Chapter 10
Ying Que said Lu Jingzhi had shown him only a spirit tablet bearing the words “Venerable Heavenly Dragon.”
So when I’d mentioned a snake statue, he’d had no idea what I meant.
“What on earth is going on?” Ying Que asked, sounding close to despair.
Two nights earlier, he’d followed a carriage from the inn to the rear gate of the county offices.
While the driver unloaded it, he’d noticed sacks containing a great many wooden plaques.
Sensing a faint demonic presence on them, he’d taken one while the driver was occupied.
Not daring to act rashly, he’d decided to ask the mountain deity about it.
But instead of his old friend, he’d found an enormous black snake in the shrine, exactly like the one carved on the plaques.
The creature was wreathed in dark energy. No mortal strength could destroy it.
With no other choice, he’d returned to the inn—only to find me gone.
Following the blood I’d left at the doorway into the back yard, he’d heard Chun Sanniang mention the Heavenly Dragon Workshop and the magistrate of Lingshan County. Assuming I’d been taken to the county offices, and learning on the way that the magistrate followed the Heavenly Dragon faith, he’d presented himself at the gate as a Daoist surnamed Ying, come to seek its teachings.
What Ying Que hadn’t expected was that the magistrate would be Ah Jin.
“I paid an incense donation and acted sincere, so Ah Jin agreed to let me come in and make an offering. But I spent all yesterday asking after you and learned nothing.”
Ying Que asked, “What happened? Why are you here? And what’s going on with Ah Jin?”
I told him everything that had happened in the cellar, including Lu Jingzhi’s collusion with the snake and the plan Lingyun and I had made.
Ying Que was silent for a long time. I sighed. “But something’s gone wrong with our plan.”
I took Lingyun’s original form from my sleeve. “At first, after changing back, the mountain deity was still conscious and spoke to me. Later, no matter how I called, he wouldn’t answer. I’m afraid he’s terribly weak…”
“You say this is Lingyun?”
Ying Que took it and examined it. “Ah Fu, this is an ordinary twig.”
“What?” I was stunned. “Then where is he?”
If there was no snake statue, why had Lingyun sent me to find one?
“Lingyun… probably wants to settle this herself.”
Ying Que said, “She may cry all the time, but she’s proud. She discovered this first. How could she bear to drag you and me into danger?
“That snake is steeped in evil energy. With her injuries, she probably can’t stand against it.”
He caught my arm. “Ah Fu, we need to leave.”
“Leave for where?”
Before Ying Que could answer, a sinister voice came from outside the door.
“I’d like to know that too. Where do you think you’re going?”
Lu Jingzhi pushed open the door. From the sound of it, at least ten officers stood behind him.
“Ah Fu,” he asked softly, “didn’t I say we’d be married in a few days?”
Ying Que shielded me behind him.
Seeing Ah Jin’s threatening approach, Pea Pudding rushed forward to bite him, only to be kicked savagely back.
“Ah Fu, you’re as innocent as ever.”
Lu Jingzhi sighed theatrically. “Everyone in that cellar calls me ‘master.’ Yet you knew I was behind it. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
He turned to Ying Que. “Unless I’m mistaken, this Reverend Ying is the immortal who fell into Apricot Village three years ago.
“Ah Fu used to mention you all the time. At last, we meet.
“Actually, you looked familiar the moment I saw you yesterday. Then I remembered catching a glimpse of you as you fell through the cottage roof.”
He advanced step by step, smiling. “It’s all thanks to that new heart you gave me, Brother Ying. Otherwise, how would I have such a fine memory? How would I ever have become a magistrate?”
“Ah Jin! You’ve conspired with a demon and killed so many people. Aren’t you afraid of retribution?”
Lu Jingzhi burst into laughter, as though he’d heard something hilarious.
“I’m far more afraid of achieving nothing.”
He snorted. “Lord Heavenly Dragon promised that if I gathered worshippers and built its shrine, it would ensure my career prospered and I rose through the ranks.
“Besides, if good and evil truly received their due, why would everyone turn against Ah Fu while a villain like me prospers?”
Ying Que didn’t understand. I quickly said, “Brother Ying, let’s go. Don’t waste your breath on him!”
Ying Que asked, “What does he mean? Everyone turned against you?”
Lu Jingzhi paused. “What? You don’t know?
“Her injured eyes were your fault, you know.”
I scooped up Pea Pudding and pulled at Ying Que to leave, but he remained rooted to the spot.
Slowly and distinctly, Lu Jingzhi asked me,
“Isn’t that right, you witch who conspired with an evil sorcerer?”