Chapter 8, The Old Corpse Inn
"What a mischievous husband." Li Fengniang chuckled as she left
I carefully scrutinized the old man, and the first thing that caught my eye was his grayish-white eyes, which were deeply sunken in their sockets; it turned out that he was suffering from cataracts
"Are you going to eat or not?" the old man asked
Without further ado, I could no longer contain my eagerness as I stretched out my arms and seized several juice-laden rat heads, immediately biting down on them.
I went to see Ah Huang and the others. I blushed and did not dare to meet Li Fengniang's gaze
The old man was gnawing on a head with his yellowed teeth, and with excessive force, he actually crushed the skull, causing a mass of white brain matter to burst forth, splattering all over his face. He extended his withered fingers, scraped the viscous substance from his cheek, and brought it to his mouth, smacking his lips audibly. Then he coughed dryly and said: "This is rat brain, a rare delicacy in the human world. Why don't you taste a bit, young brother?"
"Oh, this dog is quite impressive," she exclaimed, gazing at Amei in surprise
Yes, I apologize. I stammered my apology
"Eat quickly, this is a great supplement, truly rare to come by." The urgent whisper of Ah Huang echoed in my ears
The night wind is cool, tickling at the neck, what kind of place is this? It gives a somewhat strange feeling
***
"My lord?" I looked at her in confusion
"Esteemed guest, do you require accommodation?" The old man opened his mouth, revealing uneven yellow teeth, with receding gums that had turned black, and a strong, peculiar odor emanated from him.
Li Fengniang? Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my lower abdomen
Li Fengniang led the way in front, while our family followed behind, heading west
I feel very unwell
"Rest early today, we can discuss matters tomorrow." Ah Huang said absentmindedly, and then added, "Please make sure to close the door when you go out."
At dusk, we arrived at Bailuyuan. From the plains, we gazed into the distance and saw two dark rivers diverging, shimmering like two golden dragons under the setting sun. The mottled hills on the plain were enveloped in a faint purple haze. After thousands of years, the remnants of imperial grandeur can still be faintly sensed.
Ahuang and Amei nestled together with great delight, tenderly licking each other's manes.
The future master has spoken, and I must certainly comply. To be honest, if it were not for the issue of age, I would have readily agreed long ago
Amei looked at me in surprise, while Ah Huang chuckled meaningfully a few times, and I shot him a glare
Of course. The will of our ancestor Li Chunfeng has compelled us to come together; do you not wish to join me in unraveling this ancient mystery?
She spoke well. Ah Huang gazed into the distance, his eyes moist.
I decided to go all out. Upon thinking of this, I fell silent, plunging my hands into the earthen pot, scooping up the head of the dead rat, broth and all, and stuffing it into my mouth.
A choking thick smoke swept in, so I simply stepped out of the house and came to the old locust tree by the water's edge
"What corpse?" I asked while eating.
Li Fengniang smiled slightly and said, "I have some here, but let my husband eat it."
***
As noon approached, we chose a secluded spot to rest. Li Fengniang went out for a while and returned with a large bag of cooked food to satisfy our hunger
Li Fengniang pointed to a tall hill in the distant horizon and said: "That is Liangshan, the Qianling of Tang Gaozong Li Zhi and Wu Zetian. Fifteen li away over there is the Jin Gang Tomb, where the hermit of the early Tang dynasty and extraordinary scholar of the I Ching, Yuan Tiangang, is buried."
A small stream flows gently, surrounded by a dense old locust tree by the water's edge. The tree is thick enough for two people to embrace, with its roots intertwined and ancient vines coiling around it, its bark wrinkled and protruding. Beneath the tree, there are three old-style houses made of blue bricks and tiles. Due to the passage of time, some nameless wild grass has grown in the gaps of the roof tiles.
Please provide the text you would like to have translated from Traditional Chinese to English.
"Corpse rat? Could it be a rat's corpse?" I asked in astonishment
I briefly recounted the origins of Amei, while also discussing the current predicament.
I hesitated to take over, glancing at the "master".
By the small grove, in front of the rental house, a familiar figure is wandering, wearing a green T-shirt and jeans, with long hair cascading over the shoulders
What does this mouse eat to grow up? Its taste is surprisingly delicious I am truly at a loss for words to express my admiration
"Xiao Ling!" A stir arose in my heart
The facilities in the guest room are quite rudimentary, consisting of a kang bed, an eight-immortals table, and two long benches. What kind of inn is this? There is even no electric light, only an old oil lamp covered in grease.
Upon initial entry, it feels soft and smooth, followed by a lingering sourness, and finally a sweetness. In an instant, a wave of freshness rises in the throat, refreshing the five viscera and six bowels, leaving a lingering fragrance between the teeth and generating saliva throughout the mouth, truly making one relish the experience.
Under the eaves of the main house hangs a worn-out sign, the characters on it are blurred, but upon closer inspection, one can faintly discern the words "Inn". The brush strokes are slender and vigorous
In the main room, an elderly man was kindling a fire to cook, with thick smoke wafting from the stove. The flames cast a red glow on his weathered face, resembling a knife-carved visage. Suddenly, a sense of déjà vu flickered through my mind. Yes, I must have seen him somewhere before, but I just couldn't recall where.
"This is not very convenient..." As I just opened my mouth to explain, Li Fengniang had already brought Ah Huang and Ah Mei into the room
Thank you, my teeth are not in good condition, this saves a lot of effort
The master is truly commendable, and thinking of this, I also pushed my portion towards Li Fengniang, saying, "You eat it."
Is anyone there? Li Fengniang stepped forward to knock on the door
Li Fengniang quickly took over the conversation, saying, "I thank the elder on behalf of my husband," and then gave me a meaningful glance, scolding, "Husband, please eat quickly"
Ah Huang gave his share to Ah Mei, who could not refuse and had no choice but to open her gaping mouth and devour it all.
"Pfft." The food in my mouth was suddenly spat out.
Li Fengniang smiled gently and said, "I know of a place where we can find shelter."
Li Fengniang laughed even more heartily: "With the merging of the nine and the two, in another half month, you and I will consummate our marriage, and naturally, you will be my husband."
It is somewhat rudimentary, but the room rate is cheap, only one yuan per room. The advantage is that the location is remote, with very few people passing by, ensuring no disturbances, which is conducive for us to delve into the secrets of the will.
"Corpse Technique?" A chill ran through my heart, for this was precisely the unparalleled martial art I sought to learn from Ah Huang
The old man caught the vomit flowing down with both hands and consumed it all.
"This is very good." Ah Huang said softly
Looking up, Ah Huang was secretly bringing a few dripping heads to Ah Mei.
After a long while, I heard a faint cough from inside. The door opened, and an old man with a face full of wrinkles, a hunched back, and a white beard appeared before me
"Sit down, young man. Hmph, my feast of corpse rats is something that many heroes and legends in the world can only dream of. How dare you underestimate it? Let me tell you, corpse rats grow extremely slowly. Young corpse rats do not have a distinction between male and female. They burrow into graves to gnaw on corpses, with some specifically eating the male genitalia and others gnawing on the female genitalia. Gradually, they differentiate into males and females, taking a hundred years to reach sexual maturity. Moreover, they can only mate during twelve specific hours of the day, and only then can they be captured. Just think about how difficult it is to obtain them." The old man appeared quite aggrieved.
"Such deliciousness exists in the world!" I have never tasted anything so wonderful in my life
"Pah! What a mouse corpse, it's simply a waste of resources! It infuriates me to no end" The old man shouted, his face flushed with anger.
"Dinner is ready." The weak voice of the elder echoed in the main hall
Prioritizing material wealth over friendship, hmph. I stormed out of the east wing, slamming the door with a loud bang.
What is this thing! I looked at those heads in astonishment
But... I did not know how to respond
"This is very good," I replied, as it is extremely important to maintain consistency with the master
Li Fengniang extended her hand and picked out a larger, purplish-red head, gazing at me affectionately as she handed it over, saying: "My husband, this is a male, beneficial for you; please eat it while it is still warm"
My heart races like a startled deer, my mind is in a state of confusion, and I am still a virgin...
Li Fengniang cleverly took over the conversation, saying, "Elder, please do not be angry. My husband is new to the world and has never ventured into the rivers and lakes, so I hope you can be more forgiving." She cast a glance at me and continued, "Husband, this is completely natural rat meat, pure green food. We, as a couple, are truly honored by your kindness and such warm hospitality. Shouldn't we hurry and eat it while it's hot?"
"Pfft." The substance I had just swallowed sprayed all over the old man's face, the chewed liquid trickling down his nose and cheeks in a sticky manner
Myself, Ah Huang, and Ah Mei, the three of us in the family, must have a shelter to protect us from the wind and rain. In any case, let's go back and pack our luggage first
"Us?" I asked hesitantly
Under the oil lamp, we squatted on the ground, encircling the table, and upon closer inspection, we saw a large ceramic basin prominently placed on the table, filled to the brim with small animal heads the size of fists, resembling both rabbits and rat heads, their color a vivid red, exuding a strong sour odor
In this vast world, where can one find a place to belong
"Human corpses," the old man replied while eating.
The old man beside him kept sneering.
The woman turned her head and smiled at me with a gentle grin, saying, "I have come to find you again."
As I watched her youthful and charming gait, the alluring sway of her waist, and the slightly raised fullness of her hips, I couldn't help but feel a flush on my face and let my imagination wander
Please provide the text you would like to have translated from Traditional Chinese to English.
"A corpse," the old man said coldly
As I urinated, I pondered: if it is impossible to maintain my virginity, it is due to circumstances beyond my control, not by choice, and thus it is understandable and forgivable
"I, I came out to urinate." A sense of panic surged within me, and I instinctively unzipped my zipper
The old man took a bite of the corpse rat and continued, "The head of the corpse rat is not only incredibly delicious, but it also has remarkable effects in enhancing one's power. It surpasses all such things as a thousand-year-old He Shou Wu and old mountain ginseng, and is especially an indispensable elixir for those who practice corpse techniques"
"How did you sneak out?" came the voice of Li Fengniang from behind.
Ah, such a beautiful and charming woman devouring animal heads without a change in expression; this is simply a bit too gruesome to bear, and a spasm surged in my throat
"We have booked two guest rooms," Li Fengniang seemed to be quite familiar with the process
I did not respond, still immersed in the shock of the "marriage consummation," my heart uncertain whether it was joy or pain. As I opened my eyes and saw the graceful and alluring Li Fengniang, a surge of warmth flooded my heart. Closing my eyes, the words "I am sixty-two this year" echoed in my ears, reminiscent of a bittersweet reflection.
Li Fengniang smiled charmingly, reached out to catch a head, gently stretched her slender fingers, pinched off two eyes, and tossed them into her mouth
Ah... I truly cannot endure it any longer, my stomach is churning, and I feel compelled to stand up and walk outside
"He is absolutely right; it is strange that this person has an extraordinary background, so one must be extremely cautious." This is a warning conveyed by Ah Huang.
The east wing is occupied by Ahuang and Amei, while the west wing is shared by Li Fengniang and myself, as she unilaterally arranged the rooms.
I could only carefully pinch off a small piece of flesh from the thick part of the head of the corpse rat in Li Fengniang's hand and gently place it in my mouth
In this vast world, there is nothing strange; even dogs can speak human language. This corpse rat may indeed be a chance bestowed upon me, Yuan Li, by heaven.