Lanpu

Kapitel 65

These water ghosts are not afraid of salt, and moonstone is expensive. I could no longer tolerate it, so I resorted to evil and heretical methods.

The traps the old demon taught me are incredibly useful; they can even trap karmic tides spanning over a dozen generations, let alone these few rotten ghosts. I'll just open the window and set the trap on the windowsill. I'm sure I'll have a bountiful harvest by dawn, like a cockroach trap teeming with cockroaches.

I sneered and lay down on the other bed next to Tang Chen, closing my eyes with a sense of peace.

But I couldn't turn over in bed in the middle of the night. In the darkness, I broke out in a cold sweat, and heard slow breathing beside me.

Sleep paralysis?!

Once I was more alert and my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I couldn't help but squint.

Tang Chen was holding my right arm, and Huang E was holding my left arm; both were fast asleep. I forcefully pulled my hands back, and they mumbled a few words in their sleep before falling asleep again, facing me.

"...Tang Chen, Tang Chen!" I shook him. "Can't you go back to your bed?!"

He waved his hand, as if shooing something away, without even opening his eyes.

I slumped off the bed, lay down on the empty bed, sighed, and closed my eyes.

But when it was dawn, Huang'e was resting on my stomach again, and Tang Chen buried his face in the crook of my neck, climbing over from the other bed to my side!

“…Are you kids?!” I slapped them awake. “Don’t use me as a pillow!”

They'd been staying at the guesthouse for two days and were really getting used to it. The abject wasteland was one thing, but Tang Chen insisted on climbing up to squeeze in, and when they scolded him, he just grinned like an idiot. They were furious.

I had a great time these past two days, but later I went back to Kenting by myself. The guesthouse owner called me and said that there was a cockroach trap on the windowsill of the room we stayed in that we couldn't lift, and it was making a lot of noise at night, scaring many guests half to death.

I chuckled awkwardly and obediently went back to pack. The old devil's trap was simple yet effective; later, I used cockroach traps as the source of my curse. As a result, I forgot to take them with me when I checked out, leading to these paranormal events.

That very day, I sent them to Wanying Temple and asked Wanying Gong to "discipline" them properly. They have a strong seniority system there, and I hope these "juniors" who are trying to take shortcuts and change course can get through it.

I'm really starting to resemble Shuo more and more. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

***

That summer, in the season when the phoenix flowers were in full bloom, we graduated.

Strangely, I didn't cry. Perhaps I cried bitterly a long time ago, so I can accept it calmly now.

It's time to move on.

Perhaps our fate isn't over yet, and we'll meet again around the next corner. The important thing is to keep moving forward. I smiled and waved to my classmates who were crying like Meng Jiangnu, and headed towards the bike shed.

I'm about to part ways with Tang Chen too.

But I didn't go back to Shuo's house that day. You know, jumping off a Harley at a terrifyingly high speed requires considerable skill and courage, and I had neither.

By the time he was willing to stop, we were almost in Taichung.

“…Tang Chen!” I yelled at him.

“This is kidnapping!” he laughed broadly. “I’m kidnapping you to travel around the island.”

"...I didn't say I was going to go around the island!" I exclaimed.

“That’s why I called it a kidnapping.” He leaned against the bathroom door and laughed. “Shuo has already sent your travel bag to Taichung. She even helped me pack it secretly. I’ve already told Uncle about it.”

"...You guys ganged up on me!" I was furious. "I need to find a job first! I still have interviews to do..."

This last semester, my dad didn't give me a single penny; I relied entirely on my savings from previous part-time jobs. A long semester and a "graduation trip" have left me with very little.

I need to find a job quickly.

“Oh, you’ll be worried about money your whole life.” Tang Chen took a deep breath. “Uncle, Shuo, and I hope that this summer you can spend it happily and carefree, like an ordinary girl.” He was silent for a moment, “…Leave it to me.”

I glared at him and stormed into the park's restroom. I lingered for a long time before coming out, because I was frantically washing my face so Tang Chen wouldn't see I was crying.

"How arrogant," Huang E teased me.

"What right do you have to speak, you arrogant bird king?!" I scolded her. "Why didn't you tell me sooner... I wasn't prepared at all..."

"I told you I definitely wouldn't agree, of course I'd act first and ask later!" Huang E retorted. "My uncle's word carries more weight than yours, who do you think you are?"

...Uncle?

"Xu Bai is Yun Lang's junior brother, and technically my uncle. Since both he and Shuo asked me not to say anything, then of course I..."

“…Huang E, this is the first time I’ve known you could be so shameless.”

"What did you say?! Do you want to die?!"

I think this was Tang Chen's first time entering the girls' restroom, right? It must have been a very special experience. He pulled the two of us out, laughing nonstop.

This is the shikigami whose arm I always bend outwards, and the confidante who kidnapped me to go island-hopping after graduation.

I'm feeling down.

(Graduation season over)

Part Six: Guarding

We spent twenty days circumnavigating the island.

The journey was quite pleasant overall, and everything was safe as long as the wheels were turning... well, of course, riding on a living, breathing weapon of death. The downside was that when we checked into hotels at night, it became the time for angry complaints from the monsters and dead of this strange land. The abhorrent was fierce, but I desperately bowed my head and apologized.

Finally, I added three bells to the murder weapon... I mean, the Harley, and the "Legend of the Demonic Murder Weapon" spread, and things improved a bit.

The reason I spend so much time is not because I'm busy fighting monsters or killing people, but because although my health is better, my physical strength is still weak. So when we see a place with beautiful scenery and quiet elegance, we tend to stay for a few more days, and sometimes we even go camping.

According to Huang'e, it was because the news of my killing of Ye Chao and beating up the water ghost spread that all the demons and ghosts ran around telling each other that it wasn't just the "Golden-Winged Roc King, the Heavenly Queen" who was powerful, but also the host, the chief shaman, who should not be underestimated.

Actually, this is a complete misunderstanding. The Karmic Tide was dealt with by Tang Chen's primordial spirit and Huang E working together, and the Water Ghost was dealt with through the Old Demon's trap. Me? What can I do? I can't do anything. (Covering face)

But such misunderstandings make outsiders wary, so they just let this paper tiger go, saving themselves the trouble.

Returning from my trip has eased my sorrow of separation. I am truly grateful to Shuo, Uncle Shi… especially Tang Chen for their thoughtfulness, but I feel unworthy of it and don't know how to repay them in the future.

"I can't stand you anymore," Huang E said disdainfully. "Why do you always want something in return? Is this a business transaction? You're crazy!"

"A small act of kindness received should be repaid with a great one."

"Screw you! You nagging old hag!" Huang E flared up. "We've been together day and night, and you've even slept in Tang Chen's arms. How many years are you planning to keep dragging this out? I'm about to break down. It's infuriating to watch!"

"You all just use me as a pillow, don't you?" I retorted angrily. "There's another bed available, why do you all have to squeeze onto me? I can't even turn over in bed until my back aches, and you still dare to complain?!"

We'd start fighting at the slightest disagreement. This had almost become our new way of getting along. When I pinched her cheeks and she pulled my hair, I felt completely that this was an unfortunate and ill-fated relationship.

"Let her go..." Tang Chen supported me, his laughter shaking. "Weren't you going to an interview? Why are you fighting?"

"It was I who spared her!" Huang E shouted unhappily.

"Yes, yes," he coaxed, "Aren't you going to have dinner with Uncle Yuntao? He rarely gets a holiday and comes back."

"Oh right, I completely forgot." She completely shifted her attention, leaving me behind to apply a face mask.

A feeling of sorrow welled up within me for this naive, almost single-celled bird. "...Shouldn't it be dinnertime? It's eight in the morning."

"Shh..." Tang Chen chuckled and nudged me, "You're going to be late for your interview."

After returning from his trip, Tang Chen didn't go back to Taipei immediately. I knew he was very worried and insisted on knowing where I was working. So I let him accompany me to job interviews, but the economy was really bad, and there were almost no suitable jobs in this rural area.

Today I'm having an interview at a Mazu temple in Taichung County, near the mountains, for a position as an administrative accountant. Although I don't really understand what that entails, it's rare to find something related to religion, and it even has the word "accountant" in it, so I tried submitting my resume, and they actually called me for an interview.

It was a very ancient Mazu temple, said to date back to the Qing Dynasty, and already listed as a historical site. Unlike the most popular ornate and colorful temples in Taiwan, perhaps because of its antiquity and the fact that most of its worshippers are residents of several villages in the mountains, the temple had limited assets and only underwent regular repairs without any major expansions. (Note)

The incense isn't very strong, but there are quite a few people coming to appreciate the historical sites.

The interview was very short; there was only one old temple keeper in the temple. And he really was old—his wrinkles could trap flies, his goatee was sparse, he was hunched over, and he looked at me for several minutes wearing reading glasses without saying a word.

I felt a chill run down my spine, but I didn't dare to speak first.

He finally spoke, in a pleasant Hokkien accent, "What is the surname of the gentleman who accompanied you here?"

This is a really strange question. Before I could even speak, Tang Chen said very politely, "Sir, my surname is Tang, Tang Chen."

The old temple keeper nodded, revealing a kind smile. "Come to work next week, Miss Lin. Wait a moment, I'll take you to the ancestral hall in front; that's for worshippers to stay in. Pick a room and settle in."

Huh?! I got accepted?

"The salary is only 20,000," the old temple keeper coughed, "but room and board are included. It's only Mazu's wish that you, a young man, suffer such hardship, so please accept it."

At that time, I didn't quite understand. Later, I learned that the old temple keeper was old and had many illnesses, so he couldn't do many of the temple's odd jobs. Although the temple was small, there were still some accounts to be handled, and they originally wanted to find a younger person to help. Even though the young person wouldn't stay long, it would allow him to rest a bit.

That night, he and several other incense burners dreamed of Mazu, who asked them to place an advertisement to recruit a girl named "Xiangfeng" to accompany Tang Shanshi.

Several elders discussed it, feeling astonished. But since Mazu had spoken, they went to place an advertisement, puzzled.

I didn't expect to see you here; it really was brought by the young man surnamed Tang.

…I never imagined that my job would be found by the Holy Empress.

I am truly flattered.

---Note: In fact, both this Mazu Temple and Lianhu University are fabricated and do not exist. This is hereby clarified.

After that, I moved to Yong'an Village and began my life as a "business accountant".

When we moved, Shuo didn't seem reluctant at all; he just straightened my collar. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't get the words out.

I had just gone up the mountain to say goodbye to the old man when he finally broke down in tears, which made me feel terrible. He cried and cursed for a long time, saying that mortals who carry these ghostly burdens suffer the loss of life, but he had taken on this burden for me.

I had just walked down the mountain in tears when I was about to face the scene of parting from Shuo. I was afraid that I would cry my eyes out.

"Aren't we going to meet again?" Shuo laughed easily. "Our fate isn't over yet; there will be plenty of time for us to meet again. But I should let go and let you go on your own path."

She didn't say goodbye, and neither did I. I just hugged her, and she affectionately stroked my hair.

"Fly, my wind."

I kowtowed to her and left my teacher in tears.

Tang Chen didn't accompany me to my new post. I don't know whether to call it bad luck or good luck. He had only graduated from university a few months ago when he received his conscription notice.

In the end, I went alone, carrying my desolation, to a place where I knew no one, to live and work.

At that time, I never imagined that I would never leave Yong'an Village again and would take root there.

***

It is extremely painful for me to suddenly have someone I've spent so much time with removed from my life.

When Tang Chen left my side, it felt like my heart and liver had been ripped out. For a long time, I couldn't walk properly, just as badly as when Huang E left me to cultivate.

You think Huang'e will comfort me? Dream on. She exclaimed, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Let you suffer more, maybe you'll come to your senses sooner!" Then she busied herself with conquering new territories and establishing her dominance, leaving me to silently shed tears before the ancient lamp and Buddhist scriptures.

But you can't just cry all the time when you come to work. This little Mazu temple, however, has really given me a frustrating experience. Officially, I'm the administrative accountant, but the old temple keeper is in his eighties or nineties, plagued by illness and pain. He told me the day before that he'd only come once every three to five days. If I didn't cause any trouble, sometimes he wouldn't show up for an entire month.

Fortunately, there were elderly women who volunteered, which gave me time off and allowed me to have two days off per week.