Volume 2: Apricot Blossoms in the Rain

Chapter 1: The Arc Light Forest

A few days later, the skies cleared, and the accumulated snow began to melt.

Di Jiang pushed open her window and saw Zhong Xu sweeping snow in his courtyard. On the white tiles of his roof, a branch of budding red apricot blossoms peeked over the wall. She couldn’t help but marvel at the sight and called out teasingly, “Master Zhong, your red apricots have climbed over the wall!”

Zhong Xu’s back stiffened, and he angrily threw down the broom, his brows trembling with indignation.

Realizing she had once again said the wrong thing, Di Jiang quickly retracted her head and shut the window.

In the days that followed, Di Jiang didn’t see Zhong Xu for quite some time. Though the coffin shop remained open every day, only the tactless Changsheng was there, making it rather uninteresting. As Di Jiang leaned idly against her window one day, Shuxiang entered, carrying a basket of large white radishes.

“Boss, Abbess Liuyun from Chuyun Nunnery sent over a basket of fresh-picked radishes for you to try.”

Di Jiang glanced back and saw the plump, pristine radishes. Her appetite perked up just looking at them. Noticing they were clean and free of mud, she picked one up to examine it closely, realizing they had been carefully washed. Without hesitation, she took a big bite.

The radish was sweet and refreshing, a delight to the palate.

“Hmm, Abbess Liuyun is thoughtful,” Di Jiang mumbled through a mouthful of radish, her speech slightly slurred.

After savoring the radish to her satisfaction, she pulled a handkerchief from her drawer. This handkerchief had taken her three days to embroider personally with cloud brocade silk thread.

Originally intended as a gift for Abbess Liuyun, she had forgotten to send it due to a bout of absent-mindedness. Stroking the seven small embroidered characters in the bottom left corner—’The Buddha does not save people, only oneself’ —she remarked, “I’ve always used this phrase to remind myself. May Abbess Liuyun also attain enlightenment soon.” With that, she carefully wrapped the handkerchief and handed it to Shuxiang: “Take this to Abbess Liuyun as my token of gratitude. Make sure to deliver it into her hands personally.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Shuxiang dutifully delivered the handkerchief to Chuyun Nunnery. When he returned, he brought back another basket of radishes and an exquisitely crafted set of Liyuan Chun opera costumes.

“Abbess Liuyun said these opera costumes were donated by Prince Ru’an. He hoped they would be buried alongside Qingmei. However, Qingmei’s remains were already cremated by Zhong Xu, who, to express his regret, personally escorted her ashes back to her hometown. Since Abbess Liuyun cannot leave Chuyun Nunnery, she hopes we can deliver the costumes to Master Zhong at the coffin shop so he can bury Qingmei and the costumes together.”

“Oh? Where is Master Zhong now?”

“I asked Changsheng. Master Zhong has gone to ZHUANGYUAN Village to escort Qingmei’s ashes back to her ancestral home.”

“ZHUANGYUAN Village?”

“Yes.”

“Oh…” Di Jiang was secretly startled. The name ZHUANGYUAN Village sounded both rustic and imposing, evoking a sense of awe. What surprised her even more was Zhong Xu. Despite his outward appearance of cold-heartedness, he was actually warm-hearted, even showing care for unrelated deceased individuals. No wonder he hadn’t been seen in Taiping Prefecture for several days—he had already left.

After pondering for a moment, Di Jiang said, “Go tell Wen Yao to close the shop. We’re going on a spring outing.”

“A spring outing?” Shuxiang looked puzzled.

Di Jiang nodded: “A half-month trip to ZHUANGYUAN Village.”

Early February still carried a lingering chill. Setting out early in the morning, the fog clung heavily to their clothes, damp and cold. Along the way, they could see fallen apricot petals scattered from the previous night’s rain. Di Jiang and her two companions walked side by side down the main street of Taiping Prefecture. Shuxiang carried the luggage on his back, while Wen Yao held a lantern beside her.

The road was nearly deserted, though a few ghosts wandered about. However, they paid no heed to the trio, and the trio likewise pretended not to notice them.

“Master Zhong has only been gone for a few days, and already the old ghosts are out and about,” Wen Yao muttered.

“Indeed,” Di Jiang agreed, lowering the brim of her rain hat as they continued onward.

Twenty miles beyond the city gates lay a forest. The trees within were bare, showing no signs of life.

“Boss, how can we go on a spring outing in this weather? It’s freezing everywhere, and we’re still far from the warmth of March. Let’s go home and sleep,” Wen Yao complained, covering her nose and mouth with a handkerchief, her face full of disdain.

Di Jiang shot her a glance: “You were thrilled when you heard we were going out yesterday, shouting it all over the streets. Now, after only half a day, you’re already tired?”

“I didn’t expect it to be like this…” Wen Yao pouted.

Di Jiang sighed and consoled her: “We’ll be fine once we get out of this forest. The Arc Light Forest has become quieter thanks to Zhong Xu, but there are still lingering issues. We just need to leave before sunset.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Yao looked up at the overcast sky. “The sun had just risen when we set out—it should be noon now. Why is it so dark already? The yin energy here is overwhelming…” She shook her head repeatedly.

Di Jiang ignored her and pressed forward. After walking for another half hour, the sky had completely darkened.

“Is it already sunset?” Wen Yao wrapped herself tightly in her clothing, visibly shivering from the cold.

Shuxiang, however, remained calm. After a moment’s thought, he said, “In this forest, time sometimes becomes disconnected from the outside world. To put it simply, we’ve encountered a ghost wall.”

Di Jiang was inwardly surprised. Encountering a ghost wall at midnight wasn’t unusual, but they had entered the forest at noon, the peak of yang energy, and yet the ghosts were already so rampant?

Something was clearly amiss.

“Ah! What’s that!” Suddenly, Wen Yao let out a shriek, and the lantern in her hand fell to the ground. Without her willpower sustaining it, the light of the Everburning Lantern abruptly extinguished.

Darkness enveloped them, and it felt as if countless hands were reaching out from all directions.

“Boss, didn’t you say Zhong Xu had already cleaned out this forest? How can it still be so eerie?” Wen Yao trembled, her usual burly demeanor nowhere to be seen.

“Get off me!” Di Jiang shouted. Wen Yao had clung to her so tightly that she almost couldn’t breathe. After prying her off, a sudden light reappeared around them.

Turning her head, Di Jiang saw Shuxiang calmly picking up the lantern. In his hands, the flame of the Everburning Lantern burned brighter than when Wen Yao had held it.

“You’re usually the loudest, and now you’re the weakest!” Di Jiang scolded Wen Yao, who hung her head, too frightened to speak further.

Seeing her repentance, Di Jiang softened and asked, “What did you see earlier? Was it really that terrifying?”

“Dead people!” Wen Yao exclaimed dramatically. “So many bones, piled up like a mountain!”

“Where did you see any bones?” Shuxiang lifted the lantern and scanned the area multiple times.

Di Jiang flicked her sleeve in front of Wen Yao and sighed: “Let’s go.”

“Boss, there really were bones! Believe me!” Wen Yao’s courage seemed to return, and she frantically looked around. Eventually, she grew confused herself. “Strange, I definitely saw them earlier.”

“It’s normal to missee things in this weather,” Di Jiang said, taking the first step forward. She took the Everburning Lantern from Shuxiang and led the way.

Within half an hour, the trio exited the Arc Light Forest.

Outside the forest, the setting sun bathed them in golden light, momentarily blinding them to the path ahead. When they regained their bearings, they saw vast stretches of apricot blossoms lining the road, forming an apricot grove.

“Wow, it’s beautiful,” Wen Yao marveled, and Di Jiang was equally surprised.

The Arc Light Forest was rarely visited, and few knew of this apricot grove, which explained its pristine preservation.

“Boss, the flower deity of February is the apricot blossom. Who do you plan to write about?”

Di Jiang shook her head: “I haven’t decided yet.”

“In my opinion, you don’t need to write about anyone else. You’re the apricot flower deity yourself!”

“What do you mean by that?”

Amused, Di Jiang teased Wen Yao, expecting her to stumble over her words. To her surprise, Wen Yao launched into an explanation: “I heard about a famous physician named Dong Feng. He never charged for treating patients. Instead, he asked those he cured to plant five apricot trees near his home. Over time, a grove formed around his house. The fruits of the apricot trees were used to help the poor, and eventually, he ascended to immortality.”

“Oh, you’re talking about Dong Feng,” Di Jiang murmured, recognizing the reference. She realized it had been a long time since she last saw him and resolved to visit him soon to reconnect.

Noticing Di Jiang’s expression, Wen Yao asked, “Do you know him?”

“Dong Xingxian is a role model for physicians. How could I not know him? Whether he knows me or not is another matter.”

“Sooner or later, Boss, you’ll become as renowned as him!” Wen Yao declared earnestly. “To me, you’re already a compassionate healer whose heart rivals that of a bodhisattva.”

“You… Read more books and stop listening to operas,” Di Jiang chuckled, shaking her head. “Dong Xing is the past apricot flower deity, but my apricot flower deity… I haven’t figured out yet what form it should take.”

“Hmm, writing about apricots is tricky. Whenever people think of apricots, they immediately quote, ‘A single red apricot branch climbs over the wall.’ Are you suggesting someone like Pan Jinlian as the flower deity?”

“Let’s talk about it later. I’m hungry!” Di Jiang pointed to a noodle stall not far ahead. The aroma of meat wafting from the pot drew her in, and she eagerly lifted her skirt and ran over.

“It smells delicious, Boss! Three bowls, please! Extra portions!”

“Coming right up!”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Di Jiang regretted them. Peering closely at the stall, she realized the noodles in the pot were made of catfish whiskers, and the toppings stored at a constant temperature consisted of snakes, insects, rodents, and other unspeakable creatures. One glance was enough to make her stomach churn.

Before Di Jiang could cancel the order, the vendor placed three large bowls on the table at the far end and gestured for them to sit.

Only then did Di Jiang notice the various patrons at the stall. Some were missing limbs, while others had eyeballs protruding from their sockets, dangling beside their noses. All had gaping mouths, stuffing catfish whiskers into their mouths.

“B-Boss, do we really have to eat this?” Wen Yao whispered nervously.

Di Jiang glanced at the burly vendor, who was eyeing them suspiciously, and reluctantly replied, “There’s only this meal today. Eat it whether you want to or not. Hurry up!”

“Understood.” Wen Yao swallowed hard, trembling as she began to eat.

Seeing that Wen Yao wasn’t overly resistant, Di Jiang pretended to be a doting mother and pushed her own bowl toward her. “You haven’t eaten in three days. Eat more—it’s all yours.”

After Di Jiang spoke, Shuxiang followed suit: “Sister, give mine to you too. I’m not afraid of hunger.”

“You…” Wen Yao was about to retch, but Di Jiang kicked her in the shin. Tears welled up in Wen Yao’s eyes, but seeing Di Jiang’s stern expression, she could only continue eating. The vendor seemed pleased with their compliance, watching until Wen Yao finished before leaving.

“Burp~” Wen Yao let out a loud belch, and a strange odor immediately filled the air.

Di Jiang and Shuxiang quickly pinched their noses, unwilling to face her.

At that moment, the surroundings suddenly emptied. The tables and chairs remained, but everyone else had vanished, leaving the three of them alone in the wilderness, staring at each other.

“Boss, what were those things?”

“Mei,” Di Jiang replied, adding, “Long-lingering thoughts and intentions become mei. They eat humans.”

“Then why didn’t they eat us?”

“Our nature is neither wholly good nor wholly evil. Ghosts see us as ghosts, and mortals see us as mortals. That’s the secret to my standing firm in this world for a hundred years without trouble.”

Wen Yao gave Di Jiang a thumbs-up: “Boss, your ability to sway with the wind is truly remarkable! So impressive!”