Gao Ming remembered Wan Min saying that the tasks given by Zhang Mingli were unreasonable, so it was probably very dangerous inside the birthday hall. Eventually, it was Gao Ming’s turn. He took out Zhang Mingli’s sutra. He didn’t place it on the table but glanced at the man and the big-headed children.
Gao Ming and the man both saw the black band the other was wearing.
“Are you Tang Hu?” Gao Ming asked softly.
Shock crossed the young man’s eyes, but his expression didn’t change. “How did you know?”
“I ran into your two friends, Lee Zhu and Lee Zu.” Gao Ming said directly, “I’ve helped deliver the villager’s flesh of the heart to Lee Zu and lured away the butcher from Lee Zhu. They told me to come find you because you can help us.” Gao Ming didn’t use ‘me’ but ‘us’ to give the impression that he had formed a team with his two friends.
Tang Hu didn’t give any reaction. He smiled politely, “Thank you for the gift. Please come in.” Tang Hu grabbed Gao Ming by his wrist. He pressed hard on the black band. He shoved Gao Ming in as if worried that he’d escape. Lee Zhu and Lee Zu trusted their leader unconditionally. It was why they willingly accepted being turned into a spiritual temple and a white pig.
Gao Ming didn’t know the nature of their relationship, but from his first impression, he knew that Tang Hu was extremely cunning. He disguised his emotions well. “This is not suitable for conversations. Come with me.” Tang Hu dragged Gao Ming into the Tang Residence before all the guests. Gao Ming couldn’t see his expression, but he could sense the negative energy radiating from him. “Did my friends ask you to come to me for help?” Tang Hu still didn’t let go after they were in the yard. Those who didn’t know would assume that they were good friends.
Gao Ming nodded. His attention was mostly on the birthday hall. As more guests entered it, the candles there burned brighter.
“You are too brave to disguise yourself as a guest. If Elder Tang found out, you’d be skinned alive.” Tang Hu didn’t know Gao Ming was also there on Zhang Mingli’s behalf.
“At this point, I can only shelter you for now. I’ll send you away after the party is over.” Tang Hu said kindly as he led Gao Ming towards the eastern rooms.
“I can hide, but what about Lee Zhu and…”
“We don’t have the time. If something went wrong with the birthday celebration, both of us would die. How can we save the others then?” Tang Hu’s voice was gentle but firm.
Avoiding Nan Ji Xian Weng and Ma Gu Shou Shen, who were worshipped in the yard, Tang Hu had Gao Ming hide behind him as they rushed to the eastern corner of the Tang Residence. The yard was strung with lanterns and lights. However, this room appeared to be deserted. None of the guests wanted to come here. Even the servants gave this place a wide berth.
“After the guests are all seated, Elder Tang will appear wearing this year’s birthday clothes and sit at the master table. As his descendents, I will kowtow and congratulate him. You can hide here for now.” Tang Hu patiently explained the Tang Residence Rules. He walked over to the room door and knocked lightly. He said gently, “Chun Niang, I have a friend with me. The family is having a celebration. Can he hide with you temporarily?”
Gao Ming instantly felt that something was wrong. A female member stayed here. Why would Tang Hu want him to stay with a female member of the household?
“Hu Lang, you’re finally back. I thought you had forgotten about me. My heart feels like it has been cut after not seeing you for a whole day.” The voice was extremely seductive, but the derision in Tang Hu’s eyes was evident. Regardless, he still coaxed the woman lovingly and gentlemanly.
Gao Ming was certain something was wrong. Tang Hu was Elder Tang’s stepson, and the woman was a member of the Tang Family Household. This relationship was complicated.
The door slowly opened. The smell of decay mixed with the scent of makeup. Even Gao Ming frowned in discomfort. However, Tang Hu’s handsome face didn’t even flinch. His eyes shone with love.
‘Life is hard for you too.’ Gao Ming grumbled internally. He didn’t want to stay with the monster in the room. He was about to escape when he heard the guests screaming from the outside.
“I heard him! The little bastard is crying! The little bastard is wrapped around my knife! What a traitor! When I find him, I’ll tear him apart before his parent’s faces!”
“Shush! You still haven’t found him, so stop shouting! You’re just going to scare them away!”
“Interrupt me again, and I’ll stab you!”
“Shut up! Elder Tang is having a celebration!”
“Kill! Kill! What is there to celebrate? He has celebrated more than most! He should have died already!”
The butcher’s voice appeared at the front gate. A giant force knocked over the stone lion outside the gate. However, the butcher didn’t step into the yard.
“I heard them! The bastard and the thief are in there!”
The lanterns at the gate were consumed by darkness. The candles in the hall flickered. The beastlike roar came from deep inside the hall. The yard seemed to come alive. The walls shrunk, and all the lanterns started to cry. One butcher was enough to kill Gao Ming. If he had to deal with Elder Tang at the same time, he’d die for sure.
‘I can’t have them work together.’ Before the butcher forced his way in, Gao Ming pretended to fall. He was shoved into the room by Tang Hu.
The door closed. Tang Hu’s face changed completely, “Chun Niang, my friend is virile and young. He is a great meal. Please enjoy!”
“You are so stupid. One of them is a pig, and the other is a house. Why would you believe them?” Tang Hu’s face was devoid of the previous warmth. His heart was twisted by some kind of trauma.
“They trusted you with their lives, but you are only using them! You treat them as your bargaining chips!”
“That’s why I showed them how to live. Don’t think about resisting. Have fun. Perhaps you can become like me and stay here forever. You won’t need to fear the night anymore.” Tang Li took out a talisman and stuck it to the door. Then, he left.
“How delicious. Hu Lang is right. You are a delicious meal. One bite, and I’ll ascend to heaven.” The woman’s voice was dripping with love. She appeared to be sniffing the Yang energy in Gao Ming.
Gao Ming turned back to look. A net of uneven length hung in the room. There was no furniture like a vanity table or chairs. There was only a wooden bed covered by a flimsy net. As the woman’s voice began, the net fell. A woman’s head floated in the dark. She was exceptionally beautiful. However, fish scales and death spots shimmered around the bottom of her neck.