Sou Li Gui, a Estrela Assassina dos Céus

On a summer afternoon, the heat was suffocating. Aside from the cicadas, which chirped incessantly, even the cats and dogs lay listlessly on the ground, too lazy to move.

A wealthy squire lay comfortably on a reed mat, clutching a bamboo wife—a hollow bamboo bolster used to keep cool—while a maidservant fanned him with a round fan, lazily enjoying the shade of the summer day.

A destitute man, however, had no choice but to strip naked and jump into the stream to wash away his sweat and escape the stifling heat. If he were lucky enough to catch a few fish, he could resolve his dinner plans in one go and add a little meat to his meager fare.

Year after year, many an unlucky soul who lacked swimming skills would drown in this river near Yishui County, serving as substitutes for the water spirits. Yet, those who refused to believe in such curses still flocked there to cool off. To the local gentry, these starving wretches were hardly precious; if they died, they died—it was simply an early reincarnation, and hardly worth a second thought.

Last night, Li Gui had gone to the city’s gambling den. He started by winning but ended up losing everything, squandering not only the strings of copper coins he had saved to propose marriage but also landing himself in deep debt. The proprietor of the den was a heartless man; showing no regard for the brotherhood they had shared for years, the moment he saw Li Gui had no more wealth to squeeze, he immediately ordered his thugs to toss him out.

When winning, the gambling den provided ample wine and meat, and whe