Chapter 297

"At least in Li Weisi's hands, he still couldn't work out the complete relationship between Gu insect sorcery and the virus."

"The onset of a cerebral hemorrhage is so swift that the people of Mengli have no way to mount a rescue."

"Within just a few minutes, the clan chief began showing symptoms—his eyes slanted and his mouth twisted—followed by a flood of drool and his whole body trembling uncontrollably!"

"Watching the clan chief's state, Wu Laogou laughed soundlessly!"

"Because he knew the man hadn't died at his hands, but by his own Gu sorcery!"

"By the time the clan chief's body stopped moving, the villagers were still too stunned to come back to their senses for a long time."

"What followed was hardly worth recounting; even without my saying it, you can all imagine."

"It was nothing more than Miss Lan Ling's second uncle seizing the chance to rise to power, declaring Wu Laogou and Miss Lan Ling's family innocent, but they could no longer stay in Mengli."

"Miss Lan Ling's father and elder brother were exiled, forbidden ever to set foot in Menglimiaozhai again for the rest of their lives, and even outside they were not allowed to reveal that they came from Mengli."

"And the last night Dog Fifth Master and Li Weisi spent in Mengli was to give the deceased Miss Lan Ling a water burial."

At this point, Dog Fifth Master's Miaojiang past was, for the most part, over.

It can be said that this stretch of past events is more than worthy of being called thrilling and heart-stirring!

But for Wu Laogou, the regret was immense—so immense that he regretted going to Yunnan again and again.

And regretted even more having met Miss Lan Ling!

Had he never met Miss Lan Ling, that elfin, lovely Miao girl would still be alive in this world.

The audience, too, felt a vague sense of loss.

The ending of this story always gives one the feeling of being left wanting more!

Like eating till seven-tenths full, drinking till three-tenths drunk—always missing just that little bit!

Many people's expressions couldn't relax; their brows stayed tightly furrowed.

This was their first time listening to Zhang Lin tell tales, and they didn't get that thoroughly exhilarating feeling.

No one knew whether it was because the story's tone was simply too sad, or whether it was a case of starting high and ending low.

A thunderous, passionate beginning, and a drizzling, lingering end?

The audience felt left wanting more, and Zhang Lin, it seemed, hadn't finished either.

He took a sip of tea, then with a "swish" opened his fan, drawing everyone's attention back.

"Gentlemen, since you're all left wanting more, how about we take a look at Miss Lan Ling's funeral."

"Dog Fifth Master and Li Weisi's last night in Mengli—it was a deep, moonlit night."

"The river's surface was perfectly still, but one could hear waves of singing!"

"That singing was like the most mournful dirge in the world; anyone who heard it couldn't help but feel their nose sting!"

"Though Dog Fifth Master couldn't understand the Miao language, as he listened, he too unconsciously began to weep."

"Mengli's water burial is quite unique: a very large raft floats upon the river."

"On the raft stood seventy or eighty people, each of them singing, their hands covering their faces."

"Beside every one of them stood a torch, and the firelight illuminated the entire river."

"In the middle of the raft were several young girls, their heads adorned with wreaths woven from small white-and-yellow flowers."

"They sang as they wept, and at their feet lay a woman, utterly still, as if in deep slumber!"

"Miss Lan Ling's body was covered in all manner of fresh flowers, only her face left exposed."

"Her complexion, seen beneath the moonlight, was like the most beautiful jade in all the world!"

"Miss Lan Ling lay with her eyes closed, peaceful and still, while Dog Fifth Master's tears streamed down without cease."

"Then he bent down and gently brushed aside the hair on Miss Lan Ling's forehead with his fingers."

"At that moment, Miss Lan Ling looked as though she were fast asleep, as beautiful as the Sleeping Beauty from a fairy tale."

"Dog Fifth Master slowly pressed a kiss to Miss Lan Ling's brow; his tears fell without stopping, dripping onto her face, onto the flowers upon her body."

"Gazing at Miss Lan Ling's face, Dog Fifth Master felt for the first time what regret truly was."

"Those who rob tombs trust themselves more than they trust the gods, but at this moment Dog Fifth Master's heart ached unbearably."

"He even began to pray to every god and Buddha in the heavens—if they gave him a chance to do it over, he would never let Miss Lan Ling down, nor let her die so silently and without a sound."

"This water burial lasted the whole night. After all the Mengli clanspeople had gone, Dog Fifth Master still sat beside Miss Lan Ling, unwilling to leave."

"He simply drifted along the river with Miss Lan Ling's water coffin, aimless and adrift."

"Until the first ray of sunlight replaced the moonlight, and ten thousand golden beams reflected across the river's surface."

"Dog Fifth Master reached out one last time to caress Miss Lan Ling's face, bidding her farewell!"

"Beneath the sunlight, Dog Fifth Master's hand, too, felt a trace of warmth…"

Buzz—

When Zhang Lin reached this point, the hall had already erupted!

Some even sprang to their feet, eyes wide, staring at Zhang Lin.

In many hearts, a single thought arose.

No way?

But like the nervousness one feels as one nears home, none dared speak it aloud.

On the stage, only Zhang Lin idly fanned himself.

Inside the tomb of King Lu Shang, Tianzhen stared at Fatty with a look of utter shock.

Fatty's mouth hung open too, as though he had heard something unbelievable.

Only Zhang Tianshi remained composed, murmuring, "Just as I thought…"

…….