Chapter 16: Class-A Yellow, Lotus Lake (5)

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As before, they were the last to arrive. Fang Xiaoyi, just like last time, sent all the servants and attendants out of the room. The interior was lit by numerous candles, so it wasn’t exactly dim. Xu Yiliu scanned the four of them and noticed their complexions were all fine, at least not as terrified as Kong Yueming had been. It seemed that only Kong Yueming had been affected on the first day.

Fang Xiaoyi, feeling responsible as their teacher and the official leader of the Snow Moon Pavilion, spoke first. “We asked the steward about this manor. He said no visitors had come here before; we’re the first batch. Since there’s also an acrobat troupe here, I asked him if they weren’t guests. Guess what he said?”

Xu Yiliu chimed in, “Could it be that they have always lived here?”

“Yes,” Fang Xiaoyi replied. “They’re not guests; they exist here like the manor’s own inhabitants.”

Xu Yiliu frowned. “That’s strange. Acrobat troupes usually travel around to make a living, right? How else would they profit?”

Fang Xiaoyi nodded. “I thought maybe they were a troupe maintained by a wealthy family, but the steward said no. They have been here before she arrived and never left the manor, only occasionally wandering around Lotus Flower Lake. Their expenses are paid regularly, so nobody drives them away.”

Chen Diandian said, “That steward didn’t like to talk about them. If Teacher Fang hadn’t slipped him some money, he wouldn’t have mentioned it. As for strange stories, he was blunt—said there were none.”

Fang Xiaoyi sighed. “It didn’t sound like there were none. It felt more like there were stories, but no matter how much money you gave, they wouldn’t say. That’s all we got. Nothing significant. What do you think?”

Ge Hua glanced at Ji Xianxing. Seeing he had nothing to add, he spoke up. “The acrobat troupe has thirteen members: eight women and five men, including two elders who are said to be a married couple.”

He looked uneasy. “They’re very exclusive. Before I could say two words, they were already telling us to leave. Their leader is a very dark-skinned woman, extremely impatient.”

Not only impatient—he was even scolded, finger pointed at his nose. But the language the leader used was different from theirs, not English, so he didn’t understand.

Ji Xianxing was taciturn, and no one specifically asked her. When Ge Hua finished, all eyes turned to Xu Yiliu.

After describing the boat rentals and vendors around Lotus Flower Lake, Xu Yiliu looked at the always bowed head of Kong Yueming with a more serious expression. “...Everything else was fine. I didn’t feel anything along the way, except for Kong Yueming. She’s not doing well.”

Her words were tacit, and Chen Diandian and Ge Hua didn’t immediately understand, but Fang Xiaoyi and Ji Xianxing looked at Kong Yueming, their eyes filled with ripples—seeming to grasp something.

“Someone is following us,” Kong Yueming said, head bowed, unsure if it was fear or something else. She hadn’t looked up since entering. “No, following me.”

The polished wooden table reflected her eyes like still water; she didn’t blink once.

In the reflection, her pupils suddenly moved, seemingly locking onto Xu Yiliu’s gaze.

Xu Yiliu looked up calmly and took a sip of water.

“Someone is watching me.”

Kong Yueming said this, but it was unclear if she meant Xu Yiliu or someone else.

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Chen Diandian swallowed nervously. “Someone? Someone is?”

“Yes.” Kong Yueming suddenly lifted her head and stared straight at him. “Why can’t any of you feel it? It’s right here in this room, right behind me!”

Chen Diandian was spooked and looked behind her. “There’s nothing here!”

Ge Hua trembled, pushing his glasses down as they slipped. Flustered, he hurried to adjust them, accidentally touching a lens and hastily wiping it with a handkerchief.

Fang Xiaoyi had to soothe them. “We’re all together. Don’t be afraid.”

Her words seemed to remind Kong Yueming, who fixed her gaze on Xu Yiliu. “I’ve made up my mind. Tonight, I’ll sleep with you.”

Fang Xiaoyi frowned, casting a worried glance at Xu Yiliu, clearly disapproving.

In her eyes, Kong Yueming’s behavior was extremely dangerous. Based on the three peculiar traits of the contamination, Kong Yueming was likely ‘infected.’ If she stayed with Xu Yiliu at night, no one could guarantee what might happen or be triggered.

Xu Yiliu didn’t refuse with an excuse as Fang Xiaoyi expected. Instead, she smiled and said, “Alright, I’m scared tonight too.”

Kong Yueming immediately showed gratitude.

Fang Xiaoyi and Ji Xianxing exchanged glances, both scrutinizing Xu Yiliu.

Afraid? If she were truly afraid, she definitely wouldn’t agree no matter what.

Xu Yiliu had her own thoughts. Noticing their looks, she didn’t explain but said, “If there’s nothing else, let’s sleep early. There’s a curfew starting from the hour of the pig.”

Chen Diandian grumbled, “I haven’t gone to bed this early in years.”

“Try not to go out during curfew unless it’s a special situation,” Xu Yiliu reminded.

Ge Hua gripped the table tightly and nervously asked, “What counts as a special situation?”

Xu Yiliu smiled. “That depends on you. Whenever you feel you absolutely must go out, that’s a special situation.”

“It’s not any historical period,” Ji Xianxing stood up. Pausing before leaving, she said, “The clothes, furniture, decorations, language, tools—they belong to different historical eras. Behind this main hall is a locked room.”

Ge Hua quickly added, “Right, I forgot to mention that. I just saw it. It seems like a storage room.”

Xu Yiliu thought deeply.

The main hall was quite spacious; she hadn’t paid attention to whether there was another room behind.

“It’s not a storage room,” Ji Xianxing’s face was especially somber in the candlelight, her voice soft but clear.

“It’s an ancestral shrine.”

Chen Diandian couldn’t help but ask, “How do you know?”

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Ji Xianxing said, “The patterns.”

After saying this, she lost the patience to continue and quickly left.

Chen Diandian hesitated. “Teacher Fang, should we go check the back...”

“The night watchman has already announced the time before dinner. It’s almost nine now, and it’s not safe after dark,” Fang Xiaoyi cautiously dismissed the suggestion.

Humans naturally fear the dark; at this moment, Fang Xiaoyi was reluctant to go to a shrine.

Fang Xiaoyi thought it best not to be alone, especially now, but Ji Xianxing had already left on her own. So she said to the remaining people, “Chen Diandian, Ge Hua, you two go back together. Xu Yiliu, Kong Yueming, we’ll go together.”

No one objected.

Jixiang and Chunlan carried lanterns, walking on either side to lead the way. The manor residents were probably asleep; every window was dark.

The three walked silently. The arrangement and traces in the hall reminded them of the daytime’s Ruyi, leaving them all looking pale.

Chunlan was trembling and kept wiping tears.

Fang Xiaoyi thought for a moment and said to Chunlan, “You don’t need to serve tonight. If you’re afraid, ask the steward for another room. Don’t hesitate to pay with silver.”

Chunlan gratefully said, “Thank you, Miss.”

Fang Xiaoyi glanced back at Xu Yiliu, who seemed lost in thought, and felt weary. “I’m going to sleep. If anything happens, we’ll talk tomorrow.”

If anything happens at night, don’t call me.

Xu Yiliu thought, smiling, “Alright.”

She led Kong Yueming into her room and had her lie on the small bed. “Jixiang will stay here with you.”

Kong Yueming keenly caught the phrasing. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to the restroom. I’m not used to going indoors here,” Xu Yiliu explained.

Kong Yueming clutched the blanket and pleaded, “Please come back quickly.”

Xu Yiliu promised and left the room.

There should still be around ten minutes before nine. She estimated the time, carrying Jixiang and the lantern placed in the hall, rekindled the candle on the table, and headed straight toward the ancestral shrine.