After I Lost My Memory, I Was Coaxed into Marriage by a Yandere - Chapter 12

The door curtain fell, severing the connection between Xiao Yanyi and Chi Wei in an instant. Standing to one side, Xiao Tan began rummaging through the clothes. “A-Chi, what color do you like? I will help you pick one out as well.”

Chi Wei remained silent, causing Xiao Tan to look over at her. Their gazes met, and Xiao Tan froze for a moment. She quickly realized that Chi Wei could actually see. Her eyes lit up, and the corners of her mouth began to curl upward.

Suddenly, Chi Wei strode over and snatched the bag of money from her arms. As Chi Wei dug out the silver, she watched Xiao Tan nervously. Xiao Tan stood there, bewildered and helpless. “What are you doing?”

“I am leaving. May we never meet again,” Chi Wei said hurriedly as she pulled out thirty-five taels of silver. She tossed five taels back into Xiao Tan’s arms, cupped her fists in a parting salute, turned around, and bolted out the door.

Once outside, Chi Wei grabbed a passerby and urgently asked where she could buy a horse, then rushed toward the northern part of the city. At a corner, feeling as though Xiao Tan was watching her, she glanced back. Xiao Tan was standing at the entrance of the silk manor, her face still wearing a dazed expression. They are both demons; they probably do not need this much money anyway. Hardening her heart, Chi Wei turned the corner and vanished.

Outside the silk manor, Xiao Tan rubbed her eyes, still unable to believe that Chi Wei’s eyes had suddenly healed. Just as she was wondering whether to give chase and demand an explanation, Xiao Yanyi’s calm voice sounded from behind her. “Let us settle the bill, Xiao Tan.”

Xiao Tan turned and pointed toward the street, hesitating. “Chi Wei’s eyes?”

“It must have been the herbs meant to dissipate cultivation. By a strange stroke of luck, they neutralized my poison.” Avoiding Xiao Tan’s gaze, Xiao Yanyi turned back into the shop.

How could such a coincidence happen? Xiao Tan swallowed her words and turned to the shopkeeper. “How much for this dress?”

The shopkeeper had not yet recovered from the drama of one customer robbing another. He dazed for a moment before holding up five fingers; then, after a pause, he silently retracted one. “Four taels; four taels is enough.”

Chi Wei sprinted all the way to the North Market. Before she could even catch her breath, she picked out a sturdy horse to continue her escape. However, when she asked the price, the horse dealer held up five fingers.

“What? Fifty taels of silver for one horse? Find me a cheaper one.”

The boss led her to a corner and pointed at a horse grazing on grass. “This is the cheapest one. Thirty taels.”

Chi Wei looked at it. It was covered in mismatched yellow and black hair, with a massive head and a tiny body. She could not hide her look of utter disdain.

“Forget it. Looking at you, you cannot afford it anyway. There are donkeys for sale over there; go have a look.” Just then, a well-dressed customer arrived. The horse dealer ignored Chi Wei and greeted the newcomer with a beaming smile.

Chi Wei sighed, not expecting the livestock market to be so expensive these days. She had no choice but to turn toward the donkey dealer. After some haggling, she spent five taels of silver to lead away a reasonably sturdy blue-furred donkey. She flipped herself onto its back, gripped the reins, and headed for the city gates.

On her way out, seeing steam rising from a roadside steamer, she took out thirty copper coins and bought ten vegetable buns to stuff into her bundle. The donkey’s hooves went clatter, clatter as she moved further from the city. Yet, for some reason, ever since she got onto the official highway, Chi Wei felt as if a gaze were following her, stuck to her back. When she stayed at dilapidated roadside inns in deserted villages at night, she could not sleep soundly, waking at the slightest rustle of the wind.

She calculated silently that if Xiao Yanyi discovered she had fled, she would never expect her to dare head south again. Perhaps they would give chase for a while, find no one, and return to the fishing village. After all, in Chi Wei’s own eyes, there was nothing about her worth the persistent obsession of a snake demon.

This continued for three days. During the day, she kept her head down and traveled; at night, she remained alert, seeking shelter in ruined temples or deserted villages. Occasionally, when she could not sleep, she would suddenly wonder what Xiao Yanyi was doing right now.

On this day, the vegetable buns in her bundle were long gone. The stubborn donkey beneath her was exhausted, its pace dragging slower and slower, its long tongue lolling out as it panted heavily. In the afternoon, the sun was fierce. The yellow earth on the road was scorching, and the rising heat made her throat parched and her heart flutter with an inexplicable panic.

From afar, she saw a simple roadside stall with the word “Noodles” faintly visible on a cloth banner. Chi Wei hurriedly pulled the reins, tied the donkey to a tree in the shade, and gave it some water. Then, she walked quickly to the stall and spoke to an old woman who was resting. “Excuse me, one bowl of Yangchun noodles. Please rinse them in cold water after they are cooked.”

The old woman looked her up and down, nodded with satisfaction, and replied, “Alright, please wait a moment.”

Chi Wei picked up a fan left aside by the old woman and fanned herself as she sat under the shed. She gulped down two cups of cold tea before she finally caught her breath. A moment later, the noodles arrived. She finished half the bowl before realizing that this place was far from any village or town. Aside from herself, she had not seen a single other customer; why would someone sell noodles here?

Could it be a trap run by outlaws? She had forgotten to ask the price; she hoped the woman would not try to overcharge her. “Shopkeeper, how much for a bowl of these Yangchun noodles?”

The old woman turned toward her and offered a kind smile. Her dark face was covered in deep wrinkles. “Not expensive, not expensive. Only ten copper coins a bowl.”

It was indeed not expensive. In the middle of nowhere, it was quite a bargain. However, the more she ate, the heavier her body felt. After half the bowl reached her stomach, an irresistible drowsiness washed over her from her limbs, and her surroundings began to blur and wobble.

Clang!

Her arm went limp, and her bamboo chopsticks hit the ground. Immediately after, her body felt as if the bones had been removed, and she toppled straight off the bench. The crude ceramic bowl smashed on the ground, spilling noodle soup everywhere.

Before her consciousness faded into total darkness, Chi Wei’s blurred vision saw the dark, withered frame of the old woman swell and twist eerily. She transformed into a massive black bear standing upright like a human. A bloody maw was inches away, saliva dripping from a bristly tongue. The creature grinned at her with greedy intent.

“Ah!”

Half an hour later, Chi Wei sat up abruptly from the ground. The terrifying black bear from her memory had vanished. The face leaning toward her now was a smiling Taoist with a slightly dark complexion and a white jade hairpin in her hair.

“What a coincidence! You, what was your name again?”

“Chi Wei!”

“Right, right, Chi Wei! I did not expect to run into you here.”

The voice was incredibly familiar. Chi Wei had only met a few people, and her eyes suddenly brightened. “Taoist Xin Rong?”

“It is indeed this humble Taoist!” Xin Rong clapped her hands and laughed, her gaze roaming over Chi Wei’s face. “Your eyes are healed? Truly fate; what fate!”

Chi Wei propped herself up to stand, finally seeing her surroundings. Xin Rong and several fellow disciples dressed in the same blue-gray Taoist robes were sitting around the tea stall in this desolate wilderness. The air was thick with the scent of blood. She frowned and followed the scent with her eyes, seeing a giant bear, over two people tall, lying about ten feet away.

The black bear had been completely dismembered by sharp blades. The method of death was so familiar that Chi Wei almost thought Xiao Yanyi had saved her. Most of the fur had been stripped off, and three young Taoists with delicate features were rolling up their sleeves, continuing to process the carcass with efficiency.

Chi Wei looked away slightly. “This is?”

“Is it not the black bear demon that nearly licked you away just now?” Seeing that she was unharmed, Xin Rong turned back to a steaming pot, adding noodles as she spoke. “The world is not peaceful these days; demons and monsters run rampant. If my sisters and I had not been passing through while hunting a snake demon, I am afraid you would have met your end today.”

“Thank you, Taoists.” Hearing this was truly frightening. Chi Wei walked over to the pot and nodded in thanks to the passing Taoists. Her gaze fell back on the bear carcass, and she asked softly, “Since the demon is slain, why strip its skin? It looks quite bloody.”

“How can one travel without any silver? A few days ago, I, well, never mind.” Xin Rong stirred the noodles in the pot, speaking as if it were a matter of course. “This black bear demon has about three hundred years of cultivation. Its fur will fetch a good price, and its bones can be used in medicine. It is enough to feed and clothe my sisters for over a month.”

“I see. Thank you for saving my life, Taoist Xin Rong.” Chi Wei understood and thanked her again. Seeing that Xin Rong was too busy to use her hands, Chi Wei naturally took the long chopsticks from her to help scoop the cooked noodles out of the pot.

“It is a small matter.” Xin Rong waved her hand, then shifted her tone as she observed her. “But how did your eyes heal exactly? And why are your Wife and sister not with you? Did you not say before you were heading south to seek medical treatment?”

Chi Wei’s hand scooping the noodles paused slightly. Speaking of Xiao Yanyi and Xiao Tan, she had originally thought Taoist Xin Rong had already met a gruesome end at their hands. Now it seemed she had worried too much. She hesitated, wondering how to explain the absurd fact that her Wife and sister were actually demons.

Suddenly, Xin Rong pointed toward the woods nearby and exclaimed, “Oh! Speaking of your Wife, here she comes.” She gently bumped Chi Wei’s shoulder and smiled.

Chi Wei’s heart skipped a beat. She looked in the direction pointed, and Xiao Yanyi looked at her at the same time. Unable to look her in the eye, Chi Wei immediately turned her back. Xin Rong was confused. Just a few days ago, the two of them were inseparable.

“What? Did you have a fight?”

Chi Wei turned her back and shook her head.

“Did you separate? A divorce?”

Chi Wei paused, then nodded very slightly.

Xin Rong advised in a low voice, “What is there that you cannot endure? Besides, your Wife is so beautiful.”

Chi Wei looked troubled, refusing to turn around no matter what. She only heard Xiao Yanyi’s crisp, cold voice behind her. “Taoists, this young lady has no money on her person. Could I be so bold as to ask for a bowl of noodles for my sister?”

No money? Had she not left five taels of silver for Xiao Tan? At the thought of her act of stealing money from a child, Chi Wei’s face burned with heat.

Xin Rong smiled knowingly, assuming it was just a lovers’ quarrel. She stepped forward and said, “We have not met for a few days, and Xiao Tan has grown even more delicate. Speaking of which, I have not yet thanked Miss Xiao for the hospitality last time. My sisters and I just took over this noodle stall; the ingredients come from that black bear demon over there. Allow me to return the favor by serving you two a bowl of noodles. Please wait a moment.”

Xiao Yanyi returned the smile, her gaze seemingly drifting over Chi Wei’s stiff back. Chi Wei stood rooted by the pot, her fingertips turning white from gripping so hard. To speak, or not to speak?

Suddenly, her shoulder was slapped hard by Xin Rong. “Quickly, serve a bowl of noodles to your Wife and sister! As the saying goes, a fight at the head of the bed is settled at the foot of the bed. That is enough.” Having said that, she turned to tend to the horses.

Settled at the foot of the bed? In an instant, that long, thick snake tail covered in pinkish-white scales flashed before Chi Wei’s eyes again.

Chi Wei’s fists tightened and loosened. Finally, as Xin Rong turned to leave, she grabbed the edge of the Taoist’s sleeve. “Taoist, please stay. I have an important matter to discuss with you.”