The last class of the morning ended, and the starving crowd charged toward the cafeteria.
Qin Shu, who usually rushed at the very front, did not take the lead this time.
He rubbed the back of his neck, which had become inexplicably sore, helped the very slow-moving Pei Zhao tidy up the miscellaneous things on his desk, and watched as the slender-backed young man left the classroom.
Honestly, what was with this person? If he got any thinner, he really would be knocked over by a gust of wind. Studying was very draining on the brain. What should be done about someone so picky?
Did his family not care at all? Qin Shu could not just stuff Pei Zhao with another huge pile of food he did not like, but if he kept refusing to eat properly, that definitely would not work either…
Qin Shu sank into deep thought. Many plans popped into his mind, only for him to reject them one by one. For the moment, he really could not think of a reliable countermeasure.
“Aiyo, still looking? Still looking? He’s long gone, Old Qin. Are you a wife-watching stone?”
Only when Tang Rui Cheng’s teasing voice sounded beside his ear did Qin Shu suddenly come back to himself. Speechless, he punched him. “Don’t talk nonsense. Zhaozhao isn’t a girl.”
Tang Rui Cheng hissed in pain, but his awful nature did not change at all. He was still making faces over there while pinching his voice. “Aiyo, Zhaozhao, you call him so intimately. I’m about to faint from the sweetness…”
“Enough, enough. What does it have to do with you?” Qin Shu felt his face heat up and could only forcefully skip over the topic, picking up his schoolbag. “Is the Daoist priest your mom found here yet?”
“He’s at that teahouse by the back gate. My mom sent someone to drive all morning just to pick him up. This trip wasn’t easy. Perfect timing to invite him for a meal too. You’re the one asking for help, so you’re treating, okay?”
“Of course.”
Qin Shu casually slung his schoolbag over one shoulder, suppressed the unease in his heart, and followed Tang Rui Cheng out of the classroom.
Ten minutes later, Qingfeng Teahouse.
The location of this teahouse was very strange. It was right near the back gate of Jiangcheng No. 2 High School.
After leaving the school, they only had to cross the road, go around the row of lively community shops opposite, and turn into a small alley planted full of maple trees. The clamor seemed to be shut out in an instant, and the world suddenly became incomparably quiet.
After winter arrived, snow gradually began to fall in Jiangcheng, and the golden path paved with maple leaves had already vanished. What remained were large stretches of bare branches, dotted with scattered specks of snow, suspended beneath the sky and crossing over one another. It had a certain charm of its own.
The teahouse was nestled among them, fitting seamlessly into the scene. Qin Shu had once specially come here to try the simple vegetarian meals they served. The dishes were delicate, and the taste was also very good. They could make an ordinary piece of tofu into something almost floral.
Unfortunately, he was a carnivore, so he had only come that one time.
Following Tang Rui Cheng into the private room, Qin Shu saw an elderly man dressed in deep-blue cloth robes. He was sitting at the lowest seat by the tea table, holding a gaiwan and quietly drinking tea.
Elio’s Notes: A gaiwan is a traditional Chinese lidded teacup used for brewing and drinking tea.
His figure was well-proportioned, his face kind, and he had a little facial hair, all white beard and white hair. His long hair was neatly tied behind his head and coiled into a meticulous taiji bun. Even his hairpin seemed to be a dark-colored piece of lightning-struck wood, making him look quite like a master who had transcended the mundane world.
“Daoist Priest Xu, long time no see. This is that childhood friend of mine who ran into a ghost. His name is Qin Shu.” Tang Rui Cheng pulled Qin Shu forward. “Come, come, come. Please take a look and see what’s going on with him.”
“Master Qin, blessings and compassion. This humble Daoist is Xu Zi Ru, Daoist name Yun Xiao Ke. It is an honor to meet you.”
The moment he met Qin Shu’s eyes, this Daoist priest named Xu Zi Ru actually put down his gaiwan, took the initiative to rise, and bowed, performing what seemed to be a somewhat formal salute.
Qin Shu almost did not understand what he was saying. Once he reacted, he hurriedly reached out to support him, feeling faintly confused.
According to Qin Shu’s shallow knowledge learned from web novels, Daoist priests usually only cupped their hands in greeting. To bow so properly like this seemed like something done toward elders and ancestors, right?
What was going on?
Utterly bewildered, he supported Daoist Priest Xu back into his seat and politely replied, “Daoist Priest Xu, you’re too courteous. I’m the one asking you for help, so how could I let you bow to me? Please sit, please sit.”
“It cannot be spoken of, cannot be spoken of…”
Xu Zi Ru shook his head with a smile, nodded, and lightly stroked his white beard. His tone was quite thought-provoking.
After that, he picked up his gaiwan and slowly drank tea for a while longer. Only when the tea was nearly gone did he turn back and carefully examine Qin Shu’s facial proportions.
Tang Rui Cheng was very perceptive. Originally, he had been sitting quietly in front of the tea table in charge of brewing tea. Seeing this, he hurriedly picked up the kettle and refilled Daoist Priest Xu’s gaiwan with hot water.
Qin Shu truly could not figure out what was going on, so he could only sit obediently and let the man examine him. Only when Xu Zi Ru’s gaze paused slightly did the priest speak thoughtfully. “Master Qin, what unusual person have you come into contact with recently? Only within the past five days.”
The moment these words came out, Qin Shu’s heart stirred abruptly.
“…It was the day before yesterday, on Christmas Eve. I met a homeless man over at People’s Square.”
He described his experience in as much detail as possible, including The Eighty Divisions of Heavenly Dragons and The Nine Nether Purgatory Scripture, wanting to see whether this Daoist Priest Xu knew anything about them.
Unexpectedly, as Xu Zi Ru listened, he abruptly tore off one of his own beard hairs. Then he turned and picked up the scalding gaiwan, as if unable to feel the heat, and slowly drank another large mouthful.
Only then did Qin Shu realize that Daoist Priest Xu had not been drinking tea to put on an act of profound mystery. He purely needed to drink something to calm himself down.
Qin Shu’s heart faintly sank. “Daoist Priest Xu, that homeless man didn’t put a curse on me, did he?”
“No, no. It is merely the meeting of cause and fate. But whether this is a blessing or a karmic calamity… this humble Daoist cannot see.”
Xu Zi Ru’s brows were tightly furrowed. He pondered silently for a long while, put down his gaiwan, and suddenly became a little more solemn. “Master Qin, your fate pattern is too special. This humble Daoist’s cultivation is shallow, and in daily matters I am also extremely protective of my own life. I absolutely would not dare interfere. At this point, the most this humble Daoist can do is boldly offer you a slight explanation. As for anything else… I truly apologize.”
“Daoist Priest Xu, do you mean that you can’t help me catch ghosts, but you can answer some of my questions, right?”
Qin Shu digested the amount of information in those few sentences with great difficulty. For the time being, never mind things like fate constitution. He immediately followed up, “Then why can I see ghosts?”
“The first chapter of the Nine Nether Scripture opens the meridians to mobilize true qi. Once one completes one full heavenly circulation, it may be considered entry. When a person obtains the true method, the brow center opens. This is the Nine Nether Scripture’s unique ability to open the Heavenly Eye, far more profound than the divine abilities this humble Daoist cultivates. Master Qin only needs to practice diligently. Your vision will naturally broaden, and in the future you will easily be able to perceive the true nature of all things… let alone a mere two or three little ghosts as you do now.”
Xu Zi Ru shook his head and sighed, his tone containing a trace of something almost like envy. Unfortunately, he had no fate with this path and could not force it.
Qin Shu was starting to have trouble understanding again. “But Daoist Priest Xu, I’ve never read the Nine Nether Scripture he mentioned. At the time, I did give him my spare change, but I didn’t take even a single book from him, let alone cultivate anything…”
“If this humble Daoist has calculated correctly, that old man’s entire worldly possessions consisted only of the one copy of The Eighty Divisions of Heavenly Dragons in his hands. Is that so?”
“…Mm. There were indeed only two books. Looking back now, he said he was selling books, but there wasn’t a single other book beside him.”
“Then that is it. The medium for transmitting scripture and teaching the method can take thousands upon thousands of forms.” Seeing Qin Shu’s lingering fear, Daoist Priest Xu could not help smiling meaningfully. “Instruction through dreams, immortal enlightenment through the crown, awakening of the soul, or sudden realization gained while studying a withered leaf… All such things exist. Those without fate will always miss the opportunity, while those with fate naturally learn the true method. It is not limited to mere books.”
“Let me think. So I can see ghosts now because I really did buy a cultivation method, and that’s why my Heavenly Eye opened?” Qin Shu sank into thought.
“Indeed.”
“But I still don’t know anything. Daoist Priest Xu, how do I make myself stronger? How do I fight the things I see? How do I protect the people around me…”
Qin Shu took a deep breath and continued in a low voice, “If I can’t do those things, then even if I cultivate this Heavenly Eye to an incredible level, even if I can perceive all things, it seems meaningless.”
Unfortunately, just as he had expected, Xu Zi Ru’s answer was still quite vague. Holding his gaiwan, he shook his head and said, “Simply let nature take its course. Master Qin, you have the ability to walk the path you desire. Your talent and fate are without flaw. Once your cultivation succeeds, you will naturally understand what this humble Daoist has said today… This humble Daoist truly does not dare act as another’s teacher, much less presumptuously point out a direction. I cannot, I cannot.”
Qin Shu did not know whether it was his imagination, but he kept feeling that Daoist Priest Xu’s body language was somewhat stiff, as if he were afraid of touching some taboo. He did not seem very willing to maintain eye contact with Qin Shu for long, and he was also very deliberately restraining his desire to share information.
This situation forced Qin Shu to suspect that either he had provoked some utterly vicious filthy thing, or his own so-called “fate constitution” was itself some utterly vicious filthy thing, such as some lonely star of calamity, someone who doomed his teacher and wife, a super jinx, or something of that sort… It was hard to say.
Fortunately, they talked for the entire noon break, eating and drinking their way through all the tea and simple meals provided with the private room, and in the end, it could not be said that they gained nothing. Under Qin Shu and Tang Rui Cheng’s persistent coaxing and pestering, Daoist Priest Xu hesitantly gave them several talismans.
There was none of the True Five Thunder Method Qin Shu wanted, nor any offensive talismans for eliminating demons and slaying ghosts. Daoist Priest Xu’s attitude remained subtle. The stack of yellow paper he was willing to take out all had the effects of praying for blessings, inviting auspiciousness, performing salvation rites, and resolving grievances.
The cloud-seal strokes written in cinnabar were quite soft, like hazy curls of fragrant mist, spiraling upward layer by layer within the paper. Qin Shu picked up a talisman and examined it carefully, feeling an indescribable sense of refreshment and peace.
Even though a little doubt remained in his heart, Qin Shu had to admit that this Daoist priest did indeed have something to him.
“Daoist Priest Xu, can I learn this?” He could not help asking curiously once more.
“Let nature take its course, let nature take its course… Take these talismans today as a gift from this humble Daoist. Since my answers were inadequate, consider this a small apology.”
Xu Zi Ru slowly raised his hand to arrange his beard, smiled, and then inexplicably launched into a sales pitch. “In the future, should Master Qin come to Longmu Temple to burn incense, report your name, and this humble Daoist will gift you three large boxes of agarwood incense for free. You may come and burn it whenever you like. As for the friends and family by your side, if any need salvation rites, blessings, exorcisms, or rituals, they may seek this humble Daoist at any time. I can offer a twenty percent discount.”
Qin Shu: …
At this point, Daoist Priest Xu clearly intended to take his leave. Since he had even said such things, Qin Shu could not force him to stay, no matter how bewildered he was.
He rose and escorted Daoist Priest Xu to the entrance of the teahouse. The car and driver sent by Tang Rui Cheng’s mother were both quietly parked by the roadside at this moment, waiting to personally send the master back to Longmu Temple.
Qin Shu opened the car door for him. After helping the old Daoist priest, who was still in quite good spirits, sit inside, he kept one elbow resting on the edge of the door.
“Safe travels, Daoist Priest Xu. Oh, right, can we add each other on WeChat? I saw you have a phone.”
Xu Zi Ru froze when he heard this, falling silent for a moment as if he had not reacted. Qin Shu had already smilingly taken out his phone and opened the QR code scanning interface, then poked his head into the car with no sense of distance whatsoever. “Daoist Priest, let’s add each other. I’ll scan yours.”
Qin Shu made his attitude clear—if he could not thoroughly understand what had happened to him, as well as exactly how he should deal with it, then he would inevitably continue pestering Daoist Priest Xu in the future and would not stop until he figured it out.
The old man quietly tore off another beard hair, his gaze complicated, but he still took out his phone from inside his robe and allowed Qin Shu to scan away his contact information.
“When the time comes, all beings shall behold it; vast and clear, the sun and moon shine bright…”
Xu Zi Ru rolled up the car window and murmured a line from a miscellaneous poem. It seemed like something said to Qin Shu unintentionally, and also like an uncontrollable sigh.
Only after watching the black sedan leave the quiet little alley, accelerate into the bustling city center, and become part of the hazy street scenery did the smile on Qin Shu’s face finally gradually fade.
He sighed, and in the blink of an eye, Tang Rui Cheng’s arm was draped over his shoulders again.
“Old Qin, you made a killing, you know that? Do you know how much one of his talismans sells for? Eight thousand eight hundred!” Tang Rui Cheng looked left and right, then exclaimed in a lowered voice, “Daoist Priest Xu actually gave you such a thick stack for free. Damn it, why are you so popular with old people?”
“…That depends on whether they really work.”
“Aiya, then go find a ghost and try them out. I’ll keep watch for you. If you don’t report back safe, I’ll call the police directly.” Tang Rui Cheng, who could not see ghosts, was very optimistic.
Qin Shu could not help sighing again.
The little boy from Morning Star Elementary School, the hanged ghost outside the classroom window, the pond corpse by the water dispenser at the end of the corridor… If he wanted to deal with them, it really might not be easy.
But Tang Rui Cheng’s words also made sense. He decided to first choose the nearest one. Later, he would go find that hanged ghost outside the classroom and see whether he could quickly perform salvation rites for that frightening thing, resolve its resentment sooner, and send it off to reincarnation.
Neither of them had eaten their fill at noon, so they conveniently bought some bread from a nearby bakery to serve as dry rations, eating as they slowly walked toward the back gate of No. 2 High School.
As they walked, when the back gate was already within reach, Qin Shu stopped with no expression on his face.
“What’s wrong, Old Qin?” Tang Rui Cheng asked indistinctly, his mouth full of bread. “Did you run into a ghost again?”
“…Old Tang, what do you think of today’s weather?” Qin Shu answered with an eerie non sequitur. “Is the sky blue?”
“Mm, it’s pretty good. Rare sunny day, actually.”
“Is that so?”
“Isn’t it?” Tang Rui Cheng’s chewing gradually stopped, and his voice quietly trembled.
“Mm. It isn’t.” Qin Shu had already begun to doubt life.
The security uncle was dozing off in the guardhouse, and above the school gate… was a deep, heavy black.
The sun was nowhere to be seen. Constantly multiplying, heavy dark clouds had almost completely covered the sky. Bone-chilling cold wind howled, like the omen of a coming storm.
But this oppressive, dense darkness was absolutely not an effect that could be achieved by clouds and rain blocking out the sun. As it surged and churned, it revealed roaring, pain-filled resentment.
That was right, resentment. Qin Shu believed this was not his imagination.
His empathy suddenly flared up. The longer he looked, the more uncomfortable he felt inside, and he even faintly began wanting to cry. He could not help narrowing his eyes and turning his head away. His gaze fell back toward Qingfeng Teahouse, just in time to confirm his thoughts.
…Everywhere outside Jiangcheng No. 2 High School, as far as the eye could see, the sky was high and the air was fresh, the years were peaceful, and birdsong accompanied the fragrance of flowers.
Only his dear alma mater looked no different from a den of evil ghosts.
It was like a vicious beast that had lain dormant for many years opening its invisible maw, inviting him to come tour the inside of its mouth.
Qin Shu took a deep breath, raised a hand to press at the corners of his stinging eyes, and snatched away the bread bag in Tang Rui Cheng’s hand.
“Hey, hey, what are you doing?”
“The European bread you picked is pretty good. I’ve never had it before, so give it to me. Zhaozhao should have just woken up. I’m going to ask whether he likes this.” Qin Shu answered lightly.
He needed to find himself a reason to summon his courage and walk back into the school. He felt he should have found one.
“Beep—”
The card swipe went through, and the gate of Jiangcheng No. 2 High School let out a hoarse, rusty creak, slowly opening for him.
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