Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Lord Tiger was a Siberian tiger, and he looked even taller than me. His eyes fixed on me, carrying an effortless, fearsome authority.

I was so scared I didn’t dare step forward.

My father soothed me. “I’m right behind you. Don’t be afraid.”

I stumbled forward, one step turning into two, and picked up the incense with trembling hands. After lighting it, I came before the tiger.

Seeing me stand there in a daze, my father reminded me from behind, “An’an, speak!”

I raised the incense over my head and said in a shaking voice, “Lord… Lord Tiger, may fortune be with you.”

According to folk custom, there was a whole set of rules for paying respects to a Household Guardian Immortal. The adjutant had gone to ask around.

But my father said it was all nonsense.

In his view, in these chaotic times of war and unrest, one had to be practical.

“Without money, grain, or ration tickets, who’d follow you? An’an, don’t listen to those witch-women spouting nonsense. Just say what I told you to say.”

In the old forest, I continued, “Lord Tiger, please leave me your name. I’ll set up your tablet in my room. A small offering every five days, a grand offering every ten. Incense and candles without end, livestock always provided… During festivals and holidays, I’ll prepare gifts for you. Every year on your birthday, I’ll hold a birthday feast for you. Please don’t let me die.”

At that, the wild immortals in the distance finally couldn’t hold themselves back. They all drew closer.

The tiger glanced at them, then placed a paw on my head.

My father was so nervous cold sweat poured off him.

I was nervous too.

But the tiger only gently patted my head.

The moment it turned around, the incense in my hand burned down all at once.

My father let out a breath of relief and called, “Lord Tiger, take two fat sheep with you!”

The tiger sprang back into the flock and snatched up a lamb in its jaws.

The soldiers opened a path. It followed that path and vanished into the woods.

Just then, I heard a gust of wind.

“Little child, my surname is Feng, and I rank third. Just set up my tablet as Third Master Feng.”

Perhaps it had second thoughts, because it turned back and picked up the yellow weasel in its mouth. “With your level of strength, don’t meddle in this. Go get your family’s great-grandmother.”

The yellow weasel understood. It nodded again and again, then sped off toward the southeast.

Third Master Feng headed north, once again carrying the little lamb in his jaws.

After he left, the remaining wild immortals stopped moving.

Though the red fox was terribly greedy, it only stood there motionless.

My father noticed and asked, “Honored immortals, what is the situation now?”

The wild immortals looked at one another, but not a single one made a sound.

Suddenly, a black python slithered over from the distance and said, “They’re waiting for that old crone of the Huang family, but I’m not. Little child, offer up the second stick of incense!”

I was just about to take the second stick of incense when a sedan chair arrived from the southeast.

Four yellow weasels were carrying it, and seated on the chair was a tiny old woman.

The old woman was withered and thin, holding a long-stemmed pipe in her hand. She asked, “Fifth Master Hei, are you trying to climb over my head?”

The atmosphere instantly turned hostile.

My father saw that the situation had taken a bad turn and said, “Everyone, there are more than enough offerings to go around. Please, don’t let this harm the peace between you.”

The black python raised its head, glanced at me, and said to the old woman, “There are too many people here today. I won’t argue with you.”

It yielded its place.

The old woman smiled. “Children, carry me over.”

The yellow weasels carried the old woman to the center.

My father nudged me lightly. I came back to myself and offered up the second stick of incense. “Great-Grandma Huang, may fortune be with you.”

The old woman smiled and nodded. She took a puff from the pipe in her hand, and the incense I was holding disappeared bit by bit.

I asked, “Great-Grandma Huang, should I write the name on the offering table the same way?”

She smiled. “I rank seventh in my family. On the tablet, you may write Seventh Great-Grandmother Huang. I don’t want anything else. Just remember, I love eating chicken.”

I nodded. “Great-Grandma, I’ll remember. From now on, I’ll honor you with chicken every day.”

Her smile deepened until wrinkles folded across her face, and she blew a mouthful of smoke at me. The smoke ring passed through me, as if carrying something away.

My father had sharp eyes and said to me, “Quick, thank Great-Grandma.”

I hurriedly said, “Thank you, Great-Grandma.”

My father said to her, “Senior, we didn’t plan to prepare chicken today. We’ll offer it up to you tomorrow.”

The old woman nodded in satisfaction. “You have a thoughtful heart.”

Then she called out, “Children, let’s go home.”

The four yellow weasels carried the old woman back the way they had come.

After the old woman left, my father said, “Quick, offer the third stick of incense to Master Hei.”

The black python smiled at those words. “No hurry. I’m not like that old crone, always fighting over rank.”

After the third stick of incense was lit, it looked as if something had taken a bite out of it. Not even ash was left behind.

The black python smacked its lips. “Fifth Master Hei. Write it just like that.”

With that, it rushed forward and swallowed one pig, one cow, and one sheep, then slithered away.

My father stared, dumbfounded.

After they left, the remaining wild immortals began to stir. One by one, they accepted incense and left their names.

Once all of them were gone, my father called the accountant over. “Did you remember all those names just now?”

The accountant nodded and opened his ledger for him to inspect. “Marshal, take a look. There shouldn’t be any mistakes.”

My father patted the accountant on the shoulder. “If I employ a man, I don’t doubt him; if I doubt him, I don’t employ him. I trust you.”

Then he summoned the adjutant and instructed, “Once we return, complete the Immortal Family Shrine as quickly as possible. Work day and night. No slacking off. Use the best materials and the best craftsmen. I’ll inspect it myself. No shoddy substitutes.”

The adjutant saluted. “Yes, sir!”

After arranging everything, my father called the accountant back. “Count how many honored immortals there are.”

The accountant answered without hesitation, “Eleven in total.”

My father thought for a moment. “Damn it, that’s still one short of the twelve zodiac signs!”