When the sky was barely beginning to lighten, Lin Sui’an finally climbed out of the pit.
Yun Zhong Yue truly lived up to her name as the greatest thief in the world — her collection of equipment for escaping and saving lives was spectacularly complete. Never mind anything else; just the rescue rope alone was something to behold: iron spikes and claws were fixed into the ground at the top, and a series of interlocking buckles at the bottom could be secured around the waist, shoulders, and thighs — remarkably similar to the wire rigging commonly used in modern martial arts dramas. Pulling someone to safety with it was effortless and smooth.
The one thing Lin Sui’an could not for the life of her figure out was how Yun Zhong Yue had managed to carry such a large and cumbersome collection of equipment.
The rain had finally stopped. The sun climbed quickly, and the sky turned a clear and translucent blue — like an immense sheet of glass suspended overhead. Behind her was a stone grotto overgrown with sprawling weeds and dotted with crumbled niches for Buddhist statues. The grass grew thick and dense, surpassing half a person’s height, its leaves hung with dewdrops that showered down at every gust of wind, soaking through collars and shoes.
Directly ahead lay a continuous range of low hills. Against a backdrop of lush green, white wildflowers stretched across every hillside in drifting, sweeping masses, and their fragrance, mingled with the scent of grass and wood, drifted quietly on the mountain wind — it seemed as though you could reach out and grasp it in your hands.
A cool breeze brushed past her temples and hair. Lin Sui’an breathed in deeply, and felt a lifting of her spirits, a clarity of both body and mind — most of the fatigue within her dissolved.
Hua Yitang and Yun Zhong Yue were examining the condition of Bingsi and the others.
The four men, though they appeared to have woken up on the surface, had not uttered a single word from beginning to end. They stood perfectly straight, their eyes staring fixedly forward, as though some immobilizing spell had been cast on them — it was deeply unsettling.
Hua Yitang waved his grass fan. “Could it be that they sleep with their eyes open?”
Yun Zhong Yue, wearing the face of Taoist Xuanqing, produced an expression of disdain so convincing it was frightening. “Where did you pick up that broken fan? It reeks of something strange. Stop fanning it — the grass is falling off!”
If anything, saying this only made Hua Yitang worse. He waved it furiously back and forth right at Yun Zhong Yue’s face, sending grass fragments flying like dandruff all over her. “This is a Delicate Grass Fan, woven by this one’s own hands, with the power to awaken the spirit and enlighten the mind — how would an ordinary mortal like yourself comprehend its wonders?”
Yun Zhong Yue sneezed three times in quick succession. “Lin Sui’an, are you not going to do something about this?”
One was Yangdu’s foremost good-for-nothing son, the other was the world’s greatest thief — and their quarreling was on the level of elementary school children?
Lin Sui’an’s head ached. She decided not to stoop to their level and asked instead, “What place is this?”
“The outskirts of Cheng County. The southern bank of Dragon God Lake.” Yun Zhong Yue shot Hua Yitang a glare, then pointed to the hillside ahead. “Past that range of hills is Dragon God Lake.”
Then she smiled again. “Yesterday, Xuanming Shanren observed the night sky and calculated that today is the Dragon God Sacrifice Day. If I am not mistaken, in another two hours, there will be a massive crowd outside Longmen Gate. If you two move your feet fast enough, you might even get there in time to watch the excitement.”
Hua Yitang raised an eyebrow. “Shall we go take a look?”
Lin Sui’an shrugged. “Let’s go.”
At this moment, something remarkable happened. The four men — Bingsi and the others — all simultaneously opened their mouths and spoke. “Let’s go.”
The words were exactly the same as Lin Sui’an’s, and even the intonation was ninety percent identical.
Lin Sui’an was dumbfounded. Yun Zhong Yue’s jaw dropped.
Hua Yitang blinked. “Lin Sui’an, move around a little.”
Lin Sui’an said, “Hm?”
“Take two steps left and right.”
Lin Sui’an shifted two steps to the left. The gazes of the four men shifted along with her. She shifted two steps back to the right. Their gazes shifted back again.
Hua Yitang’s eyes went wide. “Now — say something — anything — “
Lin Sui’an said, “Say what?”
The four men said, “Say what?”
All three of them: “…”
Yun Zhong Yue retreated several large steps and pointed at Lin Sui’an. “You — you you you — don’t tell me you’ve cursed them with some kind of venom?!”
“Curse my foot!” Hua Yitang sent a fan-full of grass debris flying onto Yun Zhong Yue’s head. “It’s imprinting.”
Lin Sui’an: “…”
“These four were poisoned by the talisman water, and at the brink of death, it was Lin Sui’an who pulled them back from the gates of hell — essentially granting them a second life. This one has read in a miscellaneous text that many animals — such as chicks, ducklings, and goslings — after hatching from their eggs, will identify the first living creature they see as their — ” Hua Yitang gave a small cough. ” — A’Niang.”
Lin Sui’an: “…”
What on earth?!
These four fellows were not exactly young — a glance at them put them at nearly thirty, at least. She had suddenly gained four fully-grown sons out of nowhere. Was she really that old?!
Yun Zhong Yue burst into an earth-shaking peal of laughter.
“I think that’s wrong,” Lin Sui’an said, shaking her head repeatedly. “Look — they don’t repeat everything I say. Take what I’m saying right now, for instance. They aren’t copying me at all. Your theory must be off.”
Hua Yitang waved his grass fan and circled the four men, then choked on the debris himself and sneezed. “Perhaps the poison has reached their brains and they’ve turned simple-minded.”
The four men’s gazes drifted slowly over to Hua Yitang’s face. In unison, they said, “Simple-minded.”
Lin Sui’an burst out laughing.
Yun Zhong Yue: “Hahahahaha!”
Hua Yitang: “…”
“If we follow your theory about chicks and ducklings and goslings, you gave them the antidote — you also saved them — so you would be their — ” Yun Zhong Yue was barely suppressing her laughter. ” — A’Ye — hahahaha!”
Hua Yitang’s face twitched violently.
“Never mind the logic of it all — they’re alive, they can speak, which means they can still be saved,” Lin Sui’an said with a laugh. “That’s enough.”
Under the vast blue sky, the girl’s smile blazed brilliant and breathtaking, as though the entire hillside had been lit up by it.
Both Hua Yitang and Yun Zhong Yue found themselves staring, transfixed.
In the vacant eyes of the four men, a reflection of Lin Sui’an’s figure appeared — and bit by bit, light began to kindle within.
Lin Sui’an spun around, her sleeve sweeping an arc of light in the sunshine. “Come on, let’s go see what sort of tricks Xuanming Shanren is up to!”
The four men fell into step behind her simultaneously. “Come on, look at tricks.”
Yun Zhong Yue laughed in spite of herself. “Truly a strange person — not only is she strange herself, but even the people around her are strange upon strange — “
Before she could finish, a tattered grass fan slapped her square in the face. Yun Zhong Yue let out an earth-shaking sneeze. “Hua Yitang, what was that for?!”
Hua Yitang’s eyes blazed like fire as he fixed her with a look. “Lin Sui’an is my partner. Don’t even think about getting close!”
Yun Zhong Yue clicked her tongue. “You little brat — “
“You’re the little brat! How old are you, anyway?!”
“Why should I tell you?”
“If you dare, take that face off and show me your real one!”
“Dream on.”
“You must be a coward! You must be hideous beyond all description and too ashamed to show your face!”
“Yes, yes, I’m the ugliest person in the world and you’re the most beautiful — satisfied?”
Their bickering chatter drifted over on the wind. Lin Sui’an sighed. “So annoying.”
The four men: “So annoying.”
The weather that day was exceptionally fine — the sky high and the clouds sparse, the breeze warm and gentle, sunlight soaking through every blade of grass layer by layer. The moisture that had accumulated over a month in the soil was now evaporating, hidden within the wind and the flower fragrance, rushing eagerly into every nose. Yun Zhong Yue appeared to have a sensitive constitution and sneezed without stopping. Hua Yitang was clearly enjoying it — had he not been looking quite disheveled and unkempt at the moment, he might have been sorely tempted to dance a few steps in the sunlight and flower fragrance.
The hills looked low from a distance, but climbing them actually took quite some time. The group of invalids and injured stragglers dragged their feet, and it took the better part of two hours before they finally reached the top.
A row of mountain pear trees grew there, their blossoms in full and extravagant bloom — white and dazzling, as though the entire grove had caught fire.
It was Lin Sui’an’s first time seeing Dragon God Lake.
An immense expanse of water stretched out below, extending almost to the horizon, blending seamlessly with the skyline. Sky and lake surface were both a pure, absolute blue, and standing within it, one felt dizzy and overwhelmed.
Compared to Dragon God Lake, the walled town of Cheng County looked as small as a set of toy building blocks. The Longmen Gate in the south of the city stood open, facing directly toward Dragon God Lake. The ceremonial platform by the lake shore had long been prepared — towering banners several zhang high stood on either side, yellow in color and hung with soul-subduing bells, inscribed with red talismanic script and black dragon forms. The banners flew and billowed in the wind, and even from this distance, one could hear the intermittent ring of the bells.
At the center of the platform stood the sacrificial altar table, the details of which were too far away to make out, though it appeared rich and elaborate, wreathed in smoke. The Taoist priests of Longshen Temple had turned out in full force, standing in neat formation below the platform — at a glance, well over a hundred.
Below the platform stood the dense crowd of Cheng County’s residents, all on their knees, hands pressed together at their chests, faces upturned with closed eyes in prayer. Based on their clothing, Lin Sui’an could identify a few of the figures at the front: Zhu Dachang, the county chief registrar; Qiu Hong, the head of the Qiu Clan; and on the other side, most likely the head of the Zhu Clan. There was no sign of anyone in a county magistrate’s official robes.
The Taoist priests began chanting sutras in loud, resonant voices, their sound drifting on the wind. Dragon God Lake suddenly felt infused with a sense of mystery. One figure slowly walked out through Longmen Gate, passing through the crowd, ascending the ceremonial platform to the sound of wind and bells and scripture, and prostrated in reverence.
It was Xuanming Shanren. He was dressed today in a wide and flowing crane-feather cloak, which made him look all the more ethereal. After three full prostrations and nine bows, he drew from his sleeve a five-foot-long scroll and began to read the sacrificial address aloud, his voice rising and falling like a needle weaving through the sound of the chanting.
Yun Zhong Yue clicked her tongue. “Seeing how full of energy he looks, could it be that his poison has already been cured?”
Lin Sui’an: “Xuanming Shanren was also poisoned? What poison?”
“Naturally the poison he contracted after drinking talisman water on the day someone impersonated the world’s greatest thief Yun Zhong Yue.”
The words “someone” were bitten out with ferocious resentment.
Unfortunately, Yun Zhong Yue’s heartfelt grievances and resentments were completely ignored.
Hua Yitang said, “This is interesting — does that mean even Xuanming Shanren cannot control his own poison?”
Lin Sui’an said, “Could it be that something went wrong in the process of making the poison, producing a variable even he cannot manage?”
Yun Zhong Yue said sourly, “That is what is meant by the saying — those who commit too much injustice bring about their own destruction.”
As the three of them spoke, the situation on the ceremonial platform changed again. All the Taoist priests, still chanting sutras, walked out among the crowd and spread themselves evenly throughout. In their hands, talisman water gourds glinted golden in the sunlight.
“This is the second stage of the ritual — the bestowing of the blessed water,” Yun Zhong Yue said.
Hua Yitang’s eyelid gave a twitch. Lin Sui’an’s body instantly tensed — then she forced herself to relax.
Even if she were a god incarnate, it would be too late to rush down there now.
Hua Yitang narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the movements on the ceremonial platform, but spoke of something else entirely. “If I remember correctly, when we went to Longshen Temple on the first day of the fourth month to make an offering, it was Xuanqing who retrieved the talisman water for us to treat A’Niu, wasn’t it?”
Lin Sui’an only now recalled this detail, and the look she turned on Yun Zhong Yue became immediately unfriendly.
At that time, the “Taoist Xuanqing” could easily have obtained the talisman water. Had they been able to get it then, the work of formulating the antidote would not have been delayed this long.
Yun Zhong Yue jolted, and quickly explained, “Hey, hey, hey — that was the real Taoist Xuanqing. At the time, I hadn’t yet — ahem — hadn’t finished his face yet…”
Hua Yitang and Lin Sui’an expressed their contempt simultaneously.
“Do you have any idea how difficult it is to make a human skin mask?” Yun Zhong Yue said, deeply disgruntled. “You need to sketch a draft, build a mold — the drafts alone take at least ten versions, and the molds need dozens of trials. The material for the mask is even harder to source — it must be thin and breathable, yet smooth enough to cover imperfections, and easy to shape. You also have to build up the bone structure and the jawline, implant eyebrows and a beard, and the hardest part of all is getting the texture and direction of the skin grain right…”
“Shh!” Hua Yitang cut Yun Zhong Yue off. “Quiet.”
The chanting from the platform and the crowd below reached its crescendo. The priests unsealed the wax stoppers of the gourds one by one, sprinkling talisman water over the worshippers. The residents tilted back their heads and cried out in jubilation, rubbing the talisman water into their hair and faces with expressions of blissful rapture. By now it was nearly noon. The sun blazed fiercely. The wind had stopped at some unknown moment. The banners gleamed blindingly. A warm, shimmering mist rose from the surface of Dragon God Lake, and the whole of Cheng County warped and blurred within the rising vapor.
Suddenly, Xuanming Shanren let out a sharp and piercing cry and knelt heavily upon the ceremonial platform.
Every resident and Taoist priest erupted in a thunderous shout, kowtowing frantically.
Above the vast, sea-like expanse of Dragon God Lake, a massive cloud appeared. Within its mist, a great azure dragon was visible — now there, now hidden — antlers like a deer, eyes golden, scales like a fish, talons like an eagle, body like a serpent, rendered with breathtaking vividness. Xuanming Shanren’s cry and the voices of the priests merged into a single piercing roar that split the lake’s surface and shot straight into the heavens — uncannily similar to a dragon’s call.
“The Dragon God descends! May his grace bless all people!”
“The Dragon God descends! May his grace bless all people!”
“The Dragon God descends! May his grace bless all people!”
Lin Sui’an was struck speechless with awe. The scene before her was almost identical to what she had seen in the memories of the assassin in Guangdu City after that person’s death.
She had originally assumed it was the dying person’s memory beautified by emotion, or a hallucination born of obsession. She had not expected it to be real.
This was far too fantastical!
Yun Zhong Yue shaded her brow with her hand and kept exclaiming in amazement.
The four men — Bingsi and the others — remained wooden and blank-faced, showing no reaction at all.
The dragon’s form gradually faded and disappeared, leaving behind a deafening roar of cheers.
Hua Yitang stood atop the high hill, his hands tucked into his sleeves as he looked down over everything. His eyes were narrowed to slits, and his expression was as cold and frosted as ice. A bird flew past him, sending a shower of pear blossoms cascading down, drifting like snow.
Then, he let out a cold laugh and swore, “What utter nonsense!”
The four men were galvanized. They echoed Hua Yitang’s tone and swore four times — “What utter nonsense!” — like an endless reverb rolling through heaven and earth.
Fangke, Jin Ruo, Mu Xia, and Yita, who had been hiding atop the city wall, all stood there stunned.
Jin Ruo and Yita were struck with matching stutters. “A dr — dr — dragon dragon dragon dragon!”
Mu Xia’s mouth hung open wide enough to fit two large gourds.
Fangke’s face had gone as black as the bottom of a pot. His gaze shifted to a mother and child at the very end of the queue at the city gate —
Half an hour earlier, Qiu Sanniang and A’Niu had woken up. Before he could examine them again, Qiu Sanniang heard the sound of sutra chanting from outside the city and, without a moment’s pause, scooped up A’Niu and ran out of the city at full sprint. The others, worried, had followed quietly — and so they found themselves witnessing this bewildering scene.
At this moment, Qiu Sanniang and A’Niu were kowtowing wildly. A’Niu was still dazed and confused, but Qiu Sanniang was weeping floods of tears, shrieking at the top of her voice: “Having been blessed by the Dragon God’s manifestation and grace, my son and I were rescued! I am willing to be a devoted follower of the Dragon God for the rest of my life, and I pray the Dragon God will protect my son so that he may live to a hundred years in peace and health!”
Mu Xia closed her jaw and silently glanced at Fangke.
Yita was unhappy. “Clearly it was — Dr. Fang — who saved people — how did it become — the Dragon God? That’s wrong! That’s wrong!”
Jin Ruo clapped a hand over Yita’s mouth. “Oh goodness, Your Highness the Prince, please keep your voice down — if you bring people here it will be very bad indeed!” She then turned to Fangke and said, “The Dragon God Sacrifice is almost over. We need to get out of here quickly!”
Fangke nodded silently. Taking advantage of the fact that the Dragon God Sacrifice had not yet dispersed and the city’s defenses were as good as nonexistent, the group followed Jin Ruo through hidden back paths, winding this way and that, and made their way back to the small courtyard of the county offices.
Jin Ruo paced in circles around the garden. “There really was a dragon! This is absolutely outrageous! What on earth is going on?!”
Mu Xia followed Jin Ruo in pacing in circles. “This makes no sense, this makes no sense!”
Yita was still indignant. “It was not the Dragon God — Dr. Fang saved the people — that’s wrong, that’s wrong! They must be — poisoned in the heart too! Is there nothing to be done?…”
Fangke let out a heavy, muffled sigh. “I can cure the poison in their bodies — but I cannot cure the poison in their hearts.”
The courtyard fell into a dead silence.
What they had seen and heard today far exceeded anything their imaginations could have prepared them for. Every person’s mind was a place of complete confusion, without a thread of clarity.
“As it happens, I can cure that poison.” Without warning, Hua Yitang’s insufferably smug voice descended from the sky.
Everyone startled and looked up. They saw Lin Sui’an gripping Hua Yitang’s shoulder as they vaulted over the wall and landed inside. Behind them followed a Taoist priest in rippling blue robes. The three of them were bathed in a ring of iridescent light, as though they had descended from the heavens.
Lin Sui’an raised a smiling face and greeted them cheerfully. “Hey — we’re back.”
Mini Theater
Fangke: You two — do you even know how to find your way home?!
This week there’s a major surgery at home, so updates are going back to being irregular. (Bows)
If I have time, I’ll do my best to update. (Floods of tears)