Chapter 30

Along the way, the adjutant, known as "Little Bee," showed great concern for Feng San, not only revealing his real name, Liu Guodong, but also mentioning his nickname, "Little Bee" — and in the end, he even recited a poem:

"Peaches bloom, apricots wither, plums grow pale; chrysanthemums alone fill the hall with their beauty. Do not mock the allure of the stamens, for even the most frivolous heroes bow at their feet!"

As he recited the poem, his affection was deep and his gaze was filled with spring, not regretting the early spring breeze lifting the curtain, but only wishing the night would never end!

Feng San was so annoyed that he almost wanted to kill someone — and there was still someone who didn't know any better. At this moment, Zhi Zun Bao actually asked:

"Sir, sir, your poem is really good, but what's its name?"

The adjutant "Little Bee" gave Feng San a reproachful look and then opened his red lips to say two words:

"The poem is called — 'Chrysanthemum Boy'!"

"..."

The distance from Rongcheng to Huanglianggang, about seventy to eighty li, seemed far but was also close. The soldiers arrived before the sun set. The adjutant "Little Bee" got off the cart with a look of lingering desire, as if he was still sad about not getting closer in the cart. He turned his head every three steps, his eyes filled with affection.

Feng San suddenly shivered and turned to Zhi Zun Bao, saying, "Brother, let's go quickly! I can't stand that rabbit boy anymore. If we don't leave, I'm afraid I'll lose control and chop him up. Then I won't be able to explain to my master..." As he spoke, he flicked the reins and shouted, "Whoa..."

He made a move to turn the donkey cart around, but before he could complete the turn, Zhi Zun Bao said:

"Uh! I'm afraid you can't leave," he nodded toward the side, "Take a look for yourself."

Not far away, the adjutant "Little Bee" whispered a few words to two soldiers, who then patted each other on the shoulder and laughed, walking toward them with lecherous grins...

"Damn! What is this..." Feng San almost bulged his eyes out, gritting his teeth and muttering, "If you don't seek death, you won't die! Yet so many people just can't understand!"

"Hehe, you decide what to do," Zhi Zun Bao lay down behind the donkey cart, a blade of grass in his mouth, "I know nothing, I saw nothing..."

"Fine!" Feng San glared at him and turned to say, "It's a deal!"

The two soldiers, carrying rifles, quickly approached. One of them grabbed the reins of the donkey and said with a smile, "Oh! I'm sorry! Our adjutant said you can't leave yet. He has something to discuss with you — we'll take you to a place to wait, and he'll come find you when he's done."

Without waiting for a response, they turned the donkey cart around...

They passed through the blue stone streets of Huangliang Town, then through the back alleys, and finally to the end of the town. The two soldiers found an old wooden inn. There was a sandstone water tank with lotus leaves and fish, a few clumps of bamboo, and a winding path with a bamboo fence, a perfect rural retreat. It didn't look like an inn at all.

Luck is hard to explain. To the soldiers, this place was a quiet spot, but to Feng San and Zhi Zun Bao, it was familiar — the people from the Ghost Market often stayed here when they couldn't return home after buying small items.

The soldier opened the gate and pulled the donkey cart in, then stood in the courtyard and shouted:

"Is anyone here? We need a room! Anyone alive, come out!"

After a few shouts, a gray-robed scholar in a long robe and holding a white fan, looking refined and scholarly, came out of a small house, bowing to the group:

"Are... are you looking for a room?"

He saw Feng San and Zhi Zun Bao but immediately noticed the soldiers' unusual expressions, and smoothly changed his tone without showing any signs of panic.

The soldier in front pointed and said:

"Are you the owner? I won't waste words. Quickly prepare two rooms for our adjutant's guests. You'll get plenty of silver tomorrow — if you serve us poorly, your inn will be gone! Do you understand?"

"Oh! I understand, I understand," the owner smiled, "I wouldn't dare to treat the adjutant's guests poorly. Please follow me, I'll show you to the best rooms!"

He led them upstairs.

The soldier in front tied the donkey to a tree in the courtyard and whispered to the other, "This is the place. Go back and tell the adjutant, then bring two more soldiers to take over — I'll stay here to make sure no one escapes."

"Be careful. I'll go."

※

The owner's name was Ling Tianqi. He was originally a private tutor, but later became a merchant and made some money. He returned to his hometown and bought this place, living off the inn's business and teaching the town's children, without worrying about food or clothing. In his spare time, he studied medicine and the teachings of Laozi and Zhuangzi, living a rather comfortable life.

Over a decade ago, Wang Bayue met him by chance and often stayed at the inn, becoming friends with the people from the Ghost Market — not close friends, but not enemies in times of crisis.

The soldiers below were drinking and shouting, and Ling Tianqi naturally took the opportunity to ask what was going on. After understanding the situation, he was quite calm and advised:

"I don't care what you do, but don't kill anyone. Scaring him is enough. Don't cause unnecessary trouble, remember!"

Feng San, hearing the serious tone, knew he was concerned for him, and nodded, "Since Mr. Ling said so, I'll spare the adjutant's life — but if I just scare him, it might cause trouble for you, and with those soldiers watching, it's hard for me to leave..."

"No problem," Mr. Ling waved his hand, "As long as you don't kill anyone, I can protect the inn and myself. To leave — after you scare the adjutant, you can leave through the back yard. Follow the path up the mountain, go around the half-mountain rock, and follow the stream straight to the back of the City God Temple... The path is hidden and hard to follow. Don't take the donkey cart, leave it here."

"But... what if we need it later?" Zhi Zun Bao asked, "Our master needs it to transport things!"

Mr. Ling laughed a few times but didn't answer, saying, "Joy and sorrow, parting and reunion, are all coincidences. How can one predict the will of heaven? All causes and effects are beyond control, and the comings and goings of people are their own doing."

He walked away without looking back, leaving the two men puzzled. After thinking for a while, they decided to follow his advice.

As the sky darkened and the lamps lit up, the adjutant "Little Bee" arrived, greeted the soldiers below, and went upstairs. He gently pushed the door open and saw Feng San sitting on the bed, looking at something. He was delighted and quietly closed the door.

"Oh, Feng San, you've been waiting, I've missed you so much..."

Zhi Zun Bao, hearing this, almost burst into tears, covering his mouth to stop himself. He lit some talismans and threw them out the window, muttering:

"Come and go, come and go..."

Feng San didn't respond to "Little Bee's" words, nor did he get angry. He just waved his hand, "You came just in time. I need to talk to you. Come, I have something to show you."

This made "Little Bee" even happier, and he sat down next to Feng San, looking at the box in his hand, which was about the size of a gift box. He took it and teased, "Oh, is this something you prepared for me?"

"Yes, and no," Feng San smiled, "You'll see."

"See? Okay, I'll take a look."

"Little Bee" took the box, opened the lid, and saw — Feng San's head!

The head was bloody and gruesome, and as he opened the box, it suddenly laughed!

Not only did it laugh, but it also spoke, "Hehe, isn't this what you prepared for me?"

"Little Bee" was terrified and fell backward, hitting the bed and falling to the ground.

But then he saw the face of Feng San sitting on the bed!

This was not a human face!

A pale, white face with two eyes staring at him, a crack slowly opening and bending to reveal a mouth full of white teeth...

Blood trickled down the edges of the crack.

Thud! The box fell to the ground, and the head rolled out, staring at him!

He was completely paralyzed, as if held by an invisible force, unable to move.

Two mouths spoke simultaneously, as if the sound was overlapped, "Hehe, don't run, come back, come back..."

"Little Bee" felt his throat dry and his lips cold, his body trembling uncontrollably — he wanted to shout, to scream, but when he opened his mouth, only a few hoarse sounds came out, and he couldn't speak!

The distorted face of Feng San on the bed smiled and slowly stood up, walking over to pick up the head and hold it, approaching "Little Bee"...

An indescribable fear gripped him, his heart almost jumping out of his chest!

At that moment...

"Thud!"

Someone patted him on the back!

Without thinking, he turned his head and faced another pale, white face!

It was Feng San!

Crawling, stretching his neck to get closer!

Seeing the black eyes, the white face, and the blood-red tongue less than an inch away, the cold breath hitting his face, "Little Bee" was completely stunned!

He lost all thought and ability, feeling as if he had fallen into an endless, bottomless pit, sinking, sinking, sinking...

All he saw was endless darkness!

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