Chapter 124: Running Away

Xu Jun offered to treat me to dinner, but I declined, asking him to drop me off at the vegetable market to buy some groceries.

As I got out of the car, Xu Jun handed me two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes from inside the vehicle.

I accepted them to put his mind at ease.

At the market, I bought eggs, tomatoes, four potatoes, and red chili peppers. In the supermarket, I picked up a bag of seaweed, premium aged vinegar, soy sauce, and other seasonings.

Thinking of Xie Lingyu’s fondness for Niulanshan Erguotou, I searched for a while before finding it. Considering the jade corpse and Xiao Jian might want some too, I grabbed two bottles and also bought a small knife at the supermarket.

I got home around 5 p.m. and put everything down.

Xiao Jian followed Xie Lingyu around, wagging its tail, hoping for a piece of meat.

I took out the peach wood and started carving quickly. Though I’d never studied woodcarving, I was confident I could shape something decent.

When I went to the kitchen for a larger knife, I saw the jade corpse peeling potatoes with a peeler and couldn’t help but laugh.

After much effort, the wooden figure I carved looked rough. The mouth was too big, the eyes too small, and the nose too flat.

Still, it vaguely resembled a human head.

I carved further, shaping two arms and smoothing the base so it could stand on the table.

The jade corpse giggled, probably never having seen such an ugly “art piece.”

“This is Impressionism. Like Monet, a master,” I chuckled, but on closer inspection, it was pretty bad.

Xie Lingyu cooked tomato and egg stir-fry, spicy and sour potato shreds, and seaweed soup. Seeing my wooden figure, she asked what it was for. I grinned, saying it was a secret.

I brought out the two bottles of Erguotou. The jade corpse clapped excitedly at the smell of liquor. I found a cup for Xiao Jian, who also enjoyed a sip.

Xie Lingyu poured me a glass and one for herself.

“Xiao Qi, I lied to you,” she said, downing her drink. The jade corpse followed suit.

I didn’t touch my glass. When she cooked those dishes, I sensed deeper meaning. Back in Blue Moon, there was an unspoken volcano between us.

I knew she’d lied about the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart. After a pause, I smiled and said, “It’s fine. Your lie was well-intentioned. I don’t mind.”

Xie Lingyu was silent for a moment, then said, “Xiao Qi, I know what you’re thinking. If you hate me, just say it! I won’t deny anything.”

I gave a hollow smile. “Miss Xie, what could I hate you for? I’ve got nothing against you.”

She fell silent again.

I didn’t speak either.

Only Xiao Jian’s tongue lapping at the liquor cup and the jade corpse obliviously pouring herself more broke the quiet.

Xie Lingyu said, “I’m full,” and went to her room.

I flipped over the perfectly cooked tomato and egg stir-fry and the fragrant potato shreds. The two bottles of Erguotou hit the floor, releasing a rich liquor aroma.

Xiao Jian and the jade corpse were startled.

I sat in the living room, staring at the pile of old books filling half the room, lost in thought.

Why was I so upset?

Suddenly, Xie Lingyu flung open her door with a bang.

“Xiao Qi, you don’t need to give me attitude. If I wasn’t worried about you being unhappy, why would I lie? Stop acting like this. What do Ji Qianqian or I have to do with you? You think you’re somebody? Whether it’s Guo Qiqi, Qi Qiqi, or Anna…” Xie Lingyu snapped.

“Mind your own business. Go back where you came from!” I shot back, gritting my teeth.

Xie Lingyu laughed, went back to her room, and grabbed a porcelain doll.

“Fine. You finally said it. You’re finally picking a fight with me.”

She stormed out.

The carved peachwood figure stood on the table, emotionless, just like my face.

Most men care about pride. I’m a man, and I’m no exception.

By 10 p.m., Xie Lingyu hadn’t returned. I swept the floor, hesitated, and called the flower shop. Yu Yuwei answered, saying Xie Lingyu hadn’t been there.

I called her phone, but it rang from her room.

Had she really left?

A bit scared, I went outside the complex, searching the area. By past midnight, there was no sign of her. I wandered back home, but she still wasn’t there.

I slammed the door. “Acting like a little girl at her age. Go play wherever you want—who cares!”

I went to my room to sleep but lay there, half-awake, restless.

Xiao Jian slept on the floor, occasionally lifting its head, thinking Xie Lingyu was back. Eventually, it whimpered and lowered its head, finding nothing.

I didn’t sleep all night.

The next morning, I knocked on Xie Lingyu’s room. The door was ajar. Inside, only the jade corpse sat there.

“The sun’s harsh today, not good for you. I’m heading out. I’ll take you out tonight,” I told her.

The jade corpse nodded, understanding a little.

I took Xiao Jian and left the complex, heading to Brother Jun’s auto repair shop. My motorcycle was fixed, so I picked it up and rode to the old building. Luckily, yesterday’s gardener wasn’t around. I led Xiao Jian upstairs.

At room 502, I pushed open the door and saw strange footprints inside, stretching toward the bedroom before vanishing.

I’d misjudged yesterday—something unclean was definitely here.

Large footprints were surrounded by smaller ones, like a big starving ghost leading a group of smaller ones.

The Donglingzi ghost-capturing talisman at the door had fallen, and a red palm print marked the entrance.

No other signs.

I called Xu Jun immediately, saying we could act at dusk. “Make sure your wife doesn’t come. I’m worried she’ll interfere if she can’t bear seeing her kid suffer.”

Xu Jun agreed and asked if I needed anything.

“No, I’ve got everything,” I said, hanging up.

From the fifth floor, I went to the third, curious about room 302, where Xu Jun had been dazed yesterday.

Pushing the door open with a creak, I found an empty living room with a homeless man sleeping inside. He cracked his eyes open as I entered, then lazily closed them, indifferent to the world.

Taking a few steps, I noticed a sealed door that wouldn’t budge no matter how hard I pushed.

“Who are you? Stop messing around. No money here. I’m trying to sleep. Go do whatever,” the homeless man grumbled, coughing twice. Hearing his cough, I relaxed—yesterday’s cough was probably just him.

“This place has issues. Be careful,” I warned, but seeing his surly look, I left.

“Hope a female ghost shows up,” he muttered unhappily, rolling over to sleep.

At the stairwell, I saw several centipedes scuttling in an orderly line. I stomped one dead.

By noon, Xie Lingyu still hadn’t returned.

I cooked rice, but it came out half-cooked. Xiao Jian seemed displeased.

Then I remembered something. I opened my computer, realized the internet bill was overdue, and rushed to pay it. Logging in, I checked my emails.

Back in Huju Gorge Town, I’d received an email about Xie Lingyu.

I hadn’t thought much of it then, but now I wondered if someone besides Pig Ear Ghost knew about her.

If Pig Ear Ghost hadn’t told me everything, this person might have key clues.

In my haste, I struggled to connect to the internet. Finally, I logged into my email. Amid spam from China Bank and Merchants Bank, I found a reply from two weeks ago, delayed by my time in Blue Moon.

The email read:

“No need for your money.

Xie Lingyu is a spirit fox. During her reincarnation tribulation, her physical body remained in the world. Her soul cannot be transcended.

The white other-shore flower, the Buddha’s flower, is said to guide ghosts to the River Styx.

Xie Lingyu went to the River Styx to find someone.”

I quickly replied: “Sorry for the delay in responding due to some matters. I already knew what you mentioned. I have two questions: First, who is Xie Lingyu looking for in the River Styx? Second, who are you?”

After sending it, as I was about to close the computer, a new email arrived. From the same cryptic sender: “You already know—that’s impressive. Like you, I want to know who that person is. I have some written materials. If you’re interested, I can mail them to you. Also, don’t ask who I am, or I’ll stop emailing you.”

I replied immediately with my address, waiting for their response. After half an hour, no reply came.

In the trash folder, I found another email. It was from a female classmate whose son had just turned one. She ranted: “Xiao Qi, I know you’ve always had your eye on me, but I’m married with a kid now. Look at yourself—you sent me 250 yuan? You bastard, I’m damn lucky I didn’t fall for you, or I’d be stuck with a broke idiot like you for life.”

I replied with four words: “Pharmacy, buy some shame.”

Checking my bank account, I saw my funds were nearly gone. The card my grandfather gave me was almost depleted. I considered exchanging the dollars Dai Hao gave me to tide me over. I didn’t handle the flower shop’s business, unsure how Xie Lingyu explained things to Yu Yuwei, so I didn’t interfere.

By 5 p.m., Xie Lingyu still hadn’t returned.