53. Encountering a Maid Attempting Suicide Along the Road

Xie Wujie and his three companions set off toward Fire Dragon Mountain, singing and dancing along the way with carefree abandon. The atmosphere was harmonious, and they hardly seemed like youths seeking adventure. Their plan was to have a bit of fun in Fire Dragon County at the foot of the mountain, then return home. At worst, they’d face some scolding, but there’d be no need to risk their lives confronting the millennia-old Fire Python.

Meanwhile, Shi Zhentian followed behind, perplexed. “What are these four up to? Don’t they know how dangerous the Fire Python is? Why are they acting so foolishly, as if death means nothing to them? Could it be they truly don’t understand the meaning of the word ‘death’?”

While Shi Zhentian pondered, Xie Wujie and his friends soon reached a mountain hollow and were about to rest when Skinny Tiger returned from fetching water, running up breathlessly. “Something’s wrong—there’s someone hanging herself up ahead!”

Startled, the group sprang into action. Xie Wujie shouted, “Hurry, we need to save her! What are you standing around for? Waiting to collect the corpse?”

They rushed to a large tree and found a young maid, about fifteen or sixteen, already hanging from a branch. Fat Dragon’s massive body shuddered. “Miss, please have mercy!” he cried, hauling his three-hundred-pound frame up to her and grabbing her legs, desperately pulling downward.

“You can’t die! You’re so young. Was it some young master who abandoned you? Then choose me instead—I’m single and utterly devoted. Wait, why are you sticking your tongue out?” Fat Dragon said.

With his considerable weight tugging at the maid, if she hadn’t died already, she’d soon be dead from his efforts. “You foolish fat oaf!” Xie Wujie kicked Fat Dragon in the backside, sending him sprawling. Then Xie Wujie grabbed the girl’s legs and, with a quick twist, loosened the knot, bringing her down.

The maid’s eyes were closed. It took her a moment to catch her breath, and then she slowly opened her eyes. Dongmen Qianyun knelt beside her, rubbing her back to help her breathe. “Wake up, miss, please wake up. You’re alive and well—why would you give up hope?”

With effort, the maid asked, “Who…who saved me?”

“I did, I saved you first!” Fat Dragon rushed over, eager to ingratiate himself.

The girl, furious and grief-stricken, exclaimed, “You damned beast! You’re worse than an animal! There’s not a soul within ten miles—where did you even come from? You’ll never be reborn as a human!”

Fat Dragon was bewildered. “What’s going on? Did we save the wrong person? Miss, aren’t you being unreasonable? We saved you—how can you scold us?”

The maid grew more distressed. “How could you be so stupid? Don’t you understand? You saved me for a moment, but you can’t save me for a lifetime! I thought death would bring peace—now you’ve rescued me, but you can’t help me, so I’ll just have to die again! I suffer twice, and the second time is because of you! You beast…”

“Hold on, hold on!” Fat Dragon protested. “If you want to curse someone, go to Fire Dragon County and yell in the streets—there’ll be plenty of chances. But as the saying goes, better a miserable life than a swift death. What’s troubling you so much?”

The girl sobbed. “You beast, listen to me, I’ll explain…”

“Wait! Can’t you use a gentler word? It’d be nicer to hear.” Fat Dragon howled.

Xie Wujie was already amused by their exchange, and Dongmen Qianyun was giggling uncontrollably.

The girl sighed. She was a servant at the magistrate’s house in Fire Dragon County. The magistrate’s daughter was set to marry the young master of Fire Dragon Sect, the county’s foremost clan. The magistrate was an honest official, so his wife instructed her maid to pawn her own bracelet.

The maid pawned the bracelet and received ten taels of gold. On her way back, passing through the hills, she encountered a water seller. Parched, she drank a bowl of water, but unexpectedly lost consciousness. When she awoke, the gold was gone, and the water seller had left only a rope behind.

“How considerate—he knew you’d be desperate and left something for you to hang yourself with. Even robbers these days have a conscience,” Fat Dragon remarked.

Dongmen Qianyun shot him a look. “Mind your words.”

“I sympathize with the girl, really!” Fat Dragon replied.

The maid said, “If you want to help me, give me ten taels of gold. If I have it, I can go on living!”

Fat Dragon’s smile froze, and he began to look around.

Xie Wujie asked, “Fatty, what are you looking for?”

“I’m searching for the rope…”

“Get lost!”

Xie Wujie produced five spirit stones. “Miss, do you know where the water seller went?”

“How would I know? If I did, I’d have chased him down myself. It’s because I don’t know that I sought release here.” At the mention of her woes, the girl began to cry anew, her tears falling like rain, tragic and pitiful.

“What’s this cobblestone for?” she asked.

Xie Wujie leaned in. “This is a precious item, exclusively offered by me. You can buy it for two taels of silver, then sell it for three taels—earning one tael profit, right? But please, don’t rush…”

He was about to continue, but Dongmen Qianyun interrupted, “Brother Xie, be serious…”

“Ahem, I was just trying to lighten the mood. Miss, these are spirit stones. Each one is worth two taels of gold. These ten spirit stones are more valuable than gold to Fire Dragon Sect.”

The maid was astonished. “Is…is this true? I’ve heard of spirit stones, but only major sects possess them…could it be you’re…”

“Hehe, little sister, you’re absolutely right. We’re all from the capital—disciples of Danxia Sect,” Fat Dragon declared.

With that, the group became acquainted. Learning that Xie Wujie and the others were from Danxia Sect, the maid invited them to visit Fire Dragon County. Xie Wujie thought they’d end up there anyway, so he agreed.

Fire Dragon County was bustling, with many travelers and cheerful townsfolk. But the road up the mountain was sealed off, for the Fire Python had grown restless. It usually cultivated in its cave, but recently, for reasons unknown, it had become agitated.

Xie Wujie arrived at the county office, where the magistrate welcomed them with plain tea and snacks. The surroundings were simple and unadorned, reflecting the magistrate’s integrity.

If every official in the land were so compassionate, the Cloud Kingdom would surely flourish.

According to Xie Wujie’s beliefs, a respectable lady from a prominent family ought not show herself freely in public. Yet here, the women seemed to defy his expectations.

Serving Xie Wujie tea was the magistrate’s daughter, soon to be wed.

Her appearance was far from flattering. Xie Wujie, who had seen many beauties, found her the most startling woman he’d ever encountered.

The young lady’s hair was wild and unkempt, her lips thick and smeared, her nose perpetually adorned by a strand of mucus. When idle, her tongue wagged incessantly, her voice loud and boastful. She was said to be poor at needlework and spent her days in bed, eating and idling.

When amused, the magistrate’s daughter laughed like a wailing ghost and spoke as if scolding others. Rising to her feet, she revealed one leg longer than the other, a barrel-shaped waist, and arms thick as bowls. She swaggered as she walked, and with a single glance could frighten even the bravest man.

Entering the inner room, the maid whispered, “This young man is named Xie Wujie. He’s dignified—not the most handsome, but pleasing to the eye. He’s strong and generous, far superior to the sickly heir of Fire Dragon Sect, who might die at any moment. Since he’s a disciple from Danxia Sect in the capital, perhaps you could win him over with your beauty? If Xie Wujie became your husband, it would be much better than marrying into Fire Dragon Sect.”

“Indeed! Fire Dragon Sect is nothing compared to Danxia Sect—they’re worlds apart!” the young lady exclaimed, opening her mouth to reveal yellowed teeth, thickly crusted with tartar, and even a bit of vegetable leaf stuck between them.