Chapter 8: Visitors

Li Fuling carefully applied ointment to Shen Jici’s wounds, skillfully avoiding all injured areas as he covered the young man’s slightly curled body that trembled with pain.

After completing the task, he noticed by the flickering candlelight that Shen Jici had fallen asleep.

His profile was deeply buried in the meditation cushion, with a dried tear track still visible at the corner of his eye – as if he had been crying secretly, unwilling to let anyone notice.

Li Fuling silently watched him for a few seconds before ultimately saying nothing and quietly retreating from the ancestral hall.

Since both brothers were injured and bearing visible marks, they had taken several days off.

The next morning, Li Fuling’s biological clock woke him precisely as usual. After dressing neatly, he once again made his way toward that concealed attic.

A week of repetition had made him thoroughly familiar with the path. He pushed open the dark wooden door that seemed to absorb light, skillfully found the small wall switch, and once again the dim yellow light filled the cramped space.

He took incense, lit it, knelt in worship, and inserted it into the incense burner – his movements fluid, the initial fear long since replaced by habit.

After completing the ritual, unlike his usual practice of immediately leaving, he mustered courage for the first time to truly and carefully look up and examine the eerie statue.

Guanyin lowered her eyelids, her compassion tinged with an elusive strangeness, her lips curved upward in a slight smile.

It appeared neither purely compassionate nor entirely sinister, as if silently mocking something.

Even more spine-chilling were the seven vivid snake heads coiled behind her.

He truly couldn’t understand why a so-called Guardian Deity needed to be sculpted in such an unsettling form.

Shen Jici had returned to the room to recuperate.

After breakfast, he now occupied the entire large bed, lying in an awkward position while noisily pressing game controller buttons, the screen flashing with light and shadow indicating what seemed to be intense combat.

He occasionally let out exaggerated ow-woo cries of pain when his movements pulled at his wounds.

Li Fuling glanced at him, thinking to himself: He’s acting like he’s sick.

He had no interest in the fighting and killing on the screen, finding it merely dazzling and difficult to understand its appeal.

He simply pulled a colorful plant encyclopedia from the bookshelf, climbed onto his own bed, found a comfortable position, and quietly began reading.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm patches of light in the room. For a while, the only sounds were the rustling of turning pages and the game effects and strange noises from Shen Jici’s side.

However, this surface tranquility was soon broken.

Unfamiliar voices could faintly be heard from downstairs – it seemed visitors had arrived, more than just one or two, creating somewhat noisy chatter.

Li Fuling closed his book, padded barefoot to the door, and pulled it open a crack to peer curiously downward.

In the living room, Shen Hai stood speaking with an elegant man wearing a Chinese tunic suit. As the man turned slightly, he revealed a familiar profile.

Uncle Nie.

Why had he suddenly come?

Shen Hai led Nie Wangqiu directly toward that concealed small attic. After the wooden door closed, no further sounds emerged from within.

Li Fuling read in his room for a while before feeling somewhat thirsty. Putting down his book, he went downstairs intending to pour some water.

In the living room, the two unfamiliar men who had arrived with Nie Wangqiu earlier still sat there.

Seeing him descend, both men stood up simultaneously.

One of the men had a burly build, with a deep knife scar across his brow that added an extra layer of fierceness to his already intimidating face.

When he saw Li Fuling, the corners of his mouth twitched into a grin that seemed utterly out of place—a nearly foolish smile that clashed with his rugged appearance.

The other man, dressed in a neatly pressed casual white shirt, carried a much gentler demeanor. He immediately scolded the scarred man in a low voice, What are you grinning about? Afraid people won’t think you’re an idiot?

The scarred man rubbed his nose and lowered his gravelly voice, I just wanted to see if he still recognized me…

His eyes carefully scanned Li Fuling’s face as he muttered, Tsk, looking at him now, I hardly recognize him. He’s been raised… really well, like a completely different person.

The man in the white shirt spoke more sternly, with a warning tone, Shut up.

Though a bit puzzled, Li Fuling walked over to the water dispenser, poured two cups of warm water, and carefully carried them to the coffee table in front of the two men. Uncles, please have some water.

The man with the gentle demeanor took the cup, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Thank you.

The scarred man quickly took his cup as well, as if trying to ease the tension. Thanks, kid. What’s your name?

Li Fuling.

Oh, Li Fuling…

The scarred man nodded, pointing a thick finger at himself. You can call me Uncle Chun. And him, Uncle Huaiying.

Li Fuling nodded obediently. Uncle Chun, Uncle Huaiying.

Duan Huaiying gestured for him to sit, his tone as casual as if they were chatting. Sit down, no need to stand. I heard you were brought here from an orphanage. Are you settling in well? Are they treating you kindly?

Li Fuling sat down on a single-seat sofa to the side and replied, Yes, very well. Father, Mother, and… everyone in the family treats me kindly.

That’s good. A faint, almost imperceptible relief flickered in Duan Huaiying’s eyes, and his voice grew even softer. Study hard, and you’ll have a bright future ahead.

He paused, as if suddenly remembering something. If you ever… run into any difficulties, you can come to me.

He instinctively reached to share his phone number, then chuckled softly. Oh, right, you probably don’t have a phone yet.

Instead, he took out a notepad and pen from his wallet, wrote down a string of numbers, and handed it to Li Fuling.

Li Fuling accepted the slightly cool slip of paper, staring at the digits with a sense of bewilderment.

He didn’t understand why this uncle, whom he had just met, would show him such concern, but he politely folded the paper and said softly, Thank you, Uncle Huaiying.

Duan Huaiying looked at the clear-eyed boy before him, his lips parting slightly.

In the end, it only turned into an almost inaudible sigh as he said gently, Go on upstairs and rest.

Li Fuling rose as instructed, turning to climb the stairs with a mind full of questions.

Only after the boy’s figure disappeared around the staircase did Duan Huaiying let the forced calm slip from his face, heaving a heavy sigh.

I really don’t know whether bringing him here was the right or wrong thing to do…

Guan Chun patted his shoulder dismissively, his voice still rough. Why worry so much? We’ve already done all we could. Look at him now—well-fed, well-clothed, cared for. Isn’t that a hundred times better than struggling to survive in that poor mountain village?

Duan Huaiying shook his head, lowering his voice. It’s not entirely about that. The Evil Buddha has been calm for a week, and the surface Yin energy seems suppressed, but I’m worried… that thing is treacherous. If it backfires, Li Fuling will be the first to suffer! After all, he…

What are you afraid of? Guan Chun interrupted him, his tone firm. The whole family is here. Do you think Shen Hai would just stand by and watch that thing harm Li Fuling?

Duan Huaiying frowned deeply. That’s not what I meant. I’m saying Li Fuling previously… had ties of worship with that thing! You know how dangerous it was when we brought him out from that damned place.

Guan Chun fell silent for a moment, his tone softening. Don’t scare yourself. Even if you don’t trust others, you should trust Nie Wangqiu. With him here, nothing major will go wrong.

Hearing this, Duan Huaiying’s tense shoulders relaxed slightly. Yes, there was still Nie Wangqiu.

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