Chapter 84: The Ghost Temple

Moments later, the four men and the goose crossed the earthen ridge and turned back.

Xu Yuan and Yan Lao walked ahead.

Da Fu was entirely white, with orange-yellow legs and beak, half a man’s height, wobbling steadily beside Xu Yuan.

The two Captains followed behind, and as they walked, they too began to wobble like Da Fu.

Both snapped to attention, straightening their bodies—this goose was truly uncanny!

Another elder on this trip was Lu Zhengyan, who, like Yan Lao, held the position of “Manager” in the Southern Office.

It was a position of decent status but little actual power.

Lu Zhengyan had been friends with Yan Lao for decades; seeing them return with a goose, he stared with obvious questions at his old companion.

Yan Lao smiled bitterly and shook his head—he couldn’t explain.

“Let’s go,” Xu Yuan said.

Xu Yuan could not ride a horse, so he sat outside Fu Jingyu’s cart.

There was already a driver; after Xu Yuan boarded, there was no room left.

Xu Yuan held Da Fu in his arms, but Da Fu felt uncomfortable, flapped his wings, flew out, and landed on top of the cart.

“Forget it. Let him do as he pleases.”

After the group had traveled some distance, Xu Yuan suddenly remembered: I should tell Da Fu to keep eating with Aunt Wang for now.

Didn’t Aunt Wang think of that?

Why does it feel like Uncle Mao Si and Aunt Wang both want me to bring Da Fu to Ghost Witch Mountain?

…

The man hiding behind the earthen slope heard the noise and peeked out again; seeing the Cleansing Office depart, he rose to rush back and report—when suddenly a cheerful child’s voice called: “Are you playing hide-and-seek? I’ll play with you!”

“Who’s this damn brat…” He turned and saw a tiny girl, cheeks painted with two round red circles, pale-faced, floating midair, her body rotting, a fat white maggot dangling from her hollow eye socket!

His scalp prickled with terror; he bolted without hesitation.

The girl instantly grew angry: “Why won’t you play with me? You’re no good!”

The man crashed into a world like a bronze mirror—around him, countless dim, blurred little girls, painted like corpses, their bodies rotting, all opened foul, stinking mouths and screamed in hatred: “Bad thing!”

…

Ceng Si grew impatient: “Why hasn’t Tang Yue returned? I’ll go check ahead.”

Lord Qin nodded.

Ceng Si returned shortly, sprinting: “Bad news—Tang Yue encountered a malevolent spirit!”

Lord Qin frowned: “I’ll go see—none of you follow.”

Lord Qin reached the rear of the earthen slope and produced his token: “We are under Qiao Ziaang’s authority. Will you grant us some courtesy?”

The ground before the slope surged upward, and the long-collapsed shrine reappeared.

The shrine’s statue was tattered; its original gold lacquer had mostly peeled away, its belly ruptured, its internal contents long gone.

On the altar beneath the statue lay offerings of a boy and girl child.

The boy stood stiff and vacant, green ghostly flames burning atop his head and each shoulder.

The girl clutched in her small hand the barely alive Tang Yue.

Lord Qin said: “The dealings Qiao Ziaang once had with you are now taken over by us. If we reach an agreement, your monthly blood offerings will triple what they were under Qiao Ziaang!”

The statue stirred stiffly; an ancient, unsettling voice entered Lord Qin’s ears: “I seek vengeance. The Gong family destroyed my shrine.”

“No problem—I’ll settle this once and for all. This man can be given to your child attendant to eat. Please introduce me to several others on Broad Goods Street—we’ll discuss matters together!”

Tang Yue must not return—he would spread word of his ordeal and shake morale.

“Agreed.” The statue approved. The girl opened a foul, stinking maw, like a giant serpent swallowing prey, slowly devouring Tang Yue.

…

Xu Yuan’s group arrived at Qihe Terrace Town; so many men in Cleansing Office uniforms drew stares.

Xu Yuan led everyone straight to Zhao’s Fur Shop.

He kicked the door open and moved in.

A few townsfolk had planned to seize Zhao’s Fur Shop in time; now they shrank back, daring not to scheme further.

After settling in, Fu Jingyu yawned and asked Xu Yuan: “Where do we start? Any leads?”

Xu Yuan thought: “Since they’re after the cocoons in the mountains, we follow that trail—I need to ask two people.”

“Who are they?”

Xu Yuan didn’t answer; he looked around: “Where’s Da Fu?”

After searching, he found Da Fu biting a piece of meat, hanging from the rafters.

“Da Fu, get down here!”

Zhao’s Fur Shop had many hanging meat pieces; Xu Yuan had eaten some himself last time.

Da Fu acted as if he heard nothing.

Xu Yuan leapt up, slashed his small knife, and cut the rope. Da Fu and the meat fell together.

Da Fu stretched his neck and swallowed a large chunk of meat whole.

A distinct bulge slowly slid down his long neck into his belly.

Xu Yuan shook his head: “Come with me—I’ll introduce you to a new friend.”

Da Fu tilted his head, confused.

Xu Yuan took only Fu Jingyu and Da Fu outside.

After winding through alleys, they reached Ying Taipo’s door: “Auntie, it’s me. Ah Hua, open the door.”

Ying Taipo’s slow footsteps sounded—but the door opened first; Ah Hua stood proudly in the doorway, feathers fluffed, fierce and imposing.

Instantly, the gazes of chicken and goose sparked.

“They’re fighting!” Fu Jingyu cried out.

Xu Yuan hadn’t expected them to clash on sight—he scrambled, grabbing one, blocking the other.

“Stop! Stop! They’re both poultry!”

Ying Taipo coughed out, calling: “Ah Hua, come back.”

Ah Hua glared with cockfight eyes, reluctantly retreating.

Da Fu was reluctant too; Xu Yuan gripped his neck tightly.

Ying Taipo’s eyesight was dim; after squinting, she recognized Xu Yuan and smiled: “Little Xu is back? Wonderful—help me fill the water vat.”

Xu Yuan went to look—the vat was already empty.

He picked up two wooden buckets and headed straight for the well.

Fu Jingyu upheld gentlemanly decorum; though eager to investigate, he saw Xu Yuan’s act as honoring the elderly and aiding the weak, so he stayed silent beside him.

First trip: two buckets poured in—only filled the bottom.

Second trip: two more buckets filled halfway; on the third, Xu Yuan began to pant.

He was no Wu Xiu.

Fu Jingyu couldn’t help asking: “Why don’t you carry water with a yoke like others? It’d be easier.”

Xu Yuan replied: “Why don’t you carry one bucket? Then I’d be easier too.”

Fu Jingyu crossed his arms, hesitant: “I’ve never done such work since childhood—I’m afraid I’d do it poorly…”

Xu Yuan: …

On the fourth trip, Xu Yuan explained: “Auntie Taipo refuses to drink the water from the back bucket after carrying it with a yoke—she says it might be polluted by flatulence.”

Fu Jingyu: …

My Fu family is a major clan—I’ve never heard of anyone so… particular.

Da Fu has a prototype.

He has a younger brother, unsurprisingly named “Er Fu,” haha.

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(End of Chapter)