"...You said that a lowly slave died and a Chaba's son went missing, and both families' misfortunes happened after the Thangka left their homes. Could ghosts or gods have been at work here?"
"Did you see the Nangsheng die with your own eyes?"
"I saw it myself. Before he died, the Nangsheng wailed, 'Don't kill me! Someone, save me...' His voice was so wretched it hardly sounded human, as though ghosts were tormenting him," Tu Jia said.
"...After his father was burned alive, Cizhu became strange and rambling, quite out of his mind."
Although Qu Zan felt there were hidden circumstances behind all this, he was no detective and knew nothing about investigating cases. Besides, no ghosts or gods were at work in this matter, so he did not want to interfere too much.
When a monk from Corpse Camel Temple arrived at Liduo Village, the village's wealthy landowner, Cai Xiangdangzhi, immediately sent a servant to invite Qu Zan over.
This was the rule in every village under Corpse Camel Temple's jurisdiction: they had to entertain the temple's monks and provide for them properly.
Qu Zan followed the servant to the manor.
The Cai Xiangdangzhi family's manor stood on a sun-facing terrace at the highest point in the village.
The manor was a typical enclosed compound of multiple courtyards. Its main entrance consisted of two enormous black-lacquered doors, and five-colored prayer flags hung on the walls, lending the residence an even more solemn air.
A middle-aged man stood before the gates. He wore a steward's clothing, but his face was pale and thoroughly haggard.
Qu Zan recalled what Tu Jia had told him: a steward's son had gone missing.
It seemed the steward was the man before him.
"May all be auspicious, Lama. This humble servant is the steward of