My Wandering Swordsman

The next few hours felt like an eternity to me.

I huddled in the tin shack, flipping through the script over and over, but I couldn't concentrate on a single word. My mind was filled with the warm breath of my aunt when she leaned close to my ear.

"Wait for me at the entrance of the film studio at 9:30 pm."

This sentence kept echoing in my mind, and I couldn't stop it.

I got up early and changed into a collared shirt and trousers, smoothing my hair repeatedly until I was sure I looked presentable before nodding in satisfaction.

I don't know where Hua Heshang and Liu Zi went. I muttered a curse under my breath. With those two not around, I have no one to talk to. All my emotions are bottled up inside.

The clock had just struck eight. My heart was pounding. I straightened my collar, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to leave.

The film studio was unusually quiet at night, with all the daytime hustle and bustle completely gone.

At 8:20, having arrived forty minutes early, I stood at the entrance of the film studio, looking around, feeling inexplicably nervous.

But I stood there for less than five minutes.

A white Citroën Fukang car drove up from a distance, its headlights casting two bright beams in the night.

The car slowly stopped in front of me, the window rolled down, revealing my aunt's exquisitely beautiful face, almost unreal.

"Get in the car!" she said.

My aunt is here so early?

Despite my surprise, I opened the passenger door and climbed in.

The pleasant scent of gardenias mingled with my aunt's faint body odor. I suddenly felt a little flustered and stammered, "Auntie, why are you here so early?"

My aunt smiled, her eyes crinkling: "Silly boy, weren't you here even before me?"

She looked me up and down, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes: "Oh, you've changed your clothes? So formally dressed?"

I rubbed the hem of my clothes, but the words "I wore this to see you" just wouldn't come out.

"It's alright, I just picked one randomly."

My aunt didn't say anything more and silently started the car.

The Fukang car slowly drove away from the film studio and headed into the depths of the night. The streetlights outside the window receded one after another, like a flowing river of light.

I don't know where my aunt is taking me, and I don't plan to ask. As long as I can be with her, I'm fine with going anywhere.

The car drove smoothly through the night for more than twenty minutes before finally stopping at the entrance of a residential area.

I glanced through the windshield and saw a European-style wrought iron gate, a clean and tidy guardhouse, and two rows of neatly trimmed sycamore trees planted at the entrance.

In 1999, those who could live in such a place were either very rich or very powerful.

My heart suddenly started beating erratically.

An idea popped into my head.

Is my aunt taking me home?

Immediately afterwards, a series of inappropriate images flashed through my mind: warm orange lighting, a soft sofa, my aunt wearing pajamas, lounging lazily on the sofa...

I swallowed and suddenly felt my throat was a little dry.

"Clatter".

My aunt turned off the car, pulled out the key, and then turned to look at me intently.

The carriage was so quiet that only the sound of each other's breathing could be heard.

I noticed her gaze, turned my head, and met my aunt's eyes.

At that moment, I felt as if I had been frozen in place, unable to move.

My aunt has beautiful eyebrows and eyes, light-colored lips, and eyes that seem to hold a deep pool. I only glanced at her once, and I was never able to look away.

The two heads drew closer and closer...

My mind went blank, and whether it was a natural reaction or something else, my lips involuntarily pursed.

"Xiao Ji," Auntie finally spoke.

"Mmm," I murmured in response, my eyes still tightly closed, anticipating what was about to happen.

"You want...me?"

"Uh-huh."

I had no idea what I was saying; I just nodded mechanically, my mind filled with my aunt's face so close to mine.

A moment of silence.

A few breaths later, I heard a soft laugh from across the room, a voice tinged with affection: "Okay, then Auntie will give it to you."

Ok? !

wrong!

I woke up with a start, my pupils dilated instantly, and I felt like I'd been struck by lightning. I jumped up from my seat and hit my head on the roof of the car.

What?!

It was only then that I belatedly realized how strange the conversation had been, and my face flushed red: "No, no, no, Auntie, that's not what I meant! I, I..."

My aunt raised a finger and gently shushed me, signaling me to be quiet.

Her gaze fell on my face, with an expression I couldn't understand.

My aunt lowered her eyelashes, looking pitiful, and her red lips parted slightly:

"I know."

"I know how old this body is for someone your age... If you want it, your aunt can give it to you."

I shook my head vigorously, my face turning red from the base of my neck to the tips of my ears: "No, no, no, Auntie, I didn't! I really didn't!"

My aunt ignored my denial and continued, "However, you have to grant me one request."

condition?

I was stunned. Most of the chaotic thoughts in my mind were instantly extinguished, leaving only confusion.

My aunt looked at me, her gaze becoming even more serious: "Xiao Ji, you're really good at fighting, aren't you?"

I was taken aback; I hadn't expected her to ask that.

However, seeing that she finally stopped mentioning that embarrassing topic, I breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "It's...it's alright. There are martial arts practitioners everywhere in Foshan. There are a few master martial artists in our village. I learned a few moves from a young age. I'm not that great, but three or five strong men usually can't get close to me."

My aunt's eyes lit up immediately.

She stared into my eyes and said, word by word, "Fine, you'll teach someone a lesson for your aunt. In return, your aunt will give you one chance."

I was stunned.

A lesson for the individual?

Who could possibly make my aunt hate someone to such an extent that she'd resort to such a method... in exchange? And given my aunt's status, is there anyone in Hengdian she can't teach a lesson, whether through favors or money? That shouldn't be the case.

After a pause, I asked, "The lesson you're talking about, is it... being hit?"

My aunt nodded.

A strange, indescribable emotion welled up inside me.

A few seconds later, I asked, "Auntie, what happened?"

My aunt opened her lips as if she wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back.

She sighed, as if she had used up all her strength: "Get out of the car. I'll take you up."

She pushed open the car door and stepped out first in her high heels.

I sat in the passenger seat, stunned for a while, before unbuckled my seatbelt and followed.

As the night deepened, I watched my aunt's slender back, my mind a jumbled mess.

Tonight's events seem to be much more complicated than I expected.