Beneath the Human Skin

When Secretary Jin had sung that song on stage yesterday, her Cantonese had been standard and her delivery polished, yet the boy hadn't cared much for it. Now, although her Cantonese was flawed, her singing felt like river water rushing naturally through an already-dug channel after a sluice gate was opened. Song really was a wondrous thing. One could recognize the singer even behind a mask—and even beneath a different skin. Back when Secretary Jin had rested both hands on his shoulders, that familiar sensation had already told Li Zhuiyuan who she truly was. By the same token, barring any surprise, the true culprit behind last night's horrific, bloody scene was almost certainly the entity lurking beneath Ding Dalin's human skin. It was the real master here. That meant his own peril had not passed in the slightest, because even Little Oriole held only a secondary status beside it. What that pack of water monkeys had dug up… was most likely it. Li Zhuiyuan suddenly realized that he, Little Oriole, and the water monkeys—all the players in his original plan—had been reduced to minor roles. No, worse than minor roles; they were mere background dressing. Whether he and his great-grandpa could keep the skins on their backs right now depended entirely on its whim. Thus, her song now, like her touch earlier, was Little Oriole's subtle warning to him. The vigilance that had relaxed slightly upon Little Oriole's appearance surged back with a vengeance. Li Zhuiyuan abruptly realized something else. Last night, if "it" could control Secretary Jin to signal with the flashlight and lure the six outer sentries over to be flayed together, how could it possibly have failed to notice him and Runsheng perched on the roof? Had he and Runsheng truly managed to flee home with their skins intact simply because they were fast runners? Except for Ding Dalin, all the water monkeys were outsiders. And the only person in this village Ding Dalin knew, had established ties with, and was even using as the nominal buyer for the house, was Li Sanjiang. If it wanted the fish pond filled and peach trees planted across this leased plot, it had to work through Li Sanjiang. It turned out that the person who had kept the entire situation from collapsing all along was still his great-grandpa. Secretary Jin finished her song. Li Zhuiyuan took the lead in applauding, and Tan Wenbin followed suit, offering several loud praises of "Good, good, good!" Li Sanjiang stroked the sound system and said, "All right, not bad at all. In a bit, when I have the mule come fetch the tables, chairs, and dishes, I'll have him haul this back together with them." "Heh-heh, as long as you're pleased." Li Zhuiyuan asked with an innocent face, "Grandpa Ding, how much did this cost?" Li Sanjiang frowned slightly. Taking advantage of a bargain was just how things were done—once he hauled it back, it was his. Why speak up to ask about the price? Was the boy foolish or what? Yet a moment later, Li Sanjiang's brow smoothed again. *How wonderful. The boy is honest and upright by nature, truly nothing like those white-eyed wolves.* Li Zhuiyuan had asked on purpose. Having experienced so much, he had vaguely grasped the rules of karmic ties and affinities. Especially when dealing with something from the shadowy other side, its possessions were never so easily taken. It was better to hear its demands first. "That's right, Lin Hou," Li Sanjiang chimed in. "How much did you spend buying it off the troupe? Come on, I'll pay you. I've got use for this thing, and renting it out for half a year will make my money back anyway." "Between you and me, talking about money only hurts our friendship." Li Sanjiang grabbed Ding Dalin's arm and gave it a hearty shake. "Fair enough! When you first returned, I misjudged you. You, Lin Hou, are truly a generous soul. I can't compare to you." When they first met, Li Sanjiang had thought Ding Dalin was merely putting on airs and flaunting his wealth. Yet the man was giving away a house, land, and now a sound system. It was hard not to change his opinion when the gifts were simply too generous. "Actually, Sanjiang Hou, there is something I'd like to ask your help with." Seeing him push his luck, Li Sanjiang instinctively picked at his ear with his pinky finger. "Sure, sure, just come to me whenever you need something in the future." Li Zhuiyuan spoke up. "Grandpa Ding, if there's something you need, you can just tell us right now." They couldn't follow his great-grandpa's tone and put it off until later. If they failed to satisfy its demands, the two of them likely wouldn't have a "later." Li Sanjiang pursed his lips. He could never bring himself to be angry with Xiao Yuan Hou, so he could only follow the boy's lead and echo, "Right, Lin Hou, out with it." "Sanjiang Hou, it's like this. I originally planned to settle down here long-term, but word came from over there that something has come up, so I have to head back and handle it. "Because of that, I'll have to trouble you to look after this house for me." "You're leaving again? For how long?" "Hard to say. If things go smoothly, I might be back in half a year. If not, at my age, I could pass away at any moment. It's entirely possible I might never return." "Then you'd better hurry back alive." "What, reluctant to see me go?" "Not so much that. But you've set up all these things under my name. If you go and never come back, I'd feel downright embarrassed taking such a windfall." "I do want to return. I truly want to spend my twilight years here in peace." "And I truly want to see you to your grave. If I go first, then worst comes to worst, Xiao Yuan Hou can handle your funeral. Otherwise, taking your things won't sit easy on my conscience." "Sanjiang Hou, once the village contract is drawn up, I'll pay the lease fee up front and leave behind a sum of money. Help me organize some people to fill in this fish pond and plant the peach trees, so nothing gets delayed." Li Sanjiang rubbed his forehead. Planting trees was grueling labor. It was no longer just a simple matter of money; as the one in charge, it would take tremendous time and effort. "All right, Grandpa Ding, don't you worry," Li Zhuiyuan said. "Go ahead and tend to your business. When you come back, you'll be able to admire the peach blossoms." Li Sanjiang nodded. "Rest easy, Lin Hou. I'll take this on." It wasn't that he was being pressured by his great-grandson. Taking gifts tied one's hands; Li Sanjiang knew that since the other man had spoken, he couldn't refuse. He certainly wasn't willing to return the house and land registered in his name. Li Zhuiyuan breathed a silent sigh of relief. He wasn't afraid of it making demands; he was afraid of it making none. If it was only planting trees, that was nothing major. Besides, the land was leased, and the money would be provided. "That's grand, then. Thank you, Sanjiang Hou." "Look at you, thanking me for what? It's only right. Well then… Zhuangzhuang!" "Yeah!" "Run back and call Runsheng Hou. Tell him to push the cart over so we can load up the things." Tan Wenbin looked at Li Zhuiyuan and Li Sanjiang with unease. He didn't want to leave. Though he wasn't as good a fighter as his father, facing water monkeys was always easier with an extra pair of hands, wasn't it? "Brother Binbin, go home and fetch Brother Runsheng to help move things," Li Zhuiyuan said. Last night, nearly twenty water monkeys had met such a grisly end; in their current situation, one more person was just one more shrimp to be peeled. "Oh, okay." Binbin left. "Xiao Yuan Hou, I've noticed something," Li Sanjiang said. "Never mind that the family mule listens to you, but why does Zhuangzhuang listen to you too?" "Huh? Does he?" Li Zhuiyuan put on a blank expression. "Heh, that's fine." Li Sanjiang patted the boy's head. "It just shows my Xiao Yuan Hou was born to be a leader." Now that the will was drawn up, the great-grandpa's attitude toward his great-grandson had shifted from extreme favoritism to regarding that favoritism as entirely natural. Ding Dalin said, "It shows the boy has organizational skills. He's indeed cut out to be an official." Li Sanjiang hitched up his trouser waistband. "Lin Hou, is there paper by the latrine?" "There's some in the basket." "Then I'll go use the latrine." Li Zhuiyuan moved to follow him, but after taking only two steps, Ding Dalin called out, "Xiao Yuan." Hesitating for a moment, and not daring to feign deafness, he stopped in his tracks. "Yes?" Li Zhuiyuan turned to Ding Dalin. "What is it, Grandpa Ding?" "Your great-grandpa didn't misjudge you. You truly are a warmhearted, good child." Li Zhuiyuan lowered his head, offering a bashful smile. The reason he didn't put on his usual shy gaze was that the skin between Ding Dalin's eyebrows had split at the seam. It looked very much like a burst seam on clothing—not completely torn open, but showing an abrupt break in color. With this play nearing its final act, he had to make sure nothing went wrong with the performance. Ding Dalin reached up to touch the spot between his eyebrows. Secretary Jin stepped forward to help, but he instructed her, "Bring a basin of water. I'll wash my face thoroughly." "Understood." Secretary Jin brought a basin of hot water, a towel draped over the rim. She stood there holding it, serving as a living washstand. Ding Dalin stepped before the basin, bent over, turned his face downward, and lightly patted his fingers across his face over and over. The sight looked uncannily like a city woman holding a compact, touching up her makeup in the mirror. Li Zhuiyuan wanted to leave the room, but Secretary Jin's position happened to block the doorway. To avoid seeing what he shouldn't, he turned toward the sound system and rested his hand on its cover. "Xiao Yuan, did you just learn the local dialect recently?" "Yes, that's right. I still don't speak it very well." Li Zhuiyuan picked up the microphone, turning it over in his hands. "Where did you live before?" "In the capital." Li Zhuiyuan spoke into the microphone. "*Huff, huff*… testing, testing." "Jiankang?" The boy's hand holding the microphone trembled slightly. *Jiankang?* Li Zhuiyuan knew that Jiankang was the ancient name for Nanjing, the imperial capital of the Six Dynasties. Eastern Wu, Eastern Jin, Liu Song, Southern Qi, Southern Liang, Southern Chen… Just which era was it from? "Ah, from the modern capital, I see. Heh-heh, my mind wasn't working right just now. I misheard." Ding Dalin let out a chuckle, brushing past his slip of the tongue. A turmoil of thoughts churned within Li Zhuiyuan. Even if the being dated back to the Southern Chen dynasty, that was nearly fifteen hundred years ago. Did that mean the tomb beneath the fish pond was just as old? He didn't know whether that pack of water monkeys was fortunate or doomed to have unearthed such a supreme water-burial tomb. Yet it seemed he was even more unfortunate. He had only recently begun reading his books, still in the phase of learning and practicing as he went. In the popular wuxia and martial-arts films of the day, protagonists emerged from seclusion after bitter training, and the first opponents they practiced on were local ruffians harassing innocent maidens. As for him, before he had even finished his training to leave the mountain, he had merely pushed open his front door hoping to soak in some sun—and found the Eastern Depot right across the street. "Xiao Yuan, you promised Grandpa you'd help him plant those peach trees properly." "Yes, I will." "Speak louder. Grandpa's hard of hearing." "Don't worry, Grandpa!" "Turn around and say it to Grandpa's face." Li Zhuiyuan turned around. Directly facing him was a bright red, skinless face! After a split second of shock and frantic thought, Li Zhuiyuan raised his hands and opened his mouth, about to let out a scream, when the face suddenly pressed right up against his: "Xiao Yuan, you were a step too slow." Li Zhuiyuan froze, his raised hands halting halfway. His mouth hung open, but he dared not scream. "Xiao Yuan, were you wondering just now whether you ought to scream in fright?" Li Zhuiyuan didn't know how to answer. "You silly child, why do you look as if you don't recognize me?" A similar phrase had come from Ding Dalin's mouth when he accompanied his great-grandpa on a stroll earlier this morning. It had indeed seen him and Brother Runsheng on the roof last night. "I will… help you plant the trees." "Heh-heh-heh…" Its hand stroked the boy's cheek, patting it gently. "You act so well that even I can hardly tell anymore. Between the two of us, which one is really wearing a human skin?" … "*Screeech!*" A blast of electronic feedback jolted Li Zhuiyuan awake. He looked down at the microphone in his hand. "Xiao Yuan, turn off the microphone. It hurts Grandpa's ears." Li Zhuiyuan switched off the microphone. The feedback died away. He turned around to look at Ding Dalin. Ding Dalin's head was tilted back, a steaming towel covering his entire face. His voice drifted out from beneath the towel: "Xiao Yuan, did you just learn the local dialect recently?" The exact same question. Li Zhuiyuan was bewildered. Had the scene just now been an illusion? "Yes, I just learned it." "Where did you live before?" "Youzhou." "Heh-heh-heh…" Ding Dalin chuckled and pulled the towel from his face, revealing a slightly flushed countenance typical of someone who had just applied a hot compress. "What a clever child." Ding Dalin stepped before Li Zhuiyuan and raised his hand to stroke the boy's cheek once more. "Grandpa really likes you." "I really like the red envelope and gifts Grandpa gave me too." Ding Dalin's hand slid downward, catching the boy's right hand and spreading the palm flat. In Li Zhuiyuan's right palm was a burn scar and five scabs of dried blood. Ignoring the five blood scabs, Ding Dalin pressed his fingertip against the burn scar, feigning astonishment. "Look at this. Did your skin almost burn through?" "I was being playful and did it by accident." "Then you must be careful. Once skin tears, it isn't easy to mend. Even if you find a new one, it's never as good as the original. Don't you agree?" "Yes, Grandpa is right." Ding Dalin smiled, raised his left hand, and slowly clenched it into a fist. Back then, even Ah Li had been able to tell that the burn was self-inflicted, to say nothing of this being. Yet Li Zhuiyuan couldn't read its temperament at all. Reason dictated that since he had persuaded his great-grandpa to plant the trees, this matter should have ended here. And yet it seemed intent on further entangling itself with him. Li Zhuiyuan began to envy Tan Wenbin. Sometimes, knowing too much was meaningless; being blissfully ignorant was far more comfortable. Suddenly, an agonizing pain flared. Li Zhuiyuan looked down to see the healed burn scar on his palm splitting open again, the flesh and skin tearing apart. His heart pounded. The sensation of watching one's own skin and flesh split open was terrifying beyond measure. It felt as though it would spread in the next breath, stripping off his entire skin and leaving him to step out as a bloody mess. From the corner of his eye, Li Zhuiyuan glanced at Secretary Jin. She still stood there holding the washbasin, motionless, not looking in their direction. Ding Dalin stuck out his tongue and licked his lips, a struggle showing in his eyes. Then his neck jerked abruptly from right to left, the expression on his face shifting erratically—from benevolent to placid, to grim, and then to ravenous greed. Finally, he threw his head back violently: "You beast, you deceived me so bitterly!" … *Thud!* The microphone fell to the floor. Li Zhuiyuan swallowed hard. He turned around to see Ding Dalin washing his face. The man cupped water in both hands, splashed it over his face, rubbed vigorously, and finally wiped it dry with a towel. This was the third time. Only this time, Ding Dalin didn't ask about his accent. He said nothing at all. The door was pushed open, bumping into Secretary Jin's back. It rebounded slightly, while Secretary Jin remained unbudging. "Eh?" Li Sanjiang's voice came from outside. Li Zhuiyuan knew those previous moments hadn't been illusions. His great-grandpa couldn't possibly have finished his business that quickly; a stretch of time had indeed been usurped. Secretary Jin shifted aside. The door swung open, and Li Sanjiang said to Ding Dalin, "My mule has arrived, so I'll start loading up the things." "All right." Li Sanjiang turned and left without calling Li Zhuiyuan out. He couldn't bear to let Xiao Yuan Hou do heavy labor. That left Li Zhuiyuan stranded in the room once again. However— *Bang!* The door was thrown open again, forcefully this time. Runsheng stood in the doorway with a taut face, clutching a shovel in his hand. One could see he was terrified; that rigid expression was merely his shield. Yet he had still come. He had come to save him. "What's gotten into you?" Li Sanjiang's voice called out. "Move the tables and chairs first. We'll take the sound system last." Runsheng looked at Li Zhuiyuan, waiting for a signal. If the boy gave the word, he wouldn't hesitate to swing the shovel and slice into the two before them. Either way, if their flesh didn't tear, his own skin would split. Ding Dalin extended a hand toward Li Zhuiyuan. "Come, follow me upstairs to the second floor. I have some snacks in my room brought from abroad. Take them all with you." In truth, there was no choice at all. Li Zhuiyuan took Ding Dalin's hand. One behind the other, they walked past Runsheng and climbed the stairs. Downstairs, Runsheng received a smack on the back of his head from Li Sanjiang, who scolded, "What are you gaping at? Xiao Yuan Hou is going up to get his things, and you should be doing your job—moving furniture!" Runsheng was torn, but since it was Xiao Yuan's choice, he lowered the shovel and began carrying the tables and chairs. Yet the courage he had summoned earlier couldn't last forever. The horrors of last night kept replaying in his mind. As he carried the furniture, his body began to tremble. Seeing this, Li Sanjiang hurried over and asked, "Still not feeling well?" "Huh?" "Forget it. Sit over there and rest. I'll carry them." On the second floor, Ding Dalin still held Li Zhuiyuan's hand. Li Zhuiyuan felt a sticky clamminess against his skin, terrified that when they let go, he would tear off a piece of the man's flesh. And that was precisely what happened. Upon stepping into the bedroom, Ding Dalin released his grip. His skin adhered to the boy's hand, stretching taut under the pull, until finally… *Snap!* The sound was deafening, so loud that Li Zhuiyuan was dazed. By the time his senses cleared, the room had plunged into gloom. Night had fallen. The furnishings remained intact, but Ding Dalin was nowhere to be seen. Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes, trying to locate that floating sensation. He found it, feeling himself begin to drift upward. He immediately snapped his eyes open, cutting short his awakening. Yes, he was walking the yin path. But it hadn't been by his own choice; Ding Dalin had dragged him in. Under such circumstances, waking up on his own would be an insult to his host. Stepping out of the bedroom onto the balcony, Li Zhuiyuan looked around for Ding Dalin. Since the entity had dragged him here, it certainly had a purpose. A moon hung in the pitch-black sky, unnaturally large, its craters clearly visible. Li Zhuiyuan lowered his gaze to the ground ahead and blinked hard. The fish pond, restored in the waking world, had reverted to the state left by the water monkeys' labors last night—drained dry, with a deep crater gouged into the earth. He had a good idea of where to look for Ding Dalin. He went downstairs, where the hall was still littered with the aftermath of last night's feast, the tables uncleared. As he reached the entrance of the main hall, Li Zhuiyuan stopped, backed up two paces, and looked up. He saw Little Oriole hanging from the ceiling of the hall. Because her long hair cascaded down, only by standing in that specific, narrow spot could one peer through the strands to see her face. Her eyes were closed, her expression indifferent. Li Zhuiyuan didn't know whether she had been hidden here since last night or if this was simply where she belonged right now. Little Oriole did not open her eyes or offer any reaction. Li Zhuiyuan lingered no longer. He left the hall, crossed the courtyard, jumped down into the fish pond, and approached the edge of the pit. Only at close range could one truly appreciate just how deep it was. Li Zhuiyuan glanced back at the roof of Big Beard's house behind him, the spot where he had hidden to watch last night. Bending low, he slid carefully down the slope of the pit, sliding a long way before hitting the bottom. Before him was the unearthed spire of a pagoda. A pitch-black opening gaped wide. Li Zhuiyuan braced himself against the wall and slowly walked inside. As he advanced, lamps lit up one after another. Because the pagoda was tilted, the lamps appeared crooked as well. The surrounding walls bore no murals, appearing utterly stark. It seemed the tomb's occupant had never intended to cultivate refined sentiments in the underworld after death. Or perhaps the tomb had been constructed while the occupant was still alive; had it been built by others, there would inevitably have been inscriptions or paintings recording their life. Fortunately, the pagoda had tilted, creating a surface to walk on. Had it remained upright, dropping in from above would have been no different from leaping down a well. The deeper he ventured, the colder the lamp flames grew, shifting from the bright yellow of the entrance to a pale green. At last, Li Zhuiyuan reached the bottom. He saw an immense stone coffin anchored to the base of the pagoda, appearing now as though plastered against the wall. Around the coffin stood several pieces of furniture, anchored like the coffin itself and thus kept from tumbling about. They were inlaid with gold, silver, jade, and jewels, gleaming with soft brilliance. They were exquisite treasures indeed. No wonder the two water monkeys who went down last night had returned so thrilled, and no wonder they had come back empty-handed, claiming they couldn't move them. Yet even at the bottom, there was still no sign of Ding Dalin. Li Zhuiyuan's gaze settled on the stone coffin once more. *Could he still be inside the coffin?* Chains bound the stone coffin, and talismans were inscribed all around the outer sarcophagus, matching the distinct traits of a temple tomb meant to suppress evil. *Clank, clatter, clatter…* The chains began to rattle. Whatever was inside seemed eager to emerge. Li Zhuiyuan stood his ground. While he didn't know whether opening a coffin while walking the yin path would cause repercussions in reality, he refused to take the risk. It wasn't concern for his own safety; this was Siyuan Village, after all, and heaven only knew what horrors releasing the thing inside that coffin would unleash. He had come this far only under threat of death, but no matter how severe the threat, he would not open the coffin. Soon, however, he had no need to deliberate. With a series of crisp snaps, the chains around the stone coffin broke and fell away. A heavy grinding sound followed as the stone lid slowly slid aside. It had no need for his help; it could come out on its own. Li Zhuiyuan held his breath, focusing entirely as he waited for the occupant to sit up. Yet after a long wait, it did not move. The scene lapsed into an eerie stillness. Gradually, a wind rose inside the pagoda. At first it was faint, merely making the flames flicker, but then it grew stronger, howling through the interior. The howling smoothed into a distinct cadence, eventually resolving into a human voice—raspy, like an old, neglected phonograph. "Aren't you curious?" Li Zhuiyuan answered, "I am very curious." "Then why don't you dare come closer?" "I'm afraid." "Can someone like you feel fear?" "Yes. Fear is an instinct, just like pain." "Let us lay aside human skin and speak frankly." "What do you mean by that?" "Take off that skin you wear. I have no wish to converse with a child." "No, I am who I am. Right now, this is me." "Heh. Some wear their skin on their bodies, while others wear it in their hearts." Li Zhuiyuan knew the entity was mocking him, but he didn't care. All his efforts were aimed at preserving this skin, both for himself and for Ah Li. "Even if you refuse to peel it off, do not speak to me in the tone of a child." "I *am* a child. But fine, I will try my best." "Do you know what place this is?" "A type of… temple tomb." "Indeed, a temple tomb. Then do you know who suppressed me here?" "Yourself." The wind seemed to pause for an instant. Soon, however, it resumed its howling, shaping words once more: "A guess?" "I don't know who you are, nor the era you lived in. Since you asked me that question, the answer had to be within the choices available to me. That leaves only you." "You truly resemble someone. When he was young, he was just like you—frighteningly clever." "Can you tell me his name?" Li Zhuiyuan probed. "That way, when I plant the trees later, I can look him up." "You will not find his name." "Oh." "He was a beast." "Was it he who deceived you?" "I trusted him too much. Though we were nearly the same age, I always held him as my exemplar. What I was to him is just what those two by your side are to you." Li Zhuiyuan knew the two it referred to were Runsheng and Tan Wenbin, as those were the only options it had seen. "Being betrayed by someone you trust is indeed infuriating." "He deceived not just me, but all of us—all of us who followed him." "How despicable of him." "Like you, he was a master of disguise." Li Zhuiyuan struggled to keep his emotions in check. The greatest harm to a madman was repeatedly reminding him of his madness. His dialogue with the presence in the stone coffin felt eerily reminiscent of the phone call with Li Lan that night. "Disguise is your instinct. You seem born with it." "Do you have any instructions for me?" Li Zhuiyuan took the initiative to cut the subject short. If they continued, he feared the cold detachment within him would be coaxed to the surface. "Fill the fish pond. Plant it full of peach trees." "Rest assured, we will do so." "In truth, I should have departed long ago." "To where?" "You can guess, yet you still ask. Truly, just like him—hypocrisy is your instinct." "Could you refrain from describing him in detail, or stop lumping me together with him? I came here according to your wishes only because I fear death." "And then?" "Yet there are things I would rather die than give up." "He once said a similar—" The wind ceased again. After a long silence, it rose once more. "Very well." "Thank you." "No need to thank me. I originally intended to summon you here so you could be buried with me." "Thank you for your 'originally.'" Seeing that the entity fell silent again while the wind continued to howl, Li Zhuiyuan, out of respect for that "originally," took the initiative to keep the conversation going: "How did he deceive you?" "He taught me a method to control dead-flippers." A shock went through Li Zhuiyuan. The books he had read recorded countless ways to deal with dead-flippers, but none had ever mentioned that they could be controlled. "I was overjoyed, thrilled. I respected and believed in him so deeply, so I learned it." "And did you master it?" The wind blew on, and then movement stirred within the stone coffin. A man sat up from inside. Because the coffin was mounted on the tilted base, the man faced Li Zhuiyuan directly. He had long hair, a cold and handsome countenance, and an otherworldly, ethereal air. Yet his eyes were closed, and the voice that followed continued to emanate from the wind rather than his own mouth. "I mastered it. I could control dead-flippers as well." "Then where did he deceive you?" "Where did he deceive me?" The man turned his head. The wind lifted his sideburns, revealing a pair of eyes, a nose, and a mouth beneath them—a human face. As he turned farther, his back came into view. The wind lifted his long hair, and across the entire back of his head was another face, that of a woman. It was a gruesome sight: such a handsome man, yet covered in sprouting faces. No, Li Zhuiyuan realized he was walking the yin path; what he saw wasn't necessarily physical reality. These materialized faces might represent the state of the man's soul. *Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…* The wind grew fiercer, whipping up the man's robes. Wherever skin was exposed—arms, chest—it was densely covered with human faces. Li Zhuiyuan reflexively took two steps back. Seeing this spectacle made his own skin itch all over. He instinctively glanced down at his arms, dreading that unfamiliar faces might sprout across them as well. "He never told me that while I could control them, they could control me in turn." Li Zhuiyuan looked away, only returning his gaze after the wind died down slightly. The man had settled back into his original posture, his robes and hair falling flat once more. "He said we would purge the world of evil spirits and restore peace to the jianghu. "I believed him and followed him. Yet the result was that the more dead-flippers I dispatched, the more like a dead-flipper I became. "By the time I realized this, there was no turning back. "So I built this pagoda and sealed myself away. "I intended to let time grind them to death, and grind myself to death along with them. "Those you saw just now all had their eyes closed. Once, they all kept their eyes open, weeping, howling, roaring, and wailing day after day… "Now, they are gone. I succeeded. "A few more years, and I would have worn myself out completely. "Who could have known that a pack of monkeys would come?" "So, to fill this place and plant peach trees… you want to continue suppressing yourself?" "It must be done quickly, for I am no longer the man I once was. The man of the past sealed himself away to spare the world from harm. The man of today longs to keep you here and bury you alongside me. "The true me is already dead. Or perhaps I can no longer tell which face conceals the real me." "I understand. I will arrange it immediately, while you still retain your sanity." "You are wrong. I have no sanity left. I do not emerge only because I have reached an irreversible end; stepping outside would merely hasten my destruction, and I wish to preserve a shred of dignity. "In truth, when I flayed that pack of water monkeys, I felt great joy. Nothing is more amusing than teasing monkeys. "Had there been just a few more of them to let me savor that joy a little longer, I might truly have stepped out. "If there had been two more last night—just two more; "I wouldn't be speaking to you like this now." Li Zhuiyuan thought to himself what a close call it had been, for two of the water monkeys were currently in the hospital. Their accomplices had planned to break them out. Given their habits, they would have brought even injured comrades along, if only to hold a flashlight on watch. Fortunately, he had called the police in time. By sheer coincidence, it had saved his life. "And the reason I abandoned the thought of burying you with me was not out of pity. It was because I discovered another, far more amusing path." "What path?" The wind grew softer, like a seductive whisper in his ear: "How about I teach you the method he taught me?" Li Zhuiyuan shook his head. "You learned it and ended up like this. With a living counterexample right before me, how could I possibly study it?" Seeing that the other didn't reply, Li Zhuiyuan added, "You said you are about to dissipate anyway. Once I fill the fish pond and plant it with peach trees, whether I study it or not, you won't know, nor will you ever come looking for me again, right?" "Heh. You will study it, and once you do, you won't be able to resist using it. "The moment I 'saw' you lying on the roof peeping down, I was certain of it." Li Zhuiyuan fell silent. "The item is in the first drawer of the vanity. Take it or leave it, as you please." With that, the man lay back down in the stone coffin. *A method to control dead-flippers…* Li Zhuiyuan walked over to the vanity and placed his hand on the handle of the top drawer. The wind spoke again: "Now, is there anything else you wish to say?" Li Zhuiyuan pressed his lips together and said, "You're a very good judge of character." "Heh-heh-heh… Indeed. What fun is there in dragging you down to be buried with me compared to watching you become a half-human, half-ghost creature like myself? "You could have just planted your trees in peace. Blame only yourself for being so much like him. "Yet I can no longer take revenge on him, so I can only transfer this hatred onto you." *Creeeak…* Li Zhuiyuan pulled open the drawer. It was empty. A surge of immense disappointment struck him at once. "Are you playing with me?" "Have you forgotten where this place is? "This place has already been restored. Would I truly require you to dig this place open again just to fetch it? "I already placed it in advance where you are certain to see it." Li Zhuiyuan pushed the drawer shut, nodded, and said, "Thank you." "No need to thank me, for in the future, you will hate me just as I hate him now. "Once you learn this, the dead-flippers you control will seep into your heart, twisting and defiling every emotion you possess. "A day will come "when you look into the mirror "and find that the person reflected there is a complete stranger." Li Zhuiyuan: "…" The wind vanished entirely. The iron chains around the stone coffin coiled back into place, locking it once more. The surrounding lamps steadily flickered out. Before Li Zhuiyuan could close his eyes, a surging tide of sensation washed over him. He offered no resistance, letting himself drift upward. Suddenly, daylight returned. Li Zhuiyuan found himself standing in the bedroom, the afternoon sun streaming through the window and bringing a touch of warmth. He saw Ding Dalin once more, but Ding Dalin was very thin now. He resembled a neatly folded shirt lying on the floor. Li Zhuiyuan bent down and scooped up the "shirt." He had no choice; he couldn't just leave him lying here like this, could he? Moreover, though he had never weighed an adult's human skin before, it felt unusually heavy. He pressed down on it and felt several hard lumps inside. He searched all over but found no opening. Finally, he took a deep breath, reached his hand through Ding Dalin's mouth, and reached all the way down until his fingers grasped a cold, hard object. Pulling it out into the light, he saw a gleaming, golden mass—a large gold ingot. This had to be the money for leasing the land and planting the trees. "You really are something else." Shouts came from the courtyard below: "Xiao Yuan! Xiao Yuan!" Cradling Ding Dalin, Li Zhuiyuan walked out to the balcony and looked down. Runsheng stood in the courtyard, waving a human skin. The skin unfolded as he waved it, Secretary Jin swaying gracefully in midair. "You scared me to death, Xiao Yuan! Thank goodness you're all right. I was terrified you'd turn into something like this too." "Where's Great-Grandpa?" "Great-Uncle pushed the cart back home. What on earth is going on here?" "It's fine now. Brother Runsheng, come up for a moment." "Oh, okay!" Runsheng sprinted upstairs without even bothering to fold Secretary Jin away. It must have caught on some corner of the wall; by the time Runsheng appeared on the balcony, Secretary Jin in his hands was already torn. "Xiao Yuan, you've got a set here too. What do we do with these two skin suits?" "Pack them away for now. Tonight, throw them into the workshop furnace and burn them." "All right." "Brother Runsheng, bring the ladder." "What for?" "We're going onto the roof." "Right, I almost forgot—our gear is still up there." Runsheng set up the ladder and climbed up first. As Li Zhuiyuan climbed, Runsheng reached back to give him a hand. The two gunny sacks containing their formation flags and implements were still there, alongside Runsheng's man-tall Yellow River shovel lying on the ground. "Xiao Yuan, I'll carry them down." "Brother Runsheng, don't touch them yet." "Oh, okay." Li Zhuiyuan walked over to the sack containing their implements, crouched down, and untied the opening. Inside lay an ancient book bound in black. This was the… method it had left him. He took out the book. There was no title on the cover. It had never used the word "book," only "method," so this was likely something akin to handwritten study notes. Without hesitation, he flipped open the pages. Then Li Zhuiyuan froze. The handwriting was neat, elegant, and familiar beyond words. He quickly turned several more pages, at last confirming the truth. Holding the book, he stood up and looked down at the fish pond below. So, was the name of the man who deceived you… Wei Zhengdao?