Chapter 1, Walking Marriage

However, I heard the woman behind me seemingly saying something again, but I couldn't understand it and didn't want to listen. I ran out for several hundred meters in one breath, panting heavily, and was currently leaning against a tree to catch my breath

Cui Zhen and several team members were sitting next to me. Seeing that I had woken up, Cui Zhen hurriedly asked, "Finally awake. You have had a fever for several days, what happened? How did you get lost in the small grove? Everyone has been looking for you for a long time!"

My surname is Ba, and my full name is Xiaoshan. When I was young, I was a somewhat cultured social youth who had not yet started a proper job. In the spring of my twentieth year, I followed a folk culture academic seminar from Shanghai to investigate the local customs near Lugu Lake. The reason for this investigation was that I had heard from Cui Zhen, a hefty man weighing around 200 pounds, that there was a minority group with a very weak marriage value system, allowing for polyandry, which piqued my interest.

Beneath her long hair, a terrifying visage was revealed. The left half was that of a charming and lovely young girl, while the other half was shockingly a fearsome skull. No wonder she always concealed her face with her long hair; even what I saw was merely the beautiful half of her.

The young lady took my hand and walked outside. At that moment, the fragrance I smelled seemed to make my head spin even more. As she pulled me, I immediately followed her. The two of us, one in front and the other behind, did not know how long we had been walking. My head was getting dizzier, and I only saw a house ahead. She walked to the door and pointed to the stairs by the window.

This sleep was particularly comfortable, and in my dream, it seemed as though I had been entangled with that young lady for an indeterminate amount of time. I felt as blissful as a celestial being, but upon waking the next day, I discovered that I was lying in the woods more than 100 meters away from the village

If you don't believe it, why not give it a try tonight and drink a little less

The inspection period at that time lasted about a week. The Mosuo people are hospitable, and the next day, drinks were served again. After I got drunk, the woman appeared for the second time and took me into a small building. This time, I still did not see her face, and even if I wanted to ask, the fragrance overwhelmed me, and I immediately fainted. When I woke up, I was still in the small grove

In the evening, a grand bonfire party was held, where the lively Mosuo people and several of us researchers who enjoy festivities had a wonderful time together

Generally speaking, this is because the Mosuo people live in a matriarchal society, where monogamy is not the prevailing custom. During the day, if a girl takes a liking to a young man from a certain family, she will send him subtle signals. If the young man reciprocates her feelings, he will climb through the girl's window at night, knock on the window, and hang a token outside the window. That same night, they can consummate their union. The next day, however, they return to their respective homes. If either party suddenly loses interest in the other, they simply part ways without any formal divorce proceedings.

She circled around me and I smiled as I asked, "Miss, who are you?"

Thus, I staggered and climbed up the stairs to the second floor, entered the room, and found everything around me shrouded in darkness, unable to see anything clearly. I could only make out a young woman standing at the door with her back to me, her long black hair cascading down to the floor, dressed in the attire of the Mosuo people

I recalled what Cui Zhen said about walking marriage. A smile instantly blossomed on my face; this girl must have taken a liking to me. After all, this is the Mosuo tribe, where there are not so many entanglements of love. At worst, after tonight, I can just pack up and leave.

Upon hearing this, I was astonished; the custom of walking marriage seems completely out of place compared to the big cities. It is quite possible that this guy Cui Zhen led the team to the Mosuo village for this very reason.

As soon as he finished listening to my words, his expression immediately turned somewhat unpleasant, prompting me to inquire about the situation.

Upon hearing Cui Zhen's words, my heart trembled with fear, and my complexion instantly turned pale. However, upon further reflection, I realized that these were merely folk tales and could not be taken seriously. Perhaps I had simply drunk too much and had been having consecutive nights of spring dreams.

After a few moments, the hand that was gripping mine was completely broken by my brute force, revealing a thin layer of skin that wrapped around a stark white bone. I also fell to the ground due to the excessive force I exerted. However, in that situation, I had no time to think further; I got up and turned to run.

Cui Zhen said with a gloomy expression: "In the Mosuo people's walking marriage, women call men 'A Zhu'. Men call women 'A Xiao'. If both parties are in love, that is the best outcome. However, if they part ways and 'A Xiao' is unwilling, she will seek the old shaman outside the village. The old shaman will give the woman a kind of fragrant powder, which can win back 'A Zhu's' heart. However, each time it is used, 'A Xiao's' blood must be mixed in. This is a form of witchcraft practiced in Yunnan. If used too many times, the woman will die. After death, if her vengeful spirit does not disperse, it will linger outside the village, seeking out those 'A Zhu' she favored, and then take them back to the ghost tower for walking marriage. I think, you might have encountered such a situation."

When I woke up, I felt a bit dazed. I had clearly followed a girl, yet I found myself in this wretched place upon waking. I wanted to stand up, but my body felt weak, and my head felt as if it were about to burst. I stumbled back to the village, and when Cui Zhen saw me, he kept asking where I had been yesterday. I didn't have the courage to tell him, after all, it was my first time.

Suddenly, the other person pressed close and threw themselves into my arms. I immediately caught a whiff of a fragrance. At that time, I was still a twenty-year-old young man, and I was indeed a bit flustered and captivated. After scratching my head, I said: "Miss, what is this all about?"

Suddenly, a sound came from behind me. When I turned around, I saw the terrifying figure of that woman closely pursuing me, and a strange fragrance wafted through the air. I was so frightened that I nearly died; I wanted to run, but it was already too late. My legs went weak, and after inhaling a large amount of that peculiar scent, I struggled a few times before ultimately collapsing to the ground

This time, I slept more soundly than the previous two times. By the time I woke up, it was already two days later, and I was lying in the tent of the village.

I said with a smile, and then sat down by the bed. The girl slowly turned her face towards me, and I was feeling quite pleased, thinking that today I was fortunate in love. Then I saw her gradually lean closer, gently sitting down beside me. I could still only see half of her face, which appeared beautiful and delicate, exuding a stunning charm reminiscent of a pipa player partially concealing her face. Then, a fragrance wafted over, and my head spun; I completely fell asleep.

Throughout each person's life, they will encounter some bizarre events, and what I have experienced may be a hundred times more extraordinary than what you have heard.

I was taken aback and hurriedly got up, but I felt my limbs growing weaker. Shaking my head, I said, "You were right, I am indeed being targeted by a ghost of a woman who practices walking marriage!"

The bonfire party was halfway through, and I had consumed quite a bit of alcohol. My stomach felt a bit bloated, and my head was slightly dizzy. I got up and walked towards the haystack at the back, intending to relieve myself in a secluded area. Suddenly, a figure walked by me; my vision was somewhat blurred, and I could only make out a silhouette with long hair, unable to see anything else clearly.

After several days of traveling by train and then several more days by car, followed by a bullock cart, we finally arrived at our destination, a village of the Mosuo ethnic group

On the night of the third day, I had not drunk much. By around eight or nine in the evening, I walked outside the village. I looked around and saw that no one was there. A cold wind blew, and I couldn't help but shiver, realizing that I had indeed overthought the situation. Just as I was about to turn back, I suddenly caught a whiff of a strange fragrance behind me, and my heart immediately raced.

I wish to move forward, yet my steps feel somewhat unsteady, as if I lack strength beneath my feet. There seems to be some commotion behind me; when I turn my head, I see the long-haired beauty appearing before me once again. The woman seems to be saying something, but I cannot understand her. The fragrance makes me wary, and I dare not inhale deeply, hastily holding my breath as I carefully scrutinize her face, yet it remains obscured by her thick, long hair, preventing me from seeing it clearly

I remember that at that time, Cui Zhen was sitting next to me, smiling as he said that the Mosuo people have a very unusual custom called "walking marriage"

Miss, I have yet to see your face clearly

The same thing happened for two consecutive days, which made me feel somewhat suspicious, so I secretly sought out Cui Zhen to discuss it.

As soon as these words were spoken, Cui Zhen's expression immediately changed

The Mosuo people rarely interact with the outside world, and the locals have their own language and customs. However, because Cui Zhen had visited the northwestern part of Yunnan several times before and had made acquaintances with a few villagers, they do not reject us.

Cui Zhen patted my shoulder at that moment. I squatted on the ground, thought for a moment, and nodded, saying: "Anyway, even if I die, I will be a dashing ghost, not afraid."

She pulled me and would not let go; this time, she directly dragged me to the door. The strength in the woman's hand was astonishing. I couldn't help but think that it might be related to the legend that Cui Zhen mentioned. I tried to shake her off several times but couldn't get free. Suddenly, a surge of anger welled up inside me. I abruptly stopped, and the woman was taken aback. At the moment she turned around, I reached out and swept her hair aside in one swift motion.

The origin of all this began with a "walking marriage" that took place in those years

She seemed to sense something unusual about me, suddenly grasping my hand. I wanted to break free, but I felt a slight dizziness in my head. By the time I regained my senses, I found myself standing outside the small building

I immediately stepped back, but my arm was being pulled by her. Although I was scared, I wanted to escape even more. So I mustered all my strength and desperately struck the hand that was holding me.