Famine

Chapter 29

I wonder how long Uncle's city walls can hold out.

Shuo walked out gracefully, and her uncle watched her figure. "Hei Yue is a learned and wise woman. You are very lucky to be staying with her."

"...She's also a very charming woman." I picked up my teacup listlessly.

"Yes," Uncle Shi readily admitted.

Speechless, I could only lower my head and drink my tea.

He glanced at me and wiped his nose. "When we first met, I didn't know you were so sharp. At the time, I just thought you had a strong demonic aura, and that Xiao Chen shouldn't get too close to someone like you."

“I think so too.” I nodded obediently.

“But first impressions are never accurate,” Uncle said gently. “When Xiao Chen was first born, I didn’t like him very much either.”

My eyes widened.

Uncle Shi, Tang Chen's parents, and Yu Zheng's parents were all university classmates and had a very good relationship. He had a remarkable experience at a young age and became a monk at the age of twenty, but he still continued his studies. Yu Zheng's father came from a peculiar family, while only Tang Chen's parents were ordinary people.

After graduation, they went their separate ways. But by a twist of fate, after they all got married, Tang Chen's parents and Yu Zheng's parents worked for the same company and even bought houses across the street from each other. Uncle Shi often visited their two families, and their relationship was just as warm and close as it had been during their university days.

“Yu Zheng and Tang Chen are only one day apart in birthdays, Yu Zheng’s is a little earlier,” Uncle said. “Their family lineage can be traced back to King Yu, and they still bear the surname Xia. Although their family tradition has declined, they are an ancient family that predates Taoism by a long time. Xia Tao’s talent is already astonishing, but I never expected his daughter to be so capable… I was too young then, and I was only happy that the Xia family had a successor, so I gave her a name that sounded even more auspicious for exorcising evil spirits…”

He gently shook his head. "Yu Zheng has too strong a personality. Although I sealed the Heavenly Eye long ago, I still couldn't completely close it. Fortunately, Hei Yue made a move, otherwise there would definitely be bloodshed in the future... Let's not talk about that for now."

…Don't even mention it, just hearing that part is enough to send chills down my spine. I've fought her several times and managed to escape unscathed; I'm truly blessed.

"When Xiao Chen was born, the room was filled with a sweet fragrance, and his parents were overjoyed... But I don't see it that way. His fate is too extraordinary, destined to harm his father and mother, and destroy all his relatives. If not a demon, then a celestial being. At the time, I considered whether to eliminate him completely..."

My palms were sweating, and I cried out, "But he doesn't know anything!"

Uncle chuckled lightly, “Isn’t that right? He doesn’t know anything. Killing an infant is not something I should do... but I can’t rest easy with a scourge in my close friend’s family. I was the one who named him; I only wanted to suppress evil spirits back then.”

But every year during his visits, seeing Tang Chen grow up bearing misfortune year after year, yet his heart remained so pure and kind, this monk was deeply moved and couldn't help but feel pity for this innocent child. That's why he intervened in everything, trying to find ways to ensure his safe growth.

“When he was in kindergarten, he once came home crying, carrying a bloody, mangled thing. Yu Zheng came back and told him that Xiao Chen had picked up something dirty and disgusting. Xiao Chen said that the puppy was pitiful because it was hit by a car, and although he was scared, he still wanted to bury it properly and wanted to come back to find a shovel.”

Uncle gave a bitter smile. "...This isn't the first time, and it certainly won't be the last. But what can you do with a child like this? What else can you do besides try everything to keep him alive?"

…Yes, this is the Tang Chen I know. I smiled and wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes. So naive, such a kind-hearted naiveté.

But what can you do with him?

“Uncle, why don’t you let him go to Tsinghua University?” I paused. “It’s really unfair to him at our school. If he goes to Tsinghua, the lioness… I mean, Yuzheng will take good care of him.”

“I’ve never approved of their relationship,” Uncle Shi shook his head. “But Yu Zheng is too strong-willed, and I couldn’t force him to stop it… Whether or not he should become a monk is up to Xiao Chen. But I’ve never approved of talking about renunciation without being involved in worldly affairs. If he goes to Tsinghua University, he probably won’t even last the first semester…”

I only vaguely understood what I was hearing, but the phrase "entering the Buddhist order" really stung. "Tang Chen doesn't need to enter any Buddhist order at all," I said, a little defiantly. "His level is far higher than those who enter Buddhist orders, why would he need to?"

Uncle was stunned for a moment, “…You are indeed very sharp.”

Huh? I'm completely baffled.

On the fourth day, my uncle came to say goodbye.

"Although I wanted to stay a few more days, and things seemed peaceful in Tainan... but after being away for so long, I couldn't help but feel restless." He casually handed me a talisman, and Huang E screamed and disappeared without a trace.

I looked in astonishment at the direction Huang'e had fled, and then at my uncle.

He suppressed a laugh, "If the root of the disease is well-behaved, fine; if it's not, use this to treat her."

I couldn't help but laugh. "What in Tainan is there that warrants such suppression?" I asked casually.

"They're nothing but demons and monsters." He didn't answer me directly. "Don't worry, I can handle it. I just can't leave for too long."

I bet the hairs on my body stood on end. Other people might be fine going, but Tang Chen and I should definitely avoid it. Uncle Shi is so powerful, yet he still has to suppress everyone there every day… are we going there to our deaths?!

"Don't worry, I'm here." My uncle seemed to read my mind. "It's fine for you to come and visit occasionally."

I don't want to be "played" "occasionally"!

"Keep at least one of the peach wood sword and compass I gave you with you," he instructed. "If anyone makes things difficult for you, take them out and say that you are a disciple of Layman Xu Bai of the Rende Hall of the Lingbao School, and tell him to speak to me."

I opened my mouth, but couldn't make a sound for a while. "...No, this isn't good! Uncle, I, I, I...I can't...and you don't either..." Even Shuo was shocked.

I know he loves Tang Chen very much, but he doesn't need to go to this extent.

"Who cares?" He chuckled softly. "Ordinary little demons and monsters, and third-rate exorcists, can all deal with your ailment. If you stay here, under the protection of the local deities, it won't be a big deal. But you won't stay here forever. If you encounter my sect, things will get tricky. My master has taken in four disciples, and the other three senior brothers and sisters have also taken in disciples. Let them come to me with their problems."

"Su Bai, you're interfering too much." Shuo shook his head disapprovingly.

"That's just my personality, there's nothing I can do about it, Black Moon." Uncle Shi smiled frankly.

I stood there stunned for a long, long time, and said goodbye to him in a daze. I stood at the door for a long time, but I could no longer see my uncle's figure.

"How annoying, I didn't give them a single gift, but I gave you a big one." Shuo muttered to himself.

I stared blankly up at Shuo.

“It’s a very precious gift, a grand one called ‘compassion’.” She narrowed one eye. “Maybe it will love you even more than Tang Chen does. That’s fine too.” She smiled mysteriously.

"...Shuo, stop bullying Uncle Shi. He's a monk." I begged for mercy.

"Tsk, we don't know who's bullying whom yet." She hummed a song in a good mood and went back to fiddling with her bottles and jars.

I groggily took the talisman upstairs, while Huang E was still cursing. I found a book, clipped it inside, stuffed it into the wardrobe drawer, and closed it.

"You damned old man, you stinking old man! No wonder he'll never have a wife!" Huang'e cursed desperately, "He actually let that thing of yours subdue me..."

"I won't use it against you."

“I knew you’d wanted to for a long time… huh?” She was stunned.

I clutched my chest, and with the most exaggerated and sincere expression, I said to her, "You are my only one, how could I bear to..."

"Ugh!" Huang E vomited as he fled. "Just give me that talisman! I'd rather be subdued by it... Oh my god!"

They were laughing loudly behind her back, and for some reason, I started crying. Ugh, how annoying. She's so old, and she's only just become a crybaby.

But... a wish I always thought was impossible has been fulfilled, little by little, in another way. Besides crying, I really don't know how else to express it.

However, I always thought "tears of joy" was just an idiom, but I never thought I would actually experience it.

***

The winter vacation that my uncle visited became my happiest winter vacation.

I'm always happy to reply to my uncle's letters now, even though they get longer and longer, and my hand aches. He's an old-fashioned man; he writes in beautiful regular script, and with a brush. Using a brush would kill me faster; writing with a ballpoint pen is already exhausting enough.

The winter break passed smoothly and uneventfully. But with school about to start, Tang Chen still hadn't returned. I was a little puzzled, and although I was afraid of being torn to pieces by the lioness, I still tried calling him on his cell phone.

But his phone was off.

I started to get a little scared.

I was filled with anxiety for several days until the night before school started, when, amidst a stormy night, I heard someone knocking on the door of the coffee shop.

Could it be Tang Chen? He has a key, so why would he knock?

"Tang Chen is back!" Huang E said, but his expression was a little frightened. "But he seems... to be missing something."

I threw off the covers and rushed downstairs, where I saw Shuo had also come down. My hands trembled as I opened the door, and sure enough, it was Tang Chen.

The examination was tense, but he was fully recovered and no one seemed to be missing anything.

He smiled slightly and said, "Hengzhi, I'm back." Then he suddenly collapsed, so heavy that I could barely hold him.

He was burning with fever. Perhaps it was because we were so close and he wasn't on guard, but I felt like his "heart" was filled with pus. "Tang Chen? Tang Chen!" I panicked and didn't know what to do, I just shook him desperately.

"Don't panic, you'll always recover." Shuo calmly came over to help him up. "No matter what the illness is, it will heal. You should experience this soon."

I can't understand what she's saying, especially at times like this.

My only concern is what's wrong with Tang Chen, who has a high fever and pus.

(Winter break is over)

Part Five: Separation from Circumstances

Whether it was Shuo's medicine or the incense that worked, Tang Chen's fever subsided the next day.

Last night's torrential rain and strong winds seemed unreal; the sky was clear and bright, a delightful early spring morning. Even so, I still hoped Tang Chen could get a few days of rest, but he refused and even insisted on giving me a ride.

Huang'e perched on my shoulder, but shrank back. Unlike before, she didn't rush into Tang Chen's arms; instead, she seemed to prefer to stay as far away as possible.

Aside from a slight fever, Tang Chen was almost unaffected. "Huh? Where's Huang E?" he turned to me and asked.

…The calamity was only inches from his nose, but he couldn’t see it?

Huang E waved his hands frantically, and I stammered for a while, "She's been very playful lately, and I don't know where she's run off to again."

"Yes." Tang Chen chuckled. "I miss her quite a bit."

Not to mention I couldn't stand the desolation, even I felt a little uncomfortable. There was a strange-smelling "pus" in his "heart." It wasn't foul, but it was worse than foul.

When I arrived at school, I went to the restroom feeling dizzy and then realized that it smelled like rich sandalwood.

On the surface, Tang Chen seemed perfectly normal, perhaps a little thin and haggard, but who doesn't look like that when they have a cold? This wasn't the worst part. Those who used to linger around him when he was angry had all vanished, even the calamity had disappeared.

He used to suffer from a constant stream of minor misfortunes, but now he's completely free of them. However, as time goes on, things are getting worse; wherever he goes, he causes panic among the local residents, who flee in droves. But their excessive panic triggers paranormal phenomena, turning previously peaceful schools into chaos once again, with some students already seeking help from psychiatrists.

The principal called me in several times because of this, but I couldn't do anything about it.

Huang E screamed at me, telling me to stay away from Tang Chen, "Don't even mention eating him, just preventing him from eating you is already the best outcome! Stay away, my girl..." and then ran away.

Of course I felt uncomfortable too. But Tang Chen… he's my best friend. Even though a pat on my arm makes my skin red and blistered… he's still my friend. Even if he didn't say anything, I could roughly guess what it was about.

It's been almost two weeks since he came back, and he hasn't mentioned Yuzheng once. He's even put away the photos in his room. I've been driven to the brink of despair; do I even need to ask? Right now, he's just a little heartbroken…

But when a slightly slower-moving demon got close to him, it hissed and turned into a wisp of smoke... I still felt a chill run down my spine.

The old man said to me helplessly, "Girl, stay away from him."

"...Sir, that won't work," I said softly. "Could you please help me think of an idea..."

"What ideas can I come up with, girl?" The old man's face fell. "The sage's skills far surpass mine... Now that he's 'awakened,' and no one has enlightened him... In other words, there are very few in this world qualified to enlighten him. He doesn't know how to restrain his divine power, and a young girl like you, entangled in demonic energy, will be killed by him sooner or later. You should..."

I shook my head firmly. "Let fate decide."

Perhaps the old man's opinion is correct, but I don't think it's my correctness. Growing up like an orphan, I've become unable to completely obey. I'm so subjective and self-willed.

I gently tapped my head. I really can't do anything about myself.

Tang Chen was waiting for me in the bike shed, watching the sunset. I slowly strolled over and looked at him. "Tang Chen, keeping these words to yourself only makes you sadder."

He didn't say anything for a while. Just as I was about to give up, he said, "Yuzheng broke up with me." Then he didn't say anything more.

But this made me much sadder than his crying and yelling. I felt that the burning "pus" in his heart had grown even bigger. I gently placed my hand on the back of his hand, even though I knew blisters would form tomorrow.