Chapter 10: Gentle Shade

When they arrived at the restaurant, Si Beixu led Wei Li up to the second floor. The night staff whispered among themselves at the sight, speculating about the relationship between Si Beixu and the young woman he brought back so late. In their minds, it was obvious—men always favored youth, and this was the conclusion of those who delighted in gossip.

Si Beixu opened the door, and Wei Li stepped inside, noting the tasteful decor. Though not extravagant, everything was in its proper place. Under the bright lights, Si Beixu's face appeared even more severe. "Did you notice anything unusual?" he asked.

"Where's the gold leaf?" Wei Li replied.

Si Beixu fetched at least a dozen sheets of gold leaf from the drawer. Wei Li's eyes sparkled, and she picked up one, settling onto the sofa to eat it absentmindedly. Si Beixu found her behavior strange—indeed, Wei Li herself was an enigma. He repeated, "Did you notice anything odd in this room?"

"How could I, so quickly? Be patient, the night is deep already—go to sleep."

With no other choice, Si Beixu took off his coat and entered the bathroom. After a while, he emerged, towel in hand, drying his damp hair, only to find Wei Li already asleep on the sofa, half a sheet of gold leaf in her hand. He drew his pistol and pointed it at her forehead, but she slumbered on, undisturbed. Si Beixu couldn't help but chuckle quietly, placing the gun on the table and covering her with a blanket.

In his dreams, Si Beixu felt something pressing down on him. He woke with a start to find the dark barrel of a gun aimed at his head, his sleepy eyes instantly wide with terror. The one holding the gun was Wei Li.

How had Wei Li, despite his highly trained vigilance, managed to climb onto his bed and point a gun at him without him noticing? Thankfully, the pistol was unloaded.

Wei Li suddenly smiled and lowered the weapon. "So that's the expression people make when they're staring down a gun."

Fear faded from Si Beixu's face, replaced by sternness. He pushed Wei Li off him, then went to wash. From the bathroom, he heard her voice: "Don't ever point a gun at me again." Her calm tone had a strange force, and his hand paused mid-brush.

Dressed in crisp uniform and gleaming shoes, Si Beixu told Wei Li her toiletries would be delivered soon, urging her to remain in the room to catch the spirit. Wei Li refused, declaring that evil spirits never stayed in one place; she must follow him everywhere to catch it. Si Beixu found her reasoning sound, and Wei Li was already dressed and ready to leave.

Now, the rumors grew even more fevered. Not only had Si Beixu brought a young woman home at midnight, he paraded her through town the next day. Some recognized her—wasn't this the girl Governor Li once cherished above all? How had she become Si Beixu's woman overnight?

The gossip reached Li Sheng, who was languishing from Wei Li's absence. Furious, he dressed in uniform and marched to the public office to confront Si Beixu. Entering the office, he saw Wei Li sprawled bored across the desk. Hearing someone come in, she didn't look up, but mischievously called out, "Beixu, where did you go? I missed you so much..."

Li Sheng was overcome with jealousy; Si Beixu, following behind, was stunned. Before he could rebuke her, Li Sheng's fist sent him sprawling to the floor. "Commander, she's my woman! Mine! How could you—!"

Wei Li finally looked up at the tangled pair, not embarrassed or ashamed, but watching with mocking eyes. His woman? When had she ever become the woman of such a coward?

Unprovoked, Si Beixu's anger flared as he was struck by his subordinate. He kicked Li Sheng away, and the staff rushed to separate them. Unexpectedly, both men drew their pistols, aiming at each other's foreheads, the scene spiraling out of control.

"Li Sheng, are you rebelling?" Si Beixu glared at Li Sheng, whose eyes were bloodshot—gone was his former clarity and decisiveness as a strategist. Si Beixu felt a pang of sorrow.

"Commander, I beg you, give Wei Li back to me... Without her, I'll die. She's my world..."

"Look at yourself, Li Sheng! Do you have any dignity left as a soldier?" Si Beixu rebuked him.

Dignity, command, authority—none of it mattered. Li Sheng wanted only Wei Li. He had waited so long for her return, and couldn't bear her to vanish again. His heart couldn't withstand another loss.

Si Beixu glanced at Wei Li, who sat at the desk, eating gold leaf and enjoying the spectacle, as if none of it concerned her.

The Daoist priest Qiushui had warned that this girl was a source of calamity, neither born nor perished, and must be imprisoned to prevent harm. Si Beixu thought it exaggerated; she was pretty, but still looked like a child. Yet she had robbed Li Sheng of his soul. Suddenly, Si Beixu felt she must not remain—once the evil spirit was dealt with, he would seek the priest to confine her.

Wei Li seemed to sense the murderous intent in Si Beixu's eyes, and rolled her eyes at him, leaning back in the chair, her feet propped defiantly on his desk, daring him to strike her.

Abruptly, Wei Li saw a student-like ghost girl beside Si Beixu. The girl stood in front of Li Sheng's gun, terrified, begging Wei Li for help.

"Li Sheng!" Wei Li finally spoke, her voice cold.

"Wei Li..."

"Put down the gun!"

"Wei Li, promise you'll come with me..."

"Did you not understand what I said?"

The sound of a pistol hitting the floor. Li Sheng was immediately pinned by the others.

Wei Li tossed her gold leaf onto the desk, rose, and walked toward the ghost girl, who trembled, forcing out a grateful "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Aren't you afraid to come out in broad daylight? Your soul could scatter."

"I'm afraid..."

"Go hide, come to the restaurant tonight, or else..." Wei Li flashed her carnivorous little fangs.

The ghost vanished instantly.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded, as Wei Li spoke to the empty air. She turned to Si Beixu with a meaningful smile, then sat back in the chair, eating gold leaf, indifferent as Li Sheng was dragged away. When Si Beixu finished his work and pushed open the office door to question her, he found Wei Li already asleep.

Si Beixu, showing no chivalry, prodded Wei Li awake. She half-opened her sleepy eyes as a handkerchief was thrust before her. "Wipe your drool!"

She refused. "This is obviously a token from some girl, a keepsake. If you give it to me to wipe saliva, won't that hurt her feelings?" She wiped her mouth with her sleeve instead, unconcerned as the clothes weren't hers, nor was she responsible for washing them.

"A keepsake?" Si Beixu paused.

"Has being a soldier made you so foolish?" Wei Li's mocking gaze struck him again. He shoved the handkerchief back into his pocket, asking, "What did you see just now?"

"Your old flame!"

Si Beixu was flustered by her teasing. At thirteen, he'd been conscripted; at seventeen, served as aide to the previous inspector for eighteen years. At thirty-five, he finally became inspector. Many daughters from wealthy families fancied him, but he ignored them all, his heart devoted only to the country. "Don't talk nonsense," Si Beixu said coldly.

"If she wasn't your old flame, why'd she stand in front of you to block the bullet?"

Si Beixu was stunned. "What did she look like?"

"I couldn't see clearly—she looked like a student. She'll come to us tonight. I'll eat her and resolve your worries."

Wei Li was confident, but Si Beixu's face grew somber, as if something troubled him. Wei Li noticed but didn't press. After work, she returned to the restaurant with Si Beixu. For some reason, he had the owner clean the room thoroughly. When he returned, his messy hair was neatly combed, his uniform replaced with a sharp suit, and he carried a bouquet of flowers.

"Well, the sun must be rising in the west today," Wei Li remarked, eyeing Si Beixu's transformation.

"Has she arrived yet?" Si Beixu swallowed nervously.

"Not yet. Has the sun set?" Wei Li answered, unconcerned.

Si Beixu endured his unease, waiting until deep night. At last, he couldn't help but ask, "Is she here?"

"She is," Wei Li replied calmly.

"When did she arrive?" For once, Si Beixu's face betrayed panic.

"She's been here for over an hour, staring at you. Didn't you notice?" Wei Li's expression was half amusement, half mockery.

Si Beixu's face alternated between pale and flushed. He straightened his tie and cautiously asked, "Is it you, Qingyin?"

The ghost girl nodded tearfully.

Unfortunately, Si Beixu couldn't see her. An indescribable awkwardness filled the air.

Si Beixu glowered at Wei Li, who raised a brow. "I didn't kill her—why stare at me?"

Si Beixu was exasperated, reaching for his gun, but Wei Li laughed, "Ten sheets of gold leaf per question."

Wasn't she just exploiting the situation? Si Beixu had no choice but to agree.

Through their conversation, Wei Li learned the ghost's name was Qingyin, Si Beixu's childhood friend from his hometown.

As a child, Si Beixu always said he'd marry Qingyin when he grew up and have many chubby sons; Qingyin shyly agreed. But things never went as planned. When war loomed, able-bodied youths were conscripted. Si Beixu was seized on his way home.

He was lucky, surviving the battlefield and rising to chief strategist thanks to a benefactor. He returned home once, but the village had been slaughtered by the enemy. His parents, neighbors—all dead. Qingyin, however, was neither seen alive nor found dead. Si Beixu sent people to search repeatedly, but she never turned up.

He grew vengeful, determined to annihilate the enemy, forsaking all personal ties to devote himself to defending his country. That way, he would have no weakness and became a victorious general.

But he didn't know that after he was taken for the army, his village had been massacred. The enemy brutally abused the young women; Qingyin was among them. She was dragged to the enemy camp and died from their violence, buried in a mass grave in the hills with many others. Their souls had no rest, unable to find peace, wandering as lonely ghosts.

They just wanted to go home...