Chapter 449: The Runaway Groom

When Liu Dalian eagerly ran to Liu Guozhong and Wang Gugu's homes to act as matchmaker, the two gave different reactions.

Liu Guozhong first stared, then shook his head with a wry smile. Wang Gugu first lowered her head shyly; when Liu Dalian mistakenly thought she agreed, she instead reached out and grabbed Liu Dalian, and on that lovely face appeared the same bitterness as Liu Guozhong.

No one expected that these two, who should have been mutually affectionate, each actually had their own grievances toward the other.

Liu Guozhong worried that Wang Gugu would look down on him as a wandering martial artist; he had grown accustomed to a rootless drifter's life and had nothing worthwhile to offer. Wang Gugu's concern, however, came from QingSongShu.

Likewise, no matter the era, disparity in family background is a problem. Although Wang Gugu and Liu Guozhong's backgrounds aren't too disparate, having QingSongShu as this burden makes them clearly unwelcome. In famine-stricken times, when even the family can't fill their stomachs, who would willingly marry a woman and still have to support this burden?

However, Liu Dalian, famed as the golden signboard of the matchmaking world, how could she be so easily discouraged? Although the couple's marriage talks had hit a snag, Liu Dalian was no pushover. She devised a plan, feigning casual sighs, and went to each side to tell them the other's difficulties.

Wang Gugu's reply was: "Family wealth is earned slowly by the couple together; how could it all be dumped on one man? Besides, what's wrong with being a martial artist? At least martial artists dare to act and take responsibility, valuing loyalty."

And when Liu Dalian laid out the Wang family's predicament, Liu Guozhong slapped his chest: "If I could win a virtuous wife like Wang Guzi, let alone raising one more, even supporting a whole family, I, Liu Guozhong, would gladly do so."

Afterwards, Liu Dalian conveyed the answers she'd obtained to each side, and naturally the matter was settled.

Only, an unexpected situation occurred three months later.

Three months later, on the wedding day. Wang Gugu waited at home in her bridal red robe, gazing ahead until evening, but saw no sign of Liu Guozhong. Only then did villagers come to tell Wang Gugu: Liu Guozhong and his father had vanished without a trace, even packing up the household belongings.

Unable to bear the blow, Wang Gugu's tears streamed down and she fainted on the spot. Years later, the unfortunate Wang Gugu contracted leukemia, which contemporary medicine could not treat, and she passed away.

Saying this, someone might wonder: Could it be that Liu Guozhong truly despised Wang Gugu's family background, prompting him to flee the wedding?

The mystery was finally cleared up fifteen years later. On the fifteenth anniversary of Wang Gugu's memorial day, a sturdy, gray-haired lame man entered the Wang family manor.

Upon seeing the lame man, QingSongShu flew into a rage, rolled up his sleeves and charged, seizing the lame man and giving him a fierce beating. It turned out that this lame man was the groom who abandoned the bride on the wedding day, causing Wang Gugu to vomit three liters of blood—Liu Guozhong.

Liu Guozhong did not fight back, merely allowing QingSongShu to punch and kick him.

After venting his anger, QingSongShu grabbed a stick and prepared to drive Liu Guozhong out the door.

Who would have thought, at that moment Liu Guozhong's eyes were bloodshot as he wailed to QingSongShu: "QingSong, my days are numbered; I only hope to return in my lifetime to see Ti'er once, and I hope you can grant this wish. Let me rest in peace in the underworld."

After speaking, Liu Guozhong actually spat blood on the spot and collapsed backward.

Shocked, QingSongShu supported Liu Guozhong, examined him closely, and only then discovered that Liu Guozhong had been poisoned with gu.

At that time, QingSongShu was undoubtedly a disciple of the Daoist Sect; though his skill wasn't especially high, as long as it wasn't a fatal gu, he could treat it with acupuncture.

Not long after QingSongShu's acupuncture revived Liu Guozhong, Liu Guozhong, eyes red, recounted in detail the hardships of those years.

Eighteen years ago, on the eve of Liu Guozhong and Wang Gugu's wedding, the Liu family suddenly came under attack by enemies. Liu Guozhong was struck unconscious by a palm strike, and his father immediately escorted him out of Liu Family Village under cover of night.

When Liu Guozhong finally came to, he realized he had arrived at an unfamiliar small village. The dazed Liu Guozhong immediately wanted to return to the village to find Wang Gugu, but his elderly father Liu Hao stopped him.

Liu Hao merely said to Liu Guozhong one sentence, and that cut off Liu Guozhong's thought of returning to Liu Family Village.

"It's useless; if you go back now, you'll only needlessly endanger Wang Guzi's life. Those people aren't martial artists at all—they're sorcerers, beyond what ordinary folks like us can handle. If you return, you'll only bring disaster upon the Wang family, dragging the old Liu clan down with them."

Upon hearing this, Liu Guozhong resignedly abandoned the idea of returning to seek Wang Gugu. Just then, the enemies suddenly appeared in pursuit; to give Liu Guozhong time to flee, Liu Hao sacrificed his life to block the foe. During the fight, Liu Guozhong also suffered a leg injury from the enemy, but luckily he wisely jumped into the river, barely preserving his life.

The wounded Liu Guozhong hid in the water, eventually losing consciousness in the river, where a kind farmer revived him. Unexpectedly, at that moment Liu Guozhong learned from the farmer's mouth an even graver problem.

The farmer said to Liu Guozhong: "Little brother, I see a black thread in the whites of your eyes—likely you've been infected with the gu worms of those heretical sorcerers; feel below your right rib and see if it's excruciatingly painful."

Liu Guozhong, though a martial artist unfamiliar with gu, had some rudimentary knowledge. Hearing the elder's words, he examined himself carefully. At this point, Liu Guozhong could no longer deny the fact: not only was his leg lame, but his body was also infested with gu worms.

Those bandits had planned ahead; as a precaution, they had already planted gu on the Liu father and son. Even if martial force couldn't kill them, they could control the gu worms to take their lives.

Later, that lifesaver gave Liu Guozhong a suggestion: either expel the gu worms, or head north. The colder the place, the better; living in a cold region would keep the internal gu worms dormant forever.

Thus, Liu Guozhong followed the elder's advice, heading alone to the Northeast. This flight meant he hid under an assumed name in a small village in the Northeast for over ten years.

Yet over a decade of life did not make Liu Guozhong forget Wang Gugu; on the contrary, his heart constantly yearned for her. Eighteen years later, he could no longer bear the inner torment and returned to his hometown.

When Liu Guozhong finished speaking through tears, QingSongShu also felt deep sorrow. Frankly, QingSongShu did not hate Liu Guozhong much; on the contrary, since childhood QingSongShu had felt gratitude toward Liu Guozhong. Because of Liu Guozhong's presence, his and his sister's lives had improved greatly.

What he resented was merely blaming Liu Guozhong for silently abandoning his sister back then, to the point that she never saw him even once before her death.

However, upon learning the truth of the matter, QingSongShu's heart softened as well.

QingSongShu clearly understood that the pain was not only Wang Gugu's; Liu Guozhong being forced to abandon the one he loved was also an indescribable heartache. Over these more than ten years, Liu Guozhong's days had not been easy either.

Therefore, QingSongShu's heart forgave Liu Guozhong.

Actually, to claim Liu Guozhong has no connection to the Wang family is also wrong. Even after more than ten years, the surviving Liu Guozhong stubbornly insisted on giving Wang Gugu a proper status.

Though they could not be together in life, even in death Liu Guozhong stubbornly insisted on holding a ghost marriage with Wang Gugu. He wanted to give Wang Gugu a status, to finish what they had left undone years ago, so that in the netherworld she too would have a standing and not be arbitrarily bullied by wandering spirits.

QingSongShu objected, so Liu Guozhong had someone else handle it; in short, Liu Guozhong truly performed a ghost marriage ceremony with Wang Gugu, and moreover swore at her grave that he would never take another wife in this life.

Afterwards, Liu Guozhong left the Wang household, returned to his old trade as a wandering performer. But as the times developed, street performances fell out of fashion. By a fortunate coincidence, Liu Guozhong, relying on his exceptional singing and martial arts foundation, established an opera troupe that often traveled south and north to perform for others.

This trip of mine and Pangzi's to North of the Lake was at the behest of this Liu Troupe Leader. Originally, QingSongShu intended to personally lead us there. But at this moment, the Dharma Exchange Conference between the mainland and Hong Kong/Macau was about to begin, and this time the invitation to QingSongShu came from an old friend. To give the mainland's folk Dharma lineage a boost and ease the age‑old strife between inland and Hong Kong/Macau folk Dharma, QingSongShu had to first go to Hong Kong, sending us two to North of the Lake.

Besides that, after we finish our affairs in North of the Lake we must go to Suitable Prosperity to meet QingSongShu. For, as we were about to leave Aomen, QingSongShu likewise received a third commission: to go to Suitable Prosperity and perform geomancy on a yin residence for an old friend.

So, Pangzi and I have our schedules packed tight. It's impossible to expect a quick return to Guangdong for some relaxation. Only after all matters are settled can we two roam the mountains and rivers, relaxing at ease.

The train crept forward; upon the attendant's announcement, "Dear passengers, we have arrived at North of the Lake Red Peace Station," Pangzi and I finally reached our destination.