Chapter Forty-Eight Persuasion

  I couldn't see Li Xiaoman's face and didn't know what she was thinking, but when I saw her back, I was stunned. Because on her back there was a tattoo, having a tattoo is not a big deal for young people nowadays, it's just a fashion trend. But why I was stunned was because this tattoo was different, not the usual dragon, phoenix or butterfly, but a map. Yes, it should be a map, and I could even recognize one of the places on it, which was San Gu Niang Shan (Three Maiden Mountain). Because San Gu Niang Shan has three mountain peaks, each peak vaguely resembling a woman, this is also an important reason why it's called Three Maiden Mountain. It's said that before the death of the three maidens, the mountain was actually called San Niang Shan (Three Woman Mountain), no matter what you say, it's because the three peaks all look like women in different poses, either squatting or standing, of course this is just a feeling, if you say it looks like something else that's fine too, saying it looks like three monkeys is also okay.

  Although there are no words on the map, apart from Mount Sangu Nang, I can also identify our village's Ma Ti Shan because it is named after its resemblance to a horseshoe. That's why our village is called Ma He Village. There's also another mountain, Bao Ta Shan, that I can recognize, and there's a river whose water flows from Bao Ta Shan, passing through Mount Sangu Nang and flowing eastward. If it were just one of these features alone, I might not be able to confirm, but with all these combined, how could I possibly still not recognize it?

  After a while, Li Xiaoman also became somewhat impatient and merely hummed: "Take a good look, take a good look so I can put on my clothes."

  "Look closely—" I nodded, feeling a bit strange in my heart, but for the time being, I couldn't guess what was going on. I believed that this wasn't something Li Xiaoman had just asked about, but rather something she had known for a long time. Because as tattoos age, they slowly crack and become blurry. But I didn't want to say anything more, and instead said carelessly: "I can see it very clearly, it's really small, indeed an airport—"

  When I said this, I was still guessing the meaning of the tattoo, but I didn't know that my words made Li Xiaoman's face suddenly turn red as she subconsciously hugged her chest and began to frantically fasten her bra. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that apart from being embarrassed, Li Xiaoman was also gritting her teeth in anger, her face alternating between red and white. My words were too hurtful and shameless; it would be strange if Li Xiaoman wasn't furious.

  It was just that I was so absorbed in my thoughts, completely unaware that Li Xiaoman had turned around and then suddenly punched me hard in the stomach, and then kicked me out again, heavily slamming me onto the carpet, and I heard Li Xiaoman gritting her teeth with suppressed anger: "Liu Hai, my patience is limited, if you dare to humiliate me like this again, who knows, I might really kill you."

  As soon as the words fell, Li Xiaoman panted heavily, her eyes glaring at me fiercely. Unfortunately, I didn't take it seriously and managed to squeeze out a smile while lying on the ground hugging my stomach: "Don't glare like that, you already look like a man, if you glare even more, you'll look even more like one——"

  Li Xiaoman's body stiffened, although this is a fact, not to mention her appearance, but also her words and deeds are no different from those of a man. This must be the case for many years, otherwise Li Xiaoman would still be abnormal, always treating herself as a man, I don't know if she will find a woman or something, hehe, I really haven't seen it before. My mind was filled with random thoughts, and my face showed it, looking very strange.

  Looking at my annoying face, Li Xiaoman almost fainted with rage. She restrained herself from killing me on the spot and panted heavily for a while before kicking me lightly, without using much force. Then, suppressing her anger, she said coldly: "Don't provoke me, I was raised as a boy since childhood, and when I was young, I even thought I was a boy myself. This isn't something I chose, nor is it anything to laugh at. If you think it's funny, then go ahead and laugh your fill, mock me all you want, but get up and talk afterwards. However, I'm not sure if I can restrain myself from hitting you - after all, you have a face that's just begging to be slapped."

  I was stunned for a moment, and then I realized that I had indeed touched someone's sore spot. As the saying goes, "don't hit people in the face, don't scold people for their shortcomings." This is what I have always followed, so when Li Xiaoman's words fell, I fell silent, just nodding my head, and sat on the ground staring at Li Xiaoman waiting for her to speak. I knew she would definitely tell me the reason.

  It wasn't until I stopped talking nonsense that Li Xiaoman slowly calmed down, and after a while, she said in a low voice: "This tattoo is a map. I don't remember when I got it. My father told me that it was when I was a child. My grandfather took me out to find this secret, which was near your hometown. He encountered his opponent there, and many people came to search for it. A fierce battle ensued, and my grandfather was seriously injured. However, he discovered something at the time and wanted to leave with his life, but it wasn't easy. In order to bring out the secret, he tattooed the map on my back when I was just over a year old. Afterwards, he begged his opponent to hand over his body and me to my family, and then took his own life. Those people didn't bother a small child like me, so they sent someone to send me and my grandfather's body back home."

  It's indeed a legendary story, but I don't have any feelings about it. Watching Li Xiaoman put on her clothes, I just sighed and said: "Li Xiaoman, I think you're already very rich now, no matter what kind of treasure it is, how much significance does it still hold for you? Is it worth risking your life to find it? At least I know your father is an example."

  Li Xiaoman fell silent for a moment, but there was no sorrow on her face. After a while, she said in a low voice: "You're right, if it's a treasure, whether it's a mountain of gold or silver, it doesn't have much significance to me. Our Li family may not be very rich, but I can spend my entire life without finishing the money, and with our abilities, it's easy to maintain this lifestyle. Do you really think I would be moved by those earthly things?"

  I was stunned for a moment, the treasure I imagined was almost gold and silver jewelry, like on TV, but since it wasn't these gold and silver treasures, what could it be? Looking at Li Xiaoman's face full of hope, I really couldn't guess, so I just smiled bitterly.

  It took Li Xiaoman a while to come back to her senses, sitting across from me with a fervent glow in her eyes: "Liu Hai, this is a big secret. I promise you, as long as you can help me get the things inside out, no matter what you want, as long as it's something money can do, even if it means I'll be left penniless, I'll make sure to give it to you - money, women, or anything else."

  "I don't have such high ideals, as long as I can get by, that's good enough. As for women, I only want the ones I like, not those bought with money. These things aren't worth risking my life for. Can you tell me what's really inside?" I'm not stupid enough to believe Li Xiaoman. If it's gold, silver, and jewels inside, then I won't need to listen to Li Xiaoman's words, and I can achieve everything he promised just by taking some out. But if it's not gold, silver, and jewels inside, then it must be something incredibly precious.

  Li Xiaoman furrowed her brow, hesitated for a moment, and then stared at my face: "Actually, there's nothing inside, just a map. Although I can risk my life to find it, it's just a waste of paper for you or anyone else. That map is only helping me find a place where I can make my dreams come true. For the sake of my dreams, I'd rather risk my life."

  Dreams? I wouldn't really believe it, but looking at Li Xiaoman saying this, the fervor in her eyes made me certain that the thing was indeed something Li Xiaoman had pinned her hopes on. But what could Li Xiaoman's dream be? It seemed like Li Xiaoman wouldn't say anything more clearly. The only thing that could be confirmed was that there were no gold, silver or jewels inside. Although Li Xiaoman wouldn't continue speaking, I could make an indirect attack: "Alright, the inside is your dream, but I want to know how much you understand about that place. Think about it, with your father's skills, he still lost his life in that place and couldn't take the thing out. It must be very dangerous inside. Can we go in and come back alive? Why don't you think about it from a different perspective?"

  Unfortunately, my words failed to awaken Li Xiaoman, but instead made her eyes even more fervent: "Father seeks benevolence and obtains benevolence, what's wrong with that? If I can get that map, I'm willing to die for it."

  I sought benevolence and obtained it, my face twitched, I just hummed a sound, what should I say, where is this kind of daughter, I didn't see any point that Li Xiaoman was sad about Li Hongjun's death, did Li Hongjun really seek benevolence and obtain it? How come I saw Li Hongjun's unwillingness and despair, although he said it was self-inflicted, but Li Hongjun's death was not calm, and I believe Li Hongjun will also end up with eternal damnation, after all, he used the evil blood curse technique, at least I think this is impossible to have any good results, the more powerful the technique, the greater the cost.

  "You all sought benevolence and got it, who did I provoke, I just wanted to live my life honestly, why drag me into this too." The voice was somewhat stifled, leaning on the sofa with some helplessness.

  Upon hearing my words, Li Xiaoman suddenly smiled and walked over to sit next to me, looking at me with a hint of a smile: "It wasn't me who dragged you into this, now we're in this together, if I die, you'll die too. If you want to blame someone, go blame my father, this has nothing to do with me."

  My face fell, and I was really annoyed. This is too irresponsible! I snorted: "You and your dad are just the same, I don't know what sin I committed in my previous life..."

  "Alright, let's not waste any more words. The situation now is that I already know everything, and even if you refuse to help me, I'll still go look for it myself. Let's not mention what would happen if I die, but if I were to disturb the zombies, perhaps the outcome you fear most might occur. If you follow me, maybe we can still prevent things from escalating further. What do you think?" Li Xiaoman seemed to have already calculated that I would definitely give in, and indeed, what she said made sense. My heart skipped a beat as I weighed this possibility, and perhaps I really did need to follow her and take a look. After all, I didn't want to die either, and I hoped to prevent all of this from happening.