An Ping and the others spent the entire night running wild in Fengdu, only returning to the City God Temple the following morning.
Zhu Yinxiao and Wu Biyou had clearly overindulged. The two drunks leaned on each other, stumbling and swaying as they barged into the temple. Mu Gesheng, unfazed by the sight, spared them a glance. "You’re back? Have a good time?"
An Ping trailed behind them, clutching Zhu Yinxiao’s high heels. He had been pressured into drinking quite a bit himself and was barely maintaining a grip on his senses. He looked at Mu Gesheng through a hazy fog. "Half-Immortal... what are you doing?"
Mu Gesheng didn't look up. "Can't you tell? I'm painting nails."
An Ping: "????"
Mu Gesheng and Chai Shuxin were sitting on the veranda. Beside them sat a small bowl containing a red paste made from crushed plum blossoms. Mu Gesheng was using strips of gauze to apply the red paste to Chai Shuxin’s fingernails, then wrapping them in white silk and tying them with tiny knots.
Chai Shuxin sat quietly. Half of his fingers were already wrapped. His hands were elegant, with long, slender joints.
"This is an ancient method of the Medicine Family. It’s a real hassle. Hey, buddy, you want your nails done too?" Zhu Yinxiao materialized out of nowhere, lugging a large suitcase. "Come on, I’ll do yours!"
He threw the suitcase open. A cascade of nail polish bottles tumbled out, mixed with perfumes and lipsticks.
Wu Biyou, completely wasted, started jeering from the side. "Paint 'em! Paint 'em!"
In the end, An Ping was pinned down by the two drunks and given a full set of "cat-eye green" nails. If he hadn't fought them off with every ounce of his strength, Wu Biyou probably would have stripped off his shoes to do his toes as well.
Mu Gesheng had finished wrapping Chai Shuxin’s nails long ago. He stood by with folded arms, watching the chaos. He even offered a critique, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Not a bad color. Very distinguished."
Chai Shuxin stood to the side. With all ten fingers wrapped in gauze, his hands were temporarily out of commission. He said tonelessly, "There is sobering soup on the stove."
An Ping desperately wanted to say *thank you*, while simultaneously wishing he could throw both drunks into the pot instead.
After spending time with him these past few days, An Ping realized that Chai Shuxin only *appeared* aloof to strangers. In reality, he wasn't cold-blooded at all. His every word and action was measured and appropriate; at times, he was even quite gentle. As long as he wasn't trying to kill you, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him reasonable.
He was certainly much better than the "disrespectful elder" Mu Gesheng.
Eventually, the two drunks finally settled down. An Ping, holding out his ten vibrantly colored fingers, managed to shove both of them toward the sobering soup.
Chai Shuxin had added medicinal herbs to the broth, and the effects were near-instant. Zhu Yinxiao bolted for the bathroom, hugging the toilet as he retched. Wu Biyou washed up at the tap and emerged with his usual "everyone owes me money" scowl. "Is there breakfast? I'm hungry."
An Ping thought to himself: *This brat. His mood swings faster than a page-turn. He’s definitely going to grow up to be a heartbreaker.*
After finishing his business in the bathroom, Zhu Yinxiao rinsed his mouth at the tap and chimed in, "I'm hungry too. Is there food?" He then noticed An Ping staring at him. "Buddy, why are you gawking at me?"
An Ping: "...Your fake eyelashes are falling off."
Unfazed, Zhu Yinxiao skillfully peeled off the lashes and the double-eyelid tape. He waved a hand dismissively. "You guys eat first. I’m going to take off my makeup."
Wu Biyou added, "Lend me your overnight mask."
"Sure thing, let's go, buddy," Zhu Yinxiao slung an arm around Wu Biyou. "Big brother will take care of you. We stay up the latest, so we use the most expensive masks."
An Ping was speechless. He looked at Mu Gesheng. "Aren't you going to do something about them?"
"About what? 'Punk wellness' is still wellness. People have to learn to save themselves." Mu Gesheng picked up his enamel mug. "An-bottle, you want a cup?"
An Ping: "Is it brown sugar water with osmanthus again?"
"It's Coca-Cola with goji berries."
"..."
"He's lying," Chai Shuxin interjected. "It's black sesame paste."
Exhausted, An Ping went to the kitchen to find breakfast. He found a pot of shrimp wontons and some pan-fried buns. He served himself a bowl of wontons and walked out of the kitchen with a bun in his mouth, just in time to run into Zhu Yinxiao and Wu Biyou coming downstairs. Both were wearing sheet masks, their faces stark white.
"I almost forgot," Zhu Yinxiao said, his voice muffled by the mask. He handed a letter to Chai Shuxin. "Brother, a letter for you from Fengdu."
Chai Shuxin took the letter and read it. His expression remained unchanged throughout. He then passed the letter to Mu Gesheng.
Mu Gesheng scanned it and laughed. "What did I tell you?" He looked at Zhu Yinxiao. "Old Fifth, looks like you’ll be staying a bit longer."
Zhu Yinxiao replied through the mask, "Rare opportunity. I should spend more time with my brother."
Wu Biyou, completely out of the loop, kicked Zhu Yinxiao. "What's going on?"
An Ping, who understood the context of the situation, stood by the kitchen door with his bowl, his heart leaping into his throat.
Suddenly, Chai Shuxin stood up and walked back to his room. When he emerged, he was carrying the Nihong Blade.
"Shit! Why is he pissed?" Wu Biyou’s hair practically stood on end. "What the hell did that letter say?"
"Don't be scared," Zhu Yinxiao stood in front of him, speaking carefully. "The mask will crack."
Chai Shuxin’s expression remained calm, showing no sign of anger. He drew the blade and swung it in a level arc, instantly tearing open a rift between Yin and Yang. He turned to Mu Gesheng. "I will be back shortly."
"Take it easy," Mu Gesheng reminded him. "You just had your nails done."
Chai Shuxin paused, then sheathed the Nihong Blade across his back. "I am not fighting today."
He looked at Wu Biyou, who was hiding behind Zhu Yinxiao. "You, come with me."
Before Wu Biyou could react, he was hoisted up by the collar. Chai Shuxin leaped into the rift.
"Fuck! I haven't taken off my mask yet, you motherfu—"
The rift snapped shut, and Wu Biyou’s cursing vanished into the depths of the earth.
Mu Gesheng folded the letter into a paper airplane and tossed it aside. He stood up. "Come on, we’re going out today."
Zhu Yinxiao froze. "Old Fourth, I just took off my makeup."
"It's fine. Going bare-faced once in a while won't kill you."
"...Can you at least tell me where we're going?"
"The outskirts. We're going for a stroll in the park."
An Ping hadn't heard of any parks on the outskirts of the city. He saw Zhu Yinxiao’s expression shift slightly. The latter went back to remove his mask and changed into a sober, steady black trench coat. "Are we walking?"
This was the first time An Ping had seen Zhu Yinxiao in men's clothing. Ignoring the flashy pink hair, he actually looked quite respectable.
Knowing that such an unusual change must signal something significant, An Ping asked, "Why are you dressed like that? Where are we going?"
Zhu Yinxiao turned up his collar and adjusted his sleeves. "Do you know what kind of occasions require black clothing?"
"ID photos and working overtime?"
"Incorrect." Zhu Yinxiao shook his head. "Weddings and funerals."
Zhu Yinxiao obviously wasn't getting married first thing in the morning. As they stepped out of the taxi, An Ping realized they were standing before a cemetery.
*Great. He calls visiting a grave 'strolling in the park.'*
Mu Gesheng was still holding his enamel mug, looking very much like an old man out for a morning walk.
The cemetery was lush with trees and flowers, possessing a certain tranquil beauty. Zhu Yinxiao bought a large bouquet of red roses. An Ping watched in a daze, wondering whose grave he was visiting.
Mu Gesheng stopped before a certain plot. "We're here."
An Ping was surprised to see the name carved on the headstone: *Song Wentong*.
"Old Second, I don't know where you've been reincarnated or how much fun you're having, but your brothers came to see you. Pretty decent of us, right?" Mu Gesheng sat down in front of the headstone and took a sip from his mug. "Didn't bring you any paper money. You don't live in Fengdu anyway, so it’s not like you could use it."
An Ping lowered his voice and asked Zhu Yinxiao, "The Mozi is buried here?"
"His ashes were scattered at sea," Zhu Yinxiao whispered back. "He didn't have the patience to stay buried in one patch of dirt for decades."
That certainly sounded like Song Wentong.
Mu Gesheng opened his enamel mug and poured the contents before the headstone. An Ping caught the scent of crisp, mellow alcohol and realized the mug had been filled with wine all along.
"This is the land of our home. We set up a stone here to give the Mohist Family a place of remembrance."
Mu Gesheng finished pouring the wine and stood up. After a pause, he added, "Good thing I bought the plot early. At today’s real estate prices, I’d only be able to set up a spirit tablet for him next to the stove. He’d have to spend New Year’s eating malt candy with the Kitchen God."
An Ping: "..."
Mu Gesheng pulled a stick of incense from his pocket, struck a match, and placed it in the bronze censer before the grave. "Old Second, I came today to tell you something. It’s not because I’ve caused trouble again—the Seven Families are having a grand gathering. Since you’re absent, I’ll light this incense for you."
He smiled. "Don't worry. Your brother is here. I won't let the Mohist Family be slighted."
An Ping caught a fleeting memory of his dream—the Seven Families gathered in the Ginkgo Study, a bronze censer before a screen, a single stick of incense burning.
He suddenly spoke, asking Zhu Yinxiao, "Is your grandfather doing well?"
Zhu Yinxiao looked at him, puzzled. "I have a bunch of grandfathers. Which one do you mean?"
The two stared at each other. An Ping didn't know why he had suddenly thought of Zhu Baizhi.
Then, a realization dawned on him—of those who had gathered at the waterside pavilion back then, the only ones likely still alive were the elders of the Zhu family.
Mu Gesheng seemed to know who An Ping was referring to. "Elder Zhu is in good health. The Seven Families will gather in a few days; you’ll see him then."
"Right, about that gathering Judge Cui mentioned in the letter." An Ping finally processed it. "You agreed to it?"
"It was bound to happen sooner or later." Mu Gesheng pulled out a Mountain Ghost Coin. "Decades have passed. It really is time for old friends to meet."
He chuckled. "It just so happens I cast a divination. There’s an auspicious day coming up soon. Perfect for a 'team-building' event."
An Ping looked at the Mountain Ghost Coin in Mu Gesheng’s hand and realized Zhu Yinxiao was right—Mu Gesheng had remembered things from the past.
Back then, when the Tiansuanzi performed a divination for the nation's fate, what exactly did the hexagram reveal?
And given everything that happened at Penglai, what did Chai Shuxin think about the Seven Families gathering again under such dark shadows?
How did he become a Rakshasa? How did Mu Gesheng come back to life?
A breeze blew past, and An Ping’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.
"I remember Old Second liked the color red." Mu Gesheng glanced at the roses in Zhu Yinxiao’s arms. "Next time, don't bring flowers. Just paste some poetic couplets on his headstone."
Zhu Yinxiao smiled faintly. "He doesn't mind these."
He pulled out a single rose and placed it before the grave.
Zhu Yinxiao was truly an eccentric; he bought a massive bouquet of roses only to leave one, carrying the rest back with him. Even in the taxi, An Ping couldn't help but complain, "Why are you bringing those back?"
Zhu Yinxiao laughed. "I suspect we’ll have a guest today."
Mu Gesheng raised a hand from the front seat, a coin pinched between his fingers. "You guessed right."
An Ping: "?"
The taxi pulled up in front of the City God Temple. From a distance, An Ping spotted Zhu Yinxiao’s motorcycle—and a girl sitting on it.
Given the precedent set by the cross-dressing Zhu Yinxiao, whether it was actually a girl remained to be seen. She wore a long, elegant coat with a high white collar turned up, framing a face as delicate as porcelain with a faint rosy tint to her cheeks.
She wore gloves, and her fingers were folded neatly over her knees. Every movement suggested refined breeding—except for the fact that she was perched on Zhu Yinxiao’s bike.
"She’s here, as expected." Zhu Yinxiao smiled and stepped out of the car.
The girl’s eyes lit up when she saw him. She hopped off the bike and took the large bouquet of roses. "How did you know I was coming?" She tilted her head. "No makeup today? I guess I should call you Great-Uncle, then."
"Don't call me Great-Uncle." Zhu Yinxiao ruffled the girl’s hair. "Call me 'Brother'."
An Ping looked out the window. "Who is that?"
"Our local Young Mistress," Mu Gesheng said casually. "The current head of the Chai family, Chai Yanyan."
The group entered the temple. An Ping whispered to Zhu Yinxiao, "I thought those roses were for the Mozi."
"Mainly, flowers are cheaper at the cemetery," Zhu Yinxiao shrugged. "It was just convenient."
An Ping: "..."
In the incense hall, Chai Yanyan took a cushion and performed a formal kowtow to Mu Gesheng. "Old Ancestor, I wish you wealth and prosperity!"
"Don't call me that. Even the dead would think it sounds too old." Mu Gesheng laughed and waved her off, pulling out a red envelope. "This year’s New Year money."
"The family has its rules; etiquette must be observed." Chai Yanyan accepted the envelope. "Thank you, Old Ancestor."
"Fine, your family is big on that." Mu Gesheng added tea to his enamel mug. "Your Great-Uncle has 'gone down to the fields.' He’ll be back tonight; remember to stay for dinner."
Chai Yanyan agreed. An Ping, eavesdropping, found it strange. "Who is the Great-Uncle he’s talking about?"
"That would be my brother." Zhu Yinxiao had gone to his room to change into a short skirt and over-the-knee boots. He was now standing nearby, applying lipstick in a mirror. "Didn't he go to Fengdu? We call that 'going down to the fields.'"
*Wonderful. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was rolling up his sleeves to plant rice.*
An Ping couldn't figure out the seniority of a "Great-Uncle." He tried to calculate it but failed. "What is the Lingshuzi’s relationship to her?"
"You mean Yanyan? Her father was the adopted son of the former Young Mistress of the Chai family, Chai Rundong. So, Chai Rundong was her grandmother." Zhu Yinxiao explained. "By seniority, she’s technically my granddaughter... This girl has been coming to the City God Temple since she was little. She was a wild one back then; she only started acting like a human being after she became the family head."
He laughed. "You should have seen her and Wu Biyou fighting. It was just like when Old Second and Old Fourth used to tear the roof off the place."
An Ping looked at the perfectly composed Chai Yanyan in the incense hall and found it hard to imagine.
However, once Chai Yanyan emerged from the hall, he saw it—the girl lunged straight into Zhu Yinxiao’s arms. "Oh my god, Sister Zhu! You’ve finally revealed your true form!"
"Indeed, indeed." Zhu Yinxiao, back in his cross-dressing glory, preened. "Does Sister's lipstick shade look good?"
"It looks great!" Chai Yanyan nodded vigorously. "Sister, shall we go shopping this afternoon?" She held up her red envelope triumphantly. "I just got my New Year money!"
At this moment, she didn't look like a dignified Young Mistress at all. She was just a quirky, clever girl, her eyes brimming with life.
An Ping was completely bewildered by their titles. "Wait, wait. Is he your sister or your Great-Uncle?" How on earth did the seniority of the Seven Families work?
"He’s Great-Uncle in front of outsiders, 'Brother' when he’s in men’s clothes, and 'Sister' the rest of the time." Chai Yanyan made a face and looked at Zhu Yinxiao. "Right, Sister?"
Zhu Yinxiao nodded. "We share a bond of Socialist Sisterhood."
***
### Glossary
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
柴宴宴 | Chai Yanyan | The current head of the Chai family.
柴忍冬 | Chai Rundong | A former prominent member/elder of the Chai family.
下地 | Going down | Literally "going to the fields" (farming), but used here as a pun/slang for entering the underworld (Fengdu).
老祖宗 | Old Ancestor | A term of high respect for a very senior elder in a family or sect.
舅爷 / 舅老爷 | Great-Uncle | Specifically a maternal great-uncle; used here to denote Chai Shuxin's generational standing.
社会主义姐妹情 | Socialist Sisterhood | A Chinese internet slang term used to describe a very close, often platonic, bond between "sisters" (sometimes used ironically).
舐红刀 | Nihong Blade | The Mohist family's heirloom weapon (previously translated as Nihong Blade).
猫眼绿 | Cat-eye green | A specific vibrant, shimmering shade of green.
朋克养生 | Punk wellness | A humorous term for a lifestyle that balances unhealthy habits (like staying up late) with health remedies (like expensive face masks).###GLOSSARY_END###
