The heavy rain came so suddenly and so fast.
“Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...”
“Swoosh, swoosh...”
It was as if a hole had opened in the heavens, the waters of the Milky Way cascading down from the collapsing sky. Countless lines of rain slammed against the earth along with the wind, producing a chaotic, rhythmic patter.
Once the rain started falling, the roads became even harder to traverse.
Rainwater mixed with yellow mud, snaring the steps—and seemingly the very souls—of travelers.
Across the vast, misty wilderness, beside the official highway, only a tiny foot-shop still lit two lanterns.
Those two beams of yellow light resembled the eyes of a wild beast in the pitch darkness, peering guardedly into the distance.
“Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump!”
“Innkeeper! Innkeeper! Are you still open for business?!”
Nan Zhi wiped the rainwater from her face and knocked on the tightly closed door.
“We are travelers caught in this heavy rain and hope to lodge here for the night! Please show us some kindness and let us stay!”
Before long, the shuffling sound of someone walking in shoes came from inside the shop.
“Where are you from?! In such heavy rain, how can a young lady be traveling all alone?”
A man's voice called out, full of hesitation, as he held up an oil lamp inside:
“Our place is full today, and we're closed for business. Go somewhere else!”
—It was a standard rule in running an inn: if a solitary woman sought lodging late at night, one had to consider it carefully.
After all, no one knew whether the person being let inside was human or ghost.
“Innkeeper, please don't misunderstand. I am not alone. I am returning home from visiting relatives with my sister, and we're heading to Shouzhou City to catch a boat. We also have two servants with us.”
Nan Zhi raised her voice and shouted loudly:
“The rain is heavy tonight, and we have nowhere else to go! If you have no guest rooms available, even giving us a woodshed so we can shelter from the rain and feed and water our horses would be greatly appreciated!”
“Creak—”
The person inside seemed to lower his guard. He unbolted the door and opened a small crack while holding up an oil lamp.
“This was originally a foot-shop, but my master bought it later on. We occasionally take in travelers passing by.”
He revealed half his face, sizing up Nan Zhi and her group from top to bottom.
The woman knocking on the door was somewhat sturdy with dark skin, thick eyebrows, and a dark complexion. She wore cyan silk robes, and the boots on her feet were refined and eye-catching.
Behind her stood two male servants. The older one was advanced in years, his back stooped, making it impossible to tell his exact age.
The younger one, however, had fair skin and delicate features, looking more like a scholar than an errand boy.
As for the “sister” the woman spoke of, even though she kept her face hidden behind her sleeve, one could still tell she possessed striking, alluring beauty.
No matter how one looked at it, this group appeared strange.
The man brought the oil lamp closer, and after getting a clear look, he curled his lips in slight disdain.
—What “young lady returning home from visiting relatives”?
She was clearly some wealthy family's concubine or young lady eloping with someone while running off with family property. Did she really think he couldn't tell?
However, the man did not voice his thoughts. He simply nodded at the woman who had spoken first:
“Lodging is fifty copper coins. Hot water and pancakes are twenty coins. Fodder for horses is extra, and if you want meat or wine, you'll have to pay in silver. It's very reasonable. Well? Staying or not?”
So expensive?
Nan Zhi sighed, but right now, she had no choice.
She couldn't very well leave the carriage sitting out on the road, could she?
The three humans and one ghost filed into the shop one after another. Nan Zhi tossed an ingot of silver into the man's arms and instructed:
“Give us two rooms, and prepare three servings of hot water and hot pancakes to be sent up once ready. As for wine and meat, it's cold tonight, so a drink to warm up would be nice. If you have good meat, slice two plates thin and send them to the room I'm sharing with my sister. As for them—”
Her gaze lingered on the master and servant of the Wang family for a moment before she added:
“Send them a pot of wine and brew some ginger soup for them as well. The cheapest kind will do.”
Hearing this, Manager Wang immediately shot her a grateful look. Pulling Young Master Wang along, he thanked her repeatedly:
“Thank you, Lady Nan... Lady Zhi! Thank you, thank you so much.”
—In such heavy rain, they were soaked with a chill from traveling. If they didn't take care of themselves and caught a cold, it could prove fatal.
“Uncle Li, it's just a bowl of ginger soup. Why must you...”
Young Master Wang, however, looked down on Manager Wang's obsequious attitude.
He was about to say something, but catching a sudden glimpse of Wanniang's half-smiling, half-glaring gaze, he swallowed his words back down. Smothering his anger, he muttered:
“Thank you for your kindness, Lady Zhi.”
The two before him—one human, one ghost—consisted of a demon suppressor who had stood by while his family suffered, driving him to a dead end;
and the culprit who had killed his biological father, bringing total ruin to his household.
Now, before his father's bones were even cold, he had to bow and scrape to the two enemies who slew his father, uttering pleasantries just for a bowl of ginger soup.
Wang Chen felt utterly humiliated, wishing he could end his own life right then and there so he wouldn't have to suffer such disgrace any longer.
With those thoughts in mind, a faint expression of humiliation washed over his face.
If someone who didn't know the truth saw him, they might genuinely take him for a filial, high-principled man of unyielding integrity.
Nan Zhi acted as if she noticed nothing.
All she cared about was getting these two to Kaifeng alive, whole, and with all their limbs intact.
Who cared whether he felt humiliated or aggrieved?
The shop assistant took in the subtle silent exchanges between the group, finding it both puzzling and amusing.
Once he had satisfied his curiosity, he went to the back courtyard to call someone to take the horses, lit the candles on the hall table, and cautioned the group:
“Our master went out to drink with friends and hasn't returned yet. Counting me, there are seven servants in total, all living in the lower rooms. If you need wine or late-night snacks during the night, just call for me. However, this shop has been open for a long time, so strange and peculiar things occasionally happen. If you hear any noises in the late night, just lock your doors, cover your heads with your blankets, and go to sleep.”
Nan Zhi raised an eyebrow and said pointedly:
“That's simple. I've never been afraid of ghosts or gods in my life. You go ahead and lock up to sleep; if there really is a commotion tonight, I'll come out and check it out for you.”
“You young lady, why speak such big words? You and your sister should head upstairs quickly and get a good rest!”
The servant waved his hand, assuming Nan Zhi was just joking.
“I checked the kitchen earlier; there's still half a piece of braised wild boar, a strip of boiled mutton, and a bowl of peanuts left. I'll have someone slice them up and bring them up in a bit. Remember, once you've eaten and drunk your fill, pull up the covers and sleep. Whatever you do, do not come downstairs.”
...
...
Nan Zhi and Wanniang took one room together, ordered hot water and ginger soup, and bathed and changed their clothes.
Before long, a young shop assistant came up to serve the meal:
“Ladies, your food is ready! Third Brother asked me to bring it up!”
Nan Zhi let him inside. By the light of the oil lamp, she noticed the boy delivering the food appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, but looked sharp and handsome.
“Thank you, young man. Here, take this to buy yourself some sweets.”
Nan Zhi slipped a few copper coins to the boy as a tip and took the opportunity to strike up a conversation:
“I heard them say earlier that this shop has a rule against going out at night?”
“It's not really a rule. It's just that our shop is so remote that foxes and wild cats often sneak in looking for food.”
Having received the coins, the young assistant grinned cheerfully and answered whatever Nan Zhi asked:
“If someone gets up in the middle of the night and bumps into those creatures, they're bound to get spooked. The shop owner was afraid of courting trouble, so he simply claimed the place was haunted at night. It's really just a story to scare folks!”
“Is that so?”
Nan Zhi nodded thoughtfully, though whether she actually believed it remained to be seen.
Rate on N.U.
