Chapter Forty-Seven: Rebirth

At some unknown moment, thick mist had risen from all directions, shrouding the entire city of Husu in an indistinct haze.

Xie Qiao wandered aimlessly along the road, his eyes vacant and his face ashen.

Suddenly, a harsh shout rang out behind him: “New ghost up ahead, where do you think you’re going?”

Xie Qiao turned around, bewildered. Before he could utter a word, a chain had already wrapped tightly around his wrist, binding him securely. The shock jolted his mind into a brief moment of clarity. “Who are you? What are you doing to me?”

Several figures emerged from the mist. Though they varied in height, every one of them had greenish faces, fanged mouths, red eyes, and bald heads—clearly not human.

Xie Qiao recoiled in fear.

“Heh, you’re just a new ghost and dare to shout at us, the wardens of the underworld?”

“You say I’m a new ghost—does that mean I’m dead?”

“Nonsense! If you weren’t dead, how could you possibly see us?”

Memories of life surged into Xie Qiao’s mind, leaving him momentarily dazed.

“Brothers, take him away!” At this order, several ghost wardens dragged and pushed Xie Qiao to force him onward.

“Xie Ziping! Xie Ziping!” From within the fog came the cry of a woman. Xie Qiao instantly recognized the voice as Zhou Hongxian’s and felt a glimmer of hope. He called out, “Madam Zhou—”

“What are you shouting for? Even as a ghost, you remain unruly!” One of the wardens slapped Xie Qiao’s back, sealing his lips as if sewn shut so he could no longer speak.

“This new ghost is about the same age as Lord Liu’s son. He’ll do as a substitute. The City God can make his report, and we’ll avoid further punishment!”

“Xie Ziping, where are you? Xie Ziping—”

“Brothers, if the woman’s voice can carry so far through the fog, she’s certainly no ordinary human. Who knows what manner of demon or spirit she is? Let’s not get involved. We must hurry!”

“Hurry! Hurry!”

As the hour of the Tiger drew near, Zhou Hongxian, her face etched with exhaustion, rapped the copper knocker on the gates of the Cui residence.

After a long wait, the door was opened—not by a servant or steward, but by Cui Shen himself.

Cui Shen looked at Zhou Hongxian with mild surprise. Clearly, he hadn’t expected her to keep her promise and return. Still, the wariness in his eyes had not vanished. “Fox Lady, have you found Ziping’s soul?”

Zhou Hongxian shook her head in dismay. “No. I’ve searched the entire city! By rights, since he died only recently, his soul shouldn’t have wandered far or gained much awareness!”

“Then where could his soul have gone?”

“I don’t know!”

Cui Shen’s expression was pained. He asked, “Is there any other way?”

“I—” Zhou Hongxian looked at Cui Shen, hesitating. “I have one last method, but my power is weak. I don’t know if it will succeed. I suppose I can try.”

“Then don’t delay, even if there’s just the barest chance!”

Zhou Hongxian nodded, though she remained troubled.

Meanwhile, the ghost wardens escorted Xie Qiao’s soul out of the city. Before long, a stone stele loomed from the mist, inscribed with the words “Songpo Town.”

“The Old Ghost of Songpo is dead. Our previous arrangement with him is null and void. Brothers, today we’ll round up every ghost in this town and deliver them to the underworld—what a fine merit that will be!”

“And speaking of which, the female ghosts the old Songpo ghost gifted us last time were truly exquisite! Now that his household of ghostly servants is masterless, they’re all ours—a real treat!”

“Let’s get to it! Brothers, move out!”

The ghost wardens strode into Songpo Town, full of bluster, rubbing their hands in anticipation. The wandering ghosts scattered in terror at their approach, but the wardens didn’t bother to chase them. With a wave of their hands, chains appeared from thin air, flying like serpents toward the ghosts, binding their waists, arms, and bellies, then extending to ensnare the next target. In moments, the chains had strung the town’s countless ghosts into centipede-like lines. Not a single ghost escaped, and the town was soon filled with wails and howls.

At last, the wardens arrived at the gates of the Old Ghost’s mansion. Finding the vermilion doors tightly shut, one warden blew a breath of black energy, blasting the doors wide open. With a shriek, a paper talisman split in two and fluttered to the ground like a dead leaf.

The wardens laughed darkly, leaving two to guard the captured ghosts while the rest barged inside.

Xie Qiao was held outside, unable to enter. Soon, however, he saw ghostly green flames flicker atop the mansion, consuming the tallest pavilion. The flames looked cold, yet they reduced the building to ashes.

The warden outside clicked his tongue, “What a fine mansion, all burned up! If it weren’t so conspicuous, I’d have kept it for my own pleasure!”

Suddenly, wild laughter and the sound of weeping women echoed from within. Before long, the wardens emerged, each leading a chain heavy with beautiful female ghosts. Though pale-faced, the women were elegantly dressed, some with the gentle beauty of a sheltered maiden. One warden dragged a lone woman, whose allure surpassed all the others, though her dress was torn and her body bore bruises from beatings.

“That brute, the Old Ghost—how could he bear to abuse such a lovely wife?” the warden muttered as he pulled her along.

“Qian-niang!” At the sight of her, Xie Qiao’s eyes filled with emotion, and he managed to break the spell that sealed his lips, crying out.

The woman turned at the sound, tears of joy in her eyes. “Husband!”

The wardens were startled. “What’s this? The new ghost broke our spell and spoke?”

“Husband, why are you here? No, it can’t be!” Liu Qian’s face betrayed disbelief and sorrow; she realized her husband’s presence meant he, too, was dead.

“Qian-niang, it’s all right. I’ve finally found you again!”

“Husband!”

Desperate, husband and wife tried to break through the wardens to reach each other.

The wardens, sensing what was afoot, burst into laughter. “So, the two of you are husband and wife! But the living have their laws, and the dead their own. However loving you were in life, in death you must be as strangers!”

A chain shot toward Xie Qiao’s neck, yanking him back before he could grasp Liu Qian’s hand. One warden gripped his throat, sneering, “We’re taking you to the underworld to stand trial, and your wife we’ll present to the City God. You two are fated to be parted for all eternity!”

“When this one reaches the underworld, he’ll surely try to plead his case. Let’s cut out his eyes, ears, and tongue so he’ll be unable to see, hear, or speak—a foolproof plan!”

“Marvelous idea—let’s do it!”

A warden conjured a short blade and lifted Xie Qiao’s chin, inspecting his face. “Such a handsome youth—a pity. Where to start? That fine nose, perhaps?”

Liu Qian pleaded, “Please, gentlemen, spare him! I’ll do anything you ask!”

But Xie Qiao, unafraid, spat in the warden’s face.

“You want to die twice over?” The warden, enraged, drove the blade toward Xie Qiao’s crown.

“No!” Liu Qian screamed.

At that critical moment, a golden orb, bright as a pearl, burst through the thick mist, dazzling everyone. The ghosts and wardens alike were blinded by its radiance.

The orb hovered briefly, spun in the air, then shot straight toward Xie Qiao.

“Xie Ziping, come with me!” a woman’s voice called from within the orb.

Though Xie Qiao could not open his eyes, the voice filled him with joy. The orb flared even brighter, and his form dissolved into a wisp of light, which the orb drew inside.

“Madam Zhou, please save Qian-niang as well!” Xie Qiao’s voice echoed from within the orb. It hesitated, then darted to Liu Qian, drawing her in the same way. The orb’s glow dimmed a little, but it shot skyward like an arrow, streaking towards Husu County.

“Outrageous! They dare snatch souls from us?” the wardens growled, regaining their ferocity as the light faded. Some wanted to give chase, but others stopped them.

“Don’t! The Tiger Hour is past—dawn is near!”

Meanwhile, in a side room of the Cui residence, Xie Qiao’s corpse lay quietly on the bed. Zhou Hongxian sat at the bedside, eyes closed, as if meditating.

Cui Shen, accompanied by the steward, sat on the veranda outside, tense and watchful. As the sky lightened, he frowned anxiously.

Footsteps approached. A maid carrying a lantern hurried over with Cui Yu.

“Father, did Sister Zhou return with you? I heard Brother Ziping is dead—tell me it isn’t true!” Cui Yu sobbed as she rushed to her father.

Cui Shen pulled his daughter into an embrace, stroking her head. “Don’t grieve yet. Madam Zhou is inside, trying to save Ziping. We must believe that fortune favors the good.” Even as he spoke, a glowing orb shot through the house, passed through the door, and entered the side room before their eyes.

Cui Shen’s face lit up with hope. He led his daughter and the steward inside.

Just as they opened the door, they saw the orb fly straight into Zhou Hongxian’s mouth. She opened her lips and gently exhaled a wisp of white vapor, which landed on the floor and transformed into Liu Qian.

Cui Shen and the steward were startled, but Cui Yu exclaimed in delight, “Sister Liu!”

Before Liu Qian could reply, a golden ray of dawn broke in the east. Anxious, she said, “Fox Lady, I leave him in your care!” Then she vanished into the wall.

At that moment, Zhou Hongxian slowly opened her eyes. Glancing at the light outside, she hurriedly stood, bent over Xie Qiao, and expelled the orb from her mouth. It floated down and entered Xie Qiao’s mouth. After a long while, as if rewinding a scene, the orb emerged again, rose slowly, and returned to Zhou Hongxian’s mouth.

Sunlight now streamed over the threshold, and all who witnessed this were left speechless.

Zhou Hongxian straightened, her face haggard. Cui Yu, worried for her, rushed to help. “Sister Zhou, are you all right?”

Zhou Hongxian shook her head and managed a faint smile. “I’m fine. Just help me to a seat. But it seems Ziping is saved.”

Joy broke across the faces of all present. Cui Yu quickly guided Zhou Hongxian to a chair. Just then, Xie Qiao let out a groan from the bed.

Delight swept the room as everyone ran to the bedside. Xie Qiao opened his eyes, reached for his abdomen, and all saw that his once-fatal wound had faded to a faint scar.

“Brother Ziping, you’re alive! Oh—”

“It’s a miracle!”

“Husband, I’ve never seen anything so wondrous in my life—it’s as if a deity walked among us!”

“Indeed! Ziping, how do you feel? Is your wound all right?”

Xie Qiao lay still for a moment, then regained his senses. “It was Madam Zhou who saved me!” Suddenly, he sat up. “Where is she? I must thank her for saving my life!”

“She’s over there!” Cui Yu pointed to the round table, and all turned to look—only to gasp in astonishment.

Zhou Hongxian was slumped over the table, seemingly asleep, but her once-black hair had turned a fiery red from root to tip, and from beneath it, two furry, pointed animal ears poked out.

The steward cried out in terror, “So she’s not a deity—she’s a demon!”