing all day. Since neither of us is unblemished anymore, let’s leave.”

Tao Ye was shocked but trusted her sister and wiped her tears.

“Where will we go? Father needs money for medicine. We can’t leave. No other place pays as well.”

Tao Hua, disheartened, had a plan.

“I’m no longer unblemished. There are places in town where girls earn silver. Which courtesan isn’t dressed in gold and silver?”

“Sister, you…” Tao Ye’s heart shattered hearing this. Seeing the hopelessness in her sister’s eyes, she dared not ask more. Her tears flowed like a broken dam.

“I’m your sister. Father’s sick, and I should take care of you both. But I’m powerless. Since these filthy men want my body, I’ll go to the brothel. That way, you won’t suffer anymore.”

With a heavy heart, Tao Hua entered a brothel in town—the very Tianxiang Courtesan House.

Since then, Tao Ye felt guilty. Though only a year younger, Tao Hua sacrificed herself to entertain men, while Tao Ye cared for their father.

Yet, the silver flowed like a river. No more cheap, ineffective medicine for Father; no more endless washing for Mother.

Still, every time Tao Hua returned with money, Father and Mother asked questions she dodged.

Tao Ye noticed bruises on her sister’s arms and neck and felt heartache. They were both no longer untouched; why should Tao Hua bear all the pain alone?

Inevitably, Tao Ye followed Tao Hua to the brothel. Tao Hua resisted, fought, and scolded, but Tao Ye was determined. Threatening to tell their parents if not taken, Tao Hua relented. The sisters clung and wept long before leaving.

Time passed quickly. Though both sisters worked at the brothel, life did not improve as they hoped.

Father’s cough nearly healed, but age worsened his condition. Several doctors examined him without success, resorting to wild ginseng to prolong his life.

The sisters bought expensive wild ginseng, hiding it in a broken bowl to avoid Mother’s suspicion.

Fortunately, Father’s decline slowed, but the precious ginseng drained their silver fast.

The sisters: Tao Hua, lovely and refined, made radiant with rouge and powder, smiled sweetly with endless charm. Tao Ye, less radiant but with skin pure as white jade, was also a natural beauty.