Chapter 3 - The Woman Without Eyes

Editor: mako

Proofreader: kllua

The corners of Huo ZhenYe’s mouth held laughter. “Are you not going to go on?”

At this point, Bai Zhun’s patience was already depleted, so he just turned away and left. As long as that wisp of smoke was still there, Wang QiuFang would definitely come again tonight, and it would do good for this troublemaker to suffer a little.

Although Bai Zhun left, the envelope was still on the table. Huo ZhenYe opened it and found a set of leg shackles and a wooden cangue 1 “木枷” here probably refers to the cangue, a device that was used for public humiliation and corporal punishment in East Asia and some other parts of Southeast Asia until the early years of the twentieth century. It was also occasionally used for or during torture. that had been cut from paper. It was similar to the one used for stage performances, and Bai Zhun’s fine craftsmanship could be discerned.

He smoothly stuffed it in his pocket and ordered, “Go and find out who this man is and where he is heading to.”

Around him were three to five policemen. From the section chief to the policemen, the Huo family had made considerable “donations” 2 Here, the Chinese term used was “打点” which means to give people money/”bribes” to mediate between 2 parties/make things easier. , granting them great benefits. This caused the surrounding policemen to be inclined to listen to his order and follow Bai Zhun out. It was not long before they soon came back.

“The man did not leave and booked a room to stay here. He also asked for a lot of delicacies to be sent to his room.”

“Switch my room to the one next to him.” Huo ZhenYe did not feel surprised as he walked up the stairs. Whoever it was that wanted to bring him harm would definitely expose themselves, and he wanted to see what moves this man was going to make.

Meanwhile, unable to leave at this point in time, Bai Zhuo had asked for a riverside suite and ordered all the famous dishes from Astor House.

As Huo ZhenYe stood at Bai Zhun’s room door, he watched as the servers went in and out. The round table beside the window was filled with all kinds of cakes and western desserts. Raising an eyebrow, he thought that this man really knew how to enjoy himself.

He opened the door beside the other man’s room and said to Chen San, who was following him, “I will be in my room and will not be going anywhere else, so you all should go rest. The food and drinks you order can be placed on my bill.”

Chen San laughed until his eyes disappeared, and one could only see his teeth. “Seventh Young Master should just rest. Such grievances will only last a few days, as everything is almost resolved.”

Even though the policemen were unable to obtain a testimony from Huo ZhenYe, they had other ways to make Big Liu confess his guilt. After all, even if Big Liu had a high endurance, he would find it impossible to withstand the iron whip.

If this case had not been spread by the reporters and caused an uproar in Shanghai, there would have been no need for such trouble, and the case would have been resolved quietly.

Huo ZhenYe’s senses turned cold at those words. He closed the door, turned around, and examined the room carefully.

The sheets and quilts were new while the windows were open, allowing one to hear the sounds of ships from the pier in the distance. Regardless of who it was that had drugged him to make him hallucinate, the effects should have already subsided.

However, why could he still smell the scent of blood?

Today, he had been extremely careful with his food and ate with the policemen. Besides only touching the dishes they had touched, he did not drink the tea and coffee served by the servers too.

Huo ZhenYe touched the envelope in his suit, pulled a chair out, and sat by the window. Only breathing in the fresh air without eating or drinking, the other person would have no chance to drug him.

Meanwhile, compared to Huo ZhenYe, Bai Zhun was much more comfortable. He had ordered himself a table of dishes, and tasted everything.

Despite the fact that the dishes were not as good as the ones from TianXiang Building or the CuiHua Building, their western dishes were not bad. Using his hand to support the porcelain dish, he scraped the cream off the cake and ate it in one mouthful.

At this time, sitting opposite him was Ah Xiu. She did not have to eat, but she mimicked Bai Zhun’s actions of holding a small plate and sending it to her mouth with a silver fork. She even learned to sit in a recline, revealing a pale leg from the slit of her cheongsam.

That was how the women in the cafe had sat just now.

Ah Xiu had only come into existence for a year and, by human standards, could be considered to be only one year old. Despite her human form, she possessed the mind of a child, and Bai Zhun found it interesting to see her learning things like people.

When Ah Xiu had played around enough, Bai Zhun took out a yellow talisman from his sleeve and handed it to her. “Stick this to the door.”

Since Wang QiuFang knew of his existence, she would not dare go to Huo ZhenYe again. So, Bai Zhun will hide his whereabouts. When she came, he would then catch her and send her to the place where she should have gone.

At midnight, the western clock in the suite rang with a “ kuang kuang ” sound, and Huo ZhenYe abruptly opened his eyes. He shook his head to wake himself up. How could he have fallen asleep?

The window in his room was still open, and the night breeze over HuangPu River was blowing in, bringing along the smell of water. When Huo ZhenYe saw the white gauze curtain fluttering and blowing in the wind, he walked to the window, planning to close it.

At this time, there came the faint sound of dance music from the window, shaking Huo ZhenYe out of his drowsiness.

On the night of Jin DanGui’s death, there was also the sound of dance music. However, after her death, almost half of the guests left Astor House, and the dance hall downstairs was temporarily closed, so there should not have been sounds of music.

This was a dream again.

Even though Huo ZhenYe realized this, he could not wake up. Hearing a squeaking sound in the suite, he then walked further into the room.

Inside, there were no light sources except the faint moonlight, which allowed him to make out the shape of the four-poster bed. With low drapes, there were also the figures of two people entangled together.

He had dreamt of this scene last night too.

As Huo ZhenYan leaned against the door frame, he placed a hand in his suit pocket and took out a silver cigarette case. From it, he picked a cigarette, lit it up, and inhaled.

Releasing a smoke circle in a relaxed manner, he was waiting for the play in bed to finish.

From between the curtains, the man panted out, “Come with me. I have money now, and it is enough for us to leave Shanghai and live a good life.”

The squeaking sound paused briefly, and the woman cried out, “You are not Seventh Young Master Huo?”

Although she knew that it was the wrong person, both people were at an intense point and remained entangled with each other. The man continued, “I will treat you well in this life. Let us not be separated in life and death.”

Huo ZhenYe raised his eyebrows and dropped the hand holding the cigarette to one side. He had not seen this last night.

The woman slapped the man’s face with a “ pa ” sound before sobbing and asked him, “How do you know I am here?”

In a state of exultation, the man was not angry despite being hit. “I saw you tipping the footman so he would open the door for you.”

Despite being directly exposed, Jin DanGui was not ashamed. She wanted to push Big Liu away but was also reluctant. “I said before that we were just having fun. You want me to follow you, but can you afford it?”

Finally, their voices stopped, and Jin DanGui pulled on the desk lamp.

Using that light, Huo ZhenYe examined the people on the bed carefully. Leaning on the soft pillow, Jin DanGui’s face was still flushed as she looked at Big Liu furiously. “Scram. Do not spoil my good plan!”

Unexpectedly, she still wanted to stay and wait for Huo ZheYe.

Huo ZhenYe shook off the ashes from his cigarette, and it fell onto the carpet in fine clusters. Did he really act like a person who would be easily deceived when he attended the banquet?

Halfway on his knees, Big Liu pleaded, “I really have money now, and it is enough for you to spend. You do not have to please those wealthy young masters anymore or dance with others. Let us leave Shanghai.”

Jin DanGui rolled her eyes. “You have money? You have only seen so little and yet still dare to say you have money?”

She closed her lace nightgown. “Do you know what the family background of Seventh Young master Huo is? He can spend one or two thousand silver dollars on a whim while you are only someone who performs tricks everywhere. You would not be able to catch up with him even in your next life.”

Here, Huo ZhenYe finished his cigarette and lit another. If this was not a dream, he really wanted to tell Jin DanGui that her next life would be no way better.

Big Liu was silent for a moment before he gritted his teeth and said, “Is a box of small yellow fish 3 The author used “小黄鱼” (literally “small yellow fish”) here. Despite what the term implies, it does not refer to real fish but small gold bars/nuggets that are around 31g each. enough for you to follow me?”

Initially, Jin DanGui had turned her eyes elsewhere, but when she heard “small yellow fish”, she turned her head back. She scrutinized Big Liu and asked, “Where did you get the gold bars from?”

“Just say whether it is enough or not.”

“What if you deceive me?” Contrary to her words, Jin DanGui had believed him partially. After all, Big Liu, this young lad, had never spoken to her with such certainty before. Did he really have money now?

Big Liu laughed, “I know you would not believe it.” He took out a small box and handed it to Jin DanGui.

As soon as she opened the lid, Jin DanGui sucked in a breath. Inside was a pair of diamond earrings that were as big as a nail. With just a little light, it sparkled.

Fixed on the diamonds, Jin DanGui could not pull her eyes away. None of the guests had ever treated her so generously, and this pair was bigger and brighter than the ones Su ManLi had. She had always wanted such a pair of diamond earrings.

“I still have a lot of such things. If you follow me, they are all yours.”

Holding the earrings, Jin DanGui beamed with delight. She even leaned over and nudged Big Liu’s chest with her arm. “Where did this come from?”

Big Liu hesitated. “This is…this is from my master. Do not worry, no one will trace its origin.”

Jin DanGui was aware that he had a senior sister to whom he was engaged to and that he was also the successor of some tricks. However, she had never taken it seriously. At this time, she could guess that this was his master’s dowry for his daughter.

Even then, she put her hands together and kept the earrings in her palms. She gently caressed Big Liu’s back and said in an affectionate voice, “You really treat me well.”

With such a touch by her, Big Liu became drunk with joy. “If you follow me, they are all yours.”

Jin DanGui gave a coquettish chuckle and got up from the bed. She then headed to the table and poured a glass of wine for him. As they drank together, there came another sound in the room.

Regarding Big Liu’s background, Huo ZhenYe had gained a clear understanding these past few days. An orphan, he was adopted by his master and was taught how to perform tricks to make a living.

It was unexpected that he actually stole his fiancée’s dowry to give it to someone he was on intimate terms with and also wanted to run away with the money.

Huo ZhenYe despised Big Liu’s character. He put out his cigarette and turned around, intending to leave and see if there was anything else in his dream.

Who knew that as soon as he raised his head, he would face the round mirror hanging in the room and see a lump of indistinct shadows.

The sounds of “ di da, di da, di da ” came from somewhere far in waves while the lump of dark shadows slithered out from the darkness to the light.

With her hair down and wearing a lace nightgown, a woman walked up to Huo ZhenYe from behind him.

She slowly raised her face, and the place where her eyes should be was hollowed out, only leaving a pair of bloody holes.

The blood flowed down all over her face and dripped onto the floor after traveling along her sharp chin. The “ di da ” sound Huo ZhenYe had heard was the sound of her blood dripping.

If this was Jin DanGui, who was the one on the bed?

Huo ZhenYe looked inside the room again, but the bed was empty. Meanwhile, Jin DanGui, who was behind him, straightened her hands and groped around like a blind woman.

Huo ZhenYe had never seen Jin DanGui’s deceased appearance, as when he woke up, her body had already been discovered by others. It was also said that Big Liu had not seen it either. He was so drunk that when they took him back to the precinct, he had to be doused with cold water to be woken up.

If he had really woken up with Jin DanGui beside him and their “eyes” met, would he have freaked out?

Jin DanGui’s arms were stiff as her body turned left and right. With her hands out looking like claws, they brushed past Huo ZhenYe’s chest.

Although Huo ZhenYe knew it was a dream, he could not help but take a step back and pressed himself against a cabinet in the room.

Without her eyes, Jin DanGui’s ears had become very sensitive. She tilted her head slightly and groped around in the direction of the sound.

With Huo ZhenYe having no place to retreat to and Jin DanGui seeming to know that he was just in front, the corners of her mouth lifted. “Give me your eyes.”

Regardless of how she looked like before, her current appearance with two bloody holes in her face and a smile on her lips was really terrifying, and Huo ZhenYe’s heart jumped frantically. Nonetheless, he still held his breath and waited for her arms to reach in front of him. Timing it properly, he then ducked.

Jin DanGui’s fingers went straight into the cabinet door. With a “ pu ” sound, several bloody holes were left on the wooden door.

She raged, “You cannot hide from me!”

Huo ZhenYe went around the bed to the corner. When Jin DanGui’s hands reached out in his direction, he picked up the comb on the table and threw it far away, causing it to land beside the head of the bed.

Hearing the sound, Jin DanGui laughed in a pleased manner as she turned and went towards the place where the comb had landed.

Huo ZhenYe then took the opportunity to leave. However, while there was carpet in the room, there was none outside. When he stepped out, the sole of his leather shoes came into contact with the ground, and Jin DanGui suddenly turned around. With her two bloody holes as eyes, she looked in his direction. “You have deceived me!”

Huo ZhenYe bolted to the door, but the handle was locked tightly, and he could not open it no matter what.

At this time, Jin DanGui had already caught up behind him. Huo ZhenYe fished out his gun, turned around, and pulled the trigger. He hit her in the heart, and the bullet went through her body.

Jin DanGui lowered her head and “looked” at her chest where there was not even a sign of a wound.

The bullet had obstructed her, but it was essentially useless. Just as he was about to be pierced by her hands, Huo ZhenYe got a sudden flash of inspiration. He took out something from his pocket and threw it at her.

It was the paper shackles that were inside Bai Zhun’s envelope.

When the shackles fell to the ground, they became real objects and the iron lock firmly shackled both of her feet. She let out a howl and fell to the ground.

Because her feet were bounded, she became angrier. Forced to use her two hands to support her body, the one hand that was about to seize Huo ZhenYe’s throat was also stopped mid-action.

At this moment, the locked door was opened from the outside.

Even if she had no eyes, Huo ZhenYe could feel her panic.

Jin DanGui turned her whole body upside down. Using her hands as legs, she quickly crawled away on the floor.

Upon climbing onto the window, she then proceeded to jump out.

Just then, Bai Zhun came in from the door in a wheelchair. “She ran away?” He took a look at Huo ZhenYe and tutted. How useless.

*Translator’s Notes:

-Hello 🙂 Living Paper would be the third novel that I had picked up for translations and I am glad that I would be able to share it with you all! For this novel, the update schedule would be the same as Forensic Traversing Notes – once a week. However, there will be no fixed day for updates so if the chapter for that week is ready, it will be up. Thanks for reading <3

1

“木枷” here probably refers to the cangue, a device that was used for public humiliation and corporal punishment in East Asia and some other parts of Southeast Asia until the early years of the twentieth century. It was also occasionally used for or during torture. 2

Here, the Chinese term used was “打点” which means to give people money/”bribes” to mediate between 2 parties/make things easier. 3

The author used “小黄鱼” (literally “small yellow fish”) here. Despite what the term implies, it does not refer to real fish but small gold bars/nuggets that are around 31g each.