The following morning was spent in preparation for their investigation of Fan Manor; their best bet was to infiltrate the place as a pair of exorcists and get a look around for any cultist ties. Plain travelling robes were gathered, the necessary accessories for the “rite” were procured, and their hair and cosmetics were altered to better suit their disguises. Yingzimò took particular care to conceal her features, aided by a broad hat with a some quickly put-together talismans. Fortunately, she carried a few useful odds and ends in her saddlebag that could be put to use.

Without further delay, they crossed town and returned to the site of the alleged “yaoguai” sighting outside Fan Manor. Yet, for some strange and entirely unrelated reason, a crowd of anxious men had gathered before the manor gates. The chief attendant stood at the entrance, doing his utmost to placate them.

“P-please, return to your homes!” He called, waving his hands frantically.“There is no man-eating demon here! I-I know rumors have been spreading, but they are completely unfounded!”

Even he seemed unconvinced by his own words. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead despite the cool morning air.

Meanwhile, Ye Yu and Yingzimò lingered at the edge of the commotion, no doubt gathering the courage to announce themselves as wandering exorcists who had come to free the manor from its supposed haunting.

“Oh, Heavens...” Yingzimò murmured, covering part of her face with her hand. “This is so embarrassing. That spread faster than wildfire. I bet those patrolmen told everyone they know.”

Ye Yu was following her now new associate to Master Fan’s manor, looking around with curiosity. Even this early in the morning, the streets were full of curious bystanders, taking about the events from last night. A yaoguai has been spotted around, lurking, roaming, maybe even tracking down a poor prey. People were also talking about some boatman calling for help in the canal, before being dragged under the water with the evil creature but no trace of him had been found yet, nor no mysterious disappearance had been reported yet.

“Teehee, you really created a big commotion
With all this yaoguai story around!
We won’t really attract any attention.
But we need to find a way in... oh, found!” she sang, pulling her hat on her face a bit lower.

She was dressed quite the same as her bodyguard, plain robes that she complained about for a long time, trying to put some more colors or trinkets for them to be a bit more exquisite, before resigning to blend as much as possible in the crowd. They were supposed to be infiltrating the place, after all. To hide all her very noticeable feature, she had her hair tied and a silken blindfold on to hide her dual colored eyes.

With a confident smile and a nod, she walked to the door, stopping by the group of servants discussing, or rather, arguing with the chief attendant.

“Oh my! Oh my! Such a disturbance!” she suddenly exclaimed with some theatric moves.
“I may be blind, but this strong Yaoguai’s QI, I can sense!
Such evilness, such unleashed, raw power!
No doubt, they came with only one intent: murdeeeeer!
Fortunately, we were passing by, my Master and I!
Let me introduce you to.... .... Y... Y... Master Yiiiiii!”

And with a flourish, she pointed in your direction. Embarrassing, you said?

A collective gasp swept through the crowd! A yaoguai with great qi?! If they weren’t scared before, they were now.

“Murder?! No!” One man shouts.

Everyone’s attention turns toward the hatted strangers. The chief attendant breaks into a heavier sweat, waving his hands as he tries to dissuade the crowd that there was no disturbance here.

But with every fixed gaze upon them-- and on her in particular-- Yingzimò slips into character...

Spotlights 📸

The street falls strangely quiet. A tumbleweed blows behind them on the road, while the shadow of a cloud drifts by overhead. The broad brim of her hat hangs low, concealing her eyes in its shade.

Slowly, she raises two fingers and tilts the hat upward, as though pondering a great secret.

“Indeed...” she began mysteriously.

“My assistant speaks true. A powerful disturbance lingers over this place. A woman? No... perhaps she was once a woman, but that is no longer so.”

She paused dramatically.

“Tall as a tree! A bride once to be! Now a fearsome yaoguai is she! But fear not. We can rid you of her...
...for a fee.”

“Better be quick, this Qi stinks with unsatisfied hunger,
That’s must one of that terrible kind: the nocturnal hunter!
Who will be her next she’ll feed on? You? Or maybe... you?!” she asked, pointing in random direction, pretending not to see people around.
“Fortunately, my Master is here! Better give her an interview...
Unless you want a servant, the Master or a poor child to end up in her stew?”

She let her terrible omen linger in the air with a last verse and some dramatic, slow moves.

🌬️ 💨 🍃

The wind blew, sweeping more clouds across the sky. The sunny day was over; the bright light had been replaced by the damp, grey glow that often preceded heavy rain.

“Oh, Master Yi, I can feel a big storm coming
And I’m not only talking about the weather...
Perhaps should we find a place to shelter
If those people don’t want us intervening...” she added, pressuring them into urgency.

Between the exorcists' rhymes and the ominous weather churning overhead, panic swept through the gathered crowd! Some swore they would never work at the estate again, while other begged for the demon to be dealt with at once. The commotion grew so fierce that the chief attendant found himself nearly overwhelmed.

“P-please! Everyone, calm yourselves! Fine, FINE!” he cried. Turning hurriedly toward the two exorcists, he beckoned them forward with frantic waves.“Young Masters, this way, please! Come inside, and we shall... discuss the matter.”

The crowd reluctantly parted, leaving just enough room for the pair to pass through. As they did, desperate voices rose from every direction, begging them to rid the estate of the malevolent spirit.

“I don’t want my soul devoured!”
“Save us!”
“Is this bride beautiful, at least?!”
“Perhaps we can fix her!”

Smack!
Someone received a sharp blow to the back of his head from his wife.

Yingzimò adjusted her hat before strolling to Ye Yu’s side, offering her arm to guide her companion toward the gate. As they passed the crowd, she raised a reassuring hand, her demeanor calm and composed.

“Thank you, good sir... ah... yes, yes. What a formidable yaoguai indeed. We must make haste before the storm descends. Such creatures are fond of the dark and rain!”

Escorted through the gates, they entered the inner courtyard.

Perhaps it had once been worthy of great prestige, but those days were long gone. The ground had been left untended, weeds creeping between the cracked stone paths. Ancient trees stood withered and decaying.

What a disaster!
But perhaps... maybe their fear of a haunting wasn’t totally unfounded, after all.

Thanks for the big laugh 😂

Ye Yu clung to Yingzimò’s arm and walked slowly at her side, trying not to turn her head too much to look around as they entered the inner courtyard. She was supposed to be blind! Yet her curiosity was too strong, and she ended up twisting in every direction as if tasting somes flows of Qi or following delicious scent trails.

“Yes, yes, Master Yi is right about the storm!
Raging elements, blowing wind and thunder
Everything that increase a yaoguai hunger!
Speaking of which, we also wouldn’t mind something wa--aaAHH!”

She did not ended her sentence, tripping on a uneven paving slab, almost falling and bringing her bodyguard with her.

“Such a disarrayed place, what the goose!” she shouted, clearly annoyed.
“How can a noble manor have slabs so loose?
No wonder why strange creatures are appearing around...
“Master Yi! We really need to check the surroundings. There must be more things attracting them to be found!”

She stopped, alerted, as if sensing something in the air. Slowly, she turned, watching the various buildings.

“I feeeeel... I feeeeeeel.... really hungry.”

The chief attendant led the way, though there was some noticeable tension in his bearing. His eyes darted constantly about the courtyard, every step careful as though he expected danger to pop from nowhere.

Just as the pair nearly stumbled over a loose stone, he whirled around and dropped into a crouch, frantically waving their feet away from the ancient stone.

“Aiya! Please, watch your step! These paving stones have endured since before your forefathers drew breath. Treat them with proper respect! If even one were to crack, the Master would have our heads!”

Though... there was already a web of fractures in the courtyard.

Yingzimò found the attendant’s concern for the crumbling stones somewhat strange but kept the thought to herself. She merely nodded and adjusted her path, humming thoughtfully as they continued the pretense of tracking the demon’s qi.

The distant rumble of thunder, however, made her edge a little closer to Ye Yu.
This place was creepy as heck.

As they crossed the courtyard, a rich aroma drifted from one of the outer buildings. Somewhere within, something delicious was being prepared.

“Ah, yes. My assistant is correct,” Yingzimò declared solemnly. “This demon is clearly hungry. We should investigate the kitchen! ...So we may better understand... ah... what might be drawing it to this estate.”

The servants and guards they encountered looked no better than frightened rabbits. Every face seemed pale and uneasy, their movements restless. As he begun to lead them towards the kitchen, a group of maids caught sight of them before hurrying away in the opposite direction.

“All this talk of yaoguai is nonsense,” he huffed.“In all my years, I’ve never seen such a thing. A few strange noises in the night, sure! And the disappearance... Then the servants claiming they glimpsed an apparition! Bah! Utter nonsense.”

“Treat them with respect, treat them with respect!” she started to grumble lowly, massaging her sore foot.
“Is that how your silly house is respecting us?!
Laying trap on honest, helpful yaoguai hunters... This place is so neglected!
You’re lucky I won’t make a whole fuss!” she claimed loudly, making a fuss.

Stopping in the courtyard, she opened her arms wholly, head thrown backward, just like she was throwing some incantation or just a big, big tantrum.

“On that slab, do you realize what could have happened? I could have break my neck!
You’d better prepare us a whole feast for meal while the rooms around, we’ll inspect!
And you’d better let us look at every corner for anything suspect
Or we’ll just summon more yaoguai to have all your souls collected!”

She was indeed now making a loud, terrible omen for all the servants to hear, aiming to clearly embarrass the chief attendant.

“But you don’t believe in all those stories, right?
You’re completely fine risking the lives of your staff and your Master, are you?
After all, non-existent killer creatures, you do are ready to fight?
With a terrible fate and malediction, without us, you’re not completely screwed!”

Yaoguai hunters?
That phrase was enough to seize the attention of the staff. Heads turned one after another, and passing servants halted their steps to listen.

The chief attendant noticed the eyes gathering upon them and immediately began sweating once more. Yet another crowd was forming.

“Oh dear, oh my... Shush, shush! Keep your voice down, or else you’ll get them started--”

“Sir! They have come to rid us of the demon?!”
“I’ve seen it! I swear I’ve seen it!”
“It’s cursed the latrine!”
“It did no such thing! That’s just you, Zu!”
“Well, it stole all our finest utensils!”
“Quickly! We must treat our honored guests well!”

Dragging a hand down his long face, the attendant let out a weary groan. The burden of countless years spent managing the establishment was plain in his tired eyes.

“Very well,” he relented.“I suppose there’s little harm in it. Just... exercise caution. The rear house is strictly off-limits due to--”

“It’s extremely haunted!”

“It is not haun--” He stopped himself and pinched the bridge of his nose.“It is under... renovation. We shall prepare a meal for you in the meantime.” His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he looked the pair over. “Though... should you not possess some credentials?”

Meanwhile, Yingzimò had taken it upon herself to inspect the courtyard’s corners with... exaggerated seriousness. Fishing a small bell from within her robes, she waved it vaguely toward the southern corner before setting off in a slow clockwise circle.

ding-ding ding-ding

“Credentials? My good sir! We possess the essentials! Standy by, and we shall bid this yaoguai goodbye!”

Ye Yu’s manner of speech had clearly begun to rub off on her. Then again, perhaps trading rhymes made them seem more convincing as two professionals.

Two professionals or two frauds, at least, it worked so far! Ye Yu was still amused at how gullible people in this house were, forgetting she was also the kind to be afraid of ghosts.

Hearing the chief attendant slightly doubting their, huh... Legitimity, she started another tantrum show.

“What?! How?! Casting doubts on Master Yi?!
Is that the famous Fan’s manor hospitality?!
Master Yi! We should let the Yaoguai devour their souls tonight!
They even want to prevent us from inspecting the rear house! Such fate would only be justice served right!”

She stomp her foot on the respectable paving stone, adding one or two small cracks to the existing ones.

“Master Yi, where are you? Have you left me on my own?” she asked, arms outstretched in front of her, feeling the attendant chief with her fingers.
“Mhhhhh... Has a beard on your face grown?
Oh my oh my, you’ve built yourself lots of muscles lately” she continued, her hands going on his torso and hips.
“To think I was picturing you as a pretty lady!”

A collective gasp swept through the courtyard.

“No, sir! They must remain!”
“And they should search the rear house as well!”
“Indeed! Who else can purge this malevolence!”
“I don’t want the umbrella lady to return!”

The chief attendant had just opened his mouth to silence the servants when he felt the blind exorcist’s hands suddenly feel him up. Startled, he let out an undignified squawk and some indistinguishable noises before stumbling back, hurriedly smoothing out the wrinkles in his robes.

“Ooo~! I can sense its qi! Quickly, before it flees! Ah, wait, my dear... uhh... Yo-- I’m here! It is him that is so near!” Yingzimò proclaimed as she scurried over, having already “warded” the four corners of the courtyard.

ding-ding ding-ding
She rang the bell directly beside the attendant’s ear-- just as a precaution.

The man grimaced and waved his hand irritably by his head. His gaze drifted toward the stone slab, noticing the fresh cracks that mysteriously appeared.

Heavens above.

His temples throbbed. Between the clamoring servants, the eccentric exorcists, and the rumor-mill out the manor gates, he felt his spirit age at least ten years in a single afternoon.

“Aiya! Fine, fine! Get on with it! But if so much as a teacup goes missing, I’ll know!” he barked, wagging his finger at them.

“Steward! The latrine is making that noise again!”

“Aiyaaa! Mercy...” He buried his face in one hand.“Perhaps I should inquire about a position at my second cousin’s dumpling shop. Aiya... I’m coming!”

With a weary sigh, the attendant hurried off after the servant, disappearing beyond the western wall.

Ye Yu allowed herself to giggle when the chief disappeared behind the wall, leaving them with only curious servants that, soon, also returned to their own occupation.

“-Yo-? You really had no other idea to name me?” she mocked gently.
”So, dear -Yi-, where should we head first, any idea?
Also, maybe those will come handy?” she asked, revealing a set of keys she just stole to the attendant when feeling his body.

“I do wonder what they open. Maybe the treasure room?
Or just a cellar with buckets, various stocks and brooms.
Only way to know is to try every keyholes. Let’s hurry, the storm looms.”

She made a few steps then stopped, looking puzzled. Or at least, it was what her whole attitude was giving because her eyes were still hidden behind her blindfold.

“Uhhh... We’re in now but... what are we looking for, exactly?”

With the others dispersing to resume their duties-- leaving with a few quiet blessings-- Yingzimò finally felt comfortable enough to tuck the bell away and release a sigh of relief.

“Sorry...” she said softly. “That was the first thing that came to mind. I’ve never been particularly skilled with coming up with names on the fly.”

A smile tugged at her lips when Ye Yu revealed the keys she had lifted from the attendant. Yingzimò gave an excited little clap, her eyes darting around the manor grounds as she pondered where they should begin.

Then, a pause.
“That is... a good question.”

It was painfully obvious she had not thought that far ahead. Truthfully, she was still surprised they had managed to pass through the manor gates at all. Their success was owed to the remarkable gullibility of the servants. Which... felt strange.

As she thought, a roll of thunder rumbled across the sky. It had yet to rain, but there was a heaviness in the air suggesting it was not far off.

She hastens to Ye Yu’s side.

“I’m not... exactly suuure,” she admits, accompanied by a hint of unease. “Perhaps we should begin wherever they keep their ledgers? If they have dealt with...them... there may be records of transactions or agreements hidden among the accounts.”

Her gaze drifted toward the far end of the compound.

“Or we should investigate the rear house first. He seemed a bit determined to keep us away from it. Typically, it’s the places people guard most that are hiding the darkest secrets.”

“Weeeell... I guess it really depends about your plan?
What if we discover Master Fan is dealing with that clan?
Do you want proofs to show to some people around?
Or is that knowledge enough for you, once found?”

She was peeking at the kitchen’s window, trying to see what they would be served and when it would be ready.

“Let’s imagine we found some... I don’t know. Some token or a letter from the cult leader,
What would be the next step of your plan, Yingzi? To ask for an audience with Fan, the Master?
Are you going... to have his head cut, if his mouth, he decided to keep it shut?”

Snif, snif... It was smelling like ... fishes. River fishes with herbs, and a stew. Vegetables. Quail eggs? And... mhh... white rice!

“Either way, let’s check their books and hidden chests first
While the chief attendant is away, believing the latrines are cursed!
It will be more easiere to explain our presence in the rear house
Than us, noses in their accounting books like curious mouses!”

She started looking around, watching for any servant that would come by. Seeing no one, she pulled Yingzimò inside the closest building, which seemed to be... some annex, a remote office maybe? A desk covered with dusty books and parchments, many shelves full of documents, a few locked boxes, various discarded items and decorations left in a corner...

“Ooooh, I wonder how much this is worth! Maybe we could get one and sell it on the market?” Ye Yu asked, weigthing a small golden dragon statue.

Ye Yu posed another good question.
Yingzimò rubbed the back of her neck and frowned. What would she do?

“Depends on what we find. Assuming we find anything at all.” Her voice dropped to a murmur, “Though I wouldn’t cross questioning Fan off the list just yet...”

The rich aroma of food wafting from the kitchen made her stomach rumble just before Ye Yu ushered her into the annex. And dusty it was indeed!

Yingzimò coughed into her arm as they kicked up the particles, swirling in the shafts of gray light. An office, perhaps... or more like a graveyard for forgotten things. She idly thumbed through a few books scattered across the table.

Genealogies.
Poetry collections.
Bedroom arts?
Nope, nothing of interest here.

If they found the evidence they needed in the first room they searched, then that would be some dumb luck.

She hurries over to where Ye Yu stood examining the golden dragon statue, eyes wide with excitement.

“A small fortune, I’d wager! Or... perhaps enough for a months' worth of meals,” she said, a grin tugging at her lips. “Think you can carry it out unnoticed?”

Exorcists? More like thieves!

Cough cough

“Goodness,” she mutters after another fit. “Do they never clean this place? With this many servants, you’d think it would be kept in better condition.” Leaving Ye Yu to her inspection, she crossed toward the boxes piled against the far wall.

Every one of them was locked. She crouched and brushed away layers of cobwebs which stubbornly clung to her fingers. Then--

cccCCCRAAAAACKKK-BOOOOOM! 🌩️

Lightning split the Heavens and flooded the annex with blinding white light. For the briefest instant, every corner of the room was revealed in stark detail. The shelves, the boxes, the dragon statue, Ye Yu...

And a tall silhouette standing against the far wall.

She froze.
Then it was dark again and the shadow was gone.

“...Did you see--”

Knock knock...

Ye Yu considered the request, looking at the dragon statue which was as big as her head.

“Unless I can pretend you suddenly got me six months pregnant, I’m not sure I’ll be able to snitch this out unnoticed!” she admitted, shaking her head in disappointment. Yet, even if such loot wasn’t leaving with them, Ye Yu’s silhouette already seemed more... Plum.

“Maybe we should come back at night,
When there will be no one and no more light
If they believe ghosts are stealing utensils
Maybe our pockets, we could also fill?”

She walked to another cupboard, looking into the drawers, each of her movement causing a little tinkling sound.

“I... Do have no idea what to look for...
Do we have an icon, a logo, a drawing?
What should I be focusing on in those writings?” she asked, browsing some “bedroom arts” with keen interest.
_It would help us quite a lot if I kn--

KYAAAAA!_”

She screamed from the bottom of her lungs when the thunder roared, surprised and frightened by the sudden flash and sound. Jumping back, she tripped on a furniture and fell over, having everything, books, shelves and various metallic objects fall with her, just like a cascading domino championship. If they were willing to stay unnoticed, then it wasn’t looking good!

“S-s-....sorry...” she squealed under the pile.

After the lightning, the rain arrived in force. It crashed down upon the tiled roof like a monsoon, sheets of water cascading from the eaves until it was swallowed whole in a veil. If there was any blessing to be found in the storm, it was that the noise might conceal their own commotion.

Yingzimò, however, had let out a startled cry the instant Ye Yu crashed into the cluttered corner.

Her heart pounded against her chest, still frightened from the shadow she saw but wrote it off as her own. Swallowing her unease, she shook her head and rushed forward, kneeling beside the collapsed pile.

“Yun! Are you hurt?” She pushed aside a fallen plank and reached toward her. “Come, let’s get you of of--”

Knock...

The sound cut through the storm, and it didn’t come from the entrance.

Knock knock...

Slow and hollow, as though something were striking wood from the other side.

Yingzimò’s gaze drifted toward the wall where the shelf had once stood. Now toppled over, it exposed part of the wooden paneling behind it. There, faintly visible, was the outline of a narrow seem.

A hidden door?

At its center was a weathered symbol painted in a faded black ink: a single vertical eye, elongated and unnatural, its pupil drawn like a slit in the midst of a swirling vortex.

The instant her eyes settled upon it, a chill crept down her spine.

She extended a hand to help Ye Yu up, never taking her eyes off the strange marking.

“....Yun,” her voice dropped to a whisper. “Tell me you see that too?”

“Mhh mhh... ?” she absently responded, her eyes fixed on her face, blushing a bit from embarrassment. Once back on her feet with a grimace or two, she dusted her clothes and looked around. “P-p-please... Tell me you’re the one doing the knocking sounds when you were walking around... and not some ghosts haunting that p-place...” she whimpered, now hiding behind her bodyguard.

“M-maybe the servants were right after all?
Maybe ghosts here utensils stole?
Maybe we should let professionals deal with them?
W-what’s that scary sigil and why would one have it condemned?”

Far from the extroverted actress from before, Yun was now more like a frightened rabbit, watching around in alert and ready to jump at the smallest movement or sound.

“W-why don’t we just go get our lunch f-first?
Iiii-... Screaming just... increased my thirst!
You... We’re not going in there, are we?
I mean... Maybe I should just stay here to look for any--”

Another loud 🌩️ BRAOUOUMMMM ⛈️ pierced through the heavy drumming rain sound on the roof tiles, causing Ye Yu to jump on Yingzimò, holding her arms with a squeal, holding on to her like a baby koala on her mother.

“N-nevermind, alone, don’t leave me!
I-... uhh... need to be sure you’re not fleeing
After all, a lot of money, you still owing!
I-... you’re my bodyguard, so... guard my body!”

Yingzimò stepped slightly ahead of Ye Yu, one arm extended to protect her. Though she wore a brave face, even she felt a little on edge.

Another flash of lightning. ⛈️

For a heartbeat, the room blazed white. She swept her gaze across every corner, wary of hidden threats or jump scares, fortunately none came-- aside from the thunder and their shadows against the wall.

“We’re definitely going in there,” she confirmed, turning toward the strange door marked by the watchful eye. “If that isn’t a sign of what we’re looking for, I don’t know what is.”

Outside, rain hammered the earth without mercy.

Picking her way forward, Yingzimò climbed over the toppled shelves and piles of boxes. Wood cracked beneath her boots, and she kicked aside some forgotten clutter before eventually reaching the concealed entrance.

“What if there’s hidden treasure down there?” she said with a grin. “Or some secret stash of delicacies? N-nothing to worry about.”

The reassurance sounded far more convincing that she felt. Bracing herself, she pushed against the door, and with a reluctant groan, its seam popped.

The knocking had stopped...

Yingzimò paused for only a moment before shoving more debris aside and forcing the hidden door open wide enough for them to slip through.

Beyond lay a square room, no more than four paces across. The flood had been cut away entirely, revealing a shaft descending down into a tunnel. A weathered wooden ladder led down to the stone passage below. Lanterns hung at intervals along the wall, and stranger still, several still burned with a steady flame.

Yingzimò glanced back over her shoulder, expecting Ye Yu to be right behind her, then she turned and placed a foot on the ladder.

For someone who had groaned about every inconvenience, and put up such a fuss on her date, she showed remarkably little hesitation when it came to descending into a forgotten tunnel beneath a creepy manor during a thunderstorm.
....
.....
“...It’s okay, come down!”

~“cawm dawn!“~
...That didn’t sound like her...

(( You really gave me goosebumps with those this atmosphere. And that last line, omg x_x

“W-who would hide pastries and delicacies in such a place...?”

BRROUUAAAM ⛈️

After the flash, the thunder, always! This one, really loud, landed not very far away from their position.

“Kya! O-o-oki, whatever you choose, don’t leave me h-h-here. Into the tunnel, whatever there is, we’ll f-face...” she stammered, trying to raise her confidence, not leaving the only martial artist around from an inch. She watched with growing concern as her friend climbed down the ladder, feeling the increasing weight of loneliness, obscurity and possible ghosts and monsters' gazes on her neck.

“P-p-p-lease, oh please, make this secret tunnel a passage to a Parting Tears cellar...
Why am I doing this, I wonder, I’m just a mere story teller...” she complained alone, putting a foot on the first rung of the ladder.

“I really should have taken my guqin...”
“How will I cope if there is any fighting?”

She looked in the whole pile of debris she created and, shining in another flash coming from outside, she saw it.
Not a strange shadow. Not a ghost. An iron paperweight.

“You! You’re coming with me!” she said, grabbing the heavy lion shaped cube of metal and putting it into her robe -don’t ask how or where exactly-.
“In dire situation, you may come handy!”

She started her descent and stopped when hearing the echo below.

“... Yingzi? Is that you?
... Or are you already in some Yaoguai’s stew?”

((teehee spppoookyy~ 👻 but I hope not too scary! xD ))

The thunder seemed to retreat farther and farther away the deeper Ye Yu climbed down the ladder. Only now and then would a distant rumble shake loose the dust from the stone walls. Before long, the thrum of the storm was replaced by the slow, rhythmic drip of water and the mournful sigh of wind wandering through the tunnel’s depths.

~”cawm dawn!”~

The voice drifted through the darkness...

At the foot of the ladder, Yingzimò stood waiting. Her gaze swept the shadows, one hand resting lightly upon her sword hilt while the other remained raised so Ye Yu could find her in the lantern’s pale glow.

“Uhhh... no, that wasn’t me,” she whispered. “It sounded like it came from... somewhere behind me. Around the corner.”

The air was damp and stale. A sour odor lingered in the passage, not unlike the city’s sewers. In fact, there was a faint rush of underground water somewhere beyond the walls...

Whatever this tunnel was, it only ran in a single direction.
Around the bend... and toward the voice.

“No yaoguai yet,” Yingzimò said, forcing a smile as Ye Yu finally came into view. The expression looked strained upon her face. “A hidden tunnel beneath a wealthy manor is certainly strange-- not unheard of... But there’s no need to worry. I brought my sword. If anything appears, we shall be perfectly safe and--”

KNOCK
KNOCK

The sound reverberated through the tunnel. It sounded like something striking stone.

Yingzimò froze, then slowly turned toward the bend, fingers tightening around the hilt of her blade.

“Hello?” she called.

Nothing but silence, except the drip of water.
Then, from somewhere around the bend...

~“Haaaw... lo...“~
The voice mimicked her perfectly.

Ye Yu was on the verge of tears, gripping Yingzimò’s arm so strongly she would be a complete burden in case a fight broke out.

“W-w-what was that?!” she squealed, reaching for her paperweight.
“S-s-s-s-houldn’t we go back?
Iffff we die here, nobody will find our corpses!
I-i-i-i haven’t even tasted the meal they had us prepared, worse, we’ll be the meal for whatever here lurks!”

She looked around. There was no way this place could be used to store pastries. Chests full of gold, maybe. And gold means grand buffets and eating like an Empress for months! But... It was still quite a bet, while the strange creature a few meters afar was, it, really concrete.

“I---- Whoever you are, show yourself!” she suddenly shouted, her slightly panicked voice echoing in the tunnel.
Or maybe don’t! But do know we are not comestible!
Me especially, Yingzimò may be a bit more edible...
But still! Try to bite us and you’ll taste that item I found on a shelve!” she courageously threaten, hidden behind her edible friend she pushed a bit forward, maybe a way to encourage her to check on the source of her fear.

Yingzimò staggered back on her feet before she could steady herself, Ye Yu’s grip on her arm like an iron shackle that kept her in place. Her sword remained trapped in its scabbard, half-drawn and useless without her other hand.

~“Haaaw--LOOOO--!“~

The shriek echoed through the stone passage once more.
Nearer this time...
Something seemed wrong with the voice.

With a nudge forward from Ye Yu, Yingzimò swallowed hard and edged along the damp, curving wall. The torchlight flickered briefly across the way.

What kind of yaoguai made a sound like that?

She’s heard the stories and had a small share of encounters, but nothing had ever sounded like this.

Then came the footsteps.

Tap

Tap-tap

Tiny, rapid impacts against the stone floor.
It quickened, scampering through the darkness. Then came another sound...

SCRAAAPE
Metal dragged across the stones.
The noise clawed its way down the tunnel.
Yingzimò’s grip tightened around her sword.

SCRAAAPE

A grotesque shadow appeared at the far end of the wall. Round and featureless, swelling larger with every passing second. Whatever it was, it was not human.

“Keep talking to it,” Yingzimò whispered. “Draw it closer. The moment it appears, I’ll strike before it knows where I am.”

Closer. Closer. CLOSER...

~*”HAAAW--LOOO!”*~

Then, without warning, the enormous shadow that had stretched across the wall began to shrink. Growing smaller and smaller by the second. The scraping stopped and silence settled over the tunnel, except for the little tippy-tappies coming around the corner.

Yingzimò nearly drew her sword, but then... instead, she found herself staring at...

A raven?
The bird tilted its head and stared back with equal confusion.
It was also clutching a kitchen knife in its beak...

Ye Yu’s imagination was running wild, racing alongside her heartbeat. She had heard many gloomy stories about evil yaoguai: deformed creatures with six legs that crawl like spiders on walls; mouths full of sharp teeth; and eyes that gleam with cruel malevolence. Or monsters wearing the bones of their victims as accessories. She didn’t want to become a necklace, she was too young to be a beautiful corpse!

Gripping the iron paperweight in her hand, she raised her arm, ready to hurl the heavy object at whatever appeared, hoping it wouldn’t be too frightening or dangerous. However, given her terrible aim, perhaps the biggest danger for Yingzimò right now wasn’t the one she was preparing to fight.

~“HAAAW--LOOO!”~

the terrible, terrifying black little ball of feather made, sound quickly covered by a woman voice screaming from the bottom of her lungs.

Being a very, very inexperienced martial artist, the songstress closed her eyes before aiming and just... threw her improvised ranged weapon toward the source of the sound before curling up into a ball, just like she had thrown a hand grenade.

(( You got me reaaaaally scared with that description, I was expecting our RP to be some gloomy, scary ghost story with fighting and stuff and... ROUND BIRD! 😂

((lol! I thought it’d be a funny twist 🤣 ))

The iron paperweight came hurdling through the tunnel, a mere finger-width away from nearly taking Yingzimò out with it.

She flattened herself against the cold stone wall as it blew past. The raven simply hopped to the right, avoiding the projectile before it clattered and skidded around the corner.

The raven felt the inclination to drop his kitchen knife and mimic Ye Yu’s scream, with a loud, squawking, “AHHHHHK!”

Yingzimò slid her sword back into its scabbard with a muted shing, then she peered around the bend, her gaze sweeping the area and looking past to a wider chamber that lay beyond. No yaoguai, ghosts, traps, or assassins. Only a lone, black-feathered nuisance.

“A raven... of all things,” she muttered.

Turning back, she found Ye Yu curled on the floor.

Yingzimò stepped over and crouched beside her, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “The way is clear. It’s only a damn bird.” She glanced toward the feather brain, brow furrowing. “Though... how it got in a place like this, I couldn’t begin to guess.”

As though it understood it was the topic of conversation, the raven hopped closer, turning his head one way, then the other. Its big black eyes lingered on the pair with curiosity-- or maybe a touch of greed, searching for anything worth stealing.

“AHHHK! Hawlo! Cawm dawn! Find, find! Kck-kck-kck--”

The bird hopped back to retrieve its battered kitchen knife, grasping the handle before tapping the blunt end against the floor. Knock knock.

“Shiny! Find! Hawlo!”

With another eager squawk, the raven turned and waddled back into the passage. After a few hops, it paused and looked back, waiting expectantly to see whether the two women would follow.

She opened an eye, then another, to discover that the horrible monster from her imagination was just a round, cute feathery ball waddling waddling... and also able to communicate! Or at least, to mimic some words.

“Ooooooh, it’s just a little birdie!” she said with a sighed of relief, before looking up to her bodyguard, eyes full of glitters.
“Can we keep it, Yingziiiii?
Look! It’s all dumb and funny!
Maybe we can teach him to find tael and money?”

Once back on her feet, she dusted her clothes, pretending that nothing ever happened.

“See? Told you, no ghost! Such thing does not exis-HIIIII!”

⛈️ Brrrroouum

The storm was still very active outside, high above and despite the ground muffling most of it, it was echoing through the tunnel like some monster’s deep growl. She cleared her throat again, happy that the tunnel was dark enough to hide her embarrassment. She quickly followed the raven’s trail.

“Come on, Yingzi, there must be some treasures ahead!
Come, come, I’ll protect you! No reason to be filled with dread!” she boasted.

Yingzimò cracks a smile as she glanced at Ye Yu before rising to her full height. The tension lingering in her shoulders eased, feeling much of the same relief they had only encountered a raven than a ghost.

“Perhaps,” she said with a light laugh. “As long as the little thief doesn’t make off with our money.”

Broouum...

As another roll of thundered shuddered overhead, Yingzimò cast a brief look toward the ceiling before following after Ye Yu. Ahead of them, the peculiar raven continued its confident march.

The black-feathered bird hopped from stone to stone, occasionally rapping the kitchen knife against the tunnel wall with sharp taps, as though announcing its own arrival. It led them deeper until the cramped passage widened into a spacious chamber. The bird then veered left and continued onward.

Signs of excavation became more frequent. Shovels had been abandoned, stacks of timber and stone lay forgotten, and crude torches burned at random intervals. It seemed bizarre they were still lit. Someone must have kept up with the place.

Then the air changed... it got stinky. Real stinky.

A foul stench drifted through the tunnel, growing thicker with every step.

Yingzimò wrinkled her nose. “Ugh... that smells like...”

Sewage. A narrow channel ran just beyond the stone wall beside them, its sluggish waters could be heard from the other side, carrying an unmistakable odor of the city’s refuse. The builders must have purposely carved this passage here on purpose.

Then, finally, they reach a final chamber. It resembled an abandoned storeroom-- and the raven’s private treasury.

Weathered barrels lined the far wall, while heavy wooden beams stretched overhead to support the ceiling. Nestled among those rafters rested the bird’s nest, overflowing with glittering trinkets that caught the torchlight like stars. Coins, hairpins, rings, ornaments, and other stolen curios. Atop one barrel sat an untidy hoard of kitchen utensils.

But then, on their left, was a ruined section of wall.

The masonry had collapsed, leaving a jagged opening. Several planks had been hastily nailed across it, though many had been pried loose or carelessly replaced, offering little concealment.

Beyond the gap, water flowed, and a shaft of pale light filtered through another opening high above, illuminating the damp stone below.

Ahhh... the sewer.

((I’m sorry these are so long ;-; I get into descriptions and then can’t stop))

“HA! No risk of him stealing my money...
As I don’t have any!” she laughed, before letting out a small high-pitch scream when a rat ran between her feet.
“Mhph!... Anyway! My purse is called Yingzi
And cold, hard cash, she must have plenty!”

She followed the bird with a light, curious pace, wondering what such a strange guide was doing in such place.

“Little raven, little raven 🎵
Are you guiding us to safe heaven
Little raven, little raven,
Or into tombs with our names engraven 🎶” she began to sing, her joyful and now not terrified voice echoing in the tunnel, something really not discreet but after her powerful cries, discretion wasn’t really an option anymore -unless their possible opponents be all deaf-.

“Little crow, little crow
🎵 What are you doing, ten feet below? “.

She turned to Yingzimò, as struck by a sudden realization. “Do you think it’s some kind of ghost or yaoguai, a shapeshifter trying to lure us into a trap... or guiding us into some place to accomplish some revenge vow or something? Hey, wait for us birdie!”

“Little crow, little crow
Tell me, are you friend or foe?”

She resumed her walk and song, watching around with curiosity. Discarded excavation tools? What would people do underground?

“Were they trying to make some hidden exit from the Manor to outside of Kaifeng?” she wondered. “I have no idea where we are-ewwwwwwwwwwww”

She pinched her nose, coughing at the sudden stench and feeling nauseous.

“Who let out a fart?
Breathing just became so hard!”

She quickened her pace, almost running to flee the awful smell, to take a deep breath of more clean air feet away.

“That was horrible...
Who designed such tunnel? His work is deplorable!” she complained while walking into the last chamber.

“Little raven, little crow
Have you nested in that grotto?
Ooooh, you hoard a pretty little treasure!
What do you think of trading? It could be a pleasure!

Yingzi, Yingzi! Do you think we can trade your sword for some jewelry, pleeaaase?”

(( No worries, really! It was a pleasure to read!

Yingzimò’s face lost what little color it had left the moment Ye Yu declared her as her purse. A tragedy, really, as a deadbeat broke woman.

“Hm? What? A shapeshifter?” She blinked, glancing toward their newly acquired feathered companion. “I... wouldn’t rule it out. But at least it doesn’t seem hostile.” Her gaze lingered on the raven as she kept pace through the foul tunnel. “Well... for now.”

By the time they reached the final chamber, Yingzimò had one arm pulled over her noise, shielding her senses from the smell. She edged toward the collapsed portion in the stone and peered through, recoiling immediately.

“...Eugh. Revolting,” she grimaced. “If someone wanted to hide something, this is almost ingenious. Most people would have turned back by now.”

Pivoting, she turns back, briefly eyeing the barrels on the far wall.

The raven had fluttered back to its nest, where it carefully laid the knife upon the twig with almost ceremonial reverence, treating it like it were the treasured blade of a true master. It puffed out its chest proudly before rummaging through its hoard.

One by one, trinkets clattered down before Ye Yu.

A polished marble. The shattered eye piece of a lacquered mask, a tiny jewel set within it. And... an echo jade.

The raven bobbed excitedly.

~“Aaaahk! Trade! Find, trade! Hawlo!“~

Yingzimò folded her arms. “We are not trading my sword. What could a raven do with that?” Then, evoking her inner menace, she quietly slipped behind Ye Yu, raised her hands beside her head, and wiggled her fingers like claws.

“And what if we’re suddenly ambushed by... the sluuuudge monster?” She whispered with a grin. A moment later, she reached behind her head and untied a crimson cord that held her hair together.

“Here. Maybe he’d like this instead?”

Ye Yu let out a small scream and jump when she realized Yingzimò was, succesfully, trying to scare her. She pouted and took the little cord, frowning at the last mention.

“S-stop scaring me and d-don’t be silly, such monster doesn’t exist... right?
And even if it does... I don’t care, you’ll be the one taking care of the fight!
Also, Little Inky with no hand does pretty well hold a knife
He would be a great swordbird fighter and be a threat to anyone’s life!
You two should do a duel, hmpf!”

Crouching, she returned her attention to the little crow, waving the little cord in front of him.

“Hawlo hawlo! Don’t listen to her mean words and look, this is small and not shiny
But its value isn’t something you can see,
It’s all about warming your little heart: it belongs to that pretty lady!
It would suit you very well on your little leg or wing, as an accessory
What can I get with this little treasure?
It’s worth half of your hoard, I’m sure!
Mhhh... This little jade, can I see?” she asked, pointing the precious stone, before turning her head to the bodyguard again.

“We’re totally adopting him, there’s no other choice!
I’m already hooked on his silly little voice!
Hawlo hawlo!
Do you have any idea why they’d be carving this place, also?”

There were no treasure, no chest, no hidden corpse or secret chamber with demonic summoning. Just excavation garbage, bad smell and a little cave bird. It wasn’t even reaching anywhere. Maybe it wasn’t finished yet?

“Maybe we missed a door or a passage?”

Yingzimò’s lips curled into a faint, mischievous smile, clearly entertained by how easily she scared Ye Yu. Without another word, she turned away, her gaze drifting across the chamber as she resumed her inspection.

“A sludge monster? Oh, they’re real. Leave enough filth that steeps in resentment, and sooner or later it gives birth to a hungry abomination. It’ll swallow a person whole, flesh and bones!” She said, tone perfectly serious.

Returning to the opening in the wall, where the weathered planks concealed a narrow view of the sewer beyond, she leaned closer and peered through the gaps.

“There’s a narrow walkway running alongside the channel,” she observed. “Barely wide enough for one person. Miss a single step and you’ll end up swimming in... well, shit.” Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Still... someone may be using it.”

She glanced back over her shoulder.

“Adopt him? And how exactly shall we do that? Stuff him in our robes? He seems content where he is.”

Meanwhile, the raven gave the offered cord in Ye Yu’s hand a suspicious look. Tilting his head from side to side, he pecked experimentally at it, as though she had presented him with the most peculiar worm he had ever encountered.

After a moment, however, his opinion seemed to improve.

With surprising speed, he snatched the cord from her fingers, then he beat his wings and fluttered back to his nest. Carefully, he wove the prize among the twigs and straw that lined his bed, and once satisfied with his work, he hopped back down. One talon nudged the jade toward Ye Yu, then he puffed his chest proudly.

~”Trade! Trade! Aaaahk! Thank!
Naow... deliver! Deliver ready! Naow!
Wait! Wait!”~

The raven bounded across the chamber toward the stack of old barrels against the far wall. He hopped onto the highest one, stretched his neck, and sharply tapped at a stone with his beak.

What followed was a deep, ominous groan...

The chamber trembled. Dust sifted from the ceiling as hidden mechanisms stirred to life. Stone grated against stone, and the far wall slowly split apart, revealing a concealed chamber beyond. Within lay a cache of carefully hidden... somethings.

The raven flapped excitedly before the newly opened passage.

~“Hawlo! Deliver ready!“~

“B-but! Ravens aren’t meant to live underground!
Moreover, what if a sludge monster comes in and has him found?
I don’t want Little Inky to be someone’s dinner
Aww, he said thanks! Look how polite he is... What? Deliver?”

She looked at the crow, as it hopped away to the other side of the room, climbing the barrels and tapping the stone. Then... A groan... and a high pitch scream again. Ye Yu ran and threw herself into Yingzimò’s arms, hiding her face into whatever clothes or forms she could find.

“An earthquake! The sludge monster! We’re all done!
If we don’t get buried alive, we’ll be digested completely, of us, there will be no remains, none!
I can’t believe we’re going to die, stomachs empty,
When the servants above are making dinner, maybe it’s even ready!” she whined into her bodyguard’s chest.

“... ...Are we still alive?” she eventually asked after a few seconds.

Clearing her throat, she backed up, tidying her hair and looking away to conceal her embarrassment. Quick, a diversion!

“Hmpfff! See? Little Inky found something useful!
And to believe you don’t want him in our team...
Without him, we would actually be swimming in the sewer’s stream
But with such a guide, we even don’t need to be careful!”

With fast, long strides, she hopped through the room to join the little crow, crouching again near him to poke him.

“Hawlo, good job! How did you know?
To us, is there more secrets that you want to show?” she asked, now looking at the secret stash, eyes squished, trying to see through the darkness.

“I’m starting to think you may just feel threaten by Little Inky, Yingzi!
But I don’t need another bodyguard, so far, you’ve been of the best company” she teased with a chuckle.
“Can you grab a lantern? It’s so dark.... There is nothing I can see clearly...”

Though she betrayed none of it on her face, Yingzimò was every bit as startled by the low, grinding groan that echoed through the passage, which was unbeknownst to them both yet that it was a secret doorway concealed in the wall.

She stood frozen for a long moment, instinctively drawing Ye Yu closer as she cowered into her robes.

Then, the entrance was open, and nothing lunged from the darkness. No poisonous mist, or ravenous beast, nor a collapsing ceiling.

Yingzimò’s cheeks puffed as she fought a losing battle against the laughter bubbling in her chest.

“...Pfft... Bahahahaha! Can you imagine! What if there had been a sludge demon waiting behind the wall? Bahahaha--”

The crow gave another squawk. At Ye Yu’s praise, the bird fluffed out his feathers until he looked nearly twice his size, bobbing his head happily.

~“Jawb! Jawb! My jawb! Open door! Ahhhk!“~

With a satisfied hop, he sprang from the barrels and fluttered deeper into the hidden chamber, peering into corners as though searching for yet another prize.

“Yes, okay,” Yingzimò said at last, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. She plucked a nearby lantern from the wall and raised it high, letting its warm light wash over the chamber. “Threatened? By a bird?! I’d wager he’d fly the instant danger showed its face.” Her gaze swept the room. “Now then... a secret a stash?”

The chamber contained barrels, wooden crates, and tightly bound sacks. These bore little trace of age, as dust and cobwebs were absent, as if they had recently arrived-- unlike some of the supplies they had seen in the tunnel.

There was a lingering aroma beneath the stench of the sewers as well... Faint, yet unmistakable. A medicinal fragrance, perhaps? Incense?

Little Inky soon emerged from behind one of the crates, clutching a folded sheet of paper in his beak. He proudly presented it to Ye Yu.

A proof of delivery.

The listed destination read “Fan Sewer.”
Purchased through “Twilight Remedies.”
Delivered by “Ji-~~lekdsfslfs~~” that part was crossed and scribbled out.

“Twilight Remedies? Ji... ? Those names.... Yingzi! Those names!” she exclaimed, looking at Yingzimò, waving the paper frantically.
”.... They don’t ring any bell to me!...
Hmpfh... They could be made up from a silly mind, it would be the same.
Have you heard of any of them already?”

Now ignoring her friend’s words -it was clear this place wasn’t a monster nest! A monster nest would be filled with spiders and bones and blood and ghosts-, she climbed over the crates and barrels, eager to find out what all those boxes and bags were hiding from view. If they were hidden so well behind a secret door, they must be valuable! Maybe stolen goods? Stashes of gold? The Fan’s fortune, kept away from burglars maybe?

“Come closer, Dajie! This way, it smells way better!”
“I know this fragrance but I can’t name it, ohh well...!
Nevermind, let’s see what’s inside those containers
It’s... Still curious, it looks like this place is somehow official... *”Fan Sewer”*...
Maybe we should return outside and look for that place, Twilight Remedies, later?” she suggested, opening a sack and patting the proud little bird. Good boy!

Yingzimò swept the lantern’s glow through the chamber one last time, letting the light linger in every shadowed corner before crossing to the hidden cache beside Ye Yu.

“I’ve never heard that name either,” she admitted, her brows knitting as her gaze lingered on the strange assortment of containers. “But yes, we can investigate later.”

When Ye Yu split one of the burlap sacks, a cascade of grain spilled across the floor, nearly emptying the sack. Beneath the kernels, however, were several tightly sealed ceramic jars. Fashioned with braided yak-hair and strange motifs, the round jars felt even a little bit... sticky?

Yingzimò turned to one of the wooden barrels, prying the lid aside. More grain greeted her. “Hm...” she hummed. Then, without hesitation, she plunged an arm elbow-deep into the grain to feel around.

Suddenly--

“AHHH! It’s got me!”

She broke into a grin.
“...Just teasing. There really is something hidden, though.”

Her fingers finally caught on the edge of a slender wooden case, and with a firm tug, she drew it free from the grain.

The moment it emerged, a peculiar fragrance unfurled into the air-- sweet at first, almost floral, before revealing an intoxicating, dreamlike undertone that clung to the senses. It was not the scent of any common incense or perfume. The box itself remained firmly shut, but the scent escaping it what enough to suggest caution.

Meanwhile, Little Inky happily took the pat before hopping around to peck at some of the grain on the floor.

“What!! Oh goose! Quick! Yaaa!”

Ye Yu quickly grabbed the first thing at reach -a small hardened stick, probably from a broken crate- and, holding it with two hands, swung it near Yingzimò and whatever creature was munching at her hand in the barrel... Before realizing she got tricked again. With a large pout, she slapped her bodyguard’s bottom with her wooden weapon before discarding it with a deep sigh.

“You-! Don’t give me such fright!
You know I do not know how to fight!
Maybe you could teach me some day?
Well, that’s not the subject anyway... what... have you found?”

She gave Little Inky a warm, tender look -what a cute little birdie, there was no way she would leave without him- before examining the case with interest. Closing in, she leaned forward, eyes closed to enhance her sense of smell, taking deep breaths through her nose.

“That... smells really... houu...~
It almost made me dizzy...
What is is? A new perfume?
It’s so exhilarating... that scent... could fill the room...”

Caution wasn’t really in Ye Yu’s vocabulary, contrary to curiosity. She would have been inspecting those weird looking jars already if Yingzimò had not found this buried treasure. Now, her hands were already reaching for the box with the clear intent to determine what was the origin of such fragrance.

“Ow,” Yingzimò complained after the smack landed on her rear, though she was still clearly amused to get such a reaction.

She smirked. “Forgive me. It’s been far too easy to scare you!”

“But sure. One day, I’ll teach you a few techniques. Then, when some feral beast does have its fangs buried in my arm, perhaps you’ll sever its head instead of relieving me of a limb.”

Her teasing grin lingered as her attention returned to the narrow wooden case in her hands-- only for it to be taken by Ye Yu.

The box bore no markings, its plain lid sliding open with little effort. The moment it cracked ajar, the rich fragrance spilled in the air, dense enough to seem tangible. Sweet blossoms intertwined with a warm, exotic spice, forming an aroma so inviting it bordered on irresistible. Merely breathing it in stirred a strange lightness in the mind, triggering a sense of euphoria.

Nestled inside lay several slender sticks of incense.

“...Incense?” Yingzimò murmured, brow knitting. “Wait--”

She leaned in for another careful sniff, taking in the pleasant haze until her suspicions sharpened.

“Yun,” she said, her playful tone vanishing. “I think this might have been laced with something. Be careful.”

Be careful? That wasn’t part of her vocabulary! Once the disappointment of discovering the box content has passed -merely simple incense-, Ye Yu decided to get one, two, no, three deep breaths over it. The smell was, indeed, way sweeter than the sewage stench that was floating around.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhwwweeewww~” she said, looking stoned and satisfied.
“Thatttt’s...” -another inhale-, “That’s what I call a good smell!
Whoa it’s funny... I can feel... the whole room... swell?”

She grabbed Yingzimò arms to prevent her to fall. She was looking around, eyes wide like saucers.

“Have you triggered... some new mechanisssssm? Another leveer?
Wheeeere does that light come froom...? Sooo shiny... so golden... there muuust be a treasure!”

All excited again, she let go of her arm to stagger toward the weathered planks Yingzimò was inspected previously, nearly slipping twice.

“Whouu slippery! Look, look Yingzi!”

She peek through the planks but, when she turned to face her bodyguard again, no trace of disgust. On the contrary, she seemed really happy, excited even.

“Have you seen that banquet?! I’ve never ssseeeeen so much foood!
Watermelons! Wines! There are even candied fruits skewed!
Quick----! Help me... get... those--.. planks... away!”

She started pulling on the wooden planks, making them creak under her fingers. Putting a foot on the wall to get more strength, she continued her vain efforts. She really needed to workout more...

“Yingzi, come ooon, come and help-...m... w-wee-who-whaouaaa!!?***” she suddenly shouted when she looked at her bodyguard again.
*”S-s-s-s-s-s-sluuu-sluuuu--ss-sludge monster!!**”

Whining and screaming, she redoubled her efforts to create an escape route, forgetting there was the passage they took to arrive.

Yingzimò did her best to keep everything from spilling into disaster at once. One hand held the lantern aloft, the other supported Ye Yu who clung to her arm, and somehow, she awkwardly kept the box of incense level.

The moment Ye Yu staggered away, however, her precarious balance gave out, and the box tilted to allow one slender stick of incense to slip free and dropped neatly into the lantern’s open flame.

“Damn! Oh, no--”

She jerked the lantern back too late. The incense struck the ground already lit, releasing fragrant coils of smoke that unfurled through the tunnel with alarming speed.

Just her luck.

Getting high in some smuggling passage beneath the Fan manor was not how she’d imagine they’d spend their day. Yet here they were.

As Ye Yu staggered toward the boarded breach in the wall, already trying to claw and escape route through the planks, Yingzimò stood frozen, blinking slowly as the world shifts subtly. She had built a tolerance before-- sampling all manners of... plants in measured doses for the sake of resistance, but this... was something else.

“S-s-sludge monster?” she echoed, eyes darting through the haze. She let the incense box clatter onto the floor as she fumbled for the hilt of her sword.

“W-where?! I’ll... I’ll cut it down!”

Her gaze settled on Little Inky.
Or rather--

BIG INKY.

The little black bird somehow swollen into a towering, feathered beast four times his usual size. One enormous eye fixed itself upon her with unsettling curiosity.

~“Hawlo?“~

“AHHH! I-I was joking before! It can’t be real! Run!”

She rushed to join Ye Yu, throwing herself against the wooden barricade. Together they tugged at the heavy planks nailed into the stone. The planks groaned and bent, yet they refused to break.

Yingzimò was convinced she was putting every ounce of her strength behind the effort. Yet in truth, her limbs were actually languid. Realistically, she was probably just hanging from them and swaying back and forth.

Behind them, the entirely ordinary Little Inky watched with fascination. Being a bird, he failed to understand why his humans had suddenly declared war upon the wall. He fluttered up to perch atop the highest plank, bobbing his tiny head as though encouraging their heroic struggle.

~“Haw! Haw! Cawm dawn!“~

When Yingzimò joined Ye Yu, she started screaming louder, pulling on the planks as if her life depended on that exit but.... being both so weak, she just started crying while pulling on the wet board.

“Youuuu eviiiil monsteeeeer 😭
Why did you ate my purse carrieeeer????
You did you had to have her ingested?!
I’ll slice you in half before you have her digested!”

She stopped pulling the planks and switch to grab her bodyguard’s weapon, surely believing she was extracting it from the monster’s deformed sluggish body.

“Ggiiive me thaaat you pile of mud!
You’re just a sickening, vomiting crud!
You’re not worth having her sword
I’ll uuuuse it to have you goooored!”

She kept pulling on the sword scabbard, before eventually running away, or rather, falling, tripping and crawling to the pile of boxes, trying to throw as much things as possible on “the sludge monster” -mostly spilled grains, some small clay bottles and the incense box-.

It never once crossed Yingzimò’s mind that she might be the “sludge monster” Ye Yu was shrieking about. In her haze, there was only one culprit, and that was Little Inky.

The two women screamed in unison-- Ye Yu at Yingzimò, Yingzimò at the raven perched atop the wooden planks overhead. The cries ricocheted through the sewer tunnel, joined by Inky’s caw-caw! until the once-silent passage descended into utter chaos.

“W-what?!” Yingzimò cried at Ye Yu lunged for her sword. “Where?! Where is it?! Hold on-- is that... Little Inky up there--”

Still dangling from the planks, Yingzimò planted a foot against the slick stone wall and gave another desperate yank.

Then the barrage began.
Grain, clay bottles, then the incense box came hurtling down on the back of her head.

Yingzimò yelped and finally released, then in one fluid motion, she tore her sword from its scabbard. The blade flashed with a sharp shing as she slashed wildly at empty air.

THE SLUDGE MONSTER IS THROWING THINGS AT ME! YUN?! HAS IT TAKEN YOU TOO?!

By then, the commotion below had finally reached the world above. The narrow shaft that admitted the lone beam of daylight over the sewage way led to only what could have been... the latrine.

A wooden door above slowly swung open.
creeeeeaak...

Little Inky cocked his head, beady eyes turning toward the sound.

“H-hello...? Is... someone there?”

~“HAWLO!!!“~

A bloodcurdling squeal rang down the shaft as the unfortunate attendant recoiled in terror, hearing the disembodied cry of some unseen creature lurking beneath the privy.

To anyone in their right mind, it was merely a startled worker, who had already believed the latrine to be haunted. But... to the two women below, thoroughly ensnared by the hallucinogenic incense...

...It sounded exactly like the shriek of some ghoulish creature.

(a little pen and marker drawing 😅)

(( I’m having so much fun 🤣
(( Your drawing is really cute! Hawlo! Can we keep hiiiiiim?

Ye Yu, already terrorized by Yingzi-sludge-monster, started to lose her mind upon hearing the terrific ghoulish scream echoing in the room. It was too much. She did not want to die here, so young, so hungry.

“IIiiiiiiiikkk, heeeelp! I don’t want to be some monster’s meal!
This must be a nightmare, this cannot be real!
I hear her voice now! Her ghost is back to haunt me!
Ah that foolish bodyguard! In such hunt, she had to drag me in
It will be fun, she said! Now, she’s just bones and so will I be!
Our bodies will be nowhere to be seen!”

She tried to hide into a half-emptied crate, diving inside head first, but that hideout wasn’t good enough to escape a sludge monster and a ghoul on the run. She had to find a place where she could be hidden for days without being spotted. A linen sack? No, the monsters would very quickly see her shaking form and smell her. The crate was too visible, too fragile also.

Her eyes eventually fell on the perfect place: enormous, tightly sealed ceramic jars. Well, maybe not that big, but for now, proportions wasn’t something really reliable to her and those jars just looked like perfect coffins.

Running to them, she put her hand on the lid, trying to open one of the several sticky ones.

“Mhhhhhppppfpffff!” she made, using all her energy and her recent adrenaline rush to open what she thought was a good place to hide.
“Coooome ooooon, oppeeeen sesaaaame!”

If the incense had been laced with a drug meant to drive its victims into madness, then it had fulfilled its purpose all too well. Fortunately, the dampness of the passage had snuffed the burning stick before it could reach its end, though its fumes still lingered on the stale air.

The attendant in the latrine had long since fled, abandoning the “ghosts” to their fate, and Inky found himself stuck with two hysterical women.

He squawked frantically, wings beating against the air, as Yingzimò slashed at foes only she could see. All the random items that were hurled at her had ceased, but she continued to battle invisible monsters with fervor.

The shrill cry and frantic cawing, however, finally drew her attention. She spun on her heels with her sword high overhead, then with a fierce roar--

“HYAH!”

--the blade crashed down upon the wooden planks sealing the breach in the wall, the only barrier keeping them from the foul sewer waters beyond.

Wood exploded into splinters, and half of the planks were sheared clean through to leave an opening.

Yingzimò blinked, chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, seemingly unaware of what she had actually done. After a long moment, she turned slowly, narrowing her eyes toward the corner Ye Yu tried to hide herself.

“I killed it! I killed the monster! Yun?... Yun?”
She squinted harder.
“...DON’T OPEN THOSE! MAD HONEY! MAD HONEY!”

If this den concealed forbidden drugs, then surely whatever filled those sealed jars could only be another terrible concoction. Without another thought, she rushed forward, intent on smashing every last one before they could unleash anything else.

High above, Little Inky had wisely retreated to the safety of his nest. There, tucked well out of harm’s reach, he watched the unfolding disaster and uttered a defeated, ~“...caw...“~

He would have shook his head-- if he wasn’t a bird.

Oh dear God! After eating Yingzimò and that poor little bird for dessert, the sludge monster decided he wanted seconds! Ye Yu shrieked in terror as she saw the awful, muddy monster approaching, its huge sticky hands swinging left and right as if ready to grab her and throw her into its enormous mouth.

It was too late to hide in the jar now! Her plan had been leaked; her last resort was... A hole in the wall that hadn’t been there before! Light! Fresh air! But the monster was between her and that escape route....

No other choice !

Using all her strength, she knocked the jar over to push it towards her bodyguard the creature. Under the shock, the lid opened, spilling all its content on the floor... but Ye Yu was already running towards the broken planks with only one idea in mind: jumping thought and come what may!

At least, that was her plan, before she slipped on all the grain she previously threw around, falling backward and half knocking herself out.

“Ouuutch... it hit me, it hit me!
I’m dying, I’m sure I’m dying!
So close, yet so far from escaping
Yingziiiiiiii, why did you leave meeee?” she cried, crawling on the ground awkwardly, half rolling, half stumbling.

There could not have been a worse moment for the world around her to slow down.

Everything stretched into syrup. Her vision swam and warped until the jar looked less like something tipping in her direction and more like a boulder hurtling toward her with unstoppable momentum.

Yingzimò reacted on instinct.

In her mind, she executed a flawless movement worthy of great martial manuals-- a graceful lean and a twisting dodge. Her robes fluttering in the wind. So effortlessly cool.

But in reality, she lurched backward, bent her knees at an unfortunate angle, then lost her footing. She collapsed onto her back and completed the technique with an undignified roll across the icky floor.

She heard the jar topple over and open, but then another thud followed.

Yingzimò blinked through her daze until she spotted Ye Yu sprawled nearby, loudly proclaiming her imminent demise.

“Nooo! It’s me! Yingzi!” she cried. “I won’t let you die, Yun!”

She drew her sword and struck at what she believed to be their assailant.

Thunk

The flat of her blade smacked squarely into the side of the broken jar.

High above, Little Inky watched the two buffoons flounder across the floor like a couple of drunken disciples. What was he supposed to do? He was only a bird. The nearest person who could help was out of reach.

...Wait. The emergency pouch.

He had never quite understood its purpose, only that the humans once used it for someone in the past.

Little Inky launched himself from the nest, gliding down to the wall where a small cloth pouch hung on a wooden peg. Gripping the fabric with his beak, he tugged with determined little jerks.

Smelling salts! Useful-- if only there were someone here who knew how to use them.

Providence! An angel coming from the Heaven! At least, from Ye Yu’s point of view, laying on her back, eyes full of tears and vision blurred, the bird flying across the room really looked like some winged creature flying through a ray of light.

Was she dead already? Was Little Inky, or in that moment, Archangel Inky, going to lift her up to the skies? No. He flew away to the wall, pecking at some... Bag?

Providence! Food! Surely sacred or magical mushrooms that would give her special abilities to defeat the sludge monster. Or maybe just tasty candies? Nevermind, if the Heavens sent her this sign, this new chance, it was her to seize!

Executing a sudden back flip -which was, in fact, just her rolling on her side twice and sluggishly standing up-, she rushed to the pouch, gracefully jumping over crates and sacks like an elephant in a porcelain shop.

“Thank you, thank you!” she wept with gratitude to the bird. She took the envelope, leaning her full weight against it and felt against the wall, hitting her head again against the cold stone.
“Ouutch... I ... It hit me again! I’m sure I’m bleeding!
Quick! With this, martial arts, in no time, I’ll be mastering!”

She pinched a small amount of salt between her fingers and shoved it all into her mouth, before spitting it all out with a look of disgust.

“PWAAHH! PEUHG PEUH PRREEEEEEEUUUHH ARGH!
EW. THAT’S AWFUL! ... Oh! Maybe it’s a sacred weapon against evil!
Against the monster, it must be harmful! Take that and die, devil!”

Taking more salt in her hand, she started to throw it at Yingzimò. At least, it was less dangerous than hurling clay jars...

Inky puffed out his chest with Pride when Ye Yu discovered what he had been trying to point out-- only for that pride to vanish the moment she popped one of the pungent smelling salts into her mouth. Even he knew those weren’t edible.

He let out a frantic string of squawks, beating his wings wildly as he hopped in circles around the chamber, adding his own brand of chaos to the scene.

Meanwhile, Yingzimò was sprawled out flat on her back, her arm growing weary as she used the last of her strength to thwack the side of her sword against the floor, still trying to kill invisible enemies.

“Stuuupid... rock,” she mumbled, words slurring together. “Ughhh... I don’t feel so good. Yuuuun! Yun! Why’d you let yourself get eaten, Yun-- I-- pyah!”

A crystal of the smelling salts landed on her tongue. The sharp burn made her gag, and she spat it out at once. Frowning, she turned toward wherever the barrage was coming from, squinting just in time for another handful to come flying her way.

She squeezed her eyes shut and waved a hand in front of her face, but it did little good, as one crystal shot straight into her nostril.

A sharp inhale-- then another.

A jolt ripped through her body like lightning. Her eyes flew open, pupils dilating as a wave of adrenaline rushed through her veins. Which was now a problem in of itself...

Yingzimò was kicked into overdrive, blood aflame with adrenaline. She sprang to her feet, looking left, then right as she sweeps the area and tries to place all the different sounds. Finally, she locks onto Ye Yu, who looked moments away from vanishing beneath the sack-and-crates-monster. With a sharp battle cry, she rushed forward.

AHHHH!

Her sword came crashing down upon the burlap sacks, barrels, and piled goods with a thunderous blow.

“Begone, fiend! Run, Yun! Before it eats you again!”

”GRAAAAAAAAAAAAH BREGROOANN FREEANND! GRUUUN GRUUN! GREIIIAOOORE IIIR IIT RHOUUU AGRAAAAAIIN”

Ye Yu looked terrified, paralysed at the scene: the huge creature, not melting from the spray of sacred salt, was now completely enraged. Or maybe he was growling and screaming from pain? Yet, it was now smashing everything on his path and in the small underground room, closing dangerously from the poor, shaky poetess.

But, at least, now, it wasn’t on her path to the exit, to her last chance of survival! Throwing the pouch and all its content on the monster, she shrieked and ran -or rather, stumbled, crawled, rolled, crawled again, did a soft, weird and completely useless somersault -but in her mind, it was something both necessary and particularly badass to see-, then jumped -or rather, let her body crash- against the broken, wet plank.

Her body disappeared through the hole into the next, smelly room. A loud, distant splash sound echoed from the hole... And calm returned...

Ye Yu doing some martial tricks, expectations:

Reality:

The sewer water moved sluggishly through the channel. It flowed beneath a long stone passage that stretched ahead before bending around a distant corner. Darkness swallowed most of the tunnel, broken only by the daylight spilling down through the latrine shaft overhead.

A sudden splash stole Yingzimò’s attention just as she finished reducing the last sack, barrels and crates into splinters.

She froze and swept her gaze around. Ye Yu was totally gone. Yet, she could have sworn she had slain the beast... multiple times.

“That slippery bastard,” she spat, whirling toward the hole in the wall. “You will not escape me! For I am-- heugh...”

A fresh wave of nausea hit her.

“I--I will recover your body, Yun!”

She sprang forward, feeling lightness around her. Her feet carried her effortlessly, gliding over stone as though she rode upon a drifting cloud... except... she was sliding tragically across the scattered grains littering the floor.

Her arms pinwheeled wildly as she fought for balance before stumbling out through the opening. She flapped on her tiptoes at the edge of the narrow walkway, teetering above the sluggish black water below.

Little Inky darted after, zipping overhead before settling onto a ledge nearby.

~“Aw-oh! Hawlo! Wrong way! Wrong way! Awwwk!“~

Maybe it wasn’t smelling salts, but a fresh dose of sewer water was as effective or even more. Ye Yu blinked several times, trying to understand where she was, why her lungs were burning and why everything was upside down. Also, why everything was wet...

Then, she realized it. She was evolving into a mermaid!

She thrashed about frantically in all directions, trying to get back to the surface. Ohh, how useful it would have been to learn to swim! Unfortunately, it was a bit too late to take lessons now. Was she about to die here? Drowning in... Black waters, shamefully? All because of Yingzimò?! No! No, no, no!

With the energy of desperation, she kicked out a few last times as she began to run out of oxygen. Luckily, her foot finally struck something hard. The floor? A surface? At least a foothold from which to push off!

She emerged from the murky, foul-smelling waters, covered in mud and other unsavoury debris, flailing her arms to stay afloat and avoid being swept away. Was that Yingzimò standing right in front of her, so close? Hadn’t she been devoured by the monster just moments before? Overjoyed – yet desperate at her situation – she grabbed his ankle and clung on, pulling at it in an attempt to haul herself to safety.

“Yiiiinnnggggziiiairrgg keuf keuf keuf! Eaaarggg...”

She spat and spat again to get rid of the foul taste in her mouth, coughing, half in tears, looking more like the sludge monster than a courtesan.

From Yingzimò’s perspective, Ye Yu seemed to rise from the gaping maw of the sludge monster itself (it was just the water.) It was a terrifying image! As though a colossal sphere of black mire had opened to spit her back out.

Unfortunately, Yingzimò was already unstable at the edge, and the sudden tug around her ankle was all it took.

She toppled forward, and with a splash, she disappeared into the filthy sewage way. Officially the second day in a row she had managed to fall into a body of water.

Yingzimò burst back to the surface with a gasp, flailing wildly as she pummeled the murky water around her, convinced the monster clung to her legs.

“Die! Die already! Why won’t you die?!”

Only after several frantic swings did she catch sight of Ye Yu drowning nearby.

“There you are!”

She lunged forward, grabbing Ye Yu by the front of her robes and hauling out of the water. “We have to get out of here! We--”

A strange sound drifted through the sewer before she could finish.

Squerkrerkjkdssksqrrreeak

It echoed against the damp stone, followed by the splash of something entering the water...
...and the rapid skittering of many tiny feet.

Little Inky cocked his head, black eyes fixed upon the darkness ahead. Without hesitation, the raven began hopping along the narrow walkway, calling urgently to the pair.

~“Aw-oh! This way! This way! Cawm dawn!“~

Running entirely on the last burst of adrenaline, Yingzimò swept Ye Yu into a bridal carry before charging after Little Inky, forcing her way through the waist-deep, foul water as fast as her legs would carry her.

Running away from a threat is a tiring activity.

Running in water is a really demanding activity.

Running while carrying someone is particularly exhausting.

But the three combined? That was a challenge only for the bravest, the fittest, the toughest! Or for people who managed to get themselves in really, really dire situations by accumulating bad decisions and bad luck, just like Yingzimò was right now.

Unfortunately for her, Ye Yu wasn’t really a helping hand in this moment. Still half confused and totally panicked, she was drumming away with her tiny fists on Yingzimò’s chest, shoulders or head, urging her to run faster, save her from the sludge monster, go far, far away from the shrieking sounds, find her a good meal, bring her to a bathhouse, explain what just happened to them and earns her salary*.
*This is a non-exhaustive list, not arranged in chronological order.

“Faster! Faster! Whatever it is, it is coming for us!
Are you a Martial Artist bodyguard or what!
Prove me I chose well when, in you, I put my trust!
Come on! Show me you’re not just talk, move your butt!” she begged bratilly, her eyes scanning over her protector’s shoulder, trying to determine what was coming from the obscurity with alarming speed.

“T-there! Something! A light! The exit it must be!” she spotted in all that darkness.
“Towards the light! Towards the light Yingzi!”

If she’d had a riding crop, she would certainly have given her “horse” a few lashes with it.

“W-wait! What if it’s the end? What if we’re already dead?
'Don’t go near the light', that’s what people said
Ahhhh, I’m too young to die! I don’t want to! Don’t go near that spot!
What are you so mean to meeeee! All because I humiliated you at Pitch pot!” she whined, gesticulating all over the place.

Yingzimò was spurred forward as Ye Yu pounded impatiently against her chest, urging her on like a horse.

She was trying!

It was just so difficult to trudge through the gunk and water, dragging her down at the legs like grasping hands.

Behind them came a chorus of tiny splish-splashes and frantic squeaks that bounced off the tunnel walls. Ye Yu might spot what looked like a tide of black-furred rats, a hundred tiny lights gleaming from their eyes as they poured through the darkness. (It was really only like five.))

Unfortunately, those drugs they inhaled continued to play tricks on the eyes.

“I’m moving! I’m moving!” Yingzimò cried, forcing her legs into longer strides.

If only she could wall run. Under ordinary circumstances, she might have managed a few graceful steps. But the filthy water managed to weigh her down, in both body and spirit, leaving her enough focus to keep charging straight ahead.

“We have to go this way! I don’t want to go back!” she gasped between ragged breaths. “We’re not dead-- I swear we’re not! If we were, we wouldn’t be running through shit! Or... maybe we would! Ancestors above...I--huff--I think I’m having a panic attack!”

Her lungs burned, yet somehow, she managed to outrun the maddened rodents.

Just ahead flew Little Inky, cutting through the darkness like a lone shadow guiding lost souls. Their guardian angel! Though... wasn’t it said that ravens might escort the dead?

Yingzimò shook her head, deciding that dilemma was for someone who wasn’t sprinting for her life.

With a low growl, she channels her super saiyan gathered what little strength remained, circulating every scrap of qi she could muster through her weary, adrenaline-fueled limbs. She sprang onto the narrow stone ledge lining the sewer wall and raced along it with desperate speed toward the light!

“Sh... sh... SHIT?§” she screamed out of her lungs. “Are you saying I fell into SHIT?!§
NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY! It cannot be! You’re lying! From the sludge monster, I would prefer to take big hits!
B-bb...bb..beeuuauaarg--” she added, vomitting on and above her dear bodyguard’s shoulder, effectively slowing down one unfortunate rat.
“This is so disgraceful! Yingziii! We have to fleeeeee! B--bb-buarrg... eerff... s-sorry...”

The putrid stench, the adrenaline, being jostled in all directions in Yingzimò’s arms, but also the secondary effect of the drugged incense they’ve consumed, the salts, all that mix was making her more than nauseous. But knowing she had bathed in the sewer was cherry on the cake.

“Truely... If anyone witness us before we’ve scrubbed ourselves from all that dirt
I don’t care who it is, you’ll have to take responsibility!
Whether a servant from Fan’s manor or a noble from the Emperor’s court
You’ll have to kill them, nobody should ever talk about us like that, you have to preserve our dignity!”

Fortunately, the end of their escape was in sight! Light! At last! More than light — blinding light! After spending so long underground, hurtling towards whatever was waiting for them outside at such insane speed was bound to disorientate them for a while.

And...

Perhaps Yingzimò could have recognized the place they arrived in, before ground suddenly gave way beneath her feet. They came out right onto the canal near Fan manor, that very same canal she fell in the previous night, playing some dark spirit to frighten the guards. Fresher and somewhat cleaner water welcomed them as the duo fell from the sewer outlet into the water.

Then a voice rose from the banks.

“BWHAHAHAHA! Who’s already drunk enough to fall into the water at this time of day?
... Oh! But isn’t it Sister Yun and... Yingzimi! Little Lotus of my pond!”

Zhou’s face quickly switched from mockery to pleased and confusion.

“... What are you two doing, bathing in the canal? I know it’s hot today but...”

Small gears from his very weird mind slowly turned until some realization struck him.

“Ohhhhhhh! I see! Bwahaha, no need to go to such extend... but fine! Don’t worry Sister Yun, Yingzimi! I, Zhou the great boatman, am coming to save you! Don’t worry!” he claimed aloud, making sure passer-bys would notice his heroic attitude ; and already stripping from his top with a flourish.

“I’m comiiiii... huh... Yeah, uh... T-take my hand!” he said, less confident, remembering he was far from being a good swimmer. Laying down on the edge of the canal, he extended his arm, trying to be as useful as a dangling root hanging there.

They must have died and fallen straight into the bad place.
There was no other explanation...
...Except perhaps...

A CURSE!

Yingzimò bursts back to the surface, coughing up foul canal water after the plunge. Sputtering, she immediately reaches for Ye Yu, trying to keep her head above the water.

Then a man’s voice.

A voice she knew all too well.

That damned familiar voice.

Her head snaps from side to side until she catches sight of a man’s body above them, a strip of torn robes fluttering in the wind.

Her gaze lands squarely on Zhou, and her stomach DROPS.

“Wh-wha... what are you doing here?!” she cries, furiously kicking to stay afloat.

“Yun! We have to go back! Pleh-blegh!” She spits out another mouthful of water, clawing desperately toward the sewer opening, but it was much too far... and worse... the current was pouring out of it. There was no going back.

“F-fu...ck! Yun, what you said back there...” She coughs again. “Should I... should I DO IT?!”

But they were in broad daylight, in the middle of the city, and in full view of who knew how many people. It seemed Zhou would keep his head yet.

Little Inky drifted down besides the man as he extended a hand. The bird tilting his head this way and that way, scrutinizing him with great seriousness.

...Nope.

~“Hawlo!“~ he chirped.~“Who you? Who you? WHO YOU?“~

Still looking thoroughly unconvinced, Yingzimò paddled over and, with a lot of reluctance, accepted his help. She pushed Ye Yu forward first so he could at least her out.

Their day was about to become a great deal more troublesome...

“Huh?! Wh-what is that?! Is that a yaoguai?! Ohh, maybe some Ancestor reincarnation?!” Zhou claimed, first startled and wary, before looking at the bird with an increased curiosity. “Huuuh, I’m Zhou the Great! I’m Yingzimi’s future and Kaifeng next Hero! And who are you, speaking creature? Are you here to tell me about my great destiny? I knew it!”

Lost in his conversation with Little Inky, he completely forgot about the two women swimming and missed Ye Yu’s outstretched arm. Suddenly having nothing to cling to in order to pull herself out of the water, the poor singer flapped her arms about like windmills in a futile attempt to regain her balance, and fell backwards into the canal... onto her bodyguard.

SPLASSH! 🌊

“K-kof, kof! I swear! Yingzi, I don’t care!
This man will never have any heir!” Ye Yu barked between two coughs and three attempts at not drowning.

“W-wait, Sister Yun, Yingzimi! I’m going to pull you out there!” Zhou urged, realizing his mistake. “Here! Grab this!”

Kaifeng’s next hero was now standing by the edge of the canal with a long bamboo stick in his hand -we’re talking about his actual work tool here, not a lewd figurative description- and, in his desperate efforts to rescue the two women.... he just kept hitting them.

~“Hawlo, hawlo!“~ Inky chirped frantically, fluttering in dizzy circles above the canal bank.~“Halp! Haaalp!“~

The bird looked every bit as panicked as the two women flailing helplessly below.

With one spectacular splash, Yingzimò vanished beneath the murky canal just as Ye Yu windmilled backward, sending them both deeper into the cold water. Canal water flooded Yingzimò’s mouth before she broke the surface again, coughing and sputtering. She sucked in a breath and immediately hooked an arm around Ye Yu, doing everything she could to keep them both afloat.

Of course.

It was just her luck to be saddled with the two people who couldn’t swim.

“--Agh! Stop hitting us!” she shouted as Zhou’s long pole cracked against the water, somehow managing to find them more often than not. “And don’t--pft-bleh!--don’t call yourself my future anything!”

Another mouthful of canal water.

The pole swept toward them again. And before Zhou could accidentally smack one of them upside the head, Yingzimò lunged for it with an outstretched arm, clinging to the wood with the desperation of drowning cat. She hastily steadied it, dragging Ye Yu alongside until the two of them were hanging on.

Her head tipped back toward the heavens, soaked hair plastered across her face.

“Whhhy?!” she wailed to the ancestors. “Out of everyone we could have ran into!”

She shot Zhou an exasperated glare.

“Enough playing around! If you’re going to be a hero, then pull us out already!

“So eager, so impatient my Yingzimi! Fine! I’ll be calling you my present from now on! BWAHAHAHAHA!”

Her now official partner tensed his muscles in an attempt to lift the two women out of the water, but only managed to redden his face from the effort.

“MHPF! What have you eaten, a whole Imperial banquet each? You’re heavier than two Buddhas!” he complained elegantly, trying again. But soon, more passer-bys came to give him a helpful hand. A small crowd had already formed, people commenting on drunkards falling in water, on the heat forcing poor laborers to seek for refreshing place or the danger posed by this place -it was said a yaoguai had been spotted around, only a few days ago!-.

SPPLUCHHH 💧

Ye Yu laid sprawled on the ground as soon as she found herself on firm ground again, her arms outstretched, completely soaked and covered in mud. She coughed and spurted some water like a little fountain.

“This... this is the worse day of the year by far...” she whined.
“We should have died inside, not of embarrassment here!
Such an humiliation, I can’t return to the Revelry like that! On my reputation, it would be such a scar!
No other choice, now is the time to exile ourselves in Gracetown, I fear!”

Meanwhile, Zhou, who had finished bragging about his supposedly strength with some men, approached Yingzimò, putting his large hand on her shoulders.

“You’re lucky I was around! I was going to Fan’s manor to ask them for a guard position for both of us! Maybe you should come with me!” he said enthusiastically. “Even if.... maybe you’d need to wear dry clothes first.

Snif snif. 👃

_ And to take a bath also -but not in the canal-, especially if you don’t know how to swim BWAHAHA! Snif. Eww, but yes, a bath first! You smell just like someone who fell into manure BWAHAHAHA!_ ...

... What were you two doing anyway? You know, if you want to join me at the Revelry, you still need a boat to train to be a boatwoman? BWAHAHAHA... Ahah ... Aaah.... Guess you owe me one now!”

Yingzimò clawed her way onto her hands and knees after they landed on solid ground, her movements rather laborious by her drenched robes. Somewhere amidst the chaos, her bamboo hat got lost to the current. Fortunately, it was only something that was quickly put together.

A miserable groan escaped her. Tears threatened the corners of her eyes, yet she held them back with sheer stubborness.

All she could offer Ye Yu was a faint nod. Exile... perhaps for the rest of their lives. It was the only path left if word of their disgraceful state ever spread.

With a quiet sniffle, she forced herself upright while Zhou basked in the admiration of the gathered men. She brushed mud from her sleeves with all dignity she could salvage.

Sniff.

The weight of a hand settling upon her shoulder made her head whip around.

In the same instant, her fingers shot out like a striking viper, coiling around Zhou’s wrist. The lock she had on him was tight and difficult to escape.

A shadow seemed to pass over her eyes.

“By our honored ancestors... if you don’t--” she hissed, the words pressed between clenched teeth. Her voice caught as she wrestled her temper back before she explodes.

“...take us to your house. Right. Now.”

They needed somewhere to disappear-- anywhere. Even Zhou’s home was preferable to suffering the humiliation of bathing at Revelry hall, or, Heavens forbid, returning home in their state only to explain everything to Mama... and endure what surely would follow.

“We need a hot bath...”
Her grip tightened another fraction.
“...and a change of clothes.”

By now, she was surely tired of taking a bath.

“HOHOHO two ladies at my house, already? Yingimi, you’re so naughty BWAHAHAHA”

Zhou let out a loud, hearty laugh and he gave her a strong pat in her back, strong enough to cut her breath. He then leaned over Ye Yu to take a look at her.

“Are you alright Sister Yun? Are you taking a nap?” he cackled.

“Go eat dirt and die, you woooorm
Leave me alone before I cause you some haaaaarm!?” Ye Yu hissed, complaining and hiding her face in disbelief, before squealing as the strong boatman lifted her over his shoulder.

“Alright ladies, time to get you undressed! But not for what you’re both expecting. First, you need a good scrub. Then we’ll see BWHAHHAHAHA!”

The crowd made way to let the heroic man, savior of those two bathing girls, leave with his prize. One hand securing Ye Yu like a bag of rice, one arm around Yingzimò’s shoulders, he walked all the way thought Kaifeng, heading to the eastern suburbs outside of the city’s walls ; relishing in the attention he was having from by-standers.

“Don’t worry, we’ll soon be at my place! There you will be able to clean yourself and get spare clothes. It may not be the uttermost fashion but it will still be more presentable than being all soaked and... full of mud! Really Yingzimi, what were you doing in the sewers with Sister Yun? So much to have me noticing you! BWAHAHA!”

After what looked like an eternity suffering his constant babbling and laughing, they eventually arrived in from of a simple wooden house, modest but well furnished, big enough for a single man like Zhou. Inside, the place wasn’t so much a mess as one could expect, with a few clothes laying on the bed and a plate with some leftovers on the table. Also, a large pile of books about heroes from all over the Jianghu was dangerously reaching the ceiling, while what seemed to be a hand-made wooden spear was tilting against the wall.

“Hmf, welcome to my manor...” he muttered humbly, putting Ye Yu back on her feet before entering to quickly clean up the place.

As they traveled through the bustling streets of Kaifeng, Yingzimò did her utmost best to keep her shame face hidden. At some point along the way, she quietly liberated a folding fan from an unsuspecting vendor, raising it to veil everything but her eyes.

She felt a flicker of guilt for Ye Yu, though at least she could bury her face against Zhou’s back while he carried her, sparing her from curious looks.

Upon arriving at the residence, Yingzimò’s instincts took over. Her gaze swept the street, then the rooftops and surrounding alleys. Nothing immediately stood out, though a few small details tugged at the edge of her vision. The remnants of the drugs, surely. She shook her head and stepped inside.

The place would suffice.

Still, she made a quiet circuit of the house, searching for any signs whether or not this was a shared living space. Spare shoes by the door? Extra bedding? Anything.

Instead, what truly caught her off guard were the mountains of books stacked to the ceiling.

...He can read?

She blinked several times, unable to hide her disbelief as Zhou began tidying the clutter.

“Your manor, huh?” she said, faintly amused. “Whatever. It’s better than... anywhere else. Tell me, Zhou-- is it only you living here?”

While his attention remained fixed on cleaning, Yingzimò drifted toward Ye Yu. She lowered her voice to a whisper, careful to stay out of Zhou’s earshot-- assuming he wasn’t too busy talking to notice.

“We bathe, change into proper clothes, sucker a meal out of him if we can, then leave. The sooner the better, otherwise I fear what we’re in for...”

Somewhere along the line, Little Inky had disappeared. Where had he gone?

“What? I don’t hear you, speak louder!” Ye Yu whispered out loud to Yingzimò, a finger in her ear, trying to stop the hammering sound of her heartbeat that was making too much noise to her liking since she’d been forced to endure such an humiliating trip through Kaifeng.
“You want to suck him, the sooner, the better?” she repeated, looking alternatively at Zhou and her companion, before displaying a very amused smirk on her face.

“Oh, Yingzi, you’re so naughty!” she laughed, reusing Zhou’s previous sentence without realizing it.
“Uhh, I mean, yes, I can teach you one trick or two, after all, I’m a Geji
It’s just... I hadn’t realized we had become so close friends already!
But... of course! Perhaps you’ll even become a true Courtesan at the Revelry” she teased, giggling.

Meanwhile, the man concerned choked hard on his own saliva, dropping the bowl, the books and everything else he was holding, blushing as red as a lobster. He busied himself tidying up the mess, pretending not to have heard a thing whilst clearing his throat loudly.

“AHHHHEM! HUUUH. Sister Yun my Yingzimi, I’ll prepare you some pair of clean clothes for after your bath... Speaking of, it is behind the house, I’ll show you, follow me!”

He quickly left the room by the rear door, waving at the two women to follow him. There was a small inner courtyard where each neighbors was occupying in their own way: a little stand to sell books or foods, a table to play madiao cards, a pile of jars and behind quickly assembled screens, a bench and a small bathtub to scrub in a very relatively modest intimacy...

Intimacy which shattered when Zhou arrived in that shared place, as a flock of kids ran towards him, shouting and giggling loudly, followed by a couple of elderly and a few young people, all intrigued by the two women.

“Big Zhou, Big Zhou! Ooooooh, are thoose Aunties your girlfrieeeeends? Are you marry theeeem?” a small kid asked.
“Ahhh Zhou-Xiongdi! I see you finally got lucky! Still, two ladies all for yourself? Won’t you at least introduce them to me?” a young man teased, hope in his voice.
“Big Zhou! Big Zhou! My kite is broken! Can you fix it for me agaaaaaain?” a small girl complained.
“Xiao Zhou... When you’ll be done with all your chores, would you help me fix the roof? There’s another leak and rain is coming soon... Hello Xiaojie...” an old lady demanded in a small, used voice.
“Big Zhou, Big Zhou! Why are your girlfriends all smeellyyyy?”
“BWHAHAHAHAHAHAH” the popular Zhou laughed loudly, patting the kid’s head, the elder’s shoulder and gently kicking the young man’s bum. ”No worry, Zhou the Great will fix everything! Let me just pour a bath to my future wife... or wives, they’ve been hunting rats in the sewers! Bwahaha! Then, I’ll be all yours! But one at the time! BWAHAHAHAHA!”*

He laughed again before turning to the women.

“I’m going to fetch and boil some water, make yourself home. Especially you, Yingzimisweetie! BWHAHAHAHA”

He then headed towards the nearest well, while the neighbors where still gathered around the two damp and dirty ladies, visibly very curious.

“Mhhh... Are you staying with us, Xiaojie? Xiao Zhou rarely brings guests, we’ll prepare a lovely meal for you tonight...” the old lady said.
“Sooo... Did Zhou-Xiongdi ever talked about me?” the young man asked, still hopeful.
“Miiiiiiss... Is it truuue you’re hunting raaaats? I’ve seen one, biiig like thaaaat!” the kid asked Yingzimò, pulling her robe to get her attention before exaggerating, his arms stretched.

A private bath tucked away in some secluded courtyard was one thing. But a bath set squarely in the busiest courtyard this side of the Eastern Suburbs was another.

And the screen was so transparent, it could scarcely be called a screen at all!

Yingzimò stood there.

🧍‍♀️

She found herself utterly speechless.

There was nothing she could do but watch as Zhou was descended upon from every direction, aunties, young men, bright-eyed childen. It was as though the entire neighborhood had been waiting for his return.

How could this man possibly be this popular?
...Then again.

After everything she’d seen, perhaps it made sense.

While she was quietly formulating an escape plan, fate chose that exact moment to betray her. Before she had taken so much as half a step, the neighbors swarmed them next.

Her eyes darted helplessly toward Ye Yu for rescue, but then she remembers what she just said in the house and her lips pout a little, then she forces a painful smile toward the neighbors.

Stammering over her words, she says, “E-eh? S-staying? Ahahaha... n-not for very long. But dinner? Th-that sounds lovely. Ah? Talk about... you? Why would he be talking about you?”

The tug at her stained sleeves drew her attention downward.

“Rats. Yes. Very... very large rats. I think we may have run into the Rat King beneath the city.”

A beat passed, and her gaze slowly swept across the crowd.

“...So... are you all planning to stay? Because I’ve got a VERY famous lady waiting to bathe, and if anyone so much as catches a glimpse of her... well...”

Think brain. Think.

“I’d be honor-bound to pluck out their eyes!”

Maybe that was too intense for these innocent neighbors... And there’s children here! She blushes suddenly.

“Ah-eugh-- Just kidding....”

“The Rat Kiiiiing?! For reaaal? How big WAAAAAAHHHH!!” the kids asked before fleeing and screaming like a frightened flock of birds, surely because of Yingzimò’s threat, or maybe because Ye Yu was already undressing behind the screens, her dirty clothes flying over them one by one.

Zhou, who had returned from the well, was suddenly less confident and all red, though it wasn’t from the effort of carrying two buckets of water that he put down near his future and present.

“Eeeeeeeeeeh... There... Heeem... I... I’ll let you bring them to the bathroom and... Huu... Help Sister Yun, right? I’m... Heeee... Going to fix the roof... But if you need help for... Huh... Scrubbing or something... Heeee... just call me, I can give you a hand! Bwahahah! Hem...”

He quickly turned and left to grab a ladder, putting it against the wall to climb up.

The old lady chuckled at the scene.

“Ahhh young, fresh love... I’m going to get you two some towels, our hardworking Xiao Zhou is a bit... A scatterbrain when he’s in love. Which happens quite a lot... I’ll then prepare a nice roasted duck with our own grown vegetables, we have to celebrate, yes, yes...”

She slowly left the courtyard too, using her cane to walk and... Capturing a poor duck on her way to her house with a surprisingly swift movement. The bird’s squeaking became muffled as she entered her kitchen, before a loud stomp! suddenly put a stop to them.

“Mhhh... So Zhou-Xiongdi never talked about me?” the young man said, disappointed, before adding with a renew optimism : “That must be because he prefers to introduce me in person, that must be it! I can’t wait for tonight’s dinner! I’ll see you there, I have to prepare!”. And he ran away to his own house, from which a tantrum could be heard, almost covering a voice coming from the screens.

“So, so, my dear Yingzi, have you warded off every curious?
Are you coming now? I need your help to scrub my back with all the dirt, I need someone meticulous!
I’ll wash your hair, you’ll wash mine
Come while it’s not freezing and the sun shines!

We need to discuss about what we... Experienced at Fan’s manor
And if it’s useful for us, investigators.
Pleaaase, please tell me I haven’t swim in the sewer for nothing!
... Also.... Thanks... For saving us from... Everything.”

Yingzimò was feeling a mixture of exhaustion and the lingering haze of her high, leaving the voices around her to swirl around her and garble together. She stood with her shoulders slouched and her weight poorly balanced, staring absently ahead until all the curious neighbors returned to their own affairs.

It was only when she heard Ye Yu address her that she finally stirred from her daze. Blinking, she turned toward the woman and moved to help tend to her in the bath.

She set her sword aside, then cast a sharp glance to the left, then the right, scrutinizing the surroundings to ensure there were no prying eyes.
Especially Zhou’s.

“Yes, right,” she said, attention fixed on the courtyard as she knelt behind the tub to scrub Ye Yu’s back.

“Wh-what did we find again?” Her brows furrowed as she tried to gather her thoughts. “Oh! The incense. That was... unexpected.”

She briefly rubbed at her temples.

“I do wonder why they’d be hiding something like that away. Do they intend to use it somewhere?” Her tone dropped to a murmur. “With a supply that large, it can hardly be for personal recreation... I would think.”

Her gaze flicked toward the house once before returning to Ye Yu.

“There was a shipping receipt, wasn’t there? Twilight... Twilight Rrrr--rrr...Remedies! ...Right?”

“Incense that can summon sludge monsters?
Perhaps they are planning to cause a disaster?
Maybe... Maybe they’ll attack Kaifeng’s Palace?
Could Fan Master be someone of pure malice?” she wondered, rubbing her skin with a wet cloth.

“I hope Little Inky managed to fly away...
I’d be sad to know he got swallowed like a snack!
A receipt? Oh... Oh! Yes, I kept it before... all the episode in the spillway...”

She leaned forward slightly, half-hidden behind the screen, to look at her soaked clothes scattered across the courtyard.

“Annnnd... to our memory, we’ll have to fallback...
Twilight Remedies... Twilight Remedies... That name!
... maybe? It still doesn’t ring a bell, you could say something else, it would be the same.
Should we investigate and stroll around Kaifeng a bit more before exile?
I’d need to get new clothes and stuffs before we ran away and walk miles...”

Suddenly, the young man’s voice came from the nearby roof.

“Are you looking for something? If you need to find anything, I’m your man!” he said, walking on the tiles with a large box on his shoulder, followed by Zhou’s heavy footsteps and voice, also walking with less grace and agility, a hammer in one hand, tiles in the other.

“Haaa, Zhi, stop trying to seduce my wife, you corn dog! You’d have better luck with Sister Yun but I think you’re too poor to catch her eyes, bwahahaha!”

“Perhaps,” Yingzimò murmured, her brows knitting in thought. “With that incense, it is possible they could cause mass hysteria... but I cannot say for certain.”

Speaking of Little Inky...
Her gaze drifted skyward, searching for the curious crow. She could have sworn she had glimpsed his black wings trailing after them on their journey here. Surely, then, he must be safe.

With a sigh, she returned her attention to Ye Yu, continuing to scrub at the stubborn flecks of dirt clinging to her back. She very much preferred not to think too hard on what else it might be after their tumble in the sewer.

“Stroll around Kaifeng?” she echoed, considering the suggestion.

Her expression soured. The last time she had a walk in search of something, she ended up in the canal. And with everything that’s happened since, the next excursion might just lead somewhere considerably worse.

“Maybe we should just leave Kaifeng altogether. Forever. Ah! But my horse! We have to return for him first...”

Another shudder of disgust crawled down her spine at the sound of Zhou once again calling her his “wife.” She hunched her shoulders and attacked the dirt on Ye Yu’s back with renewed vigor, muttering beneath her breath.

“How in the heavens are we ever to escape that man...?”

Yet, in answer to Zhi, she finally dared to glance back over her shoulder and sweetened her voice. “Oooh~ Have you ever heard of... Twilight Remedies?”

The two man stopped to look at the women. After all, it was basic courtesy to look at your interlocutor while discussing and they were more than happy to oblige, especially when one was almost naked -even if Zhou was more eyeing Yingzimò. Was he disappointed to see she wasn’t yet bathing? Maybe!

“Twilight Remedies?” the young Zhi answered, looking at the sky, a hand on his chin, caressing an absent beard. “No! But I know a cousin who knows a man who has a sister who hear a lot of things, if you’re looking for someone, for a place or for something... mhhh... That may be frown upon by the guards or your elders, then he is the one you need! Do you want me to arrange a meeting for you?
- Be careful,” Zhou warned, giving Zhi a slap on his back, “this small monkey is smart, if you asked him something, then he’ll ask you for a date in return bwahahaha! No, you should really let me handle this! In need of any remedy? Lotion for renewed vigor or a balm for a broken heart? A cup of my fine wine and my arms are the best in all Kaifeng! Bwahaha! Now, let’s fix that roof before sun sets...
- But! I’m serious! Well, if you need a meeting, just let me know during dinner, Sister!”

The two men resumed their (not at all) perilous walk on the tiles while on the other side of the courtyard, the small children where busy “helping” the villagers to prepare the meal, by running everywhere, shouting, carrying some plates, pretending to help moving tables and benches, and of course fighting with wooden forks. All that while glancing at the screens, a bit afraid to see something that would force Yingzimò to pluck their eyes out but still too curious to not risk it...

“Well... Going to Gracetown will offer us some time to think and rest...” Ye Yu said, rubbing soap on her skin in an attempt to remove the sewer scent from her skin.
But first... Let’s enjoy that free dinner we have thanks to your... husband!” she added, chuckling.
“Please! Play a bit more the role of his lovely wife, it’s... for your quest!
Who knows? Maybe if you’re doing it long enough, to him you’ll get accustomed?”

Speaking of, the said husband was speaking to his young... Brother? Cousin? Admirer? And bragging about how he had saved the swordmaiden from a terrible fate the previous night in the canal, while repairing the roof and, occasionally, hammering his fingers painfully.

“Now, your turn to undress!” Ye Yu proclaimed, giving her place on the little stool to her protector.
“No way you’re eating with people in such mess!
Let’s clean yourself too and get the new dresses
Promise, we eat, we get as much leftovers as possible and we run from that place. Word of a songstress!”

Yingzimò lent an ear to the men upon the roof, quietly rolling her eyes at their back-and-forth. After a moment, she gave Zhi a quick grin and a nod.

“Heheh-- yeah, alright...” she murmured over her shoulder. Truth be told, she was rather intrigued by this mysterious person Zhi claimed to know. Though, the whole thing did sound... suspicious.

She kept a wary eye on the two men until she was reasonably certain neither was looking her way. Then she shifted herself to block their view of Ye Yu as she bathed. Even the children across the yard earned a narrow-eyed glance when she leaned to one side, making certain no wandering gaze caught more than it ought.

Then Ye Yu drew her attention back.

As much as Yingzimò loathed the thought of showing even a little skin with Zhou anywhere nearby, there was one undeniable truth: she smelled like pure city sewage. That was far worse.

“Ugh,” she groaned, reluctantly beginning to loosen her robes with painstaking care. “I shall never grow accustomed to it. Why is fate so cruel? Is this punishment for drinking so much wine and playing pitch-pot? Was it for the screen we ruined? Or maybe for abandoning my duty?”

She groaned again, whining as she slowly worked her arms free of her sleeves as though each layer were personally determined to torment her.

“But if all this suffering earns us food...” She paused, tugging another fold of cloth loose. “And new dresses... surely it cannot be for nothing?”

Once she had finally shed her robes, Yingzimò lowered herself onto the stool and hunched over, wasting no time. She splashed water over herself and scrubbed furiously at every speck of dirt she could find, moving with such frantic speed that it was questionable whether she was actually cleaning herself or merely attacking the grime out of spite.

“You say that now,” she grumbled, scrubbing at her arm, “but you haven’t yet had to escape that man.”

She shot Ye Yu a deeply skeptical look.

“I think running away will be much harder than you make it sound. Much harder! I am certain of it.”

“Running away from your soon to be husband? Why would we? Thanks to him, I’m eating for free!
Maybe that after your marriage, you’ll acquire some land? From guard to landlord, or landlady...” Ye Yu giggled, not taking Yingzimò’s desperation seriously.

The sun was slowly nesting on the homes' roofs when the two ladies reappeared from behind the screen, now looking presentable at least in their dull but warm dresses, hair still damp but clean from all dirt and other suspect element they had crossed in the sewer. Also, they were now smelling like normal people and, therefore, able to sit next to the villagers that were gathering around the long table they’ve set up in the courtyard. At least fifteen persons, the young children, elders, families... and of course, Zhou and Zhi, sat at both side of two chairs, the main ones in the middle.

“Come, come, please! Dinner is served Xiaojie” a young woman called, while bringing plates of stewed vegetables on the table, where quail eggs, rice cakes, tarts, soups and two roasted chicken were on display, alongside with multiple bottles of wine and juices.

For sure, they were all eager to celebrate Zhou and Yingzimò’s relationship ; and to honor their guests.

“Come sit Yingzi!” Ye Yu also called, already sat near Zhi, leaving only the place between her and Zhou available.
“Soooooo Sister Yingzimò! \You’re interested in meeting my cousin? I will arrange something for tomorrow and-” Zhi started before Zhou interrupted him loudly.
“- Bwahaha stop trying to present more men to my wife, you small goose! She has all she needs at home!” he bragged, hitting his torso. “A man capable of saving her from any situation! Twice we’ve met, twice all wet she was just like she was swimming in the canal! BWAHAHAAH-ohh sorry” he added, rubbing his head after the old lady gently but firmly tapped him, giving him a cold glance: not in front of the kids!
“Ladyyyyyyyyyy” a little girl asked, “is it true you’re swimming in the canal? Mommy says people and fishes poop in it!
“Zhou-Xiongdi!!” Zhi retorted over the conversation, “your wife may have a strong man, but what she actually needs is a man with connections! Some with influence! I do know some people who-
- Bwaahahaha! The only people you know are the one lending you money, stop dreaming and drink some wine, maybe it will help you grow some hair HAHAHA
- Ladyyyyyyyy, is it true that you’re a rat hunteeer?
- Xiao Zhou, stop mocking your brother... Xiaojie, are you staying here with us tonight? ” the old lady asked, adding her question on the pile.

Yingzimò settled at the long table, feeling considerably more refreshed after the bath and change of clothes. Even so, she was still mildly irritated by the glimpse into her future.

Surrounded by Zhou’s family? Neighbors? Whatever their relation to one another, there were far too many of them for this poor loser loner.

Voices chattered around her from every direction, Zhou’s among the loudest-- as expected, the man had never encountered a tale in which he could not make himself the hero. Yingzimò could only roll her eyes as dish after dish was carried to the table.

At least the food was better than that dumpling shop.

Her hand reached for the nearest wine jar, entirely forgetting her manners as she poured herself a much-needed cup.

“Hm?” She blinked, finally noticing the child trying to catch her attention. “Oh... Um. We fell into the canal. I wouldn’t recommend it.”

She paused, considering how much of the truth was worth sharing.

“Rat hunting? Ehh... Something like that. We barely escaped the Rat King lurking beneath the water.” She lowered her voice, purposely to scare. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that beast comes lurking into the village to find us. So, you’d best shutter your windows tonight.”

Having sufficiently amused herself, her attention returned to Zhi. She finally remembered the question he’d been trying to ask before Zhou so rudely interrupted him.

“Oh, yes. I’m very interested in meeting your cousin.” A mischievous glint in her eyes. “Is he handsome like you?”

She gave a small, teasing smirk and lifted the wine cup to her lips.
Then her gaze drifted toward the old woman...

Brother?
Was he his brother? Or merelya brother?
And worse, did she just flirt with him?

Yingzimò nearly choked on her wine, then cleared her throat and hurriedly lowered the cup.

“S-stay here? Oh-heh...” She waved her hand awkwardly, trying to recover what little dignity remained. “We wouldn’t want to impose upon you.”

“Hiiiiiii!!!” the children screamed, afraid and amused at Yingzimò’s dark omen. “I’ll lay glue traps in front of my home’s door!” said one little boy, only to be scold by her big sis. “For us to walk in them? You’re not doing that! Put them in front of Zhou’s bedroom instead! Maybe he’ll stop trying coming to mine!
-Bwahahahaha! Don’t worry Lan-Jiemei! Now that I have a wife, I’m a upright and faithful husband and-”

The whole table burst into laughter at his words and, after a small moment of disbelief, Zhou himself joined the laughs, as loudly as ever.
“- Come on, Zhou-Xiongdi! You must choose one woman and stick to your choice! If you keep seducing everyone, the village will soon be full of single men...” Zhi lamented theatrically, before leaning towards Yingzimò, trying to adopt a seductive, manly stance despite blushing like a pepperbell. “But do know, S-..Sister, hheee.... that if Zhou-Xiongdi is cheating on you, I’ll gladly fight to restore your honor! And ehhhh.... and take your hand afterwards! \wink wink. Anyway! I’ll arrange a meeting with my cousin indeed. He is currently on a construction site near Gracetown. With a cart, we’ll be there in no time. I’ll get the ox ready for morning! Until then, if you need a place to sleep... I have two bedrooms *wink wink*” he bragged, trying to mimic his model’s flirting style.

“- Bwahaha Zhi you little smelly cockroach! Don’t try to lure my wife into your dusty place! Even my cattle would not want to stay there! No no no, I may only have one bed, but I’ll host my wife... ... and her protégée. I’ll just sleep... On the roof. Or between them bwahahahahah! ”

The women rose their eyes to the skies, and, simultaneously, the old lady and several younger ones leaned toward Yingzimò and Ye Yu, offering them a place for the night.

“- How did you two met, by the way? It must really had been lighting striking love at first sight, it was so sudden! Not that I’m complaining that Zhou finally found someone able to put up with him... I mean, to like... to love him for who he is...” a girl said.
“- A naughty, big useless dumb dreamer?” another one snarked.
“- Chhhhhhhhh!” the other one replied, giving her a nudge in the ribs whilst offering Yingzmò a contrite smile. “Sorry, don’t listen to that bird brained. I’m pretty sure you have... uuuh.... good reasons to be in love with Zhou!”