Volume One – The Hundred Coffin Tomb Chapter Six – An Unexpected Situation

The small town where I worked was located in Heilongjiang. Though it wasn't large, the place was well-situated and everything one might need could be found there. After packing up my things, I glanced at the clock on the wall—it was already five thirty, time to finish work. Stepping outside, I headed straight for my sturdy old bicycle.

Just then, the distinct click of high heels sounded behind me. I turned to see a tall, graceful woman walking my way. “Hey, Liu Jie,” she called, “since the owner of this antique shop is quitting, why not come work for me? I just happen to need a head of security. You’ve served in the army, you’d be perfect for the job, and…” She paused, dipped her head, and added quietly, “I’d get to see you every day.”

Her name was Gao Feng, the director of the modeling agency next door. At twenty-six, she stood an impressive one meter seventy-four, her skin fair, her features refined—a striking beauty with an air of maturity. I’d first met her on my second day at the antique shop. That day, her company was hosting a banquet, and naturally, the security guards and their leader were present. The head of security, however, was hopelessly drunk. As Gao Feng left the restroom, she ran into him, and he, emboldened by alcohol, tried to drag her into the men’s bathroom. I happened to be heading there myself and caught the scene: her panicked screams, his rough grip. Without thinking, I landed a kick that sent him sprawling inside, his face meeting the toilet bowl.

That was how we met—some might call it a classic case of rescuing a damsel in distress, though the circumstances were far from glamorous.

I looked at Gao Feng and replied, “Thanks, beautiful, but let me think about it for a while. If I find myself at a dead end, I’ll have to count on you then.”

She looked as if she wanted to persuade me further, but only opened her mouth and said nothing. I added, “How about I treat you to a meal tomorrow, if you’re free?”

Her eyes lit up, excitement dancing across her face. “Really? Then I want hotpot!”

I chuckled. “Hotpot it is.”

“It’s a deal, then. Let’s meet at the entrance of my company at noon tomorrow.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you there.”

Gao Feng nodded and turned back towards her company, waving at me as she left. Smiling, I mounted my bicycle and rode home.

These days, it was just my father and me. Every evening, he’d have dinner ready by the time I got back. Our home was a simple one-story house, with a tall, double wooden door that opened onto a small courtyard—modest, but more than enough for the two of us.

The harsh northeastern climate meant every house hung heavy drapes over the doors to keep out the chill. Inside, I found my father sitting on the kang, watching our black-and-white television. A drama was playing on the screen. Setting down my cloth bag, I said, “I lost my job—the boss is closing the shop.”

He nodded. “I figured that would happen. That job was never great—barely any customers, but you all still needed to be paid. No boss could keep that up for long.”

I sighed and sat beside him on the kang, and we started dinner. My father and I rarely had much to say to each other—perhaps that’s just how men are.

After dinner, with nothing much to do, I put on my coat and went out for a walk, heading towards the bridge. At night, the place was far more beautiful than during the day, with lush lawns, weeping willows, and the famous Ling River flowing below.

As I strolled, I noticed three burly men surrounding a thin young man, no older than twenty-five, not far ahead.

One of the men, tall and dark-skinned, jabbed a finger at the young man. “Kid, just because your family’s rich doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. Today you even dared to boss me around. Do you think your Grandpa Wang is a pushover?”

The young man wasn’t intimidated. “Listen here, Wang, if you lay a finger on me, I’ll bring people tomorrow and tear down your lousy shop.”

The big man laughed, amused by the young man’s bravado despite being surrounded. “You don’t seem to realize the situation you’re in.” He nodded at his two companions, who swaggered closer.

Sensing trouble, the young man pointed in my direction and called out, “Dad, you’re here!”

I immediately realized his trick—trying to distract his assailants. The three men stiffened in alarm and spun around to look at me, fear flashing in their eyes. But when they saw who it was, understanding dawned—they’d been fooled.

The young man seized the moment and bolted. With a curse, the three men gave chase. Worried they might catch him and do something rash, I followed after them.

We ran for over ten minutes, leaving the streets behind. The young man, for reasons unknown, veered off into the wild fields.

Under the bright moon, the night was still oppressive. The young man, whether by accident or design, dashed straight into an old graveyard. The three men hesitated—no one liked wandering into graveyards at night, especially one as unfamiliar as this.

So the chase led us deeper into the darkness.