The lingering glow of the evening sun cast a languid veil over Purple Bamboo Town. Only a sumptuous dinner could rekindle the spirits of its inhabitants. Changqing arrived at the doorstep of Little Wang's widow's home, where the door still stood ajar. The old woman, who had been taking care of Little Wang's widow, was just about to sprinkle a basin of water in the courtyard.
"Xiaoqing, why have you come?" The old woman hurried to the door and whispered, "It was sheer desperation that led us to seek your help earlier. Now that the mother and child are safe, your presence here is inappropriate. This is the home of a widow, after all."
Changqing was at a loss for words. Most people now believed that he had merely been fortunate. They preferred to believe in things they could understand. After all, Changqing had acted too swiftly. Afterward, he had even returned to slaughtering chickens.
"To be honest with you, several families in town have taken a liking to you. They don't mind your poverty. I'll help arrange a match for you later," the old woman persuaded, hoping Changqing would leave promptly. Little Wang's widow, with her graceful figure and pretty face, had lost her husband early and had been the subject of much gossip in town. In the old woman's view, a fine young man like Changqing had far better options.
"Has nothing gone wrong?" Changqing asked.
"It's strange, actually. Ever since you chanted your incantations, the child has been sleeping soundly. However..."
"However, what?"
"Little Wang's widow isn't quite right."
The old woman's expression was tinged with doubt.
"Where is she..." Changqing began to inquire.
The old woman interrupted, "Others may not know, but I am certain, and I believe Little Wang's widow is aware as well, that it was you who helped her child. Actually, you should have come later."
Changqing felt something was amiss. Sensing the old woman's "worldly-wise" gaze, he was left speechless and frustrated.
"Auntie, that's not what I meant."
"I know. Who hasn't been young? When you were chanting inside, Little Wang's widow wasn't wearing much and was about to breastfeed. A young man in the prime of his life can hardly withstand such a situation. Don't worry, she's one of the ones I'll introduce to you later..."
The atmosphere gradually became awkward. The sunset seemed to set faster than usual today. The sky darkened more swiftly, especially in Little Wang's widow's courtyard.
"I can't leave," Changqing said.
"Have you truly decided? Alright then, I'll leave." The old woman handed the basin of water to Changqing.
"Auntie, you don't have to leave..."
"What are you talking about? What would it look like if I stayed? Young people, I understand. Little Wang's widow isn't bad either. She's giving you a healthy baby boy for free; you've actually struck a good deal. In the future, the two of you can live together..."
The old woman wiped her hands and took off her apron. Changqing, holding the basin of water, quietly said, "When you say Little Wang's widow isn't quite right, do you mean she looks like a dead person?"
The old woman was passing by Changqing when she heard this. She stumbled, almost falling to the ground.
"How... how could that be possible! I bathed her, and she even thanked me!" The old woman protested, though her face visibly paled.
"Did you notice the livor mortis on her body? Those... they should be signs of death, right?" Changqing slowly turned his head.
The old woman's breathing became rapid, her eyes filled with terror. She kept retreating until she finally sat down hard on the ground.
"You... you already knew? Why didn't you say anything before?"
The old woman thought about the whole day spent with Little Wang's widow and felt her stomach churn violently. She couldn't control her vomiting, as if she were going to expel her bile as well.
"I wasn't sure before, and besides, she wouldn't harm us."
"You've got to be kidding! She almost tore off the eldest son of Old Li's arm!"
"That must have been because he tried to do something to her, which angered her."
Changqing helped the old woman up. She was still trembling all over, clearly still too frightened to recover.
"Actually, I'm scared too," Changqing whispered.
The old woman looked at Changqing, clutching his arm tightly, "If you're scared, why don't you run? Let's run together!"
Changqing didn't respond.
The old woman continued, "Shall I go and call more people?"
Changqing thought for a moment, but still shook his head.
"If it's just Little Wang's widow, at worst she's a zombie. I should be able to handle her myself."
"But if there are other unclean things in this courtyard, then it's really haunted. No amount of people would help, right?"
Changqing said.
The old woman released her grip, took small quick steps, and turned to leave without looking back, saying, "I'll go get some people."
Changqing was left speechless. Had she not heard him at all, or was she just ignoring him?
"Auntie, we need to save the child first," Changqing said.
The old woman slowed her pace and eventually stopped. Though still terrified, she shakily walked back.
"Xiaoqing, tell me honestly, how confident are you?" The old woman's face was full of anticipation, as if her eyes were already flashing with the only possible answer.
Changqing scratched his head and softly said, "Fifty-fifty... maybe seventy-eighty..."
"I knew you could do it! You're a Taoist priest. You said you would exorcise demons and evil spirits, capture ghosts, and offer sacrifices to heaven. I believe in you!"
The old woman spoke firmly. Her fear seemed to diminish a bit. She clutched Changqing's sleeve tightly. Changqing didn't rush inside but began to chant at the door.
"Heaven is pure, earth is spiritual, the turbid yin and the clear yang, the righteous energy of the earth, connecting to the netherworld..."
"What are you chanting?"
"A spell."
"What kind of spell?"
"A spell to see ghosts."
Changqing shouted in a low voice, "Open the Yin-Yang Eyes!"
"Is it working?"
Changqing blinked his eyes. The courtyard was still the same courtyard, and the old woman was still the old woman. Everything seemed unchanged.
"Ahem, it's working, of course it's working," Changqing said, though he himself was unsure.
"What do you see?"
"Nothing."
"If you see nothing, how can it be working?"
"If I saw something, then I'd be seeing ghosts, wouldn't I?"
The old woman was stunned for a moment before she finally reacted, "Not seeing anything is good, not seeing anything is good!"
The two cautiously made their way to the hall. Changqing's eyes scanned the surroundings, and his heart couldn't help but race. Suddenly, a baby's cry pierced the air from the inner room.
The old woman was so frightened that she stamped her feet, and Changqing jumped half a foot in the air. In that instant, they both turned and ran, all the way to the courtyard gate.
"Auntie, it's just the child crying. Why are you running?" Changqing said, displeased.
"Didn't you run too?" The old woman wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and said, "If you're so capable, you stay. I'm going to get some people!"
With that, no matter how Changqing called out, the old woman didn't look back. The sunset had completely set, and the sky had drawn its night curtain.
After waiting for a long time, Changqing finally saw a figure in white approach the door. The newcomer was a young girl, in the prime of her youth. She had a graceful figure, a well-proportioned body, rosy lips, white teeth, and skin like congealed fat. Her delicate, finely carved face resembled a beautiful porcelain doll. Her clear and bright eyes were tinged with melancholy and a hint of sorrow.
Changqing took one look and immediately concluded: She is not from Purple Bamboo Town.