Guo Qiqi gazed at the waters of the Tuo River flowing through the ancient town of Fenghuang, as if recalling Ah Xiu from the story *Border Town*. It seemed as if she were waiting for Lao Er, and in her dream, Xiu Xiu heard someone singing folk songs. In the dream, she climbed a high cliff and plucked a cat-ear grass.
Watching Guo Qiqi lost in thought, I asked again, “Where can I find Insect Lao Si?” Guo Qiqi snapped back to reality and said, “Insect Lao Si should have returned to Fenglingdu by now. His goal is simple—after finding so many insects and carrying the *Notes on Insect Rearing*, he’s definitely trying to reverse the Insect Clan’s long-suppressed fate.”
During the hour-long wait for the bus, I accompanied Guo Qiqi on a stroll through the ancient town, past the rustic charm of Fenghuang and along the tranquil Tuo River, where a few young women were washing clothes by the water. Three or four tourists were taking photos by the river.
Guo Qiqi and I arrived in Changsha. Yi Miao had woken up briefly before falling into a deep sleep again. He was out of danger and wouldn’t die, but he needed time to recover—at least two months of bed rest. With Lian Xiaoyao taking care of him, I felt at ease. Besides, Yi Miao had plenty of money; two months in the hospital would be like a vacation for him, and with Lian Xiaoyao by his side, the two might even develop feelings for each other.
The hospital was filled with lingering spirits, reluctant to move on. Yi Miao was lucky—at least he hadn’t died. From Changsha, we flew to Xi’an. I called Hua Changsheng. He had grown a beard and become much more worldly, recently learning to do business—big business, at that. But when he saw me, Hua Changsheng burst into tears. He said this wasn’t the life he wanted; he missed the days in Jiangcheng, when there were classes to attend and he could watch the river flow by with Zhong Li.
Longing for a woman can turn a man into a poet. I smoked a few cigarettes with Hua Changsheng before saying goodbye. He quickly regained his composed demeanor—after all, he had to grow up. No matter how beautiful youth was, people had to move forward.
And me? I was no exception. We made arrangements for our trip to Hong Kong, and Hua Changsheng arranged a car for me. With Xie Xiaoyu, the kitten, and the puppy in tow, my next stop was Fenglingdu. While Hua Changsheng and I reminisced, Guo Qiqi had already returned to Fenglingdu ahead of me. She had reported Insect Lao Si’s betrayal to her family over the phone, but the details needed to be explained in person. She had arrived before me.
I called out, “Monk. See you in Hong Kong.” Hua Changsheng replied, “Master. See you in Hong Kong.”
He turned away quickly, disappearing into the bustling traffic of Chang’an. How many dreams and disappointments were hidden in this ancient city? How much loneliness and solitude lurked in its streets?
From Xi’an, it took only a few hours to reach Fenglingdu. Located at the intersection of Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan, Fenglingdu was the largest ferry crossing on the Yellow River. For centuries, countless people had crossed here into Guanzhong or left it behind. Legend had it that Fenglingdu got its name when the Yellow Emperor, trapped by Chi You during their great battle, was led out of the mist by his wise minister Feng Hou, who invented the compass. After Feng Hou’s death, he was buried here, and his tomb—Feng Ling—gave the place its name.
Rumor had it that Feng Hou’s tomb contained the *Thirteen Diagrams of the Eight Formations*. It was also here, in a heavy snowstorm, that the lively Guo Xiang met the legendary hero Yang Guo, secretly giving him her heart. Later, when Yang Guo disappeared into the martial world with his wife, Guo Xiang, heartbroken, retreated to Mount Emei and founded the Emei Sect. Meanwhile, Zhang Sanfeng of Wudang also had ties with Guo Xiang.
Fenglingdu Town had changed dramatically from its past. Two large bridges had been built, ending the era of ferry crossings. The roads were wide now.
Though spring had arrived, the weather was still cold.
And now, spring snow was falling gently once again.
When we arrived in Fenglingdu Town, I called Guo Qiqi. About half an hour later, she appeared on the street in a black trench coat, wearing a hat and holding an umbrella.
Guo Qiqi exhaled a puff of warm breath. “Xiao Qi. This is my hometown.”
I asked, “Has Insect Lao Si returned?”
Guo Qiqi hesitated before answering, “I’ll take you to see my grandfather. He’s the head of the Guo family. If Insect Lao Si has returned, he’ll definitely go to him.”
“Why?” I asked.
She clenched her teeth, wrestling with herself before finally saying, “Because there’s a contract between the Insect Clan and the Guo family. For the Insect Clan to gain true freedom, they must break that contract—and it’s in my grandfather’s hands.”
After driving for a while, Guo Qiqi had me get out and walk. I carried Xiao Jian and the kitten on my back, holding an umbrella to keep the snow off Xie Xiaoyu’s face. From the town, we followed a small path down to Guo Family Village. Behind the village was a small hill, and the houses had been rebuilt into modern villas, giving the place a fresh look.
After walking for a while with Guo Qiqi, we stopped at a small, standalone house with a courtyard. The house was old, with two trees in front—one was a jujube tree, and the other was also a jujube tree.
“Here?” I asked in surprise.
Guo Qiqi nodded. “My grandfather lives here. The rest of the Guo family live in big cities.”
In the middle of the courtyard was a large stone roller, next to a well with a wooden frame for drawing water. A bucket of steaming water had already been drawn, the snowflakes dissolving as they touched its surface.
Guo Qiqi said, “Wash your hands before going inside.” The warm well water was ready. I washed my hands, then gently cleaned Xie Xiaoyu’s icy fingers. They were freezing. Pointing at Xiao Jian and the kitten, I asked, “Do they need to wash too?”
Guo Qiqi smiled faintly. “Never mind. Just carry them.”
I looked at the ancient, dilapidated house before me—this was the heart of the mighty Guo family? I had imagined a heavily guarded mansion, surrounded by countless insects.
Who would have thought it’d be just an ordinary rural cottage?
Guo Qiqi washed her hands too, then walked across the courtyard as snowflakes drifted down. She pushed open the wooden door, still adorned with door god prints of Qin Shubao and Yuchi Gong. “Grandfather,” she called. “I’ve brought him to you.”
Inside, the living room had a blazing fire pit in the center, a pot of wine warming above the flames. Three cups were placed on a stool nearby. The chairs around the fire pit were empty. A voice came from the west wing: “Guest, warm yourself by the fire and have a cup of wine to drive away the chill.”
Surely the head of the Guo family wouldn’t poison the wine. Three cups meant he was expecting me. I poured wine into each cup—one for myself, one for Xiao Jian, and one for Xie Xiaoyu. After drinking, I finally felt the cold leave my body.
Once we finished, Guo Qiqi led me into the west wing. The room was adorned with a landscape painting titled *Longevity Over Rivers and Mountains*, and a *erhu* hung on the wall. At the center table sat an old man with a headscarf, beside whom lay the copper urn that had been missing from me for over half a year.
The old man said, “Qiqi, leave us.”
Guo Qiqi withdrew, closing the door behind her. The old man called after her, “Go to the village store and buy some eggs and noodles. We’ll cook something later.” Guo Qiqi knew her grandfather was sending her away but didn’t argue. The sound of the courtyard gate closing echoed in the distance.
Only then did the old man speak to me. “Please sit, guest. Apologies for the wait. I am Guo Weixin. May I know your name?”
Guo Weixin surely knew who I was, but I remained polite. “I’m Xiao Qi. My master’s master was Ye Guyi, and my grandfather Long Youshui passed down the Ghost Sect’s legacy to me.”
Guo Weixin pushed the copper urn toward me. “This thing won’t open, and I don’t know what secrets it holds. Take it back.”
I was stunned. The Guo family had gone to great lengths to obtain the urn, only to return it so casually? I hesitated but accepted it politely.
Guo Weixin asked, “Why have you come to see me?”
I replied, “First, for Insect Lao Si. Second, for my grandfather Long Youshui. I know your Guo family killed him. As the head, you bear responsibility for failing to control your people.”
Guo Weixin laughed, his Shaanxi accent thick. “Little boy, heaven hides no evil. The world runs on evidence. If you have none, don’t make accusations. If you do, show it.”
I slammed the table. “When my grandfather died, he had bloody handprints on him. Ma Ruoxing was also severely injured by your people, with the same marks. And Insect Lao Si, Lao Wu, and Lao Er all tried to kill me. What more proof do you need?”
Guo Weixin shook his head. “That’s just your speculation. How do you know Ma Ruoxing’s handprints match your grandfather’s? If Insect Lao Si and his group had rebellious intentions, how does that implicate my Guo family?”
His words left me momentarily speechless.
After a pause, I pressed on. “Then in Chiang Mai, Thailand—Guo Qiqi pretended to be with me while secretly communicating with a Guo family member, scheming to steal my copper urn. You can’t deny that.”
Guo Weixin countered, “You heard that from Ma Ruoxing. But tell me—has my granddaughter saved your life multiple times? Has she ever harmed you? She nearly died for you when that rocket launcher hit. If I wanted you dead, would I risk her life?”
I shot back, “Who knows? Would you sacrifice your own granddaughter? Wasn’t Guo Furong your granddaughter too? Didn’t you turn her into a corpse bride? How do you explain that?”
Guo Weixin’s face darkened as I struck a nerve. “Enough!”
His reaction told me I’d hit the mark—Guo Furong was a sore spot.
Regaining his composure, Guo Weixin opened a drawer and pulled out an envelope. “Read this yourself.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage