Life: A Black and White Film - CH 14 part2

Birthday week day 2 of 7. And furthermore, February 13 is the birthday of the author of this story. Happy birthday, Mo Bao Fei Bao!!!

As Wen Han said, everything is about to begin. Will Cheng Muyun get to carry out his plan?

This story was translated with the expression permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. All forms of reproduction, redistribution, or reposting are not authorized, except by linking to hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the copy is unauthorized and has been taken without consent of the translator.

When Wen Han found Cheng Muyun, he was at the very front of the procession, conversing in English with a barefooted, elderly Indian man garbed in splendid dress. Wen Han stepped over and stood quietly. Listening attentively for a while to their dialogue, she was approximately able to ascertain that this elderly Indian man was the manor lord.

“My congratulations.” When Cheng Muyun was bidding farewell, Wen Han put her palms together and quietly offered her felicitations.

Smiling, the elderly man pressed his palms together in return. “Thank you for coming all the way here from so far.”<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

Music started playing. The ceremony had officially begun.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

Wen Han followed Cheng Muyun to wait off to the side.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

Nearby, there were patient staff members repeatedly telling all the honoured guests, “Distinguished guests, please wait patiently. The procession will come back soon.”

The first ones to follow behind the elderly man and step out on their way were the parade of sadhus.

The majority of the sadhus here were ones who had walked all the way to this place from Varanasi yesterday. When they strode past, Wen Han even caught sight of some familiar faces from the manor. They were those few people who had once stayed with Cheng Muyun in that building beside the peafowl shed.

She remembered, one of them had applied a bindi to her forehead.

Following closely were the monks.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

Behind the procession of monks was the elephant herd.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

The heavy footsteps drew near. This state where the entire earth seemed to be shaking stirred up an unsettled feeling in Wen Han. Because Wen Han was standing very close to this scene, an elephant trunk nearly swept into her. Fortunately, Cheng Muyun pulled her behind him and blocked the trunk with his hand.<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

As a result of this contact, the elephant bull whose trunk had been obstructed let out a displeased trumpet but then was subsequently given a loud shout of reprimand from a mahout [elephant handler]. The bull reluctantly suppressed its emotions but still brandished its trunk and swept it viciously in their direction.

This time, the mahout gave an extremely loud, sharp rebuke.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

A rope that had been thrown out captured the trunk, bringing the trunk’s course to an abrupt halt right in front of Cheng Muyun.

With a light shrug of his shoulders, Cheng Muyun dropped his chin and lifted his eyes to stare directly at that elephant, as if he was using his eyes to do some sort of negotiation with the beast. Slowly, the agitated elephant swayed its trunk and let out another muted trumpet cry.

Then, it left in a well-behaved manner.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

Cold sweat had broken out on Wen Han from fright, and even after the entire herd had left in succession, she was still tightly gripping Cheng Muyun’s sleeve. “Those are still large, ferocious beasts.” Her heart still quaked with lingering fear as she said quietly, “Even if they’ve been tamed, they are nonetheless very dangerous.”

She had, after all, done specialized translations for this type of topic in the past and had even specifically gone to see many elephants that had suddenly turned violent such that they trampled their mahouts.

“You were worried for me?” Cheng Muyun hugged her diminutive head to him, the tip of his finger gently tracing out a small circle on the very top edge of her ear…

Wen Han had not forgotten that she was still his “younger sister.”

But before she could shirk away, he had already loosened his embrace, seeming as if he had done nothing at all. “Have you forgotten, in the virgin forest of Chitwan, who brought that herd of elephants to be a mode of transportation for you when you were injured? I am very familiar with the temperament of those beasts.”

He let his gaze fall on the elephant herd that had gone far already as well as the dust that had kicked up behind the herd, pondering on something only he knew.

However, in Wen Han’s mind, the memory floated up of how, when he had led the herd of elephants into that camp of despair, those travellers had shouted with joy as they hailed him a hero. That had not been long ago, yet it seemed as if it was a previous lifetime ago.<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

The sweltering sun beat down on all the people who were waiting at this site.

One hour.<>This is an UNAUTHORIZED copy , taken from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

Two hours.<>Please support the original translation of tins story at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

At 2:35, there were still no signs of the procession’s return.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

Wen Han’s legs were aching from standing, but only when no one was looking did she shift her feet onto her toes to move them about a bit. Naturally, this little action did not escape his eyes.

Cheng Muyun brushed his gaze sideways to look at her. “Your legs are sore?”

Pretending to hold down her sun hat with her hand, she also tilted her head to the side to return his look. “Yup. Do you have any methods to relieve them?”

Cheng Muyun smiled. “Tonight, there will be no more sadhus in that little building, only you and me. I think that is the ‘relief method’ you most need.”

Wen Han nibbled down on her lip. Such a brazenly shameless man.

“Eighteen thousand bamboo poles. That’s right, it is eighteen thousand.” To Wen Han’s left, one of the staff was enthusiastically explaining to everyone that the tall platform not far away had been constructed from a total of eighteen thousand bamboo poles and had taken more than half a year to complete. Other than bamboo, no additional materials had been used.

Wen Han looked toward that tall, distant platform. No additional materials? How had it been built?

“And moreover, the platform itself is hollow. That is a holy site in there. It holds a most precious item that our master consecrated to Buddha,” the young Indian man stated proudly. “But please rest assured, it is very safe, extremely safe. It absolutely will not collapse. Even thirty people standing on it will not pose a problem.”

Then that indeed was safe.<>Please support the original translation at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

Only that elderly man and a few monks would be standing up there.<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

While she was thinking this, the sound of music began slowly drifting over.

All the guests standing in waiting beneath the searing sun breathed out in relief. It would appear those gold coins and bills had all been thrown already. The riches were spent, so now, they had finally returned.

Soon, the splendidly garbed elderly man appeared. Mud caked his bare feet, but he was utterly unaware of it. The look in his eyes was devout as he passed by in front of all the guests.

The focus of the elderly man’s gaze fell only on that bamboo platform.

The crowd gradually grew quiet.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

Within the multitude of people, Wen Han walked with Cheng Muyun toward that tall, bamboo-built platform. Under the beating sun, two monks by the elderly man’s side removed the man’s splendid dress from him until only a white robe remained…

The ceremony proceeded very quickly and also very smoothly.

However, after it had drawn to a close, Wen Han’s lower back and legs still ended up being stiff and sore from standing for such a lengthy period.

The elderly man had already left with the monks, reportedly heading to a nearby temple. And as for the guests who remained, the elderly man’s sons were still treating them with warm hospitality, inviting them to drink tea and take a short rest beneath the several white, cloth canopies beside the tall platform.

That elderly man was one of the top wealthiest persons in this place, and his businesses were large and successful. Beside Wen Han, two people had pulled aside one of the elderly man’s sons and were talking to him about the coffee business as well as tea farms.

That eldest son whom Cheng Muyun had once rescued, who also was the young man oldest in age of those several priests, walked over and asked if Cheng Muyun could escort that precious treasure now.

“You go ahead. I’ll wait here for you,” Wen Han said quietly when Cheng Muyun’s eyes turned to her. “I’m too tired to walk anyway.” Saying this, she picked up a cup of tea and glanced toward the elephant herd that was gathered beneath the trees on the other side of the tall platform. “While I’m at it, I can look from a distance at those large, ferocious beasts that you like.”

Brushing away the perspiration on her forehead with a finger, he leaned in and whispered behind her ear in Russian, “From Buddha it is, with Buddha it shall remain; from the world it came, unto the world it shall go. My love, I will most certainly be back by your side before the sun has set behind the horizon. Do you still remember that night of deluging rain?”

Wen Han was still clutching her teacup.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

The image had already floated up in her mind of his fingers thrust in her long, rain-dampened hair.

Cheng Muyun had already seen through the ripples in her eyes. Word for word, he repeated by her ear what he had said that night. “I do not like this pitying look that you have. If you do not start immersing yourself into this, trust me, I will make sure you do not forget this night for the rest of your life.”

This man…<>Please support the original translation of this story at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

Her ears burning, Wen Han watched him leave.<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

After Cheng Muyun stepped out from underneath the canopy, the four people surveilling him, who all along had been amongst the crowd, also trailed after him but were stopped at the edge of the tall platform by servants. From afar, they appeared quite frustrated, but due to the manor lord’s status and position, they could not force their way in and could only wait outside.

Wen Han did not continue watching in that direction. From a nearby staff member, she took the fresh cup of tea that was handed to her.

After standing in the sun for an entire afternoon, she was parched, and even drinking two consecutive cups of tea was unable to alleviate her thirst. She swept a glance around. Most likely, Fu Yiming and Cheng Jiayi had thought this too boring, and having already found a cool, shady place, they were long since resting. She could not even glimpse so much as their shadows.

Suddenly, an explosion that rocked the heavens shocked everyone.

Wen Han’s head whipped up, her eyes turning to look at that place in the distance.

In her vision, the mad, frenzied herd of elephants were all ceaselessly throwing back their heads and trumpeting in fury, swinging their trunks to throw off those mahouts. As if filled with uncontrollable rage, they rushed toward the bamboo platform.

Amid these deafening bellows, a loud explosion also burst forth from beneath the platform. Glaring flames shot into the sky. The entire platform and also the ground rocked violently amongst the thunderous reverberation of the explosion.

Before Wen Han could rush forward, a huge force propelled into her. The several priests had all worked together to pounce on her, thrusting her to the ground. “Get down quick!”

Incited by the roar of the explosion, the already enraged elephant herd grew even more hysterical. Seeming completely unafraid of the flames and explosion, they stampeded madly toward that bamboo platform. Trampling everywhere, they wielded their trunks desperately, as if they wanted to smash apart that bamboo platform that was already aflame from the blast.

Several monks covered in blood came running out in panic from beneath the platform, tripping, tumbling to the ground, and then climbing back to their feet again. Compared with the explosion, what was even more terrifying was the crazed elephant herd.

“Let go of me!” Wen Han writhed incessantly in the dirt, trying to struggle free from the Indian men who were pressing down on top of her. She wanted to rush over, but she could not at all.

Those priests were pinning her down fiercely, continually urging her in English, “Miss Wen Han, do not move! Do not be hasty! Over there are explosions and a herd of enraged elephants. It is hell there!”

“Let go of me!” Her entire mind was filled only with that one name. Using her hands, her teeth, she tried to force those Indian men to let go of her.

But she was a woman, and in this situation where several men were forcefully holding her down, there was no way she was able to move at all.

Dust flew into her eyes and mouth. Choking, she coughed violently.

“Miss Wen Han, please calm down. You cannot go over there. There is nothing you can do.” With sobs in his voice, one of the priests told her, “Look! Our mahouts are doing their best to try to calm those raging elephants.”

Wen Han’s eyes were flooded with tears. In the midst of the dust and sand that stung her nose, she twisted and squirmed with all her might until, in the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably and crying again and again in English, “I’m begging you, please let go of me. I need to go find him. I need to go in there to find him.”

It must be, it must be that the explosion knocked him out.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

As long as she found him and brought him out, there would still be a chance.

It must be…<>This is an UNAUTHORIZED copy, taken from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

But no one let go of her. And no one dared go to save Cheng Muyun.

As her weeping spilled forth, it became that she did not dare look at that tall platform. Fear—fear that it would collapse at any moment. Sobs choked her as she repeated over and over, “I’m begging you, please, even if you don’t let go of me, still go save him. Go save him…”

No one else had come out since those monks escaped from inside.

The manor lord’s eldest son, who had gone in with Cheng Muyun, had not come out, either. Those priests pinning Wen Han down were also distraught, their eyes fixed on that place where flames towered into the sky.

Hoping to see a miracle, to at least see even just a figure crawling out.

But, no one dared to go rescue anyone.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

The elephant herd had gone mad.<>Please support the original translation at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

Apart from the Buddha, no one would dare go near more than ten mad elephants. That was basically suicide…<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

She looked on helplessly as those elephants attacked that tall platform.

Bit by bit, her heart sank into despair.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

No one.<>This UNAUTHORIZED copy was taken from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

Not a single person’s shadow made an appearance.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

Amongst the ten and more enflamed elephants, that platform was like a lone toy being ravaged. Even the snapping of bamboo could not be heard, all of the sounds completely buried. No one else fled out from there, and no one dared take even one step closer.

Those mahouts dared not get near either, all of them taking refuge far, far away, terrified of those crazed animals.

“F*ck off!” Someone burst out this furious curse in Russian.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

A jolt swept through Wen Han’s entire body. Frantically, she searched for the source of that voice.

It was Fu Yiming. It was Fu Yiming, who had already left.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

That man, like Wen Han, also seemed as if he had gone mad, throwing, shoving, and kicking off everyone who tried to obstruct him. Without the slightest hesitation, he pulled out a gun from behind his waist. Its black muzzle pointed at any person who wanted to stop him. “If you don’t want to die, then f*ck off! F*ck off!”

Fu Yiming had completely fallen into a crazed state, utterly unaware that he was speaking Russian.

No one here could understand what he was saying.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

He could not even care. He had wholly lost his ability to reason. He had only one thought: rush in and save Cheng Muyun. That platform was going to collapse at any instant. He needed to rush into there, to drag out from there that man for whom it was unknown whether he was dead or alive.

This was the one and only thought going through Fu Yiming’s mind now—dead or alive, he needed to drag him out.

The Indian servants all hastily raised their arms into the air, trying all they could to explain in English, “Sir, it is extremely dangerous over there. We need to ensure the safety of each one of you, our honoured guests.”

Fu Yiming did not bother paying attention to any of the nonsense that they spoke and charged into the cloud of dust that filled the sky.

In comparison with the herd of elephants, even such a man as Fu Yiming was like a pitiful little ant. Wen Han stared fixatedly after his disappearing outline that vanished into the darkness, as if she was staring at her last shred of hope.

He had to save him. He would for sure…<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

Those fearsome elephants were unceasingly battering that bamboo platform.

Wen Han’s heartbeat seemed like it slowly, ever so slowly, was about to stop. She dared not even breathe. All her hope was placed on Fu Yiming.

Suddenly, there was a huge roar. Against the massive sounds of continuously snapping bamboo, that tall platform let out a loud boom. And then, it completely crumpled…

All screams ceased.<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translation has been taken without consent of the translator.

This story was translated with the expression permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. All forms of reproduction, redistribution, or reposting are not authorized, except by linking to hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the copy is unauthorized and has been taken without consent of the translator.

Completed: 1 of 1 Prologue 42 of 50 Chapter segments 0 of 1 Epilogue