Chapter 281

Shopkeeper Liu took his seat: "Qixiazi? That's a rather odd name."

"If one speaks of Daoists, there are plenty of Daoist temples inside and outside Jiangzhou Prefecture, and many wandering Daoists come and go, but I've never heard this name before."

Lu Qi showed disappointment.

Xiao Ningxun said: "No problem. Shopkeeper Liu, may I ask, have there been any unusual occurrences around here lately?"

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Liu brightened: "Lately the Jiangzhou area has indeed been unsettled; several strange incidents have occurred, possibly connected to what you're investigating."

"Oh?" Xiao Ningxun set down his teacup, "What sort of strange things?"

Shopkeeper Liu leisurely recounted: "The first, and also the most eerie, took place on the water."

He pointed toward the canal: "Starting a few months ago, several boatmen of the Canal Gang who often came here for tea, chatting privately, said they'd encountered a 'water ghost'!"

Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow: "Water ghost?"

"Indeed!" Shopkeeper Liu's face showed worry: "It's said that when boats travel at midnight, one often hears strange noises from outside the boat's side, as if something is clinging to the hull and climbing up."

"They lit a lantern to look, but only caught a glimpse of a dripping black shadow that whooshed back into the water."

"It's said that deep claw marks were left on the boat's side; even the bold dove into the water to search, yet found no trace."

He paused: "At first they thought it might be an otter or a big fish, but those claw marks don't resemble either; they look more like a human hand."

"Now those who run night boats are filled with panic; many refuse to take night work."

Tuan Tuan listened with great interest: "Water ghost? What does it look like?"

Shopkeeper Liu shook his head: "Lord Master, who knows? No one has seen it yet."

"The second matter," Shopkeeper Liu continued, "concerns the chief of the Bridgehead Gang, Elder Luo."

Xiao Ran's heart stirred, the image of Luo Hongli surfacing in his mind—her water‑red garments and her jet‑black shiny braid.

Elder Luo was righteous, enjoying an excellent reputation in Jiangzhou Prefecture.

But last month, during the night, he was somehow ambushed; it's said he was seriously injured.

Now all affairs of the Bridgehead Gang are being held up by Hongli that lass. Alas, it's no easy feat—so young, yet she suddenly bears such a heavy burden.

Tuan Tuan was nibbling an osmanthus cake; hearing Hongli, she lifted her head: "Ah, that's just the Luo sister we saw earlier! Her father's injured? How pitiful!"

Xiao Ran recalled his earlier reproach of Luo Hongli, a sour feeling welled up; when he looked up, he met Xiao Ningxun's gaze, while Xiao Er and Lu Qi were looking at him; he hastily lifted his teacup and lowered his eyes.

"The third matter is a strange occurrence at the pharmacy."

"I have a distant nephew working as an assistant at Jisheng Hall; he says that for a while now, unfamiliar faces have been frequently purchasing toxic medicinal ingredients like aconite and arsenic."

"Although the quantity is not large, they buy often and pay a high price."

The few exchanged glances: water ghost clinging to boats, gang chief severely injured, poisonous substances circulating.

In Jiangzhou Prefecture, strange occurrences are indeed not few.

After the main matters were spoken, the atmosphere eased a bit.

Shopkeeper Liu chatted a bit more about Jiangzhou's scenery, then politely withdrew.

Xiao Ningxun pondered for a moment: "Since we've come, we need to get to the bottom of these matters."

The few nodded silently.

Leaving the teahouse, the few walked slowly along the riverbank back to Zui Jiangyue.

Tuan Tuan suddenly pointed at a street corner ahead: "What is that?"

The few followed the sound and saw under an old willow tree an old wooden table, spread with a bleached‑white blue cloth, on which lay a lot tube, a compass, and several old books.

Before the table stood a cloth banner bearing four large characters: "Ironclad Divination."

The stall keeper was a young man in his early twenties, wearing a somewhat worn Daoist robe, with a wooden pin stuck slantwise in his hair, idly yawning.

Xiao Ran snorted: "Even the fortune‑tellers in Jiangzhou are this young?"

As the few walked past the stall, the young Daoist sprang to his feet, fiercely staring at Tuan Tuan and shouting: "Oh dear! Young master of fortune, please wait!"

Everyone's steps halted.

The Daoist hurriedly went around the table, approached close, shaking his head and swaying, his face full of anguish:

"Not good! Not good at all! Young master of fortune, I observe a dark aura hidden between your brows; recently you may encounter a blood‑disaster!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ran burst out laughing: "What are you saying? She could have a disaster?"

The Daoist, being contradicted by Xiao Ran, momentarily faltered, then straightened his expression: "Sir, do not doubt! Heaven's secrets are unfathomable; the young are especially prone to attract evil! My eyes will not be wrong!"

He pulled a yellow talisman from his sleeve: "This is a Five Thunder Protective Talisman secretly transmitted by my master's sect."

"It costs ten taels! No, out of consideration for the young master's age, eight taels! Eight taels of silver will get you one talisman; wear it close to your body and it will surely ward off wealth‑draining calamities, turning misfortune into fortune!"

"Eight taels?" Xiao Ningxun shook his head; this fraud is really not very sophisticated.

Tuan Tuan's little face darkened: "You're the one who'll have disaster! You'll have it right away! Don't think you can swindle our money!"

The Daoist's face stiffened, being exposed by a child right to his face, he felt somewhat embarrassed: "A little child is young and doesn't understand, no harm; I'm doing this for your own good…"

Tuan Tuan pursed her little lips, cutting him off: "You don't believe me? Then get up and walk a few steps! You'll surely fall flat on your face within three steps!"

The Daoist stood up, took a big step, unconvinced: "A kid just spouts nonsense; I'll walk, I won't believe… ouch!"

Just as he lifted his second foot, he stepped on a ball, instantly losing balance and flailing forward!

"Thud!" He fell flat on his face in a full belly‑flop.

From the side alley, a child ran over: "My ball!"

He picked up the ball, gave the prone Daoist a strange look, then turned and ran back into the alley.

"Pfft—" Xiao Ran couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Xiao Ningxun also couldn't suppress a smile, shaking his head.

Lu Qi and Xiao Er looked at the smug Tuan Tuan with faint smiles.

"I told you I was right, didn't I?"

The Daoist lay in a sorry state, and after a while, dazed, he propped himself up trying to crawl up.

A small blue cloth bundle, with a "pa-da" sound, because of his fall, slipped out from his bosom, fell to the ground, scattered, several dark lumps rolled onto the ground.

Xiao Er's gaze suddenly fixed.

He stepped forward, bent down, and picked up one of the pieces.

It felt heavy in hand, icy cold to the bone, surface rough, with obvious scratches, like leftover scraps from forging.

His fingers rubbed over the iron piece's cross-section, and his expression changed instantly.

He handed it to Xiao Ningxun: "This is tempered fine steel mixed with 'cold star sand'! How could it appear among the common folk?"

Xiao Ningxun took it, weighed it in his hand, looked at the Daoist, and said sternly: 'Where did you obtain this?'

The Daoist had just gotten up, still seeing gold stars before his eyes; upon seeing his expression, he suddenly turned, abandoning his stall, and took off running.