Chapter 75

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Jiang Fu blinked in puzzlement: "Learned what?"

Shaowei looked at her unmoved: "Don't try to play dumb, you clearly know today is my birthday."

Girls nowadays reach the hair-pinning ceremony at fifteen, and today happens to be exactly Shaowei's fifteenth birthday.

Jiang Fu let out an "ah": "So today is your birthday... wait, didn't you say you don't have a birthday and don't know your birthday?"

Seeing her still playing dumb, Shaowei's eyes rolled upward, her eyebrows drooped down, and she asked word by word: "How exactly did you find out?"

The little ghost's patience was about to run out; Jiang Fu, extremely skilled at reining in at the cliff's edge, smiled: "I guessed it."

Shaowei frowned suspiciously: "How could this be guessed?"

"Double Ninth Day, yin and yang divide, life and death exchange; the qi mechanism of this moment matches your fate, physiognomy, and temperament perfectly." Jiang Fu raised an eyebrow with a smile, sizing up the girl sitting by the bamboo couch, dressed in distinct vermilion and white, and said with mock seriousness: "Plus this ghost qi of yours — if not born today, on what other day could you be born? Any other day, I fear, would not produce such a fierce god evil spirit of a little ghost."

Shaowei half-believed half-doubted, put on an unconcerned expression, and asked: "By that logic, those born this day are born with yin sha, destined not to be good people?"

So in both lives a solitary sha alone, with no karmic ties to speak of, is also because of this wretched fate causing trouble?

Jiang Fu shook her head: "Within extreme sha can also be born extreme nobility; whether ghost qi or divine mechanism, ghosts and spirits are originally the same path; though there is evil sha, there are also fierce gods; not ghost means evil, god means good; whether good or evil, still depends on yourself to decide."

As Jiang Fu spoke, she turned her head to look out the window, smiling: "The world reveres gods and also reveres ghosts; ultimately what they revere is nothing more than an existence of power beyond the ordinary; as long as it can protect one side, what does it matter whether it is ghost or god, mountain shaman or monster?"

Shaowei subconsciously also turned to look out the window, faintly hearing drum and music sounds resounding in the distance; that should be the Nuo Ritual of Double Ninth Day starting.

The so-called Nuo Ritual, also called shaman Nuo ghost drama, is an ancient ceremony for worshiping gods and ghosts.

This ritual was incorporated into the state ritual system as early as the Zhou dynasty; pre-Qin shaman Nuo worship was even more prevalent. Current emperors and commoners alike believe shaman Nuo can communicate with gods and ghosts; Chang'an Palace also has a place for Nuo Masters; outstanding Nuo Masters are called Great Shaman Gods. This custom, passed down through generations, also has cultural fusion with some Daoist branches; today on this vast land of divine-right monarchy, it has been endowed with political influence that cannot be ignored.

As one of the birthplaces of the Nuo Ritual, the Xiang Region common folk often hold Nuo Rituals to pray for blessings and drive away evil; Taoxi Township is no exception.

At this moment, accompanied by the distant drum sounds of the Nuo Ritual being held, Jiang Fu said pointedly: "Whether divine power or ghost power, what does it matter? As long as the thought is strong enough, put on that Divine-Demonic Mask, and you can become a god or ghost; then all manner of power can be driven by you—"

Shaowei turned her head back, looking at her in puzzlement: "A mortal body with powerful thought can also possess ghost and god power? What exactly is thought?"

Jiang Fu's pupil light flickered, as if containing a mysterious landscape; her words flowed naturally: "Yi is will, nian is thought power; will stays only within one's own body, while thought power is the thought of all living beings — if your will surpasses others, is strong enough, making all people in this world willing to believe in you and revere you as ghost or god, this trust of the people is thought power; if this thought power is vast enough, you possess power comparable to ghosts and gods; under the sword nothing unbreakable, can even reorder the qi mechanism of this world."

Shaowei understood; her gaze clear and sharp, she stated directly: "So this is a scam."

She said: "The Son of Heaven is also using this to scam."

This treasonous remark unexpectedly made Jiang Fu reveal a delighted, even somewhat proud smile.

She happily crossed her arms, looking at the little ghost before her.

This little ghost is a flower drilled out from seamless stubborn stone, a lapis heart condensed in ten thousand fathoms of cold ice; sharp and clear, there is probably no second one in the world.

"Can be put that way." Jiang Fu said to Shaowei: "Though heavenly secrets exist in this world, as mundane mortal flesh, at birth one is destined to never possess true ghost and god power; even if there is, it is merely creating an illusion for the world to see; if the world believes it, things naturally go smoothly; the fake becomes real — just as the emperor calls himself Son of Heaven, the world all believes he is Son of Heaven, he can command all living beings to move mountains and sever seas, hold the life and death of thousands and tens of thousands; to the myriad common people, what difference is there between this supreme power and divine power."

Shaowei was silent for a while, then asked Jiang Fu: "This scam, does it also count as one of the human nature strength struggles you spoke of?"

Jiang Fu nodded lightly: "Human nature strength struggle is everywhere; the victor can become the god in this mortal world."

Shaowei felt it truly absurd; so in this world, putting on a mask to deceive people can also become a "god" of masked deception.

She didn't speak for a moment, not knowing what she thought; when she spoke again, she tilted her head up and asked: "Is this also one of the reasons you love lying?"

Jiang Fu was choked by her question, raised an eyebrow, but soon composedly nodded: "Empty and solid, true and false... there must always be some unfathomable mystery and profundity to make people revere you."

The little ghost sitting by the couch obviously had no reverence; instead she caught her off guard and brought up a demand: "Remember at your birthday you said you'd ask me a question and have me answer, as a gift to you; then I also want to ask one, you absolutely must not lie!"

Jiang Fu immediately raised a counter-objection: "But you didn't answer me then; I asked your birthday, you lied and said you didn't have one. I wanted to kiss you once, you also hated you couldn't flee to the ends of the earth — yet now you turn around and demand a gift from me; where in the world is there such a good thing?"

Seeing she couldn't bluff past it, Shaowei felt annoyed inside, but saw Jiang Fu smiling faintly and leaning in, lightly tapping one side of her cheek with a forefinger: "However, if you're willing to kiss Master now, Master will let bygones be bygones and allow you to ask one question."

"..." Shaowei's face went through a series of changes; she couldn't help turning her face away, not looking at Jiang Fu.

But Jiang Fu actively reached out and hugged Shaowei's head, smiling as she rubbed her face over, rubbing against the girl's soft cheek, squeezing Shaowei's cheek out of shape.

Shaowei's eyes widened, she shrank back in shock, double chin emerging, while simultaneously extending both hands to push against Jiang Fu's shoulders.

This scene was exactly like Jiang Fu rubbing a cat, being pushed away by the civet cat extending two front paws in intolerant polite refusal.

But anyway she got her wish and rubbed; the civet cat was unwilling but not to the point of exploding; Jiang Fu smiled contentedly: "What do you want to ask?"

Shaowei's face flushed red: "I want to ask two!"

"Mm... fine too." Jiang Fu crossed her arms again: "Who made me the master; I should be magnanimous; go ahead and ask."

Shaowei's face was still red, but she wore a serious expression: "Has your illness really been eradicated at the root? No lying allowed!"

"Good, no lying." Jiang Fu nodded and answered: "I am now illness-free and light of body."

Shaowei's heart eased slightly; striking while the iron was hot, she asked the second question: "You said you were being hunted by enemies; is that true or false? If true, why have there been not even a ripple these past years? No lying allowed!"

"The enemies are real." Jiang Fu answered her: "As for why they haven't been able to track me for years, it's probably because I've made many disguises."

Shaowei heard this and scrutinized Jiang Fu carefully: "What disguises? Your current identity, name... appearance, are they all fake?"

Thinking of the human skin mask mentioned in a strange tales scroll she read not long ago, Shaowei felt suspicious; she couldn't help tilting her head to look behind Jiang Fu's ear, trying to probe whether there were any traces that could be peeled open.

"You've got it backwards, little ghost." Jiang Fu smiled: "What you see is all real; the name is real, the appearance is real — what they see is what's fake."

From the perspective of deceiving enemies, there isn't much difference between the two, but it made Shaowei freeze for a good while.

A moment later, Shaowei asked again: "Then what exactly is your enemies' origin? If their methods are formidable enough, I fear they'll see through it sooner or later; early or late they'll still track you down."

Jiang Fu didn't answer but counter-asked: "What, you want to kill them for me?"

Shaowei hmphed: "I'm afraid I'll be implicated someday; naturally knowing self and enemy, striking first is the secure way."

Jiang Fu showed a smile but shook her head: "Little ghost, this I cannot tell you."

Shaowei frowned.

"I have my own cause and effect fate; no need for you to intervene." Jiang Fu's eyes were still smiling, but her words held no room for negotiation: "I told you before; even if I die someday, you don't need to avenge me."

Shaowei wanted to say more, but heard her raise an eyebrow and ask: "Didn't you say back then that you had no time to avenge me, and that you had many things of your own to do?"

Having said this, if Shaowei continued to pester and question her, she would have no face left; for the moment she could only fall silent in dissatisfaction.

Jiang Fu smiled and reached out to touch the girl's hair bun hanging down on one side like rabbit ears, his tone seeming to carry comfort: "You, just go ahead and do your proper business."

Shaowei asked sullenly: "What counts as proper business?"

Jiang Fu thought it over carefully, stepped back two steps, seriously sized up Shaowei, and then gave his answer: "If you look as pretty as you do now, then no matter what you do, people will surely think it's proper business."

He was spouting nonsense again.

Shaowei was speechless for a moment, and asked somewhat out of spite: "Why must one be pretty?"

"One doesn't have to be pretty." Jiang Fu walked over again, smiling with narrowed eyes: "It's just that because you're so pretty, one can tell at a glance that this broken little ghost of yours is now being well taken care of."

Saying this, he asked with a rather self-satisfied expression: "How is it? Although this is my first time raising a child, I've raised one quite well, haven't I?"

Shaowei's expression was disdainful, but she did not open her mouth to deny it.

"Of course, you've raised this master quite well too; thanks to you, all my hundred ailments are now gone, and as for the cold poison on your body..." Mentioning this, Jiang Fu naturally pinched Shaowei's right wrist to examine it; after a moment, he said: "It can be considered seven or eight parts resolved."

Months ago, Jiang Fu's conclusion was that the poison was already seven or eight parts resolved; now it was still seven or eight parts. Shaowei couldn't help but frown and think: how could the remaining two or three parts be so thick-skinned and tough? So much medicine poured down, surely they were being beaten black and blue day and night, yet they still refused to budge.

"Don't worry; it won't easily endanger your life anymore, though it still causes some suffering when it flares up." Jiang Fu said: "If you want to completely remove it, you still need one last medicine, and you must find it yourself."

"What medicine?"

"You'll know in the future." Jiang Fu grabbed Shaowei's arm and walked out: "Today is your birthday; let's not keep talking about these disasters, injuries, sickness, and medicine—how unlucky... It's almost noon, and you haven't eaten a bite of breakfast yet."

Mo Li, who had been sitting waiting to scrub the pot and wash the bowls, was now crouching in front of the stove house, seriously watching a group of ants on the ground carrying food crumbs to hoard grain for the winter.

The people eating finally came out; Mo Li looked up, was stunned for a moment, then blinked hard.

Mo Li was simple-minded and might not have normal notions of beauty and ugliness; his reaction was purely because Shaowei looked too "abnormal" at this moment.

Being stared at by Mo Li, Shaowei, whose attire had been greatly changed, couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

But the more guilty she felt in her heart, the more composed and even imposing her surface became; she never showed a trace of timidity.

Thus Shaowei held her back straight, her gaze firm, walking with a swaggering imposing stride toward the stove house, not glancing sideways as she passed beside Mo Li.

Following her moving figure, Mo Li's neck twisted from front to back all the way until it was locked at the limit of human anatomy, before he was forced to draw it back.

Breakfast had already grown somewhat cold; he only made do with eating a little. Jiang Fu told Mo Li to prepare dishes and meat, getting ready for the late meal banquet, the implication being to celebrate Shaowei's birthday.

Jiang Fu directed Mo Li to busy himself here and there, while Shaowei slipped away to run outside the courtyard gate, craning her neck to wait for the Wunü team to pass by.

After the Nuo ritual ended, the Wunü team would tour the countryside, bestowing blessings and driving away sickness before each household's door.

Shaowei had not been enthusiastic about this in past years; this year she was an exception because Qingwu was among the Wunü team.

The personnel of Nuo drama troupes in various places often increased or decreased; the Taoxi Township Nuo drama troupe this year needed a girl to fill in, and Qingwu was fortunate enough to be chosen. For this she had been excited for several days. Being able to play a witch god was already something to aspire to, and besides, there was pay to be had.

Qingwu, who had recently been learning the art in the Nuo drama troupe, had specially rushed back yesterday to tell Shaowei that at that time she would dance the Nuo dance passing by here, and asked Shaowei to be sure to come out and watch.

Shaowei kept the appointment in mind; at this moment she stretched her neck waiting, and finally caught sight of a shadow of the team, only to see them go down another country road. After circling around like this, who knew when they would circle to her door.

At this time, Jiang Fu's shout came from behind: "Little ghost, come here——"

Hearing this tone, Shaowei roughly had an idea in her heart. When she went to the hall, she indeed saw Jiang Fu with one hand on his hip and the other pointing at the opened wine jar on the table: "Little ghost, this wine isn't right, is it?"

Shaowei was always the more hollow in her heart, the more arrogant her expression. At this moment she also put one hand on her hip: "How is it not right?"

Jiang Fu gave a huff and raised an eyebrow: "You think the wine this master has drunk for so many years was drunk for nothing?"

Shaowei was exposed, but still acted righteous and indignant: "... Didn't you always say to drink more water?"

Jiang Fu stamped his foot: "But you can't mix anything into this master's wine!"

Shaowei: "Who made you cough and still want to drink wine!"

Jiang Fu: "What do you know? Wine invigorates blood and dispels stasis. If it weren't for drinking several bowls of wine, how could just a few doses of medicine show improvement so quickly?"

The two outdid each other in sophistry. Jiang Fu refused to give in, so he went out to buy wine.

The household was also lacking many things. The house slave had been out on this trip for too long, and life at home had become much coarser. It was clear this home truly could not do without the house slave.

Going out to buy things was originally Shaowei and Mo Li's task, but Shaowei had already seriously broken faith regarding buying wine, so at this moment she was named by Jiang Fu and confined to the house.

Shaowei didn't want to go anyway; she still had to wait for Qingwu to pass by. This matter absolutely could not break faith.

Mo Li led the green ox out of the ox shed. Jiang Fu did not let him hitch the ox cart, but only said: "You prepare food at home; I'll go and come back soon."

Mo Li nodded and agreed.

Jiang Fu sat sideways on the ox's back, smiling at Shaowei inside the courtyard gate: "I'm going, little ghost."