Chapter 198 — Reminiscing About the Young Lord of Jiangdong

“Just how lively is the capital?”

Lu Liangsheng sat upon the stone steps, watching as the woman tied her pale-green horse to the trunk of a nearby tree. The old donkey, which had been idly flicking the Toad Daoist about in play, suddenly stopped. Snorting, it ambled over and nuzzled at the pale-green horse, frightening it into trotting nervously around the tree.

“No need to worry. It won’t hurt your horse.”

Hearing the scholar’s voice drift out from beneath the eaves, Min Yuerou finally felt at ease and walked over. Nearby, Hong Lian gave a soft snort, but did nothing further. With a sweep of her sleeve, she turned and went inside.

“It seems someone here does not welcome me.” The woman glanced toward the doorway Hong Lian had just entered. The Daoist cocked his head and let out a sly chuckle.

“Heh, that’s not even a per—”

Before he could finish, a branch flew out from the half-open door and struck him squarely on the head.

A faint smile curved Min Yuerou’s lips. Gathering her skirts, she crouched beside the fire pit, lifted the lid of the pot, inhaled deeply, and murmured, “Smells delicious.” Only then did she begin speaking of matters in the capital.

“My father originally intended to come and see you. But when he returned to the city last night, he learned that His Majesty had passed away. And within the capital… mm, there are no other officials left. My father had no choice but to step forward himself, promoting officials from below to stabilize the awkward situation of a court without ministers. He must also oversee His Majesty’s funeral, as well as the enthronement of the new sovereign.”

Lu Liangsheng stepped forward and fed a dry branch into the fire, smiling faintly.

“That is only natural. Minister Min is now the highest-ranking official remaining in the capital—it falls to him to preside over affairs. The new emperor should be Chen Jing, succeeding to the throne, correct?”

The woman tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. On this matter, she did not know the details clearly.

“After Father entered the palace, he had no time to return. The city is in utter chaos. The yamen must steady the common people, yet the streets are filled with crowds everywhere. Speaking of which…”

She glanced sideways at the scholar’s profile. When he turned to look at her, she hurriedly lowered her head and handed him another dry branch.

“Everyone is talking about what happened last night—demons, dragons… many were badly frightened.”

At that moment, the Toad Daoist came padding across the courtyard, forelimbs clasped behind his back, webbed feet slapping the ground with soft pa-da pa-da sounds. Passing the woman, he stood on tiptoe to peer into the pot.

“Wasn’t there an old monk in the city as well?”

Though she had heard this toad speak before, Min Yuerou still felt a trace of fear. She edged slightly aside with caution.

Lu Liangsheng looked over and said with a smile: “This is my master.”

The woman recalled that night—the scholar’s robes billowing, sword in hand as he strode through the air. Then she looked at the short little toad before her, standing on webbed feet and peering into the pot. Her mouth parted slightly, and for a moment she could not close it.

“What? A toad can’t take on disciples?”

The Toad Daoist cast her a sidelong glance, his bulging toad-eyes slanting toward the corners. Women were naturally afraid of such eerie creatures—let alone one that could speak and wear clothes. Min Yuerou shuddered from head to toe and quickly waved her hands.

“No, no…”

“As long as it’s not. Is that old monk in the city or not?”

In a small voice, the woman replied, “Yes. That venerable monk is in the city, chanting sutras for the people to help calm their hearts.”

“Good. As long as he’s there.” The Toad Daoist clasped his webbed hands behind his back and turned to his disciple, speaking with solemn authority. “Liangsheng, pack our things. We leave at once. Every time I see that old monk, my whole body feels uncomfortable!”

Lu Liangsheng blinked, thinking his master had some important matter to discuss. Instead, he heard this. Over by the fire, the Daoist turned his head, still holding a wooden ladle, glaring as he knocked it loudly against the rim of the pot.

“I’ve just finished cooking this meal, and now you’re saying we’re leaving?!”

The toad met his gaze. After a moment, he waved a broad, webbed hand. “Then we’ll leave after we eat!”

The three who had been bantering suddenly fell silent. The old donkey lying on its side in the courtyard twitched its ears and lifted its head. Beneath the eaves stood two humans and one demon; even Nie Honglian stepped out from her room.

Min Yuerou’s heart tightened abruptly. She swallowed and asked in a low voice, “What is it?”

No sooner had she spoken than a gust of wind swept through. The bright morning sun dimmed before her eyes. Being yin in nature, she immediately felt a wave of cold yin energy wash over her entire body, and she began to tremble.

When she repeated, “What is it?” Lu Liangsheng rose and stepped out from beneath the eaves. Under the darkening sky, it seemed as though rain were beginning to fall.

On the weedy path beyond the courtyard stood a tall, gaunt figure dragging a dull gray robe. Upon his head was a tall, pointed hat. He held an oil-paper umbrella open above him. In the next instant, as though drifting rather than walking, he moved toward them.

Upon seeing Lu Liangsheng in white robes edged with blue standing within the courtyard, the figure raised his umbrella slightly and bowed.

“Greetings, Mister Lu.”

Beneath the tall hat, a curtain of black cloth veiled the man’s face, concealing his features. Yet from the dense yin aura that clung to him—and the faint trace of sandalwood incense—Lu Liangsheng could more or less discern the other’s origin.

“May I ask under which Chief Judge you serve?”

“Swift Report Envoy, under the Office of Swift Reports.”

Yin officers was a general term. Even Day and Night Patrol Envoys, or the Impermanence Wardens who seized souls and bound spirits, could all be called yin officers—much like constables, runners, and bailiffs in the yamen of the mortal world. Facing Lu Liangsheng, who once held scholarly distinction in the human realm and was also a cultivator, the envoy naturally showed due courtesy.

Beneath the eaves, seeing the scholar standing alone in the courtyard as if speaking to empty air, Min Yuerou’s face turned pale. Though she had seen demons before, that had been in the darkness of night, when things were indistinct. Now, watching him address an empty space in broad daylight felt far more unsettling.

“MasterToad… who is Young Master Lu speaking to?”

“Hmph.” The Toad Daoist cast a glance toward the courtyard, hugging his small bowl as he stretched out his short legs and shoveled rice into his mouth. “A yin officer, that’s all. Nothing to make a fuss about.”

A yin officer?

Min Yuerou shuddered at once. She quickly turned her head away, not daring to look. Ghostly beings were different from demons. Monsters were mostly things described in books—stories told and listened to as tales. But ghosts were different. Since childhood, elders had vividly recounted such stories, leaving deep shadows in her heart. They were matters of great taboo.

Yet she could still hear the scholar’s voice drifting over.

“May I ask what matter brings you here in search of me?”

Beneath the shading umbrella, the tall, gaunt figure’s toes hovered just above the ground. Drifting slightly to one side, he replied in a hoarse voice,

“The City God wishes to invite Mister for a meeting.”

City Gods were divided into three ranks—capital, prefectural, and county. The one here was the very white-robed figure seen the previous night. As a divine official, it would not be proper to refuse him face.

Still, to meet a yin official as a living man—this was a first.

Lu Liangsheng cupped his hands in return. “Then please wait a moment.”

With that, he returned beneath the eaves and informed the Toad Daoist and Sun Yingxian of the situation. The meal, naturally, could not be eaten now. He told the Daoist to leave him a bowl to eat upon his return. Then he bade farewell to Min Yuerou, brushed the dust from his robes, and—without taking the Veiled Moon Sword—walked toward the yin envoy waiting outside the courtyard, extending a courteous gesture of invitation.

“Apologies for the wait. Let us be on our way.”

The scholar’s manner was gentle and courteous, which greatly pleased the yin envoy. Walking beside him, the envoy even found himself instinctively shifting the umbrella slightly to cover Lu Liangsheng as well—then suddenly realized something was amiss and drew it back.

Ah… a bad habit from being used to holding the umbrella for the City God.

Yin energy spread beneath the feet of one man and one ghost. After they passed a certain stretch, sunlight once more poured down behind them. It was as though only this small patch of heaven and earth had been shrouded in gloom, which struck Lu Liangsheng as rather novel. It was likely due to the yin envoy’s umbrella.

They passed through the eastern outskirts. The roads lay shattered and strewn with debris; in the distance and nearby alike, laborers were already under supervision repairing the damage. As if unable to see Lu Liangsheng at all, they allowed him to tread across mud, sand, and broken stone undisturbed.

South of the official road branched a smaller path. Two li away stood the City God Temple. Its red walls and black tiles were littered with fallen leaves; long stone steps were slick with moss. Inside, yellow talisman paper and incense candles burned, planted into a three-legged bronze tripod. Fragrant smoke curled upward—there was clearly more incense offering than before.

More than a dozen male and female devotees were sweeping and tidying. Seeing a newly arrived worshipper enter, they instinctively stepped forward to assist, guiding him to the place for offering incense.

Under the yin envoy’s direction, Lu Liangsheng stepped over the threshold and entered the main hall of the City God. The clay statues and altar seen from outside remained as they were—but the moment he crossed inside, the sounds of the outer world abruptly fell silent.

Yin officers in official robes moved about within. At the long desks of various divisions, clerks lifted their case files in unison. Of the Seven Departments’ judges, five were present, handling official business. Some cast him an occasional glance before returning to their work. It was as bustling as a government yamen of the mortal realm.

“Haha, Mister Lu!”

At the head of the hall, a clay effigy shimmered with divine radiance. From within it, a figure stepped forth, smiling.

The man’s face was like polished jade. He wore a scholar’s headscarf and white robes; his bearing was tall and refined. Striding quickly before Lu Liangsheng, he cupped his hands in greeting.

“City God of Tianzhi—Zhou Yu.”

Lu Liangsheng froze for a brief moment. The name instantly called to mind its renown. His sleeves swayed as he returned the salute.

“Lu Liangsheng of Qixia Mountain greets Governor Zhou.”

 [TL_Note: The title “Reminiscing About the Young Lord of Jiangdong” alludes to Zhou Yu, the famed general of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. “Jiangdong” refers to the region east of the Yangtze River, his power base.]