Wang Wei

The yin wind grew stronger, and everyone was horrified. They edged even farther away from the table.

Some people called out to Li Bai, Old Deer Mountain God, and the others. "Why are you still sitting there? You've angered the ghost!"

"Quick, get out of here!"

"Good heavens! You don't even know how to run! Honestly... Old sir, hurry up and go! Save yourself!"

Seeing that they couldn't persuade the people at that table, the guests had no time to worry about their other questions. They all fled for their lives, some hiding under tables, some huddling close to the monk, and some hiding in the kitchen with the relay station attendants. Tears and snot ran down their faces, and they felt as if they'd just escaped death.

Inside the main hall.

The ghost looked over as well. Its voice was no longer soft and gentle; it spoke in a harsh, grating tongue.

At the table, Old Deer Mountain God stroked his beard and smiled.

"Sir, you're quite the prankster. This ghost still thinks it can turn into a human."

The people hiding in the main hall were all surprised when they heard him.

Who were these people? From beginning to end, they'd shown not the slightest fear. Even with a ghost right before them, they still chatted and drank as calmly as ever.

They were probably no ordinary people.

"Those who die with resentment become evil ghosts." The people saw the man in blue speak as he surveyed the surroundings. "It must have been buried somewhere in this relay station."

"Indeed, sir."

The old man, whose beard and hair were completely white, actually agreed.

"When people die, they become ghosts, and ghosts are naturally weaker than humans. I wonder how it died, to have accumulated such deep resentment."

Hidden beneath a table, the traveling merchant listened, entranced.

Deep down, he sensed that he'd encountered no ordinary people that night. They spoke of evil ghosts with composure, showing no fear.

They must be true masters of the Way.

People among the immortals.

The traveling merchant wanted to crawl out from under the table, but he was also afraid the ghost might see him. Torn between terror and curiosity, he remained hunched halfway out and continued listening to the sounds in the room.

He heard the evil ghost's low voice, its laughter like sobbing, as though it were enraged.

The yin wind boiled over him like scalding soup.

The traveling merchant immediately drew his head in.

He heard the man sound slightly surprised, followed by a piercing shriek, as if a thousand night owls were having their eyes gouged out at once. It was unbearably sharp and filled him with dread.

The roof tiles rattled. Everyone hid.

After several breaths, the noise finally stopped.

They heard the man in blue speak, his tone calm, as if he'd done it without a second thought.

"Everyone, come out."

"It took some time to lure it out earlier. From this day on, there'll be no more hauntings here."

The traveling merchant still didn't dare move. The ghost had been far too terrifying. Only after the others began emerging one by one did he struggle out from beneath the table. His legs had gone numb, and he staggered as he stood.

Once the candles were relit, everyone saw what had happened in the main hall.

For a moment, no one spoke.

The floor was a mess. Several cups, plates, and bowls lay smashed, and the wine pot had been knocked over. The ghost had vanished without a trace. Only a scholar lay unconscious on the floor, his chest rising and falling now and then.

No one knew how fiercely the evil ghost had struggled.

The traveling merchant bowed deeply to Jiang She. "Thank you, master... If you hadn't been here, I'd probably have been eaten by that evil ghost today."

The others also came forward to pay their respects to Jiang She.

Seeing that it was safe, the relay station attendants emerged from the kitchen too.

The crowd was seething with grievances, and some were ready to settle the score with them. They'd nearly died at the relay station, and the attendants hadn't even bothered to warn them; they'd just run for their own lives.

They started throwing punches and kicks.

Jiang She looked away and picked up the room token for the premium room he'd bought earlier.

"Tonight's business is settled. Everyone, get some sleep."

Before leaving, Jiang She saw the monk press his palms together and bow to him.

Jiang She took one premium room, and Old Deer Mountain God took another. Yuan Danqiu and Li Bai shared a room, while the two servants slept in the communal bunkroom, recovering from the fatigue of their journey.

Early the next morning.

After a night's rest, the guests who'd come to stay had shaken off their fear, leaving only curiosity.

Traveling merchants were always eager to get their goods on the road, but today they sat at the tables, leisurely drinking millet porridge and eating chive-leaf dumplings, picking up preserved vegetables with their chopsticks as they chatted. They showed no sign of being in a hurry.

It was as if they were waiting for something.

Only when the hour of the rabbit arrived did they see the man in blue come out, surrounded by his companions, with the cat in his arms.

Everyone immediately perked up.

The traveling merchant hurried over. "Thank you, sir, for last night..."

He bowed, then had someone bring out the gift he'd prepared in advance. "I deal in fabrics, and I have little of value to my name. These bolts of cloth are all I can offer to express my gratitude."

A chest of heavy damask and silk was carried over.

"Though it's only worldly possessions, please accept it, master!"

Seeing someone take the lead, the others chimed in.

"Exactly! I nearly lost my life. That ghost last night was terrifying—maybe it was an evil ghost. It had to be an evil ghost!"

"How did it die? It must've been carrying a tremendous grudge."

Jiang She listened politely, then looked toward the relay station attendants and beckoned them over.

After the fright they'd had the previous night, the attendants were relieved that the master had subdued the troublesome ghost and put an end to a long-standing worry. They were willing to do anything he asked.

"Could you take me to have a look at the sealed premium room?"

The relay station attendant's heart suddenly gave a jolt.

The premium room stood in its own courtyard, covered with a layer of dust. The attendants rarely came to clean it, but it had clearly been tidied up; there were no bloodstains, only an unpleasant smell.

Li Bai followed behind, looking around the courtyard. He pointed beneath a tree near the wall.

"It should be here."

The attendants looked to Jiang She.

Jiang She nodded, and only then did they begin digging, using shovels and pickaxes.

The cat watched them turn the soil with their shovels and curiously went over. Its paws opened and closed as it tried to dig too. Jiang She picked it up and held it in his arms.

After a quarter of an hour,

they finally stopped.

"There really is a dead person..."

"Whew, the flesh has rotted away." The attendant furrowed his brow and covered his nose and mouth, fighting the urge to vomit. "How long have they been dead?"

"These clothes look familiar..."

When Jiang She saw them unearth the body, all the relay station attendants gathered around. They were frightened, but curious too, and all stood there watching.

Suddenly, someone recognized the deceased. "Isn't this the butcher's wife? Why was she buried here...?"

The dead woman was the wife of Wang San the butcher. There were knife wounds on her body. No one knew what had happened. The attendants who recognized her murmured among themselves, thinking of Wang San, who was now as good as mad, and his skill at butchering pigs. A chill rose in their hearts.

The attendants looked to the master.

Jiang She had no intention of getting involved.

"Report it to the authorities, everyone. Let the yamen make the judgment."

By now, it was already morning. Amid the crowd's reluctant gazes, Jiang She and the others set off on the road again. The monk Zhiyuan seemed to have something to say, but in the end, he only watched as the carriage slowly disappeared into the distance.

The attendants no longer dared charge them for their lodging. They returned the entire fee.

Li Bai looked at Old Deer Mountain God. He remembered that the god of Deer Mountain was the deity of Lumen Mountain.

He probably couldn't travel far.

Old Deer Mountain God looked toward Jiang She.

He smiled. "This little god will escort you a little farther, sir."

As they spoke, they saw another carriage hastily pass by from the opposite direction. Judging by its decorations, it belonged to a great aristocratic clan.

Who knew who was inside, or why they were in such a hurry?

Toward evening, after hurrying along all day, they finally arrived at the city gates.

A carriage arrived at Lu Xiang's house.

Lu Xiang was surprised. He had no idea why his friend, covered in frost and dust, had come. He went out to greet him personally, told a servant to fetch fresh clothes, and had the kitchen bring food at once.

"Mojie, what brings you...?"

"I received your letter and came as quickly as I could."

The young man had hurried all the way here. With the servants' help, he washed his face with a cloth. Young and fair, he possessed exquisite features and an elegant bearing. In his wide-sleeved robe, he was like a white-robed sage emerging from a rain-washed mountain, with an extraordinary air about him.

He asked:

"May I ask where the immortal is staying?"