"Uncle Zhan."
Fu Shaoping called softly.
Old Zhan woke at once in his wicker chair. When he saw Fu Shaoping, a smile spread across his face.
"What brings you here?"
"Your month of guarding Sunwood Forest ended a month ago, and New Year is almost here. Naturally, I came to take you home. Come try the new dish from the Hundred Fragrances Tower. It's spicy enough that you're sure to like it."
"You know me best, lad!"
Old Zhan rose with a chuckle and waved for a servant to bring over the small dining table.
Fu Shaoping set out the spicy stir-fried Firecloud Chicken from the food box, the tofu pudding Old Zhan liked, a bottle of osmanthus wine, and a plate of peanuts.
Night had already fallen.
Normally, Old Zhan would eat nothing more at this hour.
But this was a thoughtful gesture from Fu Shaoping, and every dish was a favorite of his. He could hardly avoid breaking his rule. After a few small cups of wine, Old Zhan finally put down his chopsticks and said:
"You look as though you have something on your mind. Tell me, is there anything I can help with?"
"Uncle Zhan, nothing escapes your eyes."
Fu Shaoping's expression turned serious.
He briefly described the strange things he had seen in Endless Cliff Village and on Five-Finger Slope, then said:
"Uncle Zhan, are there any colleagues permanently stationed in Sunwood Forest? Perhaps they know something about Endless Cliff Village."
"Wait a moment."
Old Zhan gave the servant a few instructions, and the servant darted away.
A little while later.
A cook with a grizzled beard was brought over.
Uncle Zhan said:
"Old Cui has worked in the kitchens of Sunwood Forest for decades. He buys our daily ingredients from Endless Cliff Village, so he knows the place better than anyone. Ask him whatever you like."
At those words, the cook, Old Cui,
shuddered in fright.
He thought his practice of shortchanging their purchases had been discovered.
He immediately dropped to his knees and begged:
"My lord, I haven't spent a single coin! It's all sealed inside the mud bricks in my room. My lord, I know I was wrong. Please spare me this once! I'll never do it again, my lord!"
As he spoke,
he made to knock his forehead against the ground.
But Fu Shaoping raised a hand, signaling him to be quiet.
"I'll ask, and you'll answer. Don't conceal so much as a scrap of the truth. Embezzling public funds alone is enough to put you in prison for years."
"Thank you for sparing my life, my lord! Thank you for sparing my life!"
After that shock and fright, Old Cui's defenses had already crumbled.
Fu Shaoping looked him in the eyes and asked:
"Why does Endless Cliff Village hold its ritual?"
"To pray for favorable winds and timely rain in the coming year."
"Is that all?"
"Huh? Well... oh, right, I remember now. During my first few years in Sunwood Forest, Endless Cliff Village was still a tiny settlement. The villagers were so poor their pockets rang hollow, and they never had enough to eat. Then they held a ritual, and things got better year after year. Decades have passed, and now it's grown into a large village with several thousand people."
In other words,
every change had begun with the ritual.
Had the people of Endless Cliff Village really received a god's protection?!
Fu Shaoping did not believe it. If that were true, why had Endless Cliff Village been so destitute before? He brought up another matter:
"Have you ever seen anything unusual on Five-Finger Slope below the forest while traveling up or down the mountain?"
"Yes!"
To this question,
Old Cui answered without a trace of hesitation.
Moreover,
a lingering fear flickered in his eyes.
"My lord, the babies buried on Five-Finger Slope all died in the womb. After decades, too much resentment has gathered there. They say vengeful spirits often appear."
"L-last time I came back from buying supplies in the village, I saw one myself."
"That vengeful spirit was truly horrifying. Half its face was gone! Luckily, I'd prepared for a rainy day and brought a jar of black dog blood. I threw it straight at the spirit. Though it didn't destroy the thing, it didn't dare follow me any farther. That was how I escaped with my life."
Fu Shaoping shook his head.
That ghost-faced youth was clearly human, not some vengeful spirit.
He changed tack:
"If Endless Cliff Village enjoys a god's protection and lives in prosperity and good health, why are there so many stillborn babies every year?"
"Well, my lord, they say an ancestor of Endless Cliff Village was cursed by a Gu Master from the Southern Frontier. Any child in their village born during the yin moon cannot survive. The god they worship governs bountiful harvests and cannot undo the curse."
He paused.
Then the cook lowered his voice.
"My lord, there's something deeply sinister about Endless Cliff Village."
"Though Endless Cliff Village has become prosperous, the people in nearby villages fear the curse passed down through their bloodline and generally avoid them. No one wants to marry into their families, either. All their new brides are bought from distant places."
"My lord, it's enough to know about Endless Cliff Village. I think you'd best avoid getting too involved, lest their ill fortune rub off on you!"
So sinister!
Fu Shaoping had originally thought there was something suspicious about Endless Cliff Village.
Now he was certain there was something fishy about its ritual.
He gave Old Zhan a meaningful look.
Old Zhan immediately understood. He beckoned behind him, and several servants stepped forward, bound Old Cui, and locked him in the woodshed.
Old Zhan addressed the servants present in an icy voice:
"From this moment onward, none of you may take a single step outside this building without my orders. Understood?"
"Yes, my lord!"
At last,
once everything had been dealt with,
Old Zhan turned to Fu Shaoping.
"Shaoping, do you think there's some conspiracy in Endless Cliff Village?"
"Yes, and it almost certainly has something to do with those babies born during the yin moon. But I'll have to investigate further to find out exactly what it is."
"Shaoping, demons and monsters run rampant in this world. It's also true that witchcraft and curses are widespread in the Southern Frontier. Better to believe such things exist and stay on your guard. We should report what's happening in Endless Cliff Village to the station. It's far too dangerous for you to act alone."
"Uncle Zhan, with nothing but local rumors and no concrete leads, I'm afraid the higher-ups won't send anyone."
"But you can't put yourself in danger!"
Sensing Old Zhan's concern for him, Fu Shaoping felt warmth fill his heart. He smiled and said:
"Don't worry, Uncle Zhan. I'm only going to take a look. If there's any danger, I'll retreat at once!"
"All right. Just remember, nothing matters more than your own life!"
Old Zhan did not press him further.
After nightfall,
Old Zhan led Fu Shaoping through a secret passage out of Sunwood Forest, allowing him to leave without a sound. One fewer person knowing his whereabouts meant one more measure of safety.
To his surprise,
the secret passage opened onto Five-Finger Slope.
At that moment,
pallid moonlight fell across the densely packed graves. All around him was utter silence. A night breeze drifted past, and Fu Shaoping could not help shivering, unease creeping over him. He climbed out of the tunnel and sealed the opening.
Then he turned around.
And nearly had his soul scared out of his body!
Before you continue