Boss Xiong and Madam Xiong sat in their bedroom and said nothing to each other. Boss Xiong's face was a little worried.
Madam Xiong, "Why are you so worries?" She spoke first. "I told you to send people to look for her, but you refused. Now, what are you going to do?" She slammed down her cup of tea onto the table. "Xiong A-Fong... I am telling you right now, I will not allow my daughter to go."
Boss Xiong frowned, "We don't have a choice."
Madam Xiong said angrily, "I don't care. My daughter will not be sacrificed. It has been for several years, that monster...why now...you tell me that the last person to be sacrificed was thirty years ago."
Boss Xiong, "The dragon monster is awake. Did you hear the screams two nights ago? The loud screams could be heard from miles. The town leaders decided to sacrifice two people and our family and the Mui's family were selected."
Madam Xiong, "Then since Ping'an is not here, tell your mother to go or you go. I am not sacrificing my daughter or myself. This is the end of this conversation." She stood walked out of the door.
Boss Xiong, "Tell the chef to cook a good breakfast. Have someone bring my mother to the table and call Lifeng. We are going to have a family breakfast this morning."
It was late morning, when Xiong Grandma, Boss and madam Xiong, and Xiong Lifeng sat at the table.
Boss Xiong said, "Mother, this will be our last meal together."
Xiong Grandma, "Why do you said that?"
Boss Xiong looked at Xiong Lifeng, "Lifeng, you will take care of your grandma from now on. I don't think the devil's child will come back. I think she is dead."
Xiong Grandma was confused so she asked, "A-Fong why do you said that?"
Madam Xiong madly said, "Because our last name was chosen for the human sacrifice. As the head of the family, he will have to sacrifice himself."
Xiong Grandma uttered, "A-Fong... I will go."
Boss Xiong shook his head, "Mother. No."
Xiong Grandma insisted, "I am old. I am blind. I don't want to be a burden for anyone anymore. Promise me that if Ping'an do come back, you will treat her better. Don't call her devil child. No matter what, she is still your daughter."
Boss Xiong, "Mother... I will not let you go."
Xiong Grandma, "I decided to go."
Then, a servant rushed inside and interrupted the family meal.
Servant, "Boss Xiong, the town council members and the priest are waiting outside now."
Xiong Grandma, "Help me out." She reached out her hands. Boss Xiong held her right hand and they walked out of the Inn to meet the town council members and the priest.
Gou Baiyu, Zhao Renshu, and Ping'an stood on Sunset street, looking towards Sunrise Inn, watching the crowd gathered on the street.
Ping'an turned to Zhao Renshu and Guo Baiyu, "You two can go this way." She pointed toward Sunrise Inn. "It will bring you to the front of Sunrise Inn. If you want, you two can order some food and reserve a room. I have to go see my grandmother."
Zhao Renshu grabbed Ping'an's hand, "What if you run off? How am I going to catch you?" He flirted with her with his eyes.
Guo Baiyu, "She lives here." He walked forward five steps, and then stopped.
Zhao Renshu, "This is your inn?"
Ping'an, "No, it belongs to my father."
Zhao Renshu, "So, that's why you know so much about this inn. Then... Let me guess, you must be the beauty who lives there?" He teased her with a smile.
Ping'an smiled and shook her head at Zhao Renshu, "The beauty who lives here is my younger sept-sister."
Zhao Renshu turned to Gou Baiyu, "This beauty... is she really that beautiful? Have you met her before?"
Guo Baiyu turned around, "Go see for yourself."
Zhao Renshu shrugged his shoulders and let go of Ping'an's hand, "I think she is so-so then."
Ping'an, "Why did you come to this conclusion?"
Zhao Renshu, "Because, if this young master." He pointed to Guo Baiyu. "Fall for you instead, then the beauty at the Inn is so-so." He laughed.
Guo Baiyu frowned, "Ridiculous. Behave yourself."
Zhao Renshu jokingly apologized, "Okay...Okay... I won't make you lose face. Today, I will act obediently." He smiled at Gou Baiyu and raised both his eyebrows.
Ping'an smiled, "I noticed that you two have been very close lately."
Guo Baiyu replied, "We decided to end the mind war."
Zhao Renshu nodded in agreement.
Ping'an, "Good. Having a friend is better than having an enemy. I have to go. I am worried about my grandmother." Ping'an quickly took off towards the back of the Inn.
Zhao Renshu called after her, "Remember to meet us later." He waved at Ping'an. After he put his hand down, he noticed many people staring at him.
The people whispered to each other.
Man one, "The world will end or what? Look at this. A homeless man is standing next to a handsome high-class childe." He shook his head disappointedly.
Zhao Renshu pointed to himself, "Me? Homeless?" He looked at Gou Baiyu with a nervous smile.
Man two, "What's worse is that they are with her." He also shook his head
A middle-aged lady gasped and said, "No wonder... the monster is awakened. These are all signs of bad omen. Will our town be destroyed by the awakened dragon?" She hugged the baby tightly. In the arms.
Man one turned to Gou Baiyu and Zhao Renshu, "By the way, why are you two with her?"
Zhao Renshu was confused, "Ping'an?"
Guo Baiyu was still expressionless, "What's wrong with that?"
One person explained: "She is the child of the devil."
Guo Baiyu was upset, "Who determined that?"
The person continued, "She was born with two marks on her palms. The local priest states that only reincarnated demon have marks. These marking represented all punished they received in hell."
Zhao Renshu looked at the man and shook his head in disbelief. He saw a mole on the man's upper left forehead eyebrow.
Zhao Renshu turned facing the people with a serious facial expression, "If I say, your mole there." He pointed at the man. "Each time you concentrate on someone, you will bring them bad luck."
The gathered people gaps and backing away from the man.
Man, "Hey, don't try to change the topic."
Zhao Renshu stretched out his hands and shrugged his shoulders, "I haven't change the topic. I just compare the situation."
Guo Baiyu shown no expression, "I don't believe those nonsense."
Man one, "Did everyone hear the dragon screaming two days ago?"
Third man, "I heard this is a two-headed dragon."
Zhao Renshu shook his head and watched the gathered people chatting nonsense.
Zhao Renshu murmured to himself, "Two-headed dragon, my ass...."
Guo Baiyu turned to Zhao Renshu, "Mind your words."
Guo Baiyu shook his head, and then walked towards the inn. Zhao Renshu quickly followed him.
Ping'an rushed through the back door into the bedroom. Usually, Xiong Grandma would wait for her in the bedroom, or she would sit in a chair outside the bedroom, but Xiong Grandma is not in either place today. She walked towards the kitchen, and old Lu walked towards her with a sad face.
Ping'an panicked, "Mr. Lu, where is my grandmother?"
Old Lu, "She left with Boss Xiong."
Ping'an, "Where?"
Old Lu said sadly, "Two days ago, everyone heard the scream of the dragon. The townspeople were worried that the dragon would be awakened and would kill everyone. The town leaders decided to make a human sacrifice."
Ping'an, "Then?"
Old Lu, "The Xiong and Mui were selected."
Ping'an's heart sank, "So, they decided to sacrifice grandmother?"
Old Lu, "It should be you. You were selected a long time ago."
Ping'an smiled, "Thank you Mr. Lu. Thank you, for all those years that you care for me. Thank you, for always saved food me." She hugged him. "I will never forget you. Goodbye Mr. Lu." She smiled at him and ran out the backdoor.
The waiter seated Guo Baiyu and Zhao Renshu next to the front entrance, which was two tables away from the register desk. Guo Baiyu ordered the food, and he poured tea for Zhao Renshu and himself. Xiong Lifeng noticed Guo Baiyu. She walked to the table.
Xiong Lifeng, "Childe Gou." She smiled at Gou Baiyu. "Childe Guo Longtong is looking for you. He told me that you have not been home for two days ,and he is very worried. These past two days, the four childes were looking for you."
Guo Baiyu, "I was in a rush. I forgot to tell him before leaving the residents."
The waiter brought them their food. The two men began to eat.
Xiong Lifeng, "He is?" She looked at Zhao Renshu.
Guo Baiyu, "This is a friend. Are there any more available room?"
Xiong Lifeng, "There is only one room left. Soon, it will be the annual Lantern Festival. We are fully booked."
Zhao Renshu smiled and flirted with Xiong Lifeng, "Then We will take that room."
Xiong Lifeng was embarrassed, "I will check again if there is more free room."
Guo Baiyu, "It's fine, we will share one room." He sipped his tea.
Xiong Lifeng, "Alright, if there is any open room, I will let you know."
Zhao Renshu smiled and stared at Xiong Lifeng, "By the way, are you the beauty who lives in this inn?"
Xiong Lifeng was embarrassed, her cheeks flushed, "That's just a title given to me by this small town people."
Zhao Renshu, "I'm sorry. I am a very straightforward person." He stared at her, still flirting. This makes Xiong Lifeng even more embarrassed.
Guo Baiyu looked at Zhao Renshu. Zhao Renshu noticed Gou Baiyu's "mind your own business" eyes contact.
Zhao Renshu, "What?" He looked at Guo Baiyu. "Everyone was talking about her. I need to check her out. There is nothing wrong with me staring at the beauty. By now, she should already be used to it. Am I right?" He smiled and turned to Xiong Lifeng.
Guo Baiyu sipped his tea and put down the cup, "I believe you are the only person who say this in front of her."
Zhao Renshu, "I don't like talking about other people behind their back." He laughed.
Old Lu walked to the main dining room and put another dish on the table.
Old Lu said, "Miss Xiong, Ping'an is back."
The two men looked up at Old Lu.
Xiong Lifeng, "Where is she now?"
Old Lu, "I told her about... She ran away."
Zhao Renshu stood up with a loud voice, "What? She ran away? Where did she go? I thought we had reached an agreement!" He grabbed Old Lu's robe. "Where is she?"
Xiong Lifeng, "Do you know her?"
Guo Baiyu also stood up too.
Old Lu, "She is at the holy sacrifice ground."
Zhao Renshu was very angry, "What is so holy about a sacrifice ground? Are you people stupid or refuse to accept reality. What is a two-headed dragon? This is all nonsense."
Guo Baiyu looked at Zhao Renshu, "Renshu, you promise."
Zhao Renshu grimed, "Did I say something wrong?" He raised his voice and people in the Inn began to look at him. "You should consider renaming your town. I got one good one for you, what about "Dumb Town" Or "Brainless Town". Now..." Where is this holy place?" His eyes were lit with anger.
Xiong Lifeng was shocked by Zhao Renshu's action. As far as she remembered, no one showed concern for Ping'an. She felt a little jealous when she saw that both men cared about Ping'an very much.
Since Guo Baiyu knew Zhao Renshu, Guo Baiyu had not seen him so angry. Even when they faced the demon snake and the two-headed octopus, he would laugh. Now, his emotions made him lose control.
Guo Baiyu, "Please take us to the holy ground." He garbed Zhao Renshu's left hand that held Old Lu's shirt. "You promise me. Let go... Let go of his shirt."
Zhao Renshu breathed slowly and let go of Old Lu's shirt.
Xiong Lifeng, "I'll take you."
Zhao Renshu, Guo Baiyu and Xiong Lifeng ran towards the crowded street.
From on top of the road Ping'an saw her Grandma holding her walking-stick walking towards the forbidden forest. She ran down the hill but her grandma was already half way towards the forbidden forest.
Ping'an called out, "Grandma..!" Xiong Grandma didn't look back, she kept walking.
Boss Xiong was furious, "You devil... Why are you here now?" He slapped Ping'an's left face. "You are always bad luck." He pointed his finger at her head. "Do you know how much I hate you?"
Madam Xiong looked satisfied.
Ping'an looked hurtfully at her father with tears in her eyes. She said, "I knew long ago how much you hate me. You keep reminding it everyday. I don't understand, what I ever do wrong to you, that would make you hate me so much, blame me for all the misfortunes that happened to you ." These are words that she has held inside her heart for many years. Today is the day to release all of her anger she held for so long. There might not be another opportunity to expression her feeling to her father. "In my life, no matter how much you abuse me, I have never complained because I always regard you as my father. I knew you didn't love me a long time ago, because I was dust in your eyes, no matter how many I tried It's..." She wiped her tears and looked directly at Boss Xiong. "They said that even the fiercest tiger would never eat its own cubs, but the truth is just the opposite." There are no more tears to cry, "Today, I can proudly say...I hate you too ."
She turned around and saw the Mui family members crying and refusing to let go of their daughter's hands. Madam Mui must had cried more than any family member because she can't hardly speak. Lady Mui's two brothers also cried. Ping'an walked to the Mui family.
Ping'an smiled and said, "Let me replace you. Give me your silver bell."
Lady Mui, "Why? My family was selected." Tears flowed from her eyes.
Ping'an, "Look at how sad your family is." She looked at Boss Xiong. "My family don't care whether I live or die. Your family, they love you very much. You should be with them. You should be happy."
Lady Mui handed her silver bell to Ping'an.
Madam Mui, "Thank you for saving my daughter's life. I promise that as long as I am still alive, I will burn money for you every year."
Ping'an smiled, she tied the ceremony silver bell onto her belt and ran after Xiong Grandma. She reached out and held Xiong Grandma's hand.
Ping'an, "Grandmother, let's go."
Xiong Grandma, "Ping'an?"
Ping'an, "Yes."
Xiong Grandma, "Why?"
Ping'an, "I want to be with the only person who has always love me."
Xiong Grandma, "My silly girl..."
Xiong Grandma wrapped her left arm around Ping'an's right arm. The old lady and the young lady walked side by side to the forbidden forest and then they plunged into thick fog.
Guo Baiyu, Zhao Renshu, and Xiong Lifeng got to the top of the hill. They saw the people starting to leave. The three of them walked down the hill and Xiong Lifeng spotted her parents.
Xiong Lifeng pointed, "Over there."
The three went to Boss and madam Xiong.
Zhao Renshu asked frantically, "Ping'an? Where is Ping'an?"
Not far from them, Guo Longtong and his friends saw Guo Baiyu. They went to Guo Baiyu.
Guo Longtong shouted loudly at Guo Baiyu, "Baiyu! Baiyu!"
Guo Baiyu, "Where is she?"
Lady Mui, "Childe Gou, she sacrificed herself for me."
Boss Xiong, "If she comes earlier, my mother will not be sacrificed. Ungrateful thing."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Renshu was at his angriest moment. He clenched his fists tightly. He raised his hand and was about to throw his fist at Boss Xiong, but Guo Baiyu had already let go of his fist. Guo Baiyu's fist hit Boss Xiong's left face and knocked Boss Xiong to the ground with a bleeding nose. Guo Baiyu punch surprise Zhao Renshu.
Zhao Renshu, "Wow... I didn't expect that from you."
Guo Baiyu, "I held it for a while."
Guo Longtong, "Baiyu..."
Zhao Renshu, "I think that person is calling you." He pointed to Guo Longtong.
Guo Longtong and his three friends ran towards Guo Baiyu and Zhao Renshu.
Gou Longtong, "We have been searching for you for two days. I heard Lady Xiong said you drove the rapist out and no one see you since. I am worried. My father was very angry at me for not taking care of you."
Guo Baiyu, "I am fine. Sorry for not telling you."
Guo Longtong, "I shouldn't have gone to that useless meeting." He blamed himself.
Guo Baiyu, "I am fine. I am leaving with him." He looked at Zhao Renshu.
Guo Longtong, "Where are you going?"
Guo Baiyu pointed at the forbidden forest, "There."
Lee Dachin, "Childe Guo, you can't go in there?" The other four friends agree with a node.
Guo Baiyu, "Why not?"
Lee Dachin, "Because no one ever come back once they entered."
Zhao Renshu smirked with a smile, "Then we will be the first."
Guo Baiyu, "I am leaving with him. Don't try to stop me."
Zhao Renshu and Guo Baiyu looked at each other, and both ran towards the Forbidden Forest, plunged into the mist. Their action left the town people speechless.