Chapter 62: The Second Young Mistress

Knowing there was still a mission at the third watch tonight, everyone, having been busy all day, separated to rest; Su Tingting volunteered to take the first night watch.

"If anything happens, call out loudly; I am a light sleeper." Kuang Hongyi shot Su Tingting a look, unsure if it was a warning or a reminder.

Su Tingting now understood the situation; it was uncertain if a direct conflict with the Feng family would occur next. If it truly came to blows, she was no match for them and would have to rely on Kuang Hongyi and Yang Xiao. She needed to get on good terms with them now so that if something happened in the future, they might pull her through.

Once things quieted down, Su Tingting couldn't help but let her thoughts run wild. One moment she thought of the terrifying scene under the stage while performing, the next she recalled the instructions from Shopkeeper Liu. Finally, Su Tingting turned her head to look at the bed in the right corner.

Yang Xiao was lying on the bed, both hands resting flat on his lower abdomen, his chest rising and falling slightly, his breathing steady; it felt as though he had fallen asleep.

In Su Tingting's heart, Yang Xiao was absolutely a rare good person. If not for him, she would have died long ago. As newcomers in the Nightmare World, their performances were simply not on the same level. She could feel that this person was definitely not as simple as he claimed.

Time ticked by second by second. Unable to hold on any longer, she yawned and walked toward Yang Xiao. However, after standing by his side for a while and seeing that Yang Xiao was sleeping soundly, completely unaware of anyone approaching, she suddenly felt a pang of reluctance. Finally, she turned around and, summoning her courage, woke up Kuang Hongyi.

Yang Xiao was not woken up by someone calling him; he was awakened by a burst of knocking on the door. After getting up in a daze, he found a stranger standing outside the door.

The man was wearing a strange black robe and holding a White Lantern in his hand. His voice was muffled as he spoke, "Three guests, prepare yourselves; follow me now to see Liu Guanjia."

There was nothing to prepare. Yang Xiao wrapped the Opening Coffin Axe in cloth and tied it to his back, but as he was leaving, he was stopped by the man in the black robe. "Wait."

The man in the black robe had a gloomy expression; he was a new face, and his attire did not look like that of a servant in the manor. "There is a mission for you tonight; there is no need to bring this Opening Coffin Axe."

Yang Xiao was startled upon hearing this. He had not expected this person's eyes to be so sharp; the axe was already wrapped in cloth, yet he could still see it. However, this also exposed the other party's identity; he was likely a senior in the Yin Hang.

"Senior, this Opening Coffin Axe suppresses evil; carrying it also bolsters my courage." Yang Xiao had no intention of handing it over; after all, it was, um... something he had snatched.

Unexpectedly, the man in the black robe shook his head, his tone stiff as he said, "You misunderstand. I have no intention of stealing your treasure. It is just that there is no risk in what you are doing tonight. If you carry it, it will instead invite disaster. The person to die tonight is the Second Young Mistress."

The other party's blunt expression shocked the three of them. Was this something that could be said? But since it had come to this, Yang Xiao did not press the issue. He placed the axe back on the bed and pressed it down with the quilt, the meaning clear: this thing was his, and he expected to see it when he returned.

The group followed the man in the black robe to the lakeside. Many people were already waiting there. Besides torches, there were several large red lanterns hung up. Most spectacular of all, on the shore a few dozen meters to the left, a boat painted entirely in bright red was docked.

It had clearly been freshly painted; the red was blinding. One could tell it had been arranged in the style of a Boxi Boat, but due to the rush, it was somewhat perfunctory.

A large red lantern hung under the mast of the boat. A night breeze blew, and the lantern swayed from side to side. At this moment, quite a few people were busy by the boat: some were burning incense with an Incense Burner, some were placing offerings, some were carrying Paper Persons, and there was even a person wearing tattered clothes, looking like a shaman, dancing wildly.

Not long after, Shi Dali hurried over.

Hearing the servant report that everyone had arrived, Liu Guanjia slowly turned around. Only then did everyone notice that Liu Guanjia's face looked exceptionally wretched, his eyes red and swollen, as if he had just been crying. "Four Lucky Guests, tonight... tonight I must trouble you all again."

"Today, my master finally thought it through. This... this is all the sin committed by the old master, and now it is my Feng family's turn to pay the debt. The master has decided to completely terminate this evil art. Since the Second Young Mistress is the most important link, then... then send her to the lake and hand her over to Xi Yao to deal with. Ten years of grievances should come to an end tonight." Speaking of this, Liu Guanjia could not help but shed tears.

Yang Xiao sighed softly, cupped his hands toward Liu Guanjia, and also wore a face full of sorrow. "We feel the suffering of Master Feng deeply. It was a mistake cast by the old master; Master Feng's courage to take responsibility today is respectable and admirable. The Second Young Mistress, a mere woman, is willing to sacrifice herself to face the disaster; she is a model for our generation."

"......" Su Tingting took a deep breath upon hearing this, feeling that as a student of theater, she had learned a great deal.

Liu Guanjia waved his hand, and a servant beside him ran into the distance. Before long, a group of people followed him back. As they got closer, Su Tingting finally saw clearly: in the middle of the procession, they were carrying a large wooden board, on which a large red wedding quilt was spread, and a person was lying on top of it.

It was a woman with a large, pregnant belly. The woman was dressed in wedding attire, tied to the bed in a spread-eagled position, with her hands and feet bound to the corners, still struggling continuously.

Although the woman's entire face was twisted in pain, one could still vaguely make out her pretty features. With fair skin, she was a rare beauty. She could have screamed loudly, but her mouth was tightly gagged; she was now like a fish on a chopping block.

"Be gentle, all of you. Don't let the Second Young Mistress suffer before she leaves." Liu Guanjia raised his eyebrows and shouted like an old eunuch.

The people below responded and carried the Second Young Mistress to the prepared Boxi Boat. The gangplank to the boat was already set up. Su Tingting watched helplessly as they carried her on board and then entered the cabin.

Liu Guanjia turned around and pointed to the three small boats nearby. "Tonight, you each need to pilot a boat to see the Second Young Mistress off. Besides that, one person needs to go onto the Second Young Mistress's boat to hold down the fort. Which of you is willing to go?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the four turned ugly instantly. It was clear that tonight was about sending the Second Young Mistress to be killed by Chun Jie; what chance of survival would there be on the same boat as the Second Young Mistress?

Seeing that no one spoke, Liu Guanjia sneered. "Then we shall divide it by room. You three take the small boats to lead the way. Lucky Guest Shi, I will have to trouble you to see the Second Young Mistress on her final journey."

Upon hearing this, Shi Dali exploded instantly. "No way! Why me? I think Su Tingting is more suitable; she and the Second Young Mistress are both women."

"Precisely because they are both women, she cannot go. No woman must ever board a Boxi Boat; this is a great taboo. Otherwise, everyone here will die tonight."

Liu Guanjia frowned, clearly impatient. "Enough, it is settled. Now, I will tell you the rules for sending off the wedding boat."