Yang Xiao was the first to leave, stepping through the gate and walking to the left side of the hall. Surprisingly, Shi Guanming followed closely behind. As he walked, Yang Xiao observed small rooms separated by thick curtains, with stiff figures visible through the fabric. His destination was clear; he headed straight for the last room, lifted the curtain, and found a paper man standing with its back to him.
The paper man resembled an ordinary person in height and posture. On the ground was a three-legged incense burner with three burning incense sticks inserted side by side. The compartment also contained an old table and chair, with various inks and brushes scattered across the surface. A wooden box lay nearby, wrapped in white cloth and accompanied by a short knife.
A piece of yellow paper sealed the box, covered in chaotic patterns resembling a ghost painting charm. After a moment of observation, Yang Xiao carefully opened the box, revealing a pair of beautifully embroidered shoes. The upper part was exquisitely crafted, with vibrant colors depicting a mandarin duck playing in the water and a crane amidst auspicious clouds. At first glance, it was hard to tell these were paper shoes.
As the box opened, the candlelight in the room dimmed slightly. Yang Xiao felt a chill wash over him, mixed with a trace of blood. He looked again at the inconspicuous wooden box and guessed it might be an ancient relic—a box once used to hold human heads. The wood was a dark, ugly black, stained by long-term blood-soaking.
Understanding the connection, Yang Xiao picked up the knife, noting its short length and thick, sturdy blade. He concluded it was specifically designed for decapitation, a sinister combination that indicated its role in suppressing evil. The presence of both the knife and box revealed the financial resources and power of the Feng family, as gathering such items was no small feat.
From left to right on the table lay the pen and ink, the box of embroidered paper shoes, and the short knife—each integral to tonight's tasks: drawing eyes for the paper people, dressing them in shoes, and dripping blood to recognize their master. All of this had to be completed before the incense burned out.
After confirming the arrangement, Yang Xiao moved behind the paper man, ensuring there were no mistakes nearby. He slowly turned the paper man to face him. The face, though vaguely similar to Master Feng's creations, was far less delicate, merely an outline with no eyes.
Dipping the brush in ink, Yang Xiao held his breath as he painted a pair of eyes onto the paper man's face, leaving the centers empty. After waiting ten seconds and checking for errors, he set down the brush and carefully retrieved the embroidered paper shoes from the box. He handled them gently, fearful of damaging them.
To his relief, the shoes slipped on smoothly. Despite their uniformity, the paper man's feet fit well, and after a few tries, he easily dressed the paper man, placing one shoe on each foot according to their arrangement in the box.
Taking a deep breath, Yang Xiao looked at the knife on the table. This was the final step. As long as the paper man recognized him as its master, the task would be complete. "Blessed by Bodhisattva, blessed by Yuqingyuan Shitian, Amen." He drew a cross on his chest, feeling the weight of the moment.
Gently, he pricked his middle finger with the knife's edge, blood welling up immediately. He raised his finger and pressed it between the paper man's eyebrows. It was done!
As the blood touched the paper man's face, a strange sensation surged through Yang Xiao, as if the paper man had become a part of him. He then tore a strip of cloth from his clothes, wrapping it around the paper man's eyes and tying a distinctive bow behind its head. Satisfied with his work, he turned to leave, lifting the curtain.
To his surprise, the three others were gathered nearby. In the dim light, they had their heads down, seemingly deep in conversation. When Kwong Hongyi waved at him, Yang Xiao hesitated, knowing that approaching them might reveal the paper man.
Seeing his reluctance, the three moved toward him. Xu Su nodded, urging, "Let's go out first. I can't stand being in here any longer; it feels too sinister."
Once outside, they encountered Longshi Guanming and another, who were standing close together and chatting, entirely at ease. Ke Long greeted them with a smile. "How did it go? Are you all alright?"
"It's fine," Kwong Hongyi replied.
Ke Long shrugged, "This really is a welfare bureau! The task was easy. I was the first to finish, ten minutes ahead of the Shi brothers."
Shi Guanming added, "Yes, Ke Long came out first. We were just discussing that the earlier misunderstandings were my fault. I was too nervous as a newcomer, and my words came out wrong. Ke Long just has a straightforward nature; he didn't mean any harm."
"Misunderstandings happen; it's important to resolve them," Kwong Hongyi said, playing the role of the peacemaker.
Everyone exited, but Shi Dali remained behind, raising concerns. Just then, he emerged from behind the curtain, smiling apologetically. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Glad to see you're alright," Yang Xiao feigned relief.
"Why did it take so long?" Kwong Hongyi asked, concern lacing his tone.
"Let's just say, the box felt wrong. It had a very sinister vibe, and I didn't dare touch it until the incense burned halfway. When I finally opened it, I found nothing too alarming." Shi Dali chuckled self-deprecatingly.
After exchanging pleasantries, they walked back, the Feng residence looming dark and oppressive around them. As Shi Dali and Ke Long exchanged glances, Ke Long quickly turned away, engaging Xu Su in conversation.
Not long after they left the hall, an incense burner in the compartment suddenly changed; two of the three incense sticks broke and fell to the ground.
Once back in the backyard, the two teams parted ways to rest. Kwong Hongyi sat at the table, visibly troubled and silent. Xu Su's expression had shifted too, his demeanor more serious than on their way back.
"Are you worried about something?" Yang Xiao asked.
Kwong Hongyi nodded, doubt evident in his tone. "Brother Chu, you're a newcomer. Typically, if you don't die in a mission, something strange happens. It shouldn't be so smooth—especially since..." He glanced at Su Tingting but left the thought unfinished.
Yang Xiao understood what he implied. While there were ordinary newcomers like Su Tingting and Shi Guanming, Su Tingting had been the first to complete her task, while Shi Guanming had caused no trouble.
"We should all stay vigilant tonight. I also think something is off. Shi Dali isn't simple, and it's odd for him to be the last one to come out," Xu Su said, carefully choosing his words to maintain unity within the group.
During their conversation, a food box arrived. Inside were simple dishes and cold wine, evidence that it had been delivered some time ago.
"Let's not overthink it. Let's eat first," Yang Xiao suggested.
The meal was muted; no one spoke much. Su Tingting lost her appetite, barely touching her food before retreating to her bed.
Outside, the night was eerily silent, creating a heavy atmosphere. Suddenly, strange sounds broke the stillness, a jingling as if someone approached quickly.
"Who could it be at this hour?" Kwong Hongyi and Xu Su sprang into action, extinguishing the candles. The room darkened, and they instinctively moved to the back door, holding their breath, ready for anything.
Through the crack of the window, Yang Xiao spotted several figures hastily walking along the lake, the lead person holding a lantern.
"It's Housekeeper Liu and others," Xu Su whispered, recognizing the familiar face.
The others followed closely, carrying paper figures with their eyes covered in cloth—those were the very paper people they had drawn earlier!
There were seven in total. Housekeeper Liu and his team approached the lake, lining the paper figures in a row, facing the water, and sprinkling paper money before lighting the last paper man with the lantern's flame.
"What are they doing?" Su Tingting gasped, shocked. "Aren't those our stand-ins?"
Yang Xiao gently patted her head, signaling for calm. "These paper people don't have the finishing touches; they can't harm us even if they burn. In fact, it might make the ghosts think we're dead tonight."
Relieved, Su Tingting nodded slowly, understanding. Housekeeper Liu and his team quickly lit the paper man and left, disappearing into the night, leaving only the crackling of burning paper behind.
But then, a piercing scream shattered the silence, emanating from the backyard. Yang Xiao and the others turned in alarm, hearing the sounds of struggle. A figure burst through the door, frantically rushing out.
"It's Ke Long!" Xu Su exclaimed, eyes wide.
Ke Long seemed frantic, careening toward the lake, his screams echoing in the empty space. Su Tingting, unable to see any wounds, could only witness the agony etched on his face.
"Look!" Kwong Hongyi pointed to the lake, where the last paper man, engulfed in flames, remained standing, unlike the others that had burned away to ashes.
Ke Long lunged toward the burning paper man, attempting to save it, but staggered, collapsing to the ground. After a few convulsions, he lay still.
Su Tingting's face turned pale, trembling. "Dad..."
"Why did he die? Did he mess up the mission?" She was desperate to understand why Ke Long had perished so suddenly.
"It wasn't his fault," Xu Su said, staring at the scene with a sigh. "His paper man must have been tampered with."
"Shi Dali," Kwong Hongyi stated plainly, no longer hiding his suspicions. "He was the last of the three to finish."
Yang Xiao pieced together the implications. Even after Kwong Hongyi and Xu Su completed their tasks, they had lingered nearby, wary of someone taking advantage and tampering with the paper man. Ke Long, being an experienced player, had let his guard down, engaging with Shi Guanming instead.
There could have been deeper ties between Ke Long and Shi Dali, perhaps an agreement or friendship in real life, but that was irrelevant now—Ke Long was dead.
"Ha ha, people are unpredictable," Xu Su feigned regret, but Yang Xiao sensed the warning beneath his words. If Shi Dali could betray Ke Long, he might just as easily turn on him or anyone else.
"Miss Xu is right. Choose your friends wisely; appearances can be deceiving," Kwong Hongyi added, echoing the sentiment.
In another room, Shi Guanming trembled at the sight of Ke Long's tragedy, finally collapsing onto the bed. There was a vast difference between harboring murderous intent and actually participating in a killing.
"Oh," Shi Dali sighed, slowly closing the door that Ke Long had burst through. "It's all his doing. He intended to kill you first. I can't understand why people can be so cruel."
Slowly, Shi Guanming regained his composure and knelt before Shi Dali, tears streaming down his face. "Brother Shi, I will never forget your kindness in saving my life. From now on, I will follow your lead in everything!"
"Please, get up!" Shi Dali urged, helping him to his feet. "Let's discuss things as brothers moving forward."