Chapter 17: Ah Zhong

Wei Li could sense the shift in Wen Bai’s tone. Her hands gripped Guangzong’s robe tightly as she looked up at him, a flicker of confusion and helplessness in her pale eyes. She reached out, intending to seize him and drag him back, but the sound of armor scraping and steady footsteps echoed from behind. Wen Bai glanced back warily, only to find countless soldiers poised with spears, ready for battle.

“I am late, Your Highness. Please forgive me,” the leading general knelt on one knee, saluting Wei Li.

“Li’er, it has been a long time. Where did you learn such illusions?”

Wen Bai showed no surprise; he was well versed in illusions. These were mere phantoms, meant to intimidate with an imposing facade, but possessing no real power. Ignoring the soldiers, he insisted on taking Wei Li away. Yet, in the next moment, he realized his mistake—a spear pierced his body. As blood spilled from the wound, clarity struck him: this was no illusion. These were the ghost soldiers her father left her.

The pain was like being torn apart. Wen Bai gripped the spear and wrenched himself free. Blood sigils scattered into the air, yellow paper money fluttering in the gloomy sky, whirling through palace corridors like specters. Suddenly, a flash of lightning split the silence overhead, thunder roared, rousing the spirits of the earth, and rain fell in silvery swords, lashing violently against clothing as if to cleanse the heavens’ wrath.

The thunder sounded just like the blood sacrifices of the past. Wei Li, frightened, buried her face in Guangzong’s neck, but Wen Bai’s cries for help reached her ears, mingled with the pouring rain.

“Stop!”

Wei Li’s sharp voice pierced the heavens. The thunder, rain, and cries ceased instantly. She slowly opened her eyes—no one remained before her, only scattered blood sigils and crimson stains marking a fierce battle.

Wen Bai pressed his wounded abdomen as he fled back to his house. The gatekeeper was startled, but before he could recover from his shock, Wen Bai slit his throat. Blood coursed down Wen Bai’s own throat, a strange sensation seeping into his veins. For the first time, color returned to his gray face. Smiling, he slaughtered everyone in the house.

Wen Bai closed his eyes, leisurely reclining in the pool of blood, every wound on his body masked by the crimson tide. Tang Ying approached, crouched close, her cold breath brushing against his cheek: “In the end, she did not choose you.”

Wen Bai gave no answer. Tang Ying continued, “Let me inhabit her body. I promise I’ll obey your every wish.”

Wen Bai’s eyes snapped open, glaring at Tang Ying, who could see the hatred burning within them. “If you dare covet Wei Li, I’ll make sure you cannot live nor die!”

Tang Ying, clearly intimidated, took a step back, masking her panic with a smile. “How could I dare covet her? I’ve heard your skills are extraordinary. After all I’ve helped you with, might you grant me a body?”

“Kill Guangzong!”

“You know my abilities, and Guangzong is shielded by Buddhist light. I have no such power.”

“What about the fox?”

Tang Ying merely smiled and vanished into the moonlight.

Guangzong awoke in the Mountain God Temple. When he opened the door, he saw Wei Li lying on a bench in the courtyard, basking in the sun. Only then did his heart settle. He donned his robe and stepped out. Wei Li heard the approaching footsteps and slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Guangzong, she no longer had her usual playful smile; her gaze was filled with confusion and desolation.

Before this peace could be disturbed, the fox returned, cradling a child in her arms. Her face was smeared with mud, her thin body trembling. The fox spoke anxiously, “Monk, please look at this child.”

Wei Li had wondered why the fox cared so much about human life, but then she met the child’s eyes. Despite the mud on her face, those eyes were exactly like her own. For an instant, Wei Li felt as if she were staring into a mirror. Guangzong noticed it too, but neither said a word.

The fox prepared plenty of food for the girl, filling the air with savory aromas. The girl devoured it hungrily, her small hands trembling. After she was fed, the fox had already drawn her bath and readied clean clothes. As expected, when the girl washed away the dirt and dressed anew, she looked just like Wei Li—her features, her figure, so similar that only the expression in her eyes differed.

The girl looked at them timidly, delicate and vulnerable. “My name is Ah Chong… I was separated from my parents while fleeing disaster… Thank you, benefactors!”

She bowed deeply to them. The fox hurried to help her up, but Wei Li felt strangely uncomfortable, as if watching herself bow and scrape, which she found intolerable. She returned to the courtyard to bask in the sun. But Ah Chong’s arrival completely upended her life.

Ah Chong was gentle and grateful to everyone, and her needlework was superb. Previously, when Guangzong or the fox tore their clothes, Guangzong would patch them—awkwardly, but wearable. Now, Ah Chong could sew flawless stitches and took over all chores: washing, cooking, cleaning, scrubbing.

She dazzled the fox, who was ever-changing in appearance, trying every day to catch Ah Chong’s eye.

Wei Li was not prone to jealousy, but Guangzong and the fox often compared her to Ah Chong, urging her to learn from the girl. Already uncomfortable with Ah Chong, Wei Li grew angrier at their constant praise, packed her things, and moved to the Mountain God Temple.

Yue Shi welcomed her warmly, hastily preparing a room. Wei Li expected Guangzong or the fox to come begging her to return, but days passed without a glimpse of them.

Unable to bear it, Wei Li sneaked back to see what they were up to, only to find the three living happily in the temple.

Wei Li pried up a tile above the meditation room. The incense inside smelled different than before. She saw Ah Chong’s cheeks flushed as she wrapped a measuring tape around Guangzong’s waist—he was dressed only in his undergarments. After much fuss, she finished measuring and put away the tape, her face crimson.

Guangzong, of course, did nothing improper. He dressed and continued his prayers, but Ah Chong lingered, unwilling to leave. At last, she spoke, “Master, I am but a woman, illiterate and ignorant of Buddhist teachings, yet my heart yearns for the Dharma. Could you answer my questions?”

Don’t agree! She wants to take advantage of you! Wei Li screamed inwardly.

“It’s late, Miss Ah Chong. You should rest. The Buddha dwells in the heart.”

Wei Li silently praised Guangzong a thousand times, took out a gold leaf from her pocket, and sat on the rooftop to watch the scene unfold.

But Ah Chong’s next move stunned Wei Li. She wrapped her arms around Guangzong’s waist, burying her head in his broad chest. “Master, Ah Chong… Ah Chong has admired you for a long time…”

The gold leaf slipped from Wei Li’s hand. She hadn’t expected Ah Chong to be so bold.

Wait—why say “also”?

Guangzong, usually composed, didn’t push her away or utter any platitudes about propriety. His cheeks flushed, as if drunk. This infuriated Wei Li even more—how could she let someone else claim what was hers? Just as she was about to storm in and play the jealous consort, Guangzong pushed Ah Chong away, closed the door, and collapsed, gasping for breath.

Wei Li jumped down from the rooftop. Guangzong was surprised to see her, but had no strength left to speak. Wei Li noticed the unfamiliar scent in the meditation room—it was an aphrodisiac poison. Guangzong felt feverish, dizzy, and reached out to cling to Wei Li’s lower body, mumbling, “Hot… so hot…”

Wei Li’s icy fingers brushed his cheek. Seeing Guangzong’s half-lidded, dreamlike eyes, she pressed her lips to his. Instantly, his mind cleared a bit—he opened his eyes wide, restless and trembling as he looked at Wei Li.

“Monk, you’re the one seducing me!” No sooner had she spoken than her lips met his again, drifting to his ear, whispering warm, tantalizing breaths as she nibbled from earlobe to neck.

Guangzong struggled for breath, his hands clenched so tightly blood seeped from them, but Wei Li cared nothing for this. She would not let the aphrodisiac go to waste. Besides, it was Guangzong who had seduced her—she couldn’t be blamed for lacking resistance.

Wei Li’s cold hands slipped beneath his clothes. The contrast of her chill against his burning skin made Guangzong shudder. Wei Li quickly pressed him to the ground, but unexpectedly, Guangzong restrained her hands. “Wei Li, I am a monk!” His low voice was full of anger.

Wei Li was pleased—he hadn’t mistaken her for Ah Chong.

“Monk, I don’t have to devour you whole, but you must promise me one thing!”

“What is it?”

“Renounce your vows for me!”

Guangzong’s face grew angrier. “Impossible!”

“Then I’ll…” Wei Li leaned in, flashing a sly smile.

Just as she was about to make her move, Guangzong finally relented. “Give me thirty years.”

Twenty years would pass in the blink of an eye for Wei Li. She rolled her eyes, found the deal acceptable, and agreed. What she didn’t realize was that, for Guangzong in his prime, thirty years would leave him old and worn. Even if he survived, he’d be a weathered elder, and renouncing his vows would have little meaning. How could Wei Li, so young and vibrant, still care for an old man?

Wei Li, oblivious to the trap, rejoiced. “Then in thirty years, I’ll sleep with you again!”