Chapter 16: Tang Ying

Guangzong’s slender fingers traced across Wei Li’s face, lingering at her lips. He gently lifted her chin and leaned in, capturing her mouth in a kiss. In the midst of their deep embrace, Guangzong quietly opened his eyes, gazing at her tender profile, and warmth blossomed at the core of his heart.

Suddenly, sleepiness overwhelmed Wei Li; darkness consumed her vision, her hand fell heavily to the ground. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself before a pool of blood, clad in wedding robes, lying within it. Blood and tears dripped from her fingertips as she stared at Guangzong, her gaze forcing him to meet hers. Guangzong blinked his dry eyes, his heart both suffocated and hollow: “Wei Li…”

Wei Li’s expression was forlorn and helpless; yet, amid the pallor of her bloodless face, a flush appeared and she laughed bitterly: “Wen Bai, you are truly heartless.” Her eyes, calm to the extreme, were as still as deep water, showing no ripple of emotion.

What had happened? A thunderous shock rang through Guangzong’s mind, goosebumps prickling across his skin: “Wei Li…” He stepped forward, lifting her from the blood, crimson stains slowly soaking his robes, flowing like strings of pearls onto him.

“Let me go…” Wei Li lay motionless, eyes wide, tears like crystal forming within them.

She curled into his arms, head twisted in pain, spasms of anguish flickering at her lips. Guangzong felt his blood racing madly in his head, pressure mounting until he thought he might explode. As he looked at Wei Li, a strange realization dawned—he was no longer himself. His consciousness blurred; he threw her back into the blood, scarlet droplets splashing, then covered her lips with his own. Rough hands tore at her collar, his tongue teased her ear, a dreamlike, phantom mirage—smooth, gentle, like dunes sculpted by the wind, fierce as a sandstorm.

Guangzong’s kiss grew ever more intense. “Isn’t this what you wanted?” His lips brushed Wei Li’s ear, sending waves of feverish heat, nibbling from her earlobe down to her neck. Wei Li squeezed her eyes shut in terror, trembling uncontrollably.

“No!”

Wei Li’s sharp cry shocked Guangzong awake. He collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. Fox watched him with concern. “What’s wrong with you?”

Cold sweat soaked Guangzong’s clothes, beads rolling down his forehead. He braced himself against the ground, lifting his gaze to Wen Bai, who remained calm and unhurried, smiling as he asked, “Monk, would you like to know more about my relationship with Li’er?”

Guangzong gripped his prayer beads, swallowing and rising. What he’d just witnessed was Wen Bai’s illusion. No doubt, the Wei Li he saw then was her original self—she loved the sun, loved to laugh, loved all beautiful things in the world. But now, everything had changed. Wen Bai had forcefully transformed her into what she had become. The prayer beads in Guangzong’s hand slowly radiated bright light; he hurled them at Wen Bai, who caught them effortlessly, unaffected. Wen Bai smiled, “High monk, you don’t think I’m some ghost, do you?” Mockery curled on his lips.

Wei Li awoke in the Mountain God temple, finding it empty. Yue Shi was nowhere to be seen. As she rose, she saw the female ghost sitting on a chair, watching her. The ghost’s lips were red, teeth white, yet her face was frighteningly pale, eyes hollow and sunken. When Wei Li awoke, she stood and instantly appeared before her. Though her smile lingered, it only heightened the horror etched on her bloodless face.

“Who are you?” Wei Li stared at the ghost.

“Wei Li, don’t you remember me?” A look of reminiscence flickered in the ghost’s eyes. “You even wished me happiness once.”

Wei Li frowned, trying to recall, but nothing came. That face was absent from her memory; she shook her head.

“I am Tang Ying.” Deep emotion surged in Tang Ying’s dark eyes, eager for Wei Li to remember her.

“Tang Ying?” Wei Li was still lost in confusion.

“When Song Yao tried to force you into marriage, I was the one who married him in your place…” Tang Ying’s eyes dropped in sorrow.

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“Oh, Xiao Ying, it’s you?” A flicker of recognition crossed Wei Li’s mind, though Tang Ying’s memory was so faded it was like smoke, like mist. She only remembered Song Yao’s relentless pursuit, his insistence on marrying her.

All these years, Wei Li’s striking beauty drew countless admirers. Song Yao abused his authority to lock her in his mansion, where she met Tang Ying, then a timid maid tasked with delivering Wei Li’s meals. Wei Li noticed Tang Ying’s feelings for the commander. On the day of the forced marriage, Wei Li coaxed Tang Ying onto the bridal sedan with sweet words, escaped amid the chaos, and never returned.

But…

Meeting Tang Ying again—why had she become such a deeply resentful spirit?

“I took your place and married Song Yao. I thought, as you said, we could be together forever. But…” A flash of sadness crossed Tang Ying’s cold eyes. She clenched her hands, struggling with something. “He beat me, kicked me, demanded I give you back to him!”

“Song Yao seemed to go mad, searching for you day and night, never finding your trace. He vented all his fury on me, finally… he buried me alive… The earth was so cold… so cold…” Tang Ying’s trembling voice was thick with fear.

Wei Li’s lips parted, but no words came. She hadn’t expected such consequences; sweat dampened the strands at her forehead. “You hate me?”

“You were right—if you like someone, you must let them know. I was the one who stepped onto the bridal sedan…”

Tang Ying’s sorrowful visage coiled around Wei Li’s heart like a serpent. “Do you hate Song Yao?”

“Yes! I hate him—I wish I could grind his bones to dust!” Tang Ying’s face twisted into terror, her eyes blazing, a cruel smile spreading across her features.

“So much time has passed; he must be dead. Why remain in the world as a wandering ghost?”

“He is dead, but my hatred lives on!”

Tang Ying’s limbs convulsed wildly, body contorted, a sinister aura enveloping Wei Li. She struggled, nearly suffocated by it, when suddenly a flash of Buddhist light scattered the darkness, yet it quickly regrouped. A warm hand wrapped around Wei Li’s waist, dragging her forcibly out. Her lips were cracked, face flushed, hands pressed to her chest as she gasped for air.

“You’re all right.” Yue Shi’s voice came from above.

Wei Li coughed, shook her head. “Quickly subdue that evil spirit!” Her tone was frigid, showing no trace of remorse for Tang Ying.

Yue Shi released her waist; the aura of the Mountain God temple surged toward Tang Ying, encircling her. Tang Ying’s expression froze, panic in her eyes as she looked at the barrier. Yue Shi bit his finger, flicked blood into the air, brought his fingers to his lips, murmuring incantations.

Suddenly, Yue Shi pointed at Tang Ying. Blood flew to her forehead, burning her, pain stabbing through her body as she wiped it away. Scorch marks appeared on her brow. Tang Ying’s face darkened, storms gathering: “Just wait!” She vanished through the wall in an instant.

Seeing the ghost flee, Yue Shi wanted to give chase, but Wei Li stopped him. Her color was still pale; she poured a glass of water, drank it. “Don’t go after her—you’re no match for her outside the temple.”

---

Yue Shi stood meekly, as if awaiting judgment, silent. Wei Li eyed him, “What’s this? You’ve changed in just a few months?”

“Ali, you’re not angry with me anymore?” Yue Shi sounded cautious.

Wei Li gave no direct answer. She’d eaten mortal food, felt sick, now exhausted from Tang Ying’s ordeal. But Fox, following her scent, leapt through the window into her arms, nearly knocking her over if not for Yue Shi’s support. Annoyed, Wei Li glared at the fox on her lap, about to pinch his ears, but noticed blood streaming from his leg. “Who hurt you?”

“It was Wen Bai! I went to save you, but you’d already escaped!”

“You going was like a lamb to slaughter! What were you thinking? Yue Shi, fetch the medicine box.” Her tone was mocking. “Did you go alone?”

“And… and the monk!”

“Where is he?” Wei Li grew anxious.

“He told me to run first!”

Wei Li immediately stood, Fox tumbling painfully to the floor as she rushed toward Wen Bai’s residence, ignoring her own discomfort. Fox cried out, “Wei Li, don’t go! We did all this to save you—don’t let it be for nothing!”

But Wei Li wouldn’t listen. Fox, injured, could only hobble after her. Halfway there, beneath the moonlight, a familiar figure appeared—tattered robes, wounds covering his body, his handsome face streaked with blood.

“Monk?” Wei Li stopped, looking at Guangzong.

Guangzong stepped forward and drew her into his arms, holding her for a long time before finally speaking: “Wei Li, Wei Li…”

Wei Li gripped his robes tightly, took a deep breath. “I’m here.”

“Wei Li, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

Guangzong’s hand slid from her back, his body collapsing into her embrace. Wei Li knelt beside him as he fell. Wen Bai emerged from the moonlight, as calm as ever, his white clothes like snow. “You haven’t fallen for this monk, have you?”