Chapter 91
Diary
They lightly get off the bed, go to the wardrobe to get clothes, and then enter the adjacent bathroom. The sound of water rings out for a few minutes; Thuong Tung opens his eyes but still pretends to be in a deep sleep. His pupils silently shift toward the bathroom, his sharp and cold eyes seem to want to shred everything, to see if they are truly bathing?
Thuong Tung understands that if there were any shady business, they would never dare to play tricks while by his side. But suspicion always haunts those who fear being betrayed. Especially these women who, for the sake of a living, do not hesitate to sell their bodies for various men to play with. They once poured honey into men's ears, indulged their true natures, and followed the whims of perverts, all just to change their lives.
These cunning women lie with him only in pursuit of wealth and glory. If someone stronger than him appears, these three women could completely become that man's women, even offering their bodies for a guy like Dang Khong to enjoy.
Thuong Tung is busy thinking when he suddenly hears the water being turned off. He pretends to be asleep, waiting for what happens next. Through his half-closed eyelids, his field of vision is as narrow as a thread; he vaguely sees the girls dressed neatly, seemingly preparing to meet someone.
Suspicion surges. Thuong Tung remains calm as he watches them sit down to blow-dry their hair, the whirring sound challenges his patience. He suppresses his impulses and waits for them to leave the room, then immediately gets up and follows closely behind.
Today Dang Khong is not home, so Thuong Tung is not afraid of being suspected or misunderstood, but he still carefully maintains a safe distance. They walk upstairs carefree, singing cheerfully. Walking along the corridor to that room that is always open, the cunning vixens stop, tidy their clothes once more, and step inside.
Thuong Tung has guessed their intent, but he still needs to verify it. He stands in a dark corner. He presses his eyes to the door to watch the "prostitutes," solemnly dressed in brown shirts, bowing respectfully with hands joined in prayer before the statue of the God of Selflessness—the deity of compassion, mercy, joy, and equanimity—who sits majestically amidst the swirling incense on the altar.
A few seconds later, the Grand Princess raises her hand, intending to flip a page of the sutra. Thuong Tung narrows his eyes to watch. She suddenly pauses for a moment, looking confused and embarrassed, and quietly apologizes:
- I am too careless, I almost contaminate the sutra. Please forgive me!
The Younger Princess quickly stops her hand just as it is reaching for the bundle of incense. The two put on gloves before lighting the incense. Thuong Tung furrows his brows, thinking: Contaminated? What the hell! They just finished bathing; their bodies are even more fragrant and clean than before a bout of "clouds and rain"...
Thuong Tung mocks himself by slapping his forehead, laughing as if he wants to cry because of his godless nature. He is so suspicious that he forgot they were just diving in the ocean of desire. His mistresses are such devout believers that they must be cautious, solemn, and strict in every detail.
He nods with a smile as the two Younger Princesses join their hands in prayer. The Grand Princess holds a small rod with a page-turning tool attached and strikes the wooden fish. Having finished chanting the page, she bows her head and turns to the next. She chants softly, her solemn voice completely different from the moans when reaching the peak.
He was originally indifferent to the mystical world, but now he listens with full concentration from beginning to end. This time, Thuong Tung is not frantically searching for an answer, because Stone—the Grand Princess—offers a prayer at the end of the sutra, and it is answering him:
- May the gods bless my family to overcome all misfortunes and calamities; give my husband and my mother health to prevent illness, and help us successfully complete all tasks!
She joins her hands over her heart: "Chakravartin, Selflessness!"
Although they are fanatical and hold supreme respect for the gods, Thuong Tung is in no hurry to conclude if they truly wish him well. Regardless, at least for this moment, he feels happy and relieved. At the same time, he notes that Stone still has a mother.
Thuong Tung watches them bow their heads once more, then retreat to the left to avoid facing the idol directly, taking off their brown shirts, folding them neatly, and placing them respectfully on the shelf. Thuong Tung hurriedly rushes into the distance, feigning a look of searching all around, calling out:
- Stone, Glass, Crystal, where are you?
Thuong Tung sees the three women looking radiant and fresh. His lovers show no unusual expressions except for having left the room a bit too quickly, as if they fear that if he spends too long searching for them, he will become suspicious. Ten steps away from the God-Worship Chamber, the solemnity vanishes, and they regain their passionate nature of seducing men, lightly hooking their arms around his neck and kissing his lips:
- What's wrong, my dear husband! Can't you sleep without my scent?
The smile on the corner of Thuong Tung's mouth suddenly becomes less happy. He is still bothered by the fact that they came out faster than usual, but other than that, he cannot blame them for anything. Thuong Tung exhales, silently cursing his suspicious nature, a doubt that sometimes makes him miss good opportunities.
They furrow their brows, looking at him in confusion. Thuong Tung smiles and opens his arms. The three princesses immediately throw themselves into his embrace. The Grand Princess leaps up and hugs him, wrapping her long legs around his body, kissing her "husband." The two Younger Princesses perform intimate cleaning for him; his weapon, freshly cleaned, points straight and high.
Thuong Tung pins her firmly against the wall, reaching out to pull away his lover's protective belt as she lets out a "hei hei" laugh. Thuong Tung immediately swings his weapon and charges into the Forbidden Palace. He smirks triumphantly, plucking two succulent peaches, propping up one of her legs, and the two of them jump and bounce incessantly in the corridor. The female monster asks amidst her panting:
- Why didn't you call for Ngoc just now, but instead called me by my name?
Thuong Tung suddenly picks her up. She is startled, nearly losing her balance, and reaches out to grab his shoulders. Thuong Tung supports her back and holds her firmly in his arms. His lover giggles, once again encircling her legs around his waist. He explores the deepest part of that bottomless cave as he walks:
- If I say I'm starting to like you all, would you believe it?
A shy red overwhelms the excited pink on their faces; they lightly purse their lips and smile, leaning their heads on his shoulder. Thuong Tung picks up his "wife" once again. She grips him with her legs like a circus act to maintain her posture. The four of them "dance" from the corridor back to the secret chamber.
On the bed with soaked covers and a wet mattress after a bout of "cloud and rain," that pack of animals is lying there, embracing and confiding in each other. Thuong Tung narrows his eyes, noticing Stone's gloomy face; she hesitates several times before speaking. Under his passionate care and gentle questioning, she finally whispers:
- I miss my mom!
Thuong Tung widens his eyes, feigning surprise:
- Uh, why didn't you tell me sooner? Where does Mom live?
Stone answers that it is in the Endless Clouds area. She is about to say something but then hesitates, making Thuong Tung a bit impatient. The fragile Crystal princess lowers her head, which only piques his curiosity further; she is not acting out of shame, but showing the same fear as Stone. The sharp Glass furrows her brows, her whole body itching as her uncontrollable nature urges her to satisfy her inner craving.
The little slut runs back to her room, returns after a moment, and thrusts a book into Thuong Tung's hands. Crystal and Stone look confused and try to grab the book back, but Glass immediately stops them:
- How much longer are you and Mom going to keep this secret?
Crystal stammers:
- But...
Glass clicks her tongue:
- "But" what? I don't want to see you two suffer anymore!
Thuong Tung asks blankly:
- What are you talking about? I don't understand!?
Glass embraces the silently weeping Crystal. She urges him to read it, saying he will then understand. Thuong Tung's heart is burning with heat, wanting to get this over with quickly so he can continue the fun, so he flips through the book and reads:
March 3rd
I never liked writing in a diary, but today is an unforgettable day; I want to keep the memory of that person. If it hadn't been for that person's timely rescue, perhaps my sister and I would have been gang-raped to death by that lustful mob. If that were the case, I could not now pour all my feelings into these very first lines of my life's diary.
Although not tall, at the moment he defeats that group of perverts, that man is as majestic as a god. That demeanor makes everyone look up in awe. The aura that blankets the entire sky makes my heart flutter… and… perhaps even my younger sister is conquered. Her eyes, filled with adoration, speak of all the emotions within her heart. From that day on, she constantly dreams of seeing that man again. And I, too, harbor hope…
Thuong Tung does not understand. He narrows his eyes, seeing the faces of Crystal and Glass turning bright red. The fragile one lowers her head in embarrassment, while the strong one turns her face in another direction.
Thuong Tung flips through the following pages. For many days, many months, she almost always talks about that hero with deep yearning, longing to meet again to express her gratitude…
December 17th
The wish finally comes true, but the reality is too cruel. Why do a mother and her two daughters all fall in love with the same man? Why does the person I yearn for day and night end up becoming my stepfather? It is not fair. Clearly, I am the one who developed feelings for that man first, so why does fate tease us again, making him my mother's husband?
My younger sister cannot accept this fact either. She puts on a forced smile outside, using antics and jokes to hide her melancholy thoughts. Whenever we see mother intimate with that man, our hearts ache once again.
This torment and jealousy toward mother lead our spirits to suffer agonizing torture, and ignite an extreme nostalgia for the hero. Reason tosses and turns in the "love" of sin; we and mother cannot suppress the intense feelings for that man.
That feeling grows within the heart, eroding all emotions, suffocating us, stifling the conscience, and even driving a deranged psyche to do immoral things to relieve all the suppressed "irritation." Otherwise, we sisters will go mad from this guilty emotion.
But how can we justify it? Sin, after all, is sin. The mother and two daughters always live in torment, pain, and self-cursing.
We do not want to feel guilty toward the mother who must sacrifice her entire life so her children do not suffer, even if she must be the substitute for those pure "Muses" in that man's perfect dream.
Although mother is determined to be a shadow for the rest of her life, every time her husband yearns for the princess in his dreams, mother's heart still hurts.
Mother appears cheerful every day, but that man does not know mother is always melancholy. After making love with the person who views her as a substitute, she silently weeps.
That man also does not know that behind him is the resentful gaze of the person he shares a bed with. Mother has to silently swallow her tears into her heart, living a "replica" life in melancholy. We sisters also grieve for this unrequited love with no way out.
Mother, I am sorry, but… we cannot let go of the deep affection that we can never forget in this lifetime. We apologize to mother…
At first, Thuong Tung feels extremely shocked. A strong impulse, fear, and loathing for the "heinous crime" he has committed surge through his entire body. His eyes quiver with hatred toward fate, blaming the one he loves… because… the truth is revealed only when the rice is already cooked. Reproach pours out from his bloodshot eyes, filled with scalding, bitter tears.
He lowers his head, scratching his head in frustration. Mad thoughts try to force him to scream and curse. But in any situation, the concept of a gentleman is deeply rooted in his nature… preventing him from being rude… and… advising him to read everything to understand and sympathize with these lonely women. They cannot rely on anyone, only clinging to this person they miss day and night.
Every line, every word is a "heart-to-heart soaked in bitter tears." Now, tears blur the vision of a man who is always devoted to his family. Stone clenches his trembling hands, gripping the hem of the shirt that still bears the traces of foul secretions and sin:
- Four years ago, you drove away that group of lechers who wanted to rape my daughters. At that time, they were all wearing masks, the sky was dark and foggy, and you were busy handling personal matters. After you focused on taking the victims to the police station, you immediately drove away, not noticing whether they have taken off their masks or not.
At that time, he did not yet know of the existence of Dang Khong in this world, nor had he made any connections with Hero. At that time, there was no power like the one he has now, and the silent fellow could not manipulate behind the scenes or arrange such a situation of befriending and then exploiting him.
But he believed this diary, mainly because those tragic and pathetic passages, as well as the traces of painful longing, were all blurred or had lost their strokes because they had been soaked in tears. These stains have turned yellow over time, which is enough to prove that this "true love" is by no means a lie.Thuong Tung lowers his head in silence, unable to move even a single finger.
Glass feels a secret joy in her heart; she glances at the triumphant delight shining in Crystal's eyes. Stone curls her lips into a smile, celebrating happily within. These emotions of "satisfaction" are separate from the outward displays of pain, resentment, shame, and self-reproach. Glass proudly praises her benefactor:
- Saving someone is a natural thing for a stepfather who asks for no gratitude!
She covers her face and breaks into loud wailing; every choked sob echoes within Thuong Tung's chaotic mind:
- But that noble demeanor is etched into the memories of the victims. The moment the heart trembled can never be forgotten for a lifetime. For four years, that nostalgia, containing melancholy thoughts, has been deeply etched into every single page of the diary...
Thuong Tung no longer worries or feels hesitant about that indelible "nostalgia" she skillfully mentioned. The green-bearded demon indulges in that forbidden "love," binding "family affection" with filthy desires. He feels a bitter sorrow that his "dear wife and good children" have to suffer in silence because of this "love".
The Crystal sisters glance at each other; the two little sluts slightly curl the corners of their mouths. A flash of laughter flickers in their eyes. The Great Female Monster puts away that smirk from half her mouth, turning instead to bite her lip to suppress a weak voice… right at the moment… when the "hero" of yesteryear raises his head, revealing a face full of tragic misery:
- How stupid I am for not realizing your feelings!
Stone silently embraces him, daringly burying her tear-stained face into that 'soul' which is crying out for 'family affection':
- You will always be the strong "pillar" for me and the children. So please let us "take care of" our husband and father… to… repay your past kindness! That is how "the whole family loves each other," because we are one family!
The exquisite and gentle gentleman transforms into a standard "breadwinner," charming these "relatives." But Crystal still cannot overcome the ethical "obstacle." Glass pulls her "stepfather" into her arms, pats him, and advises her older sister:
- If you bury your feelings, everyone will suffer. In the end, the family will be destroyed, and we will have to live a life worse than beasts just like before. Happiness or tragedy—it all depends on your decision?!
This alarm terrifies Crystal. Compared to the guilt, she is more afraid of a life where her body is abused and her dignity is trampled. The fragile princess's will instantly collapses; panicked, she rushes forward to hug her "stepfather." The "father" person comforts her affectionately, using polite kisses like a gentleman to wipe away the "daughters'" tears.
The murky heart has never been pure; the chaotic thoughts are always immersed in sensual pleasures. Now that God has created "family affection," the smoldering fire of desire ignites once again, warming the family bonds as the entire family indulges in a feverish love for one another.
After struggling on the bed all night, the blankets, sheets, pillows, and mattresses turn into a chaotic battlefield. Thuong Tung embraces his wife and children and proposes bringing his mother-in-law here to take care of her. Stone appreciates this filial piety:
- Mother said at the time that she had been used to rural life since she was a child; in fact, she was worried that living in the same house as her son-in-law would be very inconvenient. Two weeks ago, Mother was unwell. I said that the two daughters and I would stay behind to take care of her. Mother was worried that her granddaughters would be late for their exams in the city. She said at the time that it was just an old woman's minor illness and not to worry. She advised and forced me to take good care of their food and lodging, and she even personally supervised their exam preparations.
Thuong Tung nods in understanding, waiting thoughtfully for his "wife and children" to fall asleep. He writes a few lines on a piece of paper, packs his clothes and personal belongings into a large bag, flings it over his shoulder, and leaves the house that very night.