Whenever I went to pick medicinal herbs, Aunt Tiger would silently follow me. If there was danger, she would fight to protect me, but she wouldn’t allow me to escape. Because she knew clearly that the tiger cubs loved me far more than she did, so in a way, I had escaped one prison only to be imprisoned by a tiger in a “unique” manner.
Over time, the tiger cubs’ extraordinary affection for me made Aunt Tiger look at me with eyes that were sometimes kind, sometimes fierce. Yes, Aunt Tiger, that’s what I respectfully called her.
As the tiger brothers gradually grew up, Aunt Tiger would take them to learn hunting. I left the tiger brothers when Aunt Tiger died – my “jailer” was gone, and I was “released”. I don’t know how long this time was, perhaps slightly shorter than six years, or perhaps slightly longer…
I actually didn’t want to leave because I knew I hadn’t spoken to humans for so long and was afraid I couldn’t adapt to worldly life. But the tiger brothers insisted on sending me off. The send-off was a happy journey. They sent me over mountain after mountain…
If not for that black cold arrow that shot past, I thought we could have continued happily. The arrow grazed my body and directly pierced Big Tiger’s eye. Big Tiger went mad, howling. I was anxious to go see its injury but was violently bumped into a small hill…
Grabbing the wild grass on the ground, I tried to struggle up, but suddenly felt a pain in my lower abdomen and immediately fainted, knowing nothing more.
“Do you like the Great King?” I asked without hesitation.
She was not shy at all and said directly: “All the girls of Night Mountain love the Great King!”
“Oh.” I responded softly, learning for the first time that the mountains that had imprisoned me for so many years were called Night Mountain, and continued asking, “Langyue, what are the people of Night Mountain like? Are there any special characteristics?
As soon as I finished speaking, Langyue’s hand combing my hair trembled. A strange light flashed in her starry eyes: “Your pronunciation of my name sounds incredibly beautiful. If not for the three scars on the right side of your face, you would definitely be the most beautiful person in the world.”
Seeing the dimness in my eyes, she seemed to realize she had said something wrong. She guiltily covered her mouth and looked at me carefully. Her childish gesture made me less concerned about my disfigurement.
“I have never seen my own appearance, and I don’t have any feelings about it, so I don’t mind…”
“Hehe…” Langyue laughed happily, continuing to help me comb my hair and answering my previous question, “The people of Night Mountain make a living by hunting and dare to go to any mountain… Oh, eight years ago when the Great King took the throne, Night Mountain had guards every day. The Rainbow Clothing Death Squad prohibited hunters from hunting. During that time, my father was quite frustrated. He is the bravest hunter.”
Hearing Langyue say this, I became more convinced that Night Mountain was the den that had imprisoned me for six years. A furious hatred pierced my entire body, and a terrible idea jumped into my mind – revenge. Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but clench my fist.
“Jiao Long, shall I help you tie up your hair?”
Called back to reality by Langyue, I shook my head: “No, it’s too troublesome.”
“Then let’s use a wide ribbon to tie up your hair; otherwise, it’ll be a mess when the wind blows.” Langyue said, taking out a colorful cloth to wrap my hair, tying several knots to ensure no hair could escape.
I smiled gratefully at Langyue. A large man with many braids pushed open the door. Langyue joyfully ran to the man and
said to me: “Jiao Long, this is my father, Suo Mulang. Father, she is called Lan Jiao Long, what a beautiful name…”
Suo Mulang stared deeply at me, his hawk-like eyes more prominent, seeming to probe. I blinked, not understanding. I wanted to thank him, but remembering that he was the one who shot the tiger, I suddenly lost my gratitude.
He looked at me for a long time. The rough, wrinkled eyebrows suddenly softened with a smile and he said in a hoarse voice: “Miss, have you been resting well?”
Langyue saw me pointing from afar and suddenly understood that the people of Night Mountain didn’t even know why the mountain was forbidden. Eight years on the throne? That means I’m already fourteen years old…
Suddenly, a voice rang out, “Rainbow Clothing Death Squad is here!” The entire scene fell silent instantly. Only Langyue, holding my arm with large eyes sparkling with excitement, whispered in my ear: “After the Rainbow Clothing uncles arrive, the King will be coming soon.”
I stared intently at the fence gate, inexplicably nervous. After all, it had been eight years since we last met, and I couldn’t help but feel flustered. To ease my tension, I casually chatted with Langyue: “Langyue, did you dress so beautifully today to attract the King’s attention?”
“Yes, yes. Later, many girls will offer wine to the King. If the King drinks a girl’s wine, he will marry her. The King is getting older, and the people of Night Mountain have been urging him to marry soon, which is why we have this banquet…”
“Then he’ll marry them all!” Langyue laughed carelessly, though a hint of sadness flickered in her eyes. I was stunned, suddenly understanding the generati
on gap between this era and the 21st century.
“What if the King doesn’t drink your wine?”
“I don’t know, but today is my only chance. If I return disappointed tonight, I’ll never marry!” Langyue swept away the sadness in her eyes and spoke resolutely. I took a deep breath. I had originally wanted to meet the Rainbow Clothing Death Squad, to see their expressions and learn about my mother-in-law’s death. But if I met them, given Purple Uncle and Yellow Uncle’s hot-tempered and quick-tongued nature, I feared it would disrupt the banquet. I owed Langyue a favor, so I’d repay it now.
As I was thinking, seven large men walked in side by side. Watching them approach, then looking at Langyue’s excited expression, I helplessly pursed my lips, deciding not to reveal myself to the Rainbow Clothing Death Squad at the banquet, and quickly lowered my head.
With my head down, I could barely see seven pairs of differently colored boots pass by my table. Suddenly, a pair of feet stopped in front of me, trembling slightly – they were crimson. After a moment, they continued walking forward without a trace. Only then did I raise my head. They had walked to the tiger-skin chair and formed two lines. I sat in the middle of the banquet, and at this distance, they probably couldn’t see my appearance clearly, so they boldly looked around.
Another announcement came: “The King has arrived!”
Everyone stood up, and Langyue pulled me up too. When a black shadow stood at the fence gate, Langyue immediately grabbed my hand, and everyone knelt down with a loud rustle. I felt indescribably uncomfortable. I didn’t want to kneel to the so-called master of Night Mountain who had imprisoned me for fourteen years. But considering Langyue’s feelings, I had to give up…
“Ulang, your daughter is becoming more and more willful, truly unbearable!” The Great King’s gaze shot towards me, his voice carrying the boldness unique to the mountain people, but for some reason, the sound seemed to have a forced joy, as if it were a disguise.
Suomulang’s eagle eyes dimmed, nodding to the Great King, then reprimanding Langyue: “Langyue, just focus on cooking your dish. How can you throw a tantrum with the Great King?”
“Okay, okay, I’ll do it right away!” Langyue, scolded by her father, knew further words were useless, so she stood up, placing the iron plate on the central fire pit and sprinkling a layer of oil.
