Translator-Rhapsodite
Editor-Yui, Proofreader-Woojoo
Shao Mingzhe’s eyes flickered with a hint of change and he coldly said, “Wait a moment,” before turning to leave.
Without any intention of seeking help from the others.
The tour guide called out to him from behind, “Hey, are you still going to watch?”
Shao Mingzhe turned back and replied, “Yes.”
For them, deviating from the plot meant certain death.
Impatiently, the tour guide reminded them, “It’s at 7 o’clock. No one will be allowed in after 7!”
Shao Mingzhe quickly glanced at a sparsely crowded bakery not far away.
There was a clock hanging at the entrance.
… He still had 15 minutes.
He didn’t linger and immediately immersed himself in the grayish-yellow mist of the evening rain.
Meanwhile, Li Yinhang began planning to put herself in the warehouse.
——Saving money and getting things done, starts with me.
Just as she was about to pull Nan Zhou away to find a secluded place to do their business, the tour guide asked them coldly, “Are you not going to play anymore?”
Li Yinhang wanted to explain, “No, we…”
But Jiang Fang cut her off, saying, “It’s okay, we should still have enough money, right?”
Li Yinhang glared at him angrily.
What could she do that’s worth 200 Thai baht?
Money might not be an issue today, but what about tomorrow?
The young couple was very adaptable. When they heard Jiang Fang say, “We should still have enough money,” they exchanged a glance and immediately hopped on the “Cube Boat.”
Cao Shuguang, with his cheerful and straightforward personality, didn’t beat around the bush and said, “Buddy, can you do me a favor?”
It seemed like they were worried about not being able to borrow money, so Ma Xiaopei confidently raised four fingers and said, “We’ll borrow 400, and tomorrow we’ll repay 800 with interest.”
Once their wallets were refreshed, they’ll have money.
If worse comes to worst, they could just stay in the hotel tomorrow and eat instant noodles.
Jiang Fang didn’t mind and pointed to Li Yinhang, saying with a smile, “The money is in the hands of our little treasurer.”
In this way, Li Yinhang’s ticket money could be offset by the newly earned interest for tomorrow.
Her heartache was somewhat alleviated.
While Li Yinhang obediently paid the money, she secretly observed Jiang Fang.
Based on common sense, these additional charges for tourist activities were completely unexpected yet anticipated.
Li Yinhang suspected that Jiang Fang had already guessed this, choosing not to remind the inexperienced young couple deliberately, allowing them to slowly spend all their money while openly facilitating this lending business.
The five of them handed over 1000 Thai baht, and the tour guide led them inside first.
The tent was made of thick gray canvas. When they lifted the outer curtain, what greeted them was not the warmth accumulated inside a canned tent.
A chilling sensation rose abruptly, and a snake-like cold wind with thin scales rubbed against their ankles, climbing up.
Li Yinhang shivered with cold.
The good mood they had just enjoyed along the way instantly vanished.
… She finally had a real sense of stepping into a mysterious abyss.
Nan Zhou, on the other hand, showed no change in expression and looked around.
The tent was approximately the size of a small classroom, accommodating about thirty people. Besides them, there were seven or eight tourists from other groups waiting inside.
There were no lights inside the tent, and the only source of light and mystery came from the candles placed every five steps.
Normally, it would be very dangerous to have an open flame inside a tent, but upon closer observation, this seemingly absurd setup actually made sense.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Ktf mjcvifr fwlafv j ktlaf iluta vfrqlaf atflg gfv mbibg, jcv fjmt mjcvif kjr lcaglmjafis fcugjnfv klat mbwqifz rswybir.
Qtja kjr ragjcuf kjr atja fnfc jr atf tba jcv tewlv klcv jcv gjlc ogbw bearlvf qbegfv lcab atf afca eqbc atflg fcags, atf oijwfr bo atf mjcvifr gfwjlcfv eqgluta, ecjoofmafv ys atf klcv.
In front, there was a square preaching platform, probably a makeshift structure made of wooden frames.
On top, there was an unnamed deity.
The statue had a golden complexion, six arms, and three legs. It had a bird-like beak and a crane-like face, seated cross-legged with bent feet. Its face was adorned with intricate patterns of gold, red, and green, resembling the vibrant colors of heavy makeup.
On its six arms, there were faintly depicted needles, snakes, medicine, flowers, insects, and tailsman.
In front of the statue, there were four golden plates bearing dead snakes, dried scorpions, centipedes, and a bundle of thatch with a strange fragrance.
Underneath the preaching platform, everything was covered with a layer of clean white cloth. In the glow of the candlelight, it created a somber atmosphere with touches of red and white.
If tourists who didn’t know the specific function of the tent were to accidentally enter there, they might think they stumbled upon a funeral.
Beneath the statue and the offering platform, there were cushions for tourists to rest.
There were seven rows with three cushions each, tightly packed from under the platform all the way to the entrance of the tent.
Next to the tent, there was a small white oak board with several notices written in Chinese, English, and Thai.
“Do not bare your chest or back.”
“Do not make noise.”
“Do not walk around casually.”
“Do not touch the statue.”
“Do not carry Buddha amulets.”
However, these curious NPC tourists eagerly awaiting the ceremony showed no reverence for such warnings.
The solemn atmosphere inside the tent was perceived as being mysterious for no reason.
Despite the 200 Thai baht, they were willing to be seen as fools, cheerfully watching a foreign monkey show.
But that didn’t stop them from playing with their phones.
As a result, the tent was lit up with artificial fluorescent lights.
Under the solemn and intimidating gaze of the unnamed deity, the people below were each doing their own thing, not paying much attention to Him.
Some tourists left their cushions, bend over to look at the wind-resistant candles, and pucker their lips to blow at them, quietly commenting that it must be magic.
As for Jiang Fang and Nan Zhou, they still decided to be a bit more honest.
After handing over the Buddha amulets as instructed, the young couple sat in the back row.
In their own words, just in case something happens, at least they could run.
Nan Zhou and Jiang Fang, on the other hand, clearly had no intention of running.
Because they went straight to the front row.
Just as they took their seats, Li Yinhang whispered to Jiang Fang, asking if he had known all along that they would have to pay for the ritual and intentionally didn’t remind them, wanting to profit from them.
Upon hearing this accusation, Jiang Fang blinked his light-colored eyes and rested his chin on Nan Zhou’s shoulder, saying, “I’m innocent,” with a hint of playfulness.
Nan Zhou, who rarely smiled, simply shifted his gaze from the candle burning straight beside them and looked down at Jiang Fang.
Nan Zhou asked in a teasing tone, “Are you trying to make me kiss you like this?”
Jiang Fang’s expression slightly froze, seeming like he wanted to run away.
Nan Zhou took the initiative and leaned in, lightly brushing his lips against his cheek, not giving him the chance to escape.
Jiang Fang was kissed by him, and his heart fluttered a bit, causing the corners of his mouth to curl up. “Teacher Nan, can we discuss it next time?” He said, wanting to give him at least some time to react.
“Why is it that you can touch me freely, but I need to discuss it before I kiss you?”
Nan Zhou confidently replied, “When you come close, I just want to kiss you.”
Though Nan Zhou didn’t show it on his face, he was quite naive when it came to emotions and didn’t fully understand what was right or wrong. However, he was well aware of his friend’s personality.
Jiang Fang needed to have absolute control in their relationship, deciding when to advance and when to retreat, firmly holding the reins in his own hands.
Once he loses control, he becomes at a loss and wants to avoid it.
That was a bad habit that needed to be corrected.
Nan Zhou just wanted to disrupt his rhythm.
He believed that friends should have the privilege to do whatever they want.
Li Yinhang: “…”
She looked at the Six-Armed God, who was only a stone’s throw away from them and sighed.
“What does it mean to blaspheme in person?”
At that moment, Shao Mingzhe happened to come back.
He walked straight to the front row, slightly out of breath.
In the light, he saw Nan Zhou and Jiang Fang talking intimately, and before he could catch his breath, he choked on his own saliva and coughed softly, covering his mouth.
Li Yinhang, as an outsider, had already become self-aware and even paid attention to Shao Mingzhe’s arrival time at the tent.
6:59.
Fortunately, he wasn’t late.
Seeing that Shao Mingzhe, who originally planned to sit in the second row, was standing behind them, unsure whether to stand or sit, Li Yinhang showed a bit of kindness and turned around to remind him, “Hurry up and take a seat, we’re about to…”
Her gaze lingered on his palm.
There, he was holding a wallet, stained with blood.
Clearly, it couldn’t belong to Shao Mingzhe.
Li Yinhang’s kindness had its limits, and she chose not to engage with him any further, casually turning her head as if nothing had happened.
His mouth moved under the mask as if he wanted to explain, but he decided to remain silent.
“In Thailand, 7 is an unlucky number, representing boundless suffering. And when it comes to black magic, it’s all about gathering negative energy.”
Jiang Fang softly explained to Nan Zhou why the cushions were arranged in seven rows, while Nan Zhou held onto the coordinates of the cushion beneath him and continued to gaze at the candle beside him.
Just then, the clock outside the tent struck seven.
A hooded sorcerer, dressed in a solemn linen robe, ghostly floated in.
Right on time.
He was quite short, about four feet and a little bit.
If it weren’t for Nan Zhou seeing the wrinkles and veins on his drooping hands as he passed by, he could easily be mistaken for a malnourished little monkey wrapped in linen.
Inside the tent, it was quiet.
Those tourists weren’t clueless either. Since the main act had arrived, they all returned to their seats, ready to enjoy this 200 baht-worth performance with a relaxed mindset.
In the right corner of the tentt, there was a cluster of lush grass. When the wind blew, it created a subtle brushing sound against the canvas.
The rain was drizzling on the tent. Because of the layer of canvas, the sound was not very distinct, as if it was enveloped in a thin membrane on the surface of one’s mind.
Amidst this rain sound, the emcee introduced the name and identity of the sorcerer in a mixture of Thai and English.
The emaciated sorcerer curled up inside his robe, bowing his head, quietly listening to the introduction.
Nan Zhou whispered to Jiang Fang, “I don’t understand.”
Jiang Fang replied, “They don’t want you to understand.”
They aim for this sense of mystery.
If you really wanted to find a Chinese translator, the sense of mystery would be greatly compromised if the translation was either too clumsy or too lively.
After being glared at by the emcee, the two people whispering in the front row quieted down, resembling students caught by a teacher.
After a lengthy introduction, the sorcerer took a step forward, and the silver bells tied around his ankles tinkled.
He picked up a bowl of water and muttered some words, then used his thin fingertips to touch the center of the guests’ foreheads one by one.
The emcee explained the purpose of the water, and even Li Yinhang heard the word “peace,” which represented safety.
The general purpose was to protect everyone present from any effects of this sorcery ritual.
After the chants of safety were given, the sorcerer’s performance officially began.
He had the emcee take out a dozen eggs and asked Nan Zhou to pick one at random.
The eggs were all the same size, just regular eggs.
After carefully weighing each one, Nan Zhou chose one. The sorcerer instructed him to hold it in his palm while he drew a long symbol resembling a pine tree on the egg with ash. Then, with his shriveled lips opening and closing rapidly, he quickly uttered incomprehensible words.
Nan Zhou stared intently at the sorcerer’s lips as they moved, his expression serious.
The sorcerer had never seen a guest observe the sorcery ritual so closely before, and he instinctively became more focused, reciting the runes clearly, accurately, and swiftly.
Li Yinhang felt her body gradually getting colder.
…As the spell was cast, it felt like something had entered the tent.
A strange and eerie presence was creeping closer.
Nan Zhou raised an eyebrow.
He felt the weight of the egg in his palm increase.
This was not his imagination.
After the sorcerer finished reciting, the emcee brought out a basin of clear water and gestured for Nan Zhou to place the egg in it.
Surprisingly, the raw egg sank to the bottom just like a cooked egg, swaying gently.
The emcee was very pleased to see the confusion in Nan Zhou’s eyes.
In the cold, white candlelight, he scooped up the egg, tapped it on the edge of the basin, and skillfully mixed the egg in the water as if cooking.
But when the eggshell cracked, it wasn’t just egg yolk that flowed out.
Inside, there was a shiny object, shimmering in the candlelight and water.
As soon as Li Yinhang saw what it was, her scalp immediately tingled.
…Mixed with the egg yolk, floating on the water’s surface, were countless needles.
At least hundreds of needles appeared inexplicably inside the raw egg.
She imagined what it would be like if these needles suddenly appeared in her own head without her noticing.
The emcee awkwardly pronounced the scientific name of this sorcery in Chinese: “This is called ‘acupuncture’.”
He held the copper basin and showcased this eerie miracle to the other spectators one by one.
Wherever they went, it caused a wave of hushed and amazed cheers.
Of course, some people doubted, thinking that Nan Zhou and the sorcerer were in cahoots, conspiring to deceive them.
But before the doubts could spread, they heard the accomplice speak up.
“Sorry, I didn’t see it clearly,” Nan Zhou said. “Can we do it again?”
The emcee understood Chinese, but he had no intention of paying attention to Nan Zhou.
Why should they listen to a guest?
They performed it a second time, and the mystery and impact were undoubtedly diminished.
He ignored it completely, rolling his eyes in the darkness, and walked back to the sorcerer’s side, intending to throw away the used eggshells.
Nan Zhou didn’t continue to dig deeper either. He just sat in the eerie darkness, silently moving his lips, quietly writing or drawing on his own thigh.
The emcee approached the tray for trash, instinctively planning to crush the two halves of the eggshells before tossing them.
He closed his palm.
When the eggshell made a cracking sound, he almost let out a painful scream.
He covered his hand, gritting his teeth in the darkness.
If he hadn’t been afraid of losing his composure and startling the spirits, he would have probably cursed out loud.
——When did a needle get left inside the eggshell?
Hello guys, this is your translator! Shocking isn’t it that I am writing a T/N. I am a person with few words regardless online or offline but with recent health issues ( the main reason why I am not able to maintain the schedule I have already posted about it few times in the group’s discord channel so I am not going into details here)I speak even less now… my family and friends are trying and bringing up the most randomness stuffs to converse about with me just to make me talk. Its sad cute and funny at the same time haha but yeah… So I just want to let you all know that even though I don’t reply to your comments just know I read each and everyone of them and believe me they gave me motivation to get up from my bed and get to translating these phenomenal novels. So please keep commenting! I love how hilarious you all are with your creative comments they always make me laugh and make my day a little better. I look forward to reading you guys thoughts in the comment section just like every one you guys wait to read the next chapter of the novel.
On to the more serious issue, it’s a request please please support the author if you can. They are the sole reason why we can read these outstanding novel here is the link to the original. Without these amazing Chinese BL authors some of our lives would have been bland and bleak so support them!
Also if possible (no pressure) do support me by buying me Ko-fi if you can…not gonna lie if it was possible I would have made you all send me sour patches (they are not always available in my country T_T) but yeah…here is the link to my Ko-Fi…see you all next time.
And do spare a prayer for me to get fully healed soon! I love you guys and thanks for bearing with my sporadic updates and not giving up. Bu-bye!
thank you for the translation and i hope you get well soon 😊 🫶🏽