The Eleventh Son

It was a fine sunny day in early autumn.

The rays of the sun shone through the thin paper window, touching her fine, silky skin.

The water was slightly warmer than the sunlight. Feng languished in the tub, resting her delicate feet on the high edge. The sunlight touched her soles as gently as a lover's hands.

She was greatly pleased.

After travelling for more than half a month, what could be more relaxing than a hot bath? Her whole body melted into the water. Only her half-opened eyes remained free, to admire her feet.

This pair of feet had climbed mountains, waded through water, walked in the burning desert for three days, and crossed frozen rivers.

This pair of feet had kicked three hungry wolves and a bobcat to death, squashed countless vipers, and kicked Cloudy Sky, the notorious bandit of Mount Qilian, off a cliff.

Yet, this pair of feet was still delicate and exquisite, flawless-without a single scar. Even those young ladies of noble households, who never stepped out of their mansions, might not have such perfect feet.

She was more than satisfied.

Water was still heating on the stove, and she added more to the tub. Although the water in the tub was hot, she wanted it even hotter. She liked the excitement generated by heat.

She liked all kinds of excitement.

She liked to ride the fastest horses, climb the highest mountains, eat the spiciest food, drink the strongest liquors, and use the sharpest knives . . . to kill the most vicious men.

Some have said excitement makes people age faster, but this saying didn't apply to her. Her breasts were still firm, her waist still slender, her abdomen still flat, her long legs still slim, and her skin still wrinkle-free.

Her eyes were still bright and her laugh was still alluring and radiant. Whoever saw her would find it hard to believe that she was already thirty-three years old.

* * *

In the past thirty-three years, Feng Siniang had never allowed herself to be mistreated. She knew what to wear for each occasion, what to say to any sort of people, what to eat with a particular liquor, and she knew which kind of kung fu would kill which kind of people. She knew about life and how to enjoy it.

Few people were like her. She was unique. Some envied her; some were jealous of her. She was completely pleased with herself, except for one thing: she was lonely.

No excitement of any kind could dispel her feelings of loneliness.

Now, the last thread of her fatigue had dissolved in the water. She picked up a white silk washcloth and stroked her body with it.

When the soft silk touched her skin, it always brought indescribable joy, yet she wished it were a pair of hands -- the hands of a man she liked.

However soft the washcloth was, it could not match a lover's hands; nothing in the world could take the place of a lover's hands!

Gazing at her smooth, translucent, and nearly flawless body, she felt a prick of unspeakable sadness.

All at once, several huge holes were torn into the window, the door, and the wooden walls; a head was thrust through each hole, each with a pair of lustful eyes.

Some were giggling uncontrollably; some were gawking with their eyes almost popping out, completely speechless. At the sight of a beautiful naked woman, most men act like dogs. Ravenous dogs. The hole above the window had the best position, being closest and offering an unsurpassed view. The head protruding from this hole had a fat ugly face and a large rounded lump on the top, giving the illusion of one head atop the other. The sight of it was revolting, but the other heads didn't look any more pleasant.

Even a man in the bath would be terrified by the presence of so many intruders, yet Feng did not seem ruffled at all. She sat comfortably in the tub and cleaned her hand with the silk washcloth.

Without lifting her eyes, she gazed at her elegant fingers and scrubbed them carefully. When she was through, she offered the hint of a smile to the staring men. "Haven't you seen a woman take a bath before?"

More: www.spcnet.tv/readingrooms/viewstory.php?authorID=2&translationID=4