Entering the Spirit Void 109. Flames Arise All Around

Master Da had already come upon hearing the noise and asked in confusion, “I personally prepared this poached chicken. The chicken was freshly slaughtered, and all the utensils were scalded with boiling water. It’s absolutely clean—there’s no way it could be poisoned.”

The shop owner pondered for a moment before saying, “I understand now. The problem isn’t in the kitchen. I was careless. I trusted that woman and her sister-in-law who claimed to be A-Mao’s cousin, sent to fill in for her work. I didn’t question her carefully and allowed her to stay in the shop. That girl might have intended to kill for gain. Fortunately, a customer saw through her; otherwise, the consequences would have been disastrous.”

The waiter said, “A-Mao might still be in danger.”

The owner instructed urgently, “Master Da, quickly slaughter two chickens—one to offer to the guests upstairs, the other I will take to the Earth God’s altar to pray for A-Mao’s safety.”

Master Da replied, “If not for divine protection today, none of us would have escaped blame. I will accompany you to pay extra respects to the Meat Bodhisattva.”

The owner hurried upstairs to explain to Gao Yunxiang and the others, asking for their forgiveness.

Gao Yunxiang said, “We don’t blame you. It’s best to quickly find your missing employee.”

The owner nodded, “Yes, I am sending people to look for her and praying to the Bodhisattva to protect A-Mao.”

Gao Yunxiang said, “Very well, attend to your matters. There is nothing wrong here.”

The owner bowed repeatedly to the four of them before withdrawing.

After the owner had gone, Gao Yunxiang said, “This whole affair started because of our siblings, yet the owner has come to apologize to us so humbly. I feel truly guilty.”

Meng Biyu sighed, “Evil people are truly hateful, while honest, kind folk suffer terribly. No matter what disaster strikes, all they know is to pray to the Bodhisattva.”

Gao Yunxiang sighed deeply, “Alas! What else can they do besides praying for spiritual peace?”

After dinner, everything on the land lay silent beneath the cloak of darkness. But for lawless men, darkness was the cloak that hid their misdeeds and marked the start of their deeds. Darkness was the shield for the wicked.

Gao Yunxiang knew that their enemies would not relent after the failed poisoning attempt. Once night fell, they would surely resort to even more ruthless measures, sparing no effort to ensure their demise.

Though weary, he dared not sleep. He sat on the bed, resting yet keenly listening for any sound outside.

Just past the third watch, faint footsteps were heard outside the door, along with the sound of brushwood being tossed to the ground.

The upstairs room was a separate house, set apart from the front shop by a courtyard enclosed by walls, isolated from the outside world. Footsteps and the sound of brushwood being thrown came from all around, even from the rooftop.

Gao Yunxiang shared a whisper with Li Hao, who was meditating to restore his spirit. His eyes glittered, clearly also aware of the sounds outside. “Third brother, I’m going down to investigate. Don’t act unless I call you.”

Li Hao wanted to suggest alerting their eldest sister and fourth sister, but could not speak. Writing was impossible in the dark, so he gestured towards the opposite room.

Gao Yunxiang whispered softly, “I will wake up eldest sister and fourth sister.” Then he slipped off the bed.

Moving the bedding aside, he peered underneath and discovered a hidden passage.

In the south, beds differ from those in the north. Northern beds are kangs—heated brick beds used to combat the cold winters by burning coal underneath at night to keep warm. Without this, one could not sleep from the chill.

Southern beds rest on two benches with wooden boards laid across. In winter, a layer of straw is placed atop the boards, with quilts over the straw, providing warmth; in summer, the straw is removed and a bamboo mat laid on the boards for cool comfort.

Gao Yunxiang crawled under the bed, pulled out the dagger taken from the disguised woman, and brushed away the dirt covering a wooden panel. He pried it open, releasing a musty odor so strong it made him dizzy. Hastily, he turned his head aside.

After a moment, he removed his clothes and entered the tunnel, lighting a firesteel to illuminate the way. The tunnel was wide; he returned to fetch a candle, then proceeded deeper, carefully feeling his way forward.

The passage was dry but heavy with mildew. It extended behind the house. There was nothing hidden inside.

At the tunnel’s end was another wooden panel covered with soil. He knocked on it; the thin layer of earth and wood could be lifted with effort.

After inspecting and clearing the area, he swiftly turned back, extinguished the candle, and went to Meng Biyu’s and Feng Jiezheng’s rooms, where he found them already alert. As he reached the door, they quietly opened it and stepped out.

Meng Biyu opened the door and suddenly saw a shadow standing outside. Startled, she whispered sharply, “Who’s there?”

Gao Yunxiang answered softly, “It’s me, eldest sister.”

Meng Biyu asked quietly, “Second brother is alert, good. What about third brother?”

Gao Yunxiang replied, “Third brother is inside. Don’t be nervous, come quietly with me.”

Meng Biyu said, “I noticed the enemy has prepared brushwood to burn us alive. Their hearts are truly cruel!”

Gao Yunxiang said, “Eldest sister, with me as your loyal strategist, their efforts will be in vain.”

Meng Biyu asked, “Where will we break out from?”

Gao Yunxiang replied, “A direct fight will exhaust us and is not worth it. When they set the fire, we’ll calmly slip out and catch them unprepared, wiping them out thoroughly so they know our strength.”

Meng Biyu asked, “What’s your plan, second brother?”

As they spoke, they reached Gao Yunxiang’s room. Li Hao, unable to contain himself, had gotten down from the bed and paced anxiously. Fortunately, the loud croaking of frogs outside masked his footsteps. The enemies likely thought all four of them were still asleep.

Seeing eldest sister and fourth sister enter with second brother, Li Hao’s anxiety turned to joy. He could not speak but smiled broadly.

By then, fires had been set around the house, accompanied by crackling sounds.

Gao Yunxiang said, “Fourth sister, quickly bring candles from your room.”

The tension was immense. Feng Jiezheng came over to ask more, but Gao Yunxiang had to turn away hurriedly to fetch the candles.

Gao Yunxiang lifted the bed boards. “We’ll escape through this tunnel—completely undetected, catching the enemy off guard and securing a decisive victory.” Leading the way down, he struck a flint to light his candle, then urged, “Fourth sister, light the candle you brought.”

Meng Biyu was surprised. “Second brother, how did you know this guest room had a tunnel?”

Gao Yunxiang said, “Robbers and bandits come from all over. The county government has barely any defense—only a few gatekeepers. The magistrate’s safety depends on city walls and the strength of the gathered populace.

Common folk live clustered together, united against small bands of bandits. But powerful bandits are hard to resist. To protect their lives and property, even moderately wealthy families commonly install secret wall compartments, tunnels, and cellars. So when I entered here, I was probing for underground secrets.”

Meng Biyu asked, puzzled, “Second brother, you’re a year younger than me, yet you know so much more!”

Gao Yunxiang said, “One must read widely. Books accumulate the wisdom of ancestors and inspire future generations. Also, stay attentive to current events and analyze them. Every matter holds lessons for us.” Suddenly, he exclaimed.

Meng Biyu and the others were momentarily at a loss, unable to guess what he had forgotten. Without a word, he hurried back to his room, leaving them staring in stunned silence as he disappeared into the night tunnel.

At that moment, heat surged within the house; the air grew thin and thick smoke seeped through the cracks, making breathing difficult.

Gao Yunxiang heard faint pleas for help at the tunnel entrance. He rushed in and carried under his arm a young woman whose acupoints had been sealed, rendering her immobile.

Feng Jiezheng, seeing her brother carrying someone, snapped, “Second brother, wouldn’t it be better to let that wicked woman burn? Why risk saving her?”

Gao Yunxiang smiled, “Everything in this world has its use if you know how to wield it—especially a fair-skinned, delicate, graceful beauty.”

Meng Biyu laughed at his wit. “Second brother, if you’re the reincarnation of Duke Huan of Qi who liked to eat human flesh, such a white-fleshed beauty would indeed be a fine delicacy.”

Gao Yunxiang shook his head. “Enough of that. Let’s go out and give them a thorough defeat.”

Among the four, Li Hao was the most restless, his pent-up words trapped inside, unable to write in the darkness. Hearing his brother’s call to fight, his frustration transformed into strength. He raised a palm and struck upward.

With a thunderous crash, a rush of fresh air poured into the tunnel, splattering mud and sand over them.

Yet this fresh air brought a wave of relief, lightening their bodies and invigorating their spirits.

Li Hao, with his face veiled, shook his body to brush off the mud, then peered out.

The blazing firelight illuminated the ground, revealing everything within several dozen feet.

A tall, bald monk in crimson robes, holding a gleaming golden staff, stood there shouting, “Ghost! Ghost!”

It turned out the tunnel’s exit was a graveyard, with a fake tombstone standing five or six paces from the house. Behind the house lay a desolate patch overgrown with wild grass.

The bald monk stood vigil at the tomb, when suddenly a loud explosion shattered the grave. The coffin burst open, and broken planks struck his bald head.

Fortunately, the monk had mastered supreme martial arts; even a mosquito’s touch would be met with a defensive force. Though he was uninjured by the coffin shards, he was terrified, his blood racing.

Recovering his composure, he opened his eyes to see through the dust two giant, flashing orbs like twin suns, their shapes indistinct—neither human, demon, nor beast.

Despite his unparalleled skill, the monk trembled with fear, thinking, “The corpses in this grave advance relentlessly, never retreating. I have never believed in ghosts, but tonight I have encountered a jiangshi—a hopping corpse. Could it be that my fate, Luo Mingyuan, is finally catching up with me?”