C30 The Vicious Creature on the First Floor

But just then, a pair of hands draped over my shoulders and settled on my chest, and I could already feel the softness pressing against me.

She whispered seductively in my ear, "Do you truly not desire it?"

I was petrified with fear. Did she really think I wanted this?

Yet, I remained frozen, increasingly convinced that Miss Zhang was the vicious creature from the basement level.

I was sure that if I tried to run, she could rip out my heart in a heartbeat and devour it raw.

Miss Zhang clung to me, murmuring that I was now part of her dowry, and asked why I wouldn't submit to her.

Inwardly, I railed against Old Master Loong, cursing his name. He wasn't human, sending me off to be dowry like this. I was doomed. I had no idea what Liu Tian, that phony monk, was up to. He was the one who brought me here, spouting nonsense about the bell ringer being the one to untie the bell, claiming I was ensnared by the basement's vicious creature.

He hadn't offered any solution.

Now that I've found this bell, he needed to provide a way to release me! I doubted I could do it alone. A chill took hold of me, so intense that I nearly forgot how to move.

But as she licked me again, my body convulsed, and the urge to flee surged within me. It was too late, though; her fingers had already torn open my chest.

A searing pain engulfed every inch of my body in an instant.

At that moment, however, a powerful force yanked me outwards, shattering the doors of Zhang's Ancient Building.

I tumbled onto the street, chest throbbing with pain, but the instinct to survive propelled me to my feet.

I dashed frantically, realizing Miss Zhang was intent on ending my life. Alone on the deserted streets, the sound of approaching footsteps heightened my panic.

Then, I encountered a pair of night patrol officers.

They seemed ready to question me.

Seeing them, I grasped at them like a lifeline, screaming, "There's been a murder! A murder!"

The officers approached, saw the blood soaking my chest, and instantly drew their guns.

Gunfire soon broke the silence. Seizing the moment, I continued my desperate escape.

I made it to the Loong family estate and found my way to the back door. Knocking a few times, I was conscious of the blood staining my chest, but the deep night was on my side.

Hunched over, I waited for the door to open. The person inside asked who I was. I replied that I was Ming, just back from delivering the betrothal gifts.

"Oh, it's Brother Ming!" he recognized.

Once inside, I avoided my own home and headed straight for Miss Loong's residence.

I had come to realize that Miss Zhang was a vicious creature from the basement, and I couldn't let Miss Loong marry her. It would be like sending a lamb to the slaughter.

Navigating the familiar path, I arrived at Miss Loong's door. Despite the late hour, her room was still lit. I knocked and she responded.

Miss Loong opened the door, and I collapsed into her embrace, my face ashen like a sheet of paper.

Seeing my distressed state, Miss Loong urgently inquired, "Ming, what's happened to you? Are you okay?"

Confusion clouded my mind, sweat beading on my forehead.

Struggling for words, I told Miss Loong, "You can't marry Miss Zhang. She's..." My strength failed me mid-sentence, and I passed out.

The next day, I awoke in Miss Loong's bed. As I attempted to rise, Miss Loong entered, dressed in a groom's attire.

She looked both dashing and slightly vulnerable, though she tried to conceal it.

"Ming, stay down; you're too injured to get up," she advised.

Seeing her dressed for a wedding, I realized the urgency. "You mustn't marry Miss Zhang. She's not human. She's..." I faltered, unsure how to describe her. A ghost? That didn't seem quite right.

"What is she?" Miss Loong pressed for an answer.

I was at a loss for words. Finally, I managed, "She's just not human, that's all." My emotions surged, yet Miss Loong remained eerily composed. After I finished, she simply said, "Even if she's not human, what can I do?"

I felt my words lose their strength as they left my mouth, realizing I had no idea how to continue the conversation. Finally, I resolved, "I'll take you away."

Miss Loong's gaze turned sorrowful. "I can't leave," she said. "Miss Zhang sent word this morning, accusing you of stealing a precious pearl from the dowry. The police have been notified."

My anxiety spiked at the accusation. It was a classic case of the guilty party shifting the blame. "Do you believe me?" I asked Miss Loong.

She exhaled deeply. "What difference does it make if I do?"

We both fell into silence.

"Ming," she finally said, "I'll help you escape the Loong family tonight. You've been my support for years; this is the least I can do to repay you."

Miss Zhang's deceitfulness was glaringly obvious. I wanted to say more to Miss Loong, but we were interrupted by a voice calling from outside, "Young Master!"

As Miss Loong responded and made her way to the door, she cautioned me to stay put and reassured me she would help me leave that night. In her eyes, I thought I caught a glimmer of affection, but I didn't dwell on it.

Sigh, the plight of a lady with the fate of a servant. That's what I was thinking.

Regardless, I was determined not to let Miss Loong be forced into marrying Miss Zhang. Partly because I pitied her, and partly because I needed to settle my own score with the vicious creature on the first floor.

Glancing at my wound, I realized it wasn't too severe. I got up from the bed, gritting my teeth against the pain, and decided to find one of Miss Loong's dresses to disguise myself. With the wedding banquet today, the place would be swarming with guests, and I could easily blend in unnoticed.

I wasn't sure if Miss Zhang was a ghost, but I was certain she was a malevolent being. Malevolent beings are said to fear glutinous rice, and my months of experience in the Ghost Building had taught me that much.

This realization sparked a surge of excitement in me. Solving this issue might just free me from the clutches of the vicious creature once and for all.

I began searching for clothes in Miss Loong's room. Since Old Master Loong had raised her as a son from a young age, most of her wardrobe consisted of men's attire. Given her status, her clothing was of high quality. I was looking for something inconspicuous. After rummaging through, I finally discovered a package at the bottom of the wardrobe.

Puzzled, I pulled out the package, thinking it must be an old garment tucked away at the bottom. However, upon unwrapping it, I was taken aback to find a neatly folded sky-blue dress with white lace trim inside.

I gazed at the dress, lost in thought. I recalled Miss Loong once confiding in me that her deepest desire was to wear a beautiful dress and gaze upon a sky filled with stars. I carefully rewrapped the dress and hid it once more.

Eventually, I settled on a nondescript outfit for Miss Loong. Though she wore oversized men's clothing to disguise her figure, the clothes I found were still a tad snug on me. Nevertheless, I managed to get dressed and topped the ensemble with a hat.

My movements were shaky due to my injuries, but I had to press on. The Loong family was abuzz with activity today.

The Loong family's young master was marrying Miss Zhang, and the county's elite had turned out in droves. The venue was overflowing. As I mingled with the crowd, I felt like I was disappearing into a sea of anonymity.

Navigating through the throngs, I made my way to the bustling kitchen. There, I donned a large coat and located the glutinous rice.

Along the way, I overheard people discussing Ming's character, puzzled by the idea of such a refined man turning to theft. Old Master Loong had vowed to throw him into a well if caught. I couldn't help but think of Old Master Loong's severe nature.

With the glutinous rice ready, I planned to expose Miss Zhang's deception in front of everyone, thwarting the scheme she and Old Master Loong had concocted.

For now, I found a place to hide and waited. When the sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers filled the air, I surmised that the bridal procession had returned.

I was biding my time, waiting for the right moment to resolve this long-standing feud.

Suddenly, it all made sense—the karmic link that Liu Tian had mentioned between the vicious creature on the first floor and myself. It explained why I had become 'Ming.' Yet, I had overlooked a critical issue: the relationship between Ming and Miss Loong of the Loong family.

The moment I heard the sound of respectful bowing, a wave of fearlessness washed over me. I emerged from my hiding place and confidently made my way to the living room.

I was doing this not just for myself, but for Miss Loong as well.

In this world, I wasn't sure if death was a possibility for me, but I did know that sometimes you have to take a leap of faith for the things that matter.

Pushing through the throng of people, I headed for the living room, filled with a sense of noble purpose. It was a feeling I had never experienced in my twenty years of life.

I couldn't bear the thought of Miss Loong enduring such an ordeal, and I was determined to help her achieve her deceptively simple wish.

Unnoticed, I moved swiftly forward.

Approaching Miss Zhang, I tapped her on the shoulder. As she turned to look at me, I wasted no time and flung glutinous rice in her face.

Within seconds, Miss Zhang's screams filled the room.

Amidst the ensuing chaos, with Miss Zhang clutching her face in agony and Miss Loong too shocked to react, I seized her hand and declared with conviction, "Come with me."

Miss Loong, bewildered, inquired, "Where to?"

I spared no time for lengthy explanations. "Trust me and follow," I urged her.

With a nod of agreement, Miss Loong allowed me to lead her through the pandemonium. Behind us, Miss Zhang's wails and Old Master Loong's lethal commands to capture and kill on sight echoed.

We hastened to Miss Loong's room, grabbed her belongings, and made a beeline for the back door, sprinting away as a posse pursued us.

As we fled, Miss Loong's voice reached my ears. "Why are you helping me?" she asked.