Chapter? ?1? ?Paper? ?man? ?(1)? ?

    ?

    In? ?the? ?summer? ?of? ?the? ?23rd? ?year? ?of? ?Tianxi,? ?a? ?dragon? ?fell? ?in? ?Huameng? ?County,? ?Guangdong? ?

    Province.? ?It? ?was? ?very? ?tall,? ?its? ?length? ?tens? ?of? ?feet.? ??It? ?was? ?trapped? ?in? ?a? ?net,? ?with? ?split? ?skin,? ?torn? ?

    flesh? ?and? ?missing? ?its? ?spine.?? ??When? ?officials? ?and? ?the? ?people? ?went? ?to? ?look,? ?a? ?coincidental? ?rain? ?

    poured,? ?causing? ?the? ?waves? ?to? ?crash? ?and? ?the? ?tide? ?to? ?surge.? ?The? ?dragon? ?was? ?then? ?swept? ?into? ?

    the? ?sea,? ?never? ?to? ?be? ?seen? ?again.? ?—Records? ?of? ?Huameng? ?County? ?[1]? ?

    ?

    Winter? ?of? ?the? ?same? ?year,? ?Ningyang? ?County,? ?Huizhou? ?Prefecture.? ?

    ?

    Wugeng?1''s? ?gong? ?had? ?just? ?been? ?sounded.? ?It? ?was? ?still? ?dark,? ?yet? ?faint? ?voices? ?could? ?already? ?be? ?

    heard? ?from? ?Xingtang? ?street.? ?The? ?waiter? ?of? ?Nine? ?Taste? ?restaurant? ?carried? ?some? ?freshly? ?made? ?

    steamed? ?buns? ?and? ?went? ?to? ?set? ?up? ?a? ?breakfast? ?stand? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?the? ?building.? ?

    ?

    The? ?watchman? ?came,? ?rubbing? ?his? ?hands? ?and? ?bought? ?three? ?buns.? ?He? ?swallowed? ?one? ?in? ?two? ?

    bites,? ?swallowing? ?it? ?with? ?difficulty? ?and? ?while? ?frowning? ?at? ?the? ?Nine? ?Taste? ?restaurant''s? ?waiter? ?

    said,? ?"Well?? ?Is? ?the? ?thing? ?prepared?"? ?

    ?

    "It’s? ?prepared.? ?Here."? ?The? ?waiter? ?patted? ?the? ?lunch? ?box? ?kept? ?beside? ?the? ?drawer? ?with? ?a? ?

    distressed? ?face.? ?

    ?

    Astonished,? ?the? ?watchman? ?said,? ?"You’ve? ?really? ?gone? ?and? ?prepared? ?it?? ?What? ?if? ?he...? ?the? ?thing? ?

    doesn’t? ?come? ?today?"? ?

    ?

    The? ?waiter? ?shivered? ?in? ?silence? ?and? ?said? ?dryly,? ?"I? ?pray? ?to? ?my? ?ancestors,? ?please? ?don''t? ?come."? ?

    ?

    This? ?Nine? ?Taste? ?restaurant? ?was? ?a? ?relatively? ?famous? ?restaurant? ?in? ?Ningyang? ?County.? ?The? ?

    chef''s? ?nickname? ?was? ?"Liu? ?Sanyang".? ?It? ?was? ?said? ?that? ?he? ?could? ?walk? ?the? ?world? ?with? ?three? ?

    famous? ?dishes,? ?namely,? ?roasted? ?meat? ?with? ?peach,? ?clay? ?pot? ?roast? ?chicken? ?and? ?crisp? ?pear? ?with? ?

    masked? ?palm? ?civet.? ?The? ?meat? ?was? ?pork? ?belly? ?without? ?skin,? ?the? ?chicken? ?was? ?a? ?pheasant? ?

    caught? ?just? ?off? ?the? ?mountain,? ?and? ?the? ?civet? ?had? ?to? ?be? ?raised? ?in? ?the? ?snow.? ?

    ?

    The? ?Nine? ?Taste? ?restaurant? ?relied? ?on? ?these? ?three? ?dishes? ?and? ?was? ?full? ?of? ?customers? ?every? ?day.? ?

    But? ?Liu? ?Sanyang? ?was? ?a? ?man? ?who? ?put? ?on? ?airs? ?when? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?his? ?dishes.? ?He? ?only? ?provided? ?

    ten? ?servings? ?a? ?day,? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?extra? ?serving.? ?So? ?if? ?you? ?wanted? ?to? ?eat,? ?you''d? ?have? ?to? ?come? ?

    early.? ? ?

    ?

    However,? ?for? ?ordering? ?solid? ?food? ?as? ?early? ?as? ?five? ?o''clock,? ?one? ?would? ?most? ?probably? ?have? ?to? ?be? ?

    a? ?little? ?sick? ?in? ?the? ?head.? ?

    ?

    This? ?dear? ?guy? ?who? ?had? ?been? ?sick? ?in? ?the? ?head? ?had? ?been? ?here? ?for? ?two? ?days? ?straight.? ?

    ?

    On? ?the? ?first? ?day,? ?he? ?ordered? ?three? ?dishes? ?from? ?the? ?waiter? ?and? ?never? ?spoke? ?again.? ?It? ?was? ?really? ?

    boring.? ?In? ?the? ?cold? ?winter,? ?when? ?a? ?normal? ?person? ?breathes? ?out? ?and? ?opens? ?their? ?mouth,? ?a? ?

    1 ??Wugeng?? ?五?更? ?is? ?the? ?time? ?period? ?between? ?3? ?to? ?5? ?am? ?in? ?the? ?morning.? ?

    white? ?mist? ?would? ?form,? ?but? ?his? ?face? ?was? ?clear? ?and? ?transparent,? ?not? ?the? ?slightest? ?hint? ?of? ?mist.? ?

    On? ?the? ?next? ?day,? ?he? ?asked? ?for? ?more? ?-? ?not? ?to? ?put? ?the? ?clay? ?pot? ?chicken? ?in? ?the? ?clay? ?pot,? ?not? ?to? ?put? ?

    star? ?anise,? ?fennel,? ?crisp? ?pear,? ?oxtail,? ?not? ?to? ?put? ?pear...? ?

    ?

    This? ?requirement? ?wasn’t? ?like? ?requesting? ?a? ?proper? ?meal? ?for? ?breakfast? ?at? ?all,? ?but? ?more? ?like? ?

    smashing? ?its? ?reputation.? ?However,? ?the? ?waiter? ?not? ?only? ?didn''t? ?shoo? ?away? ?the? ?suspect? ?guest,? ?

    but? ?also? ?served? ?him,? ?all? ?the? ?while? ?trembling,? ?for? ?two? ?days.? ?Today,? ?he? ?even? ?prepared? ?all? ?the? ?

    lunch? ?boxes? ?in? ?advance.? ?

    ?

    He? ?looked? ?at? ?the? ?sky.? ?Legs? ?trembling,? ?he? ?stretched? ?his? ?neck? ?like? ?a? ?chicken? ?and? ?asked? ?the? ?

    watchman,? ?"It''s? ?almost? ?time.? ?How-how-how? ?are? ?you? ?not? ?trembling?"? ?

    ?

    “I? ?walk? ?through? ?the? ?night? ?as? ?my? ?job,? ?why? ?would? ?I? ?tremble?"? ?The? ?watchman? ?lowered? ?his? ?voice? ?

    and? ?said:? ?"Besides,? ?it? ?hasn’t? ?been? ?peaceful? ?this? ?year.? ?It? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?unusual? ?to? ?see? ?any? ?

    demons.? ?Have? ?you? ?heard? ?about? ?the? ?true? ?dragon? ?that? ?was? ?spotted? ?in? ?Guangdong? ?in? ?June?? ?It? ?

    was? ?lying? ?on? ?the? ?beach.? ?I? ?heard? ?that? ?someone? ?removed? ?its? ?spine? ?and? ?bones!? ?Dragon? ?bones!? ?

    What? ?omen? ?is? ?this?? ?In? ?the? ?last? ?two? ?months,? ?it? ?was? ?rumoured? ?that? ?the? ?National? ?Advisor? ?almost? ?

    died—”? ?

    ?

    Before? ?the? ?watchman? ?finished? ?speaking,? ?the? ?waiter? ?looked? ?terrified? ?and? ?looked? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?

    wanted? ?to? ?slide? ?beneath? ?the? ?stall.? ?"Here? ?he? ?is,? ?he-he-he’s? ?here? ?again..."? ?

    ?

    As? ?soon? ?as? ?the? ?voices? ?stopped,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?man? ?who? ?looked? ?like? ?a? ?scholar? ?standing? ?in? ?front? ?

    of? ?the? ?stall.? ?

    ?

    He? ?looked? ?ordinary,? ?with? ?a? ?weary? ?face? ?and? ?his? ?cheeks? ?showed? ?an? ?abnormal? ?red? ?color,? ?like? ?a? ?

    long? ?dry? ?fire.? ?This? ?man? ?was? ?wearing? ?a? ?long? ?grey-green? ?robe? ?that? ?was? ?as? ?thin? ?as? ?the? ?man? ?

    himself,? ?like? ?someone? ?had? ?draped? ?a? ?piece? ?of? ?cloth? ?on? ?a? ?stick.? ?It? ?seemed? ?as? ?if? ?the? ?wind? ?would? ?

    blow? ?him? ?up? ?to? ?heaven? ?with? ?it.? ?

    ?

    Under? ?the? ?light? ?of? ?the? ?white? ?lantern,? ?the? ?watchman? ?stared? ?at? ?the? ?scholar''s? ?face? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?

    time.? ?Even? ?when? ?the? ?steamed? ?bun? ?in? ?his? ?mouth? ?went? ?cold,? ?he? ?did? ?not? ?swallow? ?it.? ? ?

    ?

    The? ?scholar? ?murmured? ?to? ?himself,? ?"Here? ?we? ?are",? ?and? ?slowly? ?raised? ?his? ?head,? ?looking? ?at? ?the? ?

    waiter? ?with? ?flat? ?black? ?eyes.? ?It? ?was? ?terrifying.? ? ?

    ?

    The? ?waiter? ?immediately? ?clamped? ?his? ?legs? ?together? ?and? ?felt? ?like? ?peeing.? ?

    ?

    "Excuse? ?me,? ?roasted? ?meat? ?with? ?peach? ?please—",? ?this? ?scholar? ?had? ?a? ?nice? ?voice? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?

    speaking? ?properly.? ?It? ?was? ?unlike? ?the? ?tone? ?he? ?was? ?using? ?earlier,? ?but? ?it? ?didn’t? ?fit? ?his? ?expression? ?

    nor? ?did? ?it? ?match? ?the? ?shape? ?of? ?his? ?mouth.? ?It? ?looked? ?even? ?more? ?terrifying.? ?

    ?

    The? ?waiter? ?averted? ?his? ?eyes,? ?picked? ?up? ?the? ?lunch? ?box? ?and? ?handed? ?it? ?to? ?him? ?cautiously:? ?"All,? ?all? ?

    of? ?them? ?are? ?ready.? ?Inside? ?porcelain? ?jars,? ?without? ?pear? ?or? ?star? ?anise.? ?They’re? ?just? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?pot? ?

    and? ?still? ?hot."? ?

    ?

    The? ?scholar? ?seemed? ?to? ?choke? ?for? ?a? ?while.? ?He? ?stared? ?at? ?the? ?food? ?box? ?for? ?a? ?moment? ?and? ?then? ?

    gave? ?a? ?reaction? ?slowly,? ?"Thank? ?you."? ?

    ?

    His? ?voice? ?was? ?hoarse? ?and? ?differed? ?slightly? ?from? ?the? ?one? ?before.? ? ?

    ?

    The? ?food? ?box? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?little? ?heavy? ?for? ?the? ?scholar,? ?as? ?if? ?a? ?kilogram? ?of? ?pendants? ?were? ?

    hung? ?onto? ?a? ?tree? ?branch.? ?He? ?walked? ?a? ?lot? ?slower? ?than? ?when? ?he? ?had? ?come? ?and? ?took? ?a? ?long? ?

    time? ?to? ?get? ?far.? ?

    ?

    The? ?watchman? ?shivered? ?and? ?returned? ?to? ?his? ?senses.? ?

    ?

    The? ?waiter? ?said? ?with? ?a? ?pale? ?face,? ?"Have? ?you? ?seen? ?it? ?this? ?time?? ?That? ?face...? ?Eh?? ?What? ?are? ?you? ?

    doing? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?hurry?"? ?

    ?

    Watchman:? ?"I? ?want? ?to? ?pee!"? ?

    ?

    Waiter:? ?"..."? ?

    ?

    However,? ?as? ?soon? ?as? ?the? ?watchman? ?left,? ?he? ?came? ?back? ?again? ?with? ?his? ?gongs? ?and? ?stick.? ?

    ?

    Before? ?the? ?waiter? ?spoke,? ?the? ?watchman? ?patted? ?him? ?on? ?the? ?shoulder? ?and? ?made? ?funny? ?faces? ?at? ?

    something? ?far? ?away:? ?"Look? ?over? ?there!"? ?

    ?

    Just? ?across? ?the? ?street,? ?a? ?white? ?shadow? ?appeared? ?silently? ?from? ?the? ?dark.? ?

    ?

    The? ?waiter? ?who? ?had? ?just? ?been? ?startled? ?immediately? ?felt? ?his? ?knees? ?go? ?weak,? ?thinking? ?that? ?he? ?

    had? ?seen? ?something? ?dirty? ?again.? ?Fortunately,? ?he? ?took? ?another? ?look? ?and? ?found? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?

    monk.? ?He? ?was? ?wearing? ?thin,? ?plain? ?white? ?monk''s? ?clothing? ?with? ?wide? ?sleeves.? ?No? ?other? ?color? ?

    could? ?be? ?seen? ?from? ?head? ?to? ?toe,? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?in? ?mourning.? ?It? ?was? ?very? ?unlucky? ?to? ?see? ?

    something? ?like? ?this? ?early? ?in? ?the? ?morning.? ?

    ?

    The? ?waiter? ?didn''t? ?understand:? ?"I? ?see? ?it,? ?but? ?isn’t? ?it? ?just? ?a? ?monk?"? ?

    ?

    The? ?watchman? ?said? ?in? ?a? ?low? ?voice:? ?“I? ?glanced? ?at? ?him? ?when? ?I? ?passed? ?by? ?just? ?now? ?and? ?saw? ?that? ?

    he? ?has? ?five? ?emperor’s? ?coins? ?hung? ?on? ?his? ?waist!”? ?

    ?

    The? ?five? ?emperor’s? ?coins? ?were? ?used? ?to? ?drive? ?away? ?evil? ?spirits? ?and? ?for? ?gate-keeping.? ?It? ?was? ?

    rumoured? ?that? ?the? ?National? ?Advisor? ?favoured? ?them? ?and? ?always? ?hung? ?a? ?string? ?on? ?his? ?waist.? ?

    From? ?then? ?onwards,? ?the? ?five? ?emperor’s? ?coins? ?had? ?been? ?the? ?item? ?most? ?commonly? ?used? ?by? ?the? ?

    people? ?who? ?exorcised? ?ghosts? ?for? ?a? ?living.? ?Although? ?there? ?were? ?some? ?charlatans? ?among? ?them,? ?

    most? ?of? ?them? ?had? ?a? ?few? ?tricks? ?up? ?their? ?sleeves.? ?

    ?

    From? ?a? ?distance,? ?the? ?waiter? ?looked? ?at? ?the? ?monk? ?from? ?top? ?to? ?bottom? ?and? ?thought? ?that? ?he? ?had? ?

    an? ?indescribable? ?aura.? ?In? ?short,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?look? ?like? ?a? ?charlatan.? ?He? ?couldn’t? ?care? ?less? ?anyway.? ?

    Three? ?days? ?was? ?already? ?the? ?limit.? ?And? ?if? ?the? ?scholar? ?visited? ?again? ?tomorrow? ?morning,? ?he? ?

    might’ve? ?lost? ?control? ?and? ?peed? ?on? ?the? ?spot.? ? ?

    ?

    The? ?monk? ?walked? ?slowly,? ?but? ?came? ?near? ?soon? ?enough.? ?Seeing? ?as? ?he? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?pass? ?the? ?

    stall,? ?the? ?waiter? ?quickly? ?called? ?out? ?to? ?him:? ?“Master,? ?please? ?stay!”? ?

    ?

    The? ?monk’s? ?steps? ?halted.? ?The? ?hem? ?of? ?his? ?white? ?robe? ?swayed? ?gently,? ?yet? ?it? ?was? ?unstained? ?by? ?

    dust.? ?He? ?cast? ?a? ?glance? ?towards? ?the? ?waiter.? ?The? ?gaze? ?was? ?calm? ?yet? ?without? ?warmth,? ?somehow? ?

    even? ?colder? ?than? ?the? ?wind? ?blowing? ?on? ?his? ?face.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?until? ?he? ?came? ?close? ?that? ?the? ?waiter? ?

    noticed? ?that? ?he? ?was? ?quite? ?tall,? ?so? ?much? ?that? ?his? ?gaze? ?was? ?directed? ?at? ?him? ?from? ?above.? ?This? ?

    made? ?the? ?waiter? ?shrink? ?back? ?a? ?step? ?inexplicably.? ?He? ?bumped? ?into? ?the? ?watchman? ?who? ?had? ?

    also? ?shrunk? ?back? ?a? ?step.? ?

    ?

    This? ?bump? ?knocked? ?the? ?courage? ?right? ?back? ?into? ?the? ?waiter’s? ?stomach.? ?He? ?opened? ?his? ?mouth? ?

    again:? ?“I? ?noticed? ?that? ?there? ?are? ?five? ?emperor’s? ?coins? ?hanging? ?on? ?the? ?master’s? ?waist.? ?Are? ?you? ?

    familiar? ?with? ?the? ?skills? ?to? ?exorcise? ?evil? ?spirits?”? ?

    ?

    The? ?monk? ?glanced? ?at? ?the? ?copper? ?coins? ?on? ?his? ?waist? ?without? ?much? ?of? ?an? ?expression.? ?He? ?did? ?

    not? ?say? ?yes,? ?nor? ?did? ?he? ?say? ?no.? ? ?

    ?

    The? ?waiter? ?glanced? ?at? ?the? ?watchman? ?awkwardly? ?and? ?thought? ?that? ?this? ?monk? ?was? ?colder? ?than? ?

    the? ?evil? ?winds? ?of? ?this? ?winter? ?month.? ?He? ?froze,? ?mind? ?blanking? ?out? ?from? ?the? ?chill.? ?He? ?did? ?not? ?

    know? ?how? ?to? ?continue.? ? ?

    ?

    Thankfully,? ?the? ?watchman? ?was? ?more? ?resistant? ?to? ?the? ?chill? ?and? ?spoke? ?for? ?him.? ?In? ?a? ?few? ?words,? ?

    he? ?described? ?the? ?appearance? ?of? ?the? ?scholar-like? ?visitor? ?and? ?said? ?to? ?the? ?monk:? ?“We? ?weren’t? ?

    familiar? ?with? ?the? ?face,? ?but? ?we? ?could? ?never? ?mistake? ?it.? ?That? ?was? ?the? ?son? ?of? ?the? ?Jiangs’? ?who? ?ran? ?

    the? ?medicine? ?hall.? ?But...But? ?the? ?Jiang’s? ?medicine? ?hall? ?burned? ?down? ?three? ?years? ?ago.? ?With? ?the? ?

    exception? ?of? ?the? ?daughter? ?who? ?has? ?been? ?married? ?off? ?to? ?Anqing,? ?no? ?one? ?survived,? ?all? ?of? ?them? ?

    died? ?in? ?the? ?fire!? ?As? ?the? ?saying? ?goes,? ?‘?wugeng?? ?time? ?is? ?when? ?the? ?ghosts? ?roam’.? ?A? ?dead? ?person? ?

    appearing? ?for? ?three? ?days? ?straight? ?and? ?it? ?so? ?happened? ?to? ?be? ?at? ??wugeng?? ?time.? ?How? ?could? ?it? ?not? ?

    be? ?terrifying?!”? ?

    ?

    The? ?monk? ?glanced? ?briefly? ?at? ?the? ?sky? ?and? ?finally? ?opened? ?his? ?mouth.? ?He? ?spoke? ?three? ?words? ?

    coldly:? ?“Where? ?is? ?he?”? ?

    ?

    On? ?hearing? ?this,? ?the? ?waiter? ?suddenly? ?became? ?excited.? ?He? ?pointed? ?at? ?a? ?bend? ?some? ?distance? ?

    away? ?and? ?hurriedly? ?said:? ?“He? ?just? ?left!? ?I’m? ?sure? ?he? ?hasn’t? ?reach? ?the? ?door? ?yet!? ?I? ?recognise? ?the? ?

    Jiang’s? ?medicine? ?hall.? ?Master,? ?shall? ?I,? ?shall? ?I? ?lead? ?the? ?way?”? ?

    ?

    Soon,? ?however,? ?the? ?waiter? ?regretted? ?saying? ?this? ?and? ?wanted? ?to? ?slap? ?himself:? ?Who? ?told? ?you? ?to? ?

    run? ?your? ?mouth!? ?

    ?

    How? ?much? ?did? ?he? ?hate? ?life? ?that? ?he’d? ?agree? ?to? ?walk? ?in? ?this? ?cold? ?winter? ?beside? ?a? ?human? ?icicle.? ?

    The? ?waiter? ?was? ?sure? ?he? ?had? ?lost? ?half? ?of? ?his? ?life? ?just? ?walking? ?these? ?few? ?alleys.? ?He? ?glanced? ?at? ?

    the? ?young? ?monk? ?from? ?time? ?to? ?time,? ?repeatedly.? ?Still,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?ask? ?what? ?he? ?wanted? ?to? ?and? ?

    instead? ?memorised? ?the? ?small? ?mole? ?on? ?the? ?side? ?of? ?the? ?monk’s? ?neck.? ?

    ?

    Before? ?the? ?waiter? ?would? ?freeze? ?to? ?death,? ?they? ?finally? ?arrived? ?at? ?the? ?corner? ?of? ?the? ?back? ?lane? ?

    leading? ?to? ?the? ?Jiang’s? ?medicine? ?hall.? ? ?

    ?

    Just? ?as? ?the? ?waiter? ?had? ?predicted,? ?the? ?scholar? ?who? ?looked? ?like? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?stand? ?the? ?wind? ?

    hadn’t? ?made? ?it? ?through? ?the? ?door? ?and? ?was? ?inching? ?step? ?by? ?step? ?in? ?the? ?alley? ?with? ?the? ?lunch? ?box? ?

    in? ?hand.? ? ?

    ?

    Strangely? ?enough,? ?he? ?was? ?murmuring? ?to? ?himself? ?in? ?two? ?different? ?voices.? ?Sometimes? ?it? ?was? ?

    clear? ?and? ?pleasant,? ?sometimes? ?low? ?and? ?hoarse.? ? ?

    ?

    “Did? ?you? ?go? ?up? ?a? ?mountain? ?by? ?yourself? ?and? ?catch? ?a? ?chicken? ?for? ?me?? ?With? ?this? ?speed? ?you’re? ?

    going? ?at,? ?can? ?we? ?even? ?reach? ?by? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?this? ?month?”? ?This? ?was? ?the? ?clearer? ?one.? ? ?

    ?

    “Still? ?beats? ?not? ?being? ?able? ?to? ?walk.”? ?This? ?was? ?the? ?lower? ?one.? ? ?

    ?

    “I? ?think? ?you’re? ?sick? ?of? ?being? ?alive.”? ?

    ?

    “Nope,? ?I? ?just? ?died? ?three? ?years? ?ago.”? ?

    ?

    “……”? ?

    ?

    The? ?scholar? ?played? ?two? ?characters? ?by? ?himself? ?and? ?acted? ?out? ?a? ?play? ?of? ?“what? ?do? ?you? ?mean? ?

    you’re? ?so? ?sick”? ?in? ?two? ?voices.? ?After? ?that,? ?he? ?turned? ?into? ?a? ?paper? ?man? ?and? ?slipped? ?through? ?a? ?

    crack? ?in? ?the? ?wall? ?of? ?the? ?Jiang’s? ?medicine? ?hall.? ? ?

    ?

    After? ?witnessing? ?the? ?entire? ?ordeal? ?by? ?accident,? ?the? ?waiter? ?was? ?terrified? ?to? ?the? ?bone? ?and? ?

    wanted? ?to? ?escape.? ?He? ?had? ?his? ?feet? ?in? ?the? ?air? ?before? ?remembering? ?that? ?the? ?icicle? ?monk? ?was? ?

    still? ?beside? ?him? ?and? ?hurriedly? ?took? ?out? ?a? ?money? ?pouch,? ?shoving? ?it? ?into? ?the? ?master’s? ?arms.? ?

    While? ?he? ?was? ?still? ?muttering? ?“For? ?your? ?compensation,”? ?he? ?was? ?already? ?two? ??li?2 ??away.? ? ?

    ?

    The? ?monk? ?creased? ?his? ?brows? ?and? ?lowered? ?his? ?eyes,? ?sweeping? ?them? ?over? ?the? ?money? ?bag.? ? ?

    ?

    Who? ?knew? ?when? ?was? ?the? ?last? ?time? ?this? ?thing? ?was? ?washed.? ?The? ?color? ?had? ?long? ?since? ?been? ?

    unrecognizable? ?and? ?it? ?reeked? ?of? ?oil? ?from? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?ago.? ? ?

    ?

    He? ?wanted? ?to? ?throw? ?the? ?dirty? ?thing? ?as? ?soon? ?as? ?he? ?touched? ?it,? ?yet? ?he? ?hooked? ?it? ?back? ?before? ?the? ?

    string? ?had? ?a? ?chance? ?to? ?leave? ?his? ?finger.? ?With? ?an? ?almost? ?indifferent? ?face? ?showing? ?slight? ?

    disgust,? ?he? ?carried? ?the? ?money? ?bag? ?and? ?walked? ?quietly? ?to? ?the? ?front? ?of? ?the? ?Jiang’s? ?medicine? ?

    hall.? ? ?

    ?

    The? ?waiter? ?who? ?had? ?escaped? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?Nine? ?Taste? ?restaurant? ?caught? ?his? ?breath? ?while? ?

    supporting? ?himself? ?against? ?a? ?wall? ?and? ?with? ?no? ?less? ?hand? ?gestures,? ?finally? ?managed? ?to? ?

    describe? ?what? ?happened? ?to? ?the? ?watchman? ?who? ?helped? ?him? ?guard? ?the? ?stall? ?while? ?he? ?was? ?

    gone.? ?He? ?hesitated? ?for? ?a? ?moment? ?and? ?said,? ?“Hiss--? ?The? ?master? ?earlier? ?looked? ?familiar.”? ?

    2 ??One?? ?li?? ?is? ?around? ?500? ?meters,? ?so? ?two? ??li?? ?is? ?1? ?k.m.? ?

    ?

    “You? ?watch? ?the? ?stall? ?all? ?day.? ?So? ?many? ?people? ?pass? ?by,? ?of? ?course? ?you’d? ?say? ?everyone? ?looks? ?

    familiar.”? ?The? ?watchman? ?said? ?gruffly.? ?

    ?

    “……”? ?The? ?waiter? ?gasped? ?for? ?air? ?and? ?straightened? ?up.? ?His? ?gaze? ?swept? ?past? ?and? ?caught? ?on? ?the? ?

    wall? ?that? ?he? ?was? ?leaning? ?on? ?support? ?for.? ?

    ?

    A? ?“wanted”? ?poster? ?from? ?half? ?a? ?month? ?ago? ?was? ?hung? ?up? ?on? ?the? ?wall.? ?Unfortunately,? ?it? ?had? ?

    snowed? ?heavily? ?right? ?after? ?it? ?was? ?posted.? ?After? ?it? ?was? ?frozen? ?and? ?drenched,? ?the? ?picture? ?could? ?

    not? ?be? ?seen? ?clearly? ?anymore? ?the? ?next? ?day.? ?He? ?had? ?only? ?taken? ?a? ?quick? ?look? ?at? ?the? ?time? ?and? ?it? ?

    left? ?a? ?blurry? ?imprint? ?in? ?his? ?mind.? ? ?

    ?

    Now,? ?more? ?than? ?half? ?the? ?poster? ?had? ?been? ?peeled? ?off,? ?leaving? ?only? ?the? ?neck? ?area.? ?However,? ?a? ?

    mole? ?could? ?still? ?be? ?seen,? ?in? ?the? ?exact? ?same? ?place? ?as? ?the? ?one? ?on? ?the? ?master’s? ?neck.? ? ?

    ?

    The? ?waiter? ?felt? ?excitement? ?surge? ?through? ?him:? ?This? ?was? ?a? ?wanted? ?criminal? ?that? ?had? ?a? ?bounty? ?

    on? ?his? ?head!? ?

    ?

    -----? ?

    The? ?author? ?has? ?something? ?to? ?say? ?

    I''m? ?here? ?again~? ?

    ?

    This? ?novel? ?may? ?contain? ?a? ?lot? ?of? ?dog? ?blood?3.? ?Xuan? ?Min? ?is? ?gong,? ?Xue? ?Xian? ?is? ?shou,? ?don''t? ?board? ?

    the? ?wrong? ?ship? ?~? ?still? ?1vs1,? ?HE,? ?kisses? ?~? ?

    ?

    Note? ?[1]:? ?The? ?first? ?paragraph? ?is? ?the? ?original? ?source? ?of? ?inspiration,? ?which? ?is? ?translated? ?from? ?the? ?

    seven? ?repair? ?manuscripts? ?written? ?by? ?Lang? ?Ying.? ?The? ?original? ?text:? ?My? ?friend,? ?the? ?father? ?of? ?Jin? ?

    Mao,? ?visited? ?Xinhui? ?County? ?of? ?Guangdong? ?Province? ?at? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?Chenghua.? ?One? ?day,? ?just? ?

    after? ?the? ?morning? ?tide,? ?a? ?dragon? ?fell? ?onto? ?the? ?sandy? ?ground? ?from? ?the? ?air.? ?The? ?fishermen,? ?each? ?

    with? ?their? ?own? ?wood? ?planks,? ?beat? ?it? ?to? ?death.? ?The? ?officials? ?and? ?the? ?people? ?looked? ?at? ?it.? ?It? ?was? ?

    very? ?tall? ?and? ?could? ?be? ?as? ?tall? ?as? ?a? ?person.? ?It? ?was? ?tens? ?of? ?feet? ?long,? ?with? ?scales? ?on? ?its? ?head? ?and? ?

    feet,? ?just? ?like? ?a? ?painting,? ?but? ?its? ?belly? ?was? ?only? ?red.? ?This? ?could? ?be? ?described? ?very? ?clearly? ?by? ?

    anyone? ?who? ?had? ?seen? ?it.? ?

    ?

    ******? ?

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    Translation:? ?nucleatedrbc? ?and? ?Lunaa?