For a while, no one spoke.

Yi Wansan began eating, one steamed bun after another, as if only with a stomach stuffed full could his brain start functioning and thinking.

He asked Luo Ren: “Is this method… reliable?”

“Of course not. I’ve just opened another path between ‘death’ and ‘living without hope’—like digging a tunnel downward when there seems to be no way out. Whether it’s passable or safe, nobody knows. So I won’t decide for you. Make your own choice—take the gamble or not.”

If they were to gamble, it had to be within these few days. If they waited until the ominous slips broke free before deciding, they would need to go through the effort of subduing them all over again, and who knew if next time they would be so fortunate.

Yan Hongsha frowned: “But we’ll die in a few decades anyway. What happens to the ominous slips then?”

Luo Ren pointed to the wooden slips and Phoenix, Firebird, and Simurgh clasps on the table: “Isn’t that perfect? Dying of old age is still dying. We can sacrifice our lives to the Phoenix, Firebird, and Simurgh clasps then. The malevolent energies will attach to the wooden slips, and the two forces will continue to be locked together.”

Dying of old age… would that count? Yan Hongsha thought for a moment, then suddenly felt righteous: Of course it counts. Death is death—why shouldn’t it count?

Cao Yanhua was anxious, deeply concerned about his checkered past: “That won’t work, Little Luo. Letting all seven ominous slips possess us—wouldn’t you need to be a sage to contain them? I… I have poor moral character. I’ve been a thief.”

Following the principle that misery loves company, he also dragged Yi Wansan down: “And my Brother San here has swindled and cheated. If we were judged, he’d get at least two years.”

What kind of friend is this? Yi Wansan was truly infuriated.

“Also,” Cao Yanhua continued, finding more and more problems, “if the seven ominous slips possess us and cause turmoil within us, will we even survive?”

Luo Ren nodded: “You make good points. Any other concerns?”

Yes, many. The ominous slips feared their blood. Would the six ominous slips willingly possess them? Would it be as simple as possession, or would something else happen?

Luo Ren listened quietly and then said, “Good questions. But I can’t answer any of them.”

“Fatty Cao, I’m not the one with answers. Like you, I’m just trying to solve this puzzle. I hope the result is correct, but if heaven gives us a cross, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Try or not—state your positions.”

Cao Yanhua looked toward Mu Dai: “Little Luo, you discussed this with my Little Master last night. You two both agree, right? When we give our opinions, how does it work? Will the minority defer to the majority?”

Luo Ren shook his head: “We’re gambling with our lives. It’s not right to force anyone to submit to the majority. If you disagree, we quit.”

Cao Yanhua hesitated a bit: “Do we have to decide… right now? Little Luo, can’t we have a couple more days to think? This is… too sudden.”

Before he finished speaking, there was a sharp sound of chopsticks hitting the table.

It was Yan Hongsha. She gulped down the soy milk in her bowl, her lips still coated with foam, and said: “I’m in!”

“Why not? In foreign casinos, people gamble without knowing the outcome, purely based on luck, and many still participate. I think what Luo Ren says makes sense. If life is demanded, give life. Isn’t a living life more precious than a pile of rotting flesh after death? I’m in.”

Cao Yanhua was startled: “Sister Hongsha, won’t you reconsider?”

Yan Hongsha asked in return: “Will more consideration change anything?”

Yi Wansan thought for a moment and said, “As things stand, without finding a better solution, this approach is worth trying. If we don’t do this, we’re just waiting to die, sooner or later. So I’m… in too.”

What? How did they decide so quickly?

Four against one didn’t feel good. It was like being isolated from the group. With everyone else participating, stubbornly opposing seemed pointless. Cao Yanhua hesitantly decided to follow the crowd: “Then… I’ll join too…”

Luo Ren said, “No, Fatty Cao, don’t follow the crowd. There’s no point in that.”

How could they deny him the right to join? Cao Yanhua became anxious: “Little Luo, I want to do this.”

“No, think about it. Don’t feel pressured.”

“There’s no pressure! I’m genuinely sincere, with all my heart!”

Seeing him so anxious, scratching his head and ears, and saying “really, really,” Mu Dai burst out laughing.

Luo Ren said, “In that case, the wine wasn’t bought in vain. Let’s have a toast.”

Cao Yanhua stretched his neck to look: Wine? What wine?

Mu Dai stood up and lifted the shiny dome cover beside her. Initially, they thought it covered soup, but it revealed a jar of Luzhou Laojiao liquor with its clay seal, a small hemp rope tied with a red cloth cover, and shallow antique-style wine bowls arranged nearby.

Luo Ren removed the cover and poured a bowl for each person. Everyone took one. The clear, strong liquor swirled in the bowls, its potent aroma wafting up. Yan Hongsha held hers with both hands, her cheeks flushing with excitement.

It felt like the Peach Garden Oath, a blood alliance, a pact to live and die together. She wanted to drain her bowl and smash it on the ground, then walk forward, stepping on the liquor-soaked fragments, full of courage and valor, fighting with her back to the river.

Luo Ren seemed to perceive her thoughts and coughed twice, saying: “The bowls are borrowed from the hotel. We need to return them.”

Yan Hongsha quickly steadied her bowl.

After clinking bowls, none of them drank immediately. Yi Wansan looked at Luo Ren: “Aren’t you going to say something?”

Luo Ren smiled: “Everyone can say something. Say whatever comes to mind.”

Yan Hongsha eagerly went first: “I’ll speak first.”

“I hope Luo Ren’s method is correct, that everything proceeds smoothly, and that we all live safely to a ripe old age.”

After speaking, she tilted her head back and gulped down the entire bowl in one go. The burning sensation seared into her stomach and reflected on her face, her cheeks turning red.

Cao Yanhua said, “Sister Hongsha is bold, truly befitting someone from a prestigious family.”

Prestigious family? Did he mean the Yan family’s generations of treasure hunting? Despite her uncle’s violent death and her grandfather Old Man Yan’s dishonorable actions, being suddenly praised made her straighten her spine with pride. She hadn’t disgraced her family.

Yi Wansan spoke second: “Fire Two has already said everything. My wishes are simple: to live, to be safe, not to lose arms or legs, and also…”

He thought for a moment, suddenly feeling that all other “also” were quite empty: “That’s it. Here’s to it.”

He tilted his head back and drank. He usually preferred mixed foreign liquor and had never been fond of white liquor. Yet strangely, this time, as the alcohol burned down, it seemed to open his pores, with a satisfying sharpness and a comfortable warmth.

Cao Yanhua struggled for a while, then gave up: “Little Luo, whoever speaks first has the advantage. Aren’t we all just wishing for safety? I can’t think of anything more elaborate.”

Luo Ren smiled, raising his bowl to his lips: “Then no more unnecessary words. To safety.”

Mu Dai also silently prayed: “Safety.”

Safety meant life, life meant days ahead, and days meant living—the kind of life she longed for. For instance… at the supermarket, pushing a shopping cart while he reached for the groceries she couldn’t reach.

Having decided, they began to act.

Hangu Pass and Fengzi Ridge were places of special significance. The terrain of Fengzi Ridge itself resembled a large Phoenix, Firebird, and Simurgh clasp. To be safe, that location might be more suitable for the final sealing.

After much consideration, driving back would waste too much time.

Luo Ren called Shen Gun, notifying him that he could depart, taking a detour through Lijiang to bring the six ominous slips to Tong County. He advised against any transfers—bring the fish tank with water and all. First, measure its dimensions so a glassmaker could make a lid. After covering it securely, bind it with leather straps, box it up, and place plenty of bubble wrap and foam boards between the box and the fish tank.

At the same time, Mu Dai contacted Zheng Mingshan—he had close friends in various places. Could he arrange transportation from Wuzhen to pick up Shen Gun, then to Lijiang to collect the “goods,” and finally to Tong County? Regarding the price, they could accept anything reasonable.

Zheng Mingshan replied: “Money is a small matter, but one vehicle for the entire journey would tire both the person and the car. I can contact several friends along the route, each responsible for one segment, like a relay race.”

This was even better. They could arrive in at most two days.

Zheng Mingshan didn’t ask her why and only requested Shen Gun’s number to help his local friends make contact. Before hanging up, he reminded her, “Master’s burial site has been selected. I’ll be returning in the next few days to bring Master’s ashes. We’ll wait for you for the burial. Remember to contact me when you’re done there.”

Mu Dai’s eyes moistened: “Has Big Senior Brother been in Baoding all this time?”

“Yes. Master wanted so much to return here. I guess Baoding might be her birthplace. I’ve stayed here for quite some time. Once, passing a street corner, an old person told me that there used to be a large crossroads there. Years ago, there was a winery, over a hundred years old, passed down through several generations, selling the strongest white liquor. It was burned down during the Japanese occupation.”

“Can you find out anything related to Master?”

“That’s been my intention. I’ve been asking around, but after so many years, there have been too many changes. There are no leads. Perhaps only we remember Master now.”

After hanging up, Mu Dai held her phone, standing by the window, lost in thought for a long time.

Tong County had many mountains. The blue-gray mountain ranges had stood for thousands of years, outlasting people, dynasties, and buildings. Under the encirclement of these mountains, now was an emerging city. So many old eras, ancient threads, once-vibrant people, and events had all been covered up. With time, no one remembered anymore.

Inexplicably, Mu Dai dialed Wan Fenghuo’s number.

She said, “I want to inquire about someone.”

Wan Fenghuo was always businesslike: “It will cost you.”

She nodded: “I’ll pay, really, as long as I’m alive, I’ll pay. If you charge a lot and I can’t pay at once, can I pay in installments?”

Perhaps because her tone was particularly sincere, Wan Fenghuo surprisingly didn’t scoff or argue: “Who are you inquiring about?”

“My master, Plum Blossom Nine Lady.”

“Plum Blossom Nine Lady of Four Archways View in Wuzhen?”

Mu Dai’s heart pounded nervously: “You already knew? You know my master?”

Wan Fenghuo explained: “Previously, Shen Gun asked me to inquire about a place called Four Archways View. That’s when I learned about your master’s. She’s your own master—what do you want to know?”

Mu Dai said, “Master has passed away. I want to know more about her early years.”

I see. Wan Fenghuo thought this young girl was respectful to her teacher, which was quite touching, so he gave a rather humane response: “Then I’ll give you a 20% discount.”

That evening, Shen Gun had already reached Lijiang. He called to say the fish tank’s dimensions had been measured, and the glass shop master was rushing the order overnight. Barring any major issues, they could depart early the next morning.

Luo Ren instructed him: “Don’t worry about anything else. Just guard the goods and watch the box.”

Shen Gun replied: “As if I would bother with anything else.”

Then he added, “Is Pin Ting your sister? Is your relationship with her not good? She asked me what you’ve been busy with. I said, ‘Why don’t you ask him yourself?’ She shook her head and left.”

Luo Ren paused.

He recalled many childhood memories, like when he first arrived at Luo Wenmiao’s home. Pin Ting had hugged a wooden red-tasseled broadsword and told him, “Little Knife Brother, Dad says bad people want to harm you. Don’t be afraid. I have a sword. If bad people come, I’ll chop them.”

After hanging up, he told Cao Yanhua and the others: “We should hope for the best but prepare for the worst.”

Cao Yanhua didn’t understand: “What do you mean?”

“If we don’t return, is there anyone you need to say goodbye to, anyone you need to leave instructions with?”

This question silenced everyone.

Mu Dai returned to her room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and called Huo Zihong.

When the call connected, it was very noisy on the other end—the usual atmosphere of a bar. Huo Zihong said, “Hold on.”

Mu Dai listened quietly as the sounds changed: music and noise fading, footsteps climbing stairs, a door closing, then silence.

Hong Yi had probably returned to her room.

She scolded: “Grown girls can’t be kept at home. Your injury hasn’t fully healed, and you’ve run off with Little Knife Luo.”

Huo Zihong was quite worldly. She only mentioned it in passing, not truly nagging. For almost half a year, Mu Dai had hardly been home, yet Hong Yi didn’t pry or ask too many questions. Mu Dai was quite grateful for this.

“Hong Yi, are you lonely living alone?”

“How could I be lonely? The bar is always full of people coming and going. It’s very lively.”

That kind of liveliness was like water, flowing in and out, not a constant companionship through seasons.

“Hong Yi, if you feel lonely, you could adopt another child.”

Huo Zihong said, “No way. As your master used to say, adopting you was a karmic connection. I don’t want that kind of worry anymore—do you know, from the moment boys started chasing you, I worried endlessly? I bought so many teen magazines. Goodness, whenever I saw stories about girls getting pregnant early and having abortions, I wondered what I would do if you did that to me. I saw all the boys in your class as bad influences.”

Mu Dai laughed, her eyes moist.

Huo Zihong suddenly lowered her voice: “Let me ask you, have you and Luo Ren had relations?”

Mu Dai’s cheeks grew warm, and she instinctively shook her head: “Not yet.”

Huo Zihong exhaled in relief: “I was going to remind you. I think premarital relations are quite common now, but girls should still take precautions. If things get impulsive, remember to make him use protection. You’re still a child in my eyes. If you have a baby so early, raising it would be challenging.”

Mu Dai kept nodding, without saying goodbye or any ambiguous words that might make Huo Zihong overthink.

If by chance she never returned, when Hong Yi remembered her later, remembered their last phone call, it wouldn’t be a tearful parting of life and death, but rather topics of intimacy, privacy, and family—like warm secrets between mother and daughter.

Shortly after hanging up, Zheng Mingshan suddenly called, saying: “After making arrangements, I wanted to check on the progress, so I called Shen Gun—Mu Dai. Are you going to marry Luo Ren?”

Marriage? Mu Dai was startled, then realized: It was about their plans after sealing the ominous slips, which they had fantasized about in the car. Shen Gun had a big mouth and had already told Zheng Mingshan about it, even though it was far from certain.

“He even insisted I must attend the wedding, saying the venue had already been booked, in an ancient town not far from Lijiang.”

Mu Dai didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, vaguely answering: “Maybe. It’s just… a tentative plan for now.”

Zheng Mingshan had a completely different style from Huo Zihong: “That’s good. Go ahead boldly. If Luo Ren doesn’t treat you well, I’ll deal with him for you.”

Mu Dai giggled.

Zheng Mingshan reminisced: “No. Master instructed me. Master told me that you, Little Junior Sister, are quite lonely. Abandoned since childhood, living in a foster home, always cautious. In the future, if you get married, as your Big Senior Brother, I will be like your family, protecting you whenever needed. Don’t let—I just hadn’t expected this day to come so suddenly.”

“Let me know when you set a date. I’ll be there.”

After the call, Mu Dai opened the bedroom window as wide as possible. She leaned her back against the wall and dropped into a side split, then slowly bent forward, resting her chin on her overlapped hands.

This wasn’t the best time. The path ahead was uncertain, the storms unpredictable. But her mood was like standing on tiptoes in the eye of a storm, with unprecedented calmness, like crystalline snow in a silver bowl, or a white horse gradually disappearing into boundless reed flowers.

She had always carried emotional knots—abandoned as a child, without blood relatives, adopted, living always restrained. But now, standing here looking back, she could suddenly smile faintly and say that all those adversities were small matters.

Things were good now.

The door opened. Cao Yanhua came in for some reason, caught a glimpse of her, snorted, and said: “My Little Master is showing off her flexible ligaments again.”

Mu Dai laughed, lowering her head, her long eyelashes brushing against the back of her hand, tickling slightly.

Yes, things were good now.

Cao Yanhua gathered his courage for a strategic detour and first called Qingshan.

Qingshan was working at a factory in the county town. When he answered the phone, his voice was dispirited. He seemed to have little memory of what had happened while possessed.

He said, “Ya Feng ran away. I knew it was too good to be true. Such a beautiful girl, how could she be interested in me? Rushing to marry me, then running off right after. I don’t know what she was after.”

“Did you look for her?”

“Several times, but couldn’t find her. Someone said she ran off with a foreigner. I don’t know after that.”

A foreigner? That couldn’t be one of Cheetah’s men, could it? Cao Yanhua changed the subject: “How are my parents?”

Qingshan said, “Cousin Dadun, don’t you know they’ve installed phone lines in the village? It’s recent. You have phones now. Call home.”

Following the number Qingshan gave, he pressed each digit, his palm sweaty as he finally dialed.

The call connected, and a thick local accent came through: “What’s the matter?”

“It’s me, Dadun…”

Mu Dai and the others held back their laughter as they watched Cao Yanhua’s face turn white, then green, and nearly black.

—”That gong-banging at the wedding was how many years ago? Can’t you let it go?”

—”I’m not calling to ask for money. I have money! I can feed myself!”

—”Who died out there? I’m doing fine. Dad, why are you so resentful?”

—”Is it my fault Jinhua can’t get married? She’s been working away for so many years. She has her ideas. It’s been so many years, and you still can’t hold your head up. Is it worth it?”

…

Then there was no more.

After ending the call, Cao Yanhua glared at everyone watching him, suddenly became angry, and jumped up shouting: “No more calls! Just consider me dead out there. No more!”

He stormed to the bathroom, slamming the door with a bang that probably could be heard in the next room.

It seemed not all prodigal sons’ returns could have a happy ending.

Yi Wansan thought for a long time about whom to call.

He had no relatives. Five Pearl Village was abandoned. Calling people he had swindled seemed too affected.

In the end, he went outside, crouched in the corridor, and called Zhang Shu.

Zhang Shu said, “Oh, who’s this? Isn’t it Boss Jiang? You still remember to call. I’m so touched. Wait a moment, let me eat a piece of meat to calm my shock.”

Nearly an old man, yet still so sarcastic—learned from his years on online forums.

Not knowing what to say, he asked some casual questions: Is business good at the shop? Are wholesale prices expensive? Some sellers quote very low prices; nine times out of ten, they’re fake. Don’t rush to buy. Tourist areas have diverse crowds. Among those entering the shop, there are customers, but also pickpockets disguised as customers. Keep a sharp eye out.

Zhang Shu sensed something was wrong: “Why are you nagging about these things? Have you changed?”

Yi Wansan said: “Nothing. Uncle, if I… don’t return, just throw away my things. Next time, hire someone more reliable than me…”

Zhang Shu said, “I’m increasingly feeling something’s not right. What do you mean by not returning? You little rascal, you better explain clearly.”

Yi Wansan felt a bit sad. He sniffled and said, “Nothing, just saying.”

With Zhang Shu’s alertness from years of forum browsing and his wild imagination, he wouldn’t believe this excuse: “Yi Wansan, you’re not… terminally ill, are you?”

“Is it from some ailment you contracted years ago? I’ve always said, with your frail body and carelessness, pushing yourself to the brink—even Fatty Cao is stronger than you and still runs and stretches every morning. What about you? Have you ever exercised?”

Yi Wansan remained silent.

“Say something, what’s the situation? What did the doctor say? Yi Wansan, you little rascal, are you listening? Let me tell you, if there’s an issue, speak up. We can figure something out together.”

“Is it that the medical expenses are too high? Don’t worry, I have some money. I’ll talk to the landlady. She helped you repay that 13,000 yuan then. For your life, she might be willing to contribute a bit more.”

Yi Wansan suddenly began to cry, gritting his teeth to stay silent, raising his sleeve to wipe away tears.

Zhang Shu continued questioning on the other end. Yi Wansan cleared his throat and said: “No, Uncle, there’s nothing wrong. I was just testing how much you care about me…”

Thus, this momentarily heartwarming phone call ended with Zhang Shu cursing loudly and saying, “If you dare come back, I’ll break your legs.”

Although he was cursed thoroughly, Yi Wansan’s mood was exceptionally good.

Returning to the room, he saw Yan Hongsha using the hotel’s small comb to groom Cao Jiefang. Cao Jiefang looked completely blissful, very much like a pre-liberation landlord oppressing the toiling masses.

Yi Wansan sat down beside Yan Hongsha: “Fire Two, have you made any calls? Who did you call?”

“I didn’t call anyone.”

“What about your family?”

Yan Hongsha said softly, “I don’t have family anymore. They’re all dead.”

“No other relatives?”

“Those whom I haven’t contacted for eight or ten years? Why would I call them? I’d rather spend that time grooming Jiefang.”

She seemed quite open-minded. Yi Wansan suddenly admired her. Yan Hongsha had an almost rough-hewn sense of chivalry. When she said “I’m in,” she was the most decisive, and when drinking, she was the most forthright.

Luo Ren is called Pin Ting.

When Pin Ting received the call, she was overjoyed, saying: “Little Knife Brother, it’s been a long, long, long time since you’ve called me.”

She said “long” three times in succession.

Luo Ren said, “Yes, it’s been a long time. You’ve been ill for a long time.”

Pin Ting fell silent for a moment, then said: “After recovering from illness, many things are different.”

Luo Ren smiled: “Are you still taking medicine?”

“Yes. Dr. He said it’s best to consolidate.”

“In my room, in the bedside table, bottom drawer, at the very bottom, there’s a card with the password 123456. It should have over a million yuan—I don’t quite remember. Take it and plan for yourself, whether for education or property. Make your arrangements. From now on, establish roots, establish foundations. Uncle is gone, and Uncle Zheng is getting old. You need to learn to take on responsibility.”

Pin Ting was silent for a long time, then said: “I understand.”

She had always been a clever girl—reserved, shy, accustomed to hints and speaking between the lines, and also understanding others’ hints and implications.

She switched to a lighter tone: “I’m thinking of opening my art studio, so I might look for a good school abroad for further studies. Little Knife Brother, will you come visit me then?”

“I’ll try. If I can’t come, I’ll call you.”

Pin Ting suddenly became a bit sentimental: “Little Knife Brother, when we were little, we always played together. In the future, we’ll grow more distant, won’t we?”

Luo Ren replied: “Everyone walks among crowds. As you walk farther from me, you’ll grow closer to others. That’s a good thing.”

On the evening of the third day, the sunset was as red as blood. Four days remained until the expiration of the seven days.

Shen Gun, guarding the vehicle, entered Tong County in the dying embers of this sunset. He got off at the hotel entrance, ignoring the lobby attendant who came to assist—or perhaps the attendant thought this person with a non-woven cloth bag slung over his shoulder, glasses tied with a string, and such a large broken box beside him must be delivering goods to a construction site.

Shen Gun called Luo Ren, saying: “Little Carrot, I’ve arrived. The box is heavy. Can you come down to help?”

As he spoke, he tilted his head up to look at the upper floors. The hotel was truly tall, its exterior windows reflecting the sunset with a dazzling shine.

Luo Ren opened the window and leaned out to look down. He saw Shen Gun at the bottom of the building, no larger than a palm, the packed box like a quiet matchbox.

He smiled, turned back to look at everyone in the room, and said: “He’s here.”

Shen Gun had arrived.

The other six ominous slips had arrived.

The unavoidable fate… had also arrived.