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墨書 Inktalez
Man Xingzi blinked as a Blood Moon hung low in the treetops, casting a soft, cool light. The oppressive heat of the summer day faded away, replaced by a gentle breeze carrying the damp scent from Qingshan Lake.
Back then, rural life was devoid of miraculous inventions like air conditioning. Families would set up bamboo beds in the threshing grounds to cool off. By seven or eight in the evening, the vast area would be filled with dark shapes of beds, children running and playing around, while adults gathered in small groups, fanning themselves and chatting leisurely.
The night was tranquil, with moonlight flowing like silk. The faint croaking of frogs and chirping of insects created a lullaby that seemed to coax everyone into sleep.
Perhaps it was due to having eaten half a watermelon that evening; my bladder felt uncomfortably full. Just as I was drifting into a deep sleep, I turned over but found it hard to ignore the pressure. Rubbing my eyes, I decided to walk a little way off to relieve myself.
However, as I squinted through half-closed eyes, an unexpected sight startled me enough to forget my urgency. A thin mist had risen around the edges of the field, and the air was tinged with a faint fishy smell. Ethereal singing floated through the air, delicate and haunting.
The voice was soft and lingering, filled with an enchanting allure that made my cheeks flush despite my young age. Suddenly, I heard a slight rustling behind me and jumped in surprise. After a long moment, I slowly turned around to see my father moving like a somnambulist, mechanically getting out of bed and walking away into the distance.
“Dad, are you going to pee? I need to go too,” I called out softly, trying not to disturb the stillness of the night.
My father didn’t respond; he continued on like a puppet drawn toward the forest. As the singing grew clearer, more men appeared like wandering souls, forming a long line that swayed gently toward the dense woods.
A chill ran down my spine as every hair on my body stood on end. My pants felt warm and damp; I realized I had wet myself. My mind flashed back to the zombies I had seen on the Black and White television at Er Gouzi's house.
Watching the long line of men about to disappear into the distance, I didn’t know where my courage came from but found myself quietly following them—perhaps it was because my father was ahead or simply curiosity.
Using the moonlight for guidance, I crouched low, careful not to get too close or too far from them, keeping my distance at the end of the line.
The humidity in the air thickened, and the foul odor intensified. Covering my nose with one hand, I stealthily moved forward a few steps and slipped into the middle of the group. Yet those men from the village seemed oblivious to anything amiss; they wore expressions of pleasure with smiles playing at their lips.
As if responding to an unspoken command, they lined up along the lakeshore. Seizing this opportunity, I hid among some nearby bushes and peered out at what was happening outside.
Qingshan Lake was typically calm and serene in its secluded mountain setting. But in an instant, waves rose ten meters high on its surface as if forcefully parted apart—like when Tang Seng and his companions crossed the River of Sand in Journey to the West—the water rolled aside revealing muddy riverbed and aquatic plants below.
I covered my mouth in shock, terrified that I might accidentally cry out. What happened next truly felt like stepping into a world from Journey to the West; for a long time afterward, I believed that reality mirrored that fantastical tale.
From the parted waters emerged a group of creatures, their upper bodies adorned with fish heads and their lower halves consisting of two pale legs. The elongated legs shimmered with a dark blue hue, and the large fish heads opened and closed their gills, mimicking the act of breathing.
Amidst the towering waves stood a slender woman, completely naked, her alluring curves on full display. She tilted her head back towards the moon, and a large orb slowly floated out from her mouth, hovering above her head. It shone softly, reflecting the light of the Blood Moon above.
The woman sat cross-legged atop the waves, her hands forming intricate gestures while her eyes were gently closed. A few scales glimmered faintly on her face; otherwise, she appeared to be an ordinary beauty.
As the melody of her song shifted, the Half-Human Half-Fish creatures approached the men one by one, squatting beside them. Their fish mouths opened wide, and with each movement of their heads, the men emitted soft, pleasurable groans.
I watched in disgust as the fish heads moved rhythmically. It wasn't until many years later that I realized this was a matter between men and women.
Back then, I was truly young and simple!
As the seductive allure of the song reached its peak, the men's faces flushed red, and they slumped to the ground in a daze. The Half-Human Half-Fish creatures returned to the water in succession.
The air was thick with the scent of life—somewhat pungent—and I couldn't help but sneeze.
The woman atop the waves glanced alertly towards the thicket; I could almost feel her sharp gaze. I covered my mouth and lay still on the ground, terrified that I might end up like Tang Seng, captured by a monster for dinner.
The woman's delicate brows furrowed in suspicion as she withdrew her gaze. She tilted her head back and opened her mouth wide; while most people can only open their mouths to about thirty degrees, hers opened extraordinarily wide, swallowing the suspended orb whole. She then flipped over and vanished into the water, leaving Qingshan Lake serene once more.
The mist dissipated at a visible pace as a gentle breeze swept through, carrying with it the fresh scent of vegetation. The men who had previously collapsed on the ground began to return like puppets under the gentle melody.
I shifted my body; perhaps due to lying still for too long, my arms felt numb and sore. After shaking them out a bit, I turned to glance at the calm lake surface before limping after them.
On that summer morning, daylight broke unusually early. Perhaps due to last night's exhaustion, I awoke in my own bed. Suddenly recalling the strange events from last night, I intended to get up and inquire further but discovered that my Big Shorts had been changed. Instantly feeling embarrassed, I blushed deeply.
"Awake now? At your age, still wetting the bed? You’ll only make people laugh," my father shook his head disapprovingly.
I felt my face flush, stumbling over my words, unsure of how to respond.
“Dad, did you feel something was off last night? Is there any part of you that feels unwell?” I changed the subject, trying to steer the conversation away.
My father rarely showed any embarrassment, but a hint of it crossed his dark face as he replied, “Why are you asking so many questions, kid? Have you finished your summer homework? School is starting soon. You should be focusing on that.”
I stuck out my tongue and dashed out of the house. What was summer homework? It knew me, but I certainly didn’t know it.
Ling Dajun watched his son’s lively figure disappear, feeling a wave of emotions wash over him as he sat on the steps in front of the door, lighting up a cigarette and taking slow puffs.
His wife had been gone for nine years now, and he remained single, raising their son alone. He did it all to avoid marrying someone who might not treat his son well.
Last night, he dreamt of his wife, Li Juying, wearing a bright red bellyband. She smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs entwined around his waist.
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