To Comfort the Spirits of My Kin in Heaven

Jiang Yuechu knew the courtyard where the others lived like the back of her hand.

But today, she stopped as soon as she reached the gate, a strange look crossing her face.

It was too quiet.

Usually, she could hear them shouting and carrying on before she even stepped inside.

Had the sun risen in the west today?

She pushed open the courtyard gate.

Chen Tong sat on a stone stool, listlessly rubbing his already gleaming saber with a rag.

Bujie sat cross-legged on the stone table. He held neither dice nor a chicken leg, but a string of prayer beads. Eyes closed, he muttered under his breath.

"Amitabha... form is emptiness, emptiness is form... money is paper, paper is money..."

Jiang Yuechu raised an eyebrow and stepped inside.

"What's this? Turned over a new leaf?"

At the sound, both men looked up.

Seeing Jiang Yuechu, Chen Tong hurriedly tossed aside the rag, stood, and cupped his fists.

"Official Jiang!"

Bujie opened his eyes too. His inscrutable expression crumbled into one of utter misery.

"Amitabha. Official Jiang, you jest."

The monk sighed and patted his sunken belly. "This humble monk is contemplating the Zen of poverty."

"Lost everything?"

"Of course not!"

Chen Tong gleefully cut in. "A few days ago, this bald donkey went to Guanyin Alley and insisted on 'consecrating' a girl's backside. The madam and her brothel attendants threw him out. They nearly stripped off his official robe to settle the bill. He's been tightening his belt ever since."

"Slander! That's slander!"

Bujie's face flushed red. He craned his neck and protested, "How can you speak so crudely of a monk's affairs? I was..."

Jiang Yuechu had no patience for the lecherous monk's twisted reasoning.

She swept her gaze around the courtyard.

"Where's Liu Ke?"

Though the three