UCTOOT CH140.1: Extra

◎ Liaozhai · [Fox Gentleman] ◎

The Provincial Examination, also known as the Autumn Examination, was held in August in the prefecture capital.

“Xiao Shu, you are the only scholar in our ten miles and eight villages. Going to the Provincial Examination, you must strive to do well!”

Shi Shu carried his book basket on his back. It was currently July or August. Bai Mo stuffed steamed buns into his pocket, eyes teary: “You’ve never traveled such a long road before. This trip takes more than ten days, how can a mother not worry…”

Father Shi stood with his hands behind his back, tugging at his robe: “He’s a grown man, let him go!”

Shi Shu: “Can I take Lai Fu?”

Father Shi: “What do you think? How old are you? What if you lose the dog?”

Shi Shu: “…Fine, I won’t take him.”

Shi Shu turned around and walked on this narrow path, carrying his luggage on his back and holding a bamboo stick in his hand. The road from the village to the county town was familiar, as he often walked it for his studies, but the road after leaving the county town was strange. Shi Shu held a map, stumbling towards the great city of the prefecture.

Nowadays, the weather was hot, the heat unbearable. At first, there were pedestrians on the main road for company, but gradually it turned into deep mountains and old forests. The road was empty of people, cooking smoke ceased. Shi Shu walked with his bamboo stick, looking back as he went. Embraced by mountains, with lush vegetation and eagles circling, where was there any sign of human habitation?

As Shi Shu walked, he suddenly saw a patterned python in the grass. Scared, he screamed “Wah!” and ran for his life, his book basket tumbling upside down. He hugged it to his chest, hair disheveled as he ran wildly—

“Help! Help! A huge snake!”

Shi Shu’s pale face dripped with sweat, black hair sticking to his ears, his handsome face snow-white. After running wildly without looking back, unexpectedly, the road ahead became narrower and narrower. Passing through the woods, it turned out to be an even more cramped mountain path.

A sinister wind wrapped around his ankles. Sunlight couldn’t penetrate the forest. A dense, dark forest with only a mud path covered in fallen leaves stretching to the foot of the mountain.

But looking at the tomb forests on both sides, the ruins, the withered bamboo houses, the greasy ropes that had hanged dead people, the deep wells… Shi Shu was on the verge of tears, covering his ears and running forward tearfully: “Oh God, oh God, help, help…”

Shi Shu walked hurriedly, always feeling gusts of wind behind him. Especially seeing many tombstones arranged right under his feet, with inscriptions on them, and even open grave holes exposing piles of white bones—

Shi Shu’s back went cold, his whole body tense. As he ran forward wanting to cry but having no tears, he felt the sinister wind behind him becoming even more eerie.

His heart tightened, beating wildly. Just as Shi Shu’s vision went dark and he was about to faint, he suddenly heard a voice not far away: “Young Master, water found, take a drink!”

The voice was rough, evidently a strong man. Shi Shu followed the sound and looked, hearing another indifferent voice: “Where did you find it? Not even a person on this mountain top, is the water drinkable?”

“I drank it, cool mountain spring water!”

Hearing two men talking, Shi Shu quickly looked over. On a fork in the road, two people were walking towards him. One walked behind, dressed in black short clothes, tall and strong. The other was tall and imposing, wearing a black robe with embroidered patterns, his face as deep as still water, brows pressing down on his eyes, naturally carrying a coldness like a sharp blade sheathed in a scabbard.

The two walked one after another on this gloomy mountain road, their attire appearing wealthy, completely unlike ordinary mortals.

Shi Shu was startled first: “You, you are…”

Xin Bin said: “Eh, why is there another person?”

The other turned his head and lowered his eyes, looking Shi Shu over from head to toe. Then he smiled: “What a coincidence. This mountain is full of ghostly energy. I thought it was just my servant and me. I didn’t expect to meet a scholar.”

Shi Shu: “You are?”

Xie Wuchi said: “I have a relative in Huaixian, just going to visit relatives. You carry a book basket; are you a candidate going to the prefecture for the examination?”

Shi Shu: “Correct, correct, I am a scholar going to take the exam!”

Xie Wuchi: “In this desolate wilderness, why are you traveling alone?”

Shi Shu ran forward and said: “I am the only scholar in our village, so I have to travel alone. Just now at the foot of the mountain, I met a huge python. Scared me into running over the mountain top, didn’t expect this mountain to be full of random graves too! It’s really too scary!”

When Shi Shu got close to him, he smelled a faint scent of sandalwood in the air. He was too afraid and wanted to be near humans, but the moment he really got close, a trembling numbness suddenly rose up his back.

Shi Shu instinctively took a step back. The man in front of him was extremely tall, dressed luxuriously, with frost in his eyes, inexplicably eerie.

Xie Wuchi lowered his eyelids and said extremely indifferently: “In previous years, many people lived in this village. More than ten years ago, a war killed everyone in the village, blood flowing like rivers, so this place is also called Ghost Village. You are very brave, walking this far alone.”

Shi Shu: “…This is also forced by circumstances.”

Shi Shu breathed a sigh of relief: “But seeing you guys, I’m not that scared anymore.”

Shi Shu walked side by side with Xie Wuchi: “How far is the way down the mountain?”

Xie Wuchi: “Half an hour (one shichen is two hours, so half is one hour/original text likely meant ‘half a shichen‘).”

Shi Shu: “Is it tomb forests all the way?!”

This was too scary. Shi Shu looked at the tombstones close at hand under his feet, terrified, and had to move closer to Xie Wuchi. Smelling his sandalwood scent, his mind felt slightly dizzy, and another tremor ran down his back. This gentleman was truly calm and quiet, and born noble and handsome…

Shi Shu then asked: “May I ask for Brother’s name?”

Xie Wuchi: “Xie Wuchi.”

Shi Shu: “Xie Wuchi (Shameless)?”

Xie Wuchi nodded: “Chi (Blazing).”

“Oh oh oh sorry,” seeing him walk past without looking up, his steps clean, Shi Shu admired, “Brother Xie, you are very brave. Aren’t you afraid of these spirits and ghosts?”

Xie Wuchi: “I’m not afraid. If you are afraid, you can hold my arm.”

Shi Shu quickly shook his head: “Forget it, that would be embarrassing.”

Shi Shu kept a distance from him. Although Xie Wuchi was tall, his pace was moderate, just right for Shi Shu to keep up. Shi Shu went down the mountain with him, seeing green graves all the way, and finally walked out. The chill on his back disappeared instantly, replaced by scorching heat.

Shi Shu started getting thirsty. He picked up his water skin to drink but found it empty: “Why is there no water? Did I drink so fast?”

Beside him, Xie Wuchi handed over a water skin: “Drink mine?”

“Thank you, thank you! Brother Xie, you are so nice!” Shi Shu took it, accidentally touching his fingertips, and was startled by his high temperature. He lowered his head to drink; the water was cool, moistening his throat and lungs.

Shi Shu handed the water skin back to him. Seeing the main road ahead, he asked: “Brother Xie, are you still going forward?”

Xie Wuchi said: “Unfortunate. I’m going to an appointment, afraid we are not on the same path.”

Shi Shu couldn’t hide his disappointment: “Ah…”

Damn, rare to meet a companion on the road, looks like just a passerby.

Shi Shu watched Xie Wuchi and that servant, one after the other, their steps unhurried, disappearing at the end of the small path at the foot of the mountain. Although he sighed in his heart, thinking about how big the world was and how few fellow travelers there were, he had to shoulder his book basket and hurry forward again.

Walking all afternoon, seeing the sky turning gloomy, there were sudden signs of rain. Shi Shu carried his book basket and ran. As expected, the rain fell. Shi Shu asked a passerby and learned that the nearest relay station was still more than ten miles away, truly annoying.

The passerby was hoeing the ground, face unclear, and said: “But ahead, there is a temple, abandoned and uninhabited, where you can rest for a night.”

Shi Shu: “A temple? Real or fake?”

Taking advantage of the sky not being completely dark yet, Shi Shu hurriedly moved forward. After walking a few steps, he turned back wanting to ask again, but the person who gave directions just now had suddenly disappeared, leaving only a hoe.

“Disappeared so fast, went home?”

“Strange, strange…”

“Scaring myself…”

Shi Shu stumbled along the road. Seeing the drizzling rain, the narrow road was lined with chaotic graves stretching as far as the eye could see, and amidst the tomb forest, there was actually a temple. Seeing the temple eaves missing, corners damaged, pavilions covered in spider webs, bursts of green smoke rising from between the tiles, crows cawing all around, and owls circling.

“This place is too weird…”

Shi Shu took a step and stepped on something soft and squishy. Scared into a “Wuu-wah,” he turned and rushed into the temple.

“Not afraid, not afraid, inside the temple I’m not afraid.” Shi Shu rushed into the courtyard, walked into the meditation room, closed the doors and windows tightly, took out a candle from his pocket, and lit it. Seeing the light illuminate the darkness in the room, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Rest here for a day tonight. Study, study… Shi Shu took out his scriptures, took out a steamed bun, nibbled a few mouthfuls with cold water, reciting while going to the courtyard to prepare for a bath.

The courtyard was empty, stone slabs growing moss. Shi Shu took off his clothes to bathe, washed his clothes clean, and hung them under the eaves. While scrubbing his back, he suddenly heard a burst of a woman’s laughter.

Deep in the night, where did the laughter come from?

“Illusion, illusion… This place is really too terrifying, better hurry to sleep.” Shi Shu quickly returned to the room, lay on the bed, cherished blowing out the candle, and prepared to sleep.

However, at this moment, the rain stopped, and blue mist lingered outside the window. Shi Shu suddenly heard bursts of footsteps, getting closer and closer.

Shi Shu opened his eyes abruptly. The footsteps seemed to have stopped, wandering outside the door.

“…………”

Who is it?

This whole area is a tomb forest, why are there footsteps? Shi Shu’s heart shrank to his throat. He pulled aside the quilt to look out; a figure was indeed standing outside the door.

“Who is it…”

Shi Shu dared not make a sound. Looking down, he saw that the shadow didn’t touch the ground; this “person” was hanging in mid-air!

Cold sweat broke out on Shi Shu’s back instantly. Holding back a scream, he heard the voice outside the door: “Young Master…”

Shi Shu shrank to the foot of the bed, hugging the quilt uselessly. Oh God, don’t want to study, don’t want to take exams anymore. Shi Shu dared not make a peep, secretly getting out of bed wanting to find a place to hide. Unexpectedly, the door started to rattle knock knock, being pushed—

Shi Shu was covered in cold sweat, staring at the door being pushed louder and louder, scared out of his wits. Suddenly, the voice outside the door screamed, and the shadow abruptly disappeared outside the door.

Shi Shu didn’t understand why, hiding behind the table not daring to make a sound. With a crash, the door was pushed open—

A young man in black walked in. The night wind blew, hair strands slightly scattered. He was just taking off his rain cape, looking calmly into the room, shoes and clothes spotless.

Shi Shu spoke up abruptly: “Hey, it’s you! You…”

Xie Wuchi turned his face: “Oh, it’s you?”

Behind him, Xin Bin strode in, putting down his load: “Young Master, we stay here tonight?”

Shi Shu originally had doubts about Xie Wuchi appearing suddenly in the middle of the night, but seeing Xin Bin, who felt very much like a living person, he breathed a sigh of relief: “Come in quickly! Just now, there was a ghost outside the door, did you see?”

Xie Wuchi was looking at his face intently: “I seem not to have seen.”

Shi Shu: “How could you not see? Could it be your Yang energy is heavy? She was just outside the door, come in, come in quickly.”

Shi Shu grabbed him. Xin Bin, however, put down the luggage and immediately went around to the back of the courtyard, nowhere to be found. Shi Shu stood at the door shouting for him: “Hey, brother!”

Xie Wuchi said lightly: “He went to find firewood, ignore him.”

Shi Shu was anxious: “Haunted, this place is haunted!”

Xie Wuchi: “Is that so?”

The next second, the broken door in front of Shi Shu suddenly encountered a massive force. Bang! They slammed together. Shi Shu immediately took a step back. The ghost shadow whose feet didn’t touch the ground appeared outside the door again.

“She’s coming, she’s coming!”

Shi Shu screamed “Awoo,” wanting to open the window, but the window wouldn’t open. Hearing the sound of palms slapping the door, he ran around the room. Suddenly, he saw a wardrobe aside.

Seeing the door about to be smashed open.

Shi Shu said nothing, immediately hid behind the wardrobe, while dragging Xie Wuchi over. With a boom, the door was smashed open. Shi Shu hurriedly held his breath, shrinking behind the door panel, daring not make any sound.

The wardrobe was relatively large. Xie Wuchi was also pulled in by him, hiding in this space with him now. Shi Shu looked out through the crack of the wardrobe. One look, and his vision went black. Outside came a woman, dressed in white mourning clothes, black hair hanging down her back, face pale, walking back and forth in the room.

Shi Shu covered his mouth, turning his head to look at Xie Wuchi beside him.

Two men hiding in a wardrobe, space wasn’t enough, arms touching unconsciously. Shi Shu turned his head, seeing Xie Wuchi didn’t care about the wild ghost outside the wardrobe, but lowered his gaze to look at him instead.

Shi Shu chanted in his heart: Look at what? There’s a ghost! Growing up so big, first time seeing a ghost.

Heard that as long as one holds their breath, they won’t be detected. Shi Shu held his breath hard until his ears turned red. That lone soul didn’t leave but looked towards the wardrobe instead.

“…………”

Shi Shu was on the verge of tears, his handsome face red. Just as he was suffocating, his wrist was suddenly pulled, a scorching hand covered his mouth. The next second, he was blocked by a sleeve, and a breath of wind quickly poured into his nasal cavity.

Fresh air, mixed with the sandalwood scent on him.

Shi Shu breathed. His living breath was blocked inside the sleeve, surprisingly not alerting the ghost outside the wardrobe. Shi Shu tensed all over. That ghost walked slowly, getting closer and closer. Shi Shu dared not look carefully, unconsciously pressing tight against the person beside him, almost hugging onto him.

However, his back was embraced, and he leaned into Xie Wuchi’s arms naturally. After a while, the ghost walked a circle in the room and floated out the door.

Shi Shu didn’t dare come out yet, breathing a massive sigh of relief, looking up at Xie Wuchi. His nose and mouth were still gently covered by his hand, sensing that hand gently rubbing his chin.

The hand was very hot, high body temperature, seeming to rub against his lips.

Shi Shu quickly got up from him: “Sorry sorry! Brother Xie, I’m timid, first time encountering spirits and ghosts, really sorry, offended you!”

Xie Wuchi: “No matter. A scholar staying overnight in a desolate temple is prone to encountering strange events. Scared?”

Shi Shu rolled out of the wardrobe door, hurriedly patting dust off himself, his lips inexplicably retaining warmth.

So strange, this brother. Shi Shu looked at his face and quickly turned away: “Let’s go quickly, can’t stay long in this temple.”

Xie Wuchi: “Going out now might mean running right into those spiritual souls. Really want to go out?”

Shi Shu: “This…”

Shi Shu was anxious, then remembered: “What about your servant?”

“He had his fortune told, his Bazi is very tough, dares to sleep in mass graves at night, will be fine, don’t worry too much about him.”

Shi Shu: “Then, then what do we do? Hide here for the night?”

Xie Wuchi: “This ghost probably won’t return. You can sleep, I’ll watch for you. If she returns, I’ll wake you up to hide together.”

Shi Shu: “This, I dare not sleep now.”

“Alright,” Xie Wuchi changed the subject. “Brief meeting at noon, hurried parting. Have you eaten?” Saying this, he took out a beef-stuffed baked cake from his bosom, “I haven’t eaten yet, want to join?”

Shi Shu hurriedly waved his hand: “I’ve eaten… the cake my mother made for me, and steamed buns.”

Xie Wuchi: “Full?”

Shi Shu: “Hahaha, which traveling scholar isn’t full one meal and hungry the next! I’m not hungry!”

Xie Wuchi handed the meat cake to him, speaking softly: “Eat, I have plenty here.”

Making Shi Shu’s ears hot instantly, waving his hand: “No no no.”

Xie Wuchi walked closer, put the cake in his hand, fingertips touching lightly, smiling: “Don’t be too polite, appears distant.”

“…”

His body temperature is so hot.

Shi Shu glanced at him, scratched his head. Seeing this gentleman looked good when smiling, he felt embarrassed for a moment: “Didn’t expect to meet such a good person while traveling.”

Xie Wuchi sat aside eating cake and drinking water. Shi Shu felt embarrassed and took out a pancake from his pocket to give him one: “Then share some of mine with you too.”

Xie Wuchi accepted it and tasted: “Good.”

Shi Shu then held the cake and took a bite. Meat fragrance overflowed, surprisingly still warm. He hadn’t eaten a good meal walking these few days. Chewing, chewing. Unexpectedly, other movements came from the courtyard. A group of traveling men arrived in the courtyard, and Xin Bin also returned carrying firewood.

Shi Shu: “Hey! So many people came!”

Xie Wuchi glanced and said lightly: “Good, many living people, heavy Yang energy. That ghost probably won’t appear tonight. Can sleep peacefully.”

Shi Shu breathed a sigh of relief: “Good! Scared me, finally living people came.”

Still better with more people.

That group of men fetched water, bathed, made fire, and talked in the courtyard. Asking, it turned out they were traveling merchants together. Shi Shu felt much more reassured, seeing those people quickly finding empty rooms to stay.

Shi Shu was about to lie on the bed when Xie Wuchi stood at the door, seemingly hesitating.

Shi Shu: “You—”

Shi Shu sized up: “You sleep in—tonight”

Xie Wuchi’s eyes wandered. Shi Shu ran to the courtyard to look; rooms were all occupied. Shi Shu said: “How about, Brother Xie, you make do and sleep with me for a night?”

Xie Wuchi pondered: “Will it disturb you?”

Shi Shu: “No no, I don’t take up much bed space. Happens that I’m a bit afraid tonight.”

Xie Wuchi returned: “Okay, then I’ll respectfully accept.”

“…” In a strange land, rare to meet a friend. Convenient for others, convenient for self. Shi Shu quickly retreated to the inner side of the bed, giving him half the quilt: “Please.”

Xie Wuchi stood by the bed, said thanks, and raised his hands to undress.

“…………”

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