Chapter 71 The Great River
I was only focused on escaping, so I forgot to take the painting and had to redraw it.
In addition to the birds already depicted and the mountains, rivers, rocks, and forests that should have been included, he also painted pavilions, schools of fish, wandering immortals, and several kinds of mountain flowers with rather unrefined names that he had only seen in Pingcheng before. These were all patterns that were not commonly seen on clothing.
She finished the painting in a day, and then took it out to dry. Because she thought it was drying too slowly, she asked people to fan it for her. Seven or eight people, each fanning themselves, gathered around the painting and carefully fanned it. Once the painting was dry, she immediately put it into a painting tube and found someone to send it to the Duke of Jingguo's mansion.
She certainly wouldn't go to the Duke of Jing's mansion again, and those two young ladies probably wouldn't want to see her again either. It would be best if they could forget about each other from now on.
Shanlai hoped that she would keep her mouth shut and only hoped that the Duke of Jingguo's mansion would tolerate her.
She knew that it was best to stay home for the time being to be on the safe side, but no, she had to go out.
She went to Huguo Temple.
Sending the manuscript.
The 147 treatises written by Abbot Hongche were compiled into a collection for the purpose of enlightening the world.
Although Shanlai did not have a deep understanding of Buddhist doctrines, she had beautiful handwriting, so she was responsible for copying the texts. Once the texts were copied, they were given to craftsmen to carve, and once they were carved, they were erected in the temple so that everyone could see them.
After copying for more than half a year, I finally finished the book.
It needs to be delivered quickly, and it shouldn't be left to someone else to do it; that would be too disrespectful.
So she chose an auspicious day, bathed and burned incense, and respectfully held the paper box to her chest, carefully escorting it all the way to Huguo Temple, where she personally presented it to Hongche, thus fulfilling her filial piety.
Hongche remained taciturn, and Shanlai had nothing more to say, so he bowed and took his leave.
If you leave, you have to go back.
She was already in her prime and possessed great beauty. Wherever she went, people would whisper and stare intently at her, making her very uncomfortable. So she had to wear a veil when she went out, which she didn't like. Gradually, she stopped going out as often, let alone working with the monks as before.
The carriage that picked her up was parked by the market at the foot of the mountain. While she was on the mountain, the coachman could stroll around the market and wouldn't be too bored.
The market is very lively because it's not open every day, only on the fifth day of the month, and only three times a month. All kinds of businesses are there. Shanlai had been there a few times and was very interested, but because he never found anything good, he lost interest and stopped going.
We can already see the carriage.
There were so many people that I had to raise both hands and hold the veil on my head tightly to prevent it from being torn off or scraped off.
Only a dozen or so steps left.
However, a large number of people suddenly surged around her, shoving her wave after wave until she was dizzy and could barely stand.
She no longer cared about her veil, and tried to paddle her way out with both hands like oars, but to no avail. She was sinking deeper and deeper into the crowd, being pushed here and squeezed there.
I started to panic.
At that moment, someone grabbed her right hand.
This person grabbed her and dragged her outside.
Someone helped her.
She breathed a sigh of relief and let the man lead her out of the crowd.
Finally out, I quickly took two deep breaths to relieve the tightness in my chest, and then I thanked them.
"Thank you so much! I really don't know what I would have done otherwise!"
The woman who helped her was a middle-aged woman with black hair and a fair complexion. She was quite attractive and dressed very richly, with large flowers embroidered on her clothes and jewelry on her head and wrists. However, her expression was too cold, especially her eyes, which were icy cold and devoid of any warmth or emotion. One look from her extinguished all of Shan Lai's enthusiasm, and Shan Lai's heart skipped a beat.
No, they're already out, and there aren't that many people around anymore, so why is she still dragging her forward?
"Please stop! I can't go any further! My family is on the other side, I need to go find them!"
As he spoke, he pulled his hand away.
I can't break free.
No, that's not right.
"Uncle! Uncle Wang! Uncle Wang!!"
A hand suddenly appeared and covered her mouth, silencing her screams.
At this point, what's unclear? She's fallen into the hands of human traffickers.
Let me go, let me go, let me go, let me go!
She screamed and twisted her body, but all she heard was "uh-uh," and the restraints on her hands were not released. Then she remembered that she still had her teeth, so she bit down hard.
She heard a scream, and at the same time, fresh air rushed into her mouth, filling her chest, and she let out the most powerful shout she had ever uttered.
"Help! There's a kidnapper! Help..."
Although her shouts stopped abruptly, they had already had an effect; someone had blocked her way.
"In broad daylight! You dare to kidnap people!"
A few voices echoed indignantly.
The area around Shanlai and the two kidnappers was cleared out instantly.
We're saved!
Before she could even catch her breath, she heard the woman say in a panic, "What kidnapper! She's talking nonsense! We're her family! Oh dear! It's so shameful to say this! I'm her mother, her own mother! This is her brother! You all don't know, she's got some nerve! She dared to elope with someone! Is this something a respectable family's daughter would do?" She was filled with shame and indignation, stamping her feet repeatedly. "She rejected the good marriage we arranged for her and wanted to marry a smooth-talking peddler! Isn't this going to kill us? If this happens, how will our family survive!"
"Are you really a family?"
"Of course! This is my daughter whom I've raised for fifteen years! I even made the shoes she wears myself! Fifteen years of hardship and worry, and I never thought I'd raise an enemy! Saying we're kidnappers! That short-lived bastard is the kidnapper! Kidnapping my daughter! I haven't even had a chance to report it to the authorities yet!" As she spoke, she covered her face with her handkerchief and began to cry.
The woman was quite beautiful, and Shan Lai could tell she was a beauty just by looking at her eyes. She was also dressed in brocade and adorned with jewelry, just like the woman. The young man also had a dashing and wealthy air about him. They really did look like a family.
Many people believed her story. "Oh! So that's how it is! This is outrageous! A perfectly good young lady, meets a man, says a few sweet words and is seduced, abandoning her parents and family! How can this be allowed to continue!"
Romantic affairs have always been a topic of great interest. When people encounter such things, they always want to join in the fun and make the excitement as big as possible.
"This is outrageous! A young lady from a wealthy family, with so many good things to learn, chooses to become an adulterer and adulteress! Bah! Shameless!"
"He should be drowned in a pig cage!"
"Sister-in-law, please be very careful, she might already be carrying an illegitimate child!"
A bunch of people agreed, and then even more vulgar things started to come out.
It was getting increasingly unbearable. The young man was furious, his eyes blazing with anger, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. The woman, pale-faced, was at a loss for what to do.
"...Don't talk nonsense, everyone. She still has a future to face..."
Of course, they are a family.
No one doubted it anymore.
The crowd remained indignant, but no longer towards the kidnapper; instead, they were directed at the shameless adulteress.
Shanlai had long since lost his hearing, his mind was a complete mess, his limbs were weak, and he was unable to walk.
The woman dragged her along.
This time, no one stopped them.
Shanlai didn't know what to do. She looked around for help, but all she got in return were cold stares and meaningful smirks. The sun was scorching, and the bright light gradually distorted their faces until they became blurred... She was completely exhausted.
Must we just let ourselves be slaughtered like this?
No, no...
Stick your tongue forward...
She hadn't resisted for a long time, so her captors had lowered their guard, and when she charged forward like a wild bull, the two men couldn't hold her back.
He was like a madman, shouting and yelling, running around recklessly.
He knocked over the porcelain stall, and the porcelain shattered all over the ground.
"Hey! You have to pay for this! You're not leaving until you do!"
In short, it was a revelation.
It wasn't just porcelain stalls; there were also pastry stalls, fabric stalls, candied fruit boxes...
"Are you crazy?! Even if you're crazy, you still have to pay! Hurry up and hand over the money!"
Fearing they would run away without money, they hurriedly intercepted them.
This is lively too.
"Pay up!"
"Pay up! We'll definitely pay! We'll all pay! Let go first! Oh no! Grab her, don't let her get away! Stop her! Quickly stop her!"
They've already gone far away.
However, all they care about is money.
"Hurry up and give me the money! Are you going to give it to me or not!"
If they don't give it to me, I'll take off my jewelry. Jewelry is money too, and a lot of money at that.
Once someone sets an example, others will follow suit. In the blink of an eye, the woman's jewelry had been stripped off, not even her earrings were spared. But it's hard to say whether the stall owners were the ones who did it.
"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"
The woman didn't care about the jewelry; she just wanted to get out. The person she was looking for had already disappeared, but she couldn't get out.
Her companion was in no better condition than her, but because he was a man and young, he rushed out.
Rushing towards the direction where that figure disappeared.
Shanlai already tasted blood in her mouth, but she dared not stop. She didn't know where she was or where she was going; she just ran, she just ran wildly.
We must not let it fall into the hands of kidnappers.
Otherwise, it's all over.
Ahead lay a mountain forest, a desolate forest, littered with pebbles and overgrown with thorns. Her shoes were worn out, her socks were torn, and even her clothes were ripped. But it didn't matter; as long as she could shake off the crutch, none of that mattered…
My throat feels like it's being torn apart, and there's a strong smell of blood. My legs and arms are also suddenly very sore.
But please don't stop, please don't stop, keep running, keep running...
"Run, run fast! Run forward! Don't look back!"
Who is it?
Who is talking to me?
Who is crying?
Oh, it wasn't crying, it was the sound of water.
A great river, its force like thunder.
Big river.
In a vast swamp, shrouded in mist and haze, one hesitates, wavering back and forth, left and right. Just as one is wavering, many water demons and yakshas suddenly emerge from beneath one's feet, their pale faces contorted in a savage grimace, dragging one towards the water. Despite struggling with all one's might, one is ultimately swallowed by the black water, one's mouth and nose engulfed...
Startled, she sprang to her feet.
He was panting heavily, his breath coming in short, drawn-out gasps.
"There it is!"
Clang, clang, clang...
What is that sound?
She turned around stiffly, her face pale and her eyes lifeless.
Flames danced, a group of people, or perhaps ghosts? Their features were all blurry, indistinct images. She squinted to see, but even at such close range, she still couldn't make out anything.
I can't see it clearly no matter what I do.
There's no escaping it.
She thought this way and let the group of people lift her up.
Is it a human or a ghost?
She forced her eyes open and looked over.
I saw it clearly this time.
A face, its contours twisted and then scattered, rising and falling, gradually becoming clear.
It's a person.
one person.
This person dragged her into the woods. She looked at him, still thinking, "Oh, he's a human."
Suddenly, her face felt hot, which made her shudder.
She came to her senses.
A vast expanse of red stretched before my eyes.
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