"You know me? Who are you?" I asked, staring at the fresh-faced woman before me, unable to place who she might be.
The woman sniffled a few times before wiping her tears away. "My name is Jeane. I came here with the lady."
"The lady? You mean Daphne?" I asked urgently. What were the odds? I'd never expected this random rescue to involve one of Daphne's people.
Jeane nodded. Though I didn't recognize her, she'd seen me before - after all, she was Daphne's constant companion.
I quickly untied Jeane. If she'd accompanied Daphne here, then where was Daphne now? And how had Jeane ended up in the Living Dead's clutches?
Jeane's face darkened as she explained. They'd merely asked the Living Dead for directions, but he'd challenged them to a wager. If they won, he'd guide them up Zhongnan Mountain free of charge. If they lost, one of them would have to become his wife.
Daphne had brought two attendants - Jeane and another girl named Norma. If they lost, naturally one of these two would become the Living Dead's bride.
This was absurd. They were strangers here - why would they gamble with some random man, especially on such terms?
But the Living Dead proved cunning. He claimed to know the location of the Polygonatum sibiricum spiritual herb Daphne sought, promising to lead them safely up Zhongnan Mountain.
The temptation proved too great for Daphne. She'd come specifically for the Polygonatum sibiricum - a cure for her hair condition. She couldn't bear her ape-like appearance any longer. Zhongnan Mountain's treacherous paths made the journey perilous, but with a guide...
After much hesitation, Daphne agreed. To protect Jeane and Norma, she stipulated that if they lost, she alone would become the Living Dead's wife.
Of course, Jeane and Norma couldn't let Daphne make that sacrifice. They insisted on taking her place if needed.
That's when the Living Dead produced a coin, proposing a simple wager: Daphne and the girls would guess whether it landed on the character or pattern side.
Daphne guessed "character" - and lost. The coin showed its pattern side. Suspicious, Daphne snatched the coin when the Living Dead wasn't looking. Both sides bore patterns.
Furious, Daphne cried foul. "This isn't gambling - it's fraud! How dare you try such an ancient trick!"
The Living Dead remained unfazed. "Even with two patterns, you could have guessed 'pattern' and won. No one forced you to say 'character.' Where's the fraud? Who cheated whom?"
The revelation left the trio speechless. Indeed, if both sides showed patterns, Daphne could have simply guessed "pattern" and won. Technically, having identical sides didn't invalidate the bet.
That's when the Living Dead seized Daphne. "You lost fair and square. A wager's a wager - you're coming with me as my wife now."
Terrified, Daphne struggled violently, but how could a delicate young lady break free from the Living Dead's iron grip?
Suddenly, Jeane whipped out a pistol and pressed it against the Living Dead's temple. "You cheating old bastard! Lay another finger on our lady and I'll blow your brains out!" she snarled. Nobody came to a place like Zhongnan Mountain unarmed - it was no paradise.
The Living Dead released Daphne but responded with a ghastly grin, completely unfazed by the weapon. He actually dared Jeane to shoot.
Infuriated by his arrogance, Jeane decided to teach him a lesson - maybe wound him in the arm or leg without killing him. But then she discovered she couldn't move at all. An invisible force pinned her body down as eerie children's laughter echoed in her ears. Her trigger finger froze - completely paralyzed.
Daphne and Norma rushed to her side, demanding to know what was wrong. Jeane realized with horror that this man was no ordinary opponent. "Run!" she screamed desperately. "Take the lady and run!"
Understanding immediately, Norma dragged the reluctant Daphne away. The Living Dead casually picked up Jeane's discarded pistol and emptied the magazine at the fleeing women. Fortunately, his marksmanship proved poor, and the darkness provided cover - every shot missed. Daphne and Norma escaped, but Jeane became the Living Dead's unwilling bride... until I rescued her from that fate.
"You were incredibly naive," I scoffed. "Zhongnan Mountain's crawling with shady dealers and supernatural threats these days. Did you really think a gun would keep you safe?"
I considered telling Jeane the harsh truth - that the Polygonatum sibiricum grass didn't exist, that Nuwa's Forsaken Shade had deceived Daphne. The revelation might destroy her - having risked everything coming to this dangerous place, nearly losing her life, all for a lie.
Jeane hung her head. "I knew the dangers," she admitted. "But when the lady insists, what choice do I have? I must follow."
She had a point. This wasn't the attendant's fault - Daphne's willfulness caused this mess. Though given her condition, I understood. Women would sacrifice anything for beauty.
"So where is Daphne now?" I asked Jeane. "Do you know?"
Jeane shook her head. "We got separated. I don't know where the lady went now." She explained they'd spent the past two days wandering the mountain's base, too terrified to ascend.
It wasn't just them - Zhongnan Mountain now teemed with people, mostly underworld profiteers and various sect members. Many who ventured up never returned. Those who did either came back dead or insane. That's why they hadn't dared climb further.
If Daphne hadn't ascended, that actually worked in my favor. I just needed to find her and bring her straight back. Those hairy growths poisoning her body? A simple charm could burn them away - no mountain expedition necessary.
"Rest now," I told Jeane. "We'll search for Daphne at first light." I assured her the Living Dead wouldn't dare touch her under my protection.
Since Jeane belonged to Daphne's circle, confronting the Living Dead became inevitable. I needed to devise a permanent solution for that bastard. How dare he prey on women? Utterly inhuman.
Jeane quickly fell asleep while I strategized in the chair. Eventually, exhaustion claimed me too. Dawn arrived with unsettling news - the little fox still hadn't returned. I instructed Jeane to stay put and summoned Boss Qin to deliver breakfast.
Boss Qin's startled reaction upon seeing Jeane confirmed my suspicion - he'd connected the dots. I didn't care if he tattled to the Living Dead. Settling Daphne's score was overdue anyway. Our confrontation was inevitable.