Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3942 The Story of Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao: The Lingering Charm After the Storm
"Please do not leave the city for the time being; the police may summon you at any time."

A Japanese policeman with a flower on his shoulder spoke to Professor Tang in a serious tone, then nodded slightly and prepared to leave.

"Wait a minute!" Professor Tang said, frowning. Being inexplicably detained overnight, with nothing uncovered, and even with the lawyer present, he was still told he could be summoned at any time—anyone would be unhappy. "You've all checked my phone, haven't you? There's no photo of the person involved!"

The Japanese police officer coldly said, "Please cooperate," and left.

Professor Tang followed the lawyer out of the Metropolitan Police Department, his head still buzzing.

"Well, how should I put it..." the lawyer tried to comfort him, "Professor Tang, we just passed an amendment to the criminal law, defining upskirt filming as a sex crime... so now some... so Professor Tang, do you know why we're still selling non-smartphones here...?"

"But I'm innocent! I was just looking at the exhibits!" Professor Tang found it completely incomprehensible.

The lawyer said with a wry smile, "That's the most troublesome part..."

"Huh?!" Professor Tang's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

The lawyer looked around, then pulled Professor Tang forward while whispering, "I understand you're innocent, and the police understand that too, but... if you really did film it, it would be simple: plead guilty, pay the fine, and the case would be closed... But now... I've seen that client... if I'm not mistaken, that client... heh, must have imagined this kind of situation countless times..."

"Wh...what do you mean?" Professor Tang was increasingly confused as he listened.

The lawyer sighed. "That client's reaction... was very proud... If I'm not mistaken, that client is probably enjoying being one of the subjects of these paparazzi photos... This isn't surprising at all here... It's just a pity that mere speculation isn't enough evidence... So, I'm sorry..."

"But I'm innocent!" Professor Tang said angrily. "How can you frame me like this at my age?!"

"I'm so sorry, I'm really sorry..." The lawyer nodded and bowed repeatedly, "But this is the only way for now... The case is currently pending further investigation... unless..."

"Unless what?" Professor Tang pressed.

"Unless you plead guilty, Professor Tang," the lawyer said.

Professor Tang's veins bulged on his forehead as he roared angrily, "Impossible! I'm innocent! Why should I confess?!"

"Then the only option is for the client to withdraw the lawsuit," the lawyer immediately suggested the second solution. "Of course, that will cost a lot of money, a lot of money..."

Professor Tang's eyes widened. "Why? I've been wrongly accused, and I'm supposed to give her money? That woman's over there; I need to talk to her!"

The lawyer immediately shook his head. "My client has returned to Kansai... and even if she were in this city, I strongly advise against you going directly to her. This could very well worsen your crime..."

Professor Tang was utterly enraged. "Just because she said that, I'm being framed? And then she can leave, while I'm being restricted and can't go anywhere? I'm clearly being framed!"

"I'm so sorry, so very sorry... This is all I can do..." The lawyer nodded and bowed repeatedly, finally adding, "There's one last way, which is the Foreigners Act... You'll need to contact your consulate yourself, obtain a document, and then the case can be put on hold..."

"That's different!" Professor Tang felt a mix of emotions and didn't know what to say.

"I'm so sorry, I'm really sorry..." The lawyer nodded habitually to Professor Tang. "That's all I can do for you... I'll send you the bill as soon as possible... If there's nothing else, I'll be going now... Take care..."

Professor Tang watched helplessly as the lawyer walked away.

After standing there for a moment, Professor Tang turned around to look at the Sawara Police Station where he had been detained for the night.

The light beige walls of the police station building are covered with water stains from years of weathering, seemingly marks that can never be washed away.

White pillars divide the walls and windows, like carefully calibrated rulers, precisely engraving the spirit of compliance and legality onto every brick and stone.

The lettering above the entrance reads "Sawara Police Station," thick but devoid of warmth, conveying only an undeniable solemnity.

The steps were high, and people in dark blue uniforms hurried past without glancing to the side. Their expressions were always calm, their tone always professional, and they always followed the most standard procedures.

On the open ground to the right, several police cars were parked quietly, their red flashing lights on the roofs resembling congealed bloodstains.

Professor Tang looked up at the sky.

The sky was very blue.

The wind is cold.

……

……

During the Three Kingdoms period, the southeastern coast.

When we first left the coast, the sea was relatively calm.

Looking out the window, Xiao Qiao felt that the sky was high and the land was vast, with endless blue waves.

Feeling the salty sea breeze on her face, Xiao Qiao smiled and said to Da Qiao that she felt this sea breeze was different from the mountain mists and river breezes of Jiangdong; it seemed more expansive, more free, and...

Even more unpredictable.

But all freedom comes at a price.

The freedom of the two Qiao sisters was no exception, and it was quickly manifested in the most violent way...

At first, it was just that the clouds on the horizon changed imperceptibly. Initially, there were only some white cotton-like particles piling up, but in the blink of an eye, they quickly turned into lead-gray behemoths.

The sea breeze seemed to have lost its previous gentleness, becoming strong and swift, carrying coolness and moisture, pushing the waves higher and higher, rocking the large ship.

The experienced Ruggie was the first to become serious. He constantly observed the sky, wind direction, and the patterns of the waves, then suddenly shouted: "Close the doors and windows! Turn the rudder! Lower the sails to halfway! Find shore and moor! Quickly!"

The ship began to rock more noticeably.

Rugi reported to the two Qiaos, "Judging from the sky, a big storm is brewing. We must find a sheltered bay and anchor before it hits!"

Rugi spoke hastily, and without waiting for any instructions from Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, he immediately turned and left.

The crew members also began to bustle about in a chaotic manner, some adjusting the sails, some turning the heavy rudder, and some rowing vigorously to adjust the position of the large boat.

Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were asked to return to their cabin. Through the small porthole, they could see the sky darkening rapidly and the sea becoming increasingly hostile...

When the sea gets angry, it can be far more violent than even the most experienced sailor can predict.

The group hadn't gone far when the wind suddenly intensified!

The howling sound was like the wailing of thousands of vengeful ghosts, churning up the seawater into a misty spray of white foam that pelted the ship's cabin planks and sails with a dense and terrifying crackling sound!
The previously orderly waves suddenly became violent, transforming into towering, dark hills that surged in from all directions, crashing against the ship, lifting the large vessel, and then lowering it again!
This large ship, considered quite fine even in Jiangdong, now appeared as insignificant as a withered leaf casually tossed aside by a giant in the boundless, raging sea.

The ship rocked violently, and the planks and keel groaned under the strain.

The deck would tilt from time to time, sometimes crashing onto dizzying crests of waves, and sometimes plunging into deep troughs, rocking the crew on board as if it wouldn't stop until it threw them all over the sea.

The contents of the cabin rolled to the ground, and the loosely secured cages collided back and forth.

"Hold on! Hold the rudder! Hold the rigging!" Rugi's shouts were almost drowned out by the roar of the wind and waves.

Although Ruggie tried his best to maintain order, the crew members, gripped by their fear of the storm, sought an inexplicable outlet for their emotions...

"The sea god is angry!"

"There must be something unclean on board!"

"Women! It's those women! They've brought disaster upon us!"

"Throw the women overboard! Offer them to the sea god! Otherwise, the entire ship will die!"

Ignorance and superstition are often twins, two sides of the same coin.

In the midst of panic and despair, ignorance and superstition are nourished to the fullest extent, giving rise to the most primal malice.

The idea that women should not sail on ships is not entirely superstition; it also reflects a sense of helplessness in reality.

Ancient seafaring was purely physical labor. Whether operating sails and ropes, battling winds and waves, or engaging in combat, it required immense physical strength. Given the productivity of the time, women were indeed generally at a physical disadvantage. Facing raging storms, every member of the crew had to be able to withstand the elements, and each person faced the constant threat of death. From this perspective, excluding women was a strategic choice made to conserve human resources under extreme conditions, a necessary but unfortunate strategy.

On the other hand, fresh water was extremely precious on ancient ships, especially smaller vessels, which could not possibly store large quantities of fresh water in limited space, resulting in extremely poor personal hygiene. For women, menstruation in such a confined and private environment, lacking adequate cleaning facilities, would be very inconvenient and dangerous, and could even lead to illness.

Although the ancients did not understand modern medicine, they realized through observation that this problem was difficult to solve and they could not explain the source of the disease. So they simply used the simple saying of bad luck to prohibit it.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes, when Zheng He sailed to the Western Ocean, because of the size of the fleet, there was more space, so women were brought on board. However, they were still mostly older women, as well as female doctors in charge of tailoring and treating illnesses.

That's right. The elderly women Zheng He brought with him were there to spread medical knowledge in the underdeveloped regions they visited, fulfilling a diplomatic mission and conveying the brilliance of Chinese civilization. Many of these medical women settled down and brought their medical skills to the local indigenous women. But what happened later...?

At that moment, among the ships in Jiangdong, there were crew members who, out of fear of the wind and waves, took their anger out on the Qiao sisters.

They realized their own insignificance in the face of the storm, and then, out of their own fear, they poured their emotions out on the even weaker women.

Several of the most agitated crew members, their eyes bloodshot, screamed and tried to rush toward the cabin where the women were.

Rugi flew into a rage, drew his sword, and held it across the cabin door, shouting angrily, "Insolence! Who dares to step forward?!"

In the chaos, one of the most valiant sailors, known for his fierce shouting, tried to force his way through, but Ruggie decisively cleaved him in two on the deck with a single blow, the blood instantly diluted by the rain.

Lugi stood holding a knife, his beard and hair bristling, like a door god.

The other crew members and sailors took a few steps back as a result, but violence could temporarily suppress the commotion, but it could not suppress the wind and waves, much less dispel the boundless fear in people's hearts of the power of nature.

The corpse and Ruji's bloodstained knife temporarily calmed the situation, but the sense of panic continued to fester and swell in the silence.

The ship struggled in the increasingly violent winds and waves. Each violent jolt was accompanied not only by the painful groans of the timber but also by the crew's suppressed screams of fear.

Faced with the irresistible power of nature, humanity always tends to grasp at things that can stabilize its mind, whether it be superstition, faith, or something else entirely...

This has no direct connection with human production and living standards. It's like how some indigenous people in the Middle Ages believed that blood could prolong life, which led to the creation of real vampires. As a result, even in modern times, some people still believe that blood transfusions can grant immortality.

Although the crew member who shouted the loudest was killed on the spot by Ruji, many people still glared venomously at the closed hatch, as if the cabin was a harbinger of destruction.

Inside the cabin, the two Qiao sisters huddled together in a corner, trying their best to hold themselves still. Every violent jolt of the ship sent their hearts leaping into their throats.

Although Da Qiao's face was as pale as paper, after the initial discomfort and fear, she strangely calmed down and began to comfort Xiao Qiao. She held Xiao Qiao's cold hand tightly, her gentle voice conveying strength, "Sister, don't be afraid... To have lived to this day, to have witnessed the world's splendor, to have met a hero who loved you—this is a blessing many could only dream of. If fate decrees so, to be buried in this blue sea, keeping company with fish and dragons, is better than being a caged bird on land... No matter what, your elder sister will be with you..."

Da Qiao spoke frankly and sincerely.

That's really what she thought. As long as she could get out of that prison and be with her sister, she would accept anything, even death.

But for Xiao Qiao, she did not want to face death.

Xiao Qiao wasn't entirely afraid of death; she was more filled with resentment...

Xiao Qiao wept silently. She was unwilling to accept it. She still had Zhou Lang's unfulfilled wish. She wanted to see what the "more than thirty countries of Wa" that Zhou Lang had described looked like...

"No... I refuse to accept my fate!"

Xiao Qiao broke free from her sister's hand and staggered to her feet, though the rocking of the boat nearly made her fall. The tears of fear that had welled in her eyes from the rough seas hadn't yet faded, but a fierce determination ignited within them. "Zhou Lang wanted me to live, to find a way to survive at sea, to fulfill his wish of ruling thirty-six kingdoms! I can't die here! I haven't...I haven't done what I promised him!"

"But..." Da Qiao asked, somewhat bewildered, "Sister, what are you going to do?"

"I..." Xiao Qiao suddenly remembered something. She turned to her trembling personal maid and said, "Bring me my... red dance costume! And the jade fan that Zhou Lang gave me!"

"Second Mistress, this... at this time..." The maid was astonished, not knowing what was wrong with Xiao Qiao.

"Go now!" Xiao Qiao stood up straight and shouted, leaving no room for argument.

Although the boat was still rocking, Xiao Qiao was able to maintain a relatively stable center of gravity because of her light body and good dance background.

Under the astonished and puzzled gazes of her sister and the maid, Xiao Qiao quickly changed into the red dance costume that seemed somewhat out of place at the moment.

Xiao Qiao loosened some of her hair, only tying a portion loosely on top of her head, letting the rest fall to partially obscure her face. "Zhou Lang taught me… this is to pray to the gods… no, this is to pray to Zhou Lang… he, he can protect me!"

Then, Xiao Qiao took a deep breath, pushed open the hatch, and walked out!

Rugi, who was guarding outside the cabin, was immediately alarmed: "It's dangerous outside! Don't come out!"

Xiao Qiao, however, seemed not to hear.

She managed to stand firm on the violently heaving deck, her gaze seemingly piercing through the raging storm, directed towards the distant void where her beloved Zhou Lang lay...

She raised her arms, her wide red sleeves fluttering in the wind like broken, wounded wings, yet possessing a poignant beauty...

She began to dance.

This is not a graceful dance in a tranquil hall, but a staggering struggle at the entrance to hell.

Maintaining a graceful posture during a bumpy ride is simply impossible...

The ship tilted suddenly, and Xiao Qiao fell heavily onto the slippery deck, her elbows and knees throbbing with pain...

A wave crashed in, the salty seawater surging against the gunwales, soaking her hair, and choking her, bringing a suffocating pain...

But she didn't stop, she didn't back down, and she didn't run away!

She struggled to her feet. Her jade hairpin had fallen off at some point, and her jade fan had been smashed. Only a broken jade ring remained, and her long hair was torn and disheveled by the wind and rain.

She bumped her face somewhere, and it stung painfully. Warm liquid mixed with rainwater was running down her face, but she ignored it.

Her dance moves were already distorted and completely chaotic...

Driven only by instinct, it stretched, spun, fell, and got up again with the rise and fall of the ship...

Like a red swift struggling desperately in a storm, yet wanting to fly to the other side!
Rain, seawater, tears, and blood streaming down her face blurred her vision and her beautiful appearance.

She murmured silently, perhaps speaking to Zhou Yu, perhaps praying to heaven and earth, or perhaps just muttering to herself in resentment...

Seeing Xiao Qiao like this, Lugi and the crew were all shocked by this crazy yet tragic scene.

Before the might of heaven and earth, neither personal bravery nor the threat of swords and blades seem pale and powerless. Yet this frail woman dances tenaciously in the wind and rain. Though not graceful, she displays a heart-stopping will!

That is a powerful spirit that fights against wind and rain, against fate!

Whether it was a coincidence or some kind of divine intervention, just as Xiao Qiao fell and got up again and again, her head and hands injured from the collisions and friction, bleeding profusely, the blood staining the deck with the rain...

The wind seemed to have subsided slightly, and the waves were no longer crashing wildly and erratically as before.

Although the waves are still turbulent, the overwhelming and violent aura is receding at a perceptible speed!

As if an invisible hand had parted the clouds, a sliver of light struggled to pierce through and shine upon the ship!

"The wind... the waves have calmed down!" a crew member murmured in disbelief.

"We're saved!" The crew, who had been at sea for a long time, quickly noticed the change and began to cheer.

"It's...it's her! It's that lady!" Another crew member pointed to the swaying red figure on deck. "What...what did she just do?"

"Blood! It's her blood! She...she's bleeding! She's using blood as a sacrifice! She's communicating with the sea god! It's working, it's effective! Look! The waves are calmer! Calmer!"

Because of ignorance and foolishness, people are more prone to superstition.

Because of superstition, people are more likely to accept so-called divine choices and miracles.

The sharp-eyed crew members noticed the bloodstains on Xiao Qiao's face, which had been diluted and blurred by the rain, but were still quite striking...

"That's right! She, she's a priestess! She's a priestess who can calm the storm!" Someone started it, and a young crew member closest to the foredeck suddenly knelt down on the wet deck with a thud, bowing his head and muttering incantations.

Like a lit fuse, the action spread rapidly.

One, two...

More and more crew members, including those who had previously clamored to throw the woman overboard, now knelt down with awe and even fear before the red figure, soaking wet, with a mysterious posture but covered in blood!

Kneel down before Xiao Qiao, who stands tall and dances bravely in the wind and rain!
"May the priestess protect me!"

"Thank you, Shrine Maiden, for calming the storm!"

"May the priestess protect our voyage and grant us a safe journey!"

Rugi, gripping his knife, stared in disbelief at the sudden turn of events.

Of course, Lugi knew that Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were not 'witches'. If they really had any divine power, why would they need him to rescue them?
But at this moment, Xiao Qiao's reckless dance and the coincident change in weather had become a kind of 'miracle'...

Xiao Qiao herself was stunned.

She felt that the force of the wind and rain hitting her had indeed weakened, and the boat was no longer rocking so violently and terrifyingly.

She stopped dancing in a daze, raised her hand to wipe her face, and found her palm wet and sticky. Looking down, she saw it was covered in light red blood.

Only now did she realize that her forehead, cheeks, hands, and body were burning with a stinging pain...

Lugi thought for a moment, then knelt before Xiao Qiao and whispered, "Second Madam... quickly, give the order..."

"Give an order?" Xiao Qiao looked at Lu Ji's gaze, feeling both flustered and bewildered.

Xiao Qiao took two steps forward, took a deep breath of the salty and bloody air, and slowly scanned the awe-inspiring faces on the deck.

A feeling completely unfamiliar to Xiao Qiao seemed to begin to grow in her heart.

This might be a mixture of the joy of surviving a catastrophe, or perhaps a belief that one is truly protected by heaven, a miracle performed by Zhou Yu...

Instead of going through Ruggie, she stood on the deck for the first time, facing the crew directly, and spoke clearly and firmly. Her voice, which started softly, quickly became undeniably firm and full of power!

"The storm is about to subside; the sea god has granted me permission to proceed!"

Xiao Qiao paused, then raised her bloodied finger and pointed straight ahead at the bow. "Everyone back to your positions! Raise the sails, adjust course, and let's continue!"

There was no questioning, no discussion.

This is an order!

The crew, as if receiving a divine decree, responded with a resounding roar: "We will obey the witch's command!"

They quickly got up, their faces no longer showing panic and resentment, but filled with a kind of almost pious enthusiasm, and rushed to their respective posts.

The sail on the mast was carefully raised again, and the rudder was forcefully pulled back...

Seeing this, Lugi silently nodded to Xiao Qiao, stepped aside, and went to adjust the course.

Although Xiao Qiao was pointing towards the bow of the ship, the vessel might have drifted off course in the wind and waves, so it was necessary to reposition and reorient itself...

Of course, from this moment on, the person "giving orders" on this ship has changed.

It was no longer him, but Lady Qiao, who had "communicated" with the storms through blood and dance.

This naturally has its advantages, and Rugi won't say it out loud; in fact, he might even deliberately push it forward.

With this identity, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao would undoubtedly be safer during their voyage. As for the future, Lu Ji couldn't think about that too much. At least for now, the crew wouldn't harbor any ill intentions because Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were on board, because they were no longer ordinary women, but had become 'witches' who could communicate with the wind and rain, and had also performed 'miracles'!
The ship raised its sails again on the gradually calming sea and sailed forward.

Occasionally, during a break from their work, the crew would look up at the upper deck, their eyes no longer filled with the previous tyranny, but only with awe and obedience.

Xiao Qiao tilted her head, leaned on her sister's shoulder, and gazed at the horizon where the sea and sky met.

Her dark hair swayed gently in the sea breeze, and the bloodstains on her face gradually congealed, resembling some kind of mysterious totem...