Chapter 19: Lady Meng

Guangzong's solemn demeanor was something Wei Li had long grown accustomed to; it was, in fact, the very thing she admired most about him. Blessed by the Buddhist order, he was born distinguished, revered by all. Once, Wei Li herself had been the cherished little princess, adored by all, the center of every gaze. Her mother, smiling, would hold her in her arms, and Wei Li, half her face peeking out, would ask expectantly, "Will Ah Li grow up and marry, too? I wish to always stay by Mother’s side."

At such times, her elder brother would laugh and tease, "Then Ah Li should never grow up—just stay with Mother forever!" Now, she truly could not grow up; yet Mother and brother had faded away with the passage of time, leaving her alone, solitary as a shadow. Wei Li had considered following Nightmare to the Underworld, but the bitter cold and the fate of being banished to the animal realm made her shiver; solitude, after all, was not so terrible.

Guangzong returned to the temple, but did not ask Wei Li to go back with him. This puzzled her further; she was too proud to insist, so she watched as he departed. The Temple of the Mountain God was comfortable—she was well clothed, warm, and in her leisure, Yue Shi would sing little tunes for her. Yet Wei Li always felt an emptiness within.

One day, as usual, she went to the tavern to listen to stories. Suddenly, a wild wind swept through. When everyone blinked their eyes clear, Nightmare was sitting opposite her, looking aggrieved. "Lady Meng says you tricked me again!"

Wei Li did not flee; instead, she beckoned the attendant. "Bring another jar of wine."

Nightmare placed his hand on the table, curling his index finger. Wei Li instinctively drew back from the table. "You are a deceiver!"

"You're too kind," Wei Li replied, accepting the wine from the attendant and handing it to Nightmare with a smile. "My treat—help yourself."

Nightmare took the jar, sniffed curiously, then asked with a frown, "What is this?"

"You've never tasted wine, have you?"

Wei Li’s words stung him. He uncorked the jar, took a deep swig. Nightmare had never drunk before, so he didn’t know what wine tasted like—but he knew he did not like it.

"How did you ever become a reaper with your intellect?" Wei Li tilted her head, listening to the storyteller, but thanks to Nightmare, she missed a large portion of the tale.

For some reason, Nightmare’s mind grew muddled; even Wei Li’s face seemed blurry. "I used to just lead wandering souls to the Underworld. None ever spoke to me—they’d only flee. Wei Li... you’re the first to talk to me."

Wei Li laughed outright. "Then you must be very lonely."

"No, Lady Meng treats me well. She always listens patiently to my ramblings. But…she always says I’m foolish…" Nightmare stared at Wei Li, his vision doubling and doubling again.

Wei Li said nothing; when she looked at Nightmare again, he was slumped over, dead drunk. She smiled to herself and kept listening to the story. It lasted all day; the storyteller departed, guests left, the tavern was nearly closing, and Nightmare still lay unconscious.

Wei Li thought to leave him to his fate in the tavern, but his hand clung tightly to her, muttering, "Don’t go, don’t go…"

A scheme formed in her mind. She asked the innkeeper for paper and ink, wrote a few lines, then bit Nightmare’s finger to stamp a bloody seal upon it. Satisfied, she folded the promise, slipped it in her pocket, then tossed a silver coin to the attendant. "Carry him back to the Mountain God’s temple." Wei Li went to sleep herself, and when she awoke the next morning, she was greeted by Nightmare’s large, bright eyes, tinged with fury. "What happened to me yesterday?"

Wei Li pushed Nightmare aside and rose. "You were drunk."

"Drunk?"

"Yes!" Wei Li, calm as ever, took out the promise sealed in blood from her pocket. "You insisted on swearing sisterhood with me, saying you’d never try to capture me again. When I refused, you caused a drunken scene—see, here’s your seal!"

Nightmare stared in disbelief, sniffing the paper—it was indeed his blood. "S-sisterhood?"

"Yes, you said you felt an instant kinship!" Wei Li continued to weave her story.

"Impossible. It must have been the wine!"

"Wine brings out true feelings—it reflects your inner heart. I don’t mind, Ah Yan, my little sister!" Wei Li carefully stowed the promise, went out to wash, leaving Nightmare bewildered.

Just as Wei Li was rinsing her mouth, Nightmare suddenly pressed close, his tone dark. "If this reaches the Underworld, my prestige will be lost. Let’s compromise—I'll turn a blind eye to you from now on, you return the promise!"

"If I give it back, and you resume chasing me, who will I complain to?" Wei Li swirled her towel.

Suddenly, snowflakes began to fall. Nightmare lay in the snow, pitifully watching her. "Sister, please return it to Ah Yan. I promise not to bother you anymore—please be kind!"

The sudden pleading startled Wei Li. She smiled, looking at Nightmare. "I want to see Lady Meng."

Nightmare’s gaze grew serious.

"What’s the matter? I only wish to ask her something," Wei Li looked at him with meaning.

The snowflakes dissolved, Nightmare’s face more solemn than ever. "So, the rumors in the Underworld are true—you and Lady Meng are old acquaintances?"

"Whether true or false, what does it matter?"

Nightmare fetched a heavy cloak for her, its broad brim hiding most of her face—none could tell she was Wei Li. The entrance to the Underworld was a traditional courtyard; Nightmare pushed open the gate, Wei Li followed close behind. Marble floors, red carved windows, sandalwood tables, glass screens, bamboo curtains, openwork rosewood chairs—all exquisite.

Deep inside, it was nearly midnight. The moon hung sparse, the guards stood alert, swords at the ready, upright and vigilant, not daring to relax.

As soon as Nightmare stepped into the Underworld, his childish form transformed into that of a man. Despite the cloak, Wei Li could sense the power in his body. He glanced back at her, tranquil and gentle, a smile at his lips. "See, I didn’t lie to you!"

Wei Li’s rosy lips curled into a smile. "Indeed."

With Nightmare’s protection, reaching the Bridge of Regret was easy for Wei Li. Fortunately, few souls were crossing today. Lady Meng lounged in a rocking chair—her brows like painting, lips crimson, her figure both slender and full. She looked up at Nightmare, lazily smiling, "So, you failed to capture her again?"

"Sister, do you truly wish me to be caught?"

Wei Li shed her cloak. Lady Meng’s expression changed instantly; she rose, scanned the surroundings, her beautiful eyes wary, and quickly pulled Wei Li into the house, scolding, "Why have you come to the Underworld? Don't tell me that fool brought you in!"

Wei Li tiptoed to embrace Lady Meng’s neck. "No, I simply missed you, Sister."

Lady Meng could not utter further reproaches. She stroked Wei Li’s long hair. "You should hurry back; it’s not safe here."

"When Nightmare came after me, he naively brought the letter you sent. In it, you said you were well, but I knew—in this cold Underworld, how could you truly be well? This time, I came to take you away!"

Wei Li’s pale cheeks bloomed with a faint blush, her dark eyes clear and lovely.

Wei Li had many royal siblings, but Lady Meng cared for her more than any, without any ulterior motive—she simply loved Wei Li as her sister. Those days of pampering were truly happiness.

Yet…she had committed the greatest taboo of the royal family, no, of the ancient world—she fell in love with another woman. She was only sixteen then.

They placed Sister in a pig basket, tied it with ropes, hung it, and drowned her in the river—water covering her, suffocating her until death…

Wei Li had despised her then, too! Believed she shamed the royal family, joined with those so-called righteous ones in killing her!

She remembered how she watched as the righteous pushed Sister into the river; Sister struggled desperately, gazing at her in despair, mouth moving as though speaking—but the wind was too strong, the crowd too noisy, Wei Li never heard.

Wei Li remembered it was gloomy, no sunset at dusk, the wind fierce, yellow dust swirling everywhere, cold. Every face was indifferent—including hers. If she had empathized with Sister, listened to her explanation when the “shameful affair” was discovered, or pleaded with Father to spare her for the sake of sisterhood—perhaps, the ending would not have been so cruel.

Later, after the blood sacrifice, when Wei Li was captured and fled the Underworld, she saw Sister at the Bridge of Regret. Only then did she know Sister had never blamed her. Wei Li vowed that one day, she would rescue Sister from the endless Underworld!

"Escape? Wherever I run, capture is my fate." Lady Meng’s words pulled Wei Li back from memory. "Ah Li, you don’t know. Five hundred years ago, I saw her at the Bridge of Regret. She broke our promise, married another. I watched her drink Lady Meng’s soup. Then, I no longer wished to escape."

Lady Meng’s eyes glistened, tears sparkling.

"Sister…"

"Ah Li, live well. Don’t get caught—I don’t want you to end up like me."

Wei Li suddenly sensed something unusual in the air. Her brows furrowed; she surveyed the surroundings, but found nothing amiss.

Suddenly, something tugged at her ankle—she lost balance, falling backward, dragged away. She saw Lady Meng’s anxious face, and realized it was a living vine wrapped around her ankle.

Lady Meng grabbed Wei Li’s wrist; the vine pulled hard, even with all her strength Lady Meng could only hold on. Annoyed, Wei Li reached for the dagger at her waist and slashed the vine. Instantly, green sap sprayed across her face.

The vine seemed enraged; countless vines surged toward them both.