Chapter 14 - Three People Heading Towards the Same Destination

Editor: mako

Proofreader: kllua

The whole city had been searching for Second Liu for two days, but they found nothing at the piers, train stations, and brothels.

Meanwhile, Huo ZhenYe had been lazing at the Bai’s residence during this period. While he slept on the bamboo bed on the first night, he brought in his own spring bed on the second.

Bai Zhun lost his temper when he saw that iron object. “What is this? Throw it out!”

Since the start, Huo ZhenYe had moved random, unnecessary items into his house. Taking a glance at him, Bai Zhun then entertained the thought of throwing him out together with the items.

Here, Huo ZhenYe only picked him up and said in response, “Try it! It is much more comfortable than your wooden bed. This spring provides better support for your waist.”

With a twitch of Bai Zhun’s finger, Lord Yue’s silver spear was just about to stab Huo ZhenYe’s back. However, at this moment, Bai Zhun felt his body sink as if he was lying on a pile of feathers.

Lord Yue’s silver spear stopped moving.

Bai Zhun, indeed, was lying on a pile of feathers. While the bed was spring-loaded, the pillows and cushions were stuffed with goose feathers. He felt that the bed was comfortable and not hard at all.

Stretching out his hand, Bai Zhun gave the pillow a few presses, and Huo ZhenYe padded his back with it. “How is it? Is it more comfortable?”

As the wooden bed would make creaking sounds, Huo ZhenYe could hear Bai Zhun toss and turn around at night. No matter what, a few layers of cotton stuffing could not be compared to the softness of goose feathers.

Bai Zhun, who was nestled among the goose feather pillows, then lazily lifted his fingers and several paper servants filed out. With each lifting one of the bed legs, the spring bed was carried in, and the door was even closed after them.

After a while, the wooden bed was carried out and placed in the courtyard.

Bai Zhun’s voice rang out from the room. “This bed will be given to you then.” As soon as he was near the pillows, he felt sleepy. It had really taken too much energy to craft the paper boat.

Huo ZhenYe placed his hands on his hips. This person did not even thank others after benefiting from them.

Nonetheless, despite such thoughts, he could not get angry and even asked, “What would you like to eat tonight?”

No sound came from inside, and Huo ZhenYe looked in through the crack of the door. Bai Zhun’s face was currently nestled on the goose feather pillow and his hair was scattered behind his head. It seemed that he was too comfortable to talk.

In the end, Bai Zhun lazed on the bed all day. Even when Huo ZhenYe bought dinner and returned, he still refused to get up.

Huo ZhenYe knocked on the rice bowl. “It is dinner time! You cannot just stay indoors all the time. You still have to come out and move around.” Although Bai Zhun was sitting in a wheelchair, he should at least wheel around.

After a while, there were sounds of movement from the inner room. Huo ZhenYe looked up and could not help laughing in exasperation.

Bai Zhun, who was still lying down, was carried out along with the bed by four paper servants. They made some turns before carrying him back. Throughout this whole process, he did not even open his eyes.

Unable to do anything about it, Huo ZhenYe ended up passing him some butter biscuits to dip in milk. Whatever children eat, Bai Zhun would find it acceptable.

Huo ZhenYe was aware that Bai Zhun had expended too much energy. In this room, except Ah Xiu, who did not know anything, the rest were paper dolls. So, with no one caring for Bai Zhun, Huo ZhenYe would just have to take on the responsibility of taking care of him.

When Bai Zhun was eating the butter cookies dipped in milk, Huo ZhenYe asked, “Should I also order a cushion for your bamboo wheelchair? A drawer or something similar could also be added so that it is more convenient for you to bring things along when going out.”

“I don’t go out.” After saying that, Seventh Master Bai wormed himself back into the quilt. The spring bed was really wonderful, and it seemed like foreigners also had good stuff.

On August 28, Third Master Han’s hundredth day of death, there was a dense fog.

Han Zhu pushed a handcart out of the city. On it was several bamboo baskets filled with the paper ingots she folded.

When passersby saw the items and the mourning clothes on her body, they could recognize who she was and her intention to visit her father’s grave.

Meanwhile, Big Liu was currently stuffed under the paper ingots. As he looked out through the gaps in the bamboo basket, his gaze was unmoving. He had not eaten for three days already.

It appeared that he was only fed some water whenever Han Zhu remembered him. If it slipped her mind, he would be given nothing.

Nonetheless, Han Zhu had not tortured him for fun. It was just that, in her eyes, Big Liu was already a dead man. She had even prepared a roll of straw mat 1 Here, I had some trouble finding official historical reasons for the straw mats. However, if I remember correctly, in the past, the dead were wrapped in straw mats before being placed into coffins or directly buried if the family members were poor. Given the context, we could just take it as Han Zhu preparing for Big Liu’s death rites. right in front of him.

When it was completed, Han Zhu finally spoke to him, “Since we grew up together, I should provide a roll of straw mat for you.”

At that time, despite Big Liu pleading gaze, Han Zhu was unmoved and even smiled. “You are much more honest in this state than when you were able to speak.”

Already able to move his fingers and toes slightly at that point in time, Big Liu was ecstatic, but he did not dare to show it. Whenever Han Zhu was not paying attention, he could only continuously try his best to gain back his mobility.

He wanted to escape and get far away from Han Zhu. This woman was more terrifying than a ghost.

Han Zhu pushed the cart out of the city and went to the cemetery where her father was buried. However, despite being called a cemetery, it was, in actuality, a wasteland with grave mounds everywhere. When Third Master Han was buried, a tree with white cloth tied to the branches was also planted along with him.

Han Zhu looked around and only saw the cloth flying in the wind. She then bowed her head and said to Big Liu, “Look, Father is waiting for us.”

Currently, Big Liu has managed to muster some strength from his toes to calves. Aware that today was his last chance to escape, he was trying his best to be obedient and dared not move.

Han Zhu moved Big Liu down from the cart and placed him in a kneeling posture. “Come, kowtow to my father.”

Pretending to be soft at her disposal, Big Liu observed his surroundings, trying to see whether there was anywhere he could escape to.

Meanwhile, Han Zhu laid out some braised meat and yellow rice wine in front of her father’s grave. She took out the incense burner, lit a stick of incense, and kowtowed three times to the stone tablet. Kneeling on the ground, she said, “Father, I have come to see you.”

She glanced at Big Liu, raised the incense stick, and said to the stone tablet, “I, your daughter, do not want to marry Big Liu anymore. I have specially invited Seventh Master Bai as a witness to nullify the marriage.”

When Big Liu heard that, he was delighted. Did it mean that she was willing to let him go now? However, on further thought, his heart turned chilly. Did breaking the marriage entailed his death and for her to become a widow instead?

Han Zhu first burned the paper ingots before burning the paper flower basket in front of her father’s grave. Upon hearing the sound of a wheelchair behind her, she knew that Bai Zhun had arrived.

Bai Zhun, with his wheelchair padded with a goose feather pillow and his lap covered with a thin fleece blanket, had a bottle of orange soda in his hand and Ah Xiu holding an umbrella over him.

Through the straw inserted into the bottle, Bai Zhun took small sips of the soda.

Following behind Bai Zhun was also Huo ZhenYe. For those who were unaware, they looked like two young masters who came out for an excursion.

Additionally, besides the policemen secretly surrounding the cemetery, other people were scattered around the area too.

As the dense fog obscured the sunlight, the surroundings were misty while the countless grave mounds laid there silently. Those visiting the graves shuttled back and forth with their bamboo baskets.

At first glance, it looked like a group of headless corpses walking around the cemetery. It was indiscernible whether they were people or ghosts.

Huo ZhenYe looked around. He did not know where Second Liu was hiding or whether he would turn up today.

Han Zhu, who saw that Bai Zhun had arrived, took out the marriage contract from her sleeve and handed it to him with both hands. “Inviting the Seventh Master to be the witness.”

At this moment, Bai Zhun gave off a sense of seniority. He nodded slightly and offered incense to Third Master Han first.

As soon as the incense was lit, a gray figure appeared next to the stone tablet, and it nodded to Bai Zhun.

Bai Zhun then proceeded to light the marriage contract with the same incense stick before letting go. The white paper with black words was blown up by the wind, and as it burned, it circled around Third Master Han’s grave until it turned to ashes.

“Your father has agreed.”

Third Master Han, who was standing by his grave, had received the marriage contract that was burned. After tearing it into two, he lowered his head and stared at Big Liu. The Magical Flying Rope 2 This rope made an appearance in chapter 2 as one of Third Master Han’s unique skills. In case you missed it, I had included the same video here too: https://tv.sohu.com/v/dXMvNjMzNzA5MzMvNjcyMzE1NzYuc2h0bWw=.html (there are English subtitles). tied to his waist trembled slightly.

Han Zhu pressed Big Liu’s head down and said, “Give my father three kowtows.”

Big Liu’s head was pressed towards the ground. The three kowtows were very forceful, but he only clenched his teeth and did not move.

When his head was lowered, he caught a flash of light in Han Zhu’s sleeves. Looking closer, he recognized it as a sharp silver ear pick. He suddenly realized that it was the item used to dig out Jin DanGui’s eyes, and Han Zhu was planning to do the same with him.

When the kowtows were completed, Han Zhu stood up to burn the paper boat.

Meanwhile, with his forehead plastered to the ground, Big Liu waited until the fire flared to jump up. Although his arms had strength, his legs were numb, and he almost fell to the ground. Nonetheless, he managed to get a few steps away.

Here, Huo ZhenYe was about to move, but Bai Zhun stopped him. “There is no need for you to interfere.”

Sure enough, a figure jumped out of the fog and stopped in front of Big Liu.

“Brother.”

Surprised, Big Liu made a noise. Pointing to his throat, he pointed to Han Zhu and pulled his brother’s sleeve, trying to signal that Han Zhu wanted to kill him.

Joy also erupted on his face. With the two of them, he had thought that they would no doubt be able to overpower this mad woman.

However, Second Liu only stared at his brother’s face. “Since you can move, why don’t you give better kowtows to Master?”

Second Liu had always worshipped his brother. Besides being able to learn everything quickly, his brother was doted on by his master and received the love of his senior sister. Even the third door was passed down to him.

Despite that, his brother still refused to be satisfied with such a life.

“You always said that our life was given by Master. When Master asked if you were willing to marry Senior Sister, you swore and said that it was the happiest day of your life. Was there any truth to your words?”

At this moment, Big Liu felt that something was not right and wanted to take a step back, but Han Zhu was just behind.

Second Liu continued his forceful questioning. “You said that the three of us would live a good life together. You said that we should make the third door prosper so that others would not look down on us after Master’s departure.”

As Second Liu stepped forward step by step, Big Liu took steps back. Big Liu was anxious to explain, but he could not squeeze out a single word.

Here, Second Liu finally looked at Han Zhu. Despite looking at her, his question was aimed towards Big Liu, “Why did you refuse to be satisfied with your life? Why did you lie to others?”

Saying that, Second Liu took out a small knife and thrust it into Big Liu’s heart. He asked word by word, “Why are you unwilling?!”

As soon as Second Liu’s knife was out, Huo ZhenYe had immediately taken out his gun. However, before he could press on the trigger, a gunshot rang out, and the policemen lying in ambush had hit Second Liu in the leg.

Despite that, Second Liu had no intention to escape. He pulled out his knife and watched Big Liu fall to the ground before taking a few steps to Third Master Han’s grave.

With such a movement, he was shot again.

Unable to hold on anymore, Second Liu fell to the ground. Using his hands and feet, he crawled to his master’s grave and kowtowed to Third Master Han shakily.

With his cheek pressed to the newly grown grass on the grave, his eyes then looked towards Han Zhu. No longer able to make any sound, he could only mouth out a “Senior Sister”.

Han Zhu cried and fell to the ground. She hugged his shoulder and cried out, “Little Liu!”

At this moment, Second Liu was already not moving. His last gaze was filled with satisfaction that he did not let his Senior Sister dirty her hands.

Meanwhile, the moment when Big Liu jumped up, Huo ZhenYe had already placed Bai Zhun behind him. Only able to hear voices and unable to see people, Bai Zhun was so angry that he used a bamboo pole to push Huo ZhenYe away.

As several policemen came out from the back of the grave mounds, Da Tou ran to Huo ZhenYe. “Young Master Huo! You may not know, but we were unable to find Second Liu despite searching around the cemetery a few times just now.”

If it had not been for the broad daylight, they would have thought that he was a ghost.

Two of the policemen went forward to ascertain the state of Big Liu and Second Liu. As the two brothers were already dead, they could only carry the corpses back to verify their identity before closing the case.

Han Zhu fell in front of the grave. She finally shed tears and cried inconsolably.

As the flames lightly licked the paper boat, the exterior and its frame ignited instantly. Along with the spread of the sparks, the paper boat rose slightly.

The ashes floated up when the paper boat was completely burnt, and a whole ship was constructed.

Second Liu knelt in front of Third Master Han. The Third Master stretched out his hand and caressed Second Liu’s head before sighing heavily. The master and disciple pair then boarded the boat together hand in hand.

Meanwhile, as soon as Big Liu’s soul left his body, he had turned around and tried to escape. Third Master Han shook out the Magical Flying Rope on his waist, and it encircled Big Liu’s neck. With a shake, the rope dragged him to the boat.

At last, Third Master Han looked at his daughter before giving Bai Zhun a hopeful gaze.

Bai Zhun remained motionless for some time. It was only when he saw that the ship was about to set sail that he closed his eyes slightly, which could be considered as an agreement.

Huo ZhenYe looked at Bai Zhun, who was staring up at the sky in a trance. In a moment, he seemed to think of something and lowered his body to match Bai Zhun’s line of sight.

However, the sky was only filled with thick fog and paper ashes fluttering in the wind. Unable to see anything, Huo ZhenYe asked, “What are you looking at?”

Bai Zhun retracted his gaze, yawned, and only said lazily, “Hurry up and go start the car.” He wanted to go home and sleep in his spring bed.

Da Tou secretly measured up Bai Zhun with his eyes. In such an era, who would still leave long hair? Even those adherent to past practices had already cut their braids off. Besides, this man was really too good-looking.

The manner in which Bai Zhun spoke to Huo ZhenYe also made Da Tou even more surprised. This Young Master Huo was someone highly regarded by their chief, so how could Bai Zhun treat him like this?

Nonetheless, despite that, Huo ZhenYe still listened to him.

“What would you like to eat tonight? How about steamed pork with rice flour in lotus leaf? The lotus leaves can reduce heatiness 3 Heat in this case does not refer to a high body temperature. Rather, heatiness refers to a state where there is too much heat inside the body, resulting in heaty symptoms such as mouth ulcers, a sore throat, cough with sticky phlegm, or chapped lips. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners strive to maintain a balance between two opposing yet complementary forces in the body – yin, a cold, dark but nourishing force, and yang, a hot, bright, and active force. When this delicate balance is disturbed and there is too much yang, heatiness results. Read more at: https://www.euyansang.com.sg/en/tcm-and-childhood-ailments%3A-heatiness/eyschailments3.html + https://asianfoodnetwork.com/en/articles/heaty-cooling-foods-what-about.html (food also could be classified under such properties) while the steamed meat is tender. It is easily digestible for you.”

“Are you saying that I have a fiery temper?” Bai Zhun nitpicked, but upon further thought, he nodded and reluctantly agreed, “Fine, that is okay too.”

Da Tou’s mouth gaped open slightly as he watched Young Master Huo laugh brightly. Recalling proper business, he then chased up to them in a few steps and asked, “Young Master Huo, are you still heading to the precinct?”

To that, Huo ZhenYe did not even turn his head back. He only waved one hand and said, “We will see if I am free first!”

After taking a few more steps, Huo ZhenYe asked Bai Zhun, “Did you already know since quite early on?” When Bai Zhun constructed three seats on the boat, was he already aware that the three of them would leave for the same destination?

Bai Zhun yawned lazily in response. “You speak too much.”

1

Here, I had some trouble finding official historical reasons for the straw mats. However, if I remember correctly, in the past, the dead were wrapped in straw mats before being placed into coffins or directly buried if the family members were poor. Given the context, we could just take it as Han Zhu preparing for Big Liu’s death rites. 2

This rope made an appearance in chapter 2 as one of Third Master Han’s unique skills. In case you missed it, I had included the same video here too: https://tv.sohu.com/v/dXMvNjMzNzA5MzMvNjcyMzE1NzYuc2h0bWw=.html (there are English subtitles). 3

Heat in this case does not refer to a high body temperature. Rather, heatiness refers to a state where there is too much heat inside the body, resulting in heaty symptoms such as mouth ulcers, a sore throat, cough with sticky phlegm, or chapped lips. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners strive to maintain a balance between two opposing yet complementary forces in the body – yin, a cold, dark but nourishing force, and yang, a hot, bright, and active force. When this delicate balance is disturbed and there is too much yang, heatiness results. Read more at: https://www.euyansang.com.sg/en/tcm-and-childhood-ailments%3A-heatiness/eyschailments3.html + https://asianfoodnetwork.com/en/articles/heaty-cooling-foods-what-about.html (food also could be classified under such properties)