A Clash of Gods - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 The Death Lane
Old Bark couldn’t help but raise his hand and wave in front of Yang Ning’s eyes.

Yang Ning could only remind him euphemistically, “Old Bark, I do forget some things, but I’m not blind. My eyes can still see things… Could you please remind me of some things?”

Old Bark smiled helplessly, “Half a year ago, you brought Xiaodie here as refugees. You told me that you two met together while seeking asylum. She was bullied and you saved her once. Since then, you two have been depending on each other like brother and sister.”

“I came to Huize county seat half a year ago?” Yang Ning narrowed his eyes. It was strange that when Old Bark mentioned it, there were actually some fragmented pictures in his brain. They were vague, but there appeared the outline of a little girl and her looking was quite clear.

“Then do you still remember what happened after you came to Huize county seat?” Old Bark couldn’t help worrying when he saw Yang Ning so confused.

Yang Ning wanted to think about it, but he didn’t know whether it was because he had just recovered from a serious illness that as soon as he used his brain, he would feel that the back of his head swelled and a sense of drowsiness hit him.

“Where is Xiaodie now?” Yang Ning learned from the words of Old Bark that it was because of Xiaodie that he was able to became alive. And the owner of this body obviously had a deep relationship with Xiaodie.

Old Bark sighed, but said helplessly, “You really can’t remember. She has always been in the place of Madam Hua. In the past six months, you visited her. You told all those things about her to me.”

“Madam Hua?” Yang Ning said in surprise, “Who is this Madam Hua?”

Before Old Bark answered, the voice of Monkey sounded from behind, “Madam Hua is the widow of County Deputy Governor Hua. Ha-ha. In this city, few people dare to provoke her.”

At this time, Monkey came in. A beggar behind him carried a broken wooden barrel with water in it and placed it next to Yang Ning.

Yang Ning rolled up his sleeves and felt a little itchy on his body. He approached to the barrel and was about to reach out to wash his face. But he hadn’t reached his hands yet, when he was stunned.

Although he was already mentally prepared, he was still a little surprised to see the face in the water.

It was a stained face which was not cleaner than other people’s, but he could still tell that this face was pretty and he was just fifteen or sixteen years old. His face was gaunt, but his eyebrows were like swords and raised up, showing a heroic spirit.

He used to think that the hair style of the mop-head man was very personal. At this time, he found that he himself was also mop-head and disheveled. At least from his appearance, he was really a beggar.

Yang Ning was astonished, then he shook his head, smiling bitterly. Then he washed his face. With cold water touching his face, he was somewhat soberer, then he asked, “The widow of County Deputy Governor Hua? Does Xiaodie serve in the house of County Deputy Governor Hua?”

Old Bark looked worried and said, “When Xiaodie left that night, she said that she would come over to see you as long as she had the chance. But it has been many days, and there is no news from Xiaodie. She sneaked out of the Hua Mansion that night, and we didn’t know whether she was found when she went back. It really makes me worry.”

“Xiaodie saved my life. Of course, I should thank her.” Yang Ning clearly defined his grace and grievance. Although his impression on Xiaodie was not deep, she saved him and he was grateful, “By the way, where is the house of County Deputy Governor Hua? When the rain stops, I need to meet Xiaodie.”

Monkey was a little surprised, “Don’t you remember where the Hua Mansion is? You used to go there often.”

Yang Ning shook his head and asked, “Do you know?”

Monkey said hurriedly, “Madam Hua lives in the Death Lane, which is a bit far from here. When the rain stops, I’ll lead you there. But… But we can’t go during the day. We can only sneak in at night if we want to go.”

“The Death Lane?” Yang Ning thought that this name was somewhat gloom. Wouldn’t it be the lane where the business of the death was run, such as coffins and hell money?

“Actually the lane has no name, but the Hua Mansion is there, and no one dares to go there.” Monkey looked knowledgeable, “Loach from the east city bet with others last year. He broke into that lane during the day and was thrown out by someone. Moreover, he was bruised all over the body and several ribs were broken. So far, he hasn’t recovered.” There was a hint of annoyance in his eyes, “Since then, we have called this lane the Death Lane.”

Yang Ning sneered, “Was it done by the people in the Hua Mansion?”

“County Deputy Governor Hua used to be a great person in Huize county seat.” Monkey said, “In the Death Lane, there is only his house. Who else could it be?” Monkey said angrily, “But Madam Hua manages the temporary marriage, so she has to be sneaky when doing things, and of course no one can easily approach to the house.”

“Temporary marriage?” Yang Ning felt it very strange and asked, “What is this temporary marriage?”

“It’s not a stuff, but a shameless business.” Monkey smiled strangely, “If the concubines of the noble have courage, they will accept this work. Or those widows who bring daughters and servants alone will take this job occasionally when it’s hard for them to survive… This is temporary marriage.”

Yang Ning was astonished, “What do you mean by taking this job? Is it…” But he understood in his heart.

“As the saying goes, a wife is worse than a concubine, and a concubine is worse than cheating. Those dissolute all agree that it is the best when playing with the families of those noble officials.” When it came to this topic, Monkey was so excited that his foam flew and his expression became vivid. He said with smile, “Those women are all taught by the noble. No matter in appearance or temperament, they are better than ordinary women in the brothel. They know about the emotions and understand humor, and there is no disadvantage. In addition, those who choose temporary marriage are not women in the brothel, so their embarrassment and shyness tickle men’s hearts.” Speaking of this, Monkey’s eyes were also glowing.

Yang Ning sighed. He didn’t expect that there was such business in it.

Monkey said again, “County Deputy Governor Hua had a serious illness at a young age and died two years ago. When he lived, there were tens of servants and subordinates in this family. When he died, there was no income in this family, so they couldn’t support it. Then Madam Hua took the servant to secretly start temporary marriage…” With a wretched smile, “This county is not big. No matter how secret Madam Hua behaves, there should be gossips spreading out. Everyone knew the truth and called her Madam Hua behind her back. That woman is more than thirty years old, I have heard that she asks the servants to take the jobs…”

When Yang Ning heard this, he was suddenly upset, thinking that if Xiaodie was in such a family, wouldn’t she be in danger?

In the middle of the night, there was no sign showing that the wind and rain would stop outside. Yang Ning already felt a little tired. Knowing he couldn’t go out in such weather, no matter how much he was worried about Xiaodie.

Everything could only be dealt with after the rain stopped.

After being busy for half of the night, other people were also quite tired. Yang Ning asked them to go to rest first. There was a main hall and a side room in the Earth Temple. Yang Ning was in the side room at this moment. Only Yang Ning and Old Bark stayed in the side room, while others all went to the outside room to have a rest.

After Yang Ning lay down, he was thinking about the way out in the future.

Yang Ning felt inappropriate for the glorious career of the disciple of the Beggar Sect. Since it had been the fact that he had come to this world and it couldn’t be changed, all he could do was to adapt to the life in this world.

What made him helpless was that this era was not any historical era in his memory. Otherwise, he could predict what would happen and take advantage of being a prophet to make a great achievement.

He had run a business before, and he felt that with his accumulated business experience, he might be able to make a big difference in this era. But at this moment, he had no money. Even though he wanted to do business, he didn’t have the start-up capital. Moreover, he knew nothing about the current market situation, so he wouldn’t embark on the road of business in a short time.

It took him a long time to fall asleep. Maybe it was because he had just recovered from a serious sickness that he had a good sleep at night.

The next day, he was woken up by Old Bark. Then did he realize that it was noon already and the wind and rain stopped. Yang Ning got up and went outside. There was a smell of mud and grass in the air. It broke into his nose, but it was refreshing. Yang Ning took several deep breaths greedily and he felt much comfortable.

He looked around and found that this Earth Temple was remote and there were not many houses around, but there was a pond not far.

There were several old willow trees slanting by the pond, and the willow branches protruded towards the water, and thousands of willows drooped above the water. The breeze was blowing and the shadow of the branches was whirling, swaying like a slim beauty dancing.

“Where did those guys go?” Yang Ning couldn’t help but ask Old Bark beside him, when he found that Monkey and the others disappeared from the Earth Temple.

Old Bark said, “They went out earlier and said that you had recovered from a serious illness, so they had to ask for something to celebrate when they came back.”

Yang Ning laughed, “They still have such kindness?”

Old Bark thought that Yang Ning understood the thoughts and plans of those people and said, “Ermine, it’s good what they are up to. They regarded you as the Leader of the Earth Temple, it could be told that they were up to no good.”

Yang Ning said it casually, but he didn’t expect that Old Bark would say so. He felt that there was something wrong with it, and asked, “Old Bark, do they really have bad thoughts?”

“Bad thoughts?” Old Bark shook his head, “They didn’t have bad thoughts, but there were no good intentions. There were hundreds of disciples of the Beggar Sect. Although they all belong to the Beggar Sect, it is quite normal to made alliance and fought against each other secretly.”

“Hundreds of people?” Yang Ning did not expect that the Beggar Sect in Huize county seat was so powerful.

Old Bark sighed, “Monkey is not a quiet or obedient person. Before, when you kept hiding, he liked to provoke troubles outside. Now he knows you are so strong, so he regards you to be the boss. In that way, he could use you to be a shelter to make it easier when fighting with the brothers from the Beggar Sect. Ermine, please listen to me. However strong you are, there is always someone stronger. No matter how capable you are, don’t be dragged down by Monkey or the others. It’s better that you should just stay quiet.”

He used a concerned tone. Apparently, he reminded him in good faith because he cared about Yang Ning.