The next day at noon, the Centipede Woman walked out of New Land, looking utterly dispirited.
From midday yesterday, through dusk and the night, until dawn, the Centipede Woman had several times contemplated killing Ma Wu, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. This was the talent Feng Daiku had gifted Ma Wu.
Approaching the wild boar, the Centipede Woman quivered as she spoke, "Because I fell under his technique, things have turned out this way. You mustn’t tell anyone else about this."
The wild boar snorted with a laugh, "Whatever you have to say, tell it to your mother. I’ve already informed her."
The Centipede Woman’s complexion turned ashen as she asked, "What did my mother say?"
"She said you’ve totally disgraced her, and she’s going to kill you, you worthless bitch. You better prepare to die."
The Centipede Woman’s face was stricken with terror, "Why did you have to tell my mother? Can’t you keep your big mouth shut?"
The wild boar couldn’t be bothered to argue, "You’ve already come out of the plot. Now it’s my turn."
The Centipede Woman looked at the wild boar in amazement, "You dare to go in?"
"Why wouldn’t I dare? I am not a woman!" The wild boar let out a fierce laugh, glancing at Ma Wu. "He can barely stand as it is; killing him would be easier than killing a grasshopper!"
Ma Wu was indeed a bit weak, but there was no fear on his face. He was watching the wild boar.
Xiao Genzi carried a spoon and shouldered a bucket, prepared for a fierce battle.
The wild boar was about to step into the plot when he heard a furious roar from behind, "I want to see which beast has defiled my daughter!"
The angry roar echoed across the wilderness for a long while. Another Centipede emerged from the depths of the forest.
The wild boar hastily made way. This was someone he couldn’t afford to provoke.
The Centipede Woman was over three meters long. This huge Centipede, however, was more than five meters. Its upper half resembled a human and its lower half a worm-like body. It wriggled forward on rows of tiny legs, arriving at the edge of the plot.
This was the Centipede Woman’s mother.
Ma Wu looked at the Centipede Daughter’s face. It was well-proportioned and fair, quite pretty, and she appeared to be in her late twenties.
The Centipede Woman fell to the ground next to her mother, sobbing, "Mother, listen to me, it’s not what you think, it’s like this..."
"I don’t want to hear your bullshit!" The Centipede Daughter bellowed. The Centipede Woman was so terrified she could barely move.
"You’ve truly disgraced me!" The Centipede Daughter gnashed her teeth. "Go home and wait. After I’ve killed this Bird Person, I’ll come back and tear apart your worthless body!"
The Centipede Woman dared not utter another word. She turned and, on her many rows of legs, quickly scurried into the depths of the forest.
The Centipede Daughter glared at Ma Wu, "Little thief, are you ready to die?"
Ma Wu nodded calmly, "I am ready."
...
Li Banfeng was exploring New Land. He had only traveled between the Orange Orchard and Little Yellow River before, but this time he visited many new places and encountered many strange creatures.
He encountered the Emerald Serpent Vine, an organism that resembled both a snake and a vine but wasn’t very intelligent. As long as one stayed out of range of its roots, it wouldn’t attack.
There was a tiny grass, just over an inch tall, called Broken String Chrysanthemum. This plant posed a substantial threat, for stepping on it inadvertently would cause it to pierce through your shoe’s sole and come out the top.
Li Banfeng had never come across such anomalous creatures before. Fortunately, the Gourd was well-versed and could identify most creatures by name and describe their characteristics.
"Little brother, if you come across Broken String Chrysanthemum, make sure to dodge it. Step on one, and it’s like stepping on a whole string of them; there are plenty more up ahead waiting to ambush you."
Li Banfeng carefully noted the appearance of the Broken String Chrysanthemum. On this desolate plain, every step had to be taken with care.
After another three or five li, Li Banfeng suddenly heard a sound beneath his feet.
Thinking he had stepped on something he shouldn’t have, he lifted his foot to see nothing but desolation beneath, not even a blade of grass.
But there was definitely a sound: the sound of singing.
"I can’t forget, I can’t forget, I can’t forget your wrongs, or your kindness, nor the walks in the rain, nor the embraces in the wind..."
A rendition of "Endless Love" intensely conveyed a deep, enthralling affection, and even the Wine Gourd, being female, seemed touched by it.
"Little brother, you’ve come across the Winkle Flower."
"The Winkle Flower?"
"This flower is also known as the Songstress Flower. Legend has it that when a songstress passes, if there is still someone in the world who cherishes her songs, her soul will come to New Land. She’ll choose a stage for herself, dress in a beautiful evening gown, and continue to sing for passersby."
"Have a look, over there, that’s the flower."
Li Banfeng knew which flower the Gourd was referring to without any need for further description. The flower stood out too much, just by where it was growing.
It was twenty meters away from Li Banfeng in the wilderness, with no other grass or trees nearby. In an empty plain stood the solitary flower, over three feet tall.
Its color was even more eye-catching. Before blooming, the flower bud, as big as a small arm, had deep red petals adorned with dewdrops.
The flower itself was quite peculiar. Its upper leaves wrapped around the bud, while a string of leaves below spread out like a skirt, draping all the way to the ground.
"Little brother, listen closely to her song. Pay attention. Encountering a Songstress Flower in New Land is your good fortune. Listen to how beautifully she sings. Even immortals from the Heavens couldn’t do better."
After listening for a short while, Li Banfeng began to walk away.
Seeing Li Banfeng about to leave, the Wine Gourd quickly interjected, "Little brother, don’t rush off. Just listen a little more closely!"
"Nothing worth listening to, it’s far inferior to my wife’s singing!"
"Little brother, look, the flower is blooming. The Songstress Flower is blooming!"
Li Banfeng turned around to see the petals of the Songstress Flower unfolding one by one.