C29 Dead Man's Cave

"I'll accompany you," I slurred through my drunken haze.

At some point, I vaguely heard someone ask, "Is this true?" But by then, I had succumbed to a deep sleep and heard nothing more. The next day, I awoke to a chill, alone and sprawled across the stone table in the courtyard.

Miss Loong was nowhere to be seen.

Shivering, I stretched and winced at a slight headache. I made my way back to my bedroom. I had intended to lie down for a while, but as soon as I did, there was a knock at the door and a shout, "Ming, get up quickly. Miss Zhang is here. Aren't you going to see her?"

Confusion set in. Why was Miss Zhang here? Wasn't she supposed to get married tomorrow? Traditionally, she shouldn't have visited.

I stepped outside to find the servant who had called me long gone. He had spread the news throughout the Loong family like a human megaphone, and suddenly, the place buzzed with excitement.

Everyone was eager to see what was going on, but when I learned that Miss Zhang had come to talk business with the Loong family, I found it odd.

As I approached, I couldn't shake the feeling that Miss Zhang's gaze kept drifting towards me, intentional or not.

She sat beside Miss Loong, seemingly unfazed, engaging in lively conversation with Old Master Loong. I even overheard her discussing her own marriage with him.

Miss Zhang didn't leave until the afternoon. As she did, she shot me a piercing look. I couldn't decipher the message behind it, but it left me with an ominous feeling.

In Miss Zhang's presence, I felt as if I had no secrets.

Watching her leave, I couldn't help but wonder if she was the vicious creature from the lower floor. Yet, how could such a delicate-looking girl be linked to something so sinister?

Then again, the woman on the seventh floor was as beautiful as a celebrity, and she too had tried to harm me. The old adage rings true: you can know someone's face, but not their heart.

Their wedding day was tomorrow. As I turned back towards the living room, I overheard Old Master Loong berating Miss Loong once more. My heart ached for her, so I stepped forward and reminded him, "Sir, it's time for the young master's studies."

What took me by surprise was Old Master Loong informing me that the young master didn't need to study for the next few days. "Ming, you're to deliver the betrothal gifts to Miss Zhang's house tonight," he said.

Startled and bewildered, I thought, "Deliver the betrothal gifts? Since when does a task like this fall to a mere bookkeeper like myself? Surely, that's a job for the butler."

Upon hearing my question, Old Master Loong's expression grew dark. I didn't dare to speak further; his temper was notoriously brutal, and over the years, many servants had met their end at his hands.

I couldn't fathom why Old Master Loong would have me deliver the betrothal gifts, especially at night.

He continued, "The butler will give you the betrothal gifts this evening. If you mess this up, you're well aware of the consequences."

I acknowledged with a nod and glanced at Miss Loong, who stood by Old Master Loong's side. She seemed to signal me with her eyes, but I couldn't decipher her meaning. After receiving my orders, I departed.

The butler whisked me away, rambling about trivial matters and insisting that I avoid contact with anyone else. That evening, after he handed me the betrothal gifts, he eagerly sent me off to Miss Zhang's house.

He assigned two servants to accompany me.

Together, we made our way to Zhang's Ancient Building with the gifts. It was nearing nightfall, and as if on cue, Miss Zhang appeared just as I reached the building.

"You all may return," Miss Zhang instructed us.

Despite the eerie air about her, I was on foreign ground and in no position to act out of turn. As I was about to leave...

Miss Zhang interjected, "I meant for the other two to leave, not you. Stay, I have some specific issues to discuss with you."

I looked at Miss Zhang intently, trying to glean something from her gaze or demeanor, but to no avail—I could discern nothing.

I followed Miss Zhang up to the third floor of Zhang's Ancient Building.

Upon reaching the upper floor, Miss Zhang offered me a cup of tea, but I hesitated to drink it. I inquired, "What issue do you wish to discuss with me?"

Miss Zhang turned away, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders. Moonlight streamed through the latticed window, casting a dreamy glow upon her figure.

She remained silent, prompting me to ask, "Why would you agree to marry a woman?" My tone was almost accusatory.

Without looking at me, Miss Zhang let out a cold laugh, then after a brief pause, she teased, "You seem quite invested in my marital affairs. Have you fallen for me?"

Her voice was undeniably seductive; I shivered at her insinuation, feeling a coldness creep up my spine.

I chose to remain silent.

But Miss Zhang continued, "Haven't you heard about the Loong family estate's secret?"

I admitted my ignorance.

Her laugh grew colder. From behind, I watched as she slowly raised her hands to her cheeks.

With her hands caressing her face, she said in a drawn-out tone, "I've long envied the Loong family estate. Rumor has it that a significant secret is hidden within. Would you like to know?"

At that moment, my scalp tingled with anticipation. I was indeed eager to uncover the secret shrouded within the Loong family's ancient home, a mystery so compelling it could lead a distinguished young lady to marry another woman.

Curiosity swelled within me, and I couldn't shake the suspicion that she might be the vicious creature from the ground floor.

I simply replied, "Yes."

Miss Zhang's mocking laughter grew increasingly icy until it abruptly ceased, and the stillness seemed to envelop the entire building. Nightfall was upon us.

The moon outside had shifted its position.

Her hands continued to stroke her face, her hair gently swaying.

"The Loong family estate is known as 'Dead Man's Cave,'" Miss Zhang revealed, sending shivers down my spine.

"Dead Man's Cave?" My own voice quivered with trepidation.

Miss Zhang let out a cold snort and remarked, "Their residence is nothing short of a charnel house, a place where thousands have perished! No one who has ever lived in that house has met with a good fate, yet the Loong family seems to thrive. Don't you think that's odd? In recent years, the Loong family's business has flourished while my own Zhang family has been on the decline. There's a secret behind all this..."

She trailed off, unable to continue.

I was somewhat disoriented. The idea of building a home atop the Dead Man's Cave seemed utterly macabre. Yet, in that moment, a realization struck me. I ventured to Miss Zhang, "Could it be that you're suggesting..."

Miss Zhang remained silent, her tacit acknowledgment hanging in the air as her hand ceased its motion on her cheek.

We were both enveloped in a heavy silence.

Then, out of the blue, Miss Zhang spoke up, "Are you implying that I, too, want a piece of the Zhang family's business? Hmph, as if the Zhang family amounts to anything significant."

I was about to respond when Miss Zhang did something that left me dumbfounded. She began to slip off her skirt, revealing her pale skin to my gaze.

"What are you doing?" I blurted out, unable to contain my surprise.

Miss Zhang emitted a bizarre chuckle and teased, "Don't you want to..." She left her sentence unfinished, but the implication was clear.

Internally, I cursed. The question from such an attractive woman was blatantly suggestive. In any other setting, under the broad light of day, I might have readily accepted.

But in this context, to entertain such thoughts would be the folly of a man weary of life.

Miss Zhang's skirt was now slipping down to her waist.

Acting on impulse, I stepped forward and helped her pull her skirt back up.

Unexpectedly, Miss Zhang spun around, embraced me, and began to lick my face. A shiver of revulsion ran through me.

I shoved Miss Zhang away, panting heavily, and wiped the saliva from my face, my hands clammy with nervous sweat.

"Don't you desire it?" Miss Zhang's voice dripped with seduction.

As I finished wiping my face and looked up at Miss Zhang, terror gripped me. Her face was a ghastly sight, devoid of skin, with raw, bloody features from which blood still dripped. Her visage was nothing short of horrifying.

I glanced at her and immediately felt my stomach turn; I was on the verge of throwing up.

But I knew it was time to make a run for it. With a shriek, I didn't hesitate and bolted down the stairs. Miss Zhang's eerie, chilling laughter echoed in my ears.

Panic surged through me, my heart pounding faster as every pore seemed to absorb the sheer terror enveloping me.

My feet thudded against the wooden stairs, the "thump, thump, thump" drowning out any sounds from behind. All I could think about was getting away.

Yet Miss Zhang's voice from behind was unmistakable.

"Do you not realize? You are part of the dowry the Loong family has given me," she said.

A shiver ran from my scalp to my toes, my face ashen as if I'd seen a ghost.

I sprinted to the ground floor of Zhang's Ancient Building, only to find the door was already locked. Panting heavily, beads of sweat formed on my forehead.

My heart rhythm was all over the place. I was inwardly cursing, frantic about what to do next.

The door wouldn't budge despite my repeated kicks. Cursing internally did nothing to help.

I reminded myself to stay calm. The greater the danger, the more important it was to remain composed. But could you imagine, even as I tried to reassure myself, my limbs were shaking uncontrollably?

And then, at that very moment…