Chapter 80: Huang’s Pregnancy

Geng Dengfeng said someone had taken photos, showing three people involved, one of whom—the shooter—had escaped. The documents Geng brought included a photo revealing a “righteousness” character tattooed on the left arm of the drug dealer.

According to Geng, the shooter had likely fled China. Lin Danan took a moment to process this before asking Geng to take him to see his brother.

I quickly reassured Lin Danan that a stomach wound, if treated promptly, wasn’t fatal. Though Lin Danan usually dismissed his brother, in critical moments, he showed deep care.

Lin Danan and Geng Dengfeng hopped into an SUV and left immediately.

With things mostly wrapped up, there was no reason for me to stay. I hadn’t found the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart, so I’d have to keep searching.

I packed my things and said goodbye to Uncle Jianguo, asking him to light incense at the graves of the five uncles when the time came. As for the skull and monkey bones Lin Danan had recovered, I told him to be careful when returning them to the Guo family.

Uncle Jianguo was busy arranging to send the five bodies back home and wouldn’t be free for a while. Once done, he’d return to Jiang City…

He called out, “Where are you headed?”

I said with a bitter smile, “On a long journey to the West, like fetching scriptures. Maybe I’ll become a Buddha along the way.”

…

The temperatures in the southeast and northern provinces were rising, and Yunnan was teeming with tourists—groups with SLRs, some snapping selfies.

Amid green mountains and clear waters, I soothed my lonely soul. How many landscapes would I cross to reach the Western Paradise?

I boarded a bus to Wenshan City. From Malipo, a provincial road led to Wenshan. The shifting light and shadows on the bus felt oddly familiar. I’d once told myself that after catching Huang, I’d settle down and live quietly. If Huang had returned to Wenshan and I ran into her, that’d be perfect.

But plans and reality rarely align.

I arrived in Wenshan by afternoon.

Xie Lingyu stayed resting inside the jade ruler. The jade corpse, wary of sunlight, was shielded by an umbrella I held for her. The scenery we passed sank into an endless sea of suffering; the world we saw was illusory, like a distant mountain dream.

In Wenshan, I checked into a small inn and planned how to find Huang’s hometown. Asking the owner, I learned there were numerous villages under Wenshan’s counties, with over a dozen surnamed Huang alone, not counting those scattered elsewhere.

I was at a loss for where to start.

That night, at the inn, a faint wisp of smoke drifted through the door crack. The dog yelped once and passed out. I leapt from the bed, holding my breath, realizing ordinary knockout smoke couldn’t affect me.

I grabbed the military knife Uncle Jianguo gave me and hid behind the wall.

The door creaked open. A man in a baseball cap entered, holding a silenced pistol. He fired several shots into my bed, then approached and lifted the blanket.

I flicked on the room’s light and kicked him in the rear. Pinning him down, I pressed the knife to his back. “Move, and I’ll kill you.”

The man fell to the floor, seemingly aware his assassination had failed. He didn’t resist, laughing, “You’d better kill me.”

I pressed harder, the knife piercing his flesh. “Who sent you to kill me?”

He sneered, “Think I’m new to this? I got caught, my bad. Do what you want.”

I took his gun and disarmed him of his knife. He was likely a hired gunman, a quick shot.

I said, “If you don’t talk, I’ll turn you over to the police.”

As I lifted the knife, he sprang up, his body twisting unnaturally, knocking the knife from my hand. He bolted out the door.

My hand still tingled. He’d failed his first attempt and didn’t linger. The jade corpse, hearing the commotion, came to check on me and refused to go back to sleep, staying by my side.

Early the next morning, I went to the bus station to gather information. Women like Huang who left home and never returned were countless.

Jianjian suddenly barked twice. On a minibus full of villagers, I glimpsed a familiar figure through the crowd.

It was a cloudy morning.

I glanced at Xie Lingyu. “I’m going after her.” She shouted, “Be careful. I’m coming with you!”

I grabbed Jianjian and chased after the bus, hailing a rickety taxi and following it.

The taxi wound through the mountains and stopped at a small village. After a detour, Huang got off, a scarf wrapped around her head, cautiously scanning her surroundings. I told the driver to pull over, paid him, and followed on foot.

Jianjian trailed me restlessly, and I felt uneasy too.

One person, one dog—both on edge.

Huang walked strangely, as if pregnant, occasionally glancing back to check for followers.

The more I watched, the weirder it felt. Pregnant?

Xie Lingyu, after long thought, said it was likely Huang was carrying a ghost baby.

I thought, A ghost baby? That’s absurd. What’s going on?

Xie Lingyu said, “The world is full of wonders. Let’s follow her.”

The village’s transportation was poor, and Huang walked a long way to reach it. Her movements were stiff but practiced, suggesting she returned often.

By noon, we reached the village. At the entrance, someone greeted Huang, “Xiaohua, you’re back.”

Huang’s white eyes glanced over without responding, and she continued inward, stopping at a dilapidated house by the mountain.

I couldn’t follow further.

Villagers noticed me. A kind man asked what I was doing here. I lied, “I heard there are herbs to collect.”

He eyed me. “No herbs here. You must be in the wrong place.” The older man, sensing my odd behavior, called his two sons, who surrounded me. “Tell us what you’re really doing. Are you trouble?”

I hesitated, then said, “Don’t make a fuss, uncle. I’ll be honest. I’m tracking Huang Xiaohua. She’s committed crimes.”

The man paused, eyeing me. His sons, young men, said, “Buddy, show us some ID. Don’t lie.”

I thought, Damn, I don’t have ID. Things were about to fall apart.

The jade corpse warily watched the two, who were ready to grab machetes nearby.

Xie Lingyu laughed, “Uncle, you’re too sharp. We’re Huang Xiaohua’s in-laws. She’s back to give birth, and we just want to take the child back to continue my brother’s line.”

The uncle, Huang Youtian, listened. I slipped him two hundred yuan, saying, “My sister-in-law ran back after my brother died, but the child is his. We paid a hefty bride price for her.”

Huang Youtian knew Huang Xiaohua’s marriage story and the deal behind it. He glanced at me, then Xie Lingyu. “Must be tough chasing her. She just got back, and it looks like she’s about to give birth.”

I quickly asked, “Uncle, can you call her family to talk?”

Huang Youtian sent his younger son to fetch them. Soon, a group arrived, led by a cocky man—likely Huang Xiaohua’s brother, Huang Long.

Huang Youtian, unsure of my identity, had his son bring extra people for backup.

Outnumbered, I couldn’t stir trouble.

Huang Long handed out cigarettes, eyeing me. “You’re my sister’s in-law? Chasing her hard, huh?”

I said, “Big brother, can we talk privately?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Say it here.”

With the group glaring, I couldn’t blurt out that Huang Xiaohua was dead.

I smiled, “How’s my sister-in-law? I’m here to take her back.”

Huang Long calculated: his sister’s child could be sold, and she could remarry for more money. No need for a private chat.

He sneered, “Don’t play nice. If she was doing well, why’d she come back? She’s locked herself in her room, not saying a word. Drop the act.”

Seeing he had the upper hand, I said, “Don’t be mad, big brother. After she gives birth, I want to take the child back for my brother’s family. I’ll cover nutrition and other costs.”

Huang Youtian chimed in, “Giving a child to carry on the line isn’t too much.”

Huang Long said, “Name your price.”

I cursed inwardly, What a scumbag.

I said politely, “Eight thousand…”

He snapped, “No way. Fifteen thousand, not a cent less.” I sighed, “Fine, fine. As long as I can take the child, I’m willing to pay. Can I see her now?”

Huang Long nodded, confident with his crew that I wouldn’t snatch the kid and run.

The group dispersed, and Huang Long led me to the house. Huang Youtian’s younger son muttered, “When I went to get Brother Huang Long, Xiaohua seemed off. Her room felt icy, like a place where someone died… And why do her in-laws bring a cat and a dog? They seem like Yin-Yang masters…”

Huang Youtian scolded, “Shut up! If Huang Long hears, he’ll break your legs!”

On the hillside path, I followed Huang Long. He stopped suddenly. “You’re staying a few days. Meals are seven yuan a day, lodging five. Three people, plus a cat and dog—fifty yuan a day.”

I said, “Charging for the dog and cat?”

Suddenly, shouts came from the hilltop: “She’s giving birth! She’s giving birth!”