Extra 2...

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

With that said, everyone on the raft quieted down. They were holding their respective weapons and looking at the multi-storied buildings hanging from both sides of the valley cliffs. These simple wood and stone buildings had a commanding presence, which seemed very threatening to those of us on the river. As the sound of the melodious horn gradually died down, we knew that the news of our arrival into the valley was no longer a secret.

After entering this area, the current had slowed down and the river slowly started to widen. I found that the cliffs were covered in a kind of fibrous vine, which was coiled around the shrubs and rocks, and even followed along the cliff at an inverted angle (that is, the top of the cliff was more prominent than the bottom, just like eaves). From where they were hanging down, I could see that the thick ones resembled the branches of a banyan tree, while the thin ones resembled roots. They were all mixed together with other smaller parasitic plants.

This was what the ancient ethnic minorities used to use to make rattan armor, and it was also strong enough to be used to weave knotted ropes. I knew that the locals called it centipede vine.

I soon saw a rattan rope as thick as an arm strung mid-air across the cliff. For hundreds of years, it was the only bridge the locals had used to pass through the valley. This should be a big village, for I could saw three old vines set at different heights in the distance.

It took three months to weave a ten foot rattan rope, and every rope here was woven layer by layer for several years, and then soaked in butter and wrapped in drum skins. They were stronger than any chain.

Everyone’s eyes were constantly scanning both ends of the rattan rope, and even Poker-Face had opened his eyes. They were all skilled and knew that observing the environment at this time could save their lives.

I took this opportunity to look at my clothes and hands.

I had to find out whose memory this was.

I saw that my luggage was a single rattan suitcase, and there was a western style gun at my waist; it was a heavy flintlock, full of gunpowder and lead bullets. The suitcase was knee-high and should have everything I need.

When I saw my boots, I realized that I was a man.

Riding boots had been around for quite a long time, and the ones I was wearing were in a foreign style, with patches on them and puttees (1) to fasten the boots tightly. I told myself that maybe I was a foreigner. I raised my head and saw that the gaps between my fingers were black and soaked in some kind of grease, and there was an agate ring on my thumb. As I looked at the color of my hands, I was reassured that I was still a yellow man. The stuff on my hands should be related to some of my work, but I was somewhat disappointed to find that my finger length was normal.

When the raft crossed under the first rattan rope, the guy who had used the hook asked, “How many steps?”

“From when we first heard the horn, there are a total of 2,400 steps to the first rope bridge, which has 700 steps.” The white clothed intellectual said.

“How do you cross this rope bridge?”

“You hang from it and slide across. The vines are soaked in oil so the monkeys can’t stand on it.” The Yi teenager seemed to be very nervous and lowered his head. “This first line is called a hanging rope, which generally isn’t used. If there’s a war between tribes, or if someone in the tribe commits a felony, then their heads are hung on this line, and people can see them as they enter and exit the valley. If we fail, we’ll see you on this line.”

“That sounds unlucky. How about I come and burn this rope tonight.” A girl said from among the crowd. I looked around and saw a short-haired woman sitting at the stern in a Yi costume. The woman’s skin was a little dark, but her eyes were very seductive. She wasn’t young—probably around thirty-seven or thirty-eight—but she still had a youthful face. It wasn’t that she wasn’t good-looking, it was just a little strange to see a mature woman with a naive expression.

She wasn’t of Yi nationality, for her facial features were those of a typical Han Chinese. She must have just put this outfit on now. I noticed that her hands were very delicate, and she didn’t look like the kind of person who would do rough work.

“Damn bitch, the rope in my crotch is slippery, too. Why don’t you burn it for me tonight?” Hook guy burst out laughing. The woman didn’t care at all, but pointed her foot towards the knife box where Poker-Face was sitting: “Save your old withered vine for your mother to burn. I like it when it’s just sprouted.”

Poker-Face gave her a glance, but ultimately ignored her, and the white-clad intellectual started snickering. Then, I felt the woman’s hand grab my crotch from behind. “As long as it’s just budding, any will do. This aunt can wait. Little official, how come your crotch is cold? Don’t tell me you released with just a few words?” Just as she finished speaking, the woman let out a scream and jerked her hand back. “Snake!”

I felt something move in my crotch and climb all the way up my waist and into my sleeve. A blood-red snake crawled out and coiled in my hand, and when I spoke for the first time, I heard my own voice say: “Don’t touch me.”

<Extra 2.2> <Table of Contents><Extra 2.4>

******

TN Notes:

(1) A cloth wrap that’s spiralled around the ankle and performs the same purpose as a gaiter. Gaiter (also known as leggings by non-soldiers) are the canvas (or more rarely leather) wrap that forms one unbroken piece from ankle to approximately mid-calf. They strap over the boot and around the person’s leg to provide protection from branches and thorns and to prevent mud, snow, etc. from entering the top of the boot. They may also be worn as protection against snake bites.

******

My first reaction: Σ(°ロ°) Poker-face, chop this bitch’s hand off! Wu Xie’s chastity is at stake! Nice save by the way, red snake (although I’m questioning why you were in his crotch)

My second reaction: Oh wait, this actually isn’t Wu Xie’s body ┐(￣ヘ￣)┌

Third reaction: Wu Xie wanted to be a Zhang with long fingers so bad (￢‿￢ )

Like this:Like Loading...

Related