Xiao Yin Qing’s curiosity prompted the child, who thought he was well-hidden, to stare at Ji Yuan secretly for a while. However, the more he looked, the more unsettled he became, and finally he couldn’t help but run away.
Yin Qing was frightened and didn’t dare to go back to find his friends who he came out to play with. What did children do when they were afraid? They ran home to find their parents!
So Yin Qing did exactly that and ran all the way home, out of breath.
Yin Qing’s family also lived in Tian Niu Square. Even if it was at an angle and a couple turns away from Ju’an Pavilion, the straight-line distance was actually only a few hundred meters.
The Yin family’s house had a small courtyard with low walls, a building with the front hall, and another with the back rooms. Only a simple screen separated the fairly spacious front hall into different spaces. There was a section for the living room, a place for the Yin family’s father and son to study, and a path that connected to the kitchen. The outside of the main house gave the impression of an average, middle-to-upper-class family.
Yin Qing ran home in one breath, pushed open the courtyard door with a bang, and rushed into the hall, startling the Yin family’s mother1 who was in the middle of weaving at home.
“Mom! Mom! Um, over there, there was a gentleman, he, haah…haah… Then that gentleman and the ghost, haah…haah…”
“Don’t fret, speak clearly, why is that Sir not a gentleman?”
Mother Yin took out a handkerchief to wipe Yin Qing’s sweat.
A stern voice came, startling Yin Qing, and even suppressing the fear of having potentially witnessed a ghost.
Yin Qing turned his head and noticed his father sitting on a chair by the window in the hall, reading from an open book.
“Qing’er, your father was recommended by Mr. Zhu and Mr. Zhou to be the head teacher of the new school in the county. From now on, he no longer needs to go to Zhu’s house to be a private tutor.”
“Head teacher? Really, Dad? When will you start?”
Yin Qing was very excited when he heard the news.
“Haha, of course it’s true. It will take a few more days, but it won’t be too long!”
Father Yin replied, stroking his beard contentedly.
“When the time comes, we can go to the school together. Don’t mess around outside all day. Study the classics and the works of the sages, gain fame, and achieve success in the imperial examinations. That is the proper path forward!”
Yin Qing actually hated studying, but he didn’t dare refute his father.
In truth, there were many places to study in Ning’an County, but most of them were private schools run by old scholars, none of whom had outstanding academic qualifications.
This school could be regarded as a relatively formal, high-end place of learning in Ning’an County. In theory, it was only lower in status than the formal academies. Moreover, this school was geared towards a younger age group, while the academy aimed for a higher age group. Many families would choose to let their children study when they were young, and continue to the academy when they grew older.
Yin Zhaoxian, as an orthodox scholar who had obtained the second-place rank in the state examination, was definitely considered the best among the scholars in Ning’an County. He felt that it was a matter of course for him to be elected as the head of the school, and proud of his position.
“By the way, what were you so panicked about just now?”
Yin Zhaoxian put down the book in his hands and looked at Yin Qing.
“Oh, right, Dad, there is a new resident in that Ju’an Pavilion over there. He is an honest and kind gentleman, but he was talking to the ghost inside…”
Mother Yin immediately covered Yin Qing’s mouth.
“What is this nonsense?”
Yin Zhaoxian’s expression didn’t look very good. Even though he himself was quite knowledgeable, he knew much about areas that many in the village were otherwise ignorant of, he still avoided talking about Ju’an Pavilion. That place really was a bit too eerie.
Then Yin Zhaoxian suddenly realized something, and stared at his son and asked.
“Uh… This… That Sir’s eyesight is not good. Just now, he was fetching water in the public well square and the bucket was overturned. I just helped him carry the water back. Who knew he lived in that little Ju’an Pavilion…”
Yin Qing lowered his voice in apprehension.
Mother Yin asked nervously. Althought it should be alright to enter Ju’an Pavilion on a sunny day, that please really was too evil. Yin Qing was a weak child, so the adults couldn’t help but feel nervous on his behalf.
“No, no, Dad and Mom have told me not to so many times, how would dare to go inside? I put down the load at the door. But after I ran away, I saw the gentleman talking in some direction right outside the courtyard. He carried the water into the yard and came back out, chatting while walking as if someone was following him. He also said something scary about life and death. I was so terrified that I ran straight home!”
After speaking, Yin Qing asked his father, fearful and curious.
“Dad, do you think the ghost in Ju’an Pavilion came out with that gentleman?”
Yin Zhaoxian also got goosebumps when he heard the story, and Mother Yin even covered Yin Qing’s mouth again. Follow current novᴇls on novel·fıre·net
“Okay, okay, don’t go there to play in the future. Also, don’t repeat any of this nonsense outside, understood?”
Mother Yin hugged Yin Qing and patted his head.
“Husband, why don’t you take Qing’er to the City God’s Temple to pay homage to Lord Chenghuang. Perhaps it will get rid of some bad luck?”
In the end, this was his own son, and Yin Zhaoxian would not wait around to find out if anything did go wrong. Some extreme scholars might have ridiculed the notion of supernatural powers, but the small Ju’an Pavilion truly was unsettling.
“Okay! After lunch, I’ll take Qing’er to the Temple of the City God to burn incense!”
A few years ago, when performing rituals, a trembling old Buddhist master2 mentioned that the City God of Ning’an County was suppressing him. Ever since then, the people of Tian Niu Square made sure to frequently worship the City God on New Year’s and during festivals.
Ji Yuan followed the daytime patrol officer through half of Ning’an County, all the way to the City God Temple on Temple Administration Lane. After having finally arrived in a more crowded place, Ji Yuan and the daytime patrol officer stopped chatting.
When they reached the bustling City God Temple, they saw an old man standing in front of an incense candle stall, and the daytime patrol officer hurriedly stepped forward to salute.
“Lord Chenghuang, Mr. Ji is here!”
Because there were pilgrims and people passing by, the Old City God just nodded to the officer.
The latter said, “I will take my leave!” and floated away on his own.
Ji Yuan originally thought that he would meet the City God in a relatively secluded place in the temple, but he didn’t expect that the latter would appear directly outside the temple in the form of a mortal old man.
He looked at the City God with some confusion,, but Ji Yuan’s half-open eyes made it impossible to tell whether his gaze was focused or scattered. He truly appeared like a calm, ancient well with no ripples disturbing the surface.
There was also a faint scent of sandalwood around the body of the City God, but it was much lighter than with the previous four chief officers.
At the same time, the City God was also observing Ji Yuan. His eyes appeared useless at first glance, but he seemed no different in his actions from ordinary people. He was blind, but there was no disruption; instead, he revealed a trace of faint, plain confusion. Not a mortal after all!
The mutual observation only lasted for a few seconds, and then the old man took the lead to break the silence.
“The Lord of Ning’an County, City God Song Shichang, thanks Mr. Ji for his great righteousness and aid in eradicating evil!”
When he saw the old man bowing over his hands, Ji Yuan didn’t dare be lulled into a false sense of security. Opposite him was a City God, a big-shot among spirits and gods, so he quickly joined in. He reminded himself that needed to be even more respectful than the old man.
“Lord City God, it’s quite embarrassing. I just used some humble tricks, and happened to help the chief officials of your city. It was nothing big!”
“Hahaha, Mr. Ji is being too modest. I know that Mr. Ji has not yet eaten. I have ordered a table of snacks in the building outside the temple. Let us make our way there and talk. After you!”
Ji Yuan also quickly imitated the City God and extended his hands for the invitation, not daring to refuse or make excuses.
“It is better to obey than be respectful, by all means!”3
Ji Yuan looked at the lively and bustling surroundings of the Temple of the City God. From time to time he could see people going in and out of the temple to worship the City God. With that very same City God next to him, he was more nervous now than when he arrived.
‘Relax, don’t stiffen your legs…’
If anyone saw the clay statues in the temple come to life and walk down to chat with them, they would probably understand Ji Yuan’s feeling at this moment.