[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-book-of-strange-tales":3,"chapter-the-book-of-strange-tales-the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-16":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Book of Strange Tales",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317296,4532,"Chapter 16","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-16",16,"\u003Cp>At midnight, the mountain wind pushed through the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though summer had arrived, the mountain nights still carried a chill; Lin Jue had only covered himself with a cloth robe, and the wind made him feel cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He instinctively curled up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, half-asleep, he suddenly heard voices coming from beneath the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Who cleaned away the dust and spiderwebs downstairs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Must be the temple monks—who else? Seems they’ve lodged someone in the upper pavilion tonight; they’d surely have swept first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s much cleaner now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True enough. These monks rarely bother with cleanliness. Before, it was so filthy I wouldn’t even walk past downstairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has the guest fallen asleep yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably. Brother Su, don’t wake him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to see what this person looks like.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Su, you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two distinct voices came from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue had been half-drowsy, thinking it a dream—then he snapped awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who’s talking at this hour?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Human or ghost?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t sound like temple monks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue stayed still, listening intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pavilion had stood for years without maintenance; the wooden stairs had rotted and creaked with every step. When Lin Jue had swept earlier, even standing still and merely swinging the broom made the stairs groan faintly—but now, all was silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oddly, the voices were climbing upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still asleep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Say that? It’s the middle of the night. Everyone in the temple is fast asleep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voices had grown much softer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue now understood: these two were not human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were there spirits or demons in the temple pavilion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did the monks even know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should he do now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue’s mind raced with thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their words sounded harmless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, this temple had stood for ages, with travelers coming daily to stay—some more, some less. If these spirits had taken up residence here—or even just visited often—it was bold. But conversely, if they’d gone unnoticed for so long, caused no trouble, and never been driven out by the monks, perhaps they truly weren’t cruel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless, the two voices drew nearer—not just upstairs, but right before him. Lin Jue stayed alert, refusing to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s a young scholar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like he’s traveling to study.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He seems young. I thought he was a man in his twenties… Was it him who swept the stairs below?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t wake him. This man faced demons on the road and wasn’t afraid—he recovered a donkey stolen by spirits and returned it without hesitation; that’s virtue. He cleaned the stairs while staying here; that’s reason. Let him sleep tonight—we’ll sit downstairs and enjoy ourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Mo speaks wisely—but he’s still a scholar…” The voice paused, then chuckled, “Why not wake him and play together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be ridiculous. Let’s go downstairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voices soon faded into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue finally exhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the southern wall of Chiwu, we rode side by side; willow branches shimmered like golden scales. Golden buckles adorned embroidered brocade—yet who says Chen Wang had eight measures of talent?” The voice recited the poem at the stair’s mouth; by its end, it had reached downstairs: “This poem took three days to compose. Brother Su, what do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“‘Yet who says Chen Wang had eight measures of talent!’ If you’d had this poetic talent back when we were in the Western Regions, you’d have won the inspector’s favor long ago—and been promoted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then how would we have met?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, Brother Mo…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voices continued below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget me—did you finish your poem, Brother Su?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did. Let me recite it—please help me refine it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m all ears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue opened his eyes in the dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two truly weren’t evil? Whether spirit or ghost, they recited poetry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pavilion remained empty. The window had opened sometime, facing the bright moon; moonlight spilled in, painting a square of frost-white on the weathered floorboards. The young scholar held his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drumbeats echo through the candlelit pavilion—who plays ‘Little Liangzhou’ with his own hands? Spring wind knows how many bean Kou  blossoms there are—they all turn into autumn river sorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This poem…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wrong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong? Brother Mo, enlighten me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not a poem! It’s the man upstairs—he’s not asleep!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, Lin Jue upstairs froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart tightened instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could shut his eyes, two heads suddenly appeared on the moonlit floorboards—then rose, bodies following, two figures floating up from the wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excluding the ghost in Hengcun’s Wang family ancestral hall, this was his second time seeing a spirit’s true form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This entrance style was truly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See?” One turned to his companion and grinned at Lin Jue: “I told you he wasn’t asleep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone was lively—likely the one named Su.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other didn’t reply, but bowed to Lin Jue with polite courtesy: “Our voices were too loud—we disturbed your rest. Forgive us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Mo is right,” the other added, turning to Lin Jue with a smile. “But you’ve cultivated your qi—you hear us clearly. And you’ve been awake all along, pretending to sleep, silent. That’s not the way of a gentleman, young sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Mo speaks truly. But it is also because he cultivates his nature and quiets his spirit, so he hears our voices with unusual clarity. And he likely woke long ago, yet feigns sleep, saying nothing.” As he spoke, he turned with a faint smile toward Lin Jue. “Young master, this journey of yours is hardly the act of a gentleman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did they know he wasn’t asleep?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did they know he practiced qi cultivation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, he sat up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed in return, speaking politely but without fear or subservience: “I am Lin Jue. Passing through, I spent the night here. Unintentionally meeting you two, any person would feel uneasy and uncertain—so I stayed awake, silent, to observe. That is normal behavior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed to the two in return, his words equally courteous, yet neither humble nor fearful. “I am Lin Jue, passing through this place and spending the night here. I happened upon you both by accident. Anyone in such a situation would feel uneasy and uncertain—so to wake but remain silent, observing what comes next, is the act of a normal man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Su Xiaojin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing his name, both immediately gave theirs without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this age, that was proper etiquette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young sir, ignore him. This pavilion belongs to the temple, not us—we’re the ones disturbing your rest.” Mo Laifeng bowed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent—‘stayed awake, silent, to observe!’” Su Xiaojin smiled at him. “Your calmness suggests you’re not afraid of spirits?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You both know propriety and poetry—there’s nothing to fear.” Lin Jue paused. “I only wish to sleep. I mean no disruption to your poetic exchange. Let us divide the space: you continue below, I rest above. Agreed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you two understand propriety and know poetry and books, there is nothing to fear.” Lin Jue paused. “I only wish to sleep. I have no intention of disturbing your elegant pastime. Why not divide the floors evenly? You continue discussing poetry downstairs, and I shall rest upstairs as before. What do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve studied a few days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you’re a literate man and already awake, why cling to a single night’s sleep? Why not join us in conversation? After death, there’s endless slumber.” The ghost named Su said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you are also a man of letters, and now awake, why cling to a single night’s dream? Why not join us in conversation and merriment? After death, endless sleep awaits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why be so restrained?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two spirits refused to let him sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue couldn’t gauge their strength, but they offered no threat, showed no malice—only smiled and invited, with genuine goodwill. He couldn’t refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he thought: he’d set out to seek immortals—if he couldn’t even speak with spirits of such character, how could he ever find the Dao?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue thought this, then slipped on his shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Lin, did you hear our poems?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Lin, did you hear our poems earlier?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fairly… fairly good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just fairly good?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s… a fine poem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How does it compare to Zhang and Liu of the previous dynasty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Lin, how do you judge them against Zhang and Liu of the previous dynasty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「……」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Why are you silent, Brother Lin?」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Compared to Zhang and Liu…」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue tried to speak, but could not utter a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang and Liu were the most famous poets of the previous dynasty in this world, roughly equivalent to Li Bai and Du Fu in his memory, and likewise bore titles like Poet Sage and Poet Immortal. Lin Jue could not recall any of their poems, yet he could not claim these two matched them either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he refused to lie, he simply bowed his head and raised his hands: 「My knowledge is shallow; I dare not speak foolishly.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「You brat! Can’t you even say a few flattering words?」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both appeared to be in their thirties; if the legends were true, they must have died at about this age. Facing Lin Jue, who looked barely a teenager, they adopted an older-brotherly demeanor:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「You must understand! To be a scholar and mingle with scholars, the first thing you must learn is not writing poetry or practicing calligraphy, nor is it scholarly study—it’s mutual flattery! Where in the scholarly circles is there no mutual flattery?」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「I truly do not understand poetry, nor am I a scholar.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「If you don’t understand poetry, how can you know we are inferior to Zhang and Liu?」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「……」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue heard only the blind arrogance and mutual disdain of scholars, along with certain vulgar habits that unsettled him—but this very discomfort eased his inner anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two yao ghosts continued pressing him to produce a poem comparable to theirs, refusing to let up, until they finally said even a poem he had heard elsewhere would do—as long as they had never heard it before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue did recall several fine poems, and knowing these two had once served in the Western Regions, he thought of borderland verses that could silence them with awe—but how could he recite them to these ghosts?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let them urge him, yet remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He now knew they could not harm him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could a man be deceived by ghosts?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two had no choice but to drop their own poems and cease pressuring him; instead, they continued chatting with Lin Jue, speaking of heaven and earth, occasionally complaining about the lack of wine and song to enliven the mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue humored and guided them, hoping to learn more about yao ghosts and immortals from them.\u003C\u002Fp>",1770,"2026-06-20T14:45:35.226Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","44b5751575016f5123d7425c733caf29cb3787025939523882ae45269e317f84","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-17","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-15",608,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-book-of-strange-tales-cover.jpg"]