Chapter 1: The Corpse Battle of the Yellow Springs

Although I was enjoying the sensation of the moment, staying submerged in the water for too long meant that both Zhuge Xuan and I would likely catch a cold before long.

Therefore, not long after, I woke her up.

After getting out of the water, Zhuge Xuan found a place by herself to change into a dry set of clothes. When she came out, the three of us guys were already gathered around the campfire, dressed in that remarkably well-fitting set of clothing.

Strange to say, the person who prepared these items must have understood us thoroughly down to the last detail, leaving not even the slightest error in Fatty's sizing. However, none of us had the energy to discuss that mystery anymore. After pulling food and drinks from the packs, we all fell heavily asleep.

The next noon, several villagers woke us up. When I got up, Peanut and Fatty were discussing something with a villager, while Zhuge Xuan was nowhere to be seen.

After those villagers left, Fatty told me that Zhuge Xuan had already departed two hours ago.

A trace of inevitability and loss stirred in my heart, and I didn't know what to say. Fatty laughed and said, "Don't look like that. That girl said she'll come find you after a while. Fatty here has a sharp eye, so don't worry—your fate with her is far from over."

I remained noncommittal, having no idea how Zhuge Xuan would ever contact me.

"Oh right, what were you guys talking about with those villagers?" I asked.

It turned out that Fatty had paid the villagers to arrange a vehicle to take us into the city. I asked him, "You were stripped down to nothing, where did you get the money?" Upon his explanation, I learned that this fellow had kept a trick up his sleeve upon arrival, burying all his portable valuables in a small pit.

Before long, we boarded a van. Fatty chattered endlessly with the driver, while I drifted off to sleep once more without realizing it. In my dreams, almost every shadow belonged to Zhuge Xuan.

Upon reaching Wenzhou, Fatty forked out the money to check us into a hotel. This time he really had it rough—not only did he gain nothing, but our food and lodging all the way here relied entirely on him. Yet Fatty wasn't petty in the slightest; after settling Peanut and Peanut and me into the hotel, he went straight to the hospital himself.

Over the next two days, aside from eating, I basically spent the entire time sleeping. Sometimes I worried that Peanut might suddenly walk away, but every time I looked at his leisurely demeanor, it didn't seem like he was going anywhere.

Since we shared the same room, naturally our conversations increased. Gradually, I noticed that Peanut's former affected air of profound mystery had vanished. Though he spoke more, his tone grew increasingly cold. Furthermore, I discovered that Peanut had been doing something very strange over the past two days.

Waking up around noon that day, I saw Peanut sitting with his back facing me, looking as though he were writing something. I thought to myself how rare that was—could this fellow actually be writing a family letter?

Sneaking up quietly, I took a peek, only to find Peanut with his eyes closed, using his finger to trace something on the table. Whether he noticed me spying or not, he spent the entire afternoon sitting there making gestures, occasionally furrowing his brows as if he had drawn something incorrectly.

Three days later, Fatty stopped making trips to the hospital. According to our prior plan, I was supposed to take the "wine pot" containing the map of the "Phantom Snow Forbidden City" to find my father, but after calling several times, I couldn't get through to him. Consequently, Fatty and I decided to head straight back to Beijing the next day, while Peanut intended to make whatever preparations he had spoken of—though what exactly he was preparing for, he never said.

That evening, the three of us had a lavish feast in the hotel restaurant. At the table, both Fatty and I drank a bit too much, while Peanut remained completely silent, eating his food and chain-smoking non-stop.

We were sitting in the bustling hotel lobby, surrounded by crowds of people. It was a dense gathering of traveling merchants, and the nearby tables were especially loud and clamorous. Normally, I didn't care much for such boisterous places, but perhaps having spent too much time in that lifeless, gloomy ancient tomb, a place so full of human vitality actually felt quite wonderful right now.

As we were eating, the door to a private dining room opposite us suddenly opened, and five men and one woman walked out, among whom were two middle-aged foreign fellows.

"Hahaha, thanks entirely to your help this time. Being able to know President Song means our future endeavors in China will surely sail smoothly." The bearded foreigner spoke fluent Chinese and kept expressing his gratitude to the woman whose back was turned to us.

Fatty seemed somewhat captivated by the woman's back, staring at her unblinkingly.

I patted him and half-jokingly said, "Cut that pathetic look out. Careful she turns around and scares you to death."

Fatty kept his gaze fixed on that side. "No, did you see the bracelet on that woman's wrist?"

Looking closely, I noticed that the woman was indeed wearing a purple bracelet on her right wrist. In my impression, bracelets were supposed to be green jade; purple? Surely it wasn't plastic, was it?

As soon as I said that, Fatty scolded me fiercely.

"Talking nonsense! That's a violet jadeite. Look at that transparency and luster—definitely Grade-A purple jadeite. That woman is guaranteed to be insanely rich," Fatty whispered.

I burst out laughing. "So, are you planning to change careers tonight and become her kept toy boy?"

Paying no mind, Fatty continued, "That woman has an extraordinary aura. Look at her..."

By now I finally understood: this Fatty had a soft spot for women with that kind of aristocratic bearing, and once he started talking about it, he wouldn't stop. First, he analyzed the jewelry and accessories she wore, and then he began critiquing her poise and speech until my ears were ringing.

While we were talking, those two foreigners seemed ready to leave. Following that, the woman turned around and faced our direction.

"Damn, that woman really isn't bad at all," Fatty exclaimed the moment he saw her face.

The woman wasn't young anymore, but she had been exceptionally well-preserved; coupled with her lavish attire, it was impossible to tell her exact age. Fatty was full of sighs of admiration, while I, after catching a single glimpse of her, nearly jumped right out of my seat.

"I..." I was so shocked I couldn't even form words.

My reaction must have been too loud, as several people nearby turned to look. Fatty hurriedly asked me, "What's wrong?"

My eyes followed that group outward until they had all departed. Only then did I blink and lower my voice. "Damn, I didn't see wrong, did I? Th-that woman... why does she look just like my Little Aunt?"

"Huh? That's your little aunt?" Fatty cried out in astonishment.

At that moment, Peanut, who had remained silent all along, suddenly narrowed his eyes and then smiled.

"Judging by her appearance... there's no doubt about it." At that moment, I felt completely dazed and dared not be certain.

Not long after I left Sichuan in my childhood, my little aunt was said to have married a foreigner and spent all these years abroad. The last time I saw her was right when I passed my college entrance exams. Seeing her so suddenly now, I felt things couldn't possibly be such a coincidence.

While I was stunned, the woman who looked so much like my little aunt walked back with a man who had the air of a boss. Reaching the door of the private room, she very politely invited the boss inside, and then stood outside and closed the door herself.

"Hey, she hasn't gone in yet. Take a good look," Fatty urged hastily.

Naturally, I stretched my neck out immediately to look over there.

To be honest, I was truly terrified that she really was my little aunt. Since childhood, my little aunt had been the strictest with me, and she probably already knew what happened back at the King of Yelang's tomb. Given her temper, regardless of whether I was still young or not, if she caught me, she wouldn't rest until she had beaten me half to death.

Back when I was studying, she was always plotting to drag me abroad, and it was thanks to my constant pleading of innocence before my grandfather that she ultimately didn't succeed.

Just as I was watching with mounting tension, the woman suddenly turned around and walked straight toward our table.

At that, cold sweat broke out on my forehead, and I thought to myself: it's over. Th-that wasn't just a resemblance—it was unequivocally my little aunt!

An urge to run flared up inside me, but though I stood up, in the end I could only stand there flashing a foolish, stiff smile at the little aunt who was drawing closer by the second.

"Li-Little Aunt... Hehe."

Little Aunt wore a faint smile, her demeanor as elegant as ever. When she drew near, she didn't speak a word, leaving Fatty bewildered as he looked back and forth between us.

"Little Aunt, I..." Just as I was about to say something, Little Aunt smilingly began to remove her violet jadeite bracelet.

This action left Fatty even more bewildered. After placing the bracelet on the table, Little Aunt proceeded to take off the two rings on her fingers.

I let out an internal cry of despair. Right there in the hall with hundreds of people sitting around, right under the noses of Fatty and Peanut, my little aunt raised her right arm high—*Crack!*—and slapped me squarely across the face.

Following that single slap, the previously boisterous, clamorous hall instantly fell dead silent.

Fatty's eyes bulged, and Peanut wore a look of utter astonishment.

I was already a bit drunk to begin with, and with that heavy slap landing, my field of vision was filled with nothing but dancing stars.

After delivering the blow, Little Aunt gracefully put her bracelet and rings back on, and tossed down a room key.

"Wait for me."

Dropping those three words, Little Aunt walked back to that private room with casual elegance.

I slumped limply into my chair.

Fatty stared wide-eyed and asked, "Damn, that's your grand-aunt? Impressive as hell."

By then, the people around us were still snickering at me.

My face still burned with pain, but this outcome was already much better than I had anticipated. Presumably it was because Little Aunt had business matters to attend to today; otherwise, let alone in a restaurant, she would have summarily executed me right there in the public square.

According to my Third Uncle, out of several hundred years of the old Yuan family, Little Aunt was the only girl born, making her immensely precious. Consequently, in our family Little Aunt was the most formidable figure—aside from my grandfather, she gave face to no one.

That room key now functioned like a military order to me; I wouldn't dare disobey Little Aunt's instructions.

Immediately, I bid farewell to Fatty and Peanut, returned to the room to pack my things, and after Peanut reminded me once more to deliver the items to my father, I scuttled off like a whipped dog to Little Aunt's room.

Along the way, I thought to myself that Little Aunt must be flying into such a rage because of the recent incident in Gulin, but since it was Father who had lured me there, I shouldn't be blamed.

Musing thus, I felt my slap was thoroughly unjust, and I resolved to argue my case reasonably as soon as she returned.

Unlocking the door with the key, I figured nobody would be inside, so I tossed my bag onto the bed and prepared to sit down for a cigarette.

Before my rear end could even graze the edge of the bed, a white shadow suddenly bolted out from the bathroom.

"Auntie, my bath towel..."

Good grief! Standing before me was a young woman, dripping wet from top to bottom and stark naked. At that sight, both of us froze in place. She stared at me, and I stared right back at her, neither of us reacting for a full several seconds.

I have no idea what my brain was thinking at that moment, but in a d