Famine

Chapter 64

I don't know why, but my cheeks are burning. This guy is really...unrestrained and annoying.

"Tang Chen, tsk tsk, finally got it." Huang E sighed softly. "Heng Zhi, when will you get it?"

I carried her to the restroom on the tour bus, where there was a small window that could be opened. I opened the window and threw her out.

It's obvious how we could possibly escape this predicament. We argued and fought until we reached our stop, where Tang Chen, covered in bruises, knocked on the door of the small restroom and jokingly persuaded us to get off the train.

It was just a minor injury; a quick wipe on her face was enough. Huang E found a secluded spot to transform into a human and put on her clothes, while Tang Chen and I stood in front of her to provide cover.

"Why do we have to be human?" she complained. "Walking on our feet is so tiring."

I didn't say anything, I just urged her to hurry up.

Okay, I know it's crazy. But it was this absurd and crazy wish that helped me survive the karmic turmoil of the ghostly stream.

I want to go to the beach with Huang E and Tang Chen. I have to admit, quite embarrassingly, that I've never actually been to the beach before.

With Tang Chen and Huang E, a handsome man and a beautiful woman together, everyone envied me. What a silly wish.

So, despite the pain, I booked a rather expensive guesthouse because the view from the window was of the sea. The guesthouse owner was very friendly, but when he found out that Tang Chen and I were classmates and that Huang E was my cousin, he almost had a nosebleed. His imagination was quite "wonderful."

It was my fault. To save money, I booked a four-person room instead of two. I dragged a bewildered Tang Chen and a laughing man who was practically trembling into the room, burying my face in my hands.

"I'm dying of laughter~" Huang E rolled around on the floor. "Humans are so cute, oh my god... that guesthouse owner... hahaha~ young people are just so young~"

"What?" Tang Chen was amused by her. "What's wrong?"

“That guy was just thinking, ‘Young people are young, two girls at once…’” Huang’e laughed, and I quickly interrupted her. “Shut up! I’ll write to my master and let him know you’re like this…”

Huang E opened his mouth, then became furious, "Heng Zhi, you gossip! You dare to talk nonsense, I'll see if you get away with it!"

…When Huang E called me a gossip, I suddenly felt a strange sadness.

"What are you talking about? I don't understand." Tang Chen asked in confusion.

"...Don't ask anymore." I really couldn't lift my head.

Tang Chen eventually understood, her face flushed slightly as she tried to suppress a laugh. She then changed the subject, asking us to go to the beach together.

After changing my clothes, even though the saleswoman who sold me the swimsuit repeatedly assured me that it was a sporty swimsuit and very conservative, I still felt unsure of what to do with my limbs and walked out nervously.

Tang Chen had already changed, and I was too embarrassed to look. I'd never seen so much skin exposed before. I knew he played tennis regularly and occasionally went to the gym. But I didn't know... he had a pretty good physique.

He wasn't the stereotypical bodybuilder with bulging muscles, but he wasn't a flabby, pale-faced kid either. His muscles were understated, yet agile. I just didn't know… that men's swim trunks were so… short.

He seemed a little embarrassed and rather awkward. But my embarrassment quickly disappeared.

Huang E walked out boldly, displaying a similar imposing manner to Yu Zheng.

But, but, I definitely bought her the same swimsuit as mine... so what's with that tattered piece of cloth that barely covers her private parts?!

"What rags?" she said, her face darkening. "How rude! This is a gift Yunlang specially gave me!" She glanced at me a few times and then chuckled. "Hengzhi, you look like a seaweed roll with chopsticks stuck in it when you dress like this..."

A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated.

"If you've got the guts, don't run away!" I roared, determined to eliminate this root of the problem today.

She tripped and fell while laughing, and while Tang Chen was holding me, she turned and ran. I shook off Tang Chen and chased after her fiercely.

Huang E made a face at me, "Hehehe~ Come chase me, my little darling~☆"

I must kill her.

I finally caught up with Huang E, and we started fighting. Tang Chen came to mediate, but I raised my elbow and Huang E kicked him, knocking him into the sea.

“…You two!” He splashed water at us. I wasn’t paying attention and got a mouthful of seawater in my mouth. It was bitter and salty, and Huang E’s carefully styled hair fell flat.

"If you want to fight, come now!" we both shouted, splashing water at him.

Not content with just splashing water, Huang E also snatched a child's bucket and poured it all over the child's head. Tang Chen rushed ashore and carried out his secret weapon... a water gun as big as a machine gun.

You know, when war breaks out, humans become pathetically excited and agitated (while also being incredibly childish). The three of us were yelling and shouting (I don't know how much seawater we swallowed), using buckets, water guns, everything we could. But you also know, Tang Chen has good stamina, and Huang E is a monster. Before long, I was exhausted and retreated. Those two guys, one carrying a water gun and the other a bucket, chased me ashore without any regard for our past relationship, making me roll around like a mud doll, then carrying me on either side and throwing me into the sea, laughing loudly.

…This is my shikigami and confidant. I deeply understand the double sorrow of "meeting the wrong person" and "associating with the wrong kind of people".

Later, we became more civilized in our interactions, since there were more people around. Although Tang Chen taught me for a whole summer, I still couldn't learn to swim. I was lucky if I could float on a jellyfish for ten meters, mainly because I was afraid of water. Tang Chen bought a swim ring and helped me swim to deeper water. Huang E, being a fire-type monster, wasn't afraid of water, but it didn't particularly like it either. It went to the beach to lazily sunbathe, busy attracting bees and butterflies.

I glanced back with a hint of unease. It wasn't that I was afraid she would get hurt... but I was worried about the safety of those naive teenagers, both physically and emotionally.

Right now, some idiot is grinning like an idiot and applying sunscreen to her back. I can only hold my breath and pray for his soul... I mean, pray for his safety.

"Nothing will happen," Tang Chen smiled. "The Wasteland can protect you."

"I'm not worried about her." I chuckled awkwardly, but before I could finish speaking, Tang Chen suddenly sank in and struggled to grab the swim ring.

I grabbed him and felt a force pulling me downwards.

Oh no, I miscalculated. Wearing a swimsuit (swim trunks...), he had nowhere to put his amulet. Having lived a comfortable life for too long, he had gotten used to being covered up, and I completely forgot that Tang Chen was a top-tier delicacy in the eyes of outsiders.

But you know, I left a mark on his clothes. If he wants to eat me, he'll have to ask me first! Why should I be polite to someone who doesn't follow the rules?!

Consumed by rage, I climbed out of my swimming ring, held my breath, and looked into the water. A mushy mass was gripping Tang Chen's ankle.

How dare you touch Tang Chen? You bastard!

Ever since I ate the Imperial Chess, I suddenly realized that a slingshot is just a form, it doesn't necessarily have to be a physical object. So I visualized the shape of a slingshot, drew the bowstring taut, and fired it. That mushy thing exploded into pieces, and I don't know how long it will take to reassemble.

The once somewhat dark seawater suddenly brightened, and the water monsters lurking beneath the surface fled swiftly, disappearing into the distance like the receding tide.

Tang Chen grabbed me, “…Xiao Zhi!”

I stuck my head out of the water and took a few deep breaths. I can't swim, so it's strange I didn't drown.

"You can't swim?" Tang Chen's eyes widened.

"No, I can't," I said, scratching my head. "But diving down would be much harder."

He kicked the water, "I felt like I had a cramp just now, but it's fine now."

Good idea. Without fear, these water ghosts that hunt for replacements won't have a chance. Panic makes it easier to drown.

Seeing that I was no longer afraid of water, he tried to teach me to swim. This time I learned very quickly, as if I had suddenly unlocked a key. In one afternoon, I learned to swim, something I hadn't been able to do all summer. The only problem was that I was too weak to swim very far.

"You swim the butterfly stroke better," Tang Chen smiled.

"It's quite fun." I laughed too.

Actually, thinking about it, we're pretty thick-skinned. Tang Chen was almost dragged away by a water ghost, but we weren't scared at all. We swam for most of the afternoon without taking it to heart.

It's okay. I have a hidden confidence. I am Tang Chen's talisman.

I will absolutely not let him end this life prematurely, going against his wishes. Nor will I force him to become a monk out of necessity.

He's Tang Chen, the man I've risked my life for, and I will never let this happen.

As the sun began to set, we wearily prepared to go home. Just as we were about to change our clothes, a few boys stopped us and shyly asked Huang E if we wanted to have a meal with them.

If it were a hungry pervert, I might have refused outright. But these young men had attended a university that was practically a monastic institution, endured a lot of hardship, and their feelings for Huang E were akin to a pure, innocent admiration for a goddess. I found it difficult to speak, and simply looked at Huang E.

She nodded, considering for a moment. This kind of flattery from the "Golden-Winged Roc King, Heaven-Slaying Lady" probably pleased her, so she nodded and prepared to go with them.

"...You should at least change your clothes!" You're not going to go to the restaurant in those two tattered pieces of cloth, are you?!

"No need, right? Hengzhi, you're so annoying..." She pulled a large silk scarf from her bag, as thin as a cicada's wing, and tied it in a knot around her waist. "Let's go." She led the way out with an air of confidence.

…Isn't this even worse than wearing a swimsuit? It's downright inciting crime!

But Huang'e was already far away. Tang Chen looked at my dazed expression and laughed. "She can take care of herself now... Aren't you hungry? Change your clothes and go eat."

He put his arm around my shoulder, and I naturally put my arm around his back... but the feel was a little strange. I still prefer the texture of a shirt or t-shirt.

We felt much better when we were all dressed properly.

We were so tired from playing that we went back to the guesthouse after dinner. The four-person room had two double beds, but we leaned against the window, opened it, listened to the sea breeze and the sound of the waves, and chatted aimlessly.

When we talked about Red Cliff II, we laughed non-stop. Especially when he said the part about "Zhou Yu being reluctant to beat Huang Gai, Xiao Qiao bravely crossing the river in a boat, and Zhou Yu eating glutinous rice balls with tears in his eyes," I laughed so hard I bent over.

Sometimes, Tang Chen isn't so gentle; he can be quite ruthless and demanding.

But only I can see this side of it.

We were probably too tired from playing, because we started to doze off while we were chatting. When I was woken up by the sound of dripping water, I was resting my head on his shoulder, and he was sleeping soundly with his head against mine.

But I heard the sound of dripping water, coughing, and a rustling sound as it crawled along the wall.

We're almost at the window.

I quietly got up and closed the window with lightning speed, letting that thing crash against the glass, howling and scratching at the glass.

It's not that glass can keep out other species. Rather, it's that if humans don't invite other species with "fear," but instead use strong actions like closing doors and windows to reject them, they can keep out most other species.

These water ghosts actually chased us all the way here.

“…Even a few drops of blood would be fine,” they wailed. “It’s so bitter, so bitter underwater…”

"So that it'll be easier for you to catch the replacements?" I said coldly, "Not even a hair on your head!"

Their cries grew louder, sometimes threatening, sometimes pleading.

It's not that I'm heartless, it's just that these guys don't follow the rules. If they had talked to me first, I might have been able to offer them some help. But they were hoping to get away with it.

"Heaven helps those who help themselves." I flatly refused. "I've already spared you too much; now you're coming to me crying and begging? Since you've chosen this shortcut of 'replacing' yourselves, you expect me to help you? You're dreaming..."

I went to get the slingshot and moonstone from the drawer. The more obedient ones ran away first, while a few others yelled and threatened me. So what? What does it matter compared to the accumulated karma of dozens of generations?

I suddenly opened the window, drew my slingshot, and extinguished the first bastard who rushed in, then slingshotted away these stubborn fellows one by one.

The remaining creatures, like startled birds, fled, leaving behind foul-smelling water plants and water stains on the window.

I've always disliked those who try to take over someone's life. I admit they have a tough time; those whose lifespan hasn't ended yet have to suffer until theirs. Those with families can escape this misery, but those without are truly miserable.

But a miserable life (or ghost life?) doesn't mean you can take someone else's life. The underworld fears that these ghosts who have suffered too much will become vengeful spirits and difficult to control, so it grants these wandering ghosts the special permission to "take over," choosing those whose lifespan in the mortal world should have ended, but the underworld failed to catch them due to negligence, or those whose luck is extremely low and who show signs of death.

But I have a complete aversion to this system.

The original inhabitants of the old man's neighborhood scoffed at this. They said it was a waste of good karma from their next life, a shortcut, and preferred to patiently wait for the bus that might not come for who knows how long. Was it hard? Actually, it was, but they lived happily in groups, constantly looking for new things, not harming anyone, and their hearts were at peace.

It's not so much that the old man was a good teacher, but rather that he moved these somewhat dazed ghosts, which is why they stayed at the school to take care of their "old friends."

If you're afraid of taking shortcuts, don't come crying to me. I'm sorry, I'm not a gentle and kind older sister.

Tang Chen opened his eyes and rubbed them. "Did I fall asleep?"

"Go to bed." I pushed him, wiping the water stains with a rag and throwing the water plants out.

You better not come back, you bastards. If you do, you'll be sent flying!

But they were so annoying, more like mosquitoes in summer. I had just lain down to sleep when they crept up on me, eyeing me menacingly.