"Hey, tell me," Hua Manting said, watching the black-clad woman nudge Xie Ziyin with her arm, "if the two of us joined forces, could we tie her up and force a confession?"
"This zombie," Xie Ziyin replied, "though ancient, is hardly skilled. I could deal with her alone, no need for your help. But that Netherworld Cauldron… even if you and I combined our strength tenfold, it's uncertain we could defeat it. And it always acts up at the worst possible moment."
Hua Manting clicked her tongue in astonishment. "That powerful?"
"Yes," Xie Ziyin nodded with unwavering certainty. "That's why I fear that if we seize that woman, the cauldron may react. We'd be at a disadvantage. Better to wait a little longer and adapt as things unfold."
Hua Manting's curiosity shifted. "How could such a formidable bronze spirit allow you to treat it as merely a brazier?"
Xie Ziyin's expression turned serious. "Perhaps it respects your presence. The master worried you'd be cold, so it refrained from acting."
"Hmph," Hua Manting scoffed, "if he truly cared about my feelings, why drag me to this cursed place?" She sneezed theatrically as she spoke.
"You're alright?" Xie Ziyin hurriedly offered her a handkerchief. "I didn't bring a cloak this season and could find nothing suitable to cover you. When you fainted, all I could do was light the brazier. Are you chilled?"
Hua Manting accepted the handkerchief, covering her nose as she sneezed a few more times. "I'll be fine after a nap."
"You're hardly fine," Xie Ziyin fretted, uncertain of what to do. "Do you… have any medicine with you?"
"I was just out shopping; I didn't bring a medicine cabinet with me," Hua Manting replied, wiping her nose and rolling her eyes. "Besides, I'm hardly frail. Why carry cold remedies for a breeze?"
"I… I thought, being from a family of healers, you might have some potions on hand," Xie Ziyin admitted sheepishly, realizing his worry had been rather foolish.
Hua Manting, as a princess, naturally would not carry a collection of remedies. Yet, on impulse, she asked a nearby black-clad maid, "Is there any hot water? Plain water."
Embarrassment flooded her as she realized the absurdity of her request. To her surprise, the maid bowed and returned shortly with a large steaming vessel of water.
Xie Ziyin carefully cooled it with his cultivation techniques before handing it to her. "Drink carefully—it's hot."
"Thanks." Hua Manting tossed aside the now-dirty handkerchiefs and sipped the water. "You really have the makings of my brother's prudence."
Xie Ziyin stared at the discarded cloth, stunned. "That's only because I care about you. If it were anyone else, would I even speak a word?"
Hua Manting snorted, turning back to the performance, sipping her water in silence. Xie Ziyin followed suit, though his mind wandered.
"See?" Hua Manting nudged Xie Ziyin. "I was right. That slave distinguished himself in battle, helping the prince ascend the throne. The young emperor even broke protocol to abolish his slave status and made him a general—a rarity for that era. Clearly, the emperor valued him as a brother."
"Brotherly affection, yes," Xie Ziyin murmured, "but mostly because he loved that noblewoman."
"Ah?" Hua Manting blinked, utterly missing that layer of meaning.
"I'm only speculating," Xie Ziyin admitted.
Hua Manting laughed and playfully tapped his shoulder. "You're quite imaginative. Maybe that black-clad lady should keep you on as a playwright to pen a sequel."
Her voice carried a little too loudly.
"Who's black? Who's the lady?" The black-clad woman turned, fire flickering in her unnervingly direct gaze.
"She!" Xie Ziyin pointed toward the stage.
The woman glanced in the direction of the black-clad female performer, and a surge of restrained anger erupted in her throat—neither vented nor subdued, just stuck there.
"You…" Hua Manting teased, shoving Xie Ziyin back against the chair, turning to the woman. "Eavesdropping isn't enough for you; you have to assume it's about you. That's right, we're talking about you!"
Xie Ziyin's eyes widened. Ready for a fight, he silently summoned a wisp of white mist around his hand, prepared to act the moment she moved.
"You…" The black-clad woman exhaled in multiple ragged breaths, glaring at Hua Manting, chest heaving. "Who told you to speak so loudly? I'm not deaf!"
"Let's lower our voices," Xie Ziyin said, raising himself to intercept their fiery exchange. Using lip movements, he mouthed to Hua Manting: Wait a little longer.
Embarrassed, the woman finally turned away.
If she were human, she might have overturned the table or coughed up blood from rage.
"Why pull me?" Hua Manting scolded Xie Ziyin. "If she moved first, it might not even count as breaking the rules. The cauldron wouldn't react."
"What logic is that?" Xie Ziyin sighed. "What if the cauldron does act? Do you plan to let it reduce us to dried meat?"
Hua Manting fell silent.
"This place harbors many hidden dangers. I want to bring you back unharmed, not risk our lives on reckless bravado," Xie Ziyin said, clutching her arm. "Though I am not yet strong enough, I will protect you with all my might, even if…"
Hua Manting covered his mouth. "Don't say it. In tales, men who say that usually end up as the second lead."
Xie Ziyin smiled under her hand.
"Stop laughing! It tickles," she protested.
A flush crept across his cheeks. He withdrew her hand. "You mean you want me to be the protagonist?"
Hua Manting froze, realizing she might have trapped herself.
No—it was that sly man's fault!
"Oh, look at you, blushing again," she teased, changing the subject. "Like a ripe tomato… or a steamed crab!"
"One day, you'll understand," Xie Ziyin said softly, "when you blush for another man."
He knew Hua Manting, just two years younger than her brother, had been raised freely, spirited and untamed like a boy.
"Boring." Hua Manting withdrew her arm, turning back to the stage.
Xie Ziyin gently guided her back, gripping her shoulders. "Promise me, no more impulsive acts. I will bring you back safely."
"Mm," she replied.
"Be serious!" Xie Ziyin urged. "This is not Wulv Mountain, not Linxian Town. This isn't a place for frolicking."
"All right, all right," Hua Manting teased, nudging his arm. "You're hurting me."
"Ah!" Xie Ziyin released her. "I… I'm just anxious."
"Let's watch the play. Aren't we looking for clues?" Hua Manting said.
"Fine." His hand hovered midair.
The scene on stage was tender: the former slave, now a general, sharing blissful days with the noblewoman in a hidden place called Peach Blossom Hollow. A carefree life of simple labor and shared joy.
Hua Manting rested her hand on the armrest, propping her head, frowning as she yawned. "Can't imagine any clues hiding in this love story."
"Here," Xie Ziyin patted his shoulder. "Lean on me a bit."
"No need," she murmured lazily. "It's almost over anyway."
"How do you know it's ending?"
"The endings in tales always show someone living happily ever after." She pointed at the stage. "Living happily ever after."
Xie Ziyin said nothing, sensing it wouldn't be that simple.
"Ah!"
A piercing scream jolted Hua Manting. "What happened?"
The thin, tall man had fallen from his chair. From their positions, they only saw the chair topple and his sprawled body, the full details obscured.
The young mother covered her daughter's eyes, face pale with terror. The girl beside her trembled silently, hands clasped over her mouth.
Turning their gaze toward the stage, they beheld a horrifying sight:
Half of the black-clad woman's face, uncovered by her veil, was mottled and cracked, flesh peeling away to reveal ghastly white bone.
She sensed their horror, touched her face, and in a rage, swept the table clean, shouting, "Bring it! Quickly!"
Three maids scurried out. Moments later, one returned carrying a fat rabbit.
Placing her hand over its head, a red smoke flowed from the rabbit into her body. Instantly, her flesh began to mend. After consuming three rabbits, her visage was restored.
"Ah!" the tall man screamed, leaping to his feet. "The monster ate someone! The monster ate someone!"
He barreled out, toppling the girl beside him.
"Hey!" Hua Manting tried to restrain him with a spell, but he vanished into the storm.
Everyone rushed after him, only to see a drenched figure vanish into the darkness, followed by a chilling wail.
The group quickened their pace. Rain and thunder pounded mercilessly, louder than when the doors were shut.
At the gate, they found the tall man crawling back, bloodied and contorted.
No mistake—he was melting, like snow meeting boiling water.
The gruesome sight, accompanied by wailing, struck terror into their hearts. Even Hua Manting and Xie Ziyin were paralyzed, rooted to the spot.
The young mother forgot to shield her daughter's eyes.
"Mom, the uncle melted," the little girl said curiously, seemingly the calmest among them.
In moments, the man dissolved into a puddle, soon washed away by the rain, as if he had never existed.
Only a single hand remained, lying just inside the doorway—a grim reminder of the horror that had unfolded. Its flesh cracked and flayed, white bones exposed, blood thick and vivid.
Xie Ziyin kicked the hand into the storm; it instantly became a puddle, vanishing.
"Come on, let's go inside," he said, half-dragging, half-carrying Hua Manting to a couch, pulling her into his embrace. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Hua Manting leaned against him, dazed.
The boy remained on his chair, eyes wide as he watched her.
"Close the door, close it," the black-clad woman barked. "Nonsense! What a waste! Who said I ate anyone? He ran out himself!"
"Even zombies can be naggy," Hua Manting remarked lazily.
"I thought you were scared stiff." Xie Ziyin tightened his hold around her shoulders.
"You're the foolish one," she shot back. "When you went out, the rain was ordinary. How did it turn like this?"
"Perhaps a matter of timing, or some trigger mechanism," Xie Ziyin replied. "Even thinking back, I should have probed first, but we went out recklessly."
Hua Manting patted his knee, soothing him. "No one expected the rain itself to be lethal."
"Mm." He patted her arm.
"We'll just be more careful from now on," she added. "I—I will, too."
"Good." He drew her closer.
Despite the danger, and the nagging zombie nearby, Xie Ziyin felt, for a moment, that the world was still and peaceful.
"All right, enough for today," the black-clad woman clapped. "No more play. Time to divide the rooms. What a disappointment!"
The young mother clutched her daughter and the other girl, staring blankly.
"Stop dawdling, move over there and wait for the rooms," the woman gestured to the cleaned dining tables, sweeping the room before fixing her gaze. "Did you hear me? Hurry up!"
"Let's go," Xie Ziyin said. "Do you want me to carry you?"
Hua Manting shot him a glare.
"All right, all right. No need. Let's go." Xie Ziyin stood, pulling her by the arm.