A Lovely Girl Turning into a Rat

Nima liked Ci and was fond of her singing. Although he was a tibetan, he liked everything about the central plain people. He liked young women in the central plains, especially the women in the regions south of the Yangtze River. The reason Nima doted on Ci was because of her sensitivity and charming vulnerability. When she was singing, her eyebrows knitted together in a little frown and her voice was gentle and mellow.

The lute had been repaired and Ci was in a good mood. She said to Nima, “Master, thanks to Sister Yang Zhen, I have retrieved my lute.”

Nima held Ci in his arms and fondled her. “Really? I will reward her.”

Ci nodded and blew out the lamp. “Master, Ji Jing will soon go into labour. You want a son or a daughter?”

“Of course I want a son. If she gives birth to a girl, I will skin her,” answered Nima.

Ci smiled, “Whether she gives birth to a boy or a girl, it’s your own flesh and blood. Don’t value the male child only.”

Suddenly, Ci was speechless because she was dragged into the wave of lust, unable to utter a word.

Nima looked at Ci underneath him and his heart ached as if numerous thorns were growing in his heart and waves of heartache penetrated every pore. Gradually, the beast in him came up and led him to enter her sacred grove and fulfill his ravenous desire. He sympathized with Ci but his lust for her prevailed.

Nima always indulged in everything that could bring him a sense of fun, and so did Ci. All living things were the same as him. When a person saw through the emptiness of the material world, he would free himself from the vexation of worldly affairs. As time went by, he dropped into the silent void and then came to the end of life.

Yang Zhen had no chance to sing to Nima. So, she satisfied her lust with her fingers every night, just like playing the lute in a crazy, erotic rhythm. The black and white cat kept scratching at the door with its sharp paws.

It was said that ghosts hid in cats’ eyes. The lonely ghost had nowhere to go, so they had to hide in cats’ eyes.

Yang Zhen threw a piece of meat to the ground. The cat ghostly went into her bedroom and jumped onto the bed. Cats liked the fishy smell. Yang Zhen squeezed the cat’s head between her legs. The cat stuck its rough tongue out, licking Yang Zhen’s small and soft vulvar lips. Groans of pain and enjoyment came out of her mouth. She sang the wrong lyrics, her voice drifting out of the window. But it didn’t matter, because there was no one around her house. Only the black and white tomcat knew how lonely she was.

Ci fell asleep. Nima got up and went to patrol the backyard as usual.

Cannibalism had become a common practice among high officials who, however, didn’t want others to know that they were cannibals, though it was nothing to be ashamed of in such troubled times. There was no safer place than Nima Mansion. Nima also ate human flesh. The more he ate, the stronger and younger he looked. Gradually, he was addicted to eating human flesh. He liked the soy-braised human flesh best because of its crunchy skin which led to endless aftertastes.

If I were the meat stuffing that you liked best, you would never love other women.

When Nima came back to his bedroom, Ci happened to wake up. “Master,” she whispered.

Nima was startled. “What’s wrong?”

“Master, there was a thick heavy murderous look in your eyes.” Ci lit up the red candle in the lantern and continued, “I can see it.”

Nima smiled, “I have done so many things offensive to God and reason. It’s no big deal to do one more terrible thing.”

Ci sat down on the edge of the bed and said, “Master, I believe in good and evil. Evildoers will be punished in their next lives.”

Nima looked at Ci coldly and said, “I never believe in the existence of an afterlife.”

Ci said, “I believe in life after death.”

As autumn approached, Ci gradually got used to living in Nima Mansion. Everything seemed perfectly all right, except for the mysterious atmosphere in Nima Mansion at night. Ci was used to Ju Juxian’s serious face and barbed remarks. Ji Jing was about to give birth and her belly was extraordinarily big. Yang Zhen no longer gave Ci jewels because Ci had everything she had. Ci only chatted to Yang Zhen. Ju Juxian and Ji Jing had themselves disdained to talk to Ci. Ji Jing always wondered why Nima didn’t get tired of Ci yet.

Ci was like a ray of sunlight coming into Nima’s heart. Nima believed that Ci was a simple and kind-hearted woman. She looked innocent and lovely when she was slobbering in her sleep. Nima thought that she must dream about delicious food.

In fact, Ci dreamed about the locusts. They flitted about in the air. Some of them perched on corpses, unable to fly because their wings were stuck by thick blood. Ci caught them and stuffed them into her mouth, slavering from hunger.

The corpses hung on iron hooks had been successfully salted and made into cured meat which would be transported to abodes of the high officials in batches.

Nima had to return to the capital this time because he had some public affairs to attend to. Moreover, he undertook the task of discussing with Emperor about how to keep good health. Before leaving, Nima said to Ju Juxian and Ji Jing, “If Ci is hurt in my absence, I will kill the three of you and make your corpses into cured meat.”

‘The three of you?’ Juxian and Ji Jing looked at each other. Obviously, the unborn child in Ji Jing’s belly was added to the list.

Yang Zhen said, “Master, I think your concern is misplaced. We don’t have the nerve to bully Sister Ci.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Nima nodded.

Liao Yong exceptionally didn’t follow Nima to the capital this time. Nima had Liao Yong stay behind in Nima Mansion to protect Ci and deal with the corpses in the backyard.

“Come and see me off,” Nima said to Ci.

In the octagonal pavilion, Ci was playing the lute. The autumn wind was rustling. Flowers had withered away. Leaves fell in profusion, floating about on the still lake. Nima was going to leave. Ci knitted her brows with tears in her eyes. She disguised her sorrow beneath a cheerful appearance. But after he left, she would feel lonely day and night.

Nima asked, “Ci, what do you want? I will give you everything you want.”

Ci stopped playing the lute and replied, “Master, if evil actions will bring retribution, I hope that I will take your place to be punish.”

Nima was touched by what Ci said. “I’ll be back in a month. Stay in Nima Mansion and wait for me.”

Then, he led a big group of people to march towards the capital. Soon, they disappeared in the distance.