Chapter 198: Red Shoes
Facing the suddenly mentally collapsed Clark, Li Jiahong’s emotions showed no significant change. He had received too many similar guests, even some whose performance was far more exaggerated than Clark’s. Clark was still barely maintaining some dignity at least, as basic reason still existed.
“Don’t be anxious.” Li Jiahong patted the other’s shoulder comfortingly, “Here, you are temporarily safe.”
Under Li Jiahong’s soothing, Clark gradually calmed his emotions. Indeed, here apart from the taboo items everywhere, it was unexpectedly “peaceful”.
“This place… is it somewhere in the old castle?” After calming down, Clark analyzed his situation.
Li Jiahong told him this was the forest cabin, it did not exist anywhere, only those who needed help and observed the small dwelling’s being could possibly come here.
Clark fell slightly silent. After hearing the other’s words, his heart’s summary of this place was that it was not the old castle; he might have strayed into a place beyond normal reason.
“Can I still get out?” Clark asked.
Li Jiahong chuckled: “As long as you don’t do anything out of line here, you can come and go freely, returning from wherever you came.”
So… he would still return to that old castle. Clark’s heart grew heavy.
Clark gritted his teeth: “If this place really sells anything, is there something that can help me escape my predicament?”
Li Jiahong had already roughly understood from Clark’s mouth the things that happened to the other. He thought for a moment without a result, then took out a book from the drawer of the counter, fully half a meter thick, and flipped through the catalog like checking a dictionary, saying meanwhile: “Wait a moment, I’ll check what goods to select for you.”
Clark glanced at the “menu” Li Jiahong was flipping through, but discovered he surprisingly could not read the text on it, as if suddenly losing that ability. Yet when he shifted his line of sight, the other text in the shop became readable again, and just like before, those texts automatically translated in his eyes into the language and text he was most familiar with and best understood. He could only secretly exclaim in disbelief.
For such a thick menu, Li Jiahong did not take long to search. He quickly selected the goods for Clark, then said again, “Please wait a moment, I’ll fetch the thing for you,” and pushed the movable bookshelf ladder to the second shelf from the left, taking down a pair of red shoes from the second position on the top row.
Clark also had some understanding of Shenzhou Region’s culture. Red mostly represented auspicious celebration, and red shoes generally appeared on those getting married, but in the culture Clark learned from childhood, red represented bloodiness and omen of misfortune, diametrically opposed to Shenzhou Region’s notions.
Perhaps precisely because of this, when Clark saw that pair of red shoes, he surprisingly felt a chill from them, like a viper crawling on his body, the icy breath invading his senses.
“This… what is it?” Clark nervously stared at the pair of red shoes Li Jiahong brought over. He was certain this pair of shoes was not wedding shoes in the traditional sense of Shenzhou Region. He had once had the honor to attend a Chinese wedding where only the bride among the newcomers wore red shoes, and wedding shoes should carry more celebratory elements, yet this pair of beautiful red shoes was embroidered with white chrysanthemums.
White chrysanthemums in Shenzhou Region signified mourning for the deceased, it was a “funeral flower”, not a gift for the living, much less a decoration casually embroidered on celebratory items.
“A pair of red shoes.” Li Jiahong explained with a smile, “Take it with you, it will protect you all the way.”
“Protect me?” Clark’s heart trembled, “How to protect?”
“Hard to explain, but I think you’ll understand.” Li Jiahong seemed not to know how to explain either, so he turned to seriously state the precautions for the red shoes, “By the way, there are a few important points I hope you remember well.”
“First point, after you kiss the shoes, you become the master of the shoes. It won’t get lost and will always follow you like a shadow. From then on, when you walk alone on an empty road, you might hear a second pair of footsteps, but you won’t see anyone. Don’t worry, it’s it.” Li Jiahong lightly raised his index finger.
Then he slowly raised his middle finger, making a scissor hand sign: “Second point, when you think you’ve encountered danger, the shoes will protect you in its manner, leading you out of danger until safe. You can boldly follow it with confidence.”
“Third point, please don’t wear it, and don’t let others wear it. I don’t know what will happen, but something you’ll regret will definitely happen.” Li Jiahong extended his ring finger.
“Fourth point, when you look down and see a pair of feet on the shoes, don’t look up. Keep staring at the shoes until she walks out of your line of sight.”
“Fifth point, and the last one, not only people with feet wear shoes.” Li Jiahong spread his five fingers, finally finishing the five precautions.
Clark looked at the red shoes in Li Jiahong’s hand, his Adam’s apple moving violently up and down as he secretly swallowed saliva.
“Remembered?” Li Jiahong showed some concern, saying caringly, “If not, I can repeat it again.”
“Please.” Clark nodded quickly, treating this very seriously.
Thus, Li Jiahong repeated the five taboos again from the start.
Clark listened intently and committed them to memory, keeping them in his heart.
But just as he was about to pay, Clark suddenly realized he was penniless now, with no money to pay, even though this pair of red shoes that exuded eeriness everywhere yet was exceptionally exquisite only cost 200 Shenzhou currency, far below its apparent craftsmanship value.
However, when he subconsciously touched his pocket, he discovered he surprisingly had cash on him, exactly brand new 200 Shenzhou currency.
“How… how…” Clark was stunned. He didn’t know where the money came from, but the red shoes were right before him. Life was precious, time waited for no one, so he didn’t think much and reluctantly paid the 200 Shenzhou currency.
Li Jiahong smiled slightly as he received the money, saying: “Thank you for your patronage.”
Clark looked at the money put into the cash register, silent for a moment, then said: “After paying, what will happen to me?”
“You’ll receive a blessing.” Li Jiahong said softly.
……
With the bell hanging on the door swaying and ringing, Clark also left the forest cabin. The shop assistants doing odd jobs around the small shop gathered at the counter one after another afterward.
“This foreigner has grave sins yet is unaware.” Wei Jiang said, removing the fire token and shackles from his waist. The blazing blue-red glows on both slowly faded.
“Maybe a problem with soul deficiency.” Li Duojin leaned his waist against the counter, saying. He looked at Chen Xiaolin beside him; she nodded, she also felt the anomaly on the guest just now.
Li Jiahong smiled faintly: “No matter who, a guest is a guest, to be received impartially. That’s the rule set by Boss Lin.”
