"
"Oh? Is that so?" Han Sheng lowered his head to sip tea. "That's quite a coincidence."
Feeling a bit disappointed inside, it seemed that Han Sheng was indeed keeping something from me. I understood his character; if he didn't want to talk about it, even if I asked, he wouldn't tell me. In this moment, I felt a bit lost. To conceal my emotions, I hurriedly lifted the cup and took a sip of tea.
Setting down the teacup, I thought to myself, it's alright. Everyone has their own secrets. Why force myself to understand? I know he and I are on the same side of the battle, and at least Han Sheng won't harm me.
After Han Sheng left, I returned to my room and lay down for a while. Suddenly, I remembered something and sat up. I took out my miniature camera, luckily this small device didn't take up much space. After taking the photos, I casually stuffed it into my pocket. Thankfully, it had escaped danger. I wasn't sure if it still worked.
My mood uneasy, I connected the camera to my laptop. The optical drive activated, good, it still could read. Inside were images from the Fox Hu King's tomb.
I had taken many photos in a hurry, and some angles weren't good, some were blurry. I spent over an hour, carefully selecting and leaving behind more than twenty clear pictures. Among them were a few I paid special attention to.
One set was photos of the shrine; I deliberately captured many details from close-ups to panoramas. Another set was carvings on the bronze pillars, not very clear due to poor lighting.
I called Qin Hantang and some other masters from Yushan. After they listened to my description, they were puzzled, claiming they had never seen or heard of any related records. Disheartened, I considered my speculation might be wrong. However, just when I was about to give up, Master Sun, a friend of Qin Hantang, recommended another friend specializing in Bashu culture studies. Grateful, I contacted him.
This Master Sun was extraordinary, with a family background in the Qing Dynasty's Internal Affairs Ministry workshop. He recommended someone well-versed in Bashu culture. Following the phone number Sun provided, I called. Maybe he had already been informed, as he was very accommodating, asking if he could see the visual data first. I agreed and sent the data via email, agreeing to wait until he finished his current work before helping me.
Closing the laptop, I hesitated for a moment, then called Zhao Min. She seemed surprised to receive my call. I inquired about her well-being; she said it was fine, and she had repaired the graves of the Zhao brothers. However, Li Xin's fever hadn't subsided, and there were signs of deterioration after being taken to the hospital. I wanted to ask about her future plans, but several attempts failed to bring the words out. She generously waited for my stumbling words, then asked if I had any business. I said no, and she laughed, calling me a "fool," and hung up.
Embarrassed, I put down the phone and lay back on the bed. I couldn't help but think that modern girls were so rough.
Days seemed to pass in a dull manner, but I was not entirely idle. I immersed myself in the materials left by the Second Master, hoping to find some clues. In addition, I discovered his notes, which contained many Feng Shui-related teachings, with his annotations and insights below. Though enthusiastic at first, it became obscure as I delved deeper, taking me a day or two to understand a sentence or two. I knew my level was still insufficient.
Apart from that, there were attitudes he advocated for in life, not very profound, but in those sentences, I saw a side of the Second Master I hadn't known before.
"Self-cultivation lies in rectifying one's heart."
"A nobleman respects both internal integrity and external righteousness."
"Prefer directness over cunning, even at the cost of not being fully comprehensive."
"When impatience arises, mental state diminishes, and tasks cannot be handled properly."
"In significant matters, maintain calmness."
"In life between heaven and earth, everyone has their endowments. When undertaking a great cause, do it wholeheartedly."
Reading them frequently, I seemed to grasp some understanding of what that stubborn old man insisted on. Slowly, I organized the texts he left behind. I couldn't help but feel that he somehow knew that one day, I would read these things. Even though he was gone, it felt like in the words, I could see that young man, unparalleled in loyalty, gently narrating something for me.
Time passed slowly, and suddenly, autumn was approaching in Beijing. One day, right after having dinner, I received a call from that old master. He asked if I had time recently, wanting to arrange a meeting. His tone sounded a bit strange, but I agreed and set an appointment for the next morning. He gave me the address, and I realized it was near the East Third Ring Road, not too far. I agreed to meet in the morning to avoid traffic.
After hanging up, I felt some doubts. It seemed this matter was not simple. Judging by the old man's tone, those few pictures must have led him to some clues. It looked like I found the right person.
I went out to find Han Sheng; he was lying in the yard in a strange posture. He claimed it was a children's exercise. Curious a couple of days ago, I tried it too, but it was awkward. Not only did I fail to perform the moves, but my arms and legs also ached the next day.
He sat up and asked what was wrong. I told him about the phone call and asked if he wanted to come. He was excited and suggested accompanying me. I declined, feeling it would be awkward with more people. I also asked him why I hadn't seen him much lately. He said there were a few friends of the Second Master here; he went to visit them.
I was somewhat surprised. I didn't expect this handsome guy to also betray the revolution. I asked, "I'm curious how you chatted with them when you don't smoke or drink."
He laughed and said, "It's not what you think. All at the Second Master's orders. He had some connections left behind. These are all old men who owed Second Master a favor. He said when the crucial moment comes, these connections can be activated. I think whether it's the shop or our situation, we need this help now."
I now understood what he meant. Even in this era, was there still the tradition of "life and death, one bowl of wine"? I asked about the effect.
He tilted his head in thought and replied, "It's not exactly a matter of life and death, but some old folks are still quite principled."
"Oh?"
Seeing my interested expression, he sat down and explained, "There's an old man in the military district compound. When I went there, he was doing carpentry work. He saw me and was polite. I explained the purpose, and without a second word, he agreed. Of course, there were some bumps in the road, as moral obligations can only be maintained for a limited time."
"Did you resort to force?"
He smiled.
Looking
at Han Sheng now, I felt deeply moved. I couldn't imagine what weight the Second Master had in his heart. Even though he was gone, Han Sheng still followed him without hesitation. Now he could completely let go of these troublesome matters. I also questioned myself many times—what made Han Sheng, such a person, have such profound feelings for the Second Master? I gradually understood later on—they were kindred spirits.
"Devotion to the Second Master, Zhao Zi Long unparalleled in loyalty."
The next day, fearing traffic jams, I set out early. Arriving at the agreed tea house, I found that the other party had arrived long before. The man was named Zuo, and Master Sun didn't specify his exact profession, just calling him a teacher would do.
When I went up, I carefully observed the surroundings. The environment was decent, with a corridor featuring a fake mountain and water, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Seeing me enter, Zuo waved his hand. When I approached, I noticed he had already ordered a pot of tea, and it seemed like he had been sitting for a while. He smiled, "I didn't expect you, Little Cao, to be so young. Old Sun didn't say a word. If I knew, I wouldn't have invited you to such an old-fashioned place."
I picked up the teapot to refill Zuo's tea. "You're too kind; the environment here is quite nice."
"If you're comfortable, that's good." The old man didn't exchange many pleasantries and handed me a file folder made of cowhide. He said, "This is the information you asked for. By the way, I'm a bit presumptuous, but can you let me see the goods? I want to take a look."
Surprised, I became cautious. It seemed that Zuo was not an ordinary person. "I can't bring the things out. It would be quite troublesome to go back again."
Hearing this, the old man seemed a bit disappointed, muttering, "What a pity."
I put away the information and refilled the tea for the old man. I asked, "Teacher Zuo, are these patterns so important?"
Still immersed in a slightly despondent mood, he sighed when he heard my question and said, "To be honest with you, I've been studying Bashu culture for many years. Without bragging, I can claim to be a leader in understanding the Bashu region in China. The cultural period to which the photos you sent belong is ancient and unique. Few people know about it, maybe not even a handful."
He sipped the tea and continued, "You, being introduced by Old Sun, I won't beat around the bush. I've been researching Bashu culture for many years. I'm not boasting, but in terms of understanding the Bashu region in China, I'm considered a leader. The cultural period to which the photos you sent belong is ancient and unique. Few people know about it, maybe not even a handful."
He tapped the file folder on the table. "You brought these materials, and they are strikingly similar to my findings many years ago. I can guarantee that they belong to the same cultural group. It's likely to reveal an extremely mysterious and ancient ethnic group that existed in Bashu during that enigmatic period."
Curious, I asked, "What ethnic group culture is it?"
The old man squinted his eyes. "The Ghost Tribe."
He added, "You may not understand this term. I've written my interpretations and speculations, along with some relevant materials that I've collected over the years, inside this folder. Take a careful look when you have time. This 'Ghost Tribe' has been mythologized in some stories, and you may have heard of it. But they all point to a term you must know: 'Eternal Life.'"
Surprised, I asked, "Is eternal life real?"
He chuckled, "Of course not. It's probably just an exaggeration of longevity. Unfortunately, there's no historical evidence to confirm the 'Ghost Tribe.' These years, there hasn't been any unearthed evidence either. Until you sent these materials, rekindling my hope. Although these materials are not enough to publicly prove the existence of that culture, from my personal perspective, I'm already very satisfied."
The old man was very open-minded, and there was a faint sense of comfort in his smile. I could feel that those few photos had loosened many of his lingering attachments. For him, the recognition of the 'Ghost Tribe' was more like an unfulfilled wish. Although it was regretful, it didn't drive him crazy.
After that, the old man explained some history and legends of Bashu. Before leaving, I expressed my gratitude to Teacher Zuo and promised to prioritize sending him any relevant records if I found them.
By the time I returned to the shop, it was already afternoon. The weather was sultry, and after taking a shower, I planned to take a nap. However, lying down, I sensed something unusual in the room. I sat up, looked around, and finally fixed my gaze on a phone screen flashing with blue light.
I swallowed nervously; it was the Second Master's phone, brought back from the old residence in Xinjie. According to Lao He, the Second Master had personally acquired this number, but he didn't know who the Second Master had given it to. Of course, I had flipped through it before, but the contact list was empty, and there were no call records. I had almost forgotten about it until now.
Carefully, I picked up the phone. There was a new message: "Mountain on fire, Immortal in the plate," signed "Six Ears."
(End of Volume Two, The Spirit Platform of Nine Dragons)