Chapter Ninety-Eight: Demands

Xie Xiushi walked directly from the inner courtyard to the living room, and from afar, he saw Master Huiming sitting in a chair. Just as he was about to greet him, his vision suddenly blurred.

In his hand, Master Huiming’s staff transformed into a terrifying skeleton, and the purple-gold alms bowl he held became a pale inverted skull. The crimson kasaya draped over his body resembled blood-soaked human skin.

A chill ran through Xie Xiushi’s heart. He was about to retreat when he heard Master Huiming call out.

“Is it Patron Xie who has arrived?”

The voice was gentle and kind, prompting Xie Xiushi to rub his eyes and look again at the seated Master Huiming. The staff was once more a double-ringed metal staff, the purple-gold alms bowl returned to its original form, and the crimson kasaya appeared compassionate and sacred.

It seemed everything earlier had been a trick of his eyes.

“Master Huiming, how do you know my name?”

Xie Xiushi breathed a quiet sigh of relief and quickly asked the maid beside him to pour another cup of hot tea for Master Huiming. Sitting back in the grand chair, he looked curiously to his left at the master.

“Patron Xie’s name is known to many in Dreamfloat City. The devotees at Faci Temple are mostly local townsfolk, so naturally, they have heard your name many times. Furthermore, the plaque on this mansion reads ‘Xie Residence,’ so it is not hard to guess,” Master Huiming said, his bright, round eyes fixed gently on Xie Xiushi. Yet that gentle smile always left Xie Xiushi feeling somewhat uneasy.

“I suppose they speak of how I harmed Master Deng and stole his wealth. But they do not consider carefully—Evil Sheep Ridge lies to the north of Nanxi County, while I am in the south. How could I possibly know when Master Deng travels or when he arrives at Evil Sheep Ridge? These people simply resent my wealth,” Xie Xiushi said angrily as soon as Master Huiming mentioned the townsfolk of Dreamfloat City.

He was well aware of the rumors circulating about him outside Dreamfloat City—not only about Master Deng but also about his supposed preference for men, which was why he employed so many guards and so few maids and servants.

He swore by heaven and earth that he only liked women.

The reason for so many guards was simply that Xie Xiushi was frightened by the crowds gathering daily at his gate, afraid they might rush into the mansion in a moment of madness.

“Clear mind without dust, peace comes naturally; troubles arise from within the heart,” Master Huiming said, tilting slightly, his bright eyes still fixed on Xie Xiushi as his gentle, kind voice echoed in his ears.

“Master Huiming, is there some stain upon my face?” Xie Xiushi asked, puzzled as he looked at the master’s serene expression.

“Ordinary people’s impurities flow through the nine orifices, filth hidden in every bone; only the heart remains somewhat pure. Observing Patron Xie, your spirit is clear and eyes bright; rare is the filth within your body—it is quite surprising,” Master Huiming replied.

Xie Xiushi rubbed his eyes again, staring at the master's lips, tightly closed yet seemingly, just moments ago, he thought he saw the master’s tongue briefly lick them.

“Master Huiming, is there something you wish to discuss here?” Xie Xiushi asked uneasily, his tone carrying a hint of urgency.

“Faci Temple requires a pair of Golden Boys and Jade Girls to accompany the ancient Buddha’s eternal lamp on the tenth day of the tenth month. But Patron Xie must remember—the Golden Boy must be born in a Yang year, Yang month, Yang day, and Yang hour; the Jade Girl must be born in a Yin year, Yin month, Yin day, and Yin hour. If the timing is off by an hour or half an hour, the Buddha will not mind, but if off by a day or longer, beware the Buddha’s wrath,” Master Huiming said, lightly shaking his staff and smiling faintly at Xie Xiushi before rising and departing, leaving Xie Xiushi bewildered.

“What did Master Huiming just say?” Xie Xiushi asked the maid holding the teapot beside him, still trying to process.

“He said they need a pair of Golden Boys and Jade Girls to accompany the ancient Buddha’s lamp,” the maid answered timidly.

“Why is he telling me this?”

Xie Xiushi asked, confused.

“Because Master Huiming wants you to find a pair of Golden Boys and Jade Girls and bring them to Faci Temple on Qingtan Mountain. If you succeed, the masters of Faci Temple will grant you a wish,” the maid whispered, noticing the anger rising on Xie Xiushi’s face.

“And if I fail? Do you think these monks will just eat me up?” Xie Xiushi snapped, furious. He had thought the monk came to discuss Buddhist teachings or seek alms, never to send him on a quest for Golden Boys and Jade Girls. Was he being treated like a servant or slave?

“The original owner of this mansion failed to meet Faci Temple’s demands and was subsequently struck by a disaster of fire—none in the family survived, and not even a whole corpse was found,” the maid said, lowering her eyes in warning.

“What does a fire disaster have to do with Faci Temple’s request? That owner was just unlucky. Besides, after renovations, there’s no sign of fire damage here,” Xie Xiushi muttered stiffly, looking up at the beams and eaves as he abruptly changed the subject.

“You’d better send someone to look for them,” the maid advised again, bowing low.

“Why can’t those monks find them themselves? Life in the fishing village was far less troublesome. Why must I encounter such problems in the city?” Xie Xiushi slammed his hand on the tea table, frustration mounting.

He had come from the fishing village to Dreamfloat City seeking pleasure, yet spending money only brought him trouble. He had scarcely even visited the brothels of Manchun Lane.

“Sir, someone is here to visit,” a guard entered the living room, bowing to Xie Xiushi.

“Don’t see them!” Xie Xiushi said irritably, waving his sleeve.

“Sir, the visitor is Miss Cui from the Cui household. You should see her,” the guard said quietly, noticing Xie Xiushi’s obvious irritation and not turning away the guest.

“Why does anyone who comes to my house have to be seen? If I say no, it means no. Close the doors and refuse visitors!” Xie Xiushi shouted angrily, smashing the tea set on the floor. Fragments and tea spilled everywhere.

Yet the guard remained unmoved.

“Go and send them away,” Xie Xiushi said, suppressing his anger as he looked to the maid beside him.

But she, too, lowered her eyes and said nothing. Suddenly, a chill crept into Xie Xiushi’s mind alongside his rising fury. Not long ago, the servants and guards had been obedient, but today they seemed changed.

“Master Xie, anger solves nothing,” a light, melodious laugh drifted in from the courtyard, followed by the graceful figure of Miss Cui Dan Dan, who entered the living room. A faint, refreshing fragrance spread throughout the hall.

It was Miss Cui Dan Dan of the Cui household.