After more than half a month of relentless travel without rest, Li Si, Bai Zhenzhu, and Wu Wen finally arrived at Qingzhou’s Feiyun Ferry on the appointed date. They had arranged to meet Lao Sitou here.

Feiyun Ferry was one of Qingzhou’s extraordinary sights. Crystal-clear springs and waterfalls gushed forth from a thousand-fathom cliff, the spring water plunging dozens of zhang before falling upon a massive bluestone in the mountain’s belly that shone bright enough to reflect one’s image. Flying silver spray scattered in all directions—an intoxicating spectacle that resembled a crystal ladder ascending to the ninth heaven.

“Wow, what a beautiful waterfall! Even more beautiful than Nanxian Prefecture’s Sangxian Waterfall! Big Brother Li, don’t you think so?” Bai Zhenzhu excitedly tugged at Li Si, chattering away left and right. Li Si’s ears itched incessantly, as if many small insects had crawled inside.

“Yes, very beautiful.”

Receiving a satisfactory response, Bai Zhenzhu turned her head and glanced toward Wu Wen.

“What a beautiful waterfall! Even more beautiful than Nanxian Prefecture’s Sangxian Waterfall! Wu Wen, don’t you think so?” Bai Zhenzhu’s good mood made her ask endlessly.

Wu Wen could only say yes, though this was indeed his honest opinion.

“We arranged to meet Lao Sitou at Feiyun Ferry today. Why hasn’t he arrived yet?” Li Si looked toward Bai Zhenzhu. Bai Zhenzhu pouted her small mouth and said: “The old senior told me exactly this—the twenty-second day of the twelfth month, Qingzhou’s Feiyun Ferry.”

“Who knows, the old senior has become less punctual the older he gets. Hmph, when I see him I must certainly have words with him.” Bai Zhenzhu turned around huffily. Suddenly, a flash of white light shot toward her neck. Li Si, with quick eyes and nimble hands, blocked the white light with his sleeve. At first thinking it was a hidden weapon, when he unfolded his sleeve he discovered it was only a splash of water.

“This is…?” Li Si hesitated.

“So noisy.” Three icy cold words came from the woods to one side of Li Si. Then branches swayed and shadows shifted as an old man with gray robes and white hair and beard walked out. The old man rolled his dead-fish eyes, examining all three people before him one by one, and still using an icy cold tone said: “I’ve been waiting for you all for quite a while.”

“O-Old Senior.” Bai Zhenzhu stuck out her tongue.

The white-haired, white-bearded old man was none other than Lao Sitou, known as the Great World Dynasty’s foremost coroner. Lao Sitou said expressionlessly: “Little girl, who did you say has become less punctual the older he gets? And that you must have words with him—well, speak.”

It turned out Lao Sitou had arrived early and secretly overheard Bai Zhenzhu saying he wasn’t punctual. Lao Sitou also exhibited a childish temperament and emerged to argue with Bai Zhenzhu. Though Bai Zhenzhu was usually sharp-tongued and quick-witted, facing Lao Sitou whose entire body exuded an aura of gloom, she still felt intimidated: “Old Senior, I spoke wrongly. You are very punctual. No one is more punctual than you, venerable sir.”

Lao Sitou nodded and hummed through his nose: “That’s more like it.”

Li Si watched from the side as one old and one young person, both with childish temperaments, went back and forth. He couldn’t help but smile, while simultaneously feeling warmth in his heart at this long-awaited reunion with Lao Sitou. He interjected: “Lao Sitou, why were you hiding in the woods?”

Lao Sitou turned his head to glance at Li Si, a slight warmth flowing through his icy gaze: “This Feiyun Ferry was an ancient battlefield five hundred years ago. No fewer than a hundred thousand people died here. I was just now lying in the woods chatting with them when you all interrupted.”

“Ah, chatting with… them?” Bai Zhenzhu looked around cautiously. “Old Senior, they are ghosts!”

Lao Sitou grinned: “I know. That’s exactly why I sought them out to chat. I can’t be bothered to deal with the living.”

Bai Zhenzhu was so frightened she jumped, hurriedly hiding behind Li Si. Li Si smiled bitterly: “Stop scaring her.”

“Who’s scaring this little girl? Everything I said is true.” Lao Sitou brushed the fallen leaves off his gray robe. “No more nonsense—let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“Yinshuang City.”

Yinshuang City was situated in the center of the enormous Ye Lake, surrounded entirely by vast expanses of lake water. Bright sunshine falling on the lake surface resembled a layer of silver light rippling like crystalline frost and snow, hence the name Yinshuang City.

Only a single stone bridge, more than a zhang wide, connected Yinshuang City to the shore. Due to its beautiful environment and numerous tourists, it attracted many traveling merchants who came here to conduct trade. Homes covered the ground everywhere, and its prosperity was no less than that of an ordinary large city. Lao Sitou had left some of his personal belongings in Yinshuang City and needed to return to retrieve them, so they went to Yinshuang City first.

En route to Yinshuang City, Li Si and Lao Sitou discussed Meng Rui. Lao Sitou said gloomily: “I arrived too late. I only discovered that Meng Rui last appeared in Dingshui City, and after that there’s been no trace of him whatsoever. Moreover, right now both Prince Ding and the Crown Prince’s people are secretly searching for him. It looks like his fortune is grim.”

“What did Meng Rui do that would make both Prince Ding and the Crown Prince’s people search for him?” Li Si’s heart filled with doubt.

Lao Sitou sighed: “I don’t know, but it must certainly be a major matter related to both sides.”

“Wow, what a beautiful stone bridge!” Bai Zhenzhu’s smile was radiant as she waved both hands to beckon Li Si. Li Si walked up to stand together with Bai Zhenzhu. The enormous Ye Lake resembled a silver platter from the heavenly palace fallen to the mortal world, dazzling and mesmerizing.

Entering the city through the dark red city gate, the sounds of people inside the city were deafening—as lively and festive as a holiday celebration. Lao Sitou turned slightly sideways and spoke: “I nearly forgot—today is Yinshuang City’s annual Kite Festival. You all can go broaden your horizons.”

Ye Lake was affected by seasonal sea winds. Every year during the eleventh and twelfth months, the lake winds were smooth and steady—most suitable for flying kites.

“It must be quite spectacular.” The little girl could no longer restrain herself and wanted to go witness it.

Li Si suddenly heard chaotic footsteps behind him. Looking back, behind them was a group of people dressed in ragged, patched clothing—men and women, old and young—all wearing weary expressions as they entered Yinshuang City. Among them, a bare-chested man’s back caused Li Si’s gaze to pause for a moment. Something seemed not quite right, but for a time he couldn’t recall what it was.

“Keep up, Big Brother Li!” Bai Zhenzhu called from ahead.

Li Si nodded and caught up.