You should have died long ago, yet something has been sustaining your life.

At those words, everyone stared at Lang Jiuchuan in open alarm, then turned to look at Elder Ke.

Nothing seemed particularly remarkable about him — he was just a man. How had she seen it?

Shen Qinghe, however, turned the matter over more carefully in his mind. He had heard that there were people who, by virtue of seeing things others could not, suffered especially fragile health as a result. Given how frail she was, could this be the reason?

Elder Ke had initially felt only wariness toward Lang Jiuchuan. Now, having heard her words, his murderous intent was no longer concealed in the slightest.

She had to die.

The hand hidden in Elder Ke’s sleeve tightened around the bone flute tucked inside — roughly the length of a finger — as he stared at Lang Jiuchuan and said, “This old man does not know what you are speaking of, but this is not a place you should have come.”

“So I was right!” Lang Jiuchuan smiled, and her gaze flicked pointedly to his sleeve.

This man’s features clearly bore the markings of one destined to die a violent death, and one who ought to have met that end in the prime of life. Yet here he was, having lived to a ripe old age of sixty — the kind of age considered long-lived. Someone had been sustaining his life, or rather, obscuring it. His fate had been concealed, deceiving the judges and lords of the underworld, so that no soul-collecting envoys had ever come for him.

This concealment… was a bold and extravagant undertaking. It used the power of living people’s earnest wishes to avert calamity and extend his life, in effect borrowing years from ordinary people’s lifespans to prolong his own and evade the day of his death. That was why a faint white halo hovered above his head — the pure force of compassionate devotion. It must have been offered sincerely by someone of untainted heart.

Yet no matter how pure the force of compassionate devotion, it could not outweigh the sins that clung to his person.

That such a force of goodwill should shield him? He was deserving of it?

Elder Ke’s expression darkened. “It seems you have not come to Female Village as guests, but to cause trouble.”

He looked toward Shen Qinghe and said, “My lord, the last time you brought people here searching for someone, we cooperated fully. I also told you then — those people provoked the Mountain God’s wrath by getting lost in the mountains. As for all of you now, you have disturbed the Mountain God’s peace, and that disturbance has caused accidents and casualties. Should such a lesson not be enough to make my lord reflect?”

He tilted his head slightly, looking toward the mountain in the depths of the valley, and offered a respectful bow. “The sacred mountain has its spirit. To disturb it again and again is to invite consequences. I urge you all to leave at once — better not to refuse the offered toast only to be forced to drink the forfeit and bring suffering upon yourselves.”

“That’s right, get out! You are not welcome here!” The women behind him shrieked, their voices sharp with hostility, fury, and barely concealed alarm.

Lang Jiuchuan said mildly, “If the sacred mountain has its spirit, should it not be compassionate? How then could it allow ordinary people to go missing in its forests? This Mountain God of yours — surely it does not play favorites, only protecting Female Village while treating all outsiders as prey? Ah, no — I mean, as wrongdoers?”

The whiskers at the corners of Elder Ke’s mouth twitched. The veins at his temple stood out visibly, as though he were suppressing something with great effort.

He was about to speak when Lang Jiuchuan added, “Elder need not be angry. I am young and ill-mannered — my mouth runs before my head catches up, and I meant no ill by it.”

No ill. Just a vicious tongue.

One of the guards stifled a laugh.

Shen Qinghe’s own mouth twitched at the corner.

Lang Jiuchuan pressed on: “I have heard that Female Village’s Mountain God temple is remarkably efficacious. Elder, do you think I might go pay my respects?”

Elder Ke’s eyes narrowed half-shut. “You wish to pay respects?”

Lang Jiuchuan stepped forward. “Just look at me — slight and delicate, sickly through and through. The physicians have all said I won’t live long. Since Official Shen was coming to investigate a case, I shamelessly tagged along to pray at the temple. Perhaps the Mountain God will grant me a long life of a hundred years!”

“Are you not afraid to suffer punishment at the Mountain God’s hands, as those before you did, for daring to disturb it?” Elder Ke fixed his eyes on her.

“I was born contrary — the more I’m told not to do something, the more I want to do it. Surely the elder won’t stand in the way? Besides, if a god is that petty, what kind of god is it?”

The assembled crowd: …

Miss Lang truly had a gift for saying precisely what would earn her a beating.

Elder Ke let a cryptic smile cross his face. “Since you are all unafraid, then by all means, go.”

Good counsel is wasted on those already bound for their doom. Since they were bent on seeking death, why should he stop them? This many able-bodied people — they would serve the Mountain God very nicely.

Elder Ke turned and walked back inside, and the women behind him shot the group one last glare before hurrying to follow.

Shen Qinghe watched them until they were far away, then said quietly to Lang Jiuchuan, “That temple is nothing remarkable — merely a cave fashioned into a shrine. Do you truly mean to go in? Perhaps you could wait here while I take some men ahead to have a look?”

“If we don’t go and see, how are we to know the true face of the Mountain God? And if I don’t go, this entire trip will have been for nothing. Rest assured — I would not have taken this on if I did not have my own reckoning. Whether it is man or ghost before me, I know how to take care of myself.” Lang Jiuchuan surveyed the large retinue in front of her. “We don’t need so many people inside. Pick five or six to come along.”

She also glanced at the serving woman who had been accompanying her. “You needn’t come either, auntie.”

The serving woman made a surprised sound. “But the madam bade me attend to the young lady. I really shouldn’t…”

“There’s no need. Stay here and wait with the others. If something happens up there, I’ll only have to worry about you on top of everything else.”

The serving woman, hearing this, looked to Shen Qinghe, and when he gave a nod of assent, she had no choice but to comply.

Shen Qinghe began selecting men — those with the finest skills, the steadiest nerves, and sharp enough wits to respond without hesitation should something go wrong.

Lang Jiuchuan, meanwhile, circled the maple tree that had yielded its grim harvest of bones, then stopped above one of its roots. She stilled her mind with a subtle internal motion, then touched the tip of her Panguan brush lightly to the earth. Three shadowy spirits drifted up — all young men, their faces bewildered, their souls already beginning to merge with the tree itself. She spoke to them quietly: “Stay here for now. When I return, I will send you through the Ghost Gate to be reborn. Until then, I am burning incense for you — guard these people in my stead, and see that the corrupted energy here does not lead them astray.”

She finished speaking, stood, retrieved her small bundle from one of the guards, opened the box inside, and in full view of everyone, lit several sticks of sandalwood incense and pressed them into the earth at the base of the tree.

Thin threads of smoke curled upward, burning away with unusual swiftness.

The crowd watched Lang Jiuchuan’s series of actions with their skin prickling, hair standing on end — as if something had crawled up from beneath the ground.

Why do I suddenly feel a chill?

Had she been talking to someone? To the people whose bones those were? Was that why she had burned incense for them?

The crowd swallowed, exchanging uncertain glances.

“Miss Lang, you…” Changgui, mustering his nerve, ventured a question.

Lang Jiuchuan rose to her feet. “You are all to stay here beneath this tree. I have already asked someone to keep watch. Do not wander to any other place — or you may truly startle the ‘Mountain God’ and bring harm upon yourselves.”

The crowd: !

Asked someone? The someone she asked was a ghost, wasn’t it?

Miss Lang, your protection, while very thoughtful, has honestly only made them more frightened!

“Miss Lang, I can take on ten opponents at once!” called a guard named Luo Tian, loudly. “I’m not trying to steal credit or anything — it’s mainly that I can see the young lady isn’t in the best of health. Having me close by to protect you, I guarantee not a scratch will come near you.”

The crowd: ?

Luo Tian, you barely ever squeeze three words out of your mouth on a normal day. Since when did you grow a brain and start thinking ahead?

You sly thing, quick with your tongue when it counts.

The departing Elder Ke glanced back at the scene from a distance. His gaze was cold and venomous.