Chapter Fourteen: Upright Three, Inverted Three

Using the yellow weasel puppet to seduce people was a trick Ma Cripple often used. He had the puppet take on my grandfather’s appearance, clearly intending to take my life. His plot had failed just now, and now he blocked my path—his purpose unmistakable: he wanted me dead.

He was versed in many sinister arts, and even my grandfather never wanted to associate with such a man. As for me, a mere novice, I stood no chance against him; to confront him head-on would be suicide. So, upon seeing him, I didn’t hesitate—I turned and fled eastward.

But when I was so exhausted I could barely stand upright, I realized I couldn’t leave the village. No matter which path I took, I couldn’t escape. Night mist surged, the wind curled with ominous intent. Even though I couldn’t get out, there was nothing to do but run for my life. Fortunately, Ma Cripple’s limp kept him from catching up immediately.

Near the entrance to Laojieling Village was a grove of poplar trees. The main road led nowhere, so I tried weaving through the woods. When I emerged, I found a road—a dirt path, wide, flanked by wild grass. I had grown up in Laojieling Village, yet never knew such a road existed beyond the poplars.

Curiosity stirred within me. Perhaps this road would lead out; desperate for any hope, I decided to try. The dirt path was free of mist and wind, tranquil and clear despite the darkness. Scattered on the road were a few round paper coins with square holes—the kind thrown during funeral processions.

Dong, dong, dong...

As I walked, the sudden sound of a rattle startled me, nearly snapping my nerves. That sound haunted me; I wanted to run, but when I turned, I found the road behind had vanished, replaced by a haze with nothing visible. The poplar woods I’d just left were gone.

Dong, dong, dong... dong, dong, dong...

The sound drew closer, and a shadow appeared ahead. He carried a heavy load on his shoulders, and though I couldn’t see his face, I knew it was the peddler who had twice come to my house asking for water.

Having just escaped Ma Cripple, I now ran into him? How could my luck be so cursed?

In an instant, the shadow stood before me. His face was shrouded in darkness, his expression unreadable, yet I could feel a cold, sinister smile that chilled me to the bone.

“Young man, we meet again—fate, truly!” His words were icy, and the temperature seemed to drop further. After asking, he set down his burden.

His load was heavy, having hunched him over. Now straightening, he stepped toward me. “Young man, how did you end up on this road?”

Before I could answer, he asked, with a hint of delight, “Did your grandfather finally change his mind?”

I didn’t know how to respond. He harbored ill intentions toward my grandfather; one wrong word might bring harm. Seeing my silence, he glanced back at his load and said, “No need to be afraid. I just returned from Baiqing Temple. My business is done for today. I’m only asking, not here to borrow water.”

I glanced at his load and asked, “Who are you, really?”

The peddler gave a cold laugh and ignored me, hoisting his burden again. The carrying pole bent under its weight as he chanted, “Exchange scissors, exchange knife handles, sharp kitchen knives, good scissors, thread and soap, matches, candy, tobacco pipes, anything to trade, anything to buy...”

Calling out as he walked, he soon vanished into the darkness.

In the spot where he’d set down his load, just as before outside my door, were two pools of filthy blood.

What was inside the peddler’s load?

As I pondered, I heard the rustling of poplar leaves stirred by cold wind, like ghostly applause. The dirt road I’d been walking on faded away; in a daze, I found myself back in the poplar grove. In the distance, Ma Cripple was limping through the woods, searching.

Seeing this, I quickly turned to leave, but unfortunately stepped on a dry branch, which cracked sharply.

The sound drew Ma Cripple’s attention, and he looked my way. Instantly, four or five dark shadows gathered around him—his puppets, surely. He pointed at me, and they floated swiftly toward me.

My heart leapt to my throat as I ran desperately, directionless, like a headless fly.

At the brink of disaster, I suddenly heard a voice.

“Lin Yi, follow me!”

Startled, I stopped. In the grass, a pale, disheveled face appeared. The shock nearly made me cry out. She gestured urgently for me to come over.

With the puppets about to pounce, I had no choice but to follow her. Into the grass I dove, and He Xiaojing said, “Lin Yi, run straight this way; no matter what you hear, don’t look back. When you see the big willow tree, circle it three times clockwise, three times counterclockwise, bite your tongue, and you’ll wake up!”

“Bite my tongue and I’ll wake up?” I didn’t quite understand, yet somehow sensed the meaning, though it remained elusive.

“Hurry, they’re coming!” Her voice was anxious.

“What about you?” I asked.

She didn’t reply, but strode out of the grass to block the puppets’ path. Watching her frail silhouette, my heart suddenly ached.

I glanced into the depths of the grass—pitch-black, bottomless. Seeing He Xiaojing confronting the puppets, I wondered: Should I really leave her behind? Could she handle them?

As I hesitated, she called again, “Lin Yi, why aren’t you leaving?”

Distracted by her reminder, she lost focus, and one puppet tackled her to the ground. But He Xiaojing opened her mouth, revealing sharp teeth, and bit a hole in the puppet’s neck. Smoke hissed from the wound, the puppet writhing in agony. She seized the moment to break free.

The puppet was tossed aside, quickly shriveling into a white paper straw figure.

Seeing this, I gritted my teeth. Staying would only hinder her, so without hesitation, I plunged into the depths of the grass.

I ran for my life, wasting no time—first for my grandfather, then for He Xiaojing, who’d just risked herself to save me. Neither could come to harm.

I didn’t know how long I ran, but finally, the path opened up.

The night mist swirled, revealing a large willow tree.

This willow stood before Madam Wang’s house, but unlike usual, the surroundings were barren—no buildings, only wasteland.

He Xiaojing had just saved me; I trusted her intentions weren’t malicious. Ghosts may lie, but not always. So, without hesitation, I followed her instructions: circled the old willow three times clockwise, three times counterclockwise, then bit my tongue.

Instantly, piercing pain flooded me, with a salty tang in my mouth, making my whole body tense. Yet my mind grew hazy and dizzy.

I collapsed, light as air, and darkness closed in.

After some time, my mouth dry and tongue parched, I coughed and sat up. To my surprise, I found myself lying on a wooden bed.

Where was I?

At the bedside, a candle flickered, warmth soothing my spirit.

Sitting nearby was Madam Wang, dressed in a blue-and-white cheongsam. She held a damp towel, and seeing me sit up, she asked, “Child, how did it go? Did the girl agree to your marriage?”

Rubbing the back of my head, I gradually regained my senses.

With a sigh, I replied, “I didn’t perform well. She refused.”

Madam Wang frowned slightly, apparently unaware of what I’d just been through. She asked again, “Did you give her that pair of red hairpins?”

Mentioning the hairpins, I pulled them from my pocket and opened the box. Madam Wang was startled, standing up as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. After a moment, she picked up the broken hairpin and said, “This isn’t the engagement gift I gave you. This pair is fake—look closely!”

Examining them, I realized the box contained not hairpins, but two twigs, one end stuck with a lump of dough.

“How could this be?” I asked.

Madam Wang shook her head. Aside from my grandfather’s affairs, she was always calm, but this matter troubled her—clearly, the hairpins were important.

“Child, tell me: I performed the ritual for you to walk the nether path and propose to Miss Ye. What exactly did you experience?” she asked solemnly.

I told her everything that had happened. She listened and said, “That’s not right. Before you left, I told you your bride was at the old burial slope. Why would I need to lead you there?”

Her words made me realize she was right.

But in the nether state, my mind was muddled; I couldn’t grasp it. I didn’t even understand He Xiaojing’s instructions to circle the willow and bite my tongue, though Madam Wang had already taught me this before I left.

Since Madam Wang hadn’t guided me to the old burial slope, someone else must have led me. Remembering Ma Cripple’s puppet disguised as my grandfather, I guessed Ma Cripple must have swapped the hairpins.

The real hairpins were likely in Ma Cripple’s possession.

Thus, Ma Cripple’s interference in my marriage wasn’t just to harm my grandfather—he had another aim: to have someone from the Ma family marry into the Ye family. Otherwise, why steal the engagement gift? As I pondered this, Madam Wang said something unexpected: “Child, now you see how sought-after your bride is?”

At such a time, she still joked? I didn’t want to discuss it, so I asked about my grandfather’s situation, and He Xiaojing, who’d blocked the puppets for me.

Madam Wang said she’d sent He Xiaojing, assuring me she’d be fine.

Mentioning my grandfather, anxiety gnawed at me; I couldn’t sit still. Tonight was his critical hour. I hadn’t married my ghost bride—wouldn’t Grandpa...

At that moment, footsteps sounded from the adjacent room.