Chapter 156 — Night Investigation

The man in black standing at the door was none other than Mr. Ghost, the most mysterious figure in the Ghost King Sect. After Wild Wolf Daoist had been subdued by Ming Li, he had spent some time in the Ghost King Sect and had therefore seen the man a few times. Though he still knew very little of what sort of person Mr. Ghost truly was, he understood well enough that the man's status was no trifling matter and that he was in no way a figure to be mentioned in the same breath as himself.

To run into this man so suddenly in such a place—how could Wild Wolf Daoist not be startled? Zhou Yixuan and Xiaowan did not know the true identity of this mysterious man in black, but seeing the faint look of fear on Wild Wolf Daoist's face, they guessed that the man was likely no good sort, and could not help growing tense themselves.

Mr. Ghost had drifted in unexpectedly, and he too seemed not to have anticipated finding anyone in this remote and ill-omened place—and among them, someone who could recognize him. His body gave an involuntary shudder. After a moment he made out the three people in the room, and Wild Wolf Daoist in particular; at once Mr. Ghost composed himself. His gaze swept over Wild Wolf Daoist, then passed to Zhou Yixuan and Xiaowan, and finally returned to Wild Wolf. His voice was calm as he said, "You must be Wild Wolf Daoist."

In the past, Wild Wolf Daoist had seen this Mr. Ghost several times, always within the Ghost King Sect following behind Ming Li, glimpsing that mysterious black silhouette from afar. Today was the first time he had ever seen Mr. Ghost face to face at such close range. He had not expected that Mr. Ghost would actually recognize him, and could not suppress a shock in his heart. He choked for a moment before saying, "Yes."

Mr. Ghost said indifferently, "Were you not always in the company of Young Master Ming Li? Why have you suddenly come to a place like this—and who are these two?"

Wild Wolf Daoist had half a mind to retort, If you may come, why may I not? But the words died at his lips and he dared not speak them after all. He could only lower his voice and say, "I—I was separated from Ming Li. I will go look for him before long. These two are both my friends."

Mr. Ghost's tone was flat, as though he had not noticed at all how Wild Wolf Daoist had, deliberately or not, weighted the name "Ming Li" as he spoke. "Oh, I see. But you still have not said how you came to be here."

Wild Wolf Daoist was at a loss for words, unsure what best to say, but Zhou Yixuan had been watching this Mr. Ghost from the side for some time, and now he spoke up: "An old man such as myself has a kinsman's spirit tablet here. We came to pay our respects."

Mr. Ghost's gaze sharpened, and he looked past the three of them. Upon the offering table behind them there indeed stood a worn spirit tablet, inscribed with several characters: Spirit Tablet of My Beloved Son, Zhou Xingyun. Mr. Ghost nodded, then seemed to ponder a moment, his eyes flickering uncertainly behind the black veil. Slowly he said, "Since you have already paid your respects—this place is, after all, a house of the dead, a haunt of ghosts, and unfit for a long stay. You had best be on your way."

Wild Wolf Daoist turned to look at Zhou Yixuan and Xiaowan. In his heart he had not the slightest wish to linger beside such a ghostly, sinister figure, and from Mr. Ghost's words it seemed that, were it not for Ming Li's sake, the man might well have chosen to strike the three of them down. Even so, Wild Wolf Daoist was not sure whether Zhou Yixuan understood that this was a man who could not be crossed; and from what he had seen earlier, Zhou Yixuan's feelings for this son who had died young ran deep. To be so curtly ordered out now—who could say whether, given his usual temper, he might not fly into a furious cursing fit?

Sure enough, when Wild Wolf Daoist looked back, his heart sank at once. Zhou Yixuan was not yet saying anything, his face drawn tight as though turning something over in his mind, his gaze wandering strangely; but Xiaowan's lovely face had rarely shown so much anger, plainly furious at the black-robed man's words. Her mouth was already opening to answer back. Wild Wolf Daoist was thrown into a panic; in an instant a faint sweat broke out on his brow, and he cried inwardly, Disaster! As he stood there in dread, Zhou Yixuan suddenly stepped forward, placing himself in front of Xiaowan and blocking her. Xiaowan, her words already at her lips, gave a start and swallowed them: "You—why, Grandfather, what are you doing?"

Zhou Yixuan glanced at Mr. Ghost, who still stood at the doorway like a specter, and said mildly, "Nothing. We came this time only to look in on your father. Since we have already paid our respects, we had best be going. There is nothing more for us to do here in any case."

Xiaowan was taken aback and for a moment could find nothing to say, but Wild Wolf Daoist let out a long breath, and the heart that had leapt into his throat settled back into place. He hurried forward a step and said, "Yes, yes, we had best be going quickly."

Xiaowan was a clever sort, and by now she understood well enough that something was amiss. She pressed the matter no further and nodded. The three of them hastily gathered their things, and with Wild Wolf Daoist leading the way, made for the door. Mr. Ghost silently drew aside to let them pass, then drifted back into the darkness of the house of the dead, looking for all the world like a ghostly spirit.

The three hurried out of the room, and sunlight fell upon them once more. They had gone only a few steps when behind them the door moved of itself, without wind, giving out two faint and thoroughly unnerving moans, and slammed shut with a bang.

Only when they had put considerable distance between themselves and that mortuary, until the house was all but out of sight, did the three finally stop. Wild Wolf Daoist and Zhou Yixuan both let out a long breath at the same moment. Xiaowan glanced at the two of them and said with a frown, "What is the matter with you two? Why are you so frightened?"

Zhou Yixuan ignored her. He bowed his head in thought for a moment, then raised it and said to Wild Wolf Daoist, "I heard you call him Mr. Ghost just now. Who is this man?"

Wild Wolf Daoist hesitated, then said, "He is the most mysterious figure in the Ghost King Sect, something like an elder of the offering hall. When he does appear, it is always at the Ghost King's side. I do not know what manner of man he truly is, but he is certainly no ordinary person."

Zhou Yixuan's brows knit tightly and he fell silent. Xiaowan found it strange—she had seldom seen her grandfather ponder anything so gravely—and asked with curiosity, "Grandfather, what is it? Do you find this man strange as well?"

Zhou Yixuan nodded slowly, his tone slow and carefully weighed. "This man is truly no small matter; he is not to be underestimated. And just now, inside that ghost-haunted mortuary—did either of you notice what lay in the right-hand corner of the room, three feet from the wall?"

Xiaowan and Wild Wolf Daoist both started at this, and cast their minds back carefully. It was Xiaowan, being the more attentive, who said with a frown, "Grandfather, I remember there was nothing there but a few coffins lying every which way."

Zhou Yixuan gave a cold snort. "Quite right. It is the coffins."

Wild Wolf Daoist said in surprise, "What is strange about coffins? That place is a mortuary; naturally there are coffins."

Zhou Yixuan shot him a contemptuous look. "What would a worthless wretch like you know? The other coffins do not count, but one among them was different from the rest. It was not covered in dust as thick as the others, and it was laid out squarely on a north-south axis; moreover, its position marked the very place in that ghost-haunted ground where the yin energy was thickest of all."