Цзянху место, где не причинят вреда

Глава 15

Although Bai Yuan was just a lowly maid in this "celestial palace," she was quite pleased with herself, straightening her back and grinning from ear to ear.

Chang Sheng coughed a few times, put down the kettle, clapped his hands, and asked with a smile, "I wonder if you have seen the young master who came with me?"

Bai Yuan's face flushed red. She turned her head away with a half-smile and said hesitantly, "That young master is having dinner with the master in the flower hall. Oh, by the way, the master sent me to check if you would like to come along if you return, young lady."

Ye Changsheng nodded repeatedly, indicating that he was very free and could happily dine at any time. He bowed in thanks and followed Bai Yuan towards the east corridor, walking quite a distance before arriving at the flower hall. Upon entering, he saw an elderly man in his sixties clapping and laughing heartily, and Helan Ronghua sitting quietly with a smile, drinking. He had changed into clean clothes, still wearing a moon-white long robe.

"Ah, they've arrived," the old man said loudly. "Bai Yuan, why don't you invite the guest to take a seat?"

Ye Changsheng slowly sat down beside Helan, thinking to himself that this old man with the goatee was probably Li Jixian, but he wondered why this legendary "half-immortal" was so happy.

Old Li took a sip of wine, stroked his goatee, and shook his head, saying, "I haven't been this happy in a long time. To meet a fellow traveler here, and to see such a talented young man, truly has a bright future ahead of him."

Having wandered around for a while and suddenly found himself traveling with an old man, Ye Changsheng felt a little guilty. He glanced at Helan Ronghua, who was still smiling faintly with his eyes down, and wondered what he had just told this old man. But looking at the table full of delicious food, with its rich aroma, he immediately forgot his previous shame and awkwardness, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat in silence.

This flower hall is open on all four sides, with carved beams and painted pillars. Outside the window is a lotus pond, and a cool breeze blows gently, making it very elegant. Fine wine and delicacies are available, just as the saying goes, "Time must be spent with wine, so come and listen to the music among the flowers." Such a beautiful scene and time is truly intoxicating.

"I heard someone died in the village?" Ye Changsheng asked, munching on a chicken leg. Li Jixian was taken aback, his face darkening with displeasure. Ye Changsheng was really asking about the most unpleasant things to say. Before he could answer, Ye Changsheng continued, "I saw his mother. She was burning paper money at the bridge. It was so sad."

Hearing Ye Changsheng say this, Li Jixian couldn't help but sigh and was slightly moved: "Errong entered the sect six years ago. His home was in this Changqiao Town. He was smart and a good candidate for an apprentice. He was happy to study on his own. I haven't seen him for many days. Who knew he would die?"

Ye Changsheng shrank back, his face full of fear: "They say his internal organs were all ripped out. Is this place haunted...?"

Li Jixian squinted and stroked his beard: "You are outsiders, so the Bridge God will not make things difficult for you. Just don't wander around." As if remembering something, he turned to Helan with a smile: "I wonder what insights Young Master Helan has into the Five Elements?"

Helan put down his wine cup and said gently, "I have heard a little about it, but judging from what is displayed in the 'Immortal Palace,' Lord Li must have mastered it greatly. We should not try to show off our limited skills before an expert." These words pleased him greatly, and Li Jixian laughed heartily, his goatee trembling. He repeatedly praised the young man for his humility, saying that given time he would surely become a pillar of society.

Ye Changsheng spat out a mouthful of tea with a "pfft." Could it be that the world is going to the dogs, and people's hearts are no longer what they used to be? Helan Ronghua could speak so earnestly and flatteringly, even making Old Man Li beam with delight. Li Jixian stared intently at the dish in front of Ye Changsheng, practically ready to puff out his cheeks. Ye Changsheng looked apologetic, wiped his nose, and, under the old man's glaring gaze, said he wasn't feeling well and slipped out.

It was past midnight when they returned to the villa. Ye Changsheng ate only half a meal, but was in a very good mood. Although the "master" had given her some criticism, she was quite satisfied with the elegant scenery and exquisite dishes. In particular, the old man's insights into feng shui and the five elements during the meal made her, a nobody with no discernment, feel ashamed. However, in her opinion, the "master" had already stepped into the heavenly realm with one foot in it; he seemed more suited to becoming a wandering immortal on Maoshan Mountain.

Lying in bed, facing the large window, he yawned. Just as he was gazing at the starlight and drifting off to sleep, a faint sobbing sound came from outside. A figure, sobbing, swept past the window; hair was disheveled, and the face was obscured, but the large, fleshy back seemed somewhat similar to someone else's. Ye Changsheng suddenly snapped awake—could this be the madman from the street that evening? But why would he be here in the middle of the night? He'd bumped into him twice in one day; she couldn't help but feel a connection with this fat man… She got out of bed, went to the window, and peeked out, but the man had vanished without a trace.

Outside the window was a small corridor, fifty paces long, with a pond to its right. The person outside had vanished into thin air in the short four or five steps she took to reach the window. Ye Changsheng couldn't help but suspect that the madwoman had been taken away by a ghost.

He recalled that the madman from earlier that day had been driven away by several burly men. Now it seemed that those men, if not his family, were very likely servants of this "Fairy Palace." Why did he run out in the middle of the night, and why did he suddenly disappear? What was this curse he spoke of? What did the murders in Changqiao Town have to do with him? Was he really insane...? Listening to the chorus of insects chirping outside the window, Ye Changsheng pondered these questions and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Ye Changsheng heard shocking news—another person had died at the bridgehead. And it was someone she knew.

On the same tree at the head of Ruyang Bridge, Guo Fengying, the manager of Fengping Ticket Shop, had his internal organs ripped out and was tied to the tree with a rope. The townspeople were filled with fear, all afraid that the curse would come true for them, and for a time no one dared to linger near Ruyang Bridge.

For a moment, even the maid who was fetching water became strangely talkative—at that moment, Bai Yuan's eyes darted around Ye Changsheng and Helan Ronghua, her little face flushed red, and she looked around and asked in a low voice, "What are you two doing in Changqiao Town?"

Influenced by her, Ye Changsheng also unconsciously lowered his voice: "It's just sightseeing... nothing more."

Bai Yuan seemed to have made up her mind, and stamped her foot hard, saying, "You two should leave as soon as possible, lest you lose your lives for no reason."

Ye Changsheng looked puzzled and shook his head. He looked at Helan beside him and saw him raise his eyes and ask slowly, "Miss, please speak your mind. We will keep your mouth shut."

Bai Yuan gritted her teeth, turned around and peeked out the door. Making sure no one was there, she bent down and whispered, "Actually, I saw Er Rong the night before he died… That night, I had just finished delivering tea to the master when I bumped into him at the corner. He seemed to be in a hurry, carrying something in his hand. I even cursed at him. But who knew he'd die the next day? Everyone says it was a ghost, but I don't think so. Now even Manager Guo is dead…"

Chang Sheng was puzzled. So Cheng Errong had appeared in the manor before his death, or even had been staying there the whole time. What was he doing back? What had he discovered? But why did everyone except Bai Yuan say they hadn't seen him in a long time? He casually asked what Cheng Errong had been up to lately. Bai Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "I'm just a little tea-serving maid, I don't know much about what's going on in the manor. I only heard the master mention that Cheng Errong is very studious and borrows books from him whenever he has time, and that he'll definitely become a master in time."

No sooner had she finished speaking than footsteps sounded at the door, and Bai Yuan quickly shut her mouth. She put away the plates and stepped aside. A servant-like man entered and bowed respectfully: "Master requests that you two guests move to the side hall." Chang Sheng was somewhat dazed, still sitting lazily in her chair, lost in thought. He Lan stood up, gently took her hand, and nodded to the man.

The gray-clad servant led the way, and beneath their wide sleeves, Helan held Ye Changsheng's hand as they walked silently. Suddenly, his gentle voice came from ahead: "Want to leave?"

Ye Changsheng shook his head, then remembered that he was behind him and said, "The food here is pretty good."

Turning his head slightly, he saw lotus leaves stretching as far as the eye could see outside the covered bridge, a gentle breeze blowing; it was indeed a delightful place. But where to go next? This question was giving Ye Changsheng a real headache.

Upon arriving at the side hall, Li Jixian was already waiting on the side. This man was a tea lover, and every time he was seen, he had a cup of tea in his hand, as if the contents of that cup had never gone down.

Just as he was thinking this, Li Jixian spoke up: "Tea is inseparable from Buddhism and Taoism. It is used to cultivate one's mind and character, and through the tranquil state of mind when drinking tea, one can achieve the meditation of 'transcending the world' and 'entering the world,' and 'use tea to break sleep' in order to reach the state of oneness with nature. I have been drinking tea for many years, and although I have not reached the state of oneness with nature, it is not difficult to say that I have reached the state of 'sitting in oblivion.'" After saying this, he did not forget to stroke his goatee.

Ye Changsheng nodded repeatedly, and immediately felt that Li Jixian was so detached from the mortal world that he could attain immortality and ascend to heaven with just a whisk.

Li Jixian cleared his throat and continued, "There will be a temple fair in town tonight, right next to the bridge at the Bridge God Temple. Since you two are new here, you can go and have a look if you have nothing else to do."

Chang Sheng's heart stirred. He had heard Bai Yuan mention earlier that the Bridge God Temple Fair in Changqiao Town was the only one of its kind within a hundred miles. On that night, all sorts of stalls, lanterns, and fireworks would be set up, and there would be people singing operas, chanting sutras, and composing poems everywhere, all going to thank the Bridge God. He touched his sleeve and immediately set off.

The Bridge God Temple is located at the intersection of the east and west streets, with the Liang River flowing alongside it. Situated in the heart of the town and a major transportation hub, it becomes especially lively in the evenings. Vendors with large umbrellas and bamboo awnings line the bridge, their bright lights emitting the enticing aromas of fried, stewed, steamed, and cold dishes. Games such as polo, archery, saddle-building, and horse-riding games are also available. Men and women from the town flock to the temple, beating drums and gongs, singing and dancing, to offer sacrifices.

Changsheng, clutching several large bags of fried chicken skin, pan-fried mutton, and sugar-coated shaved ice dumplings, still stared intently at the vendors hawking their crystal soaps, plum ginger, fragrant candies, lychee paste, golden plums, and orange juice. Helan Ronghua carried the snacks that Changsheng couldn't handle, standing quietly in the crowd. The large bags of snacks didn't seem out of place on him.

The well-dressed young women along the roadside held hands with their sweethearts without any hesitation, whispering sweet nothings to each other in the dim light, creating a charming scene.

Ye Changsheng's eyebrows twitched; such a beautiful day and scenery was truly delightful...

With a loud "bang," a firework burst open in the sky, its vibrant colors illuminating the entire night sky for a fleeting moment.

“Longevity…” came Helan’s calm and unhurried voice from behind.

"Hmm?" Ye Changsheng turned his head upon hearing this.

Suddenly… accompanied by the gentle night breeze and the fragrance of lotus blossoms, a kiss softly landed on her left eye. Her hand trembled, and things fell to the ground… Changsheng stared in astonishment at her ethereal master, whose dark eyes held a slight smile as he held several large bags of snacks. Under the dappled sky, he said tenderly, “Let me take care of you…”

Covered bridge with stakes

He stood there quietly, exuding a serene and otherworldly air. In a hazy moment, Ye Changsheng felt as if time had reversed, and he was back in the past.

A gentle night breeze ruffled my hair. Under the dazzling fireworks, the sound of firecrackers drowned out all other noises, leaving only the booming of my eardrums from the flames. People around me covered their ears and cheered joyfully towards the sky.

Chang Sheng felt unsure of what to do. She dropped what she was holding but didn't bother to pick it up. Her right hand, gripping her belt, tightened. She lowered her head slightly, the flickering firelight illuminating her profile—she was expressionless.

His eyes held shimmering, flickering reflections of fireworks, making them appear somewhat unreal; his demeanor was serene and patient…

Changsheng moved her lips, but no sound came out. After a long while, she sighed, slowly raised her head, and smiled slightly: "...I'm doing quite well, so I don't need Master's help."

Helan remained silent, and the air suddenly became still, filled with an unusual atmosphere.

The crowd around gradually increased; the fireworks display had ended...

They stood silently in the middle of the bridge, dressed in white, a picture of elegance and beauty. Passersby glanced at them curiously.

"Ah..." Changsheng seemed to suddenly remember something and said softly, "Bai Yuan said she made soup for us..."

It seemed like a long time had passed, until a warm hand took hers. It trembled slightly but she couldn't pull away, and it led her forward. His gentle voice, like a breeze, rang out from ahead: "Okay, let's go back..."

The starry night was vast, and the croaking of frogs filled the air.

Although Bai Yuan had stewed lotus seed and pork heart soup to calm the nerves, Ye Changsheng lay in bed wrapped in a quilt, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. He couldn't sit or lie down comfortably, so he got up, poured himself a glass of water, stomped around the room a few times, opened the door, and decided to make the most of the beautiful starlight and go for a walk.

She vaguely remembered Bai Yuan pointing out the location of Cheng Errong's house to her during the day, and slowly wandered over there.

"One, two, three, four, five... thirteen..." Turning past the covered walkway and heading west, Ye Changsheng stopped in front of a door when he reached the thirteenth step. With a gentle push, the door opened.

It is said that after Cheng Errong died, everyone felt it was bad luck and did not touch his belongings or enter his room.

Changsheng fumbled to light a lamp. In the dim, flickering candlelight, the room was filled with mottled shadows that moved with him.

The room hadn't been opened for several days, so the smell inside was somewhat stuffy and damp. It was a very simple room with no unnecessary decorations: a slightly narrow bed, two pairs of old cloth shoes in front of the bed, a copper basin, and a small, worn table under the window piled with books—it was easy to see that Cheng Errong was indeed a studious person.

Changsheng placed the candle on the table and began to flip through the books on it with great interest. One of them was particularly thick, and the pages were worn at the corners, as if it had been frequently read. Changsheng pulled it out and brought it close to the candlelight. On the dark yellow cover were several large seal characters—"Yingfa Zaoshi".

Changsheng had some recollection of this book. It seemed to be compiled by a man named Li Jie based on Yu Hao's "Carpentry Classic" from the Liangzhe region. Not long ago, it was also compiled by the Song Dynasty's Imperial Workshops under imperial order. It was a book of design and construction specifications for craftsmen.

He flipped through a few pages; it described some materials and showed many beams and pillars. Nothing particularly special. Just as he was about to put it back, something slipped out. Changsheng picked it up; it was a thin book with a dark cover, strangely without a title. Gently opening it, he discovered a piece of paper tucked inside one of the pages.

Although it was only a few strokes, it was not hard to tell that the drawing on the paper was of a bridge, and it seemed very familiar. Changsheng wondered if it was because all the bridges in the world looked too similar, until he saw a tree at the head of the bridge in the drawing and suddenly realized—wasn't this the Ruyang Bridge?

I carefully used two fingers to hold the paper aside. If it really was the work of the bridge god, as people say, I didn't want to be implicated without knowing why.

Turning to the page of that nameless book, I saw four small characters written on the title page: "Lu Ban's Exorcism".

"Rang" is a ritual to expel evil, and "Rangjie"... probably means praying to the gods to dispel disasters. After turning a few more pages, the book described various kinds of exorcism techniques, most of which were related to residential houses and temple buildings.

Suddenly, he noticed that a page was folded. Changsheng smoothed the corner of the page, and on the yellowed paper, he saw an illustration and several lines of small text. Changsheng read it aloud softly—"Da Sheng Zhuang".

After quickly reading through the few lines of small print, Changsheng felt a chill run down his spine. He put away the book and paper, swallowed hard, grabbed the lamp, and ran off in a flash.

The next morning

"Miss Ye, hurry, hurry!" Bai Yuan was clearly very happy at this moment, her eyes shining and her face flushed. She beckoned to Ye Changsheng with one hand and carried a small bamboo basket with the other. Inside the basket were several bundles of incense.

"Ah..." Ye Changsheng was looking at the roadside stalls when he heard this. He turned around and looked apologetically at Bai Yuan, who was beaming with joy. Seeing her so excited, he didn't want to spoil the fun, so he quickly walked over.

According to Bai Yuan, she went to the Bridge God Temple to fulfill a vow. Seeing her shy and girlish appearance, Ye Changsheng swallowed the question that was about to slip out, and what came out was: "Is this Bridge God Temple really that effective?"

Bai Yuan nodded repeatedly, her face full of piety, and said, "I've heard people say that the Bridge God Temple in our Changqiao Town used to be built at the west end of the town. It was dilapidated and abandoned because it had been neglected for many years. But thirty years ago, the village head renovated it and moved it to the east of the town, which is the Bridge God Temple we have now. It's very effective. It's been decades, and the incense has been burning brightly ever since."

Ye Changsheng nodded as if he had just realized something, and said with great admiration, "This bridge god truly brings blessings to the people of this region."

The little girl became even more excited, chattering incessantly about the miracles along the way. For example, Granny Zhang, who sold tofu at the town entrance, lost a winnowing basket, but after praying to the bridge god, she immediately found it under the stone mill. The eldest daughter of Old Zhong next door was twenty-eight years old and still hadn't received any marriage proposals. Her family got anxious and prayed to the bridge god together. A month later, Scholar Zhang from the neighboring town came to propose marriage. There was also Grandpa Liu, Uncle Zhang, the second wife of the county magistrate... In short, the miracles of the bridge god were always happening and everywhere.

Changqiao Town wasn't very big, and with Bai Yuan chattering along the way, we arrived at the legendary Bridge God Temple after a few steps.

It is no exaggeration to say that this Bridge God Temple is a sacred place in Changqiao Town. At this moment, incense smoke swirls around the temple, and a steady stream of pilgrims arrive here, their hands clasped together, their expressions very solemn.

The semi-new temple, shrouded in a hazy mist, resembled a talisman hidden in an ancient book, appearing somewhat silent and eerie.

Bai Yuan went to offer incense, and Ye Changsheng wandered around, bypassing the large four-legged bronze incense burner in front of the temple. He entered the temple, which had a blue brick and stone floor, and the pillars were painted red, though the color had darkened somewhat with age. Directly opposite were two life-sized statues of bridge gods, one on each side of the incense table: neither benevolent bodhisattvas nor monstrous demons—they rather resembled the boy and girl attendants beside Guanyin. The temple ceiling was very high, with intricate floral patterns that were dazzling to the eye, but Ye Changsheng did not feel any sense of spaciousness; instead, he felt an unusual sense of oppression.

Ye Changsheng walked around the statue with great interest and sighed that the bridge god statue was lifelike and exquisite. The two children were dressed in red, stood with their hands clasped and had kind faces. It was hard to see any connection between them and the stone arch bridge on Ruyang Bridge. After weighing it, he reached out and poked it.

Suddenly, a Taoist priest dressed in plain clothes, who looked like a temple keeper, appeared in the back hall. He stared at Ye Changsheng and her finger with a sharp look and a wary expression, saying, "Young lady, you must not offend the bridge god."

Embarrassed, Ye Changsheng withdrew his hand, waving apologetically to indicate that he had absolutely no intention of offending the Bridge God. He said hesitantly, "I just wanted to see the words behind the statue..."

The Taoist priest in plain clothes narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice, saying slowly, "Miss, are you seeing things? Where did you get these words from..."

"that is……"

Before Ye Changsheng could answer, Bai Yuan, carrying a basket, interrupted with a smile: "Isn't this Mr. Ke? It's good to see you again." She then took Ye Changsheng's hand and introduced her warmly: "This is Miss Ye, who has been a guest at your residence these past few days."

The "Mr. Ke" nodded slightly, glanced at Ye Changsheng, and then turned and left.

Bai Yuan asked in confusion, "Was Miss Ye talking to Mr. Ke just now? Do you know each other?"

Ye Changsheng thought for a moment and decided it was best not to tell the devout believer of the bridge god what had just happened. He paused, then smiled and nodded.

Sure enough, when Bai Yuan saw her nod, she grinned and said vividly, "Miss Ye, you don't know, this Mr. Ke used to be one of our family's people!"

"Oh?" Changsheng asked, puzzled.

"Ah, don't let Mr. Ke's current appearance—around fifty years old and dressed in a simple Taoist robe—suggest to me that the elders in the manor said he was a truly handsome and learned man in his youth. Oh, by the way, Er Rong would come to this Bridge God Temple to consult with him whenever he had a spare moment. It's a pity he became a temple keeper here, spending his days with only the dim light of the lamp, and decades have passed in the blink of an eye..."

Changsheng wanted to speak, but didn't know what to say. He coughed a few times and then shut up. Amid Bai Yuan's chatter, the two of them returned to the mansion.

In the garden

The courtyard of the "Fairy Palace" was naturally filled with flowers, and the trees were lush and tall. The bonsai and flowers were arranged in a pleasing manner, showing that much effort had been put into it. The sky was gradually darkening, and Ye Changsheng had been grumbling to himself when he entered. Now he was even more grumbling—he probably shouldn't have sent Bai Yuan to stroll in the garden alone, especially on such a dark evening. The courtyard, with its abundant flowers and plants, seemed somewhat quiet and eerie.

Besides the various flowers, plants, and trees that Ye Changsheng didn't recognize, the courtyard also featured an endless peach grove. A tall object stood out prominently amidst the lush, elegant, and fragrant atmosphere of the courtyard. Just as he was about to approach to investigate, a sudden gust of cold wind blew from behind. Ye Changsheng shifted his feet, turned sideways, patted his head, and muttered to himself, "Ah... I haven't eaten yet..." before slowly walking away.