Chapter 159: Light as Willow Fluff

Unlucky.

Really unlucky.

How did I just meet these two people!

Until Chen Er was kicked out of the inn, they kept thinking about this matter.

They feared being turned over to the authorities, so they didn't dare say more, only daring to stumble out without looking back, cursing in their heart as they walked.

The young woman inside looked under twenty, her hair loosely tied in a bun, simple yet beautiful.

But when she squatted down to look at them, her eyes were as cold as the well water in the twelfth lunar month, and Chen Er, having lived so many years, had never seen such a gaze.

The man inside didn't speak much, but his grip was terrifying; when they twisted Chen Er's arm, Chen Er felt their bones might break.

The strangest thing is, who in this city hears the Celestial Master's name and doesn't utter a respectful 'Celestial Master'?

But when the young woman heard the three words 'Convergence Child', they were like a cat smelling fishy scent, and they followed Chen Er, asking many questions: where the Celestial Master was staying, what the Celestial Master looked like, why the prefect so revered the Celestial Master...

How would Chen Er know any of that?

Chen Er was just a runner at the pawn shop, occasionally doing petty theft; how could they possibly have any connection to the prefect and the Celestial Master?

After barely scraping together an answer, the two roughly kicked Chen Er out again...

Now things are just great: they didn't steal anything, instead they wasted a day's work, and who knows how they'll be punished by the shopkeeper when they go back.

Even the punishment would be light; the problem is, if they don't get paid, their sick mother won't be able to afford medicine!

Chen Er swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and for a moment their mouth felt bitter.

Chen Er hesitated, and without realizing it, they turned out of the alley where the inn was and onto the main road to the east of the city.

By then the sun was high, shining brightly on the blue stone slabs, making people's eyes hurt.

People came and went on the street; Chen Er walked with head down, quick steps, when suddenly a whiff of sandalwood scent hit them; they looked up and saw seven or eight women carrying bamboo baskets from the opposite side, a corner of yellow paper and incense sticks peeking out, chatting and laughing, their expressions full of devout faith.

A middle-aged woman in a blue jacket spoke up:

"If you don't want to be late for the purification ritual at Ci Yun Guan today, the Celestial Master will be presiding personally; if you go late, there won't even be a place to kneel."

Another, younger one replied:

"I got up at the yin hour to prepare offerings—three kinds of vegetarian fruit and a box of good incense; this time I must pay proper respects."

As they spoke, they walked past Chen Er, stirring a rustle of clothes and a stronger scent of sandalwood.

Chen Er flicked their lips, thinking, "What's the point of praying? No matter how much silver you donate, it all ends up in that Celestial Master's pocket."

But Chen Er didn't dare say that out loud; in this city, everyone is a follower of the Celestial Master—last time, an out-of-town merchant who said a few disrespectful words in a tea house was beaten and thrown out, and even the tea house owner dared not utter a sound.

Chen Er avoided the crowd, finally steeled themselves, and instead of going to the pawn shop, turned into a narrow alley.

The alley was lined with several incense burners; the daytime incense was not as strong as at night, but thin blue smoke still curled up, almost invisible in the sunlight—only when you got close could you smell that heavy fragrance.

Chen Er wrinkled their nose in disgust and hurried past.

The deeper they went into the alley, the closer the walls on either side pressed in, until only a narrow strip of sky remained overhead.

Water began to pool on the ground, the stone slabs were chipped, and stepping on them sent up dirty water.

The further they went in, the more clutter there was.

Broken bamboo baskets, shattered pottery jars, stools missing legs—piled in heaps against the walls, they gave off a damp, moldy smell.

This is the most dilapidated part of the east city, inhabited by the most destitute people.

And Chen Er's home was right at the very end of this alley.

Chen Er felt their way to the end and stood in front of their own broken wooden door.

From inside came occasional coughs; each time Chen Er heard it, their heart felt a little heavier.

Chen Er closed their eyes, took a deep breath, and forced themselves to blink hard, pushing back that surge of heat.

Chen Er had thought up several excuses in their mind, and was about to push the door open to eat some porridge before heading out to look for work.

But just then, out of the corner of their eye, Chen Er saw a figure sway into the alley.

That person staggered, clutching a pair of bright red incense candles, which stood out starkly in the dim alley.

Chen Er took a closer look and immediately recognized it as their neighbor Wang Da, who works as a menial worker in the prefect's office, usually sweeping and running errands, occasionally doing heavy lifting.

By rights, this person shouldn't be living in such a run-down alley.

But Wang Da is honest and devout; after their daughter-in-law and son were swept away by flood while visiting their hometown, they frequently went to burn incense praying for health, spent all their savings, and could only afford to live in this alley.

Although simple-minded, this person's heart is not bad.

Even more, because they work in the office, they often have some extra to help out the neighbors...

Chen Er felt a stir in their heart, gritted their teeth, put on a smile, and stepped forward:

"Older Brother Wang, Older Brother Wang! Are you busy right now?"

Wang Da didn't respond, still walking with head down, as if they hadn't heard at all.

Chen Er took two steps forward and reached out to tap Wang Da's shoulder.

Only then did Wang Da suddenly stop and slowly turn around.

That breath, exactly that breath.

Chen Er got a clear look at Wang Da's appearance, and the hand they had extended froze midair.

Wang Da stared, dazed, eyes unfocused, as if just waking from a great dream, still unable to distinguish dream from reality.

But what froze Chen Er was not his expression, but his clothing——

A gray-blue hemp shirt, with a large dark-red stain on the front, wet and seeping down toward the hem, while below the waist the red deepened until it was almost black.

Blood, all of it blood.

Cuffs and hem—blood everywhere.

Chen Er's heart leapt in shock; they stumbled back a step, their back hitting a pile of broken bamboo baskets against the wall, which clattered loudly.

Chen Er opened their mouth, voice tight:

Wang, Brother Wang, what's wrong with you all over...?

Wang Da lowered his head and looked at his own clothes, as if only now noticing those bloodstains.

He stared blankly, then suddenly, as if waking from a dream, he waved his hands repeatedly, his voice hoarse and urgent.

It's not my blood! It's not my blood! Don't be afraid, this isn't my blood.

Chen Er swallowed a mouthful of saliva, eyeing him half-believing, half-doubting.

Although Wang Da's complexion was ashen, he didn't look injured; his stance was steady, and all his limbs were intact.

He let out a breath, leaned in closer, and lowered his voice.

Then where did this blood come from? How did you end up like this?

Wang Da looked left and right; the alley was empty except for the two of them.

He sighed, moved the pair of incense sticks to his left hand, and rubbed his right hand against his lapel, as if trying to wipe off the blood.

However, with so much blood already stained, how could it possibly be wiped away?

Seeing no way out, Wang Da could only speak in a low voice.

Today the Prefect flew into a great rage and beat a man to death on the spot. The chief steward ordered me to move the corpse, and this blood got on me while I was doing that.

I ran back to change my clothes, and incidentally bought a pair of incense sticks, intending to burn them later to dispel bad luck.

Chen Er felt his scalp go numb.

Nobles casually killing people—he had heard of such things before, but they were only rumors; he had never witnessed them firsthand.

But now, seeing this blood-soaked clothing, who could still doubt it?

Chen Er felt afraid in his heart and couldn't help but press further.

Why did the Prefect fly into such a rage? Who provoked him?

Wang Da sighed again, his voice dropping even lower.

I'm telling you, you must absolutely not spread this—you know about the affair of enshrining the Celestial Master in this city, right?

Since the Celestial Master previously came to Lingnan Prefecture and calculated a hexagram for the Prefect, the Prefect has obeyed him completely, wanting to ask him again for divination and blessings. But the Celestial Master said before that he only gives one hexagram per person and has never agreed.

But this morning, perhaps because the Prefect arranged a Dharma assembly that pleased the Celestial Master, the Celestial Master finally gave another hexagram, saying that the Prefect faces calamity this year—he will die at the hands of someone whose name contains the character 'Liu'.

Wang Da paused, lifted his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and smeared another streak of blood onto his cuff.

By the Prefect's side, there happens to be a new male favorite named Liu Er...

In that case, isn't he just beaten to death outright?

He was struck with over a hundred and eighty blows, almost reducing him to minced meat.

?? Come on, come on! It's still double monthly ticket time, dears, I implore everyone to move their little hands to make a fortune o(╥﹏╥)o Thank you very much!!!