Zhao Renshu picked up his half-eaten chicken from the floor and sat by the bonfire, reheating it. After a while, he offered the half-eaten chicken to Ping'an. As Ping'an reached for the chicken, Zhao Renshu's eyes fell upon the distinct scar on her right palm. He stared at the mark, his grip on the chicken momentarily tightening, refusing to let go. Ping'an, sensing his sudden focus, decided to withdraw her hand.
Zhao Renshu chuckled, a light, almost amused sound. "Sorry," he murmured, his gaze still fixed on her palm, before finally giving the chicken back to Ping'an.
Ping'an, a little hesitant, reached out again and took the chicken.
"You didn't eat much, you must be hungry. You can eat all of it," Zhao Renshu encouraged, his eyes still holding a curious intensity as he looked at Ping'an. "By the way, why is there a scar on your right palm?"
"I was born with it," Ping'an replied simply, continuing to eat the chicken, her gaze unwavering.
Knowing that he also bore a similar scar on his palm, Zhao Renshu's smile widened with excited recognition. "Really?" he asked, a hint of genuine surprise in his voice. He took off the glove of his right hand and held up his palm for Ping'an to see.
"Were you born with it?" Ping'an asked, a rare spark of curiosity in her eyes as she approached Zhao Renshu and leaned closer to examine his palm.
"Yes, according to my late master," Zhao Renshu confirmed, a faint pride in his tone. He then put his glove back on.
"Will your palm hurt and burn like it's on fire every fifteenth day of the month?" Ping'an inquired, her voice softer now, a shared understanding in her question.
"No... Yours?" Zhao Renshu asked, his brow furrowing with concern.
Ping'an nodded, a shadow crossing her face. "Yes. Every fifteenth day of the month, both of my palms will burn like they're on fire. Recitation of the Buddha Manual's teachings and not eating meat can help relieve some pain." She continued eating the chicken, her appetite seemingly unaffected by the revelation. "Do you have it on both palms?"
Zhao Renshu shook his head. "No, only the right palm."
"I have it on both palms," Ping'an explained, her voice flat, as if speaking of a common ailment. "Every fifteen days of the month, both of my palms will burn like they're on fire. Recitation of the Buddha Manual's teachings and not eating meat can help relieve some pain."
"Now, this is very strange," Zhao Renshu mused, a thoughtful frown on his face as he glanced at Lu Duyi, who remained kneeling, ignored. "So, how did you end up with this rapist?"
"To make a long story short," Ping'an began, her voice carefully detached. "He happened to run into my father's inn. He took my grandmother hostage, and I exchanged places with her."
"Do you know he is a rapist?" Zhao Renshu asked, a chilling smirk playing on his lips, his eyes fixed on Lu Duyi.
Ping'an sighed, a weary breath. "At first, I didn't know until he tried... Anyway, I told him I was sick and only had two months to live. He promised to let me go after we reached the other side of the mountain, then we happened to meet those three wolf fairies, and you know the rest of the story."
Zhao Renshu turned his full attention to Lu Duyi, his smile cold and unfeeling. "Did you tell her about your last victim?" he probed, a deliberate cruelty in his voice. "Lady Xue... that's her. You promised to let her go if she let you rape her, but when you were done, you killed her and threw her into a waterhole."
"How... the... hell... do... you... know...?" Lu Duyi stammered, his voice ragged, as if he were fighting for breath, his eyes wide with terror.
"Her father is one of many fathers who hired me to bring you back, alive..." Zhao Renshu calmly replied, his gaze unwavering as he stared at Lu Duyi, enjoying the man's fear. "They mentioned something about wanting to skin you alive to compensate for their pain." Zhao Renshu noticed the sweat beginning to bead on Lu Duyi's pale face. "Sleep well tonight, because tomorrow we are going down the mountain."
Zhao Renshu then walked outside, pulling a small device from his pouch, and sent out a single firework signal soaring into the dark sky, a brilliant, fleeting burst of light.
"What is that?" Ping'an asked, her head tilted, watching the distant glow fade.
Zhao Renshu walked back inside and sat down beside Ping'an by the bonfire. He gently pulled on Ping'an's right hand, a silent invitation. Ping'an sat down next to him. "If you are tired, you can lie right here," he offered, pointing to a large, rolled-up bag near them. "We can use it as our pillow."
Ping'an lay down on the floor, then lowered her head, resting it on the bag opposite Zhao Renshu. Their heads rested side by side, their bodies facing different directions, a strange intimacy settling between them.
"What's your name?" Zhao Renshu whispered, his mouth close to her right ear.
"Ping'an," she replied softly, staring straight at the ceiling, her voice calm in the dark.
"Ping'an? Who named you?"
"My grandma," she answered, a faint warmth entering her tone.
Zhao Renshu smirked. "Ping'an means safe?"
"My grandmother said," Ping'an explained, a hint of pride in her voice, "let me be the one who protects the safety of those I love."
"Pretty name and very meaningful," Zhao Renshu commented, a genuine softness in his voice. "What is your surname?"
"I am not allowed to use my father's surname," she exhaled, a weary breath. "Don't ask me why."
"It's okay," Zhao Renshu said, his voice reassuring. "I'm an orphan. I don't even know my surname. I took my late master's surname. My master found me in an abandoned temple. Oh... by the way, the name is Zhao Renshu." He smiled, a genuine warmth in his eyes, trying to comfort her. "But you can call me Renshu, or Renshu ge ge."
"Do you always talk to strangers like this?" Ping'an asked, a hint of surprise in her tone.
"Yep. You're not the first," Zhao Renshu admitted, a playful glint in his eye. "But lying next to a stranger like this, you're the first." He laughed softly. "I feel like I've known you for many years."
"Is that why you kept staring at me, then?" Ping'an questioned, a faint smile on her lips.
"Yep... then, when you showed me your palm scars, I believed we had already met somewhere before," Zhao Renshu confided, his voice thoughtful.
"I wish I could be like you," Ping'an murmured, a wistful note in her voice. "Carefree and able to laugh in any situation."
"If you really want to, you can," Zhao Renshu replied, looking up at the shadowy ceiling. "Have the sky as our roof, the ground as our bed, the stars as our lantern. Journey the world on our own terms."
Ping'an smiled, a genuine, soft smile. "That sounds fabulous, but I have my duty to care for my grandma."
"There are a lot of dangers out there, but that is the fun of it," Zhao Renshu continued, his voice filled with passion. "We get to journey far and wide and provide help to those in need. If we are tired of traveling, we will return to my house. I named it 'Peach Blossom Valley.'" He turned his head to Ping'an, but she was already asleep, her breathing soft and even. "Damn it," he muttered to himself, a playful exasperation in his tone. "At least give me a signal that you're sleeping so I can stop talking." He closed his eyes, a faint smile on his face, and he too fell asleep, leaving Lu Duyi still kneeling, forgotten, in the corner.
The next morning, Ping'an was awakened by the tantalizing smell of roasting food. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Zhao Renshu calmly roasting two pigeons over the bonfire. On the floor to the left of Zhao Renshu lay five pristine white peaches. When she got up and sat, she saw Lu Duyi, still kneeling motionlessly, a stark reminder of the night's events.
"Eat something, we are going down the mountain today," Zhao Renshu said, turning to Ping'an, his voice brisk.
"You are taking Lu Duyi to claim your reward?" Ping'an asked, her gaze flicking to the bound man.
"Yes."
"Are you going to Peace Town?"
"No, it's the town next to it," Zhao Renshu replied, handing Ping'an one of the roasted pigeons. "Peace Town is next on my list. When I was in East River Town, I heard many people say something like, 'If you visit Peace Town and don't dine at Sunrise Inn, it is definitely not worth a visit.'" He laughed, a booming sound. "Ha... ha... ha... ha... they said the beauty living there is very beautiful, even the prettiest flower is ashamed when it's placed next to her."
"She is very beautiful," Ping'an agreed, looking at him with a slight, knowing smile.
"Prettier than you?" Zhao Renshu teased, giving her a flirty smile, his eyes sparkling mischievously. "I have to see it to believe it."
"You go to East River Town. I will return to Peace Town," Ping'an stated, a worried frown creasing her brow. "I am worried about my grandmother."
"No way," Zhao Renshu immediately countered, shaking his head. "I told you Peace Town is already on my list. When I hand this bastard over and get my money, we'll go to Peace Town together. Aren't you afraid you might meet those creatures again?"
Ping'an considered his words, giving it some thought. The memory of the wolf fairies made her shudder. She finally agreed to accompany Zhao Renshu to deliver Lu Duyi to the rich people.
After they had their morning breakfast, Zhao Renshu pulled out a sturdy rope, then tied Lu Duyi's hands together, securing him tightly. He then dragged the unresisting rapist down the mountain path. After walking along the muddy trail for about two hours, it led them to the main open dirt road. There, they saw a small group of people talking amongst themselves. When they approached the group, Ping'an could see that everyone was holding a knife in their hand, their eyes fixed with chilling intensity on Lu Duyi. Ping'an recalled what Zhao Renshu had told Lu Duyi back in the temple—"They mentioned something about wanting to skin you alive to compensate for their pain"—and the words echoed ominously in her mind. The rapist must have imprinted deep pain in their hearts for them to act so savagely.
"I think they are here for you," Zhao Renshu observed, his voice calm, looking pointedly at Lu Duyi.
Lu Duyi's face turned ashen. He was visibly shaken, trembling badly. Zhao Renshu and Ping'an watched as sweat dripped profusely from Lu Duyi's face, his expression clearly showing that he already knew his horrific fate.
"It's better for you to stay here," Zhao Renshu said to Ping'an, a reassuring smile for her. "I'll go talk to them, and then we will be on our way."
"Please don't leave me with them!" Lu Duyi pleaded, his voice cracking with sheer terror. He begged Zhao Renshu repeatedly, tears streaming down his face. "If you leave me with them, they will kill me!"
Zhao Renshu sighed, a profound weariness in his eyes. "You should have thought of that before committing those crimes."
Ping'an watched as Zhao Renshu dragged Lu Duyi towards the grim group of people. She couldn't hear what they were discussing, but after Zhao Renshu finished his exchange with the group, he returned to Ping'an, his expression unchanged.
"Let's go to Peace Town," he said with a bright smile. "I am ready for some good, delicious meat dishes."
"Please lead the way," Ping'an replied shyly, a small smile gracing her lips.
Zhao Renshu's eyes widened, his mouth agape in mock surprise. "What? You don't know the way?"
"Honestly," Ping'an said, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment, "I have never been out of Peace Town."
Zhao Renshu burst out laughing, a hearty, booming sound that filled the air. "Fine. Wait here." He walked back to the small group of people, conversing with them for about ten minutes, then returned. "It's this way," he announced, pointing down the road.
As Ping'an and Zhao Renshu walked away, the sounds of terror followed them.
"You two can't leave me here! Aaaahhhh!" Lu Duyi screamed, his voice abruptly cut short.
"This is for my daughter!" a man's voice roared, followed by the sickening thud of a knife entering flesh.
"This is for my wife!" another man declared, and another stab followed.
Ping'an and Zhao Renshu didn't have to see to know what the small group of people were doing to Lu Duyi. They knew from the escalating screams that the small group of people were taking turns stabbing Lu Duyi. As Ping'an and Zhao Renshu disappeared from the small group of people, they still heard Lu Duyi's agonizing screams slowly fading away, growing fainter and fainter as they walked further towards the open road to Peace Town.