When the lovers arrived at the small village, there were no lanterns or candlelight. The lovers walked into the village, dragging their horses behind them. The village was dark, and the streets were almost empty. There were a few people on the street doing nothing; they didn't even pay attention to the lovers.
"What's wrong with this village?" Zhao Renshu whispered, his brow furrowed.
"Let's find a place to rest first," Guo Baiyu suggested.
"Yes. I'm hungry," Zhao Renshu declared. "I have been eating only green leafy vegetables for the past four days. Tonight, I want to order a lot of food. Don't stop me."
"We won't stop you," Ping'an smiled. She looked around, noticing the absence of vendors on the street. "This village looks and feels like a ghost village."
"If there are ghosts, I will know," Zhao Renshu scoffed confidently.
Guo Baiyu shook his head. "'Ghost village' has another meaning. It means it looks deserted."
"Oh.... That kind of ghost village," Zhao Renshu said, realization dawning. He smiled and scratched his chin with his left thumb.
The lovers found an inn located almost at the end of the street. The inn was empty. The innkeeper sat at the registration desk, and there was only one waiter.
The innkeeper yawned, "Waiter, we have guests."
The waiter walked to their table, speaking slowly, almost in a daze. "What do you want?"
"Anything you have with meat, bring it all out," Zhao Renshu ordered enthusiastically. "Bring at least six or seven dishes with meat!"
"Fine," the waiter mumbled. He returned to the kitchen, walking so slowly it looked like he had a rock hanging from his back. "It will take a while for your food to come here," he announced, throwing a towel over his right shoulder.
"This village is a bit strange," Guo Baiyu said quietly, observing their surroundings. "Everyone is either too slow or lazy." Guo Baiyu looked around; they were the only guests in the entire inn. "Look, even the dog is sleeping."
Zhao Renshu and Ping'an turned to the front door. A dog indeed lay on the floor, sleeping soundly without even a twitch. Zhao Renshu walked to the innkeeper.
"We would like some wine," Zhao Renshu said.
The innkeeper sighed heavily. "If you want it, it's there. Go get it yourself." He pointed vaguely to the wine jars on a nearby table.
"We also want a room," Zhao Renshu added.
"There are ten empty rooms. Choose one as soon as you finish eating," the innkeeper yawned again.
Zhao Renshu turned around and gave Guo Baiyu and Ping'an an awkward expression. He grabbed a small wine jar, then walked back and sat down. He drank about half of the wine in the jar, but their food was still not ready. Zhao Renshu got up and walked to the innkeeper again.
"Boss, our food has not arrived," Zhao Renshu complained, checking the time. "It has been more than two hours."
"Coming soon," the innkeeper mumbled, yawning once more.
"Are you afraid of losing customers?" Zhao Renshu asked, exasperated. "Your customer service is terrible."
"It's like this everywhere," the innkeeper replied, completely unconcerned.
The waiter finally, slowly, put the food on the table. He yawned and said, "Enjoy."
Just as the lovers were about to eat, a voice from outside stopped them.
Xiao Dan and Xiao Hui walked into the inn.
"I knew it was them!" Xiao Hui smiled, walking towards the lovers. She sat next to Zhao Renshu. "Do you miss me?" She blew him a kiss.
Zhao Renshu was clearly not excited to see the Xiao sisters. He frowned. "Wow, the world is such a small place. I was hoping never to see you two again."
Xiao Dan sat next to Guo Baiyu. "Don't be too mean to us. If we didn't stop you on time, you would be like them."
"What are the two of you doing here?" Zhao Renshu asked, ignoring her comment.
"Actually, we are looking for you two," Xiao Hui said sexily, her eyes twinkling.
"Looking for us?" Guo Baiyu asked, surprised.
"Yes, we are looking for the two of you," Xiao Hui confirmed.
"For what?" Zhao Renshu asked, annoyance creeping into his voice.
"You know that the wolf clan has always wanted to be the leader of all the fairy tribes," Xiao Hui explained. "They chased and killed those who opposed them. Within two months, there will be a fierce fighting competition among the fairy tribes. All the males of our clan are either too old, too young, or cowards. There is no way we will win. If the Wolf Clan wins the competition, it means our tribe will be extinct or become their slaves."
"We went to Capital City, but the three of you had left," Xiao Dan added, her voice tinged with sadness. "The handsome Guo Longtong told us that Baiyu was dead. We cried for three days. We didn't know how to contact Renshu. Then a few days ago, we heard that Zhao Renshu was spotted in Waterfall City, so we went there, but you had already left. We know that Baiyu is not dead yet."
"Oh, by the way," Xiao Hui interjected, "the lady in red and black told you to pay attention to your back, because if you turn around, she might chew it." She raised her eyebrows at Zhao Renshu, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"You are looking for us to represent your clan?" Guo Baiyu asked, cutting to the chase.
Both sisters nodded eagerly.
"We are not fairies. We cannot represent any clan," Guo Baiyu stated simply.
"We already have a perfect solution," Xiao Hui chirped.
"What is your solution?" Zhao Renshu asked suspiciously.
"You two marry us," Xiao Hui announced, a triumphant smile on her face. "Then you will become a part of our family. As the son-in-law of the Clan Leader, you will far exceed the qualified qualifications."
Zhao Renshu choked on his wine, sputtering. He cleared his throat. "I can't marry you. I'm sorry, sisters."
Xiao Hui's face fell, upset. "Why not? Am I not pretty enough for you?"
"We are two beautiful women marrying two handsome men," Xiao Dan said, looking at her sister. She smiled and gave two thumbs up. "This is a match in heaven!"
"I'm sorry," Guo Baiyu interjected, "we are already married. We can't marry you two."
Xiao Hui was stunned, her mouth agape. "What? When? Why? Who?"
"It's not a lie," Zhao Renshu said, pointing to Ping'an. "About two and a half years ago. Because we love her. Our beloved wife."
Both sisters' mouths hung open in disbelief.
Xiao Hui pointed her finger at Guo Baiyu and then at Zhao Renshu. "You....two.... marry the same woman?" she stammered.
"Yep," Zhao Renshu confirmed with a nod.
The sisters hugged each other and burst into tears.
"But why?" Xiao Dan sobbed. "There are so many women out there, including us, why are the two most handsome men married to the same woman?"
Guo Baiyu smiled gently at the two sisters. "There may be many women, but there is only one Ping'an in the world."
"No matter!" Xiao Hui insisted, wiping her tears. "You two must help us. We have helped both of you before, but now you must help us. Do you want us to be extinct?"
"They will go help your clan," Ping'an said, her voice firm.
"How?" Xiao Dan asked, surprised.
"How about they become your sworn brothers? They don't have to be your husbands to join your clan," Ping'an suggested, looking at the two sisters. Then, she noticed their untouched food. "Why did you stop us from eating the food?"
"Oh my, we completely forgot!" Xiao Hui exclaimed, remembering the eerie atmosphere. "Two days ago, this village was full of life. Now it is a ghost village."
"We think there may be a spirit that absorbs people's life energy," Xiao Dan added, her voice hushed. "We did some watching and only saw it last night. The sweet flute melody awakened some villagers at midnight. A fairy absorbed their villagers' life energy."
"Where is everyone?" Guo Baiyu asked, his expression grave.
"Sleeping in their own houses," Xiao Dan replied. "Those who are still awake are all weak, exhausted, or too lazy to take care of anything." She pointed to the innkeeper, who had fallen asleep while standing.
"We thought it might be the food they ate that poisoned their minds," Xiao Hui said. "Last night, we heard the melody of the flute and witnessed it all. That's why we told you not to eat these foods." She took out three apples and put them on the table. "It's safer to eat this." She smiled, offering them.
Zhao Renshu almost jumped up. Now, the last thing he wanted to see was an apple. He put his elbows on the table and began to hit his forehead angrily with his hand.
"Do you have a headache?" Xiao Hui asked, concerned.
"Apples give me a headache!" Zhao Renshu said madly. "I would rather be hungry than eat apples!"
Xiao Hui frowned sexily, a playful pout on her lips. "Weirdo." She took one bite of her apple.
At midnight, the lovers and the two Xiao Sisters heard a very pleasing, melodic flute from miles away.
"That's the melody of the flute," Xiao Hui whispered.
Then the innkeeper closed his eyes and walked slowly out of the inn, as if in a trance. The other guests in the inn began to walk down the stairs, their movements similarly slow and unnatural. The lovers and the Xiao sisters followed the people into the street. About fifty people walked towards the flute melody, like puppets on a string.
"This melody is different from the melody we heard last night," Xiao Dan whispered to her sister. "What will we do?"
"If we don't walk into the tiger's cave, how do we get their cubs?" Zhao Renshu smirked, confident in his plan.
"Renshu, you pretend that you are one of the possessed people," Guo Baiyu instructed.
"Me?" Zhao Renshu balked.
"Yes, you. We will follow closely," Guo Baiyu confirmed.
"Why not you?" Zhao Renshu protested.
"If I fall into a trap, you will not be able to make a plan to save me," Guo Baiyu smiled at Zhao Renshu, a glint in his eye. "Besides, I haven't been healed yet. Don't you worry?" He placed his hand on Zhao Renshu's right shoulder. "We will be right behind you."
Zhao Renshu pushed Guo Baiyu's hand away, annoyed. "Don't bribe me with words."
"Okay. You go or Ping'an go?" Guo Baiyu challenged, knowing his weak spot.
"Fine... I'll go," Zhao Renshu said madly, defeated.
"Works every time," Guo Baiyu smiled, amused.
Zhao Renshu looked coldly at Guo Baiyu. "Because I don't want to put my wife in danger." He quickly gave Ping'an a quick kiss on her right cheek. "The husband is going to save the world." He then walked slowly, mimicking the dazed movements of the people on the street.
"Be careful," Ping'an whispered quietly, a fond smile on her face.
Zhao Renshu smirked and winked at her before blending into the shuffling crowd.
"We will follow the last person," Guo Baiyu instructed the Xiao sisters.