Chapter 24: Tears and Promise

Liu Liwa stayed silent. Their tragic fate had finally begun. The cruelest punishment in this world was not death, but a life worse than death!

He could feel the sorrow in Qin Wan’er’s heart. What was even more pitiful was Xiao Xinying. She was still unaware now, but one day when she was surrounded by a group of men, how terrified would she be?

At this thought, Liu Liwa felt a sharp pain in his heart. Although he had just met the two girls, Xiao Xinying was innocent and lively. Qin Wan’er, though a bit cunning, was at most a young lady with a strong personality, and her heart was not bad. They were both girls in the bloom of youth, yet they were about to fall into the world of pleasure. How sad, how regrettable, how hateful, how infuriating!

He did not know how much time had passed when the sound of Xiao Xinying grinding her teeth came from the bed. The little girl had fallen asleep. This rare moment of peace made Liu Liwa’s heart ache. Suddenly, Qin Wan’er’s voice was heard. In the darkness, Liu Liwa saw a vague and graceful figure sit up on the bed. She buried her head between her knees and sobbed softly. Liu Liwa did not know how to comfort her, so he chose to remain silent.

After a while, the crying gradually stopped. Qin Wan’er asked him softly, “Hey, do you think we will soon become like those other girls?”

Liu Liwa knew she was talking about “serving customers.” He could not answer this question, and there was no need for an answer. With their beauty and noble demeanor, they would not only have to serve customers but would also face more humiliation.

He turned over, pretending to be asleep. The aching feeling in his heart made him unable to face this issue. Behind him, the crying grew louder. He heard Qin Wan’er say, “I really regret it. Why was I born into an official’s family? If I were born into an ordinary family, even without luxury, I would not have to suffer such a devastating disaster and endless pain. If we were both born into ordinary families, maybe by now we would have married. You would farm the land, and I would weave cloth. I would bear children for you and teach them to read and write…”

As she cried and spoke, Liu Liwa’s heart softened. A beautiful scene appeared in his mind, but it soon shattered.

“If that day really comes, I would rather die than obey!” Suddenly, her tone shifted, becoming extremely firm.

Liu Liwa immediately sat up and said, “Don’t talk about dying. As long as things haven’t reached the final step, you shouldn’t despair.”

“What else can I do but despair?” Qin Wan’er said painfully. “I am just a weak woman trapped in this dangerous place. What can I possibly change?”

“I am here!” Liu Liwa’s tone was even firmer. He looked up at the bright moon outside the window, and a sense of defiance surged within him. “Don’t worry. Whether it’s a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair, a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, I will carry it for you!”

Liu Liwa’s words were resolute and powerful. The bright moon hung high in the sky, as if he were making a vow under its light, his voice echoing far and wide. Afterward, the entire room fell into silence. Only the clear moonlight shone like water, reflecting on Qin Wan’er’s face, where crystal tears rolled down.

Under the moonlight, Qin Wan’er slowly lay down. It seemed like a response to his vow, hinting that she would lie down for him after he helped her overcome her troubles!

Liu Liwa admitted to himself that he was not the kind of man who would fly into a rage for a beautiful woman, nor was he someone who acted impulsively on a whim. However, the two women before him were too pitiful. They were innocent girls being forced into prostitution right before his eyes. He could not accept it in his heart, especially since one of them was his fiancée.

“Wan’er, from today on, we are like grasshoppers tied to the same string, comrades on the same pirate ship. We should share hardships and help each other, right? Look, the weather is getting colder, and this Eight Immortals table is too chilly. Should we snuggle up together? It’s warmer when we squeeze close!”

After the bloody thoughts, only flirtation remained. He observed the bed and saw that Qin Wan’er seemed to have fallen asleep too, grinding her teeth along with the little loli. He chuckled, climbed down from the table, and crept over step by step. Suddenly, he saw a flash of silver light on the bed. It was actually a small, sharp dagger, about the size of a palm. It seemed she had been hiding it on her all along. He heard Qin Wan’er murmur as if in a dream, “If anyone tries to force me, I will perish together with them…”

Liu Liwa was scared silent. Was she talking in her sleep, or was she serious? Were her earlier words true or false?

He resentfully climbed back onto the table and began to ponder seriously. Did I go overboard with my chivalrous words just now? If she is really forced to serve customers, how can I stop it? Actually, there are quite a few ways!

Liu Liwa was full of confidence. In this feudal era, people had many taboos, and there were plenty of opportunities to seize. Just wait and see the show…

Before long, the three people in the room—Xiao Xinying grinding her teeth, Liu Liwa smacking his lips, and Qin Wan’er talking in her dreams—made the small room incredibly lively.

He did not know how long he had slept when Liu Liwa was awakened again by the sound of crying. He looked out the window; it was pitch black, and the moonlight was hazy. On the bed, the sound of teeth grinding mixed with dream talk was still lively. Both of them were asleep, yet the sound of crying was clearly still in his ears. Could it be that this room was haunted?

He buried his head under the blanket and carefully examined every corner. It was dark and he did not want to encounter ghosts, but this was a Pleasure House, a place of extreme Yin energy. It was hard to say.

He waited quietly for a while. The crying continued, but it sounded a bit hoarse and intermittent. He could not tell if it was a wronged ghost, a fierce ghost, or a crying ghost.

Soon, he identified the direction from which the crying was coming—right above his head. Liu Liwa mustered his courage, threw on his clothes, and decided to go out and investigate. There was a large tree in the courtyard with lush branches and leaves. He climbed up in a few moves and focused his gaze. On the roof of his single room sat a woman in white, facing the moon, tears falling like rain, each one crystal clear.

Liu Liwa felt a deep ache in his heart. This Pleasure House held too much suffering, too many tears from daughters!

Under the moonlight, the crying woman looked like a pear blossom bathed in rain, or a begonia holding dew. She wore a light, gauzy white dress, as if she were in mist and smoke. A faint haze surrounded her, blurring the line between reality and illusion, like the lonely Moon Goddess weeping.

Ah, Liu Liwa sighed softly. Since he had nothing else to do, he might as well continue playing the role of a psychiatrist.

He climbed along the branches, moving quietly, feeling as if he were sneaking out to meet a lover behind his wife’s back. But before he could get close, the white-clad fairy noticed him. The woman looked up in panic. Liu Liwa gave an awkward smile, showing his two big front teeth to signal that he meant no harm.

The woman was startled but slowly closed her lips, which had been about to scream. She recognized that smile—the warm, sunny smile that had comforted her in her darkest moment.

Liu Liwa’s help earlier that day had felt like saving her life. When Miss Liuyun saw him, she immediately stood up to greet him but forgot where she was. The slanted roof had loose tiles, and she slipped, stumbling and falling downward. Liu Liwa, quick-eyed and swift-handed, pulled her into his arms. Under the moonlight, the two embraced as if they were lovers, romantic and warm…