The Heart of a Serpent
(1)
Everybody has a story. Most people can't help but bring up their past when they are talking with good friends.
Sometimes it's just like telling a story. Most of these stories aren't very interesting—listening to other people brag is never as exciting as talking about your own glory days, but of course there are always exceptions.
When Dash was speaking, their eyes were wide open listening intently, without a single interruption.
Of course, Big was the first one to say something. Actually, he had already held it in for as long as he could. After hearing about the mysterious master, he took a long sigh, "That old person waited for you every day?"
Dash: "In the Forest just behind the cemetery."
Big G: "You went every day?"
Dash: "No matter how windy or rainy it was I went every day."
Big G: "How long did you go for?"
Dash: "For three years and four months."
Big G sighed again, "Isn't that more than a thousand times?"
Dash nodded.
Big G: "Sounds like he was really strict, he would give you a good beating every time you were too slow."
Dash: "That first year, hardly a day went by when he wouldn't hit me."
Big G: "Since he hit you every day, why did you keep going?"
Dash: "Because it seemed so mysterious, and it was new and exciting."
Big G thought about it, "I would have gone as well," he smiled.
"Didn't you ever ask the old guy what his name was?" Forest had to ask.
Dash: "I asked hundreds of times."
Forest: "Did you know where he was from?"
Dash shook his head, "Every time I arrived, he was already there."
Forest: "Why didn't you try going earlier?"
Dash: "No matter how early I got there, he was already there."
Big G raised his eyebrows, "Why didn't you follow him and see where he went?"
"I obviously tried that as well," Dash smiled bitterly.
Big G: "And?"
Dash: "He beat me hard every time I tried, so all I could do was go home by myself."
Big G was frowning, "He waited for you every day, and forced you to intensely practice martial arts, but he wouldn't let you know who he was," he muttered.
Dash: "What's even stranger is he never asked me who I was."
Big G sighed, "Something this strange is indeed quite rare. Looks like only a weirdo like you would encounter something like this."
"When you were planning on breaking away from your friends, did the Red Women know?" Swally suddenly asked.
Dash: "I never raised the issue with anyone."
Swally: "But that Red Women... Was she really good to you?"
Dash had a disgusted look on his face, "She was good to a lot of people," he said coldly after a long pause.
Swally realized that he had went a little too far, "So how did you get away?" he immediately changed the topic.
"One time they were planning on stealing Tibetan manuscripts from the Shaolin Temple, and they asked me to go and investigate first, so I used the opportunity to slip away," he said casually.
"These people were brave enough to make an attempt on the Shaolin Temple," Swally gasped.
Big G: "After you slipped away, they never found you until now?"
Dash: "That's right."
He suddenly stood up and walked to the window. It was a cold dark night.
He stood motionless in front of the window deep in thought, after some time had passed, he finally spoke, "Once I returned home, I rarely went out."
Big G: "And all of a sudden you didn't feel like moving?"
Dash: "I definitely changed, I changed a lot and it all happened so fast..."
His voice was hoarse and full of sorrow, but he kept talking, "Upon my return I learned that during my second year away from home, my mother..."
He stopped talking, he was clenching his fists and his whole body was shaking, he was unable to go on. This time, even Big G stopped asking questions. He couldn't bring himself to ask another question, and it was no longer necessary. Everybody knew what had happened to Dash, and they understood where he was coming from.
By the time he had returned home, and wanted to repay his mother and father for everything that they had done for him, it was already too late to show his filial piety.
Why do people always wait until it was too late, until they finally understand their parent's affection towards them?
Forest hung his head, his eyes seemed to be brimming with tears.
Big G also felt a tinge of regret, his eyes were slightly red as well.
It wasn't until this very moment that Big G realized how Dash had become this poor, this lazy, and this strange.
Because his heart was full of sorrow and regret, and this was his way of punishing himself.
If you were to say that he was hiding, then, he definitely wasn't hiding from the Red Women. He wasn't hiding from the Crimson Snake either, because he wasn't hiding from anyone.
He was hiding from himself. Big G thought back to the first time he saw Dash lying on his bed, lying in the darkness, letting mice crawl all over his body, he couldn't help but to sigh regretfully.
If a person has completely lost their will to carry on, even if they could overcome the hunger, they certainly wouldn't be able to stand the mice. That evening, if Big G hadn't foolishly come charging in, and in his muddle-headedness hadn't become friends with Dash, would he still be alive?
Big G didn't even want to think about it.
Dash finally turned his head, "I have been back for almost three years, they must have been looking for me this whole time," he said slowly.
Big G put on a smile, "It clearly wasn't easy, who would have thought that the Soaring Eagle King would be in this kind of place, spending his days like this."
Dash: "But I knew that sooner or later they would find me. "
Swally blinked, "Why would they still be looking for you after all these years?"
Dash: "Because we have unfinished business."
Swally: "Did you settle things with yourself? Do you owe them? Or do they owe you?"
He went silent for a long time, "Some business will never be settled," he finally said slowly.
Swally: "Why?"
Dash: "Because every person has their own way of keeping score, and none of them are the same."
He was deep in thought, "According to them, there is only one way to settle our business," he added speaking very slowly.
Swally: "How?"
Dash: "You can probably figure it out."
Swally didn't say anything. He knew that some debts could only be settled in flesh and blood.
A drop of blood wasn't enough, it would take more than that. One person’s blood wasn't enough either, it would take the blood of many.
Swally was looking at the wounds all over Big G's body, he sighed after a long pause, "Seems like this business is getting harder and harder to settle, who knows when all of this is going to be over."
Dash sighed, "Don't worry, it won't be very long now, because..."
He suddenly shut his mouth. Everyone was silent, they weren't even breathing.
Because they all heard the sound of footsteps.
× × ×
They were light footsteps, walking slowly through the courtyard.
Who was approaching?
Had the time to settle accounts actually arrived?
Forest thought about struggling to stand up and rush outside to have a look, but he held back, Big G pointed at the windowsill with his finger, but Swally shook his head at him.
The person was alone, they walked slowly up the stone steps stopping outside the door.
There was a sudden knock from outside, they never thought that these people would be dignified enough to actually come and knock at the front door.
"Who is it?" Dash finally asked.
"Me," a voice replied softly from outside.
Dash: "Who is me?"
The person outside instantly started to laugh, her laughter sounded like silver bells, "If you don't even recognize my voice, you really have lost your conscience."
It was a woman, she sounded young with a beautiful voice.
After looking at Dash's facial expression, they all guessed who this woman was, his face was as white as a piece of paper.
Swally patted him on the shoulder, pointed at the door and then pointed to the back of the room.
His meaning was: if you don't want to see her, go and hide in the back, I will take this one for you.
Dash obviously knew what he meant, but he shook his head no.
He knew better than anyone else the situation he was in, and he had retreated for the last time.
He had already decided that he would no longer run, that he wouldn’t retreat another step.
× × ×
"Why don't you come and open the door?"
Nobody had seen the Red Women before. But just by the sound of her voice, anyone could tell how intoxicating she could be.
"Is there a woman inside that you don't want me to see? You should know that I'm not the jealous type, unlike yourself."
Dash suddenly strode forward and then stopped, "The door isn't locked," he said in a deep voice.
With a light push the door opened. A person stood in the doorway, she was facing the lights shining from inside the room.
It was as if all the light from inside the room was shining on her alone. Of course, everyone's eyes were also staring at her.
She appeared to be shining, a bright red aura that made your heart skip a beat.
× × ×
The Red Women was obviously wearing red. But the light wasn't coming from her clothes, in fact, other than her clothes, her whole body seemed to be glowing. Especially her eyes and the way she smiled. Each one of them felt as if she was looking directly at them, that her smile was for them alone. If a smile could bring down a city, then it would certainly be exactly this kind of smile.
Swally adjusted his stance, appearing to accidently stand in the way of Big G's gaze.
Regardless of the situation, it would be a good idea not to let your friends gaze upon such an enchanting smile.
Shouldn't we all hope that are friends stay far away from evil?
Her eyes were flirting, "Why the hell are men always like this..." she suddenly said.
That was the first thing she said, and then she suddenly stopped talking. It was as if she intentionally wanted to leave a deep impression on them. She seemed to think that all the men in the room liked to hear her talk like that. The way she swore, did indeed have a special flavor.
As soon as she had paused, somebody couldn't help but ask, "And what the hell are men like us like?"
The sound came from behind Swally's back. Swally could block Big G's line of sight, but he couldn't stop his sense of hearing, or his ability to talk.
"Why is it that as soon as you guys see an attractive woman, you all act like you've seen a ghost, you don't even have make a peep?" the Red Women asked.
She crinkled her nose, and started smiling again in the manner that Swally was trying to prevent Big G from seeing.
"At least one of you should have invited me inside," she added softly.
In fact, by the time she was finished her sentence she was already inside. Everyone in the room knew who she was, and they all knew what she was there to do. When she walked inside, they all should have been angry, nervous and anxious.
But Swally suddenly realized that when Big G and Forest were looking at her, their eyes displayed not even a trace of animosity or anxiety. They were actually smiling, even Swally himself was starting to waver, starting to doubt.
He never imagined that the Red Women would be like this. Since she had said the word 'hell,' it seemed that the entire atmosphere had changed. All of their impressions of her had changed, the way she spoke wasn't exactly how a viperous vixen was supposed to sound.
It wasn't until that moment, Swally realized she was carrying a basket of food in her hand.
She placed the basket on the table with a thud. She flicked her hand away and sighed, "It took me more than half an hour to carry such a heavy basket for all of you. My hand feels like it's going to break, and all of you aren't the least bit grateful."
"Nobody asked you to bring us anything, there isn't a single person who wants you here," Dash suddenly said coldly.
The Red Women finally glanced in Dash's direction, she was biting her lip, pretending to be amused and angry, "I want to ask you, are these people your friends?"
Dash: "Yes."
She sighed gently, "You might be able to watch your friends starve, but I can't."
Dash: "Them being hungry or not has nothing to do with."
"Why not? Your friends are my friends, I couldn't let my hubby's friends go hungry now could I," she replied.
Dash: "What are you talking about?"
She just smiled, "You all are Dash's friends, how is it that you don't recognize his lady?"
She pulled up the cloth covering the basket, "It's on me today, don't be shy, it would be such a waste if you all didn't eat," she said sweetly.
Swally: "And if we eat."
"That would also be a waste," she smiled again.
"Free riders have a way of dying young," Swally said maliciously.
The Red Women looked at him, her facial expression looked as if she had just been slapped across the face.
After some time had passed, she turned around facing Dash, "Do you all think that what I brought is poisoned?"
Dash: "Yes."
"Do you think I came here to poison all of you?" she asked.
Dash: "Yes."
"Not only to poison them, but to poison you as well."
Dash: "Yes."
The Red Women appeared to be on the verge of tears, she suddenly turned around and grabbed a chicken leg from the basket, "So the chicken is definitely poisoned?"
Dash: "Highly likely."
Red Women: "Ok, fine..."
She took a bite of the chicken leg, swallowed it down and then grabbed a bottle of wine, "The wine is poisoned too, right?"
Dash: "Also very likely."
Red Women: "Fine."
She also took a drink—
She ended up tasting a little bit of everything from the basket, then she raised her head looking at Dash, "What do you think now?"
Dash immediately answered without giving it any thought, "It is still completely the same."
Red Women: "You think its poisoned?"
Dash: "Yes."
The Red Women's tears were on the verge of streaming down, but she tried to regain her composure. After a long pause, she finally nodded slowly, "I know what you are thinking," she said faintly.
Dash: "You should know by now."
Red Women: "You think I took the antidote before coming?"
Dash: "Yep."
"You have always seen me as a heartless, venomous women, you always thought that I was merely using you..." she said sorrowfully.
She couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
After hearing all of that, Big G and Forest started to feel sorry for her. Although they weren't saying anything, they felt that Dash was treating her a little too harsh.
Regardless of the current situation, they had a history together.
If it was Big G, he would probably be embracing her by now.
But Dash's face was void of any expression, his heart seemed to be made of iron.
The Red Women slowly put everything back into the basket. "Fine, since you think its poisoned, I will take it with me," she said while biting he lip.
Dash: "It's best that you leave now."
The Red Women was shaking, "If you think that I never had sincere intentions towards you, then I will never come to see you again," her voice was flustered.
Dash: "You shouldn't have come."
Red Women: "I... I just wanted to ask you one thing..."
She suddenly rushed in front of Dash, "After meeting me, have I ever wronged you in any way?" she asked desperately.
Dash couldn't find the words to reply.
The Red Women was tightly clenching both of her fists, her body was still shaking, "You're right, I'm not a good person, I’ve hurt a lot of men, but my feelings for you... when have I ever hurt you? Say something, say anything," she pleaded.
"There is nothing left for us to say," Dash said coldly.
She stood there thinking for half a moment, and then slowly nodded her head, "Ok, I'm leaving, I will go... don't worry, you won't ever see me again," she said dejectedly.
She turned around slowly, she picked up the basket and slowly walked out.
Big G was watching her leave, feeble and alone, he watched her walking slowly towards the dark, cold, courtyard...
The wind was blowing hard through the courtyard, the snow from the trees swirled in the air, in the blink of the eye the branches were bare of any snow. Are people and their affections not the same?
Emotions can settle like the snow year after year, but can't a strong wind blow them clean away in the blink of an eye?
Big G was feeling a little depressed, he hoped Dash would have a change of heart and let the poor women stay.
But his heart was hard as iron, he just watched her walk away without the slightest expression on his face.
He watched her step past the threshold, Big G could barely prevent himself from asking her to stay on behalf of Dash.
Her body suddenly convulsed, as if she had been struck by a whip.
And then she fell to the ground.
Her limbs continued to convulse as she lay on the ground. Her pale, white face had turned a blackish purple, her eyes had rolled back into her head, and she was frothing from the mouth.
There were streaks of blood mixed through the white froth.
"The things she brought were actually poisoned," Swally's facial expression had changed drastically.
"But she couldn't have known, otherwise why would she eat poisoned food?" Big G rushed to add.
Dash stood their motionless like a piece of stone, as if he hadn't seen what was happening.
Even Swally was getting anxious, "Dash, regardless of what happened, you should at least go have a look," he had to say.
Dash: "Look at what?"
Swally: "What kind of poison was it? Will she live?"
"There's nothing to see," Dash responded coldly.
"What's wrong with you? Are you even human?" Big G yelled.
If Swally wasn't holding him down, he would have been struggling to get up.
All they could see was the Red Women convulsing on the ground, struggling to breath, and calling out nonstop, "Dash... Dash..."
Dash finally let out a long sigh, "I'm right here."
The Red Women struggled to reach out her hand, "You... come here... I'm begging you..."
Dash clenched his teeth, "If you have something to say I can hear you."
Red Women: "I don't know... I had no idea these things were poisoned, I never intended to hurt you, you... you should believe me."
Dash didn't say anything. Big G couldn't help but to reply, "I believe you, we all believe you."
She gave a sorrowful smile, "The Crimson Snake and the rest wanted you dead for what you did to them, but I... I never wanted this."
She was curled over, and her clothes were drenched in sweat. She struggled to keep on speaking, "I know I'm a horrible person, but with you, my intentions were always sincere. As long as you understand what's inside my heart, I... I'm willing to face even death."
When she finished talking, it seemed that all of her strength had been completely exhausted, she no longer had the strength to struggle.
Big G was watching her with clenched teeth, his eyes were sobbing wet, "Dash, did you hear what she said?"
Dash nodded.
Big G clenched his teeth again, "Since you heard what she said, why are you still standing there."
Dash: "What am I supposed to do?"
Big G: "If it wasn't for you this wouldn't have happened to her, can't you think of a way to help her?"
Dash: "How am I supposed to save her?"
"Since you helped take care of Big G's poison, you should be able to help her too," Forest suddenly said.
Dash shook his head, "That was different, completely different," he said slowly.
Big G: "What's different?"
Dash stopped talking again.
Although he was trying his hardest to control himself, there appeared to be a shimmer of tears in his eyes. It seemed as if he was full of anger.
His hands were shaking.
"If Old Mr. King doesn't even know how to cure her poison, then there is only one person in the world who can save her," Swally said urgently.
Big G: "Who?"
Swally: "The Crimson Snake."
Big G: "That's right, we should go and ask him for the antidote."
Swally sighed, "I don't think that's possible."
Asking the Crimson Snake for an antidote was like asking a tiger to peel off his skin and hand you his fur.
Big G clearly understood this.
The Red Women's breathing was becoming weaker and weaker, but she was still calling out softly for Dash, "Dash... Dash..."
The sound of her voice became weaker and weaker, Big G's heart was about to shatter. He couldn't help from yelling out, "Since you can't save her, and you aren't willing to ask the Crimson Snake for the antidote, are you really just going to sit there and watch her die? Are you even human?"
Swally sighed again, "What do you think we should do?"
Big G: "Even the Crimson Snake wouldn't sit back and watch her die, you all..."
Forest was sitting there in a daze the whole time, but he suddenly interrupted them, "That's right, the Crimson Snake wouldn't let her die, so we should send her back," he said loudly.
It wasn't the best solution, but it appeared to be their only option.
Swally frowned, "Now the question is who should send her back?"
Big G: "Huh."
Although he didn't say anything, he was glancing out of the corner of his eye at Dash.
Obviously, Dash was the one who should send her back.
Anyone with half a conscience wouldn't just stand there and watch her die.
Who would have thought that there was no reaction from Dash, it was as if he didn't hear them talking at all, he was just standing there like an idiot.
Dash obviously wasn't an idiot.
He was playing dumb.
"Fine, none of you will take her, then I will send her back," Big G couldn't help himself from yelling out.
He used all of the strength he could muster to jump up.
Swally instantly grabbed him.
Dash looked back, watching them, he looked sad and sympathetic.
Nobody could have guessed what was going through his head in that moment.
After some time, he finally stomped his feet, "Fine, I will send her back."
He turned around and was just about to pick her up.
Forest shot forward quick as an arrow, he crashed into Dash sending him flying back nearly ten meters into the corner.
By the time Dash fell to the ground, Forest had already picked up the Red Women.
Dash instantly looked angry, "What do you think you're doing?" he asked loudly.
Forest didn't allow him to finish, "It has to be me, Swally needs to take care of Big G, and you’re the one they are after, there is no way they will let you go."
He rushed out before finishing his sentence.
Dash jumped up and charged over, "Put her down, now..." he yelled loudly.
Forest suddenly screamed out in surprise.
The Red Women who had been on the verge of death suddenly sprang from his chest like a venomous snake, she flipped through the air several meters, and disappeared into the dark forest in the blink of an eye.
All they could hear was the distant sound of her laughter ringing like silver bells, "You King of Bastards, you wouldn't even save me when you thought I was dying, you truly have no conscience you piece of shit."
By the time she finished speaking she was already far beyond their grasp. All that remained was the sound of her enticing laughter blowing in the wind.
The wind was cold.
It pieced your soul like her intoxicating voice.
(2)
Forest fell in the snow, there was a bloody black mark on his chest.
They just stood there speechless.
The last echo of her sweet laughter was gradually extinguished by the wind.
After who knows how long, Dash finally slowly walked over and picked up Forest.
His face looked colder than the wind, and it was darker than the night.
Big G was already shedding tears.
Swally looked at him, his face was covered in tears as well, "Don't take it so hard, it wasn't your fault," he said gently.
It would have been better if he hadn't said anything at all, it only reminded him of what he had said.
He suddenly lost control, sobbing uncontrollably as if he were a child.
After who knows how long, Dash slowly raised his head, "He’s still alive."
Swally was pleasantly surprised, "Can you save him?" he gasped.
Dash nodded.
Swally: "How are you going to save him?"
As soon as he finished asking, his facial expression suddenly changed.
Because he already knew, there was only one way to save Forest now.
The only option left was indeed frightening.
He looked at Dash, his face revealing how terrified he was, because he knew what Dash was thinking about doing.
Dash obviously knew what he was thinking as well, but he looked at peace, "You can probably guess what I have to do in order to save him," he said casually.
Swally shook his head sternly, "There must be another way."
Dash: "There isn't."
"Absolutely not," Swally said loudly.
Dash: "It has to work, because I don't have any other choice."
Swally instantly collapsed into the chair, as if he could no longer support himself.
Big G stared at them eyes wide, streaks of tears were still fresh on his face, "What option are you guys talking about?" he had to ask.
Nobody answered him, their mouths were sealed.
"Why aren't you telling me?" Big G asked anxiously.
Swally finally let out a gentle sigh, "Even if you knew it wouldn’t do us any good."
Big G: "Why not? If it wasn't for my crazy idea to bring her back, this wouldn't have happened to Forest, and it's eating me apart, I need to save him."
"There is only one person you can save now," Dash said coldly.
Big G: "Who?"
Dash: "Yourself."
"You are seriously injured, if you don't calm down and rest, you're not going to make it either," Swally added gently.
Big G glared at him, "The weapons that hit me were they poisoned?" he said quickly.
Swally: "Yeah."
Big G: "Who rescued me?"
Swally: "Old Mr. King."
Big G: "Since he could save me from my poison, why can't he save Forest?"
Swally didn't want to say anything.
Big G: "The poison from those projectiles should be the same type of poison, right?"
Swally stayed silent for a long time, "Why must you ask such detailed questions?" he finally said softly.
"Why can't I ask questions? If you don't tell me, then I'm... I will..." Big G yelled.
He was pounding the bed with his fist, he was so angry he couldn't even get the words out.
Swally was biting his teeth, "Fine, I will tell you. The poisons were both special formulas made by the Crimson Snake, so only the antidote prepared by him can save Forest."
Big G: "But Dash..."
Swally: "When Dash was preparing to slip away from them, he secretly hid some of Crimson Snake's special remedy just in case."
Big G: "Where is the antidote now?"
"He used it all to save you," he said, one word at a time.
"Used it all?" Big G gasped.
"Not a drop left," Swally said. He bit his lip, and gradually continued explaining, "He had been planning on using the antidote on himself; however, he used all of it to save you. I thought he had kept some, but he was afraid that the poison was too much, that a smaller amount wouldn't be enough, so..."
His eyes started to go red, he couldn't go on—he was the only one who knew, because Forest was outside at the time, watching out for the enemy.
Big G clenched his fists, beads of cold sweat were coming down his face, "It's my fault, and then I used all of the antidote that could have saved him, I'm really something, incredible me," he muttered after a long pause.
"You couldn't have known, you weren't the one who..." Swally said dejectedly.
"You're right, you guys were the ones who insisted on saving me, but didn't you think of what that would do to me, how can I live with myself?" he said hoarsely.
"You have to go on living now, since I saved you, don't even think about dying," Dash said solemnly.
Big G: "But Forest..."
"Don't worry about him, I thought of a way to save you and I have a way to save him as well," he said intently.
Big G clenched his teeth, "I know now what you have to do to save him."
Dash: "Oh?"
Big G: "You're planning on asking the Crimson Snake for the antidote, aren't you?"
Big G: "You're planning on asking the Crimson Snake for the antidote, aren't you?"
He clenched his teeth, "You hesitated last time because you knew the Red Woman all too well, but for Forest, even if it costs you your life, you are committed to getting the antidote."
Dash smiled casually, "You actually think the Soaring King of Eagles is some kind of hero?"
Big G: "I don't know about the Soaring Eagle King, but I know Dash, and I know perfectly well what kind of person he is."
Dash: "Oh?"
Big G had tears in his eyes, "Dash looks cold on the outside, but his heart is softer than tofu, and hotter than fire."
Dash was deep in thought, “Since you understand me so well, you should know that if I set my mind on doing something than no one can stop me,” he slowly responded.
Big G: "And you should understand by now that I am the exact same way."
Dash: "What are you planning on doing?"
Big G: "Going to ask the Crimson Snake for the antidote."
"How?" Swally looked worried.
Big G: "I have to go, it has to be me."
Swally: "But your injuries..."
Big G: "Because I am injured, I should be the one who goes."
He didn't give them a chance to speak, "There is only two of us not injured, the two of you against three of them is already pushing it, and if you two get hurt then we are all as good as dead."
Swally: "It kind of makes sense, but..."
Big G interrupted him again, "There is no way I am going to sit here and watch Forest die of poison, so you are going to have to let me go, plus I'm already injured, not to mention..." He started to smile, and then kept going: "The Crimson Snake is still human, there is no way he would poison a helpless cripple like me."
"You think they won't kill you?" Dash smiled callously.
Big G: "I don't think so."
Dash: "Do you understand them or do I?"
Big G: "You."
Dash: "Then let me tell you, there is only one type of person they wouldn't kill."
Big G: "What type?"
Dash: "Dead people."
All of a sudden the sound of laughter, just like silver bells came blowing in the wind.
Swally rushed outside, he saw a pale yellow kite falling from the night sky.
The kite was square with a decorative zigzag pattern written in red ink.
Swally could tell that it wasn't just a kite, but a marking from the Summoner of Death.
He couldn't make out the markings.
Only people who had been to hell and back would be able to understand.
But Dash understood.
There were red voodoo markings on the pale yellow kite, blood red like the flames of hell.
Dash was staring at the markings, there was a hint of terror behind his calm facial expression.
Swally wasn't watching the kite, he was looking at Dash's eyes—he didn't understand what the markings said, but he had a good idea from studying Dash's face.
"What does the writing say," he finally asked.
Dash was silent, he didn't answer, but he opened the window and looked outside.
The stars were fading, dawn was approaching.
Another kite arose in the dim sky.
"It's almost light out," Dash sighed gently.
Swally: "The sun always rises."
Dash: "I have to go."
"Why?" Swally gasped.
Dash: "Because if I don't get to the bottom of that kite by sunrise, Forest is dead."
(3)
Dawn had almost arrived.
Light from an early dawn was supposed to bring people warmth, happiness, and hope.
But for Dash, in this moment all it represented was death.
"If Dash doesn't arrive at the bottom of this kite by sunrise, Forest is dead."
That is what the markings said.
In other words, Dash was going to die, he had to go.
"I already said it has to be me, don't try and stop me," Big G said loudly.
"Fine, you can go, but regardless of whether you go or not, I have to go," Dash said casually.
Big G: "Since I am already going, why do you have to go as well?"
Dash: "Because I am the one they want, not you."
"You should know that just because you go, doesn't mean that they are going to give you the antidote," Swally interjected.
Dash: "I know."
Swally: "It's clearly a trap, they definitely have everything set up, and now they are just waiting for you to take the bait."
Dash: "I understand better than you could know."
Swally: "But you are still going to go?"
Dash: "You expect me to watch Forest die?"
Forest's breathing was already weak and shallow, his teeth were clenched shut and his face was a deathly grey.
Anyone could tell that he was on the verge of death.
"We can't let him die, but we can't send you to your death either," Swally said desperately.
"How do you know I am going to die? Perhaps I will be back with the remedy in no time," he said calmly.
Swally stared at him, "Are you trying to deceive us? Or are you lying to yourself?"
Dash let out a long sigh, "I am aware that my chances of returning are slim, but if there is the slightest hope of success, I have to try."
Swally: "And if it's hopeless?"
Dash: "I would still go."
His words were final, there was no turning back now.
Swally suddenly stood up, "Fine, if you're going then I am coming with you," he proclaimed loudly.
Dash slowly nodded his head, "Fine, if you go, and everyone who can walk comes, then the people left behind are just waiting to be slaughtered."
Swally had no reply.
"Why don't you just tell us what you want us to do?" Big G asked desperately.
Dash: "I will go alone, you two take Forest to the bottom of the mountain and wait for me there."
Big G: "And then what?"
Dash: "Then you have to find a cart and horse, even if you have to steal one, just get it."
Big G: "And then?"
Dash: "Then you all wait in the cart, if I haven't come looking for you by sundown you better leave quickly."
Big G: "And where would we go?"
Dash was smiling bleakly, "The world is a big place, and you can go anywhere."
Big G slowly nodded his head, "That's a fine idea, just great, only you could have thought of such an amazing idea."
Dash: "Although it's not ideal, it's our best option."
Big G: "Just great, you are going to fight to save Forest's life and you want us to run like dogs with our tails between our legs. You sure are a great friend, you are treating me like a worthless animal."
"Do you have a better idea?" Dash said dejectedly.
Big G: "I have just one thought."
Dash: "What?"
Big G: "In life, we should live happily together; if we are going to die, then we might as well go out together, with dignity.
× × ×
Big G was Big G, he wasn't Dash, and he wasn't Swally.
Perhaps he wasn't as calm as Dash, maybe he wasn't as clever as Swally.
But he was one hell of a guy, and he was damn brave.
(4)
The winds started to blow, lifting the deathly grey fog covering the ground.
The demonic fire markings had disappeared in the fog.
Who ever said that there's no such thing as ghosts? Who said so?
Floating in the wind there appeared to be a wondering soul, a spirit that even hell would reject.
His face was a blur.
His face was deathly grey. His face seemed to be one with the desolate fog. His mouth and nose were part of the fog.
All that remained was a pair of devilish eyes.
There was no light coming from his eyes, the color was hard to define, but they were full of malice. His gaze seemed to be cursing everything in this world, damning everyone in this world.
Wherever this pair of eyes glanced, that place would wither in misfortune.
Now, this pair of eyes was slowly scanning the area; every abandoned grave, every pile of snow, were subject to his intense gaze.
Then there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
It was impossible to know how terrifying, and how malevolent that smile was.
At that very moment, laughter exploded from within fog, it sounded like silver bells.
It wasn't silver bells, but a soul wrenching voice.
"Are you ready?" the Red Women's alluring voice pierced the fog, there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
This Lost Soul slowly nodded his head, "If he comes, he can forget about leaving alive."
She gave him a flirting glance, "Do you think he will come?"
"What do you say?"
The Red Women blinked, "Why do you want me to say it?"
"You know him better than us."
"Are you still jealous?" she glanced at him, her eyes seemed to be smiling in amusement.
"Hmm!"
The Red Women: "Do you actually think I am interested in him?"
The malice in his eyes seemed to deepen, "When he was around, you never came to me once."
The Red Women: "Have you already forgotten who told me to do it?"
The Lost Soul was silent.
"You had me sleep with him to win him over, and now you are blaming me, you really have no conscience," she laughed callously.
"Nope."
The Red Women laughed again, "Never thought I would hear any truth come out of your mouth."
"And you?"
The Red Women: "With you I always told the truth."
"If I hadn't asked you to sleep with him, wouldn't you have gone all the same?"
The Red Women: "I would yes."
"Why?"
"Because I enjoy sleeping with men," she said sweetly.
The lost soul clenched his teeth, "Will you sleep with anyone?"
The Red Women: "Other than you yes."
The malice in his eyes turned to pain, but his eyes seemed to brighten up.
"Are you finished with your questions?" the Red Women asked, gazing into his eyes.
The Lost Soul suddenly grabbed her by the hair, and gave her a hard smack across the face, "You whore!" he yelled.
The Red Women wasn't afraid or angry, she just laughed even more sweetly, "I have always been a little whore, but you're worse than me."
The Lost Soul's heavy hand slapped her again.
She was still laughing, "You like telling me to sleep with other men, and then you ask me the same dam questions every day, and I can't even keep count how many times you've asked me."
She didn't let him speak, "Because you like it, you like being tortured by me, you feel alive when I play with you, only then do you feel human," she kept yelling.
With a hissing sound he pulled her close.
She was still laughing, "Are you trying to..."
"Now is not the time for your lover's quarrel," a cold voice suddenly broke the silence.
The voice was colder than ice.
The voice had come from inside a pile of snow.
"You have been hiding in the snow," the Red Women smiled.
A face suddenly appeared from inside a pile of snow.
A face more terrifying than death.
"How is it down there?" asked the Red Women.
"Pretty cool," replied the Crimson Snake.
The Red Women laughed, "It's probably one of the coolest places on earth."
Crimson Snake: "You want to snuggle inside with me?"
Red Women: "As long as you have the patience to wait down there, sooner or later I will join you."
"Too bad he isn't interested in you," the Lost Soul snickered coldly.
The Crimson Snake looked up into the sky, "It's almost time, time for him to die," he suddenly said.
Lost Soul: "Do you think he will come?"
"Of course he will come," the Red Women rushed to answer.
Lost Soul: "Why?"
Red Women: "Because other than you, he is good to his friends."
The Lost Soul also look up into the sky.
The light of early dawn had arrived.
The wondering souls and vagrant ghosts had all returned to where they belonged.
Lost Soul: "It’s time to die."
Red Women: "Hurry up and die already."
The Lost Soul slowly walked over to an empty grave, he pulled out a porcelain bottle from his chest pocket, and placed it on the tombstone.
Then he suddenly disappeared inside of the grave.
The Red Women took a deep sigh, "It would be best if he stayed in there forever," she muttered.
"What good would that do?" asked the Crimson Snake.
The Red Women hung her head and looked at him, her eyes were brimming with tears, "Wouldn't it be great if it was just the two of us left?" she asked gently.
"We can talk about that when you're the last woman on earth alive," the Crimson Snake said coldly.
The Red Women charged over to him and spat in his face, "Are you even human?" she said hatefully.
"Nope," he said with a sinister smile on his face.
By the time he was finished speaking his faced had again disappeared beneath the snow.
The Red Women stood there dazed, as if there was a sudden weight pressing on her heart.
After some time, she suddenly sprang into action.
She instantly vanished into the fog.
× × ×
A deathly grey fog was covering the ground by the time the winds started to blow.
The horizon was also a deathly grey color.
Abandoned graves, freezing snow, there was nothing and nobody around.
All that could be seen was a kite slowly falling to the ground.
It wasn't just a kite, but the voodoo markings made by the Summoner of Death, the Lost Soul.
× × ×
The kite fell to the ground.
The sky and heavens were a deathly grey, nothing was visible.
Dash was walking slowly down the road, his face was still expressionless.
Even if he was feeling terrified, he wouldn't show it on his face.
If anyone had experienced the pain and suffering that he had, they would have learned a long time ago how to suppress their emotions.
All emotions bottled inside.
But emotions are like alcohol.
The longer and deeper they are bottled up inside, the fiercer they become.
He was by himself.
His friends obviously hadn't come.
Did they abandon him or did he talk them into leaving?
Nobody knew.
It was impossible to tell what he was thinking just by looking at his face.
But everybody knows that no party lasts forever, no matter how good of friends you are, there will always be a time when you must part ways.
People gather and then they disperse, such is life.
The sky was hazy, but it was light enough.
He walked slowly, but he arrived at the final destination nonetheless.
Such is life, as with most things, so what is the point of rushing?
The wind was still cold, cutting like knives, scrapping across his face.
He slowly walked past the neglected graves, silently counting each tombstone.
Some of the stones had toppled over, some had slowly eroded away, and the writing on the tombstones was no longer recognizable.
Who was buried here? There was no one left who cared.
When they were living, perhaps they had their ups and downs, their share of joy and sadness.
But now they were left with nothing.
Then why must people always be contemplating life and death, honor and shame?
Dash sighed lightly, he suddenly stopped walking.
Because he could already hear the sound of laughter.
The Red Women and her laughter, sounding like bells of silver, "I knew you would come, and here you are."
Dash: "I'm here."
He could see her standing beneath a tree covered in snow. She was still dressed in that red outfit, as if he was seeing her for the first time.
But the past is gone, and the joys and sorrows of yesterday are but a distant memory.
Even if you still remember the past, sooner or later it will all fade away.
The Red Women was also standing there watching him, was it anger or blame in her eyes? Was it love or hatred?
Whether it was love or hate, it didn't matter now.
She finally smiled, "You really came to get the antidote for Forest?"
Dash: "Yes."
She bit her lip, "You wouldn't have come for me?"
Dash: "That's right."
She laughed bleakly, "Why do you always treat your other friends better than me?"
Dash: "Because you aren't my friend."
Red Women: "I'm not your friend? Can't you remember how happy we used to be together?"
Dash: "I don't remember."
The Red Women shook her head, "Regardless of what you say, I know that in your heart you still remember."
Her eyes were like the fog, "Do you still remember when we were lying on the top of Hua Mountain. The white clouds were our blankets, the earth was our bed, it was as if we were the last two people in the world," she said in a distant voice.
Her voice went lower and sweeter, "Then there was that time, when we were lying in the boundless desert counting the stars. We stayed there until we were practically covered in sand... do you still remember?"
Dash was silent.
These moments would be impossible for anyone to forget.
Could he really have forgotten?
When face to face with his first love, could his heart truly be as cold as his face?
The Red Women was watching him intently, there were tears in her eyes, "I will never forget those moments, and that's why I hate you. I hated that you left without saying goodbye, I hated you so much I wanted you dead, but..."
She hung her head, "If only you could have a change of heart, just say those words, and I am yours, no matter where you go, I will follow you."
"I'm not going anywhere," Dash suddenly yelled.
His voice was so loud as if he was pulling himself out of a dream.
The Red Women was biting her lip, "If you're not going anywhere, then why did you come?"
"I came to get the antidote," he said coldly.
Red Women: "Is there any other reason?"
Dash: "None."
Red Women: "Didn't you want to see me?"
Dash: "No."
Her face instantly turned dark, black like that of a scorpion.
The soft sweet look in her eyes was gone, she stamped her feet forcefully, "Fine, the antidote is back there, go and get it."
Dash looked back and saw the porcelain bottle on the tombstone.
Red Women: "We are only giving you the remedy because we still consider you to be a friend. You should take it and leave quickly."
Dash's face was still void of any expression.
No matter what she said, he wouldn't believe a single word.
He knew for a fact that they would never hand over the antidote so easily.
But he still walked over anyway.
He had to take this bottle.
If this bottle was in the water, then he would dive right in; if it was in flames, then he would jump in anyway.
× × ×
The piled snow was cold and soft.
After six or seven steps, his hand was in reach of the bottle.
He extended his hand.
The porcelain was cold, colder than a dead person's hand.
He took the bottle.
His hand was colder than the bottle.
Because he could feel death calling.
A pair of hands suddenly shot out from the grave, and hit the ‘Huantiao’ pressure point on his knee.
Another pair of hands simultaneously extended from within the snow, throwing a pair of morning stars that pierced his ankles.
He fell to his knees, kneeling in front of the grave.
Only then did he notice the cave beneath the tomb.
It was an empty grave that had been reconstructed.
The sound of silver belled laughter rang out again, "And now you really can't go anywhere..." the Red Women said sweetly.
(5)
Dash was kneeling in front of the grave, his face was still void of any expression, but his face was frighteningly pale.
He knew these people well, he knew their way of doing things.
He was waiting, waiting for them to do what they do.
"You lost," a voice said at last from within the grave.
He knew that the voice belonged to the Summoner of Death, his voice always sounded like it was coming from the grave.
"I lost."
All he could do was admit that he had lost.
Summoner of Death: "There is no way you are coming back from this one."
Dash: "Nope."
Summoner of Death: "Do you know what you have lost?"
Dash: "I only have one life."
Summoner of Death: "You have more than that."
Dash: "What else do you want?"
Summoner of Death: "You should know what a hand extending from a coffin is looking for."
Dash: "Money?"
Summoner of Death: "That's right, money."
Dash: "You're looking for the wrong person if you want money."
Summoner of Death: "I never look for the wrong person."
Dash: "It should be me asking for money, part of those profits belonged to me."
Summoner of Death: "Of course you have a share, but you shouldn't have taken all of the profit for yourself."
Dash didn't say anything, a strange expression suddenly flashed across his face.
Summoner of Death: "During those few years we made a lot of money."
Dash: "Yes we did."
Summoner of Death: "Only the five of us actually know how much money we brought in, isn't that right?"
Dash: "Yes."
Summoner of Death: "Only the five of us knew how much was hidden away, and where it was stashed, isn't that right?"
Dash: "Yes."
Summoner of Death: "Was there a six person?"
Dash: "Nope."
Summoner of Death: "No matter which one of us took all of that money, it would be more than enough to live out the rest of their life in comfort."
Dash: "Even a careless spender would have more than enough."
Summoner of Death: "But it wasn't until after you left that we knew, the only person who was going to be enjoying that money was you."
(6)
Dash: "You think I took all of that money?"
Summoner of Death: "There isn't a dime left, who do you think took it?"
Dash let out a deep sigh, "I finally realize why you all came."
"I already knew why you left, that much money was more than enough for anybody to sell out their friends," he laughed coldly.
Dash suddenly laughed.
"Do you think we are funny? Do you think we're idiots?"
Dash: "I am the idiot. Anyone with that much money and living this kind of life, is certainly an idiot."
Summoner of Death: "What kind of life are you living?"
Dash: "The life of a poor man."
The Red Women suddenly swept in, "How poor are you?" she laughed.
Dash: "Very poor."
She blinked her eyes, "I heard there was a person from the county who went to the Lunar Mansion and lost tens of thousands of silver in one night, who was that?"
Dash: "That was me."
Red Women: "I heard that someone from the mountain village bought hundreds of silver worth of alcohol in one month, who was that?"
Dash: "That was me."
Red Women: "A household recently bought all new furniture. Even the chairs in the back courtyard are made of sandalwood, they are worth at least a dozen silver pieces each, who was that?"
Dash: "That was me."
The Red Woman laughed, "And someone like this is still considered poor?" she said casually.
Dash: "I guess not."
Red Woman: "We already asked around, even though this place is called Prosperity Villa, other than the name, it hasn't been very prosperous since the previous generation."
Dash: "That's right."
Red Woman: "And for all these years you have never left for any other business ventures?"
"Why should a person leave his house if he can relax comfortably at home?" Dash asked casually.
Red Woman: "Silver coins definitely don't fall from the sky."
Dash: "But you can dig them up from the ground."
"I never thought you would admit to it so quickly," she said sweetly.
Dash: "What if I don't admit to anything."
Red Woman: "Not happening."
Dash: "Then why do I have to admit anything."
He laughed, the laugher was clearly forced, "If you want to look into a person's past, you should go back at least a few generations. Even a mute knows how to tell the truth if he wants to, I understand this better than anyone."
"So you should never have left," the Summoner of Death said coldly.
Dash sighed, "Unfortunately people have a way of doing what they're not supposed to do."
Summoner of Death: "Fine, let's go."
Dash: "Go where?"
Summoner of Death: "To go and get our share."
Dash: "Fine, go and get it."
Summoner of Death: "Where do we have to go to get it?"
Dash: "You can go looking for it wherever you want."
Summoner of Death: "How are we supposed to know where its hidden if you don't tell us?"
Dash: "Why should I tell you? I haven't said anything?"
"You still won't admit to it?" he yelled loudly.
"Even if I took the money, admitting to taking the money isn't the same as promising to return the money," Dash replied casually.
"Do you want the money? Or do you want your life?" he laughed callously.
Dash: "Obviously I want to keep living if that were an option, but if I am going to die either way, then I have to choose the money."
Summoner of Death: "What do we have to do?"
Dash: "If you promise me my life, then I promise to give you your money."
The Summoner of Death thought about it for a while, "Fine, you can have your life back," he suddenly said.
Dash: "One life, one share."
Summoner of Death: "How many lives do you have?"
Dash: "I have one, Big G has one, Forest has one, and Swally has one. Four lives and four shares."
Summoner of Death: "Four shares for one life."
Dash: "Not ok."
Summoner of Death: "It has to be ok, you are alive, money is dead, and we found you. Do you really think we can't find the money?"
Dash thought it over, "Fine, give me back a life first," he said slowly.
Summoner of Death: "Whose life?"
Dash: "Who is giving back the money?"
The Red Woman started laughing again, "I always knew he was a smart one, he can at least figure out that his life is worth more than anyone else's."
Dash: "Give me the antidote and release my pressure points, then I will take you to the money."
Summoner of Death: "You can take the antidote, but not your pressure points."
Dash: "Unless you release my pressure points, you can take my life at any time."
Summoner of Death: "I already promised you your life."
Dash: "Other than that?"
Summoner of Death: "You should be happy with that."
"Yeah, it's better than dying, you should look on the bright side," the Red Women laughed.
Dash thought about it for some time, "Looks like I don't really have any other choice," he finally answered with a sigh.
"You were finished when you decided to leave with all of that treasure," the Summoner of Death said coldly.
Dash: "How is anyone supposed to walk when their pressure points aren't released?"
"I can carry you on my back, don't forget that previously it was always you on top of me," she smiled charmingly.
"You can come with me," he said coldly.
The Red Women blinked, "Then who is going to carry him?"
A person suddenly came slithering out from the snow, just like a snake, "Me."
× × ×
Dash was resting on the Crimson Snake's back.
His body was cold, wet, and soft.
× × ×
The fog had dispersed.
But the sky was still gloomy, the sun wasn't visible; it was hard to see the light.
There was no light for them, because they had lost all hope.
"Is this the way to your home?" the Crimson Snake suddenly asked.
Dash: "I just hope it's not my old home."
Crimson Snake: "You stashed the money at your house."
Dash: "Where would you hide it?"
Crimson Snake: "Obviously somewhere within easy reach, money is just like woman, its best to keep them close enough to touch whenever you want."
Dash smiled, "I never thought you understood woman so well."
Crimson Snake: "It's because I understand them that I'm not interested."
Dash: "You only want money."
Crimson Snake: "Money is better than woman, money can't lie to you. There is nothing on this earth more faithful than money."
Dash: "So, money can be kept in the living room, but not woman."
Crimson Snake: "The money is in your living room?"
Dash: "Where is more spacious and out in the open than someone's living room?"
The Crimson Snake nodded his head, "That's right, the more a place is out in the open, the less people would think that something is hidden there."
× × ×
The Summoner of Death never walked in front of anybody.
The world certainly possessed this kind of people, because they themselves had stabbed numerous people in the back.
He clung to the Red Woman tightly as if he was her shadow.
The Red Woman could feel his cold breath—even his breathing had the smell of death.
Her complexion didn't look so good.
The Summoner of Death couldn't see her face, he could only see her neck.
He was looking at her neck with a look of appreciation on his face. Because the soft, white skin on the back of her neck was already showing goose bumps from his breathing.
The Red Woman was watching Dash up ahead, "Do you think he will actually take us to the money?" she suddenly asked.
Summoner of Death: "What choice does he have?"
Red Woman: "Something isn't right."
Summoner of Death: "What's that?"
Red Woman: "He isn't that easy to deal with, and since when has he been afraid of dying."
He gave a cold smile, "What does it matter now what kind of person he is."
Red Woman: "Why?"
Summoner of Death: "Because he is as good as dead."
Red Woman: "Dead?"
Summoner of Death: "Do you actually think I would let him live?"
"Of course not, but he isn't dead yet," she replied sweetly.
Summoner of Death: "He isn't completely dead, but he is half way there."
Red Woman: "He has friends."
Summoner of Death: "One is close to death, the other two are basically waiting to die, and any one of use three could easily take them out, what is there to worry about?"
The Red Women laughed again, "I'm not worried, I just think it's a shame."
Summoner of Death: "What's a shame?"
"I still haven't had the chance to sleep with those three," she said flirtingly.
The Summoner of Death instantly bit her neck.
Just like a wild dog would bite a female dog.
× × ×
The sky was still gloomy, so the living room was also dark.
The windows were open, from outside you could faintly make out two shadowy figures.
Crimson Snake: "Who is inside?"
"Who would have thought you are losing your sight," Dash said casually.
His eyes never were very good.
Anyone who spent all of their time mixing various poisons was sure to have bad eyesight.
But even with bad eyesight, one good look and you would be able to tell that they were two scarecrows.
Scarecrows dressed in coarse hemp clothes.
Dash suddenly smiled, "If you still can't make them out I might as well tell you: if I die, they will be sons in morning, if you die, then I'm afraid they will be all that's left to morn for you."
Crimson Snake: "A filial son in morning has to be better than a complete failure."
Dash: "So you weren't willing to have any kids."
Crimson Snake: "Not having any friends is even better."
The Red Woman caught up to them, "What about your friends?"
She was asking Dash, because Dash was the only one of them who actually had friends.
Dash: "They are waiting for me at the bottom of the mountain."
Red Woman: "Why are they down there?"
Dash: "If you were in their predicament, where would you wait?"
"I wouldn't wait for you," the Crimson Snake replied.
The Heart of a Serpent
(1)
Everybody has a story. Most people can't help but bring up their past when they are talking with good friends.
Sometimes it's just like telling a story. Most of these stories aren't very interesting—listening to other people brag is never as exciting as talking about your own glory days, but of course there are always exceptions.
When Dash was speaking, their eyes were wide open listening intently, without a single interruption.
Of course, Big was the first one to say something. Actually, he had already held it in for as long as he could. After hearing about the mysterious master, he took a long sigh, "That old person waited for you every day?"
Dash: "In the Forest just behind the cemetery."
Big G: "You went every day?"
Dash: "No matter how windy or rainy it was I went every day."
Big G: "How long did you go for?"
Dash: "For three years and four months."
Big G sighed again, "Isn't that more than a thousand times?"
Dash nodded.
Big G: "Sounds like he was really strict, he would give you a good beating every time you were too slow."
Dash: "That first year, hardly a day went by when he wouldn't hit me."
Big G: "Since he hit you every day, why did you keep going?"
Dash: "Because it seemed so mysterious, and it was new and exciting."
Big G thought about it, "I would have gone as well," he smiled.
"Didn't you ever ask the old guy what his name was?" Forest had to ask.
Dash: "I asked hundreds of times."
Forest: "Did you know where he was from?"
Dash shook his head, "Every time I arrived, he was already there."
Forest: "Why didn't you try going earlier?"
Dash: "No matter how early I got there, he was already there."
Big G raised his eyebrows, "Why didn't you follow him and see where he went?"
"I obviously tried that as well," Dash smiled bitterly.
Big G: "And?"
Dash: "He beat me hard every time I tried, so all I could do was go home by myself."
Big G was frowning, "He waited for you every day, and forced you to intensely practice martial arts, but he wouldn't let you know who he was," he muttered.
Dash: "What's even stranger is he never asked me who I was."
Big G sighed, "Something this strange is indeed quite rare. Looks like only a weirdo like you would encounter something like this."
"When you were planning on breaking away from your friends, did the Red Women know?" Swally suddenly asked.
Dash: "I never raised the issue with anyone."
Swally: "But that Red Women... Was she really good to you?"
Dash had a disgusted look on his face, "She was good to a lot of people," he said coldly after a long pause.
Swally realized that he had went a little too far, "So how did you get away?" he immediately changed the topic.
"One time they were planning on stealing Tibetan manuscripts from the Shaolin Temple, and they asked me to go and investigate first, so I used the opportunity to slip away," he said casually.
"These people were brave enough to make an attempt on the Shaolin Temple," Swally gasped.
Big G: "After you slipped away, they never found you until now?"
Dash: "That's right."
He suddenly stood up and walked to the window. It was a cold dark night.
He stood motionless in front of the window deep in thought, after some time had passed, he finally spoke, "Once I returned home, I rarely went out."
Big G: "And all of a sudden you didn't feel like moving?"
Dash: "I definitely changed, I changed a lot and it all happened so fast..."
His voice was hoarse and full of sorrow, but he kept talking, "Upon my return I learned that during my second year away from home, my mother..."
He stopped talking, he was clenching his fists and his whole body was shaking, he was unable to go on. This time, even Big G stopped asking questions. He couldn't bring himself to ask another question, and it was no longer necessary. Everybody knew what had happened to Dash, and they understood where he was coming from.
By the time he had returned home, and wanted to repay his mother and father for everything that they had done for him, it was already too late to show his filial piety.
Why do people always wait until it was too late, until they finally understand their parent's affection towards them?
Forest hung his head, his eyes seemed to be brimming with tears.
Big G also felt a tinge of regret, his eyes were slightly red as well.
It wasn't until this very moment that Big G realized how Dash had become this poor, this lazy, and this strange.
Because his heart was full of sorrow and regret, and this was his way of punishing himself.
If you were to say that he was hiding, then, he definitely wasn't hiding from the Red Women. He wasn't hiding from the Crimson Snake either, because he wasn't hiding from anyone.
He was hiding from himself. Big G thought back to the first time he saw Dash lying on his bed, lying in the darkness, letting mice crawl all over his body, he couldn't help but to sigh regretfully.
If a person has completely lost their will to carry on, even if they could overcome the hunger, they certainly wouldn't be able to stand the mice. That evening, if Big G hadn't foolishly come charging in, and in his muddle-headedness hadn't become friends with Dash, would he still be alive?
Big G didn't even want to think about it.
Dash finally turned his head, "I have been back for almost three years, they must have been looking for me this whole time," he said slowly.
Big G put on a smile, "It clearly wasn't easy, who would have thought that the Soaring Eagle King would be in this kind of place, spending his days like this."
Dash: "But I knew that sooner or later they would find me. "
Swally blinked, "Why would they still be looking for you after all these years?"
Dash: "Because we have unfinished business."
Swally: "Did you settle things with yourself? Do you owe them? Or do they owe you?"
He went silent for a long time, "Some business will never be settled," he finally said slowly.
Swally: "Why?"
Dash: "Because every person has their own way of keeping score, and none of them are the same."
He was deep in thought, "According to them, there is only one way to settle our business," he added speaking very slowly.
Swally: "How?"
Dash: "You can probably figure it out."
Swally didn't say anything. He knew that some debts could only be settled in flesh and blood.
A drop of blood wasn't enough, it would take more than that. One person’s blood wasn't enough either, it would take the blood of many.
Swally was looking at the wounds all over Big G's body, he sighed after a long pause, "Seems like this business is getting harder and harder to settle, who knows when all of this is going to be over."
Dash sighed, "Don't worry, it won't be very long now, because..."
He suddenly shut his mouth. Everyone was silent, they weren't even breathing.
Because they all heard the sound of footsteps.
× × ×
They were light footsteps, walking slowly through the courtyard.
Who was approaching?
Had the time to settle accounts actually arrived?
Forest thought about struggling to stand up and rush outside to have a look, but he held back, Big G pointed at the windowsill with his finger, but Swally shook his head at him.
The person was alone, they walked slowly up the stone steps stopping outside the door.
There was a sudden knock from outside, they never thought that these people would be dignified enough to actually come and knock at the front door.
"Who is it?" Dash finally asked.
"Me," a voice replied softly from outside.
Dash: "Who is me?"
The person outside instantly started to laugh, her laughter sounded like silver bells, "If you don't even recognize my voice, you really have lost your conscience."
It was a woman, she sounded young with a beautiful voice.
After looking at Dash's facial expression, they all guessed who this woman was, his face was as white as a piece of paper.
Swally patted him on the shoulder, pointed at the door and then pointed to the back of the room.
His meaning was: if you don't want to see her, go and hide in the back, I will take this one for you.
Dash obviously knew what he meant, but he shook his head no.
He knew better than anyone else the situation he was in, and he had retreated for the last time.
He had already decided that he would no longer run, that he wouldn’t retreat another step.
× × ×
"Why don't you come and open the door?"
Nobody had seen the Red Women before. But just by the sound of her voice, anyone could tell how intoxicating she could be.
"Is there a woman inside that you don't want me to see? You should know that I'm not the jealous type, unlike yourself."
Dash suddenly strode forward and then stopped, "The door isn't locked," he said in a deep voice.
With a light push the door opened. A person stood in the doorway, she was facing the lights shining from inside the room.
It was as if all the light from inside the room was shining on her alone. Of course, everyone's eyes were also staring at her.
She appeared to be shining, a bright red aura that made your heart skip a beat.
× × ×
The Red Women was obviously wearing red. But the light wasn't coming from her clothes, in fact, other than her clothes, her whole body seemed to be glowing. Especially her eyes and the way she smiled. Each one of them felt as if she was looking directly at them, that her smile was for them alone. If a smile could bring down a city, then it would certainly be exactly this kind of smile.
Swally adjusted his stance, appearing to accidently stand in the way of Big G's gaze.
Regardless of the situation, it would be a good idea not to let your friends gaze upon such an enchanting smile.
Shouldn't we all hope that are friends stay far away from evil?
Her eyes were flirting, "Why the hell are men always like this..." she suddenly said.
That was the first thing she said, and then she suddenly stopped talking. It was as if she intentionally wanted to leave a deep impression on them. She seemed to think that all the men in the room liked to hear her talk like that. The way she swore, did indeed have a special flavor.
As soon as she had paused, somebody couldn't help but ask, "And what the hell are men like us like?"
The sound came from behind Swally's back. Swally could block Big G's line of sight, but he couldn't stop his sense of hearing, or his ability to talk.
"Why is it that as soon as you guys see an attractive woman, you all act like you've seen a ghost, you don't even have make a peep?" the Red Women asked.
She crinkled her nose, and started smiling again in the manner that Swally was trying to prevent Big G from seeing.
"At least one of you should have invited me inside," she added softly.
In fact, by the time she was finished her sentence she was already inside. Everyone in the room knew who she was, and they all knew what she was there to do. When she walked inside, they all should have been angry, nervous and anxious.
But Swally suddenly realized that when Big G and Forest were looking at her, their eyes displayed not even a trace of animosity or anxiety. They were actually smiling, even Swally himself was starting to waver, starting to doubt.
He never imagined that the Red Women would be like this. Since she had said the word 'hell,' it seemed that the entire atmosphere had changed. All of their impressions of her had changed, the way she spoke wasn't exactly how a viperous vixen was supposed to sound.
It wasn't until that moment, Swally realized she was carrying a basket of food in her hand.
She placed the basket on the table with a thud. She flicked her hand away and sighed, "It took me more than half an hour to carry such a heavy basket for all of you. My hand feels like it's going to break, and all of you aren't the least bit grateful."
"Nobody asked you to bring us anything, there isn't a single person who wants you here," Dash suddenly said coldly.
The Red Women finally glanced in Dash's direction, she was biting her lip, pretending to be amused and angry, "I want to ask you, are these people your friends?"
Dash: "Yes."
She sighed gently, "You might be able to watch your friends starve, but I can't."
Dash: "Them being hungry or not has nothing to do with."
"Why not? Your friends are my friends, I couldn't let my hubby's friends go hungry now could I," she replied.
Dash: "What are you talking about?"
She just smiled, "You all are Dash's friends, how is it that you don't recognize his lady?"
She pulled up the cloth covering the basket, "It's on me today, don't be shy, it would be such a waste if you all didn't eat," she said sweetly.
Swally: "And if we eat."
"That would also be a waste," she smiled again.
"Free riders have a way of dying young," Swally said maliciously.
The Red Women looked at him, her facial expression looked as if she had just been slapped across the face.
After some time had passed, she turned around facing Dash, "Do you all think that what I brought is poisoned?"
Dash: "Yes."
"Do you think I came here to poison all of you?" she asked.
Dash: "Yes."
"Not only to poison them, but to poison you as well."
Dash: "Yes."
The Red Women appeared to be on the verge of tears, she suddenly turned around and grabbed a chicken leg from the basket, "So the chicken is definitely poisoned?"
Dash: "Highly likely."
Red Women: "Ok, fine..."
She took a bite of the chicken leg, swallowed it down and then grabbed a bottle of wine, "The wine is poisoned too, right?"
Dash: "Also very likely."
Red Women: "Fine."
She also took a drink—
She ended up tasting a little bit of everything from the basket, then she raised her head looking at Dash, "What do you think now?"
Dash immediately answered without giving it any thought, "It is still completely the same."
Red Women: "You think its poisoned?"
Dash: "Yes."
The Red Women's tears were on the verge of streaming down, but she tried to regain her composure. After a long pause, she finally nodded slowly, "I know what you are thinking," she said faintly.
Dash: "You should know by now."
Red Women: "You think I took the antidote before coming?"
Dash: "Yep."
"You have always seen me as a heartless, venomous women, you always thought that I was merely using you..." she said sorrowfully.
She couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
After hearing all of that, Big G and Forest started to feel sorry for her. Although they weren't saying anything, they felt that Dash was treating her a little too harsh.
Regardless of the current situation, they had a history together.
If it was Big G, he would probably be embracing her by now.
But Dash's face was void of any expression, his heart seemed to be made of iron.
The Red Women slowly put everything back into the basket. "Fine, since you think its poisoned, I will take it with me," she said while biting he lip.
Dash: "It's best that you leave now."
The Red Women was shaking, "If you think that I never had sincere intentions towards you, then I will never come to see you again," her voice was flustered.
Dash: "You shouldn't have come."
Red Women: "I... I just wanted to ask you one thing..."
She suddenly rushed in front of Dash, "After meeting me, have I ever wronged you in any way?" she asked desperately.
Dash couldn't find the words to reply.
The Red Women was tightly clenching both of her fists, her body was still shaking, "You're right, I'm not a good person, I’ve hurt a lot of men, but my feelings for you... when have I ever hurt you? Say something, say anything," she pleaded.
"There is nothing left for us to say," Dash said coldly.
She stood there thinking for half a moment, and then slowly nodded her head, "Ok, I'm leaving, I will go... don't worry, you won't ever see me again," she said dejectedly.
She turned around slowly, she picked up the basket and slowly walked out.
Big G was watching her leave, feeble and alone, he watched her walking slowly towards the dark, cold, courtyard...
The wind was blowing hard through the courtyard, the snow from the trees swirled in the air, in the blink of the eye the branches were bare of any snow. Are people and their affections not the same?
Emotions can settle like the snow year after year, but can't a strong wind blow them clean away in the blink of an eye?
Big G was feeling a little depressed, he hoped Dash would have a change of heart and let the poor women stay.
But his heart was hard as iron, he just watched her walk away without the slightest expression on his face.
He watched her step past the threshold, Big G could barely prevent himself from asking her to stay on behalf of Dash.
Her body suddenly convulsed, as if she had been struck by a whip.
And then she fell to the ground.
Her limbs continued to convulse as she lay on the ground. Her pale, white face had turned a blackish purple, her eyes had rolled back into her head, and she was frothing from the mouth.
There were streaks of blood mixed through the white froth.
"The things she brought were actually poisoned," Swally's facial expression had changed drastically.
"But she couldn't have known, otherwise why would she eat poisoned food?" Big G rushed to add.
Dash stood their motionless like a piece of stone, as if he hadn't seen what was happening.
Even Swally was getting anxious, "Dash, regardless of what happened, you should at least go have a look," he had to say.
Dash: "Look at what?"
Swally: "What kind of poison was it? Will she live?"
"There's nothing to see," Dash responded coldly.
"What's wrong with you? Are you even human?" Big G yelled.
If Swally wasn't holding him down, he would have been struggling to get up.
All they could see was the Red Women convulsing on the ground, struggling to breath, and calling out nonstop, "Dash... Dash..."
Dash finally let out a long sigh, "I'm right here."
The Red Women struggled to reach out her hand, "You... come here... I'm begging you..."
Dash clenched his teeth, "If you have something to say I can hear you."
Red Women: "I don't know... I had no idea these things were poisoned, I never intended to hurt you, you... you should believe me."
Dash didn't say anything. Big G couldn't help but to reply, "I believe you, we all believe you."
She gave a sorrowful smile, "The Crimson Snake and the rest wanted you dead for what you did to them, but I... I never wanted this."
She was curled over, and her clothes were drenched in sweat. She struggled to keep on speaking, "I know I'm a horrible person, but with you, my intentions were always sincere. As long as you understand what's inside my heart, I... I'm willing to face even death."
When she finished talking, it seemed that all of her strength had been completely exhausted, she no longer had the strength to struggle.
Big G was watching her with clenched teeth, his eyes were sobbing wet, "Dash, did you hear what she said?"
Dash nodded.
Big G clenched his teeth again, "Since you heard what she said, why are you still standing there."
Dash: "What am I supposed to do?"
Big G: "If it wasn't for you this wouldn't have happened to her, can't you think of a way to help her?"
Dash: "How am I supposed to save her?"
"Since you helped take care of Big G's poison, you should be able to help her too," Forest suddenly said.
Dash shook his head, "That was different, completely different," he said slowly.
Big G: "What's different?"
Dash stopped talking again.
Although he was trying his hardest to control himself, there appeared to be a shimmer of tears in his eyes. It seemed as if he was full of anger.
His hands were shaking.
"If Old Mr. King doesn't even know how to cure her poison, then there is only one person in the world who can save her," Swally said urgently.
Big G: "Who?"
Swally: "The Crimson Snake."
Big G: "That's right, we should go and ask him for the antidote."
Swally sighed, "I don't think that's possible."
Asking the Crimson Snake for an antidote was like asking a tiger to peel off his skin and hand you his fur.
Big G clearly understood this.
The Red Women's breathing was becoming weaker and weaker, but she was still calling out softly for Dash, "Dash... Dash..."
The sound of her voice became weaker and weaker, Big G's heart was about to shatter. He couldn't help from yelling out, "Since you can't save her, and you aren't willing to ask the Crimson Snake for the antidote, are you really just going to sit there and watch her die? Are you even human?"
Swally sighed again, "What do you think we should do?"
Big G: "Even the Crimson Snake wouldn't sit back and watch her die, you all..."
Forest was sitting there in a daze the whole time, but he suddenly interrupted them, "That's right, the Crimson Snake wouldn't let her die, so we should send her back," he said loudly.
It wasn't the best solution, but it appeared to be their only option.
Swally frowned, "Now the question is who should send her back?"
Big G: "Huh."
Although he didn't say anything, he was glancing out of the corner of his eye at Dash.
Obviously, Dash was the one who should send her back.
Anyone with half a conscience wouldn't just stand there and watch her die.
Who would have thought that there was no reaction from Dash, it was as if he didn't hear them talking at all, he was just standing there like an idiot.
Dash obviously wasn't an idiot.
He was playing dumb.
"Fine, none of you will take her, then I will send her back," Big G couldn't help himself from yelling out.
He used all of the strength he could muster to jump up.
Swally instantly grabbed him.
Dash looked back, watching them, he looked sad and sympathetic.
Nobody could have guessed what was going through his head in that moment.
After some time, he finally stomped his feet, "Fine, I will send her back."
He turned around and was just about to pick her up.
Forest shot forward quick as an arrow, he crashed into Dash sending him flying back nearly ten meters into the corner.
By the time Dash fell to the ground, Forest had already picked up the Red Women.
Dash instantly looked angry, "What do you think you're doing?" he asked loudly.
Forest didn't allow him to finish, "It has to be me, Swally needs to take care of Big G, and you’re the one they are after, there is no way they will let you go."
He rushed out before finishing his sentence.
Dash jumped up and charged over, "Put her down, now..." he yelled loudly.
Forest suddenly screamed out in surprise.
The Red Women who had been on the verge of death suddenly sprang from his chest like a venomous snake, she flipped through the air several meters, and disappeared into the dark forest in the blink of an eye.
All they could hear was the distant sound of her laughter ringing like silver bells, "You King of Bastards, you wouldn't even save me when you thought I was dying, you truly have no conscience you piece of shit."
By the time she finished speaking she was already far beyond their grasp. All that remained was the sound of her enticing laughter blowing in the wind.
The wind was cold.
It pieced your soul like her intoxicating voice.
(2)
Forest fell in the snow, there was a bloody black mark on his chest.
They just stood there speechless.
The last echo of her sweet laughter was gradually extinguished by the wind.
After who knows how long, Dash finally slowly walked over and picked up Forest.
His face looked colder than the wind, and it was darker than the night.
Big G was already shedding tears.
Swally looked at him, his face was covered in tears as well, "Don't take it so hard, it wasn't your fault," he said gently.
It would have been better if he hadn't said anything at all, it only reminded him of what he had said.
He suddenly lost control, sobbing uncontrollably as if he were a child.
After who knows how long, Dash slowly raised his head, "He’s still alive."
Swally was pleasantly surprised, "Can you save him?" he gasped.
Dash nodded.
Swally: "How are you going to save him?"
As soon as he finished asking, his facial expression suddenly changed.
Because he already knew, there was only one way to save Forest now.
The only option left was indeed frightening.
He looked at Dash, his face revealing how terrified he was, because he knew what Dash was thinking about doing.
Dash obviously knew what he was thinking as well, but he looked at peace, "You can probably guess what I have to do in order to save him," he said casually.
Swally shook his head sternly, "There must be another way."
Dash: "There isn't."
"Absolutely not," Swally said loudly.
Dash: "It has to work, because I don't have any other choice."
Swally instantly collapsed into the chair, as if he could no longer support himself.
Big G stared at them eyes wide, streaks of tears were still fresh on his face, "What option are you guys talking about?" he had to ask.
Nobody answered him, their mouths were sealed.
"Why aren't you telling me?" Big G asked anxiously.
Swally finally let out a gentle sigh, "Even if you knew it wouldn’t do us any good."
Big G: "Why not? If it wasn't for my crazy idea to bring her back, this wouldn't have happened to Forest, and it's eating me apart, I need to save him."
"There is only one person you can save now," Dash said coldly.
Big G: "Who?"
Dash: "Yourself."
"You are seriously injured, if you don't calm down and rest, you're not going to make it either," Swally added gently.
Big G glared at him, "The weapons that hit me were they poisoned?" he said quickly.
Swally: "Yeah."
Big G: "Who rescued me?"
Swally: "Old Mr. King."
Big G: "Since he could save me from my poison, why can't he save Forest?"
Swally didn't want to say anything.
Big G: "The poison from those projectiles should be the same type of poison, right?"
Swally stayed silent for a long time, "Why must you ask such detailed questions?" he finally said softly.
"Why can't I ask questions? If you don't tell me, then I'm... I will..." Big G yelled.
He was pounding the bed with his fist, he was so angry he couldn't even get the words out.
Swally was biting his teeth, "Fine, I will tell you. The poisons were both special formulas made by the Crimson Snake, so only the antidote prepared by him can save Forest."
Big G: "But Dash..."
Swally: "When Dash was preparing to slip away from them, he secretly hid some of Crimson Snake's special remedy just in case."
Big G: "Where is the antidote now?"
"He used it all to save you," he said, one word at a time.
"Used it all?" Big G gasped.
"Not a drop left," Swally said. He bit his lip, and gradually continued explaining, "He had been planning on using the antidote on himself; however, he used all of it to save you. I thought he had kept some, but he was afraid that the poison was too much, that a smaller amount wouldn't be enough, so..."
His eyes started to go red, he couldn't go on—he was the only one who knew, because Forest was outside at the time, watching out for the enemy.
Big G clenched his fists, beads of cold sweat were coming down his face, "It's my fault, and then I used all of the antidote that could have saved him, I'm really something, incredible me," he muttered after a long pause.
"You couldn't have known, you weren't the one who..." Swally said dejectedly.
"You're right, you guys were the ones who insisted on saving me, but didn't you think of what that would do to me, how can I live with myself?" he said hoarsely.
"You have to go on living now, since I saved you, don't even think about dying," Dash said solemnly.
Big G: "But Forest..."
"Don't worry about him, I thought of a way to save you and I have a way to save him as well," he said intently.
Big G clenched his teeth, "I know now what you have to do to save him."
Dash: "Oh?"
Big G: "You're planning on asking the Crimson Snake for the antidote, aren't you?"
Big G: "You're planning on asking the Crimson Snake for the antidote, aren't you?"
He clenched his teeth, "You hesitated last time because you knew the Red Woman all too well, but for Forest, even if it costs you your life, you are committed to getting the antidote."
Dash smiled casually, "You actually think the Soaring King of Eagles is some kind of hero?"
Big G: "I don't know about the Soaring Eagle King, but I know Dash, and I know perfectly well what kind of person he is."
Dash: "Oh?"
Big G had tears in his eyes, "Dash looks cold on the outside, but his heart is softer than tofu, and hotter than fire."
Dash was deep in thought, “Since you understand me so well, you should know that if I set my mind on doing something than no one can stop me,” he slowly responded.
Big G: "And you should understand by now that I am the exact same way."
Dash: "What are you planning on doing?"
Big G: "Going to ask the Crimson Snake for the antidote."
"How?" Swally looked worried.
Big G: "I have to go, it has to be me."
Swally: "But your injuries..."
Big G: "Because I am injured, I should be the one who goes."
He didn't give them a chance to speak, "There is only two of us not injured, the two of you against three of them is already pushing it, and if you two get hurt then we are all as good as dead."
Swally: "It kind of makes sense, but..."
Big G interrupted him again, "There is no way I am going to sit here and watch Forest die of poison, so you are going to have to let me go, plus I'm already injured, not to mention..." He started to smile, and then kept going: "The Crimson Snake is still human, there is no way he would poison a helpless cripple like me."
"You think they won't kill you?" Dash smiled callously.
Big G: "I don't think so."
Dash: "Do you understand them or do I?"
Big G: "You."
Dash: "Then let me tell you, there is only one type of person they wouldn't kill."
Big G: "What type?"
Dash: "Dead people."
All of a sudden the sound of laughter, just like silver bells came blowing in the wind.
Swally rushed outside, he saw a pale yellow kite falling from the night sky.
The kite was square with a decorative zigzag pattern written in red ink.
Swally could tell that it wasn't just a kite, but a marking from the Summoner of Death.
He couldn't make out the markings.
Only people who had been to hell and back would be able to understand.
But Dash understood.
There were red voodoo markings on the pale yellow kite, blood red like the flames of hell.
Dash was staring at the markings, there was a hint of terror behind his calm facial expression.
Swally wasn't watching the kite, he was looking at Dash's eyes—he didn't understand what the markings said, but he had a good idea from studying Dash's face.
"What does the writing say," he finally asked.
Dash was silent, he didn't answer, but he opened the window and looked outside.
The stars were fading, dawn was approaching.
Another kite arose in the dim sky.
"It's almost light out," Dash sighed gently.
Swally: "The sun always rises."
Dash: "I have to go."
"Why?" Swally gasped.
Dash: "Because if I don't get to the bottom of that kite by sunrise, Forest is dead."
(3)
Dawn had almost arrived.
Light from an early dawn was supposed to bring people warmth, happiness, and hope.
But for Dash, in this moment all it represented was death.
"If Dash doesn't arrive at the bottom of this kite by sunrise, Forest is dead."
That is what the markings said.
In other words, Dash was going to die, he had to go.
"I already said it has to be me, don't try and stop me," Big G said loudly.
"Fine, you can go, but regardless of whether you go or not, I have to go," Dash said casually.
Big G: "Since I am already going, why do you have to go as well?"
Dash: "Because I am the one they want, not you."
"You should know that just because you go, doesn't mean that they are going to give you the antidote," Swally interjected.
Dash: "I know."
Swally: "It's clearly a trap, they definitely have everything set up, and now they are just waiting for you to take the bait."
Dash: "I understand better than you could know."
Swally: "But you are still going to go?"
Dash: "You expect me to watch Forest die?"
Forest's breathing was already weak and shallow, his teeth were clenched shut and his face was a deathly grey.
Anyone could tell that he was on the verge of death.
"We can't let him die, but we can't send you to your death either," Swally said desperately.
"How do you know I am going to die? Perhaps I will be back with the remedy in no time," he said calmly.
Swally stared at him, "Are you trying to deceive us? Or are you lying to yourself?"
Dash let out a long sigh, "I am aware that my chances of returning are slim, but if there is the slightest hope of success, I have to try."
Swally: "And if it's hopeless?"
Dash: "I would still go."
His words were final, there was no turning back now.
Swally suddenly stood up, "Fine, if you're going then I am coming with you," he proclaimed loudly.
Dash slowly nodded his head, "Fine, if you go, and everyone who can walk comes, then the people left behind are just waiting to be slaughtered."
Swally had no reply.
"Why don't you just tell us what you want us to do?" Big G asked desperately.
Dash: "I will go alone, you two take Forest to the bottom of the mountain and wait for me there."
Big G: "And then what?"
Dash: "Then you have to find a cart and horse, even if you have to steal one, just get it."
Big G: "And then?"
Dash: "Then you all wait in the cart, if I haven't come looking for you by sundown you better leave quickly."
Big G: "And where would we go?"
Dash was smiling bleakly, "The world is a big place, and you can go anywhere."
Big G slowly nodded his head, "That's a fine idea, just great, only you could have thought of such an amazing idea."
Dash: "Although it's not ideal, it's our best option."
Big G: "Just great, you are going to fight to save Forest's life and you want us to run like dogs with our tails between our legs. You sure are a great friend, you are treating me like a worthless animal."
"Do you have a better idea?" Dash said dejectedly.
Big G: "I have just one thought."
Dash: "What?"
Big G: "In life, we should live happily together; if we are going to die, then we might as well go out together, with dignity.
× × ×
Big G was Big G, he wasn't Dash, and he wasn't Swally.
Perhaps he wasn't as calm as Dash, maybe he wasn't as clever as Swally.
But he was one hell of a guy, and he was damn brave.
(4)
The winds started to blow, lifting the deathly grey fog covering the ground.
The demonic fire markings had disappeared in the fog.
Who ever said that there's no such thing as ghosts? Who said so?
Floating in the wind there appeared to be a wondering soul, a spirit that even hell would reject.
His face was a blur.
His face was deathly grey. His face seemed to be one with the desolate fog. His mouth and nose were part of the fog.
All that remained was a pair of devilish eyes.
There was no light coming from his eyes, the color was hard to define, but they were full of malice. His gaze seemed to be cursing everything in this world, damning everyone in this world.
Wherever this pair of eyes glanced, that place would wither in misfortune.
Now, this pair of eyes was slowly scanning the area; every abandoned grave, every pile of snow, were subject to his intense gaze.
Then there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
It was impossible to know how terrifying, and how malevolent that smile was.
At that very moment, laughter exploded from within fog, it sounded like silver bells.
It wasn't silver bells, but a soul wrenching voice.
"Are you ready?" the Red Women's alluring voice pierced the fog, there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
This Lost Soul slowly nodded his head, "If he comes, he can forget about leaving alive."
She gave him a flirting glance, "Do you think he will come?"
"What do you say?"
The Red Women blinked, "Why do you want me to say it?"
"You know him better than us."
"Are you still jealous?" she glanced at him, her eyes seemed to be smiling in amusement.
"Hmm!"
The Red Women: "Do you actually think I am interested in him?"
The malice in his eyes seemed to deepen, "When he was around, you never came to me once."
The Red Women: "Have you already forgotten who told me to do it?"
The Lost Soul was silent.
"You had me sleep with him to win him over, and now you are blaming me, you really have no conscience," she laughed callously.
"Nope."
The Red Women laughed again, "Never thought I would hear any truth come out of your mouth."
"And you?"
The Red Women: "With you I always told the truth."
"If I hadn't asked you to sleep with him, wouldn't you have gone all the same?"
The Red Women: "I would yes."
"Why?"
"Because I enjoy sleeping with men," she said sweetly.
The lost soul clenched his teeth, "Will you sleep with anyone?"
The Red Women: "Other than you yes."
The malice in his eyes turned to pain, but his eyes seemed to brighten up.
"Are you finished with your questions?" the Red Women asked, gazing into his eyes.
The Lost Soul suddenly grabbed her by the hair, and gave her a hard smack across the face, "You whore!" he yelled.
The Red Women wasn't afraid or angry, she just laughed even more sweetly, "I have always been a little whore, but you're worse than me."
The Lost Soul's heavy hand slapped her again.
She was still laughing, "You like telling me to sleep with other men, and then you ask me the same dam questions every day, and I can't even keep count how many times you've asked me."
She didn't let him speak, "Because you like it, you like being tortured by me, you feel alive when I play with you, only then do you feel human," she kept yelling.
With a hissing sound he pulled her close.
She was still laughing, "Are you trying to..."
"Now is not the time for your lover's quarrel," a cold voice suddenly broke the silence.
The voice was colder than ice.
The voice had come from inside a pile of snow.
"You have been hiding in the snow," the Red Women smiled.
A face suddenly appeared from inside a pile of snow.
A face more terrifying than death.
"How is it down there?" asked the Red Women.
"Pretty cool," replied the Crimson Snake.
The Red Women laughed, "It's probably one of the coolest places on earth."
Crimson Snake: "You want to snuggle inside with me?"
Red Women: "As long as you have the patience to wait down there, sooner or later I will join you."
"Too bad he isn't interested in you," the Lost Soul snickered coldly.
The Crimson Snake looked up into the sky, "It's almost time, time for him to die," he suddenly said.
Lost Soul: "Do you think he will come?"
"Of course he will come," the Red Women rushed to answer.
Lost Soul: "Why?"
Red Women: "Because other than you, he is good to his friends."
The Lost Soul also look up into the sky.
The light of early dawn had arrived.
The wondering souls and vagrant ghosts had all returned to where they belonged.
Lost Soul: "It’s time to die."
Red Women: "Hurry up and die already."
The Lost Soul slowly walked over to an empty grave, he pulled out a porcelain bottle from his chest pocket, and placed it on the tombstone.
Then he suddenly disappeared inside of the grave.
The Red Women took a deep sigh, "It would be best if he stayed in there forever," she muttered.
"What good would that do?" asked the Crimson Snake.
The Red Women hung her head and looked at him, her eyes were brimming with tears, "Wouldn't it be great if it was just the two of us left?" she asked gently.
"We can talk about that when you're the last woman on earth alive," the Crimson Snake said coldly.
The Red Women charged over to him and spat in his face, "Are you even human?" she said hatefully.
"Nope," he said with a sinister smile on his face.
By the time he was finished speaking his faced had again disappeared beneath the snow.
The Red Women stood there dazed, as if there was a sudden weight pressing on her heart.
After some time, she suddenly sprang into action.
She instantly vanished into the fog.
× × ×
A deathly grey fog was covering the ground by the time the winds started to blow.
The horizon was also a deathly grey color.
Abandoned graves, freezing snow, there was nothing and nobody around.
All that could be seen was a kite slowly falling to the ground.
It wasn't just a kite, but the voodoo markings made by the Summoner of Death, the Lost Soul.
× × ×
The kite fell to the ground.
The sky and heavens were a deathly grey, nothing was visible.
Dash was walking slowly down the road, his face was still expressionless.
Even if he was feeling terrified, he wouldn't show it on his face.
If anyone had experienced the pain and suffering that he had, they would have learned a long time ago how to suppress their emotions.
All emotions bottled inside.
But emotions are like alcohol.
The longer and deeper they are bottled up inside, the fiercer they become.
He was by himself.
His friends obviously hadn't come.
Did they abandon him or did he talk them into leaving?
Nobody knew.
It was impossible to tell what he was thinking just by looking at his face.
But everybody knows that no party lasts forever, no matter how good of friends you are, there will always be a time when you must part ways.
People gather and then they disperse, such is life.
The sky was hazy, but it was light enough.
He walked slowly, but he arrived at the final destination nonetheless.
Such is life, as with most things, so what is the point of rushing?
The wind was still cold, cutting like knives, scrapping across his face.
He slowly walked past the neglected graves, silently counting each tombstone.
Some of the stones had toppled over, some had slowly eroded away, and the writing on the tombstones was no longer recognizable.
Who was buried here? There was no one left who cared.
When they were living, perhaps they had their ups and downs, their share of joy and sadness.
But now they were left with nothing.
Then why must people always be contemplating life and death, honor and shame?
Dash sighed lightly, he suddenly stopped walking.
Because he could already hear the sound of laughter.
The Red Women and her laughter, sounding like bells of silver, "I knew you would come, and here you are."
Dash: "I'm here."
He could see her standing beneath a tree covered in snow. She was still dressed in that red outfit, as if he was seeing her for the first time.
But the past is gone, and the joys and sorrows of yesterday are but a distant memory.
Even if you still remember the past, sooner or later it will all fade away.
The Red Women was also standing there watching him, was it anger or blame in her eyes? Was it love or hatred?
Whether it was love or hate, it didn't matter now.
She finally smiled, "You really came to get the antidote for Forest?"
Dash: "Yes."
She bit her lip, "You wouldn't have come for me?"
Dash: "That's right."
She laughed bleakly, "Why do you always treat your other friends better than me?"
Dash: "Because you aren't my friend."
Red Women: "I'm not your friend? Can't you remember how happy we used to be together?"
Dash: "I don't remember."
The Red Women shook her head, "Regardless of what you say, I know that in your heart you still remember."
Her eyes were like the fog, "Do you still remember when we were lying on the top of Hua Mountain. The white clouds were our blankets, the earth was our bed, it was as if we were the last two people in the world," she said in a distant voice.
Her voice went lower and sweeter, "Then there was that time, when we were lying in the boundless desert counting the stars. We stayed there until we were practically covered in sand... do you still remember?"
Dash was silent.
These moments would be impossible for anyone to forget.
Could he really have forgotten?
When face to face with his first love, could his heart truly be as cold as his face?
The Red Women was watching him intently, there were tears in her eyes, "I will never forget those moments, and that's why I hate you. I hated that you left without saying goodbye, I hated you so much I wanted you dead, but..."
She hung her head, "If only you could have a change of heart, just say those words, and I am yours, no matter where you go, I will follow you."
"I'm not going anywhere," Dash suddenly yelled.
His voice was so loud as if he was pulling himself out of a dream.
The Red Women was biting her lip, "If you're not going anywhere, then why did you come?"
"I came to get the antidote," he said coldly.
Red Women: "Is there any other reason?"
Dash: "None."
Red Women: "Didn't you want to see me?"
Dash: "No."
Her face instantly turned dark, black like that of a scorpion.
The soft sweet look in her eyes was gone, she stamped her feet forcefully, "Fine, the antidote is back there, go and get it."
Dash looked back and saw the porcelain bottle on the tombstone.
Red Women: "We are only giving you the remedy because we still consider you to be a friend. You should take it and leave quickly."
Dash's face was still void of any expression.
No matter what she said, he wouldn't believe a single word.
He knew for a fact that they would never hand over the antidote so easily.
But he still walked over anyway.
He had to take this bottle.
If this bottle was in the water, then he would dive right in; if it was in flames, then he would jump in anyway.
× × ×
The piled snow was cold and soft.
After six or seven steps, his hand was in reach of the bottle.
He extended his hand.
The porcelain was cold, colder than a dead person's hand.
He took the bottle.
His hand was colder than the bottle.
Because he could feel death calling.
A pair of hands suddenly shot out from the grave, and hit the ‘Huantiao’ pressure point on his knee.
Another pair of hands simultaneously extended from within the snow, throwing a pair of morning stars that pierced his ankles.
He fell to his knees, kneeling in front of the grave.
Only then did he notice the cave beneath the tomb.
It was an empty grave that had been reconstructed.
The sound of silver belled laughter rang out again, "And now you really can't go anywhere..." the Red Women said sweetly.
(5)
Dash was kneeling in front of the grave, his face was still void of any expression, but his face was frighteningly pale.
He knew these people well, he knew their way of doing things.
He was waiting, waiting for them to do what they do.
"You lost," a voice said at last from within the grave.
He knew that the voice belonged to the Summoner of Death, his voice always sounded like it was coming from the grave.
"I lost."
All he could do was admit that he had lost.
Summoner of Death: "There is no way you are coming back from this one."
Dash: "Nope."
Summoner of Death: "Do you know what you have lost?"
Dash: "I only have one life."
Summoner of Death: "You have more than that."
Dash: "What else do you want?"
Summoner of Death: "You should know what a hand extending from a coffin is looking for."
Dash: "Money?"
Summoner of Death: "That's right, money."
Dash: "You're looking for the wrong person if you want money."
Summoner of Death: "I never look for the wrong person."
Dash: "It should be me asking for money, part of those profits belonged to me."
Summoner of Death: "Of course you have a share, but you shouldn't have taken all of the profit for yourself."
Dash didn't say anything, a strange expression suddenly flashed across his face.
Summoner of Death: "During those few years we made a lot of money."
Dash: "Yes we did."
Summoner of Death: "Only the five of us actually know how much money we brought in, isn't that right?"
Dash: "Yes."
Summoner of Death: "Only the five of us knew how much was hidden away, and where it was stashed, isn't that right?"
Dash: "Yes."
Summoner of Death: "Was there a six person?"
Dash: "Nope."
Summoner of Death: "No matter which one of us took all of that money, it would be more than enough to live out the rest of their life in comfort."
Dash: "Even a careless spender would have more than enough."
Summoner of Death: "But it wasn't until after you left that we knew, the only person who was going to be enjoying that money was you."
(6)
Dash: "You think I took all of that money?"
Summoner of Death: "There isn't a dime left, who do you think took it?"
Dash let out a deep sigh, "I finally realize why you all came."
"I already knew why you left, that much money was more than enough for anybody to sell out their friends," he laughed coldly.
Dash suddenly laughed.
"Do you think we are funny? Do you think we're idiots?"
Dash: "I am the idiot. Anyone with that much money and living this kind of life, is certainly an idiot."
Summoner of Death: "What kind of life are you living?"
Dash: "The life of a poor man."
The Red Women suddenly swept in, "How poor are you?" she laughed.
Dash: "Very poor."
She blinked her eyes, "I heard there was a person from the county who went to the Lunar Mansion and lost tens of thousands of silver in one night, who was that?"
Dash: "That was me."
Red Women: "I heard that someone from the mountain village bought hundreds of silver worth of alcohol in one month, who was that?"
Dash: "That was me."
Red Women: "A household recently bought all new furniture. Even the chairs in the back courtyard are made of sandalwood, they are worth at least a dozen silver pieces each, who was that?"
Dash: "That was me."
The Red Woman laughed, "And someone like this is still considered poor?" she said casually.
Dash: "I guess not."
Red Woman: "We already asked around, even though this place is called Prosperity Villa, other than the name, it hasn't been very prosperous since the previous generation."
Dash: "That's right."
Red Woman: "And for all these years you have never left for any other business ventures?"
"Why should a person leave his house if he can relax comfortably at home?" Dash asked casually.
Red Woman: "Silver coins definitely don't fall from the sky."
Dash: "But you can dig them up from the ground."
"I never thought you would admit to it so quickly," she said sweetly.
Dash: "What if I don't admit to anything."
Red Woman: "Not happening."
Dash: "Then why do I have to admit anything."
He laughed, the laugher was clearly forced, "If you want to look into a person's past, you should go back at least a few generations. Even a mute knows how to tell the truth if he wants to, I understand this better than anyone."
"So you should never have left," the Summoner of Death said coldly.
Dash sighed, "Unfortunately people have a way of doing what they're not supposed to do."
Summoner of Death: "Fine, let's go."
Dash: "Go where?"
Summoner of Death: "To go and get our share."
Dash: "Fine, go and get it."
Summoner of Death: "Where do we have to go to get it?"
Dash: "You can go looking for it wherever you want."
Summoner of Death: "How are we supposed to know where its hidden if you don't tell us?"
Dash: "Why should I tell you? I haven't said anything?"
"You still won't admit to it?" he yelled loudly.
"Even if I took the money, admitting to taking the money isn't the same as promising to return the money," Dash replied casually.
"Do you want the money? Or do you want your life?" he laughed callously.
Dash: "Obviously I want to keep living if that were an option, but if I am going to die either way, then I have to choose the money."
Summoner of Death: "What do we have to do?"
Dash: "If you promise me my life, then I promise to give you your money."
The Summoner of Death thought about it for a while, "Fine, you can have your life back," he suddenly said.
Dash: "One life, one share."
Summoner of Death: "How many lives do you have?"
Dash: "I have one, Big G has one, Forest has one, and Swally has one. Four lives and four shares."
Summoner of Death: "Four shares for one life."
Dash: "Not ok."
Summoner of Death: "It has to be ok, you are alive, money is dead, and we found you. Do you really think we can't find the money?"
Dash thought it over, "Fine, give me back a life first," he said slowly.
Summoner of Death: "Whose life?"
Dash: "Who is giving back the money?"
The Red Woman started laughing again, "I always knew he was a smart one, he can at least figure out that his life is worth more than anyone else's."
Dash: "Give me the antidote and release my pressure points, then I will take you to the money."
Summoner of Death: "You can take the antidote, but not your pressure points."
Dash: "Unless you release my pressure points, you can take my life at any time."
Summoner of Death: "I already promised you your life."
Dash: "Other than that?"
Summoner of Death: "You should be happy with that."
"Yeah, it's better than dying, you should look on the bright side," the Red Women laughed.
Dash thought about it for some time, "Looks like I don't really have any other choice," he finally answered with a sigh.
"You were finished when you decided to leave with all of that treasure," the Summoner of Death said coldly.
Dash: "How is anyone supposed to walk when their pressure points aren't released?"
"I can carry you on my back, don't forget that previously it was always you on top of me," she smiled charmingly.
"You can come with me," he said coldly.
The Red Women blinked, "Then who is going to carry him?"
A person suddenly came slithering out from the snow, just like a snake, "Me."
× × ×
Dash was resting on the Crimson Snake's back.
His body was cold, wet, and soft.
× × ×
The fog had dispersed.
But the sky was still gloomy, the sun wasn't visible; it was hard to see the light.
There was no light for them, because they had lost all hope.
"Is this the way to your home?" the Crimson Snake suddenly asked.
Dash: "I just hope it's not my old home."
Crimson Snake: "You stashed the money at your house."
Dash: "Where would you hide it?"
Crimson Snake: "Obviously somewhere within easy reach, money is just like woman, its best to keep them close enough to touch whenever you want."
Dash smiled, "I never thought you understood woman so well."
Crimson Snake: "It's because I understand them that I'm not interested."
Dash: "You only want money."
Crimson Snake: "Money is better than woman, money can't lie to you. There is nothing on this earth more faithful than money."
Dash: "So, money can be kept in the living room, but not woman."
Crimson Snake: "The money is in your living room?"
Dash: "Where is more spacious and out in the open than someone's living room?"
The Crimson Snake nodded his head, "That's right, the more a place is out in the open, the less people would think that something is hidden there."
× × ×
The Summoner of Death never walked in front of anybody.
The world certainly possessed this kind of people, because they themselves had stabbed numerous people in the back.
He clung to the Red Woman tightly as if he was her shadow.
The Red Woman could feel his cold breath—even his breathing had the smell of death.
Her complexion didn't look so good.
The Summoner of Death couldn't see her face, he could only see her neck.
He was looking at her neck with a look of appreciation on his face. Because the soft, white skin on the back of her neck was already showing goose bumps from his breathing.
The Red Woman was watching Dash up ahead, "Do you think he will actually take us to the money?" she suddenly asked.
Summoner of Death: "What choice does he have?"
Red Woman: "Something isn't right."
Summoner of Death: "What's that?"
Red Woman: "He isn't that easy to deal with, and since when has he been afraid of dying."
He gave a cold smile, "What does it matter now what kind of person he is."
Red Woman: "Why?"
Summoner of Death: "Because he is as good as dead."
Red Woman: "Dead?"
Summoner of Death: "Do you actually think I would let him live?"
"Of course not, but he isn't dead yet," she replied sweetly.
Summoner of Death: "He isn't completely dead, but he is half way there."
Red Woman: "He has friends."
Summoner of Death: "One is close to death, the other two are basically waiting to die, and any one of use three could easily take them out, what is there to worry about?"
The Red Women laughed again, "I'm not worried, I just think it's a shame."
Summoner of Death: "What's a shame?"
"I still haven't had the chance to sleep with those three," she said flirtingly.
The Summoner of Death instantly bit her neck.
Just like a wild dog would bite a female dog.
× × ×
The sky was still gloomy, so the living room was also dark.
The windows were open, from outside you could faintly make out two shadowy figures.
Crimson Snake: "Who is inside?"
"Who would have thought you are losing your sight," Dash said casually.
His eyes never were very good.
Anyone who spent all of their time mixing various poisons was sure to have bad eyesight.
But even with bad eyesight, one good look and you would be able to tell that they were two scarecrows.
Scarecrows dressed in coarse hemp clothes.
Dash suddenly smiled, "If you still can't make them out I might as well tell you: if I die, they will be sons in morning, if you die, then I'm afraid they will be all that's left to morn for you."
Crimson Snake: "A filial son in morning has to be better than a complete failure."
Dash: "So you weren't willing to have any kids."
Crimson Snake: "Not having any friends is even better."
The Red Woman caught up to them, "What about your friends?"
She was asking Dash, because Dash was the only one of them who actually had friends.
Dash: "They are waiting for me at the bottom of the mountain."
Red Woman: "Why are they down there?"
Dash: "If you were in their predicament, where would you wait?"
"I wouldn't wait for you," the Crimson Snake replied.
