Chapter Forty-Three: Shangguan Wan’er

How could things turn out this way?

Watching the desolate scene before me, I felt a deep sense of guilt toward that girl. It was obvious—the blood amber had been taken by me, and without its spiritual energy, the locust tree couldn’t withstand the withering. With these thoughts, the girl whose name I didn’t know lingered in my mind.

“Master Li, how did this happen?” Wei Qi’s face was clouded with sorrow as he asked Li Danian beside him. Li Danian’s explanation was much as I expected; indeed, it was because we had taken the blood amber.

“Master Li, can you see what’s beneath the grave mound now? How is the girl?” I was genuinely worried and wanted to know her current state. Li Danian shook his head. “I don’t dare open the ghost eyes during the day. Such strong light is harmful to the body. How about we come back tonight? But honestly, there’s no need to look; it’s clear the ghost girl’s situation is dire. People and ghosts alike depend on a spirit to sustain them. What has kept this girl going isn’t the blood amber, but love.”

Wei Qi and I had told Li Danian about the girl, so he understood.

Though we couldn’t see her, we could be sure she was suffering below. How could I help her?

When I shared my thoughts with Li Danian, she said if I truly wanted to help, I should tidy her grave and burn some paper offerings at festivals.

Of course! With her words, clarity struck me. There was no need for a ghost marriage; I could tend her grave instead!

The problem was, neither Wei Qi nor I had much money. But Wei Qi had a solution: since the grave was in the village, the village should pay for it. We went to the village chief’s house. He greeted us warmly, saying he’d originally intended to look for us, but now we had come.

After the previous incident, the chief had witnessed the power of his brother’s vengeful ghost. Not only did he now believe in the existence of ghosts, but he treated Wei Qi and me with newfound respect. Wei Qi explained our purpose: we’d found a solitary grave at the village entrance, the resting place of a wronged soul. To give her peace, the village should fund the restoration of her grave. The chief, already convinced of supernatural matters, agreed immediately.

Three days later, the lonely grave west of the bridge at the village entrance was rebuilt. The mound was enlarged, and a cement brick wall surrounded it. At first glance, it looked like the tomb of a wealthy family. The blood-red locust tree had died, but I didn’t uproot it; instead, I planted cypress trees around it. The chief even erected a tombstone for the girl, but as we didn’t know her name, it remained uninscribed for now; if fate allowed, her name could be engraved later.

After restoring her grave, Li Danian returned to the mountain. Before leaving, he repeatedly urged me to take good care of Qingting and to wander about, watching for any unusual phenomena near grave mounds and to seek him out if so. It made sense; Li Danian was elderly—he couldn’t accompany me everywhere looking for blood lingzhi. He’d told me that graves harboring blood lingzhi would display supernatural signs, so I could search on my own.

Li Danian departed. Wei Qi, grinning, approached me and said he was heading to the county town, asking if I needed anything and mentioning he might not return tonight.

I asked if he was going to find Shang Xiaoyun. He nodded with a sheepish grin. I refrained from saying much, only suggesting he take things slowly, since Yingzi was kind to him.

Wei Qi admitted Yingzi was good to him, but he felt nothing for her. Matters of the heart aren’t swayed by others; only one’s own feelings matter. Since Wei Qi wasn’t interested in Yingzi, he’d have to be careful, especially around her, and avoid discussing her and Shang Xiaoyun together.

Suddenly, the world became silent. Li Danian was gone, Wei Qi was gone, and the small courtyard was enveloped in stillness.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, I stared at Wang Ying’s body, still lying quietly, unmoving. My heart felt bitter, and a longing for home swept over me.

Nearly a month had passed since I left. What was home like now? Was my mother well? Was my second uncle well? How were the elders and villagers? I wanted to call home, but fear held me back; my uncle’s words echoed in my ears. I dreaded something terrible happening.

Wait, that wasn’t right. My uncle forbade me from returning home because he feared Wang Ying’s soul would wreak havoc there. Now, her soul was temporarily sealed by the blood amber; barely able to sustain itself, it couldn’t cause trouble. I could call home.

I took out my phone, but in the end, I didn’t dial. I couldn’t say why. If my mother asked about me and Wang Ying, what would I say? I slipped the phone back into my pocket.

As night fell, the village chief arrived, saying Zhang Qi had come and insisted I join him for dinner at the committee office. I didn’t particularly like the chief or Zhang Qi, but after our last conflict and with the chief’s help in restoring the girl’s grave, I couldn’t refuse. Sometimes, it’s best to let bygones be bygones.

The chief was respectful, Zhang Qi enthusiastic. Missing Wang Ying, I drank until I was thoroughly drunk. When I got home, it was already past ten.

Under the lamp, Wang Ying’s body lay as quietly as ever, as if asleep. Watching her, my heart ached. If her soul were still here, we could talk, laugh—do so much. But the blood amber had sealed her soul.

The sealing was a blessing; if it dispersed, there would be no hope.

Fueled by alcohol, I gently unbuttoned her blouse. Beneath the delicate undergarments, her fair and full curves were revealed. At the center, the blood-red amber gleamed—red against white, a striking visual contrast.

I only meant to check the blood amber. Perhaps it was the alcohol, or primal desire, but I suddenly felt a strange attraction to the body before me. Gazing at those curves, I wanted to undo the black bra, to see the world beneath.

No! I couldn’t do that; this body wasn’t Wang Ying’s. If I looked, I’d betray her. If I wanted to see, it should be her, not this.

But why not? I’m a man—what’s the harm in looking? It’s not as if I’m doing anything else. Alone here, bored, isn’t that why I’m tempted to look?

With that thought, I steeled myself. Wang Ying couldn’t see me anyway. I’d just look at the body’s curves—as a lesson, perhaps. Fueled by alcohol, I reached for the bra.

But this wasn’t right. When my hand was just a centimeter from the bra, I paused. Wasn’t this too shameless?

Alcohol emboldens heroes—and beasts.

Drunk, my reason faded, and I was possessed by a consuming urge to see the corpse’s body, casting all propriety aside.

Knock, knock. Knock knock knock.

Just as I resolved to unfasten the bra, a knock sounded from outside, startling me so much I nearly fell from the bed. The shock sobered me completely. Damn it, Wang Dachuan—are you even human? You wouldn’t spare even the dead?

My face flushed with shame. Hastily, I buttoned her blouse and went to open the door. Who could it be so late? The chief? Impossible—he was drunk as a log. Wei Qi? Possibly, perhaps returning from his date with Shang Xiaoyun.

But when I opened the door, I was surprised: it was neither the chief nor Wei Qi, but a stranger—a girl in white, her face calm as water.

“Who are you?” I stared at her. She seemed familiar, yet I couldn’t place where I’d seen her.

“My name is Shangguan Wan’er. Don’t you recognize me?” She smiled gently, as if she truly knew me.

Shangguan Wan’er? Such a classical, elegant name, like those of girls in ancient times. Ah! Her clothes were ancient, Han attire—she really was dressed in Hanfu.

“You really don’t remember me? That night, didn’t you come to my home and take my blood amber?” Her lips curled in a slight, teasing pout.

Suddenly it dawned on me—the midnight visitor was that ghost! “You—you’ve come?”

“It’s nothing, I just wanted to thank you two for helping rebuild my home.” Her smile was tinged with melancholy.

“No need to thank me. You gave me your blood amber; what I did for you is nothing in comparison.”

“Don’t you plan to invite me inside? Such a devoted and passionate man—I’d like to see your beloved.” Shangguan Wan’er said playfully.

“Of course, of course.” I quickly opened the door wider and ushered her in. “Wait—aren’t you a ghost? Why bother knocking? Couldn’t you just float in?”

“I didn’t want to scare you! When coming into the human world, one must follow its rules.” She spoke, stepping lightly inside, and I hurried after her.