Chapter Eight: An Old Ox Grazing on Fresh Grass

As the chilling wind swept across my face, I braced myself, expecting him to collide with me. Yet, all I felt was an icy gust, cold enough to seep into my bones, making me shudder and break out in cold sweat along my back. When I turned again, he was already at the door of my grandfather’s room.

I knew that if this man entered my grandfather’s room, the odds were overwhelmingly against my grandfather surviving. I wanted to shout to stop him, but the words caught in my throat, unable to escape.

“The soul of Lin Tianjian, the sunlit path fades, this road ends here. The shadowed path stretches far—if you do not go now, when will you?”

The peddler’s voice was eerie, as if it echoed up from beneath the earth, sending shivers down my spine and making my head swim. I could barely stand.

He did not move, yet the door to my grandfather’s room creaked open. Inside was pitch-black, and I had no idea what state my grandfather was in.

The peddler stood at the threshold, repeating his call several times, but the room remained silent.

My grandfather did not come out.

He seemed puzzled, then snorted coldly. “Why linger in this mundane world? The King of the Underworld decrees your death at midnight—let’s see who dares to keep you till dawn!”

With that, he strode toward my grandfather’s room, and from nowhere, produced a pitch-black iron chain with a hook. Was this man a soul-catcher from the underworld? I remembered my grandfather’s stories: soul-catchers drag souls away with black iron chains, piercing the collarbone, and no matter how mighty the soul, it cannot resist.

I used to doubt these tales, thinking they were just meant to amuse children. But now, seeing this scene unfold, I understood he had spoken the truth.

Watching as my grandfather was about to be taken, I was beside myself with anxiety.

But I could not move.

Just as despair overwhelmed me, a sharp clang rang out from within the room, as if something had fallen to the floor. The peddler glanced down and muttered to himself, “Interesting. I didn’t expect a Taoist to meddle in such sordid affairs—what boldness!”

His words were resolute. I thought he’d continue his attempt to seize my grandfather, but unexpectedly, his steps halted and he hesitated.

He gritted his teeth, withdrew from the room, shot me a glance, his lips curling into a strange smile. “Young man, since your family has no water today, I won’t trouble you further. I’ll try another house and see if I can beg for a drink!”

With that, he turned and left.

As he reached outside and lifted his carrying pole, he looked back and said, “Young man, don’t think a Taoist thunderstruck wood can scare me. I didn’t consult the almanac before setting out today—it’s not a day to act. Your grandfather is lucky, but I will return! The cycle of fate, the twenty-ninth day is the limit. Your grandfather has done what he should not; no one can help him escape the twenty-ninth day!”

He departed with his load, heavy on his shoulder, yet his footsteps made no sound.

Only when the peddler’s figure vanished did I regain movement, my legs weak beneath me. I took several deep breaths and hurried to bolt the main door tightly. I also noticed two puddles of foul blood where the peddler had rested his carrying pole.

Whatever he carried was surely nothing good.

Securing the door, I rushed to my grandfather’s room. He was still unconscious, seemingly unchanged. I picked up the ruler and placed it on the bedside table.

I wondered, why did the peddler abandon his attempt after seeing this ruler?

Lost in thought, I heard someone calling at the door.

I immediately became alert.

“Yiwa, open up!”

It was Niu Dahuang’s voice.

After closing my grandfather’s door, I walked lightly to the main entrance and peered through the crack. It was indeed Niu Dahuang, carrying his medicine box.

“Yiwa, hurry, open the door. I’ve got urgent business. Did you hear the sound of the rattle earlier? Did the peddler come to your house?”

Niu Dahuang had come to discuss this. It seemed he was genuine, and right now, I was desperate and unsure who else to turn to. Aside from him, I had no one.

Upon opening the door, Niu Dahuang asked if the peddler had come.

I told him yes. Niu Dahuang’s face changed color, exclaiming, “He really came? Damn! How’s your grandfather now?”

He hurried inside as I recounted the events, explaining that the peddler had seen the ruler and suddenly left. I also asked who the peddler really was. Niu Dahuang sighed and said, “I don’t know who the peddler really is. I asked your grandfather—he said it seems he’s from below!”

“Below? The underworld?” I asked.

“I don’t know, I don’t understand these things.” Niu Dahuang paused, checked my grandfather’s condition, and his expression grew grave. He said the black pills’ effects were waning, and my grandfather’s body was showing signs of livor mortis—the situation was dire. Moreover, since the peddler had come once and failed, he would surely return. Taoist items might block him once, but not a second time.

I asked why. Niu Dahuang said it was Taoist custom, but he couldn’t say for sure.

Afterward, Niu Dahuang fell silent, packed his pipe, and smoked deeply. He sighed, as though wrestling with a difficult decision.

“Grandpa Niu, what’s wrong?” I asked.

“Yiwa, tell me honestly—do you want your grandfather to live?” Niu Dahuang took a deep drag, tapped out the ash solemnly, and asked with utmost seriousness.

It was a foolish question. Without hesitation, I replied, “Of course! If you have a way, why not say so sooner?”

Niu Dahuang sighed again, offering no explanation.

Then he said, “Alright, go to Dongwa Village now!”

Dongwa Village was the neighboring village to ours, Old Jieling, to the east, near the mouth of Old Jiezi Ravine, about seven or eight li away. The recently deceased Ma Quezi lived there. I couldn’t fathom why Niu Dahuang suddenly wanted me to go to Dongwa Village.

Staring blankly at him, I asked, “Why go to Dongwa Village now?”

“To find your grandmother!”

His words nearly made my jaw drop. Everyone knew my grandfather was a hermit, afflicted with the five evils and three lacks, doomed to solitude, a lifelong bachelor. How could I possibly have a grandmother?

Seeing my silence, Niu Dahuang took another drag and said, “What’s wrong, don’t believe you have a grandmother? Your grandfather was handsome when young, a leading lad in the opera troupe—a line of pretty girls queued from the village gate to the end, each prettier than the last!”

It wasn’t disbelief, just surprise. My grandfather had never mentioned any of this.

Niu Dahuang then told me that my grandmother was named Wang Qinghua, known in Dongwa Village as Granny Wang the Spirit Woman. I’d heard of Ma Quezi, the hermit, so naturally I’d heard of Wang the Spirit Woman too. Eager to save my grandfather, I didn’t dwell on it, setting off that night.

Niu Dahuang stayed behind to watch over my grandfather.

Dongwa Village was seven or eight li away. I rode my bicycle and arrived quickly, finding Granny Wang’s house. The village was quite far from ours, so I’d never been before.

Under a large willow tree stood a house of old blue bricks and tiles.

A tall gatehouse, shrouded in night, faintly revealed the glazed tiles above the entrance, inscribed with three characters: “Wang’s Residence,” bearing the marks of time.

The architecture exuded an ancient air, clearly a residence of some years. I hadn’t expected Dongwa Village to have such a place—remarkable, indeed.

I knocked on the door. After a moment, someone inside asked, “Who is it?”

“I… I’m from Old Jieling Village. I’m looking for Granny Wang, it’s urgent!”

I replied, and the redwood door creaked open.

A middle-aged woman in a dress embroidered with blue flowers stood at the door, sizing me up. The dim streetlight made it hard to see her face, but I could sense a distinct, elegant aura about her.

“Sorry to bother you, auntie. I have urgent business and need Granny Wang’s help!” I spoke directly, worried about my grandfather’s condition. Only the dead develop livor mortis—I didn’t know if my grandfather could be saved.

“Come in.”

I followed her inside.

She brewed tea for me. By the lamplight, I glanced at her; she looked to be in her forties, though it was hard to tell for sure. Granny Wang was my grandmother, living in Granny Wang’s house—perhaps she was my aunt?

Naturally, I didn’t dare address her rashly. My grandfather’s situation was dire, so I said, “I’m sorry, could you help me summon Granny Wang? I have urgent business, I can’t wait!”

The woman paused her movements and looked at me, saying, “No need. I am she. Speak your mind. If I can help, I won’t refuse.”

Her words stunned me. This elegant woman in a blue-flowered cheongsam, barely forty-five, was Granny Wang? In my mind, spirit women should be shabby old crones. And Niu Dahuang said Granny Wang was my grandmother—so young? Was my grandfather robbing the cradle in his day?

Seeing my silence, Granny Wang placed the teacup before me. “What’s wrong, don’t believe I can help you?”

“I believe you, I do!” With no one else to turn to, I recounted the whole story to Granny Wang.

But upon hearing it was about Lin Tianjian, she snatched the teacup away and shoved me toward the door. In desperation, I called out, “Grandmother!”

Of course, this was what Niu Dahuang had taught me: if Granny Wang refused, call her grandmother. After all, she was my grandmother, nothing wrong with that. Once I called her, Granny Wang, seeing her grandson, would surely soften and help.

But the outcome was nothing like Niu Dahuang promised. As soon as I uttered the word—

The door opened, and a teacup flew out.

The tea wasn’t hot, but it hit with surprising force, precise and unyielding.

I couldn’t dodge, my face swelled with pain.

“The life or death of Lin Tianjian is none of my business! If you keep calling me grandmother, I’ll cut out your tongue!” She was nothing like the elegant woman I’d seen moments ago.

Next came the sound of the door being barred from inside. I was utterly at a loss. I could feel Granny Wang’s deep resentment, though I didn’t know what my grandfather had done to deserve it.

Given the situation, if Granny Wang didn’t personally strangle my grandfather, it would already be merciful—asking her to save him was impossible!

I finally understood why Niu Dahuang hadn’t told me about my grandmother at first.

It seemed this trip would be fruitless.

I waited a while longer, but Granny Wang showed no sign of changing her mind. Realizing there was no hope, I gave up and started back. But as I walked a few steps, a strange mist began to rise beneath the crooked old willow tree ahead.