Story Under the Tree

Ten years ago, the Liujiang River flooded, and the stone bridge in the middle was broken. It wasn't caused by the flood, but by a long, dark shadow seen beneath the water by someone passing by. It was likely a dragon.

This "dragon" broke the bridge.

Unfortunately, it didn't escape and thus couldn't become a dragon. It has since resided in the river, terrorizing the region and devouring many people in recent years.

Two years ago, a family in Luojiawan outside the city died. Because they were poor and couldn't afford a coffin or a burial plot, the body was left in the main hall, absorbing the ambient energy. It didn't rot for a long time, and its fingernails and hair grew longer and longer. Finally, the terrified villagers pooled their money to buy land and hastily bury the body.

That night, a fierce thunderstorm raged. The corpse crawled out of the earth, leaving tracks from the grave to the village entrance.

Fortunately, it crawled slowly, and dawn broke just as it reached the village entrance.

There are also tales of ghosts haunting the mass graves outside the city...

The old man's stories aren't all true, of course.

Some are fabricated, by others or by himself. Some are hearsay, heard when he was young, or even when he was a child, remembered until now and passed down to the next generation.

Some, however, were indeed witnessed firsthand.

These stories aren't particularly fascinating, and many are very short, recounting an event in just a sentence or two. But their appeal lies in their proximity—many are just outside the city, within the city, or on the next street. Other adults would sometimes join in, adding to the realism and detail with their own words, claiming they saw or heard it too. Or they would explain the reasons for the appearance of these monsters and ghosts with their own imaginations or hearsay, of course, always using mysterious and arcane terms and logic.

Many very real ghost and monster legends originate this way.

Passed down through generations, the false becomes true.

At least these children believed them without a doubt.

Their eyes widened in fear and excitement, unwilling to leave.

Some of the more proud ones, afraid of losing face, would either bring up idle chatter or fidget around, feigning a relaxed demeanor with clumsy acting, pretending they weren't scared or bothered. Or they would ask their companions if they were scared. If there was even the slightest hesitation, they would feel comforted and immediately mock them, using this method to dilute their own fear and welcome this addictive thrill.

However, the old man's repertoire was also limited, and he often catered to the children's preferences here, nearing his limit. After telling a few stories, he found himself unable to continue.

But the children were persistent. When he was thirsty, they brought him water. When he was tired, someone immediately offered a back rub. Unable to refuse, the old man looked around and his gaze fell upon the woman standing nearby, holding her saber.

"Stop bothering me, go pester this great hero."

The children glanced at the woman but dared not approach.

What young boy doesn't dream of the martial world? This martial artist had captured their attention the moment she arrived, and they had secretly stolen countless glances. But having heard so many stories of martial artists killing people, they harbored a mix of admiration and fear, not daring to casually strike up a conversation with this stranger.

"Don't be afraid. This great hero has been listening for so long; she must also love stories. Martial artists travel far and wide, so they must have had some wondrous experiences. Perhaps she has even encountered monsters and ghosts herself. If you approach her and say a few nice words, maybe she'll tell you about them."

Hearing this, the woman turned her head and indeed looked at the group of children.

Finally, one brave child, with pure yet timid eyes, looked at her. "Great hero? Have you encountered monsters and ghosts?"

"Yes, quite a few."

The woman spoke calmly, her gaze on the child soft, a smile appearing. "I've even personally slain monsters and ghosts..."

"Ah?"

Everyone was shocked.

They were surprised that the martial artist was a woman, and even more surprised by what she said.

The children's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"I'll tell you one."

"Okay."

Children are naturally drawn to women, and humans have an instinct to care for the young. The silence between them vanished, and they immediately grew closer. Once the martial artist's identity was no longer a barrier, only admiration remained.

The woman's slightly rough voice began, "That was last year. Oh, it's the New Year now, so it was the year before last.

"Once, on my way back to my sect from Yidu—oh, Yidu is the capital of Yizhou, which is adjacent to here. My sect is the school that taught me martial arts.

"I took a shortcut back to my sect and got lost halfway, wasting a lot of time. My dried rations ran out, and I was starving.

"It was autumn, and there were wild fruits in the mountains. I could also catch birds to roast, but the wild fruits were incredibly sour, and the roasted birds were terribly unappetizing.

"Just then, I saw signs of human habitation in the distance and went over. It was a village, and the wealthiest family there was holding a funeral.

"Heh! I thought! I have to go get a meal!

"I wouldn't just eat for free. I'd say I was a distant niece of the deceased, who had gone to the mountains to learn martial arts since childhood. I'd offer condolences and kowtow, and that would be that, right? With so many people eating there, would anyone come to question me?

"So, I ate!"

Seeing the children's focused and tense expressions, her tone grew more playful.

"The meal went smoothly.

"The food was delicious, with plenty of meat and fish.

"I hadn't eaten such a good meal in a long time.

"Martial artists naturally have large appetites, and I was starving, so I really enjoyed it. Tsk tsk, you haven't tasted the banquets in my Yizhou. Especially those from wealthy families—they are truly delicious."

With just a few sentences, without any other descriptions, she successfully stirred the children's appetites with her tone alone.

People started to swallow audibly.

Someone even asked what dishes were served, and the woman answered them one by one.

After a few more words, she turned back and continued, "After I was full and satisfied, everyone dispersed. I didn't want to leave, so I just found a place to sleep. I slept until midnight and felt someone pushing me. I opened my eyes and saw an old man. I saw the fabric of his clothes was very good, so he was likely the owner of the house. And he was old, so I wasn't very wary. Looking back now, someone could approach me while I was sound asleep without me noticing, and push me awake. I should have drawn my sword immediately.

"Then he spoke to me, asking who I was.

"I said I was the distant niece of the person in the coffin. He said he didn't know me. I said I had been learning martial arts on the mountain since I was young. He said that person had no nieces.

"I wanted to make up a story, but then I thought, I had already eaten and drunk my fill. I'd pack up and leave tomorrow. Besides, I had already given the gift money and kowtowed. What's wrong with eating a meal here? Do you think you can make me spit it out?"

The woman held her long saber under her arm, her right hand striking her left. With a snap:

"I'll be direct. I was just passing by, took a wrong turn, ran out of food, and was truly desperate. I saw people here having a feast, so I came over, gave a gift, and had a meal.

"The old man smiled. He said he didn't know most of the people who came here either, some he hadn't seen in over a decade. Some people not only came empty-handed but also demanded money when they left. And some people just came for a good meal and wouldn't even kowtow. As for their old friends, even if they weren't dead yet, they were old and couldn't walk, so they couldn't come. The people here today were less sincere than me, a freeloader.

"I smiled too.

"Later, I chatted with him for a while longer. I felt sleepy and went to sleep."

There was no other sound under the ancient tree.

The adults were lost in thought, while the children stared at her with their bright, dark eyes. Although the Three Flower Lady felt it would be more fun to climb the tree and catch birds, she sat obediently beside Song You, wrapping her tail around her small feet and lowering her head to lick the fur on her chest, keeping it neat.

"When I woke up again, it was the next morning. It was misty, and someone came to find me, saying I was a distinguished guest and inviting me to sit at the main table for the best feast.

"Did I even need to think about it?

"It must have been that the old man from last night got along well with me and thought I was a good person, so he sent his juniors to invite me.

"But on the way, they told me that last night they had a dream. Their deceased father told them in the dream that I was his long-lost distant niece and that they should treat me well. After they woke up, they were surprised and found it magical. After discussing it, they came to look for me, and surprisingly, they actually found me."

At this point, the children exclaimed in surprise.

"I didn't believe it at first. Then I went up to the coffin to take a look... Oh, I don't know if you know, but during funerals, the coffin isn't sealed tightly during the rituals. A gap is left, and the lid is only placed on and carried to the mountain for burial after the rituals are completed. So, you can see the person inside if you get close.

"When I got close--

"It was the old man from last night!

"His clothes were the same!"

The children's eyes widened.

"And then?"

"Then I had breakfast there. When I left, they even prepared chicken legs, dried meat, and filled buns for me, found someone to show me the way, and insisted on giving me five taels of silver."

"How much is five taels of silver?"

"About six thousand."

"How much is six thousand?"

"A lot, anyway."

"Did you take it?"

"Haha, how could I? Such a large sum of money, how could I possibly accept it? I was just there to eat. After I was full and satisfied, I should have left. However, I did bring the chicken legs and dried meat back to my sect and let my master and fellow disciples try them. They were delicious."

"Wow..."

The story the woman told, compared to the old man's earlier tale, was neither as fantastical nor as frightening. But as a personal experience, it excelled in its realism. The details, the emotions, and the expressions during the telling were something the old man's story couldn't match.

Moreover, the story held its own subtle charm. The children didn't understand where the charm lay, but they enjoyed listening to it.

"Tell another one."

"Lady hero, tell another one."

"Sister~"

"Such sweet words! I've actually encountered monsters and ghosts several times, and I've heard many stories, but I don't want to tell them today." After speaking, the woman glanced sideways at the Taoist priest beside her. Seeing him savoring her words with a thoughtful expression, she chuckled softly and said to the children, "There's a Taoist priest standing right here. Why are you pestering me instead of him?"

Upon hearing this, the group of children turned their gaze to Song You.

Perhaps their previous interaction with the woman had given them experience and courage, and they immediately began to pester him to tell a story.

Song You truly couldn't bear it.

He had been listening for so long and couldn't just leave.

He hadn't expected that after telling many stories on the boat a few days ago, he would have to tell them again here.

But he wouldn't tell the same story twice.

So, what should he tell?

"..."

Song You looked at the group of young children before him. He saw that they had listened to many frightening stories earlier, and the woman's recent tale had somewhat eased their fear, but it was probably only temporary. When they returned home and night fell, they would likely still be too scared to sleep and might even have lingering shadows for a while...

He decided to dilute it further.

So, he lowered his head and glanced at the well-behaved Three Flower Cat at his feet. "I'll also tell a story I actually experienced, about a roadside Cat Temple and the story of the Cat God."

The Three Flower Cat looked up at the sound, staring at him with confusion.

Song You just smiled faintly:

"Around the end of last summer and beginning of fall, about half a year ago, I was traveling down the mountain along Jinyang Road and came across a small temple. The deity enshrined in the temple wasn't a person or an immortal, but a cat..."

Song You also recounted the details.

A smile couldn't help but spread across his face.

The Three Flower Cat was initially confused, but then it also fell into a daze.

Time often brings a sense of disorientation.