The Horseman's Forbidden Ride: A Liao Zhai's Peddler's Tale

The night was as black as ink, and the wind howled through the ancient village of Xuanli. The villagers huddled in their homes, the glow of lanterns flickering against the dark canvas of the sky. In the heart of this desolate town stood an old teahouse, its wooden sign creaking in the breeze. It was there, in the dim light of the flickering lamp, that the peddler, Lao Shou, began to spin his tale.

Lao Shou was no ordinary peddler. His eyes held the stories of countless souls, and his voice carried the weight of the ages. He had traveled through deserts and across mountains, and in each village, he found a story worth sharing. Tonight, he had come to Xuanli with a tale that had haunted him for years.

"The story," Lao Shou began, "of a forbidden ride with a horseman."

Once upon a time, in the village of Xuanli, there lived a young farmer named Ming. Ming was known for his gentle spirit and his unwavering loyalty. He had one horse, a mare named Hua, whose coat shone like the sun and whose spirit matched his own. Every day, Ming rode Hua to the fields, their bond unbreakable.

One evening, as Ming was returning from the fields, a mysterious figure approached him. The figure wore a cloak that seemed to blend into the shadows, and a horse, as dark as the night itself, followed close behind. The figure spoke in a voice that echoed like the distant roll of thunder.

"Ride with me, Ming," the figure said. "Your life will be filled with wealth, fame, and power."

Ming, feeling the weight of his poverty and the longing for a better life, hesitated. But the thought of leaving his beloved Hua behind was more than he could bear. He shook his head and turned away, but the figure's voice grew louder, more insistent.

"Ride with me, and your dreams will come true. Your horse, too, will be free from toil."

The voice was like a siren's song, and Ming, in a moment of weakness, turned back to the figure. The cloak swirled around him, and he found himself aboard the horse, riding into the night, Hua's desperate neighs echoing in his ears.

As they rode, Ming realized that he had made a terrible mistake. The road ahead was filled with dark figures, and the air was thick with an eerie silence. The horse beneath him seemed to possess a life of its own, and as they galloped, Ming felt his life force being sapped away.

The road led to an ancient, abandoned temple. Inside, the walls were covered in faded hieroglyphics, and the air was thick with dust and decay. Ming dismounted, trembling with fear, and looked around. The horseman had vanished, leaving him alone with the temple and its dark secrets.

Ming tried to leave, but the door to the temple was locked. Desperation set in as he realized that he was trapped. Days turned into weeks, and Ming grew weaker, his strength ebbing away with each passing hour. He tried to speak, but his voice was like a whisper against the wind.

Just as hope was about to desert him, the temple doors creaked open. The horseman appeared once more, but this time, his eyes were filled with sorrow.

"I must leave you, Ming. I can no longer bear the burden of your fate."

The horseman extended a hand, and Ming, in a last act of desperation, grabbed it. The hand was warm, and a surge of energy coursed through him. He opened his eyes to find the horseman gone, and the temple door swinging shut behind him.

Ming staggered out of the temple, Hua at his side. The village of Xuanli was just visible in the distance, but as he approached, he felt a strange weight upon his soul. He realized that the ride had changed him forever, and that the horseman's promises had been but a trick to lead him into darkness.

Ming's story reached the ears of Lao Shou, who had overheard the whispers of the villagers. He knew that the tale of the forbidden ride was no mere legend, but a warning from the gods. He told it to the villagers, hoping that they might understand the danger that lurked in the shadows.

As the years passed, the story of the forbidden ride became a cautionary tale. It was said that no one who heard it could ever escape the pull of the forbidden ride, and that those who dared to ride with the horseman would be forever bound to the shadows.

Lao Shou's tale had ended, and the villagers left the teahouse, their hearts heavy with the weight of the peddler's words. They would remember the story, and the lessons it held, for the rest of their days.

In the heart of the village, a young girl named Yingying listened intently to the tale. She knew that one day, she too would face the choices that Ming had made, and she hoped that the story would guide her through the darkness.

The Horseman's Forbidden Ride was a tale that would be told for generations, a warning from the past that would echo through the ages.