Chapter 46: The Empty Bench

"Brother Xiaoyuan, Runsheng, I think my eyes are playing tricks on me—otherwise how could I have seen two people sitting on the bench outside Zhou Yong’s house?"

Tan Wenbin rubbed his eyes hard, then looked again.

The more he looked, the more he hunched over, shrinking backward, instinctively shielding Runsheng with his body.

Still feeling unsafe, he tried to retreat further behind the boy.

When he looked down, he noticed the boy watching him.

Caught in the act and feeling awkward, Tan Wenbin immediately straightened his back and shuffled forward with tiny steps until he was again standing shoulder to shoulder with Runsheng—though his legs were still trembling.

He had a higher tolerance for corpses, thanks to his family background, but that background wasn’t in occult studies.

Li Zhuiyuan didn’t say anything. After glancing at Tan Wenbin, he picked up the Bagua Compass again.

The compass showed everything was normal, not even a hint of a pull.

They were some distance away, but not so far that there should be no response at all. Feng shui nodes could be complex, but they were also simple in a way—wherever something malevolent stood, that place became a yin-sha node.

The village head came over. He got off the car and asked, "Runshenghou, still haven’t found it?"

Runsheng looked at Li Zhuiyuan.

Li Zhuiyuan said quietly, "Almost."

Runsheng immediately responded, "We’ve got a lead, almost there. Don’t worry, Village Head."

"Really?" The village head sighed in relief. "Then hurry and pull it up. Don’t scare anyone else. The folks who saw it were so frightened they ran home with fevers and have been getting IV drips at the clinic."

Li Zhuiyuan said, "Zhou Yong."

Runsheng asked, "Village Head, where’s Zhou Yong?"

"Yonghou? He’s probably watching people play cards, why?"

"He still watches cards?"

"He likes standing by to watch. Never plays himself."

"Oh, I see."

"Field work eventually ends, and fishing gigs on the river aren’t daily. When he has nothing to do, Yonghou watches people play cards. People, no matter how hard life is, have to find some joy. Who wants to walk around with a long face every day?"

"Yeah, true."

"But Yonghou, man, what can I say... he’s something else."

"I heard he donated a bridge?"

"Yeah, he did. That spot didn’t really need a bridge, not many people passed through, but he insisted on donating one. Said it was to earn merit and blessings for his wife and kid.

I couldn’t talk him out of it, so we raised some village funds, added his donation, and built the bridge. Maybe more people will use it if we fix up the road later."

"I don’t get it."

"Exactly. Yonghou’s a good guy, well-liked in the village. But ever since his wife and kid got sick, he’s been a little... odd. Only time he’s quiet is watching cards. Otherwise, talk to him for a bit, and he starts rambling weird stuff—like he drank some kind of mind-muddling potion.

Sure, donating for a bridge is a good deed. But I told him: ‘Yonghou, you could use that money to rebuild your house into a brick one, or buy something nice for your family. The village doesn’t need that bridge, but your family sure could use the money to ease their life.’

He wouldn’t budge. Said if the village wouldn’t help, he’d hire a crew himself. Runshenghou, tell me, what could I do?

I’m still dealing with that mess. Helped his family apply for low-income status, some aid money, and then he turns around and donates it to build a bridge. Damn near cooked me over a fire.

Hell with it... Let me know when you’ve pulled it up. Once this is over, come to my place—we’ll have a little banquet for you and your grandpa, and the village will give a red envelope."

"Alright, go take care of your stuff, Village Head."

After the village head left, the mother and daughter on the small bench were still there.

Li Zhuiyuan stepped toward Zhou Yong’s house, needing to confirm a suspicion.

Seeing this, Runsheng naturally stepped in front of Xiaoyuan again.

Tan Wenbin stood frozen for a few seconds before hurrying after them, head slightly lowered. He didn’t dare stand beside Runsheng but at least moved ahead of Xiaoyuan.

The closer they got, the clearer the mother and daughter became.

The woman sat on a stool, the girl nestled in her arms. They were chatting and laughing, looking very warm and sweet.

Cold sweat broke out on Tan Wenbin’s forehead. He glanced up quickly from time to time, only to lower his head right after.

His mind was filled with images of the girl curled up in a rice jar and the woman lying among cotton bedding.

As they approached the doorstep, Li Zhuiyuan stopped.

Finally, he came to a halt.

"Binbin-ge, go on ahead."

"Huh? Okay."

Tan Wenbin crossed his arms and walked forward, head down. When he reached the bench, he looked at the house and saw it was empty. The mother and daughter had vanished.

"No one’s there..." Tan Wenbin turned around, clearly confused.

Li Zhuiyuan beckoned him back. Tan Wenbin ran back in a sprint.

When they looked again at the bench—hey—the mother and daughter were there once more.

"This..."

"Runsheng-ge, you go forward."

"Okay."

Runsheng walked to where Binbin had stopped earlier and turned to look at the bench.

From behind, Li Zhuiyuan and Tan Wenbin saw Runsheng awkwardly raise a hand and wave toward the bench.

"Runsheng can see them?"

"Yeah, because Runsheng-ge is from this village."

"That’s possible?"

"Because he doesn’t want anyone to know... that his wife and daughter are dead."

"He—he means Zhou Yong?"

"Yeah."

"But Xiaoyuan-ge, if his wife and kid are here, then who’s the one swimming in the river?"

"Zhou Yong, probably."

"Huh? But didn’t the Village Head say Zhou Yong was watching cards?"

"Dead Sinkers do move."

"Dead Sinkers go watch villagers play cards? Isn’t that too bizarre?"

"You just ate food made by a Dead Sinker, remember that plate of poached shrimp? You had the most."

"I... I didn’t know."

Runsheng returned and said, "They just waved at me."

"Yeah."

Runsheng pulled the Yellow River Spade from the sack and asked, "Should I smash it?"

"No need. There’s actually nothing there."

• Please take a moment to rate this novel at Novelupdate.

Next Chapter >>>