“I think Changshengzi means well,” Song Wentong said as he stir-fried vegetables in the small kitchen. The flames leaped high beneath the wok. “Although that fellow isn’t very pleasant to listen to, everything he said was true.”
Mu Geshen was lying on the roof. “Mm, I could tell.”
“So what are you planning to do?”
“I’m hungry.” Mu Geshen poked his head out through the window. “How can a meeting possibly go on for so long? What are we eating?”
Song Wentong flipped his spatula toward him. Mu Geshen dodged it with a quick sidestep.
“I can smell it. Beef brisket hot pot. Remember to go easy on the chili.”
The gathering continued until the afternoon. Everyone had only just dispersed. Mu Geshen had never expected the meeting to last so long. He was so hungry that his stomach was practically touching his back. He sprawled on the rooftop to enjoy the cool air, with the lush branches of the ginkgo tree spreading overhead.
“Now this is comfortable.” He sighed nostalgically. “How many years has it been since I last climbed onto a roof?”
“You were just spouting all kinds of grand words in the waterside pavilion,” Song Wentong snorted. “And now you’ve already shown your true colors after barely an hour.”
“I’m just waiting for you to cook. A rare chance to steal half a day of leisure.” Mu Geshen said, “This is my last meal here for a while. After this, I’ll have to stay at the military camp. There are too many things to take care of. I’m probably not going to see you for quite some time.”
“If you want to eat something, just send someone to Yeshui Zhuhua and tell them.”
“Great. Do I have to pay?”
“Are you looking for a beating or what?!”
Song Wentong’s furious shout rang out from a long way off.
Wu Zixu, who was just about to push open the door and enter, jumped in fright.
“What did Fourth Brother do to you this time?”
“Third Brother, you’ve come at just the right time!” Mu Geshen’s face lit up with delight. “This won’t be enough food. Tell Second Brother to make some more dishes.”
Before he had even finished speaking, Song Wentong flicked a chopstick backward. It skimmed past Wu Zixu’s ear and embedded itself in the door.
“You can come here if you want, but why did you bring a little shadow trailing behind you?”
A person emerged from behind the door and bowed respectfully.
“Mozi truly has eyes that see everything.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask since you arrived.” Song Wentong continued cutting vegetables. “This is a matter concerning the Seven Families. It’s one thing for Wu Nie to come, but what business do you, the Judge of Fengdu, have here? Have you been dead for too long and gotten tired of living?”
A man stood at the entrance, holding a black umbrella. He wore blue robes and had a pale face. It was none other than Cui Ziyu, the Judge of the Yin Law Division.
“This subordinate had no intention of offending anyone.” Cui Ziyu spoke in an exaggerated, theatrical drawl, his voice high and shrill. “As for the circumstances behind this matter, I ask that everyone allow me to explain them one by one.”
“Cut the nonsense. I’ve already spent the entire morning listening to people talk rubbish.” Song Wentong took the beef that had been soaking in water and slapped it onto the chopping board. “If you dare come here and tell stories, I won’t mind using you as a drinking snack.”
The people of Ginkgo Studio had always had ties with the Yin Law Division. Back then, when Song Wentong and Mu Geshen first caused a huge commotion in Fengdu, they had received their punishment at the Yin Law Division.
That was when everyone first met Cui Ziyu.
At the time, the Judge had held a list of their offenses and recited each charge one by one in court. His drawn-out theatrical speech was even more exaggerated than it was now.
Mu Geshen had nearly fallen asleep listening to him, while Song Wentong had grown increasingly irritated. He had eventually grabbed his saber, gone up, and beaten the man up. After that, he personally recited the entire list of charges in one breath before going downstairs to receive his punishment.
Back then, assaulting a Judge in open court should have resulted in an additional charge. However, Cui Ziyu simply turned a blind eye and quietly swept the matter under the rug.
It was also after that incident that the Judge’s peculiar way of speaking finally improved somewhat. Although he could still make people want to die of boredom, at least he no longer needed half a day just to read out a list of charges.
Mu Geshen jumped down from the eaves and snatched a braised chicken foot from the kitchen counter.
“May I ask what brings you here, Lord Cui?”
“Greetings, Young Master Mu.” Cui Ziyu bowed respectfully. “This subordinate has come today to request a divination.”
The moment Song Wentong heard this, he flew into a rage.
“Are you looking to die?”
“Third Brother, keep Second Brother under control.” Mu Geshen waved his hand, then turned to Cui Ziyu with a smile. “Lord Cui, you witnessed what happened this morning. I have no intention of inheriting the position of Tian Suanzi. I’m nothing more than an unworthy disciple of my Master’s. If you ask me to perform a divination now, it’ll put everyone in an awkward position.”
Although he said that, Mu Geshen was repeatedly turning the matter over in his mind.
Cui Ziyu couldn’t possibly have failed to understand the reasoning he had explained earlier. Yet despite that, he had still come personally to request a divination. This meant that what he was seeking must be no trivial matter.
Furthermore, Cui Ziyu had been brought here by Third Brother, which proved that this matter was related to Fengdu. The Wu Family was also involved.
Fengdu had no shortage of capable and unusual people, yet the Judge had gone to such lengths to personally venture into the mortal world and seek someone out.
There were now only two people left in the Tian Suanzi lineage. His Senior Brother was staying at Penglai and could not leave the mountain. That left only him.
What exactly could have happened that required the Tian Suanzi lineage to cast a divination?
Mu Geshen’s thoughts raced. He heard Cui Ziyu speak.
“Does Young Master Mu know of Fengdu City’s West Pass?”
The West Pass of the City.
The Land of Avici. The Ghost Soldiers emerging from the pass.
The name carried such weight that even Cui Ziyu abandoned his usual sing-song manner when he spoke it, his tone turning solemn.
Mu Geshen thought to himself: Do I ever know it? I’ve done things there that would scare you half to death if I told you.
Even Song Wentong paused.
“What happened at the West Pass?”
“Since you know of the West Pass, I presume you also know what lies within the Land of Avici,” Cui Ziyu said. “Whenever chaos descends upon the world, the Ghost Soldiers emerge from the pass. In recent years, the world has fallen into turmoil, and the Earth’s ley lines have become unstable. The Ghost Soldiers within the West Pass have been showing signs of unrest with increasing frequency. I’m afraid something major is about to happen inside the pass.”
Mu Geshen asked, “And?”
“If something happens inside the West Pass, it will directly affect Fengdu and even the ley lines of China. The Ten Kings of Hell have already begun making preparations. However, Heaven’s will is difficult to predict, so this subordinate has been sent to request a divination from Young Master Mu, to calculate when the Ghost Soldiers will emerge from the pass next.”
“If something is happening inside the pass, then the Kings of Hell should send people to suppress it as soon as possible,” Song Wentong said. “Why bother calculating when the Ghost Soldiers will emerge?”
“If the Ghost Soldiers do not emerge from the pass, even the Kings of Hell cannot forcibly awaken them and suppress them. Conversely, even if all Ten Kings of Hell take action, there is no guarantee of certain success. Should the Ghost Soldiers go berserk, Fengdu itself could even be endangered.”
Cui Ziyu bowed deeply.
“At this critical juncture, where life and death hang in the balance, every additional bit of preparation increases our chances of success. I humbly ask Young Master Mu to take pity on us.”
Mu Geshen pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.
“Lord Cui, the divination you’re requesting this time is no ordinary one.”
“This subordinate understands.”
“Back then, Second Brother and I were young and reckless. Ginkgo Studio still owes you a favor.” Mu Geshen sighed. “Dynasties have risen and fallen before, and the world has descended into chaos more than once. But I’ve never heard of the West Pass showing any signs of unrest because of it, nor have I ever heard of Fengdu facing such a crisis.”
“Young Master Mu,” Cui Ziyu said, “such an extraordinary upheaval has never occurred in the history of China either.”
Mu Geshen fell silent for a moment before slowly replying, “Indeed.”
“The world has long since gone beyond a simple change of dynasties.”
A moment later, Cui Ziyu bowed in gratitude and vanished on the spot.
The three of them each held a bowl and squatted on the steps to eat.
Song Wentong ate very quickly. Before long, he returned to the kitchen to get another serving, then came out with a pot of tea.
“What you’ve done is just asking for trouble.”
“Since things have come to this, Second Brother, why don’t you say something useful instead?” Mu Geshen pushed all the vegetables into Wu Zixu’s bowl and exchanged them for the meat in his bowl. “I still need to find out where Master put the Shanguí flower coins. I didn’t take them with me when I went abroad back then. I left them all with Master. Though, actually, it would be best if I couldn’t find them. That way, they wouldn’t have anything they could use against me.”
“Stop entertaining that kind of idea.” Wu Zixu said, “Master entrusted the Shanguí flower coins to the abbot of Baishui Temple for safekeeping. All Seven Families know about this.”
Mu Geshen was dumbfounded.
“Damn it! How come I didn’t know?”
Song Wentong sneered. “You don’t intend to accept the position of Tian Suanzi, so how can you still call yourself one of the Seven Families?”
“I’m not even one of the Seven Families, yet I still have to do their work.” Mu Geshen shook his head repeatedly, baring his teeth in frustration. “Every last one of them belongs to the exploiting class—Second Brother, did you dump the entire jar of chili into the pot? Why the hell is it so spicy?”
“Serves you right if you burn your mouth. Eat it or don’t.”
“If it’s not spicy, why are you drinking tea?”
As the two argued, they began poking each other with their chopsticks.
Caught between them, Wu Zixu said helplessly, “You’re both grown men already. Why do you still act like children whenever you eat? Do I have to babysit you two?”
Mu Geshen held out his bowl toward him.
“Then, Third Brother, tell me. Is it spicy or not?”
Wu Zixu replied, “We were all listening to Judge Cui just now. It’s possible Second Brother wasn’t paying attention and accidentally shook too much chili into the pot…”
Song Wentong immediately slapped his chopsticks down.
“Then stop eating.”
Wu Zixu instantly switched sides.
“It’s not spicy.”
“Seriously? Seriously?” Mu Geshen began shouting. “Second Brother, is this how Yeshui Zhuhua conducts business? Have you thrown your conscience to the dogs?”
Wu Zixu asked, “Does he even have one?”
Song Wentong replied, “I fed it to you!”
The three of them were on the verge of another argument when the courtyard gate was pushed open once again.
“Excuse me for disturbing you.”
It was Chai Shuxin.
“The abbot of Baishui Temple would like Young Master Mu to visit his meditation room.”
“It’s the middle of winter already. You still haven’t left?”
Chai Shuxin showed little expression.
“I just finished a game of chess with the abbot.”
“Then you haven’t eaten yet?” Mu Geshen stood up and pointed behind him. “Second Brother made beef brisket. Want to join us?”
Wu Zixu nodded in agreement.
“That’s perfect. It’s been a long time since the four of us last had a meal together.”
“Why the hell didn’t you say so earlier?”
Song Wentong kicked Mu Geshen.
“That was the last bowl. There’s none left.”
“There’s such a huge pot! How can it be gone already?” Mu Geshen stared at him in disbelief. “Second Brother, how many bowls did you eat?”
“It’s my cooking. What the hell do you have to complain about?”
“I counted.” Wu Zixu raised his hand. “Six bowls.”
He was immediately shoved face-first into his bowl with a slap.
“Second Brother, thank goodness you’re good-looking. Otherwise, with an appetite like yours, you’d never find anyone willing to marry you.” Mu Geshen clicked his tongue in amazement.
He swiftly dodged the chopsticks Song Wentong threw at him, then found himself in a dilemma.
He had been the one to invite Chai Shuxin to stay. The man didn’t look like he intended to leave either. But what could he offer him? Should he go into the kitchen and cook something himself?
Chai Shuxin seemed to have read his thoughts.
“There’s no need to trouble yourself.”
“Fourth Brother, you had three bowls yourself, didn’t you? How dare you criticize me?” Song Wentong was still shouting.
That reminded Mu Geshen.
“This is a bowl I just served myself. I haven’t eaten it yet. Why don’t you try it?”
He shoved the bowl and chopsticks in his hands toward Chai Shuxin.
“It’s Second Brother’s beef brisket hot pot. It tastes pretty good.”
Song Wentong immediately fell silent and shot Wu Zixu a meaningful glance.
Is this guy crazy?
Wu Zixu also looked rather surprised.
Although they had all known one another since their youth and shared a bond far deeper than ordinary friendships, the three of them often stole food from one another’s bowls. But this was Chai Shuxin.
People from the Medicine Family had always been particular about cleanliness. Back when Chai Shuxin had stayed at Ginkgo Studio for a month, compared to his room, the rooms of the three of them had practically looked like dog kennels.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Chai Shuxin calmly accepted Mu Geshen’s bowl and began eating.
The courtyard fell so silent that one could hear a pin drop.
Everyone watched as Chai Shuxin finished the entire bowl of rice.
Mu Geshen was also somewhat stunned. He had genuinely intended to tease him at first, but things had gone so smoothly that the outcome was completely beyond his expectations.
Chai Shuxin handed the bowl back to Mu Geshen. He was just about to speak when he suddenly began coughing.
Wu Zixu immediately turned his head.
“Fourth Brother, are you messing with someone again?”
“Huh?”
Wu Zixu pointed at Chai Shuxin, who was coughing nonstop.
“Did you put something in his food?”
“What kind of joke is that? Do you really think I’m that kind of person?”
“Aren’t you?”
Chai Shuxin waved his hand, struggling to steady his breathing. Then he asked in a low voice, “Do you have any tea?”
Wu Zixu froze.
“Tea?”
“It’s too spicy.”
Song Wentong: “…”
Mu Geshen’s triumphant laughter rang out throughout the courtyard.