Life: A Black and White Film - CH 15 part3

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So now, the mystery is already completely solved, right? Or is it?

This story was translated with the express 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.

Wen Han brought Cheng Muyun’s belongings back with her to the inn.

By the time noon approached, someone had already delivered her luggage to her. Supposedly, the luggage that she had lost in Nepal had been found three days ago by a “Good Samaritan” and sent back to Kathmandu, and then today, it had finally arrived after travelling all the way here. It was obvious that “Good Samaritan” was a previous arrangement by Cheng Muyun.

Meng Liangchuan thoughtfully opened her luggage for her. “Have a look and see if you’ve lost anything?”

An entire suitcase of her travel belongings.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

There were also souvenirs, a camera, and long skirts.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

Wen Han’s eyes brushed over it. She caught sight of those two blouses that Cheng Muyun had once ripped the buttons off of, as well as that long skirt, and also that French-style sun hat that she had worn the night they went to get their henna tattoos… Each item was a memory. And there was also her passport. Her real passport was back with her as well.

Meng Liangchuan took out that passport and went out for an hour. When he returned, he had already submitted all the necessary information from her entry into the country last time. He had also completed for her the procedures for leaving the country and bought her plane ticket.

In other words, from this moment onwards, Wen Han could return to Moscow at any time. Moreover, his superiors had already given the orders and left instructions that this woman absolutely had to leave tonight.<>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.

“Miss Wen Han.” Meng Liangchuan cleared his throat and half-squatted down in front of her. “I am very lucky to have met you and Cheng Muyun in Nepal. I think this is the most precious memory of my life. For your man, I have great respect. Even though I couldn’t help him this time, I was able to have that one time with him of going through life and death together in that smuggling base. And so, I feel no regrets.”

Wen Han’s eyes swiveled over slightly so that her gaze landed on Meng Liangchuan.

“I hope you know that, as long as you have any need for it, any one of Cheng Muyun’s friends will help you, myself included.” This was Meng Liangchuan’s true purpose for saying these words.

She did not speak. She was pondering with all her might.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

What else was there? What other methods could be used to find him? …<>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.

A picture that had actually not left a deep impression flashed across her mind.

It was a postcard that she, with her back to the sun, had tried to get a clear look at—Sarnath.

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

Wen Han suddenly seemed to come alive. “Take me to a place.”

“Where?” Lifting his wrist, Meng Liangchuan glanced at his watch. “We don’t have much time.”

“I know.” Wen Han knew that though these people were very polite to her, they would not truly allow her to willfully do whatever she pleased, especially since her previous status had been someone who entered the country illegally. But she absolutely had to go… “Sarnath. Take me to Sarnath.”

“……” Meng Liangchuan knew that this girl was a believer of Buddhism, like Cheng Muyun.

He had not thought, however, that at such a time as this, she would still want to go have a look at that famous holy site of Buddhism.

Naturally, Wen Han was not going to tell him what her reason was. She was very, very cautious. She said only that she absolutely had to go to that place. After checking that, from a time perspective, they could make it, Meng Liangchuan took the car out earlier than planned and drove rapidly with her to Sarnath.

That place was less than twenty kilometres away from Varanasi so was not considered to be very far.

When she stepped inside, there happened to be a gathering of a large group of Chinese monks who had come to visit and observe. They all wore earthen-yellow robes with cloth bags slung diagonally across their bodies, and numbering more than one hundred, they sat on the grass and stone steps, which were half a person tall, conversing quietly in Chinese.

Wen Han did not know where she wanted to go or what she could find.

The view here was wide and open. Other than the most eye-catching Dhamek Stupa and the tourists… there was only a single vihara[1] as well as the Deer Park. Allowing her eyes to scan as far as they could see, she observed that most tourists were sitting beneath the trees, but there was nothing strange or special about them. While Wen Han was searching all around with her eyes, those one hundred or more Chinese monks all slowly left.

Perhaps it was because they were Chinese, or perhaps for another reason, but Wen Han could not refrain from trailing after them while pretending to look at the scenery. However, her steps grew quicker and quicker, and continually she walked past each person until, eventually, she was even running.

She wanted to have a clear look at each face, wanted to see if he was amongst them…<>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.

Alas, in the end, she was left with only disappointment as well as puzzled gazes that were returned to her from the monks.

Putting her palms together apologetically, Wen Han gave repeated bows and expressed that she was sorry for being rude. From a distance away, Meng Liangchuan watched this scene. Such a feeling that he could not describe. When you fell in love with Cheng Muyun, did it mean that, even if the man were dead, you still needed to over and over chase after even the slightest traces of anything that might have to do with him? Meng Liangchuan repeatedly checked his watch as he let Wen Han search like a headless fly, until, when dusk neared, he finally told her, “Miss Wen Han, we need to go.”

Wen Han slowed her steps, staring at him with an unresigned look.

Giving an apologetic smile, Meng Liangchuan said, “I’m extremely sorry. My task this time is not merely to keep you company. I am to also transfer your care to some contacts from Moscow and to help you leave India smoothly. Therefore, we must leave, Miss Wen Han.”

Wen Han had no other choice. There, on the damp grass, she took one last look at the Dhamek Stupa. “Will I be able to pass by Varanasi?” She wanted a final look at that three-level house.

“I’m very sorry. We don’t have time.”<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

Wen Han’s heart did not want to accept this. Constantly casting backward glances, she followed Meng Liangchuan and left this place.<>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.

Beneath the peepal trees, within the many tourists who were sitting cross-legged and resting, a female traveller lifted her head and remarked softly, “Laoban’s woman is just amazing. How did she find her way here?”

A person behind her rested his chin on his palm as he answered, “Probably after having a deep, physical relationship, your hearts and minds will become interlinked, too?”

Everyone very much concurred with this sentiment.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

Nearby, a male student gave a cough. “What a hot body. I didn’t really dare take a good look when we were in that mountain valley in Nepal, but I did look nice and thoroughly today. Her face is top notch, too.”

“……” Several people on all sides of him threw him looks of disbelief.

“Just saying.” Shrugging, the male student gave a cough. “Laoban is feeding the deer?”

“Yeah. Since yesterday, he’s been feeding those deer. I asked Little Fox. She said that in Buddhist beliefs, deer symbolize a place of peace and purity or something like that. Anyway, it’s basically for comfort and peace of mind, I guess.”

After all, that had been his younger sister. Blood is thicker than water.<>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 Wen Han arrived at the airport, she was taken into an empty office.

With that, Meng Liangchuan was considered to have handed her over to the people from Moscow, but afterwards, he was also heartlessly stopped outside of the office, no longer allowed to have any more interaction with Wen Han.

Though this place was still an Indian airport, this room already temporarily belonged to Russia.

One of the people, a middle-aged man, took Wen Han’s luggage away.

Two female police officers dressed in civilian wear remained in the room, giving Wen Han a complete physical examination and then providing a whole new outfit for her, from under to outer clothing. If one were to put it politely, she was being treated just like an honoured guest, but in reality, this was to allow them to examine her from inside to outside.

“Miss Wen Han, from the info that we got, you were given a contraceptive injection in Nepal. Did you know that?”

Wen Han paused in surprised for a moment, then shook her head vacantly.

No wonder Cheng Muyun had told her with such certainty that she would not be pregnant…

It turned out, after he abducted her away, he had once injected her with such stuff?

“There are no dangers at all with this type of thing, and it will be completely metabolized out of the body after half a year. There’s no need to worry,” a female officer, as a formality, explained to her.

Wen Han did not speak. She blinked once lightly, feeling somewhat tired and helpless. If he really were gone, she would rather she did have his child, one who would look just like him…

The female officer pulled out a needle. “Routine procedure. You will have a very peaceful period of sleep, and when you wake up, you should already be on the plane.”

Wen Han did not understand what the “routine procedure” that she talked about was, but with so many police officers from Moscow here in this room, even if she wanted to refuse, she had no excuse to, nor did she have the power to.

Doing as the woman said, she took a seat.<>Please support this translation at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com

Her sleeve was rolled up. That person was very skilled at giving injections, and there was only a slight pricking twinge. Very shortly, drowsiness rushed over her, and she gradually was unable to keep her eyes open…<>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 she lost consciousness, a hand pushed open an interior door of the room. A man wearing blue-framed glasses stepped inside. Every person in the room straightened and saluted him in unison.

The man gave a slight smile and quickly returned the salute. “All of you, there is no need to be uptight. We’re all just carrying out routine business.”

The female officer who had been responsible for giving Wen Han the injection fixed the gaze of her large, clear-blue eyes on this person who had just arrived, and smiling gently, she said, “Then we will hand her over to you now, Officer Chen. To prevent any side effects from occurring in the body of this beautiful lady, there is only approximately ten minutes of efficacy from the drug. Please make good use of this time.”

Chen Yuan nodded, resuming his stern expression.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

All of those other people retreated from the room.<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

“Miss Wen Han, we meet again.” Removing his glasses, he folded them up and set them on the table. “Let us have a little talk about a body relic that carries an image of Buddha. I believe Cheng Muyun must have let you see that priceless collectible.”<>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.

Warm light shone on her eyelids.

Wen Han was awakened by the whispers of quiet chitchat between the flight attendants. So strange. Such light and polite voices were actually able to waken her from her deep slumber. She shifted her fingers. She felt a little weak.

“Miss, do you need any sort of service?” A flight attendant patiently came closer and softly spoke to this extremely distinguished VIP passenger. “You can call for me at any time.”

“I…” With a faint frown, Wen Han thought for a moment. “My backpack.”

The flight attendant immediately found her backpack for her. Taking it from her, Wen Han set it on her lap and rummaged through for something. After searching for a long while, she at last pulled out from beneath her notebook that protection amulet pouch that was now empty. The embroidery on it was not very well done, and the Buddhist emblem on the outside felt somewhat scratchy on the hands.

She stared blankly for a lengthy moment, then took out that notebook and flipped it open.

These were words she had written when she first arrived in Nepal…

D1 (9.9): Entered Kathmandu, Nepal via India (arrived 16:06 local time). Stayed in Thamel.

D2 (9.10): Nepal’s Teej Festival. Went to Boudhanath and Durbar Square in the morning. Exchanged some currency. Got henna tattoo done at night.

D3 (9.11):<>Please read this at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

The third day was still blank. It seemed, from that morning onward, she had had no mood to write in her travel journal… That was the day of the rafting trip on the Trishuli River. She still remembered that a male traveller had fallen overboard and how Cheng Muyun, after he had saved him and brought him back up, had given that male traveller a smack across the face to bring him back to his senses…

She still remembered, he had removed his shirt and shoes and sat quietly on a boulder to take in the sun.

The afternoon sun had swathed his body in a faint halo of light.

A tattoo covered a large area of his back—

It was a lotus flower.<>Please support this story’s original translation at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead

A large stretch of intertwining vines and layer upon layer of lotus that all came together until, in the end, they formed an even more complete picture of a single lotus flower.

……<>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.

Wen Han covered her eyes with one hand. Tears streamed forth unrelentingly.

The flight attendant specifically assigned to her became a little panicked. This was a VIP passenger, although no one had told her why this girl who appeared to be only twenty years old or so was so important and honoured…

Stepping forward, the flight attendant bent slightly at the waist and quietly comforted her in Russian, “Miss Wen Han, are you feeling unwell somewhere? They told me that because you were injected with a sedative before you boarded the plane, you might feel airsick. Or maybe something else feels unwell? Please tell me, all right?”

Wen Han shook her head incessantly, clenching tightly on her lip, desperately trying to fight back her tears.

She forced herself not to cry anymore… He’s not dead! What are you crying about? Wen Han, what are you even crying about?!

With the back of her hand, she swiped away her tears. Then, still hiccoughing with sobs, she asked in quiet tone, “Could you… help me take a look to see if the henna design on my back is still intact?”<>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.

[1] A vihara is an early form of a Buddhist monastery. The vihara in Sarnath is the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara.

The Mulagandha Kuti Vihara in Sarnath. (Image credit: “Mulagandhakuti Vihara” by , originally posted in , image used under )

This story was translated with the express 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 47 of 50 Chapter segments 0 of 1 Epilogue