Old City God

The child's curiosity drove little Yin Qing, who thought he was hiding well, to secretly watch Ji Yuan for a while. The result was that the more he looked, the more his hair stood on end, and he finally couldn't take it anymore and fled.

This scare made Yin Qing too afraid to go back and find the friends he'd come out to play with. What do kids do when they're scared? Run home to their parents!

So that's what Yin Qing did, running all the way home, panting and out of breath.

Yin Qing's home was also in Tianniu Quarter. Even from a remote corner like Ju'an Pavilion, it was only a few hundred meters in a straight line.

The Yin residence was a low-walled courtyard with a house that had a front hall and an inner room. A simple folding screen divided the fairly spacious front hall, creating a reception area and a study space for Yin father and son. The kitchen was attached outside the main house. Overall, it was an ordinary but slightly above-average household.

Yin Qing ran home in one breath, "Bang!" pushed open the courtyard gate, and rushed into the front hall, startling Yin Mother, who was weaving cloth at home.

"Mother, Mother! That, over there, there's a Great Mister, he, huff... that Great Mister and a ghost, huff..."

"Calm down, speak properly. What Great Mister, what nonsense!"

Yin Mother took out a handkerchief to wipe Yin Qing's sweat.

"You're a big kid now, babbling incoherently—what kind of behavior is that!"

A stern voice came, startling Yin Qing and even suppressing the fear of possibly seeing a ghost.

"Father, you're home..."

Yin Qing turned his head and noticed his father sitting on a chair by the window in the hall, flipping through a book.

"Qing'er, your father has been recommended by Master Zhu and Master Zhou to be the Master at the new county academy. He won't have to be a private tutor at the Zhu Residence anymore."

"Master? Really, Father? When does it start?"

Yin Qing perked up at the news.

"Heh heh, of course it's true. It'll take a few days, but not too long!"

Yin Father stroked his beard with some pride as he answered.

"When the time comes, you'll go to the academy to study too. Stop fooling around outside all day. Learning the sages' books and earning a name through the examinations is the proper path!"

"Oh..."

Yin Qing actually hated studying, but he didn't dare argue with his father.

Ning'an County originally had places to study, but most were private schools run by old scholars whose knowledge was neither here nor there.

This new academy was considered a proper, high-standard learning venue for the county. Theoretically, it was only a step below the formal colleges, and it targeted younger students, while the colleges took older ones. If conditions allowed, many families would choose to send their children to the academy when young and to a college when older.

As a scholar who had earned a Grade B ranking in the Prefectural Examination, Yin Zhaoxian was definitely a notable figure among all the scholars in Ning'an County. Being recommended as the academy's Master felt natural to him, and of course, he carried a sense of pride.

"By the way, what was all that panic about earlier?"

Yin Zhaoxian put down his book and looked at Yin Qing.

"Oh, right, Father! Over at Ju'an Pavilion, there's a new tenant—a refined and very friendly Great Mister. But, but he was talking to the ghost inside..."

"Shh"

Yin Mother immediately covered Yin Qing's mouth.

"Is that something to say carelessly?"

Yin Zhaoxian's expression also soured. Even though he was fairly well-read and knew the ignorance of many villagers, he too was deeply wary of Ju'an Pavilion. That house was simply too eerie.

Then Yin Zhaoxian suddenly realized something and stared at his son.

"How do you know that?"

"Uh... well... the Great Mister has bad eyesight. He was drawing water at Double Well Inlet just now and got splashed, and his bucket tipped over. So I, I helped him carry the water. How was I supposed to know he lived at Ju'an Pavilion..."

Yin Qing lowered his voice fearfully.

"You went inside?"

Yin Mother asked nervously. Even though going into Ju'an Pavilion during broad daylight should be fine, that place was too creepy, and Yin Qing was a child with weak vital energy—parents couldn't help but worry.

"No, no. Father and Mother have warned me so many times, I wouldn't dare go in. I just set the load down at the door. But later, after I ran off, I saw from a distance that the Great Mister was talking to someone outside the courtyard wall. He carried the water into the yard and then left, chatting the whole way as if something was following him. He even said something about before and after death—it was terrifying! I got so scared I ran home!"

After saying this, Yin Qing, still scared but also curious, asked his father.

"Father, do you think the ghost from Ju'an Pavilion came out with that Great Mister?"

Yin Zhaoxian got goosebumps just hearing this, and Yin Mother covered Yin Qing's mouth again.

"Alright, alright. Don't go playing over there anymore. And this... don't you dare talk about it outside, understand?"

"Mm, got it!"

Yin Mother hugged Yin Qing and ruffled his hair.

"Husband, how about taking Qing'er to the City God Temple to pay respects to the City God and wash away the bad luck?"

It was, after all, about her own son, and Yin Zhaoxian wasn't rigid. Some extreme scholars might sneer at talk of Supernatural and Chaotic Beings, but Ju'an Pavilion was genuinely eerie.

"Fine! After lunch, I'll take Qing'er to the City God Temple to burn some incense!"

A few years ago, during a Ritual, a trembling old priest had mentioned that the Ning'an County City God was suppressing something. Since then, the people of Tianniu Quarter had been diligent about worshipping the City God during Holidays.

Ji Yuan followed the Day Patrol Emissary through half of Ning'an County to the City God Temple in Temple Quarter. As they gradually reached more crowded areas, Ji Yuan and the Day Patrol Emissary stopped chatting much.

Until he reached the bustling City God Temple, an elderly man stood before an incense stall, and the Day Patrol Emissary hurried forward to bow.

"Reporting to Lord City God, Mister Ji has arrived!"

With worshippers coming and going nearby, the Old City God merely nodded at the emissary.

The latter said, "This subordinate takes his leave," and drifted away on his own.

Ji Yuan had assumed they would meet inside the temple in a relatively secluded spot before the City God revealed himself, but instead, the City God appeared directly outside the temple in the form of an ordinary elderly man.

He studied the City God with a stunned expression, though his half-open Pale Eyes made it impossible to tell whether his gaze was focused or scattered—truly as calm as an ancient well.

A faint scent of sandalwood clung to the City God as well, but it was far lighter than that of the Four Department Heads.

Meanwhile, the City God was also observing Ji Yuan. One look at those eyes told him they were already dead, yet this Mister Ji moved no differently from an ordinary person when he arrived. Moreover, though blind, his eyes held no murkiness—instead, they revealed a hint of tranquil vastness. This man was definitely no mortal!

Their mutual observation lasted only a few seconds, then the elderly man broke the silence first.

"I, Song Shichang, City God of Ning'an County, thank Mister Ji for your Noble Righteousness in lending a hand to help us eliminate that evil thing!"

Seeing the elderly man clasp his hands in salute, Ji Yuan dared not act presumptuously. Facing a county City God, a major figure among ghostly deities, he quickly clasped his hands in return, even more respectfully than the old man.

"Lord City God, you flatter me. This Humble One merely has some trivial skills and happened to assist the Department Heads. It's nothing, nothing at all!"

"Hehehehe, Mister Ji is too modest. I know you surely haven't had breakfast yet. I've already ordered a small meal at the Temple Outbuilding. Let's go over there to talk. Please!"

Ji Yuan hurriedly imitated the City God's gesture, extending his hand in invitation, daring not to act presumptuously.

"Since you insist, I shall obey. Please!"

Watching the lively scene around the City God Temple, with worshippers constantly entering and exiting to pay respects, while the City God stood right beside him, Ji Yuan was even more nervous than when he had arrived.

'Relax, relax. Don't let your legs go stiff...'

If anyone could imagine a clay statue of a deity stepping down from its altar inside a temple to chat with you, they might understand how Ji Yuan felt at that moment.