Witch Child

At most, in two more days, she would die of thirst. He Lingchuan prided himself on having seen much over the past half year, but even he couldn't help asking, "Who did this?" To perpetrate such cruelty on a young child—calling it "utterly deranged" wouldn't be an exaggeration, would it? He Lingchuan instinctively drew his dagger. The little girl took half a step back, fear showing on her face. Fu Shanyue, however, seemed accustomed to such sights. He waved a hand. "Don't move. She's a witch child." He Lingchuan naturally had no idea what a "witch child" was, but the girl began gesturing frantically at Fu Shanyue. "People... lots of people... outside... fighting?" The girl nodded. "All right, don't draw attention. Come inside." The girl smiled at once, her eyes curving, though her stitched lips couldn't curve into much of a grin. He Lingchuan hoisted her inside with one hand. Outside was a patch of tall weeds, with a shallow drainage ditch running along the back alley nearby. The light was dim. The moment the child came in, she caught sight of the food on the table and began swallowing hungrily, looking at the two men with pleading eyes. "I shouldn't meddle with a witch child, but you did help me," Fu Shanyue sighed. "Come here." The girl walked over. Fu Shanyue raised his right hand, his nails lengthening and sharpening. With a light slice across her lips, the stitches parted without harming the skin underneath. The girl instantly fell to her knees and kowtowed, her forehead striking the floor with a loud knock. "Eat." Starving, the girl didn't stand on ceremony. She grabbed the pan-fried buns from the table and shoved them into her mouth, barely chewing. Shoving two down in a row, she nearly choked. He Lingchuan quietly handed her a cup of water. She took it and threw back her head, gulping it down greedily. Ravenous, this six- or seven-year-old ate like a little monster. Watching from the side, He Lingchuan asked Fu Shanyue, "What is a witch child?" "You know the Twilight Plains are a peculiar place. It was originally where the capital of the Yuan Kingdom stood. When the Yuan Kingdom fell, eight hundred thousand soldiers and citizens in the capital were slaughtered. The lingering baleful energy ran deep, and no amount of spiritual deliverance could dispel it." "Truly?" "Truly," Fu Shanyue said solemnly. "I am a ba. My sensitivity to earth fiends far surpasses that of ordinary folk. "Because of this, local legends say that the earth fiend often clings to children with the weakest resistance, bringing immense misfortune to those around them," Fu Shanyue continued. "Local witch hags will single out afflicted families, claiming a child is a jinx tainted by the earth fiend. A ritual must be performed to purge it; otherwise, the baleful aura will grow heavier and spread further, becoming more than just that family's problem." "Let me guess." He Lingchuan scoffed. "Performing the ritual costs a pretty penny, doesn't it?" "Of course," Fu Shanyue said. "Families that can't afford it have no choice but to let the witch hag sew the child's mouth shut, leaving them to die of thirst and starvation. Around here, everyone avoids witch children like the plague. No one dares help them, because saving one means the baleful energy will infect you." "And yet you saved her?" Fu Shanyue didn't strike him as a philanthropist, and in a critical moment when he was pursuing his younger brother, why would he suddenly have a change of heart? "A few days ago, when I was injured, she saved me. No one wants to linger near where she stays, so my pursuers didn't search carefully," Fu Shanyue cleared his throat lightly. "Back then, I promised her I'd take her away from here." No one had ever handed him a medal for kindness, but he kept his word—even if she was a burden. "Aren't you afraid of the misfortune she brings?" Fu Shanyue scoffed proudly. "Do I look like someone afraid of baleful energy?" A ba was born alongside the baleful energy of heaven and earth to begin with; what did he have to fear? "Can't I just find someone to purge her baleful energy or curse? Besides, the misfortunes of these outcastes have little to do with the earth fiend in my eyes." Both were clever men; there was no need to spell it out. He Lingchuan understood what he meant. Being "descendants of the Yuan Kingdom" was the true source of misfortune for all outcastes on the Twilight Plains. Born bearing original sin, how could their lives become any worse? Powerless against tyrannical authority, they could only turn their blades against the even weaker. Lingxu City had declared long ago that outcastes were forbidden to leave the Twilight Plains, and anyone who aided them in violation of the order would also be reduced to an outcaste. This was the will of the gods and the Demon Emperor, intended to nail the descendants of the Yuan Kingdom to a pillar of shame for generations to display the inviolable majesty of the divine. Yet looking at Fu Shanyue, He Lingchuan could tell he didn't fear the ban in the slightest. The immovable mountain pressing down on this little witch child could be crushed under his foot with a casual stride. Though small, the girl had a huge appetite. She finished Fu Shanyue's leftover noodles, drank half a basin of soup, and devoured five pan-fried buns. Fearing she would burst her stomach, He Lingchuan raised a hand to stop her. "All right, that's enough." In times of famine, people had genuinely died from gorging until their stomachs ruptured. The girl was obedient. Reluctantly putting down the bowl, she let out a long belch. He Lingchuan beckoned with a finger, telling her to come over so he could pull out the remaining thread ends from her lips. The threads had been sewn in for three days and had already grown into the flesh. Picking them out meant subjecting her to another round of agony. Fortunately, Young Master He had a soft spot for young girls; he applied pain relief first before treating the wounds with salve. It was delicate work. Fu Shanyue propped his head in his hand, watching from the side. "You're quite tender toward the fair sex, aren't you? Why don't I just give her to you?" "Clean up your own messes," He Lingchuan shot him a look. "Do you plan to hole up here forever?" "I'm an injured patient. Where else can I go?" Fu Shanyue lay back on the bed and closed his eyes to rest. "If you can find a few more people for me to eat, I'll definitely recover much faster." He Lingchuan couldn't be bothered to entertain him. He pushed the door open, stepped out, and called an attendant to extend the room's booking. Golden Spring Elegant Baths allowed guests to stay overnight, provided the money was right. Two hours later, Second Master Shi returned, beaming with satisfaction. It wasn't even the second half of the night yet. Evidently, even in this den of indulgence, Second Master Shi was a man who practiced moderation. If someone like him didn't make money, who would? He Lingchuan then informed him of Fu Shanyue's intention to travel with them. Brother He could pick up the eldest son of the Ruler of Chiyan just like that, and the prince wanted to travel with their caravan? Second Master Shi was overjoyed. When He Lingchuan mentioned the feud between father and son, he let out a drawn-out "Ohhh." He knew very well what this signified. He Lingchuan didn't interrupt his train of thought. This mattered greatly to the future of the Shimen Merchant Guild—it was essentially a massive gamble, so Second Master Shi naturally had to make the call himself. If they won the gamble and Fu Shanyue took the throne, remembering their protection in his hour of need, the Shimen Merchant Guild would likely see boundless prosperity. Of course, He Lingchuan told him, "This is a grave matter. If you're unwilling to take the risk, I'll just kick him out." Second Master Shi asked, "We only need to escort him to the Chiyan border, and someone will meet him there, right?" "Yes," He Lingchuan replied. "Though the Ruler of Chiyan not having long to live is only my speculation. It can't be taken as a certainty." "From here to the Chiyan border isn't far, just over four hundred li," Second Master Shi chuckled heartily. "How could that be a problem? Ask him to join our ranks without worry. We'll provide him with the best food and carriage." For a merchant from a minor kingdom like him to make money on Beijia's soil was a gamble in itself. Otherwise, on trade routes stretching one or two thousand li, how could ordinary people stomach the perils along the way? Wealth was found in danger; if one was going to gamble, gamble big. He Lingchuan patted him on the shoulder, his estimation of the Shi brothers rising another notch. Before dawn, the Shimen caravan hit the road. The caravan members yawned repeatedly, some walking with unsteady steps, looking somewhat worn out. A pleasure den consumed not just silver, but vitality too. Second Master Shi turned a blind eye to it and ordered the caravan to depart at once. He had met with Fu Shanyue the previous night, talked for over fifteen minutes, and on the spot presented him with a blank travel permit. This travel permit had been issued by the Fu Kingdom, with the official seal clearly stamped, waiting only for a name to be filled in. He Lingchuan smiled. "Second Shi, you really are thorough." Second Master Shi spread his hands. "Better prepared than sorry." A carriage was specifically allocated for Fu Shanyue and the little witch child. Its cabin was sturdy, and once the curtains were drawn, no one could see what went on inside. The moment he saw the witch child last night, Second Master Shi had truly been startled. Still, helping the eldest son of Chiyan was already a favor; helping one more witch child was nothing much—a buy-one-get-one-free deal. Fu Shanyue had also promised he had ways to disguise the child's identity. It was completely normal for a caravan to take on paying passengers midway; some outfits made their living doing so, so no one thought twice about it. Wrapped in He Lingchuan's cloak, the witch child didn't dare glance around. Life had long since taught this six-year-old girl what caution meant. She had been staying obediently at Fu Shanyue's side, but after glancing toward the road, she suddenly scrambled into the carriage and pulled down the curtain. He Lingchuan glanced in that direction as well and spotted a couple in ragged clothes walking past, looking left and right with anxious expressions, three children trailing behind them. The woman looked as though she had just been crying, and her features bore a faint resemblance to the witch child's. Once they were far away, He Lingchuan stepped into the carriage and asked the witch child, "Were those your parents?" The witch child pressed her lips tightly together and nodded. Fu Shanyue had been resting with his eyes closed the entire time. Without opening them, he simply commanded, "No saying goodbye." The witch child nodded again, firmer this time. From the look of it, she had no desire to see her parents again either. Fu Shanyue explained, "Those parents are looking for the child because they fear she might tear out the stitches and survive, in which case their whole family would be ostracized and condemned by everyone in town." When you have too many children, their lives become cheap. Sacrificing one to let the whole family survive was hardly a difficult choice for these outcastes. If they wanted children, they could simply have another. The witch child stared blankly in the direction her parents had gone, yet never lifted the curtain. The little girl was quite clever. Usually, children her age harbored deep filial affection for their parents, crying and screaming rather than being separated. She had taken a bath the night before and was back to being a clean, tidy child. Aside from being thin, there seemed to be nothing wrong with her. For a child whose mouth had been stitched shut for three days without dying of dehydration or collapse, and who could bounce back after just two meals and a night's sleep, she not only had a robust constitution but also a ferocious will to survive. Were that not the case, Fu Shanyue wouldn't have bothered taking her along. She tugged lightly on He Lingchuan's sleeve, pointing at the wounds on her lips. "Needle pricks heal fast. Half a day at most." Lingguang's healing salve never fell short on efficacy. His monkey liked young children. If Lingguang were here, he probably could have played along nicely with the little witch child. "What's your name?" The witch child blinked and shook her head. It was hardly surprising; in rural parts, people often gave children humble pet names so they would be easier to raise, rather than giving them formal names. Fu Shanyue said lazily, "From now on, your name is Taozi."