Chapter 5 Zhuangzi's Dream (Part 5) Warm Spring Pavilion, the largest shopping mall in Huaidu…
The cold wind that lingered outside seeped through the cracks in the door, making a strange whistling sound.
The candlelight on the table swayed back and forth in the wind, casting flickering light and shadow that made Song San's face appear patchy, alternating between blue and white.
It happened suddenly; she returned without any warning.
Song San rubbed away non-existent cold sweat from his face, belatedly realizing that he was weak and numb, as if he had been pressed down by a sack full of grain all night.
She struggled to move her legs, and a wave of soreness and numbness immediately made her look miserable.
"Hiss—" she gasped.
After not moving around for so long, it feels like her lower body no longer belongs to her.
After she finally calmed down, she remembered the person in her bed.
Dragging his unsteady legs, Song San moved step by step toward the edge of the collapse.
Fortunately, there was no one else in the room, and her reputation wasn't that important to her, so no matter how comical her actions were, it wasn't too unsightly.
She leaned over, braced herself against the side of the bed, and used her finger to probe under Gu Lianzhou's nose. Then she grasped his wrist and carefully felt it.
Breathing was steady, and the pulse was strong, just as it had been when I was asleep.
This person is really something...
The gaze directed at Gu Lianzhou became much more complex.
When ordinary people are possessed by evil spirits, not to mention their mental state, their physical weakness is also visibly apparent. But Gu Lianzhou is different. Not only is his complexion rosy, but his pulse is also no different from that of a healthy adult.
How strange.
It didn't seem like he was nourishing evil spirits; it was more like the opposite.
Song San narrowed his eyes, put down Gu Lianzhou's hand, and got up to call Gu Shaoyang.
As instructed by her, Gu Shaoyang stood guard at the door, not letting anyone in. Upon hearing the sound of the door opening, he immediately stepped forward and asked anxiously, "How is my brother? Has he woken up?"
Song San shook his head: "Young Master Gu is still asleep and has not yet woken up."
She briefly recounted what she had encountered in the illusion. Upon hearing that her brother had been given a carving knife as a child, Gu Shaoyang's eyes showed visible shock: "It is true, Brother Song, please help me save my brother."
He seemed so anxious that this was the only sentence he knew.
Song San understood his feelings and nodded, saying, "Of course I know."
She glanced at Gu Shaoyang, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to say "I need to pay more."
Upon careful consideration, one hundred taels of silver was more than enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life, which was already more than enough. Asking for more would only make her seem mercenary.
He doesn't seem like a sorcerer, but rather like a businessman.
Besides, her master often said that saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, so she could consider it an opportunity to accumulate merit today.
She glanced at the maids and servants not far away, and suddenly remembered the "ink man" in the illusion. Her eyelids twitched, and she couldn't bear to look anymore.
She beckoned to Gu Shaoyang, signaling him to lean down and listen.
The two exchanged a few words in hushed tones, and Gu Shaoyang nodded thoughtfully before entering the house.
Song San clasped his hands together, breathed warm air into his palms, and glanced at the vast courtyard.
A snowflake drifted down, touched my warm eyelid, and melted into a drop of water.
A chill spread instantly, causing her to close her eyes briefly.
It's snowing again.
-
After seeing Gu Shaoyang out of the house, Song San casually closed the door and turned to go behind the screen.
She picked up the incense sticks scattered on the table and stared at them for a while.
The room was quiet, and Gu Lianzhou's even breathing could be clearly heard.
If only he were just asleep.
As he thought this, a glimmer of light flashed through his mind, and a strange feeling surged within Song San once again.
As the saying goes, a flash of inspiration can vanish without a trace when you try to grasp it.
After a moment's pause, she lit the incense by candlelight, repeated the previous steps, held the bronze mirror, and circled the bed, solemnly reciting the incantation for finding the demon.
As drowsiness returned, she finally realized something was wrong.
However, it was still too late.
The bronze mirror slipped from his fingertips and fell to the ground with a "thud".
All his strength was drained away, and Song San collapsed limply, using the momentum to pull up the bed curtains hanging down beside him.
Behind the soft, gauze curtains where no one could see, the young man's eyes darted around rapidly beneath his thin eyelids.
-
The cold liquid splashed onto the back of his hand. Song San subconsciously curled his fingers, then gripped the smooth tabletop, struggling to sit up.
Before she could see her surroundings clearly, a silk handkerchief as white as a cloud gently brushed across her hand, wiping away the water.
"Master, Yunniang's hand slipped, I'm so sorry." The woman's small red lips appeared beside Song San's eyes. As she spoke, the fragrance of osmanthus and orchid permeated his bones, making him infatuated.
Song San felt dizzy and struggled to pound his head, asking, "Where am I?"
The woman then smiled and said, "Warm Spring Pavilion."
"Sir, you're drunk."
What's the situation now?
Song San silently recited the calming mantra several times. As the things in front of him gradually became clearer, he turned his head to look at the person who had spoken.
The woman had a fair complexion, peach-like cheeks, and delicate, arched eyebrows.
Her eyes were eyes, her nose was a nose, unlike the terrifying one I saw last time, and she was a beauty.
After a moment of confusion, Song San pulled his hand away, put it under his nose, and smelled it, his brows slowly furrowing.
It smells of alcohol.
The monster is playing tricks on her again.
She laughed in exasperation: "Where is Gu Lianzhou?"
Upon hearing this, the woman pulled up her handkerchief and covered half of her red lips, feigning a shy expression: "Oh, are you talking about that handsome, elegant, and generous Mr. Gu?"
Song San: "?"
Handsome and dashing? That child?
The woman smiled and said, "Young Master Gu is listening to music outside."
Song San couldn't laugh. She opened her mouth, wanting to retort, but the music outside suddenly increased, drowning out the surrounding noise.
She suddenly stood up, startling the woman.
"Sir, where are you going..."
Song San ignored him, walked around the low table, and went outside.
Once the dizziness subsided, his hearing returned to 90%. The surrounding noise of people, the clinking of glasses, and the rousing drumbeats in the center of the hall enveloped Song San like a tidal wave.
Looking out, countless lanterns are strung together in long lines, crisscrossing and illuminating a magnificent and spectacular scene.
Song San slowly opened his eyes wide.
Directly opposite her was a huge, colorful mural of flying apsaras, which, perhaps mixed with gold powder, shimmered under the light.
A high platform is set up in front of the mural, around which more than ten red drums are placed, supported by wooden frames and surrounding the platform. Dancers dressed in various costumes gracefully leap on the drums.
It's as if the murals of flying apsaras have come to life, and fairies have descended to earth.
This is clearly not the Gu residence. According to what that girl just said, this is some kind of warm...spring pavilion.
That's right, it's Nuanchun Pavilion, the biggest den of iniquity in Huaidu.
Song San vaguely remembered that Gu Shaoyang had mentioned to her before that her elder brother often lingered in this place, and it was here that he was entangled by evil spirits.
That's correct.
No wonder the illusion felt so real; it turned out it had returned to the "home" of demons and monsters.
She stood behind the railing on the second floor of the Warm Spring Pavilion, looking down and could clearly see the fluttering robes of the dancers on the stage, as well as the golden bells on their ankles.
This is a stand with an excellent view.
Song San had no interest in admiring the scenery. She glanced around but couldn't find the handsome and distinguished Mr. Gu that Yun Niang had described, and she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
What has Gu Lianzhou become this time?
After the dance ended, the entire hall erupted in applause.
Golden leaves drifted down and scattered across the high platform.
Song San reached out and casually picked up a gold leaf, playing with it between his fingers. His gaze fell on the man who had scattered money on the third floor—a robust middle-aged man—and he paused.
This person looks somewhat familiar.
Song San squinted for a moment, then slowly tightened his grip on the gold leaf.
Isn't this the same butler Hu who personally threw her out of the Gu residence last time?
But the man was beaming with pride and shouted to the crowd, "Young Master Gu is in a good mood and invites everyone to drink. Drink to your heart's content today, and don't leave until you're completely drunk!"
"good--"
"Thank you, Young Master Gu!" The crowd erupted in cheers.
Butler Hu put away the box containing the gold leaves, turned slightly, and Song San stared at him without blinking until he saw him stop beside someone.
He was a young gentleman, leaning back in a mahogany armchair in a very languid posture. Because his back was to her, her face could not be seen.
He was dressed in red and green, like a colorful butterfly, and stood out in the crowd.
Song San's eyelids twitched.
Then he saw this man laughing and talking to the young people around him, before clasping his hands in a fist and bowing, getting up and leaving his seat.
Seeing that he was about to leave, Song San knew something was wrong.
She threw down the gold leaf and turned to chase after him, but before she could even step out of the private room, a slender, snow-white arm suddenly appeared around her waist.
That arm was like steel bars, clamping her tightly and preventing her from moving an inch.
Yunniang tiptoed closer to Song San's ear and breathed softly, "Young master, have a few more drinks."
What are you drinking!
Song San struggled a few times but couldn't break free. He gave up on resisting the woman behind him and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Gu Lianzhou! Gu Lianzhou—"
Yunniang seemed surprised that she would use this trick and was momentarily stunned.
Gu Lianzhou heard the noise and looked over.
From afar, he saw the short boy with a gloomy face, as if he had been smeared with soot, being held in the arms of a beautiful woman.
Gu Lianzhou then smiled.
He was just a boy in his early twenties, laughing heartily and revealing two sharp canine teeth that were particularly eye-catching.
He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Song San, seemingly wishing her to eat well, have fun, and fully enjoy this life of wine and meat.
Song San: "..." He's actually quite polite.
The place became lively again. At the next table, a man and a woman, who seemed to have gone mad, started fighting, pulling each other's hair. Glasses and saucers shattered on the floor, making a loud, jarring crash.
As if they had eyes in the back of their heads, the two of them wrestled and rolled all the way to Song San.
Distracted by this, when he looked up again, Gu Lianzhou's figure had disappeared.
Okay, okay, so this is how you play it?
Song San gritted his teeth and said with a forced smile, "Yunniang, help me go drink some wine."
Yunniang's smile froze on her face after being called out: "Huh? Eh... sigh!"
The forearm around his waist was finally free. Song San stretched his muscles and then, taking advantage of the moment when the person behind him lowered their guard, he took off running.
She couldn't help but sneer. Although this demon was clever, it was still no match for humans when it came to cunning.
A lie full of loopholes can fool someone so much that they can't see through it.
Yunniang stood there, stunned, staring at Song San's retreating figure, momentarily bewildered.
Suddenly, a strange green light flashed in his eyes.
With a clang, it threw away the troublesome wine pot in its hand, its bright red lips splitting into an exaggerated arc, and it let out a sharp whistle in resentment.
The powerful blast wave overturned and crushed all the tables and chairs, reducing them to dust.
The melodious and gentle sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments in the hall suddenly stopped, replaced by a restless and powerful drumbeat.
Song San squeezed into the chaotic crowd, clenched his ring finger an inch deep, and silently recited the mantra.
The surrounding voids avoided it like the plague, automatically making way for it.
Gu Lianzhou must not have gone far, otherwise, given the evil spirit's behavior, she would have surely instigated everyone to surround and annihilate her.
However, Guang Yunniang alone was enough for her to handle.
Song San gritted his teeth and followed the direction Gu Lianzhou had gone, climbing up the stairs.
Yunniang was much more agile than she had imagined, and caught up in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
It must have lost its shoes while running, and now it stands barefoot on the ground, glaring at itself with hatred.
It looked extremely angry.
Song San turned his head and met her gaze, returning her with an awkward smile.
She would have been better off not laughing; once she did, Yunniang's expression became even more distorted.
This demon is stubborn. Last time he chased her for half of the Gu residence, and this time he's just as relentless.
Song San thought that if he saw Gu Lianzhou later, he would definitely tie him to his side.
To avoid pretending to relentlessly pursue her.
Thinking this, she casually pushed the huge vase next to her, which was as tall as a person.
The ceramic vase tumbled down the steps and shattered instantly with a deafening crash. Shards of porcelain littered the ground, lying between the two, separating Yunniang.
The commotion drew crowds from both sides of the stands to peer out and see what was happening.
Song San scanned the crowd and immediately spotted the eye-catching outfit—a crimson brocade robe covered by a dark blue short shirt, with a silver belt inlaid with jade around the waist.
It's as delicate as a butterfly.
She met his surprised gaze, her lips moved slightly, and she silently said: Gu Lianzhou.
finally found you.
A note from the author:
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