Gao Ming frowned when he heard Zhang Mingli. Madam Xi’s place was about as scary as Elder Tang’s mansion. Normal villagers could barely see them, much less interact with them.
“You sure have high demands!” Gao Ming reached behind him to grab the butcher’s knife.
“I know Madam Xi’s mansion is very dangerous but doesn’t that prove my sincerity?” Zhang Mingli leaned on the door. He looked very tired, like he hadn’t had a good rest in a long time. “I could have tricked you after I got the notes but I didn’t. I told you everything honestly. I gave you the power of choice.”
“Do you expect praise from me?” Zhang Mingli lost all credibility as an educator. He didn’t act like one. Gao Ming wondered what his occupation was in real life.
“Other than me, who would treat you with honesty here?” Zhang Mingli spoke fluently. However, Gao Ming believed not a single word out of his mouth. Everyone who could survive in the nightmare realm had to have a certain degree of cunningness. Compared to when he just arrived at this place, Gao Ming had gained more confidence. Chun Niang had provided him with a lot of information. Even though Chun Niang wasn’t a saint, Gao Ming felt like she was a lot more trustworthy than Zhang Mingli.
“You sure drive a hard bargain.” Zhang Mingli hugged his arms before his chest. He scanned Gao Ming. “How about this? I’ll share with you parts of the Dream Release Method in exchange for the sutra notes. After you find the person I’m looking for at Madam Xi’s place, I’ll tell you the rest of the modification methods.” Before Gao Ming could say anything, Zhang Mingli took out a small wooden box. It was blood red. It was carved with a lot of names and sutras. Each name appeared to represent a living person. This small box reminded Gao Ming of the stone plaque at the town entrance. They appeared to be constructed using the same principle.
“This thing is the key to unlocking the nightmare in your heart. It is also a treasure that can drive all the villagers insane. I’ll give it to you now.”
“A box?” Gao Ming didn’t take it, afraid that it might be trapped or cursed.
“Wait. Is this an ownerless altar?!” Wan Min, who had been watching everything, was shocked. The surprise on her face could barely be hidden.
Sensing Wan Min’s greedy gaze, Gao Ming realised how troublesome this altar was. It could save people’s lives but it could also cost him his life.
“Can you give me the notes now?” Zhang Mingli wasn’t afraid that Gao Ming would run away with his box. “The sutra notes are useless to you anyway. In fact, Elder Tang will keep on hunting you for them. Why keep them on you?”
Gao Ming let go of the knife and handed the notes to Zhang Mingli. “What is written on them?”
“Are you asking that because you don’t know how to read them?” Zhang Mingli opened the notes and smiled satisfactorily. “The notes contain Elder Tang’s dream. Every word is a person. I cannot vanquish that greedy man without these notes.”
“Are you planning to deal with Madam Xi as well? Is that why you’re sending me to her place?” Gao Ming was shocked. Zhang Mingli looked unimposing, but he planned to take down the biggest target.
Zhang Mingli shook his head and changed the subject, “Enough questions. You only need to find someone who looks exactly like me and bring him out of Xi Residence.”
“Looks exactly like you?”
“Yes.” Zhang Mingli added worriedly, “It might not be human. Even if it is a dog, pig, plate or spoon, as long as it has my face, bring it out with you.”
“Hai Shi Er Geng. Beware of fire and thieves!” The night-watcher’s call came from a distance. He appeared to have escaped from the stone lions and continued on his patrol.
“Go. It’ll be more dangerous after San Geng. If you go now, you still have a chance of coming back alive.” Zhang Mingli gifted Gao Ming another thing. It was an exquisite makeup case. The case had two small doors in front and one handle on each side. It was decorated with carvings of birds and flowers. It emitted a light fragrance. Gao Ming carried the box and rushed into the night.
He wanted to meet up with the night-watcher to catch up, but the elder appeared to be purposely avoiding Gao Ming. After a long detour, Gao Ming returned to the village entrance. When he first entered the village, he had already encountered a manor with a tall threshold. According to Zhang Mingli, this was the Xi Residence.
“I’ve been chased by the people here before. They are invisible.”
The commotion on the north side was weakening. Gao Ming had no idea what the situation was at the Tang Residence.
“Chun Niang’s clothes have silenced the butcher’s knife. The butcher probably still thinks the thief is in the Tang Residence. He wouldn’t give up so easily.”
Paper money fluttered about. The red lanterns swayed in the sky. Gao Ming resisted the discomfort as he pushed open the red gate of the Xi Residence. There was no one in the yard, but the sounds of footsteps and chatting came from all sides.
“We have a guest! Please come in!”
Gao Ming saw nothing, but he felt like the voices were talking about him. The next moment, he felt someone grab him by his wrist. They pulled him to the corner of the yard. There was only Gao Ming in the yard, but on the way, Gao Ming bumped into many ‘people’.
“Is the yard actually full?”
The place was noisy, but Gao Ming saw nothing. The person who led him to the corner had also left.
Gao Ming looked around. The place looked more festive than when he came the first time. There were more wedding decorations.
He looked into the main hall. Two trigram slips were placed under the figurine of Lu Jun God. One of the names grabbed Gao Ming’s attention.
During ancient times, parents of the bride and groom would exchange the trigrams that contained the couple’s details to see if they would match or not.
“Has Madam Xi taken a fancy to Bai Feng?”