Twenty-five: Asking the Water, But Whom? (Part Three)
As summer approaches, rainfall increases.
This time, Mingjin witnessed firsthand what it looked like when it rained in Huicheng.
The rain in Huicheng is so heavy it can kill, and it comes incredibly fast. Pedestrians without rain gear, especially tourists, underestimate the downpour and hesitate to seek shelter, only to be soaked to the bone within moments. Huicheng builds pavilions in places where there are few houses to shelter from the rain, which is the origin of the row of pavilions along the river.
The rain in Huicheng is a bit different. During the hottest days, the rain in Huicheng is just as heavy as that in Juxia. But now, although the rain is still hanging in the sky, the ground is wet, and the world has darkened.
It makes people feel depressed.
Mingjin and Mengsheng sat amidst a pile of white cloth, preparing decorations for the mourning hall. Several monks sat nearby, their hands busy with their own tasks. Clearly, they were quite accustomed to this kind of rain.
"If you're tired, you can take a break, it's okay."
Although she was still looking down, Meng Sheng could see the shadows of Ming Jin's arms. He realized that she had come during a break, so he reminded her that she could go and rest.
“I’m not tired,” Mingjin said, “I’m just not quite used to the weather in Huicheng right now.”
“That’s true,” Meng Sheng also looked up, gazing at the same sky through the same window as Ming Jin. “Although I’ve been here a long time, the thought of summer getting closer makes me feel restless. As soon as it gets hot, I start wondering when it will end.”
"Will the city flood?" Mingjin asked casually.
As they were talking, two monks brought in tea from outside, inviting everyone to rest.
“Yes,” Meng Sheng took the cup, “so every year we have to prepare to move everyone from the waterside to the city to avoid disaster. There are several lakes in the outer city, but they can’t hold water when it rains a lot. I’ve been there before, and they’re easy to get a layer of water, but not enough to wash away the village. Isn’t Changhe worried about the rain?”
"The rain was heavy, but in all my years, I've never seen anyone worry about floods. They probably just followed the river outside the town."
Soon it started to rain. The room was quiet, but the window was still a crack open, so you could smell the rain and hear the raindrops rolling and falling among the leaves.
While here, Mingjin, preoccupied with his own tasks, would occasionally forget why he had come here in the first place.
The rain caused some delays, so they didn't finish until it was completely dark. Seeing that it was still wet outside, Meng Sheng worried that it might rain again on the way back, so he let Ming Jin stay the night.
This little drizzle is nothing to worry about.
There's no need to rush out in the rain.
Everyone stayed until late, drinking a bowl of hot tea before leaving. Since the others lived in the inner city and Meng Sheng lived in the outer city, Ming Jin and Meng Sheng spent the night in the guest room in the courtyard.
This courtyard was originally part of the city's buildings, intended for the former sect leader's recuperation, hence the numerous rooms for entertaining guests. After Hong Junyu retired due to illness, he rarely saw anyone; apart from the cultivators who came to patrol daily, almost no one approached, let alone the more intimate guest rooms.
Mingjin and Mengsheng spent a quarter of an hour tidying up their respective rooms before lying down on the bed to rest and then falling asleep.
When Mingjin first opened his eyes, the window was still dark, and he could hear the rain pattering outside. He lay on the bed, motionless and unaware, only glancing at the window a few times before succumbing to sleepiness and falling into a deep slumber.
When he opened his eyes for the second time, the window was half dark and half light, and there was no sound of rain. His mind was clear, and he was no longer sleepy. Although it was still early, Mingjin decided to get up.
Near the guest room was a kitchen, and behind it was a small courtyard with a well that hadn't dried up yet, with buckets hanging there. Although some were damaged, she just wanted some clean water to wash away her sleepiness. So, with a creaking sound, the wooden bucket "plop" went into the water, and then, with a splash, a bucket of water rose up.
Meng Sheng also woke up and, seeing that Ming Jin was not in the room, came looking for her after hearing her voice. He also borrowed some water to wash himself.
The two of them didn't say much.
Hong Junyu passed away today.
The two packed their things and went around to the front yard. It was still quiet; there seemed to be no human voice.
Mingjin was somewhat at a loss, but Mengsheng wanted to check on Hong Junyu first, so he knocked on the door.
But there was no response.
The guard on duty also rushed over. He heard Meng Sheng knocking on the door and heard no response, so the two of them tacitly understood and each pushed open a door.
He changed his clothes, into his usual attire, but not the same as yesterday's. He propped up his pillow so his neatly combed hair wouldn't come undone. His eyes were closed, making him appear as if he were still asleep.
Meng Sheng and the cultivator immediately realized what was happening and knelt down beside Hong Junyu's bed, tears streaming down their faces.
Mingjin still didn't believe it. So she checked Hong Junyu's breathing and pulse, and all she got was silence.
Of all those in the know, she was the last to learn of Hung Chun-yu's death.
The others had already reserved time, so that everyone arrived within half an hour of the news spreading. Hong Junyu's note stated that in order to prevent the continuous summer rains, the body would only be kept in state for half a day, and the burial of his coffin would begin in the afternoon, with no extravagant arrangements.
Everyone had read the instructions several times, so when Su Huan saw the dark clouds churning in the sky, brewing a heavy rain, he led everyone to carry the coffin and set off for the burial.
Only a dozen or so people went together. Mingjin was at the back and heard some tears and sobs, but the sound that lingered in his ears the longest was the bell at the front of the group.
The sound was crisp yet melancholic.
Looking from a high vantage point in the distance, one can see a cluster of dark clouds shrouding the city, standing out starkly against the white backdrop.
As you descend from the heights, you arrive at the confluence of the three waterways, where a series of stone bridges stand.
The stone bridges were built gradually over the years by the cultivators who passed through, and because many of their own people frequently traveled through these areas, they spared no effort in constructing them. However, cultivators often only come here once, and the waterways frequently change, so now, many of the bridges appear to have only a pit underneath.
The old stone bridge in front of us is just like that.
An old man slowly walked across the bridge, followed by a water buffalo. The buffalo walked under the bridge, where the water usually accumulated and the grass grew more lush. It was chewing grass with a loud thud.
The old man's eyesight wasn't very good, but he still noticed a white figure wearing a straw hat walking towards him.
Aside from going into the city once or twice a year to buy things, he had spent his entire life in this area, and he had seen many people dressed in white. However, they were always in a hurry, and even if he struck up a conversation, they would leave in a rush after only a few words.
"Grandpa, where are you from?"
"Just finished herding the cattle, heading home," the old man said, lifting his straw hat and wiping a thin layer of sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "The water's risen up ahead; it must have rained heavily last night, and the water's overflowed along the lake. Where are you going? Take another route; it's difficult to walk ahead."
"Thank you for reminding me," Pang Ming said with a smile. "I'm here to survey the terrain. I'll take another look ahead and then head back."
“Then you must be from the government,” the old man said with a hint of surprise. “The road ahead is really bad, so you must be careful.”
"Thank you for your trouble. I'll just walk a few steps and come back."
The water buffalo had wandered off. The old man called out, and the buffalo slowly walked back to his side.
Be careful.
As he walked by, Pang Ming plucked a handful of grass from the roadside, fed it to the water buffalo as it passed, and then said goodbye to the old man before leaving.
There were indeed signs of rising water. I was walking on the road when I accidentally stepped into the tall grass next to me and got my foot in water.
He walked along the path and passed a stream and a stone bridge. He looked down to look at the water, but under the stone bridge, where the water flow was sluggish and silted up, he saw a large patch of black, round bones, each with several large holes, floating quietly on the water, waiting to meet the eyes of the downcast passerby.
At first glance, they looked frightening, but Pang Ming could tell that they were just withered lotus pods that had been neglected.
It seems there must be a large body of water nearby.
Suddenly, a low hum was heard, followed by a splash of water, and the eyes that had been looking around turned their attention to what was in front of them.
A deer leaped out of the water and stood opposite Pang Ming.
Its fur was covered with dark, mottled spots, making it exceptionally beautiful.
A pair of eyes were fixed on Pang Ming.
It wasn't afraid of the person in front of it. It shook off the water droplets and passed by Pang Ming with light footsteps.
Pang Ming didn't turn his head to look at it, treating it as a strange encounter. Then, based on the terrain he had just observed, he finally found a large body of water nearby.
This is a lake where nothing flows in or out, only interacting with rain and snow. The surface is empty; there are no lotus flowers or water lilies as Pang Ming had hoped for, not even a single drifting blade of grass. No reeds grow on the banks, and no water birds sing.
This patch of lake is backed by a low hill, and on the other side are sparse low trees. The grass on the ground grows so tall that it covers a person's instep, and at the slightest touch, round water droplets the size of beads follow and land on a person's clothes.
The water overflowed, and the grass near the bank was completely submerged.
The wind suddenly shifted. Pang Ming looked up and saw dark clouds rushing towards his head in the distance.
He remembered the old man's advice: today he only intended to examine this body of water. So, he conjured a water spell in his hand, and a drop of water transformed into a huge ring, which flew above the water's surface. From the outside in, the ring gradually filled in, forming a full moon, leaving a watery reflection on it.
However, an unexpected flash of red light, because Pang Ming was looking at the high ring, did not notice where it came from. It flew straight towards the newly closed garden, shattering it into water droplets that landed on the water's surface.
What's even stranger is that the falling water droplets didn't dissolve into the water. Instead, they rolled on the surface of the lake for a short while before suddenly turning into a wisp of steam and disappearing.
There is one left.
Pang Ming stood on the shore and saw a figure pushing himself up from underwater. It seemed the water was a higher point where he had been standing, and he was using his hands to pull himself up. After coming ashore, the figure didn't remember to stand up straight; instead, he curled up into a ball on the surface of the water, like a large, not-so-round, black bead.
The figure stretched out its palm and grasped the last remaining bead.
"That's really interesting."
Being quite far away, Pang Ming couldn't clearly see what was on the other side—it was a spirit or a ghost.
Before he could even process his own panic, he thought of asking for help, so he quickly sent out a message.
It seemed to be the figure speaking. The voice was somewhat delicate, not harsh, and had nothing to do with melancholy; it was probably a male ghost or spirit with a clear voice.
However, it is more likely to be a malevolent spirit.
The figure slowly rose, allowing Pang Ming to make out his appearance more clearly. From a distance, beneath the black robe was a crimson garment. A withered scalp covered his head, devoid of any hair or beard. There was some distance between them, but as Pang Ming took a step back, he suddenly felt he could see the ghost's eyebrows. The eyebrows were curved, with a smooth arc, yet not contrived, like the slightly upturned corners of his lips—both innate qualities.
Pang Ming saw him raise his arm, and then the water droplets from the shattered spell turned into mist.
Am I having bad luck lately?
As he spoke, the evil spirit stepped toward the shore.
"Why can't we even have a little peace and quiet?"
His eyes, with slightly upturned corners, exuded a cold aura.
What was striking was the difference in color between his eyes. His left eye was a chaotic amber, while his right eye was a clear chestnut. Perhaps it was because the evil spirit was different from humans, or perhaps it was due to unease in his heart, but Pang Ming felt that the colors in the evil spirit's eyes exceeded their sockets, overflowing.
How did you find your way here?
While everyone's attention was focused on the evil spirits on the water's surface, unexpectedly, another man dressed entirely in black appeared from behind Pang Ming. He looked Pang Ming up and down with a smile, waving a folding fan in his hand: "Feng Wu, calm down. When you get angry, the whole area gets hot. Look, this guest who has come from afar is covered in sweat."
The changing wind blew the sweat from Pang Ming's forehead, causing it to fall onto the leaves at his feet. The flowing air cooled Pang Ming's feverish head, allowing him to retreat, his body slightly stiff, to a place a little further away from both of them.
His best option right now is to run, but that's just his plan.
These two will definitely not let him off so easily.
How did you find your way here?
Ignoring the few steps Pang Ming took, the second ghost leaped in front of Pang Ming in one step, his smile flawless, the breeze from his fan lifting a wisp of hair from Pang Ming's temple amidst the sweat.
"I was just passing by."
Feng Wu was still standing on the water, making no sound, but there was movement, because Pang Ming also felt that the area was getting hotter and it was difficult to breathe.
The evil spirit before him was clearly dissatisfied with Pang Ming's answer, but he was even more displeased with the lingering heat of the flames that Feng Wu was recklessly radiating: "Wu Rang."
"Lord Gongsha."
He was also dressed in black, standing beside the evil spirit named Gongsha.
"Fan me."
The folding fan was tossed into the arms of the newcomer.
Upon learning that he had only been called over to fan him, Wu Rang put down the sword hilt he was gripping and instead fanned him from behind.
"Whether we're passing by or not, we both know the answer," Gongsha turned his attention back to Pang Ming. "I advise you to confess honestly, so you can at least have a whole corpse. Otherwise, if I take you back, your days as a human being will be over."
If Pang Ming were in a good mood, he would think Gong Sha was a slender and elegant man. But now, with a gentle tone but a sinister smile on his face, he was nothing more than a wicked little devil.
However, the three of them don't seem to get along well, so how did they end up together?
"I really don't know what you're talking about."
Still unable to find an opportunity to escape, Pang Ming could only feign ignorance. But if these three evil spirits were still willing to entangle with him, it meant they had seen through the formation of the evil spirit in the cave, which would be a huge loss for this group of evil spirits.
"Enough," Gong Sha said, a hint of impatience on his face. "Wu Rang, take him away."
"Lord Gao said..."
"Take him back," Gong Sha interrupted rudely. "We'll interrogate him about whatever Lord Gao wants to ask."
After saying that, Gong Sha still stood facing Pang Ming, his right hand on his shoulder, gesturing for Wu Rang to return the fan to him.
"What an annoying God..."
Helpless, Wu Rang could only offer Gong Sha's fan from behind his back with both hands.
The wind suddenly picked up.
As Wu Rang moved, he looked down and noticed a gust of wind passing by his feet.
Before his head was fully raised, a gun barrel pierced through his chest and entered his field of vision.
With a muffled thud, the fan fell to the ground.
Gong Sha, with his back to everything, saw the boy suddenly run away and felt dissatisfied. He hesitated because the fan was not yet in his hand. Just as he was about to question Wu Rang about what he was doing, he felt a chill down his spine and suddenly felt a gust of wind about to strike him from behind. So he immediately ran to the other side to escape and jumped far away in a few leaps.
The moment Gong Sha escaped, a streak of fiery red flew from the center of the lake, heading straight for the figure dragging the unconscious Wu Rang.
"Let go," came the unfamiliar face, but Feng Wu didn't care much, because their fate was only for a few seconds. "Otherwise, neither of you will be able to leave."
"It's still uncertain who will stay and who will leave."
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