She Was Sentenced to Life Imprisonment [Unlimited] - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Deserted Village Wedding [3]

Another Space

By the warm, yellow light of the kerosene lamp, Jiang Nan could see her face: cold, beautiful features with a constant look of weariness. It was Luo Ning…

But it wasn’t just Luo Ning who surprised Jiang Nan. It was the person next to her, or, to be precise, the headless ghost from the day. As the headless ghost walked, it left a trail of bl00d with a strong, metallic smell. Unlike during the day, it was much quieter, with no cackling or shouts for its head.

Luo Ning raised her hand to her nose, frowning slightly, and said with a hint of disgust, “Don’t you get sick of this smell?” The headless ghost didn’t reply, but Jiang Nan noticed it flinch at Luo Ning’s words, as if it was afraid of her. Luo Ning’s eyes subtly glanced at the banyan tree. No one noticed the slight smirk on her lips as her mood improved.

Jiang Nan hid the moment Luo Ning looked in her direction. Her back against the tree trunk, her chest rose and fell slightly, and she cursed under her breath, “What a freak.”

Luo Ning seemed to have reached a spot and asked, “This is it, right?”

The headless ghost made a hoarse, raspy sound like a wheel grinding against sand. Luo Ning then spoke calmly. “I’m not responsible if you got the wrong place.” Her voice was casual and lazy, as if she were talking to a normal person, if you could ignore the ghost standing next to her. The headless ghost didn’t dare to say a word and just stood by, looking submissive.

Jiang Nan cautiously peeked out again and saw Luo Ning digging with a shovel. Luo Ning’s face and clothes were so out of place in the rural setting that her holding a shovel looked very strange. Jiang Nan frowned, not even having time to wonder where she got the shovel from. A sudden sharp pain shot through her heart and spread to her limbs, making her feel like she had been run over by a car.

She clutched the fabric on her chest. Her already pale hand turned a terrifying white from gripping so tightly. She slumped to the ground, leaning against the tree trunk, biting her lip to keep from making a sound. She didn’t even notice that she had drawn bl00d. Cold sweat matted her hair to her forehead. Her head was bowed, and her white hair covered most of her face. Subconsciously, she mumbled a name.

“Hanas…”

The name was like a lifeline. She clutched it, not wanting to let go.

“Who are you calling?” a rough, hoarse voice asked. Jiang Nan looked up, her expression pained, and saw the grim headless ghost. It was bent slightly at the waist, a normal listening pose if it had a head. Instead, Jiang Nan was met with a clean-cut neck. A normal person would have been terrified, but Jiang Nan forced herself to endure the sharp pain and a cold killing intent flashed in her eyes. She was about to summon her Death’s Edge when a warm, yellow light filled her sight. Then she heard a voice as gentle as a spring breeze, but filled with mockery.

“You’ll scare the little girl.”

Jiang Nan didn’t lower her guard. She couldn’t be sure of Luo Ning’s identity, especially since she had been walking with the headless ghost. Jiang Nan looked up at her, her eyes cold. “Who are you, really?”

Luo Ning bent down, a smile still on her lips. “Little girl, have you forgotten so soon? My name is Luo Ning.” Jiang Nan sneered, knowing her smile was fake. The next moment, a ruthless look flashed in her eyes. She gripped her short knife and raised her hand, attacking the other’s vulnerable neck…

…

“Jiang Nan, Luo Ning, where are you?” a girl’s voice trembled with fear. It sounded especially eerie in the silent night. She held a kerosene lamp and hesitated at the gate of the yard, unsure whether to go out. She could only call out their names repeatedly, but she got no response. Her voice became choked with sobs.

Someone inside the house, annoyed by her ghostly wails, suddenly threw the door open with a bang, followed by a man’s angry shout. “What the hell are you screaming about? Keep it up, and I’ll rip your tongue out.” The sudden outburst snapped Su Man’s already strained nerves. She shrieked and fainted on the ground.

Zhang Zheng walked out with his hands in his pockets, a look of contempt on his face. He spat on the ground and kicked the girl, and when he saw she didn’t react, he sneered, “What a coward. Go on and die here.” Zhang Zheng’s gaze lingered on her body, taking in her curves with a brazen look before his eyes fell on her face, which was still covered by her black mask. “Hmph, you’re trying to act all mysterious. Zhou Chen!”

Zhang Zheng called, and Zhou Chen, who had been watching from behind, immediately came over. “What do you need, Brother Zhang?”

Zhang Zheng pointed to the girl on the ground. “Take her mask off.” Zhou Chen was curious about what Su Man looked like, too. From her figure and her eyes, he guessed she was a beauty. He smiled at Zhang Zheng’s words. “Okay, sure.” He knelt and reached behind Su Man’s ear to take off her mask. The next moment, he fell back, his eyes wide with horror as he pointed at her. “B-Brother Zhang, s-she…” He stuttered, unable to speak clearly.

Zhang Zheng grew impatient. He shoved the boy away and cursed, “What about her…?” His words stopped as he saw Su Man’s face. A look of disgust flashed in his eyes. He patted a shaken Zhou Chen on the shoulder and said coldly, “Bad luck. What are you looking at? Are we going or not?”

Zhou Chen came to his senses and glanced at the girl on the ground again, still feeling a chill. He quickly averted his eyes and followed Zhang Zheng.

Without the mask, the lower half of Su Man’s face was exposed. It looked like a dried-up vine from the desert, or like several centipedes crawling all over her face. It was horrific and a stark contrast to the smooth, delicate skin of her upper face.

Li Tao also came out. He looked at Su Man on the ground, adjusted his glasses, and then went back inside, not caring about her at all.

…

Jiang Nan opened her eyes to the sound of firecrackers. The unfamiliar surroundings made her feel confused. Her thoughts slowly returned, and a subtle look flashed in her eyes. She remembered seeing Luo Ning under the banyan tree. The other woman was with a headless ghost, digging for something. Then she was discovered and tried to kill her.

But the next moment, she was not splattered with warm bl00d. When she opened her eyes, it was bright outside, and the sounds of drums and gongs were deafening. A sharp pain shot through her heart again. She pressed on her chest, listening to the pounding in her ribs. She didn’t understand where this feeling came from, but she was sure it was not a symptom of her illness. After leaving her original instance, her sickness should have disappeared.

“What are you standing around for? Hurry up and get changed.” An unfamiliar female voice said, urging her to move. Jiang Nan’s eyes flashed with a cold light. She looked at the source of the voice. It was an unfamiliar face. Jiang Nan frowned, and a murderous intent flashed in her eyes. “Who are you?”

The woman seemed exasperated. She rolled her eyes and threw a dress at her. “You’ve forgotten so soon? We’re both bridesmaids today.”

Jiang Nan subconsciously frowned at the word “bridesmaid.” She looked down at the dress in her hand, which looked strangely familiar. She suddenly thought of something and asked the strange woman, “Aren’t there supposed to be three bridesmaids?”

The woman nudged her chin toward a spot behind Jiang Nan. “She’s already ready.” Jiang Nan followed her gaze and saw another bridesmaid.

It was Luo Ning’s beautiful face, and her languid expression made Jiang Nan even more sure it was her. Luo Ning was already wearing her bridesmaid’s dress. The white dress looked especially elegant on her tall frame. Her hair was styled up, making her look even more noble. Her purple eyes were deep and mysterious, like an abyss. You knew it was dangerous, but you couldn’t help but be curious and explore it.

Luo Ning saw Jiang Nan looking at her. She curved her lips, ready to speak. Jiang Nan’s face darkened. She turned around before the other could say anything. This person was too mysterious, and she didn’t want to get any closer to her. It was also when she saw Luo Ning in the bridesmaid dress that Jiang Nan finally realized why the dress felt familiar: It was the same one the headless ghost had been wearing. This meant that they were possibly wearing the headless ghost’s dresses.

At this thought, Jiang Nan’s face darkened even more, but the woman kept urging her, so she reluctantly put on the dress. However, the dress had a lace-up back, and she couldn’t tie it on her own. This frustrated her, and the more frustrated she got, the worse she was at it.

At that moment, a hand grabbed her wrist, stopping her. Warmth spread through her body, and she froze. She then heard the voice of the person behind her, filled with a laugh. “Let me help you.”

Jiang Nan shook off the other’s hand, turning her head slightly. “Just do it quickly.”

“Okay,” Luo Ning replied, a hint of playfulness in her voice.

Luo Ning could have tied the laces quickly, but she intentionally touched Jiang Nan’s waist. Jiang Nan was sensitive there, and the touch made her body go rigid. She gritted her teeth, enduring the touch, but the killing intent in her eyes showed how much she wanted to kill the other person. While Luo Ning was tying the laces, she asked casually, “You called out a name before we got here. Who was that person?”

Jiang Nan’s eyes narrowed. She tried to remember who she had called, but she couldn’t. She could only change the subject coldly. “Instead of worrying about my question, you should think about how to answer mine. Why were you with that ghost? And why were you out at night?”

Luo Ning laughed, completely unbothered by the caution in Jiang Nan’s voice. She thought for a moment, then skipped the first question and answered the last one. “I’m here to find the truth about how to clear the instance.” With a satisfied look at her work, she said, “All done.” She had tied a big bow, as if she were wrapping a gift. The dress perfectly highlighted Jiang Nan’s figure. The delicate embroidery on the chest was simple and beautiful, and her hair was also styled up, revealing her slender neck.

[Congratulations, Player. You have unlocked a side quest: Fulfill the bridesmaid’s wish.]

Jiang Nan and Luo Ning looked at each other, and Jiang Nan saw a playful glint in the other’s eyes. The firecrackers in their ears were deafening, announcing that a happy occasion was about to begin.

…