Hao Ning assumed that the journey to the village would take a long time, however he was wrong. The village turned out to be right behind the hill. Hao Ning could even see the top of the oak tree every time he looked back.
The village Wei Huan led him was small, but even from a distance, looked neat and tidy. Tiny wooden houses surrounded by low fences were decorated with carved with ornate of flowers, animals, elements of nature and clouds. Here and there on the walls could be seen the inscribed characters which said either "life" and "longevity" or "wisdom". Right in front of the houses were placed tables of vendors with various goods such as flower pots, children's toys and jugs of water. Along the street there were benches and neat flourishing flowerbeds. Swaying red lanterns were hanging on some of the house gates. Somewhere nearby the wind music bells were chiming its silver melody.
Following Wei Huan down the main prospect Hao Ning could not hide his childish curiosity for a long time. After a while the youth started enthusiastically examining the area. Such a bright, beautiful and ennobled place the village was! How could that possibly be a notorious Middle World, grim stories of which the Master had told the apprentices so many times?
"Souls there atone for sins that they have committed – the Master repeated. – They wait there, not knowing where the Ten will send them. This is a sad place accustomed to suffering and ruined expectations".
Endless would be the torment of those who found themselves in the World of Ghosts.
The memories echoed in Hao Ning's mind and he shivered, before turning back to the village and the actions that took place around him. In addition to the curious scenery, the youth could not help but notice the people who seemed to live here. The children, the old, and the young. Everyone looked preoccupied. This reminded Hao Ning of his home, where the whirlpool of voices would mix in everyday household routine creating a lively atmosphere.
The young man took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He could not help but smiling. Nimble children, playing "catch-up" darted past him. Hao Ning watched them running around Wei Huan, who was walking several steps forward. The kids tugged at the man's legs. But in response they received a gentle pat on the heads. A burst of laughter was heard then and the children galloped off doing their undoubtedly important business.
The man was obviously known in this village. The citizens were not afraid of him. And, well... it seemed that the strict and cold image of Wei Huan appeared to be more of a mask than a true nature.
However, Hao Ning could only guess. Too little time had passed to be able to declare the character of his new acquaintance. Moreover, Hao Ning himself was of much greater interest to everyone, for he was a stranger who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The youth immediately noticed that the people were examining him with curiosity, but at the same time… There was some kind of... sadness? Regret? In their eyes… No, it looked more like… an understanding.
Oh…
No, that were not the children, who had that expression, of course. Those flickering emotions were present only in the eyes of the older people.
– We have arrived, – Wei Huan's voice made Hao Ning stop and look at the wooden sign of the house they had approached. – They will explain you everything. I got to go.
– What? Where? – Hao Ning's eyes widened in surprise.
– I have a business to do, – came the brief answer, and it looked as if there was nothing more to be expected from the man.
Wei Huan walked closer to the door and knocked on the wooden beam several times.
– Wu Zhe Kai! – he called. – I brought...
He didn't finish. The bamboo door opened wide, revealing a young man. Nearly a boy he was, with blue eyes and a bright smile. The tip of his nose was smudged with something. Dried blades of grass and petals were stuck to his clothes. His short ponytail was tied with a ribbon and... for some reason the hair also resembled a bunch of dry grass.
– Finally! Where is she? Where is your wife? – his voice sounded with delight. The man's gaze darted around, then settled on Hao Ning. – Oh… – he said. – A man? Wow. That is... unexpected. But anyway, you have my blessing.
Wei Huan crossed his arms and sighed.
– Would you please be so kind and explain him everything? I have to go.
So he said, then turned around and left. For some reason, a strange thought flashed through Hao Ning's mind. It all looked like Wei Huan... had just... fled?
– Now just look at that. Has just married and runs away, – Wu Zhe Kai put his hands on his hips and shook his head. – Natural male behavior. So very natural.
The guy snorted, giggling at his own joke, then turned to Hao Ning.
– Hello there. My name is Wu Zhe Kai. I am a local healer.
– Nice to meet you. This one is called Hao Ning. May this one ask whether thee...
-Whoa! Wait, wait, wait! – Wu Zhe Kai raised his hands. – No need to be so formal. Please be my guest.
Hao Ning shrugged his shoulders and smiled. The friendliness of this young man was endearing. To follow all those formal rules in his company was almost a disrespect.
– As you wish. Erm, by the way, there is some dirt on the tip of your nose.
– Again? – Wu Zhe Kai sighed. – That's what always happens when you mess with herbs!
He quickly wiped the soiled stain with his sleeve. Well, the guy obviously did not care much about his appearance.
– Come on in, let's discuss everything in a calm atmosphere, – continued Wu Zhe Kai and made the welcoming gesture.
The healer was the first to step back into the house. Hao Ning followed. It was a little embarrassing for him to invade someone's private space, but judging by the interior, the house was more of a hospital than a lodging. The air was filled with the scent of dried and drying herbs and various flowers. The shelves collided with bottles filled with unknown liquids and jars of ointments. Hanging on thin threads up above the ceiling, plump bunches of herbs were seen here and there.
Hao Ning merely walked into into some low-hanging yellow flowers.
– This way, – said Wu Zhe Kai, making his way to a room separated from the main hall. His next words came out from there. – Grandma, a newcomer has arrived. And he doesn't understand what's going on. I mean, at all. Wei Huan brought him a few minutes ago.
When Hao Ning looked into the room, Zhe Kai was already filling a clay teapot with fragrant tea herbs.
The place, flooded with the rays of the setting sun, was small, but as cozy and warm as the rest of the house. In the middle there nestled a low table with cushions spread around it. A bookcase full of books, wooden planks, and the tufts of wild grass shored up a wall. Several amazingly detailed fabric paintings were hanging on the walls.
Burning incense exuded the subtle scent of sweet berries. A barely perceptible smoke was curling up from the lamp.
A little old woman was sitting at the table. Her thin, dry hands were holding a porcelain bowl. The wrinkles in the corners of her eyes looked like a spiderweb. Yet, despite her age, the woman seemed neither weak nor defenseless. She emitted the aura of wisdom and humility. A sophisticated pin in her hair-knot was an accent to her elegance and not yet lost femininity.
– Hao Ning, meet Ba. Ba this one is Hao Ning, – Wu Zhe Kai placed the teapot on the table and sat down not far from the old lady. – I usually help Ba in the hospital. She has been living here for a long time.
– It's a pleasure to meet you, – Hao Ning kowtowed politely and took a seat on the opposite side of the table, in front of his new acquaintances. – I'm sorry to bother, but master Wei Huan said that you might be able to provide me with some answers…
– You don't have to apologize, child, – Ba's melodious voice wrapped Hao Ning with calmness. – Many who end up here find themselves lost. They do not accept their fate. But even though there are those, who try provide them with guidance. Life is full of mentors. Their wise advice helps to understand the meaning of many things.
The image of Temple Master instantly came to Hao Ning's mind. The youth suddenly realized that he really wanted to see the man again and apologize for being absent for so long.
– I was told that I ... – Hao Ning coughed, the words got stuck in his throat. – Well… died?
– You're not completely dead, child, – Ba shook her head, and a smile appeared on Hao Ning's lips only to vanish with her the next words. – Nor you are alive.
– I don't understand.
– You really are in The Middle World, where the restless souls are waiting for their final hour to come. No one knows either why some people would end up like ghosts here, or where they go after. We can only guess and hope that the Ten will have mercy on us. That someday they would lead us to The Heavens, not to Diyu.
– Wait... – Hao Ning hid his face in his palms. – So… this isn't a joke? Not a stupid, ridiculous, cruel deception? I am really dead, aren't I?
He exhaled sharply, took his hands away from his face, and looked in disbelief from Ba to Wu Zhe Kai and back.
– Among all the jokes that would be the worst possible, – Wu Zhe Kai smiled sadly as he poured tea into the old woman's cup. – It's indeed true. Though the World of Ghosts resembles the Earthly dwelling place, it is not the same.
– Do you remember the last moments of your life, child? – carefully wondered Ba. – If you do, you will believe us.
– I don't, – Hao Ning got completely pale and shook his head. He was overwhelmed with the new information. He still doubted, still clung to his fading hopes, but with each subsequent word of those two, his faith burned down like incense that was filling this room.
– Maybe I've just gone mad? – the attempt was pathetic, though...
– Death is not madness. This is but a natural part of life, – Ba put the cup on the table, reached out her hand, and griped Hao Ning's palm. – You will embrace it. Slowly, step by step, but in the end, you will.
– Your words do not help at all, – Hao Ning swallowed. – Neither they grant peace.
– No one here expects you to accept your fate this instant, – the old woman smiled affectionately, squeezing the youth's hand with her thin fingers. – Give yourself some time. Go over what happened in your mind again, and it will become easier to embrace your fate.
– And the most effective way for you to do so, is to remember the moment of your death, – Wu Zhe Kai joined the conversation. – As soon as you remember, all doubts will disappear.
– But how am I supposed to do that? Every time I try to... my head bursts with pain!
– I have never heard of the ghosts who do not remember their last breath, – Wu Zhe Kai scratched the back of his head. – What about you, Ba?
– This is a rare thing, but not exceptional. The old lady made a sip of tea. – Usually, the souls remember things like that, however, sometimes they do not. And then the Gates help them.
– The "what"? – Hao Ning leaned forward curiously.
– I myself have never reached that place, but there is a rumor that The Gates is the border between The Earthly Dwelling and The Middle World. It is guarded by the Gatekeepers – The Guardians they are called. Some ghosts have even tried to escape through The Gates back to mortal realm. All attempts failed, of course. But still many continue trying. They say, next to The Gates The Border Between Life and Death becomes very thin. That's why visiting that place helps to remember the last moment of your life.
– I need to get there! – Hao Ning stood up. His hands hit the table. His eyes sparkled brightly for the first time in a while. – You have to show me the way! Please!
– I'm sorry, child. I wish I could help. But I'm just repeating what I've heard. I can't lead you there.
– Oh, but how is it ...
– Though, no doubt your husband might help, – Wu Zhe Kai smiled and propped his cheek with his fist. – He has a habit of traveling across the Middle World. He must have seen The Gates at least once.
– My Husband ... – at first Hao Ning did not even understand what was meant, then he looked down in embarrassment. – You mean Master Wei? Why are you calling master Wei Huan my husband?
– You're married, so it's only natural, isn't it?
– But we are not! – began the youth and suddenly remembered the bamboo tablet. – This, – he picked the plank up, unfolded and put it on the table, – raises as many questions as the whole situation itself.
Wu Zhe Kai and Ba carefully examined the written characters and nodded, almost at the same time.
– There is no mistake, child, – the old woman smiled. – This is the Ghost Marriage Contract. Such Marriage is an ancient ritual that parents organize if they are afraid that the soul of their unengaged child will after death wander alone forever. This is most often done for soldiers going to battle, but judging by your clothes... you are a Taoist, an apprentice of the Ten, am I right?
– Yes, you are.
– If nothing has changed since I was alive, then the Taoist training to service of gods is harsh and rigorous. Unpredictable. I think that was the reason for your parents' decision. Just in case, – Ba sighed. – Who knew that this contract would actually come into force.
– But, – Hao Ning tried not to blush, but a treacherous redness appeared on his cheeks. – I'm more than sure that my parents would have never chosen… a man.
– Oh, this is not surprising! – Zhe Kai chuckled. – I think they just misspelled Wei Huan's name.
The healer pointed at the characters.
– Look! This character is more often written in girls' names. Huang's name must have been written into the women's list. And when your parents looked through the possible "brides", they couldn't tell the difference.
– Are you saying... that our marriage is just a mistake?
– I'm sure of that! – Wu Zhe Kai thought for a moment. – Many parents write the names of their children on such lists. Even those who have already left The Earthly Dwelling. Am I wrong, grandma?
– You have listened to me and studied well, – the old woman gently patted the young man on the cheek and smiled. – Everything is correct. However, in addition to choosing a name, parents receive a thing that belonged to the "spouse". With this, they welcome the daughter-in-law, or the son-in-law into the house.
– What a coincidence! Such an astounding event for you and Wei Huan, – Wu Zhe Kai chuckled but there was no malice in his words, only sincere friendly banter. – I'd call it… Fate!
– Enough is enough, I got it! – Hao Ning covered his burning cheeks with his hands and shook his head. – I will have to apologize to master Wei for this terrible misfortune. How embarrassing... – the youth looked at Wu Zhe Kai. – Where did he go? Can you please tell me?
– You want to go to him? What, that instant?
– Yes! I should explain everything to him and bring my sincere apologies!
– I don't think Huan cares, – Wu Zhe Kai shrugged his shoulders, but then easily gave away the man's whereabouts. – Wei Huan often patrols the area to the north. If you go forward from the village gates, then you will immediately get to the right place. But there are…
Wu Zhe Kai flinched in surprise as Hao Ning jumped to his feet, almost turning the table upside down with his knees. The youth was clearly not going to listen to the end of the utterance. He hurriedly put on his shoes.
– Thanks a lot! – cried he from the door. – I'm so grateful to both of you! I'll be back as soon as I explain everything to master Wei!
– Hao Ning! – yelled Zhe Kai, rushing after him. – Wait! Listen to me! I still haven't told you about...
The healer's words were drowned in the sounds of the crowd buzzing in the street. When he managed to reach the front door, Hao Ning was already far away. His flickering back quickly disappeared among the busy people.
– Already gone... Well, what a frisk! – Wu Zhe Kai bit his lips and ruffled the top of his head. – Everything will be alright. Won't it? It surely must.
The healer threw a new glance in the direction where Hao Ning had disappeared, twitched his lips, and went back into the house. The door quietly closed behind him.
In the end, Hao Ning's Fate was in his hands.
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Wu Zhe Kai – 巫哲恺; Zhe: talented, intelligent, insightful; Kai: cheerful, joyful
Diyu – the kingdom of the dead or "hell" in Chinese mythology