Chapter 94: The White Serpent Appears

Tonight was destined to be sleepless!

Zhan Wenjun instructed the kitchen to prepare restorative broths and pastries, and since everyone was already feeling hungry, they dispersed to dine separately. Xu You, He Ru, and Zuo Jun gathered together, and Xu You asked, "Qiyi, what do you think?"

"There is no need to wait for the outcome from the Ten Scribes; using torture on Huang Qi is merely a waste of effort!" He Ru's Hidden Charm Four Aspects excelled at exploiting human nature. Having deliberately provoked Huang Qi earlier and observed his expression and demeanor, He Ru already knew this man could not be bought. Therefore, he did not want to waste any more time on him and said, "The Celestial Masters' Taoism has been proselytizing for a century, and their trickery in seducing human hearts is unmatched by anyone. Take Huang Qi, for example: not only has he dedicated his life and body to the Celestial Masters, but even his very soul has been bewitched. In truth, he is no different from the walking dead. The formidable tortures of the Ten Scribes are directed only at living people with desires and needs, and they are completely useless against Huang Qi."

Although Xu You was well-versed in history and had some understanding of the Celestial Masters' Taoism, historical texts were mostly written with subtle brushstrokes, glossing over many matters in a single stroke. Without being in the midst of it, one could simply not comprehend the terror of a faith that bewitched even the soul.

"A single Huang Qi is irrelevant to the overall situation. Even if he were to betray his sect and implicate Xi Yuanda, it would at most add another ten percent to our odds of winning." Xu You's gaze was calm as he smiled gently and said, "Our current odds are already more than enough!"

Just as He Ru had anticipated, the Ten Scribes exhausted all methods yet could do nothing with Huang Qi, and could only return to report to Zhan Wenjun with iron-blue faces. Qianqin was stunned, unable to believe this outcome, and asked, "Elder Sister, could it be that your hand softened?"

The Ten Scribes kept their heads lowered so their expressions could not be seen, though they were surely extremely annoyed inside. They said, "This is not Quanjing, and we lack the tools for interrogation! If you would allow me to take him back to Mingyu Mountain for a few more days, there should be a chance..."

Zhan Wenjun likely had her own mental preparations. Though regrettable, she was not surprised. She waved her hand to cut off the Ten Scribes, turned to look at Xu You, and asked, "Young Master, what do you think?"

"It doesn't matter!"

Xu You smiled and said, "With Huang Qi captured, there are still other accomplices who escaped. At their pace, they can reach Wu County in a single day. For Du Jingzhi to receive the news and react will take another one to two days, which means we have three days to deal with Xi Yuanda. Three days... is more than enough! Lacking a single Huang Qi is actually of no consequence."

He Ru continued, "Our greatest advantage right now is time! Xi Yuanda has always been arrogant. After pushing aside Li Yifeng, he fancied himself holding a winning hand and failed to timely monitor outside developments. By the time he realized something was wrong last night and sent people out of the city for reinforcements, it was already too late in terms of time. I wager he will not sit still and wait for death tomorrow. If we can force him to do something out of line in a moment of impulse, the overall situation will be settled!"

Zhan Wenjun nodded and stood up, her expression resolute and unshakeable. "Then let us proceed according to the original plan. Tomorrow, either he dies, or I perish!"

When the golden morning light sprinkled over the high and low eaves, the entire city of Qiantang awoke from its deep slumber. The footsteps of pedestrians went back and forth, treading continuously upon the bluestone-paved streets—growing from few to many, from soft to loud. The clattering sounds, mingled with hawking, selling, quarrelling, and laughing noises, gradually converged into a lively prelude to life full of Jiangnan flavor.

To many people, the day's plan starts in the morning, but Xu You's plan could only be implemented around noon, for that was the warmest moment of the day and the most crowded time of the people.

Du Jingzhi rose from among the ignorant masses, and today, he would likewise be destroyed by the ignorant masses!

Blind Luo, carrying a bamboo basket, arrived early outside the East Market ward. The basket held two plump old hens, which he intended to sell before seeking a medical consultation. His daughter-in-law had just given birth to a large, chubby grandson, but she had not recovered well during her confinement, caught a chill, and developed a chronic cough. Seeking doctors and medicine had exhausted their family resources, or else he would never have been willing to sell these two treasured hens.

Having paid no market tax, he could not enter the East Market to do business and could only squat by the entrance waiting for people entering and leaving. If he were lucky, he could sell them before noon; but if he were unlucky and encountered the market patrol officers looking for trouble, being chased away was a minor matter, while a major one would result in confiscation—this point remained unchanged from ancient times to the present.

Just as he was anxiously waiting in anticipation, he suddenly heard a burst of chaotic human voices. A large crowd ran out of the East Market, elbowing one another and racing neck and neck as if pursued by a myriad of soldiers and horses. Some had lost their official caps, some had untied their leather belts, and others, finding their high-heeled clogs inconvenient, simply kicked them off and tossed them aside. At a first glance, it was truly a scene of military turmoil and fleeing refugees.

Blind Luo was startled and hastily hugged his bamboo basket, wanting to move aside to take shelter, but he was swept along uncontrollably by the surging crowd and carried forward.

From time to time, people shouted:
"Is it really a white snake?"
"Yes, it has manifested! The white snake has manifested!"
"You're not joking, are you?"
"What joke! Right by the West Lake, a giant white snake appeared out of thin air. Its tail is hidden in the lake, and just the body exposed on the shore is over ten meters long. When coiled up, it's bigger than an ox, and it's pure white all over—whiter than your concubine by a few shades!"
"Ah?" The man didn't care about the vulgar remark, staring dumbfounded as he said, "West Lake, white snake... Tell me, could it be Bai Suzhen..."
"It's possible..."
"It's not possible! It definitely is! Hurry, hurry!"

Blind Luo was not truly blind. He had suffered from an eye disease in his childhood, causing him to see double and unclear images of everything, which earned him the nickname Blind Luo. Hearing these people's dialogue, his eyes instantly widened wider than bronze gongs:
A white snake?
Bai Suzhen?

Due to the unprecedented promotional efforts personally orchestrated by Xu You, the transmission efficiency and reach of The Legend of the White Snake had been maximized in the shortest possible time. Thus, even ordinary folk living in the villages around Qiantang like Blind Luo could recite one or two classic bridges from the tale. Having heard people talk every day about Bai Suzhen, Xu Xian, and the West Lake, and having always believed in such ghosts and deities, coupled with his daughter-in-law's critical illness and desperate search for medical help without success, he truly hoped that such a miraculous White Lady would wield boundless divine power and dispense medicine to save people. Was that not a blessing for the common folk? Hearing now that the white snake had manifested its holiness, his mind immediately became active, and he resolved that no matter what, he had to kneel before the White Lady and beg her venerable self to bestow some immortal medicine to save his daughter-in-law.

Following the tide of people to the shores of Qiantang Lake, he opened his eyes wide to search for the rare white snake. But having arrived late, the area inside and out was packed tight with people, and he had no idea where the white snake was. Blind Luo stood on tiptoe to peer, sweating profusely with anxiety. Finally, gritting his teeth, he abandoned his bamboo basket, grabbed the two old hens by their wings, and squeezed his fingers hard into their flesh. The hens, feeling the pain, fluttered and pecked wildly. Ducking aside amidst the curses of others, he actually managed to carve out a path in the human wall, and with lowered head and bowed back, he slowly squeezed his way to the front.

"Halt! Look right here, don't squeeze any further!"

A flashing steel blade pointed right at the tip of his nose, and Blind Luo nearly pissed his pants. Not daring to raise his head, he panicked and retreated a few steps.

"Ah, it really is a white snake!"
"A wondrous event, a wondrous event! The Master did not speak of extraordinary things, feats of strength, rebellions, and spirits, yet who would have known the world truly holds a white snake!"
"The white snake is a divine creature between heaven and earth. You scholar are unlearned and ignorant; for all the sages' books you've read, your discernment is muddled!"
"Precisely! Don't you know this white snake is named Bai Suzhen, and her descent to the lower realm this time is to repay a debt of gratitude?"
"Heavenly Master protect us, Heavenly Master protect us! I never thought that at over fifty years of age, I could catch a glimpse of a divine manifestation from heaven before I die."
"Hmph, what Heavenly Master protection? Wasn't Bai Suzhen by that Taoist priest..."
"Choose your words carefully! Choose your words carefully!"

Various discussions drifted into Blind Luo's ears. He was also a devout follower of the Celestial Masters' Taoism, but this time his daughter-in-law was gravely ill, and drinking the talisman water begged from the Taoist temple not only failed to alleviate her condition at all but instead showed a trend of worsening, causing his heart to inevitably waver somewhat. Hearing the surrounding voices now, he dared to secretly raise his head to look around.

Dozens of armed retainers stood scattered about, all dressed in uniform green unlined jackets and blue martial bindings on their trousers. Standing there with imposing and heroic bearing, very majestic and robust, they clearly were not retainers raised by ordinary people. They formed a semicircle along the shore of Qiantang Lake, separating the surrounding crowd.

Blind Luo's vision showed double images, but the sunlight was bright and the field of vision was wide. Squinting and staring hard, a surge of hot blood suddenly rose in his chest, his mind went completely blank, his mouth dropped open beyond closure, and his legs turned to jelly as he dropped heavily to his knees.

"The White Lady has manifested her holiness! The White Lady has manifested her holiness!"

Coiled on the open ground by the lake was a thick, massive white snake, much larger than ordinary serpents, with a triangular crown and a long, flickering red tongue. Its entire body was whiter than snow, flashing with blinding halos under the illumination of colorful, brilliant lights. This reflected upon the rippling waves of Qiantang Lake, resembling a descent of celestial light and a shroud of divinity. Standing beside it was a young woman dressed in an equally snow-white, delicate fluttering gown. Her tall stature was outstanding, graceful, and slender, and the flying celestial bun upon her head seemed to pierce straight into the clouds. Truly, her flowing garments fluttered and her form was like a startled swan in flight, stunning the beholder beyond measure!

While Blind Luo chanted continuously and kowtowed thump-thump-thump, someone chuckled, reached out to pat his shoulder, and said, "What are you blindly shouting about? That is Zhan Wenjun, the daughter-in-law of Guo Da of Qiantang, not the White Lady!"

Blind Luo lifted his head in a daze, squinted and tried hard to look again, only to see a misty white blur before his eyes. The young woman with her lofty cloud-like bun and exquisite, stunning demeanor looked nothing like a denizen of the mortal world. He immediately resumed kowtowing, crying, "White Lady, White Lady..."

His piety was so devout that it infected many others, who unexpectedly followed suit and knelt down as well, crossing their hands flat on the ground and shouting for the White Lady. Ignoring the thousands of people gathered around, Zhan Wenjun maintained a calm expression and called out in a clear voice, "Libationer Xi, I invited you here today so you may witness with your own eyes whether the piece of cured venison lost at Zhibin Building is the exact same one found here with the white snake!"

Opposite Zhan Wenjun stood Xi Yuanda, Zhan Ting, Dou Qi, and others, along with Qiantang County丞 Li Dingzhi, County尉 Du Sanpeng, Registrar Bao Xi, and a retinue of clerks and bailiffs.

Xi Yuanda had attempted to break through the cordon three times during the night, only to be forcefully beaten back by Zhu Rui. The two had entangled throughout the night without Xi Yuanda gaining the slightest advantage, nearly vomiting blood in anger. Early this morning, with the curfew lifted and no longer fearing Zhu Rui's daytime obstruction, he was just about to swagger away when he was once again invited by Bao Xi to the county office to be questioned regarding the deaths of the two merchants.