"My friend, where has your mind wandered off to?" Zhu Yinxiao laughed uproariously. "The Third and the Fourth are absolutely innocent. I can testify to that."
"Then where did this fictional story come from?" An Ping asked, incredulous. This was far too ridiculous.
Mu Gesheng was a notorious money-grubber; if someone was using his likeness like this, wouldn't he be demanding royalty fees?
"There’s actually more to the story," Zhu Yinxiao said, stroking his chin. "It seems you only know half of it—the part about the Second and the Fourth wreaking havoc in Fengdu. As for why they went there to gamble in the first place, you’re in the dark."
"Why?"
"The Third had just taken over the House of Yin-Yang back then. He made a mistake and ended up heavily in debt—both in terms of personal favors and spiritual offerings. It was a thorny situation, one he couldn't easily handle with his strength at the time. Meanwhile, the rest of the Yin-Yang House was looking for any excuse to test the new Wuchang-zi’s capabilities; no one was willing to help him. Finally, the Fourth put his head together with the Second and instigated that whole mess."
Zhu Yinxiao continued, "By winning over half the Ghost Market in a single gambling session and then tearing through Fengdu with just the two of them—that incident nearly turned Fengdu upside down. The Ten Yama Kings lost a lot of face. Although the Master eventually stepped in to settle the matter publicly, in reality, it was all to get the Third out of his predicament.
"First, by winning half the Ghost Market, they ensured those debts couldn't be collected—that settled the spiritual offerings. Second, the Second and the Fourth were severely punished in the end, which preserved Fengdu’s dignity—that settled the personal favors. Finally, while it looked like the Seven Houses had lost face, the fact that the Master was the one to decide the punishment and the aftermath served as a deterrent. It sent a message: if someone from the Seven Houses makes a mistake, only the Seven Houses have the right to deal with them."
An Ping held his teacup, dazed for a long moment as he processed this.
Zhu Yinxiao smiled faintly. "The seats of the Seven Houses are not easy for anyone to occupy. The Master went to great lengths for us, and that is how the Ginkgo Library became a sanctuary where we could find peace."
"...How do you know all this so clearly?"
"I was raised by the Mozi." Zhu Yinxiao looked at him and suddenly grinned. "On the other hand, for an outsider, you seem to know a bit too much."
An Ping felt a jolt of alarm, realizing he had been subtly interrogated this whole time.
"Relax. The Fourth told me about you. He cares for you, so we’re practically brothers." Zhu Yinxiao patted his shoulder. "But buddy, you need to be careful. You let your guard down too easily. In the Seven Houses of today, not everyone can be trusted."
"What do you mean?"
"The Fourth’s memory is incomplete. You’re getting your information from him, so you likely don't know about the Seven Houses Incident from back then..."
Zhu Yinxiao stopped mid-sentence. With a flick of his hand, a gust of wind from his finger sliced through the bamboo curtain. "Who’s there?"
"This humble official ventures to intrude—" A voice from outside bowed low. "Greetings to the Xingxiu-zi—"
As soon as that drawn-out, theatrical tone started, An Ping recognized it. The visitor was actually Cui Ziyu.
"I thought as much. Not many here recognize my true form." Zhu Yinxiao poured a cup of tea. "Judge Cui, what brings a busy man like you here?"
"This official dares not take the credit. I merely heard the Xingxiu-zi had graced the Ghost Market with his presence and wished to ask a favor in delivering a letter."
"What kind of letter requires my help? Is it for the Fourth or for my brother?"
Cui Ziyu replied, "To be opened by the Tiansuan-zi."
"Regarding what?"
"...A request for a Gathering of the Seven Houses."
Zhu Yinxiao’s expression shifted instantly. He said slowly, "Judge Cui, do you realize what you are saying?"
He splashed his tea onto the floor. "You should be glad my brother didn't hear that."
"This official knows he has offended; my death would not suffice to atone." Cui Ziyu seemed to be forcing himself to continue, his usually eternal drawl becoming much more clipped. "However, the anomaly in the Yin-Yang Ladder is a grave matter. Although it was suppressed a few days ago, the Ten Yama Kings have been alarmed. Given the precedent, we cannot treat this lightly..."
"The Yin-Yang Ladder." Zhu Yinxiao let out a cold laugh. "The Yin-Yang Ladder again."
"Back then, the Tiansuan-zi performed a divination stating that the Ghost Soldiers should not stir for several centuries. Now, less than a hundred years later, a change has occurred. Perhaps there was an error in that original divination..."
"Judge Cui." Zhu Yinxiao interrupted him with a half-smile. "Fengdu knows my brother has returned to the City God Temple and is too cowardly to show up at his door, so they sent you to find me instead, didn't they?"
Cui Ziyu lowered his head, remaining silent.
"Fine." Zhu Yinxiao jerked his chin toward the table. "Leave the letter there and get lost."
"Otherwise, I can't guarantee you'll live to see the midnight lanterns."
Once Cui Ziyu had hurriedly retreated, An Ping immediately asked, "That divination you mentioned—what exactly was it?"
Mu Gesheng had said that the reason he was in a half-dead state and had lost his memory was because he had performed a divination he shouldn't have.
And what about the "Seven Houses Incident" that Zhu Yinxiao had mentioned before being interrupted? What was the connection between the two?
Zhu Yinxiao lowered the bamboo curtain, blocking out the storyteller’s voice. "The Fourth wrote to me recently, saying you had accidentally tasted his blood and were thus able to glimpse his memories."
"Blood is indeed a medium, but it is extremely rare for a connection to be established through just a few drops—especially since the Fourth is the Tiansuan-zi... but he didn't care to elaborate, so I didn't pry."
Zhu Yinxiao looked at An Ping. "Do you know how the Ghost Soldier riot was finally suppressed back then?"
"...I saw the General’s Nuo Dance in my dreams," An Ping said after a moment of silence. "I don't know what happened after the city fell."
"As I thought." Zhu Yinxiao sighed softly. "What happened next was the Seven Houses Incident."
"That night, my brother and the others didn't succeed in eradicating all the Ghost Soldiers. In the end, the Fourth used a Mountain Ghost Coin as the price to suppress the remaining vengeful spirits within the Yin-Yang Ladder."
An Ping’s face paled. "You mean—"
"A few days ago, when the lingering resentment of the Ghost Soldiers stirred, my brother entered the long-sealed Yin-Yang Ladder to retrieve that Mountain Ghost Coin."
Zhu Yinxiao said calmly, "The Fourth should have the coin by now. This means he will recover a portion of his memories."
"Very few people from those days are left, and even fewer know the truth. My brother told me long ago that unless the Fourth remembers it himself, no one is allowed to speak of it."
"Naturally, I must obey my brother’s words. But now that the Fourth has the Mountain Ghost Coin, there is no longer any need to avoid the subject."
Zhu Yinxiao picked up the envelope on the table, rubbing it for a moment before looking at An Ping.
"Do you know what divination he cast back then?"
***
The City God Temple.
"You ask when I'll return, but no date is in sight,
Just braised eggplant and chicken, a greasy delight.
When shall we trim the wick by the window's west pane,
And speak of the days we fought for food in the rain?"
Mu Gesheng lay on the kitchen roof, muttering to himself aimlessly. He watched the festive lanterns on the distant street and suddenly said, "Sanjiu, shall we go for a stroll?"
Chai Shuxin stepped out of the kitchen, holding a bowl of medicine. "It's time for your medicine."
The moment Mu Gesheng heard about medicine, he felt like he was going crazy. He practically started thrashing around on the roof. "Let's make a deal. It's a holiday today; can we skip one dose?"
To his surprise, Chai Shuxin was silent for a moment before actually agreeing. "Fine."
"What? You agreed?" Mu Gesheng sat up abruptly. "Sanjiu, did you eat something bad?"
He immediately realized that sounded wrong and took it back. "No, no, no! You’re healthy as an ox, eat whatever you want. Pretend I didn't say anything."
Chai Shuxin said nothing and went back into the kitchen to put the bowl away. After a long silence with no sound from inside, Mu Gesheng jumped down from the roof. Finding the kitchen empty, he was puzzled until he heard a "creak" behind him—the main gate of the City God Temple was being pushed open.
He turned around to see Chai Shuxin standing at the entrance, holding a lit festive lantern.
The man’s face remained expressionless, but he looked at Mu Gesheng earnestly and said softly, "A peaceful Lantern Festival to you."
Mu Gesheng paused, then smiled. "A lucky Lantern Festival to you too."
The lantern in Chai Shuxin’s hand was made of bamboo strips and rice paper. Such old-fashioned lanterns were rare nowadays, decorated with narrow strips of faux-silk borders—simple and elegant.
"What made you think to buy this?" Mu Gesheng walked over to him. "Wait, did you make this yourself?"
Chai Shuxin was slightly startled. "You actually noticed."
"The whole courtyard is covered in window flowers you cut yourself. I’d have to be blind not to recognize your handiwork." Mu Gesheng teased, "Tell me, you didn't use the Red-Licking Blade to cut the paper, did you? If the Second knew you were using his blade like that, he’d definitely haunt your dreams tonight to kill you."
"Let him come," Chai Shuxin said calmly. "It would be a good time for a fight."
"Fine, fine, you’re the boss." Mu Gesheng took the lantern and laughed. "As the saying goes: under the moon, one sees a gentleman; under the lamp, one views a beauty."
"Let’s go, beauty. Let’s take a walk."
When the Lantern Festival arrives, lanterns become popular.
West City Street was an old street, its buildings renovated in an ancient style—mostly two-story structures with flying eaves. Wires and red silk were strung between the buildings, and the air was filled with hanging lanterns.
The street was teeming with people. Vendors carried bamboo screens hung with multicolored lights. Mu Gesheng laughed as he walked. "Electric lanterns are all the rage now. I remember taking my 'daughter' to the lantern market that year; he threw a fit and insisted I buy him one. He cried even harder than the Fifth used to."
A look of reminiscence crossed his face. "That lantern was hilarious. It even played the Ultraman theme song."
Chai Shuxin pointed to a nearby stall. "Do you mean that one?"
It was a stall specializing in electric lanterns, with everything from the twelve zodiac animals to SpongeBob and Peppa Pig. Mu Gesheng’s eyes lit up. "Talk about finding it when you least expect it." He walked to the stall. "I’ll pick one for my daughter to hang over his bed."
Chai Shuxin remained calm. "Which one do you want?"
"Welcome, welcome! Take your pick!" the shopkeeper said enthusiastically. "Are you two buying for yourselves? Or for a child at home?"
"You’re too kind," Mu Gesheng said with a smile. "It’s for my daughter."
"Not very old," Mu Gesheng waved a hand. "Just finished kindergarten."
"Say no more!" The shopkeeper enthusiastically took down a lantern and handed it to Mu Gesheng. "This one! It’s my best seller. All the little girls in kindergarten are scrambling to buy it!"
It was a cartoon doll with a bizarre color scheme and a pair of rainbow wings. Mu Gesheng couldn't stop laughing. "Oh, this little flower fairy is quite something."
"It’s not a flower fairy; it’s Disney Princess merchandise," the boss explained expertly. "It even has music inside. Give it a listen!"
Mu Gesheng turned it on, and ear-splitting music blared out: "Legend says there's a Magic Fairy Castle—"
"Right, right. A Disney Princess on the run, escaped to the Magic Fairy Castle to become a fairy." Mu Gesheng laughed until he was breathless, then turned to Chai Shuxin. "This is the one."
After Chai Shuxin paid, he asked helplessly, "How much longer are you going to play that music?"
"I have to hear it at least once. Otherwise, when my daughter sees it, he’ll probably smash it." Mu Gesheng chuckled as they walked. "The kid’s reaction is going to be priceless."
"If you know he’ll smash it, why buy it?"
"He’s currently suffering from a mix of 'eighth-grader syndrome' and menopausal irritability—a regular over-aged child." Mu Gesheng said earnestly, "Young people have a lot of stress; they need a bit of childlike wonder."
"Really?"
"Lies," Mu Gesheng admitted. "I just want to see him blow his top."
"He’s blown it enough. Any more and he’ll go bald."
"Sanjiu, you’re being cryptic." Mu Gesheng laughed. "Aren't you subtly mocking his father for being prematurely bald? The Third just had severe hair loss; he never went completely bald."
Chai Shuxin looked dead serious. "Hair loss is hereditary."
"Fine, that’s your specialty. I won't argue with a professional." Mu Gesheng smiled. "At worst, when my daughter comes back, you can brew him some black sesame paste."
"I’ve brewed it. He won't drink it."
"You know, the Third didn't like drinking it either."
"That’s because yours tasted terrible."
"Doctor, you’re really going for the throat today."
The two chatted as they walked, soon covering the length of the long street. "Once today is over, the temple fair will close. It’s only during the first month of the year that you can see these old things."
Mu Gesheng felt a rare moment of sentimentality. Chai Shuxin looked at him, his lips moving as if to say something, but Mu Gesheng suddenly cheered up. "Great! The stuff at the temple fair is overpriced anyway. Once the first month is over, they can all clear out."
Chai Shuxin: "..."
He was silent for a moment before saying, "Once the first month is over, the Xingxiu-zi and the others will have to leave."
Mu Gesheng teased, "What, sad to see them go?"
"After all, it’s a rare meeting."
"Yes, a rare meeting indeed," Mu Gesheng said. "But this year is different. If I’m right, the Fifth won't be leaving so early."
Chai Shuxin looked at him. "You mean..."
He stopped mid-sentence. He saw Mu Gesheng holding a Mountain Ghost Coin between his fingers.
It was the very one he had brought back from the Yin-Yang Ladder.
"I’ve remembered some things." Mu Gesheng tossed the coin into the air. "And I’ve made some deductions about the future."
"No wonder you refused to tell me what really happened back then." Mu Gesheng looked at Chai Shuxin and smiled. "I remember what divination I cast."
***
