Chapter 16
Part 2
What a bother. Wen Heng sat cross-legged before the ruins of the former Apricot Blossom Pavilion. The pavilion had been reduced to rubble, though the charred debris had been cleared away. Facing the scorched earth, Wen Heng wished someone would drop a copper coin into his broken bowl. A single coin could stump not only heroes but beggars too.
“Well, well, you’re still alive?” The speaker was none other than Constable Zhu. Wen Heng rose and bowed slightly. “Constable Zhu.”
Constable Zhu had been swamped these past days. Xiao Yan Town had caught the attention of cultivators, and now the very instigator stood before him. Constable Zhu was itching to arrest Wen Heng and throw him in jail.
He rolled his eyes fiercely, pointing a finger at Wen Heng. “All this trouble is because of you, you troublemaker! Now look what’s happened—the entire Xinghua Pavilion is wiped out, and even Old Master Mu is dead. You’re lucky the cultivators didn’t keep their eyes on Xiaoyan Town. Otherwise, I’d like to see where you’d hide!”
Wen Heng could only offer a helpless smile. “I’m just a little beggar.”
Constable Zhu sighed in defeat. “It’s only because you’re a beggar that you’re still alive. Look at Mr. Mu—he was burned to ashes. Hey, why aren’t you out begging? What about your two companions?”
Wen Heng sighed at this: “Old Wen passed away today. Gouzi is keeping vigil with him. I came out to beg for a few copper coins to buy him a simple coffin.”
Constable Zhu sighed again. “My condolences.”
He fished a piece of silver from his robe and dropped it into Wen Heng’s bowl before walking away, shaking his head and sighing. Lately, many had died in Xiaoyan Town. Constable Zhu felt fortunate to be alive himself; otherwise, he’d never have spent silver on a beggar’s coffin.
“Constable Zhu, thank you. You look troubled. Best avoid the Spring Breeze Pavilion for now—you might stumble…” Wen Heng felt increasingly like a charlatan. Whenever he sensed Zhu’s aura, he glimpsed the constable’s impending fortune. Good omens were one thing, but Ah Heng only ever saw misfortune.
For instance, right now Wen Heng saw Zhu take a spectacular tumble right in front of Spring Breeze Pavilion—the biggest tavern in Xiaoyan Town—knocking out two front teeth in the fall.
Hearing this, Constable Zhu flushed crimson. He turned back angrily and snatched the silver ingot back from Wen Heng’s bowl. “You jinxed beggar! Can’t you say something nice? You’re not getting it!”
Wen Heng: …What did I do? Is telling the truth a crime?
Constable Zhu walked away. Wen Heng stared at his empty, battered bowl and sighed wistfully. He wondered if he should write something to hang around his neck. All he wanted was a copper coin, but asking for it felt so hard.
The apricot tree before Apricot Blossom Pavilion lay broken where Ah Heng had struck it with his begging staff, leaving only a bare wooden stump. Wen Heng sat before the stump, hugging his staff and staring blankly at his broken bowl. He hadn’t gone entirely empty-handed—a kind-hearted old woman had passed by and given him a hard, flatbread that could serve as a projectile.
A hand like jade carving entered Wen Heng’s line of sight. That beautiful hand held a clean copper coin between its middle and index fingers. The hand was perfectly proportioned, fingers slender and long, each one seemingly meticulously carved. It was exceptionally white, and the coin held between its fingers looked as pleasing as a chess piece. Just by looking at those fingers, one could tell the owner of this hand was a beauty!
The coin fell from fingertip to cracked bowl with a crisp ‘clink.’
Wen Heng lifted his head to catch a glimpse of the hand’s owner, but the figure had already departed with grace, leaving only a retreating silhouette. A beautiful maiden, perhaps? Yet the figure towered far above a typical girl’s height. Clad in a blue robe, their hair was jet-black and long, nearly reaching the knees.
A man, then. Even from behind, one could tell he was a man of refined elegance. Could such a man of grace truly exist in Xiaoyan Town? A man like a lotus flower—such a man would be above others wherever he went.
Weng Heng clutched the copper coin, which seemed to still carry the man’s scent. He called after the retreating figure, “Hey—thank you!”
Without even turning his head, the man vanished from sight. Were it not for the solid coin in his hand, Wen Heng might have thought he’d imagined it all.
It was a pity he hadn’t seen the man’s face, but Wen Heng had a feeling he would meet him again.
Having received the copper coin, Wen Heng no longer asked for money. He gathered his things and headed toward North Alley. The old coffin-maker dozed on a rickety chair by the door. Wen Heng approached and held out the coin: “Old man, I brought the coin.”
The old man opened his eyes and took the coin from Wen Heng’s palm. “Follow me.” Wen Heng followed the old man’s footsteps into the coffin shop.
In the spacious main hall, planks of wood lay scattered haphazardly. In the northeast corner stood a newly made coffin. It wasn’t large, barely big enough for one person. The white coffin bore no decorations whatsoever, mirroring Old Wen’s life perfectly—coming into the world with nothing, departing with no attachments.
The old man pointed at the coffin. “Take this one. There’s some joss paper inside—not much, but it’ll help the old beggar fend off the little ghosts.” Wen Heng bowed respectfully to the old man, then walked over and hoisted the coffin onto his shoulder with one arm. The old man gasped, “What incredible strength!”
Wen Heng carried the coffin. Though not large, it was still bigger than a person. To make room, he tilted his head to one side. His left hand gripped his begging staff, his right cradled the coffin. He walked slowly and steadily.
For some reason, Wen Heng felt he could catch a faint, elusive fragrance—much like the scent of that man who’d given him a copper coin that afternoon. The scent was so pleasant it brightened Wen Heng’s gloomy mood.
Author’s Note: Old Wen is gone, and Lian Wushang has emerged. Life moves forward through a constant cycle of loss and gain…
Today, the Master’s wife warmed the heart of the lovesick demon with just a single glance.
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