Growing Stronger!

"He said, 'Everyone here today is a neighbor or old acquaintance. Do you think I, Old Li, was just blowing hot air before?

"I'm telling you, I discovered a secret of the Imperial Court. A secret Hanshan Commandery has kept hidden all along.'"

"The moment those words came out, everyone's eyes lit up."

"Old Li was very satisfied with everyone's reaction. He nodded and said, 'Come with me.'"

Fang Yuan turned a page.

"He turned and started toward the back room. But as he stepped past the counter, his foot paused."

"He looked back, and the smile vanished from his face."

"I'll lay the ugly words out first. If anyone regrets this, you can leave now.

"Once we go in, if you want to leave later, us men won't agree to it."

"The words were neither loud nor soft, but the atmosphere in the room turned cold at once.

"Several people looked at one another. I started having second thoughts too.

"Shopkeeper Wang muttered something under his breath and received a glare from Old Li. No one moved."

"Old Li cursed them for cowards and went in by himself."

"His back vanished behind the curtain leading to the rear courtyard.

"The curtain was dark blue, embroidered with a crooked bat."

"The others exchanged glances. Then, one after another, they followed him inside."

"I walked last."

"There seemed to be some kind of magic in Old Li's back room. I knew I shouldn't go in, but my feet would not obey me."

Fang Yuan turned to the next page.

The handwriting had become completely chaotic here, the ink varying in darkness.

Several lines had been crossed out and rewritten, and fingernail marks remained pressed into the paper.

"Rear courtyard. Woodshed."

"Old Li carefully opened the woodshed door, moving as lightly as