C3 The 3rd Chapter

The woman didn’t approach, merely casting a brief glance. “Go on! Don’t tell anyone you saw me.”

“Yes, yes. We know the rules.”

Unexpectedly spared, the group hurried down the mountain much faster than they had climbed up. In no time, the mountain returned to its tranquil state.

A gust of wind swept over, enveloping the mountain. This very wind parted the thick clouds, allowing the sun to peek through. As sunlight pierced a dark cloud, it seemed to magically outline it with a beautiful golden edge.

Light and shadow intertwined, like the meeting of day and night.

Contrary to tales of vanishing with the sunrise, the woman stood there, gazing at the sky above. After a moment, she chuckled softly, “It’s good to be alive.”

Her name was Su Luo, the eldest daughter of the current Prime Minister, exceptionally intelligent. By seven, she was remarkably articulate, and as she grew, she disguised herself as a boy to study and work alongside her brothers. At fifteen, she casually wrote an essay under her brother’s name, which, by chance, ended up before the Emperor, earning her great praise. The Emperor once privately told her father, “If your daughter were a son, she’d be extraordinary.” She was the apple of her parents’ eye, renowned for her talent and beauty, captivating the capital. Suitors lined up, eager to marry her. Her father carefully chose the eldest son of a high-ranking official as her husband. Sixteen years of luxury and adoration made her believe her life would always be this way. But overnight, with the Emperor’s change of heart, she fell from grace. Her family was seized, her relatives imprisoned. She couldn’t believe her loyal father would be accused of treason. The saying that high-ranking officials were immune to punishment was a lie. She watched her father tortured to death, his body dragged out like a rag doll. She lay on the ground, biting her lip until it bled. Her mother, frail but determined, held her, urging her to live, for as long as there’s life, there’s hope.

What hope was there? Hope that a foolish ruler would overturn their case? She laughed bitterly, tears streaming down her face as she promised her mother.

She didn't know that this embrace would be their last goodbye.

After her mother passed away, her older brother was exiled to the frontier and soon died of illness. She was left all alone, spending three solitary years in a cell, watching the sun rise and set through a small window above. In such a state, was she any different from a ghost? But she had promised her mother she would live.

Yet, in the end, she broke that promise. On a winter night, her closest friend, the one she shared everything with, ended her life. It turned out that a person's heart could harbor such darkness.

Her soul departed from her body, growing fainter and fainter. Perhaps she was about to vanish completely.

Suddenly, a powerful force struck. The night sky twisted and spun like a giant vortex. Her struggles were as feeble as an ant's against this force, and she was instantly pulled in.

Inside, it was wondrous—a staircase of twelve interwoven lights, with ethereal birds singing in the sky. She was propelled forward, drifting through various small worlds. She witnessed the rise and fall of eras and heard the roar of iron birds.

Just when she thought she would drift forever, the force reappeared, mercilessly dragging her back into the void. Su Luo felt as if her limbs and bones were being sliced into pieces, the pain making her cry out in agony. It was a torment as severe as a thousand cuts. She closed her eyes, refusing to see or hear, pretending she was nothing more than a lifeless piece of flesh. She had no idea how long this torment lasted before she was hurled from the sky.

Then, her fingers touched the cold body. It had been so long since she had physically felt anything that she was overwhelmed with emotion. In that moment, she felt alive again among the dead, and then she heard someone say, "The restless spirit haunts the place."

Survival was her only thought.

So, she disguised herself as a ghost and scared the group away.

After gathering the belongings of Tang Mingquan and the others, Su Luo smirked. She had been playing the ghost for so long; who could outdo her in this act?

She turned to the coffin, sighed, and covered it with dry grass and branches she found nearby.

Kneeling down, she clasped her hands together and prayed. She wished for the girls to find peace in their next life and for her own safety in this world.

Brushing the dirt off her clothes, she stood up and headed down the mountain.

"Great Liang, here I come!" Su Luo announced.

Sunset Inhabiting Mountain was vast, and by the time Su Luo reached the base on foot, it was already evening. The wind pushed the waves of the Sui River, sending them crashing against the shore.

At this hour, finding a boatman to cross the river might mean the city gates of Great Liang would be closed by the time she arrived. It would be better to rest here for the night and set out at dawn. With this in mind, Su Luo found a high spot by the shore, gathered some dry branches, and started a fire. She rummaged through her bag and found some provisions. Amused, she thought, "These people were quite prepared." She warmed a steamed bun over the fire and took a big bite.

The steamed buns were filled with meat. Tang Mingquan and his crew were strong men who needed meat to keep up their energy, so the buns were generously stuffed. Su Luo felt full after just one. She was quite thirsty, but unfortunately, her pack only had wine. Known for being a lightweight, she never drank when she was out and about. Now she was in a bind; she was parched, but drinking in this deserted area was risky. If she got drunk, she might end up as a snack for some wild animal. She decided to pour out the wine and use the empty flask to fetch water from the river.

Just as she raised her hand, a voice called out, "Don't pour it out, save the wine for me."