Ghostly Figures in the Attic

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 The Shadow Outside the Window (2)

After each sexual encounter with Hanqing, Meifang would always remind herself that there could not be a next time. She had children at home, a husband far away, neighbors on both sides, and the eyes of God and the soul of her deceased father above and below. She often felt that she was doing something foolish in front of everyone.

Mei Fang often thought that her son was too cute. She always tried to restrain herself and didn't want to go too far. Although she felt that she needed Han Qing's affection, she didn't want to hurt the two men in the family, especially her good son and little man who was like a little adult.

In the past, Mei Fang could endure any hardship, overcome any difficulty, and deal with any situation for her child. But this time, she really didn't know what to do. Between Han Qing and her son, between lust and family affection, Mei Fang was like a lone boat without sails, caught between two turbulent currents, helpless and swaying back and forth.

Every time she came down from the attic and returned to her bedroom, it would take her a long time to calm herself down. Facing her sleeping son, Mei Fang's heart was filled with bitterness: Son, my son, no matter what I have done, I love you. I may have wronged you emotionally, but I will never mistreat you in life, never, never!

28

Although Xie Hanqing was unaware of the secret behind the "Snow and Moon in a Drunken State" painting, he sensed its significant importance from recent events. His father's dying wish, a midnight burglary, a chase in the suburbs, and even after escaping to Chongqing, he was still being followed. Now, even while hiding in his cousin's house, he constantly felt eyes watching him in the darkness. Hanqing thought, if this painting wasn't priceless, it might hold a major secret! To confirm his suspicions, he decided he had to have it appraised by experts to find out.

However, Hanqing had been away from Chongqing for many years and was no longer familiar with the people and things of his hometown. He only vaguely remembered that his father had a painter friend named Qin Songtao. Perhaps he could ask Mr. Qin to authenticate it, or find an expert through Mr. Qin. Since leaving the mainland for Taiwan in 1948, he had not been in contact with his hometown for more than ten years. With the passage of time, it was still a question whether Mr. Qin was still alive.

On the morning of the fire, after Ah Cai went to school, Han Qing heard Mei Fang's signal and dared to quietly come down from the attic.

"Do you still remember Mr. Songtao?" Hanqing, having been influenced by his family precepts since childhood, always spoke with utmost respect whenever he mentioned elders.

"Which one are you asking about?" Mei Fang knew that she had visited Mr. Qin's residence with Han Qing when she was young and watched him paint, but she deliberately changed the subject because Han Qing's question gave her an opportunity. Being with Han Qing made her feel young, and she would often unconsciously show a childlike side.

"Who else?" Hanqing felt that his cousin's answer was a bit strange.

"How could you forget your own honorific title?"

"Yes!" Han Qing scratched his head, looking slightly embarrassed. It turned out that he had a passion for painting when he was young, and for a time he often sought guidance from Mr. Qin Songtao. At that time, he greatly admired the old painter's talent and secretly gave himself the pen name "Little Songtao." This amusing story was Han Qing's little secret at the time, and only his cousin Mei Fang, who had worked with him, knew about it.

"I... I'm referring to Mr. Qin, the painter who used to be in Nanping," Han Qing explained, his tone noticeably changing.

Seeing Han Qing's embarrassed expression, Mei Fang decided not to tease him anymore: "Why did you think of him?"

Hanqing then recounted his father's dying wish, but he did not go on to reveal the series of thrilling encounters that followed, fearing it would cause his cousin too much anxiety.

"Does he still live in the same old place?" Han Qing asked. Actually, there was a second part of the question he didn't dare to ask: Is he still alive? Right now, in Chongqing, he didn't have anyone he felt he could trust. Given his current situation, it was best for him to stay away from relatives and friends. The more people who knew, the more danger he would be in.

Mei Fang thought for a moment and said, "How about I go to the usual place and ask?" She volunteered.

After some deep thought, Han Qing decided to go out himself. This painting was too important to him! Only by knowing its true value could he make the right judgment about the situation he faced. Once he made up his mind, he was resolute and determined, as if he were disregarding life and death. However, thinking of his father's important entrustment, he felt it was better to be cautious. Suddenly, he had an idea and decided to go out to visit Mr. Qin in the afternoon.

Han Qing had studied painting since childhood and possessed profound skills, especially in copying, which was almost indistinguishable from the original. One night, not long after receiving the painting of a drunken man in the snow and moon from his father, Han Qing's old passion rekindled. He couldn't help but roll up his sleeves, grind ink, lay out paper, and pick up his brush. He copied the painting all night long, producing several copies. He selected one that he was more satisfied with and secretly asked someone to mount it according to the original. When the two paintings were placed side by side, it would be difficult for anyone other than an expert to tell them apart. Only he knew perfectly well that the one that was real was the fake.

Han Qing originally planned to go out with Mei Fang, but not side by side. However, a sudden fire in the afternoon disrupted his plans.

29

Teacher Yu and Long Fei visited Mei Fang at night under the pretext of caring about A Cai's family situation. During the daytime fire, many nearby residents suffered losses in the chaos of fleeing in a hurry. Some broke pots and pans, others damaged doors and furniture, and some even lost valuables in the confusion.

According to Mei Fang's description, Teacher Yu felt that her family had not suffered much damage, only a few bowls were broken, and there was nothing serious. While they were talking, Long Fei took the opportunity to check the living room, kitchen and backyard for a while.

After Teacher Yu and the other teacher left, Mei Fang seemed worried. With a woman's intuition, she sensed that the two teachers seemed concerned about something else. Could it be that someone knew there were unfamiliar visitors staying at her home? The neighborhood committee stipulated that anyone with visitors should register with the committee first to ensure public safety, especially with National Day approaching and the city launching various safety awareness campaigns—fire prevention, sanitation, theft prevention, and warnings against sabotage. Mei Fang thought that if someone knew the true situation at her home, it should be the neighborhood committee members who came to inquire. She couldn't understand why the school teachers were visiting so frequently.

Perhaps it was her own fear and unease that made her so paranoid, seeing every little thing as a monster. During her stay at Hanqing's house, she was both excited and nervous. Whenever her son left for school or late at night, she couldn't help but confide in her older cousin about her feelings. But as soon as her son came home from school, she had to try her best to hide her joy, carefully concealing any unusual changes in the house from her son. However, despite her best efforts, it seemed there were always some oversights that her son would smell or notice. It was better during the day, but at night, the thought of her son sleeping alone in his room—whether he was asleep, when he woke up, and what he was doing—would keep her awake. Even when she did fall asleep, her sleep was restless, either light and easily startled, or plagued by nightmares. Tonight might be a little better; her son had actually asked to sleep in the same room with her!

At night, Mei Fang wanted A Cai to sleep on the inside, but A Cai insisted on sleeping on the outside.

"I want to protect you from outside!" Ah Cai's reason was very grand, sounding like a little adult.

"I think you're afraid you won't have time to pee in the middle of the night." Mei Fang was genuinely happy to have her son sleeping next to her tonight, so her words carried a touch of humor. But when she saw A-Cai's upright posture, she felt the child seemed quite serious, and she couldn't help but wonder if he was afraid she'd get up in the middle of the night. Goodness, he'd even learned to outsmart her! This kid, how clever he is! Mei Fang knew that her son had learned it from her. She understood that her son was always paying attention to everything his parents did! If A-Cai had always been so attentive to her, that wouldn't be surprising; it was a good thing. If a child didn't care about his parents, wouldn't all the love for him be wasted? But A-Cai's excessive attention made her uncomfortable. This discomfort stemmed from the fear of losing her freedom and ease of movement under her child's watchful eye! Mei Fang was conflicted and tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

She had already made an appointment with Hanqing, so she wouldn't go to see him at night for the next few days.

30

Han Qing's luggage to Chongqing was very simple, consisting of a carry-on suitcase and a leather bag. The real and fake Snow Moon Drunkenness paintings were hidden at the bottom of the suitcase.

The thought of meeting Mr. Songtao, whom he hadn't seen for over ten years, the next day filled him with unease. If it weren't for the war, he might not have gone to Taiwan with his mother. If he had stayed in Chongqing to study under Mr. Songtao, he might have become a painter! Life is unpredictable, and no one can control where their destiny will lead. Just a month ago, Hanqing was full of energy in the bustling city of Hong Kong, moving between restaurants and hotels every day. Now, he was like a fallen goose, imprisoned in an attic in a small alley of a mainland city. He couldn't help but feel deeply moved. What kind of era is this? Why, even after settling in the seemingly peaceful land of Hong Kong, did his family still have to suffer such hardship and displacement?

Han Qing knew that the painting hidden in the box was an ominous object, but he couldn't throw it away. Even if you threw it into the Yangtze River, you still couldn't get rid of the troubles caused by historical origins. He thought that perhaps, since the day his father took over that painting, something of destiny had been destined to entangle the Xie family. The only way to get rid of the entanglement of the unknown hand was probably to find out the truth hidden behind the Snow Moon Drunkenness painting.

Using the moonlight streaming in through the window, Han Qing opened the box and took out two scrolls of paintings. Without even opening the scrolls, relying solely on the marks he had made on them, he set aside the fake painting and unrolled the genuine one. Under the bright moonlight, the painting "Snow and Moon in Drunkenness" was revealed, exuding a chilling aura that terrified Han Qing! It was the first time he had ever seen "Snow and Moon in Drunkenness" under the moonlight: a bright moon hung in the sky, snow covered the ground, a lonely building stood by a cold window, and a scholar lay drunk on his desk.

This viewing environment gave him a strange feeling, no longer the melancholy, aloofness, or arrogance and wildness of the past, but a sense of vicissitude, an extremely calm vicissitude, a calmness almost to the point of indifference, penetrating the viewer's soul. By moonlight, he carefully examined the painting from top to bottom, but found no secret. At night, he rarely dared to turn on the lights or light any fire. If he were to make any moves at night, such as a secret rendezvous with Mei Fang, he would at most dare to turn on a small flashlight, covering the light source with a handkerchief, trying to minimize any exposure and avoid attracting attention.

Han Qing kept his gaze fixed on the picture, wanting to find out for himself. He remembered a magnifying glass in the suitcase, which was used to identify jewelry. As Han Qing turned back to approach the suitcase, he suddenly felt a dark shadow flash by. He turned around sharply and saw that the painting of Snow Moon and Drunkenness on the table in front of the window had disappeared!

31

Bai Jingzhai, being the leader of the Plum Blossom Party, was no ordinary man. When he learned that his trusted confidant, Hei Dou, had been murdered by the Luohu Bridge, he immediately guessed that Huang Feihu must have been behind it. He and Huang Feihu knew each other too well! He thought that this play had only just begun, and it was still unknown who would emerge victorious or have the last laugh!

When reporting to Chiang Kai-shek, Bai Jingzhai praised Huang Feihu's men for their decisiveness, saying that they had helped the Party and the nation achieve a martyr while also ensuring the safety of the "Sword of Restoration" plan. He argued that if such an important operation were discovered by the enemy, it would undoubtedly put them at a disadvantage. This seemed reasonable, and it also impressed Chiang Kai-shek, who perceived Bai Jingzhai as having great magnanimity, prioritizing the Party and the nation above all else and disregarding personal gain. Although he might lose actual control of the "Sword of Restoration" plan, he undoubtedly gained considerable leverage in the leader's eyes.

However, Bai Jingzhai secretly ordered his assistants to purge the internal network. Through investigation, he discovered that the person who sold the black beans was Wild Wolf, who had a clandestine connection with Huang Feihu. Now that the traitor had been identified, swift action was necessary; he was to be executed without mercy. Wild Wolf was immediately executed for his crime: secretly traveling to Hong Kong to leak secrets to the Xie family's son, enabling him to escape back to the mainland with secret arms plans.

Huang Feihu knew that Bai Jingzhai was seeking revenge, but he remained calm and composed. His subordinate, Lao Diao, had already taken the initiative to monitor Xie's son, and the secret arms deal was practically in his grasp, just around the corner.

However, in terms of skill, Huang Feihu was no match for the cunning Bai Jingzhai. Little did he know that after Bai Jingzhai discovered the wolf, he used a special drug to lure it into revealing the truth. What Bai Jingzhai killed was just a wolf that had become worthless.

Huang Feihu had no idea that while he thought Lao Diao was keeping an eye on No. 13 Meishan Road, Bai Jingzhai, based on other information he had obtained, also sent a capable subordinate to the destination. This person was a woman who set up a small comic book stall there day and night, renting it out to children. She had a lovely name—Na Lihua.

That night, the one who snatched the Snow Moon Drunkenness painting from Han Qing's hand was none other than Na Lihua, who was skilled at scaling walls and rooftops.

Na Lihua had already discovered Han Qing's hiding place, but she hadn't dared to act rashly because she hadn't found out where the "Snow Moon Drunkenness" painting was kept, and she also knew that Han Qing had a gun. That night, under the bright moonlight, Na Lihua spotted the painting in Han Qing's hand from outside the pavilion roof. Taking advantage of his momentary lapse in attention as he turned to retrieve something, she used her lightning-fast hand to snatch the "Snow Moon Drunkenness" painting and escape.

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Han Qing leaned against the window, watching helplessly as the dark figure disappeared along the roof ridge beside him. Not only was it impossible to catch up, but even if he tried to snipe it, it would be too late! Just as he was secretly lamenting his misfortune and repeatedly looking up and sighing in shame at his father's spirit in heaven, he suddenly heard a scream from afar, followed by a thud as if a heavy object had fallen to the ground.

Han Qing wondered if the man had fallen and been injured. But that didn't make sense. He immediately realized that if someone had fallen, the sound of the impact should have preceded the scream. However, that might not be the case. Han Qing was really unsure about the thief's situation. He hesitated, wondering how to go down and retrieve the Snow Moon Drunken Painting.

Han Qing hesitated for a moment, then peered down from the eaves. Under the moonlight, he saw a person lying on the ground, holding nothing. Looking further into the distance, he saw a strangely shaped dark figure disappear around the bend in the road. Han Qing realized that going down would be pointless; the painting had undoubtedly been stolen. Helplessly, he fixed his gaze on the person on the ground and saw that the person's eyes were open, emitting a chilling green light, making them look terrifying.

Han Qing was still in shock when he heard another scream from downstairs. The voice sounded familiar.

Chapter Six: The Female Corpse in the Street (1)

Ah Cai's mother tiptoed to the living room door, pressed her face against the crack, and after peeking through the crack, she let out a strange cry. She had seen it...

Mei Fang couldn't sleep, her mind constantly replaying the fire on the neighboring street during the day. With her husband frequently away and her son still young, she always felt lonely and helpless. Women need security most of all, but for her, it had long been a luxury, something she could only dream of. Now, her older cousin's sudden return from Hong Kong to seek refuge felt like a windfall. Thinking of Han Qing in the attic, Mei Fang felt as if she had fallen into a honey pot. She savored this sweetness, finding it reminiscent of pineapple—intoxicatingly fragrant. But pineapple couldn't be eaten casually; it had to be dipped in salt water, otherwise, eating too many slices would numb her tongue. And she couldn't eat too much, or she would easily get indigestion. This was like the predicament of having an affair, Mei Fang thought.

Ah Cai also had trouble falling asleep. He was no longer used to sleeping in the same bed with his mother. Several times in the middle of the night, he wanted to go back to his own room, but he still had some concerns. He had already said that he wanted to stay with his mother and protect her, but if he wanted to back out halfway, what would that be? Actually, to be honest, he was also afraid if he slept alone. In addition, he was really worried about his mother's safety if she slept alone. In the past few days, every night, he felt that there were eyes watching their house in the dark.

When Ah-Cai pretended to be asleep, he also pretended to be an honest sleeping posture. However, after a while, his whole body became stiff and uncomfortable. He wanted to move and change his posture, but he was afraid of waking his mother, so he had to continue to hold back.

Mei Fang missed Han Qing terribly. She wanted to get up, and when she turned to look at A Cai by the moonlight, she noticed that A Cai's eyelashes twitched. She knew that this guy wasn't asleep; he was pretending.

Ah Cai suddenly felt his stomach rumbling, and a gas surged around, eventually reaching his anus. He realized he was about to fart, and tried to hold it in, but the stench in his stomach was uncooperative and slipped out of his anus with a loud thud. "Pfft!" he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Upon hearing the commotion, Mei Fang couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The mother and son burst into laughter.

“Let’s talk,” Ah Cai suggested.

"Okay, come to my bed."

Come here.

"No, it smells too bad in there."

Ah-Cai twitched his nostrils, took a deep breath of the lingering scent in the blankets, then threw off the covers, tossed and turned a few times, and crawled into his mother's bed.

"What are you saying?" Ah Cai seemed to be talking to himself.

What do you want to hear?

"Me? Mom, then let me tell you about your childhood."

Mei Fang thought for a moment, and for some unknown reason, she began to recount the many interesting stories between her and her older cousin Han Qing when she was young. A Cai could clearly sense that there was a sweetness in his mother's words.

As Ah Cai listened, he drifted off into a daze, feeling sleepy.

Seeing this, Mei Fang continued to speak softly. She knew this was a hypnotic method. As she recounted the past, Han Qing's image came vividly to her mind again. Her beloved was so close, yet so unattainable. This feeling was the most unbearable. She wanted A Cai to sleep soundly, so she continued to speak, and spoke...

Suddenly, a scream came from outside, followed by a dull thud like something falling to the ground. Mei Fang and A Cai sat up almost at the same time, looking at each other in shock for a long time before they recovered. Mei Fang quietly got out of bed, and A Cai picked up a toy gun from under his pillow.

Mei Fang wanted to find out what was going on.

Ah Cai said, "Mom, I'll protect you." Then he followed closely behind.

Mei Fang tiptoed to the front door of the living room, pressed herself against the crack in the door, and after just one glance, she let out a scream. She saw a corpse in the pale moonlight, its whole body green, and its eyes also glowing green.

34

When Ah-Cai saw his mother's voice change to one of fright, he guessed that something terrible must have happened outside. Unaware of the danger, he squeezed forward, trying to peek through the crack in the door to see what was going on.

Although Mei Fang was terrified, she quickly pulled her son back when she saw him trying to look outside. Mei Fang calmed down at this moment. She didn't want her son to see such a horrific scene, otherwise it would have a profound impact on his young mind. As a mother, she had a responsibility to protect the healthy development of her child's mind. Her strong maternal instincts helped her overcome her fear in a short time. All of this changed in just a few seconds.

Hanqing, who was in the attic, recognized the screams that followed downstairs as coming from his cousin Meifang. Without hesitation, he quickly came down from the attic. At that moment, both Acai and Meifang heard the sounds coming from the attic. They were both stunned and looked at each other.

Mei Fang, with her sharp ears, immediately recognized the voice as Han Qing's. She knew that Han Qing was probably worried about her and wanted to step forward. To avoid Han Qing suddenly appearing before her and potentially traumatizing the child, Mei Fang, quick-witted, shouted, "Don't be afraid, it's alright!" On the surface, she was speaking to A Cai, but in reality, she was telling Han Qing: Don't come out, please don't come out. Outside, a commotion had already broken out. Neighbors from all directions opened their windows to look out, and some bolder people even stopped to watch, but they all stood at a distance, not daring to get too close.

Mei Fang peeked through the crack in the door again and saw that the body was blocked by the crowd of onlookers. Only then did she dare to open the door, hoping to get information from the onlookers.

Ah Cai listened to Mei Fang's advice and didn't cross the threshold to join the fun. Although he stayed indoors, his eyes kept darting around the crowd, trying to sense the atmosphere. Suddenly, he saw Teacher Tian and several uniformed police officers emerge from the crowd. Ah Cai was puzzled; why was Teacher Tian with the police? Just as he was wondering, he heard a car horn. Several men in white coats and peaked caps, who looked like doctors and police officers, jumped out of a military jeep. Teacher Tian and the police officers pushed the crowd away, telling everyone to stand further back so as not to interfere with the police officers' work.

Seeing this, Mei Fang quietly closed the door and said to A Cai, "Go to bed quickly, you have to get up early tomorrow." A Cai is going to visit the Sino-American Cooperation Organization tomorrow.

Ah Cai seemed very obedient, returning to the master bedroom and going to bed with his mother.

This time, he slept on the inside of the bed, while his mother lay on the outside.

35

Like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Na Lihua, relying on her superior martial arts skills, finally managed to snatch the "Snow Moon and Drunken Beauty" painting from Han Qing using her agility and skill. She had no idea that a shadowy figure had already stalked her. He lurked in the shadows, and as soon as she landed her prize, he unleashed his deadly attack from behind: a small dart struck her directly in the back of the heart. It was a poisoned dart; Na Lihua didn't even have time to scream before collapsing to the ground, dead.

That dark figure is Old Eagle.

After succeeding, the old eagle could not contain his joy and rushed to the outskirts to claim credit from Huang Feihu.

Huang Feihu was hiding in a rural temple. He had been disguised as a wandering monk begging for alms and had been staying there for quite some time.

In this quiet rural temple, Huang Feihu, who goes by the alias Huiling, is treated with great respect and has a quiet room all to himself.

Upon seeing the painting of Xueyue Drunkenness, Huang Feihu was so happy that his face twisted into a grin, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. He quickly took out a sandalwood box from the chest containing the scriptures and took out a small bottle from it. This was a colorless special potion used specifically for revealing one's true form.

With a contented expression, Huang Feihu applied the medicine to the back of the painting with an extremely carefree gesture.

Strangely, after waiting for a long time without any response, Huang Feihu, who was quite knowledgeable about calligraphy and paintings, picked up the "Snow Moon and Drunken Beauty" painting and smelled it. His expression changed drastically. The painting had an antique feel, but no real antiquity—it was a fake! In a fit of rage, he crushed the prayer beads in his hand to dust! Seeing this, Old Eagle had the idea of taking responsibility and immediately knelt down: "Boss, it's all my fault for being incompetent!"

"Forget it, it's not your fault. Damn it, how could that Xie guy know how to pull this trick?" He really couldn't understand it. He originally thought the other party was just a young master, but he didn't expect him to be so cunning. Huang Feihu angrily flung his sleeves and sat down, his face ashen as he fell into deep thought...

Huang Feihu had served in the military under orders from the Military Intelligence Bureau in his early years, and had once followed General Xie, serving as the head of the political training department. Although he had no personal relationship with General Xie, he had some knowledge of General Xie's family situation. Years ago, he had met Xie's eldest son, Hanqing, who was then just a child. One incident remained vivid in Huang Feihu's memory: One day, Huang Feihu was bored and was drawing on paper in his office when a child approached him. Huang Feihu glanced at him, thinking that a child who could enter such a prestigious military location must be from the family of a high-ranking officer. He politely asked the child, "Come, let me draw your portrait." The child nodded. Huang Feihu studied him carefully, and with a few quick strokes, he had drawn a portrait. Huang Feihu thought his portrait was passable. The child tilted his head, examined it for a moment, and said, "I'll draw one for you too." Huang Feihu chuckled and laid out the paper again, wondering what kind of scribbling this little brat could possibly produce. He rested his left hand on his right elbow and his right hand on his chin, watching with a smile. The little fellow looked up at him a few times, a spark of intelligence in his eyes. After a few playful doodles, a cartoon-like portrait appeared on the paper. Huang Feihu was secretly surprised, realizing this little fellow was not to be underestimated. Upon asking, he learned that the boy was General Xie's son. Like father, like son, Huang Feihu thought to himself.

Huang Feihu had once instructed Lao Diao: focus on the matter, not the person; prioritize the objective; and try not to harm anyone. He showed some leniency towards Han Qing. 36