A black curtain patterned with purple grapes stretched across the middle of the house, blocking off the rear half of the hall. Household furnishings could vaguely be seen standing behind it, though it was impossible to make out what they were.
The witch stood behind the threshold, gripping a wooden stick wrapped in white cloth.
Upon reaching the threshold, Wang Laoshi took off his shoes. Without stepping over it, he turned and said, "Young Master, please enter."
With the bright candlelight at his back, his front was dark and his face sinister.
The others looked at one another again before finally turning their eyes to Sunshine Boy.
Sunshine Boy took off his shoes and stepped across the threshold.
The others followed Sunshine Boy's example, removing their shoes and preparing to enter, but Wang Laoshi stopped them.
"You can only remain outside. Only Young Master may enter."
The witch inside smiled. "Young Master, please sit inside first."
Sunshine Boy carefully stepped across the pomegranate-patterned carpet and sat down in a chair.
The instant he touched the chair, Sunshine Boy's expression changed slightly.
It had clearly been a solid wooden chair, yet when he sat on it, it was soft and yielding like a sofa. An even softer touch came from behind his back.
The chair's armrests were like two delicate beauties' arms, slick and tender, stirring wild fancies while making one's heart pound with terror.
Sunshine Boy said nothing and secretly observed his surroundings.
The others stood barefoot outside the door, motionless.
Good Fortune Born wore the faintest smile, as if ready to watch a good show.
The black curtain with purple grape patterns trembled gently, seeming to turn into a water screen as ripples spread across it.
At the center of the ripples, a pair of huge white hands held