Chapter Sixty-Eight: Secrets

Granny Li’s brow furrowed as well.

Beside Li Yue stood a man in his forties, dressed in a long robe that made him look like either a scholar or a Daoist priest. Li Yue retained her lively, charming demeanor, while the man's expression was gentle and accustomed, as though he had long been familiar with the fickleness of the world. Neither of them stepped inside.

“There’s no need to worry,” Granny Li said in a steady tone.

We followed her outside, approaching the fish pond. The man gave a slight nod. “Young man, are you from Hundred Households Village?”

I remained silent.

Granny Li replied, “We just came from there. If you wish to ask something, ask now; we’ll answer whatever we can. This place is not safe—if you want to avoid further trouble, I suggest you leave as soon as you’re done.”

Li Yue was about to speak, but the man quietly called out, “Mind your manners.”

She made a face and hid behind him.

“My name is Li Cangshui. This is my unruly disciple. She startled you just now, didn’t she?”

“Li Yue, apologize.”

I was taken aback. Li Yue seemed unprepared as well, but she still huffed out a reluctant apology.

I felt a little relieved—these two didn’t seem malicious.

“We went to Hundred Households Village looking for someone named Liu the Mourner. But when we reached the entrance, we found the place shrouded in a heavy yin aura. Something alive was enveloping the village in darkness. We couldn’t get in. We came here hoping to learn something, and my disciple stumbled upon a courtyard with strange energy. Before she could look into it, we overheard an argument from next door.”

Only then did I realize they hadn’t followed me; they’d simply heard something while at Wang Erjun’s house.

“Young man, my disciple is mischievous. She may have said something to offend you. But the villagers told us you’re Liu the Mourner’s grandson?”

Li Cangshui gazed at me intently, as if he could see through to my deepest secrets.

I hesitated and glanced at Granny Li.

She spoke up, “Not by blood—just a special relationship. If you’re looking for Liu the Mourner, you can leave. He’s dead.”

As these words fell, Li Cangshui’s brow knitted tightly. “He’s actually dead?”

My heart skipped a beat. Instantly, two words came to mind.

“Life Stealing.”

The next moment, Li Cangshui suddenly focused on me. “Before he died, did Liu the Mourner leave anything behind?”

I took a deep breath. Whatever this man intended, I wanted no part of it.

My tone grew cold. “He killed my whole family, and now he’s dead without a burial place of his own. He left nothing behind, and even if he did, it’s back in Hundred Households Village—we can’t return.”

With that, I took Granny Li’s arm, ready to leave.

My heart was pounding. I suddenly suspected his purpose in seeking Liu the Mourner might be connected to the life-stealing paper Aunt Hui had given me.

That paper was useless to me—I would never steal someone’s lifespan. But I could never let anyone else have it; too many had died because of it.

As we passed the man, he suddenly seized my arm.

He moved at lightning speed, his grip like iron—the force so great I couldn’t take a single step forward.

The pain flared up, making me groan and shudder from my injuries.

Granny Li’s voice changed, colder and sharper. “Let go, or don’t blame me for changing my hospitality.”

Since Lord Wang’s death, Granny Li had become far less gentle—her edge had returned. But Li Cangshui looked instead at the back of my ear, eyes narrowing. “That’s a Shadow Monkey. When did it appear on you?”

My heart lurched. He knew what was growing behind my ear?

He went on, “It must have appeared after you left the village. This is a rare curse—those afflicted become enslaved to the caster, and it also serves as a mark. Without special means to remove it, you can’t stray far from Hundred Households Village. If you try, the Shadow Monkey will either kill you or drag you back.”

My expression changed.

“There’s something in your village—not yet awakened—but everyone has likely been marked. Once it wakes, even if you hide here, it’ll come for you.”

“I can teach you how to remove it, but you’ll need to answer some questions about Liu the Mourner in exchange.”

Li Cangshui exhaled. “There was another boy about your age in that courtyard, wasn’t there? He came with you?”

Mentioning Wang Erjun made my face darken.

What he said echoed Granny Li’s words, but hers had been vague—she’d only said it was a mark, without explaining the danger.

“You have no reason to refuse me, young man. I have no special connection to Liu the Mourner. In fact, he stole something from us, which is why we’re here.”

Granny Li asked in a low voice, “You can really remove the Shadow Monkey?”

Li Cangshui neither nodded nor shook his head. He simply looked at me calmly. “There’s a way, but it’s up to you whether you want to know it. If you don’t wish to answer, we won’t force you.”

I bit my lip, weighing things in my heart. If I said nothing, they likely wouldn’t leave so easily.

I might be able to protect myself, but Wang Erjun was just an ordinary boy.

Too many had died already—Wang Erjun shouldn’t have to endure more nightmares.

I nodded, my voice hoarse. “Fine. Ask.”

Li Cangshui’s expression remained affable. He smiled and nodded. “Might we speak privately?”

He released my arm.

Granny Li still frowned slightly.

I gasped for breath and shook my head at Granny Li, heading toward the bamboo house.

Li Cangshui followed.

I didn’t stop until I reached Little Black’s side.

Little Black lifted his eyelids to glance at me, then went back to his nap.

If Li Cangshui had refused to come closer to the bamboo hut, I’d have suspected he wasn’t normal. But he followed me here, which dispelled my doubts.

Still, I was nervous about being alone with him. With his strength, it would be easy for him to seize me.

But Little Black was here, and if anything happened, Granny Li could call him to help.

“Ask your questions,” I said in a low voice.

Li Cangshui’s tone was relaxed. “Has Liu the Mourner always lived in your village?”

“He used to live at the Three Ways Crossing, but moved to the village in recent years.”

“Why do people say you’re his grandson?” he continued.

I paused. “My father married his daughter.”

At that moment, I caught a faint, peculiar fragrance in the air. It arrived so suddenly that I began to feel dizzy.

“How did he kill your family?” Li Cangshui suddenly asked.

I hadn’t wanted to answer, but my mind was foggy and I blurted out, “He stole their lifespan…”

As soon as I finished, fear seized my heart, but I couldn’t control my body.

Li Cangshui’s gaze grew deep and inscrutable. “Before he died, did he give anything to anyone? Do you know the secret of life stealing?”

Panic gripped me, but my head nodded against my will.

“What is the secret?”

He stared at me, and I was filled with terror—what had he done to me? Why couldn’t I control my movements, or even my thoughts?

I struggled desperately, biting hard on my lips.

Yet my hand still moved, beginning to lift.

Suddenly, Little Black sprang up and barked viciously at Li Cangshui.

Li Cangshui’s face changed. He stepped back several paces.

Instantly, the strange force vanished from me.

Gasping for air, I stared at him in terror.

Li Cangshui glanced at Little Black, then back at me. “Young man, were you about to give me something?”

I shuddered, took a deep breath, and shook my head. “You’re mistaken. I just don’t want to answer any more questions.”

I eyed him warily from behind Little Black, my voice turning harsh.

“What did you do to me?”

Li Cangshui didn’t answer. Instead, he looked deeply at me. “The secret is with you—whether he gave it to you or you acquired it by other means, it’s in your possession. We can make a trade: give it to me, and I’ll not only tell you how to deal with the Shadow Monkey, but also help resolve the troubles you face in this village.”

I panted, feeling not just a lack of goodwill toward Li Cangshui, but a deep resistance and fear.

This man was too strange. If not for Little Black, I might have handed over the life-stealing paper just now.

At that moment, Li Cangshui turned to Granny Li. “Elder, young people can be stubborn, but you should know that nothing good will come of him keeping that thing. With the Shadow Monkey on him, he’ll never leave Wangjia Pass. I won’t force you now. If he agrees, my terms stand—and I’ll owe him a favor.”

“A favor beyond the ordinary world.”

Li Cangshui stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at Granny Li.

Her expression shifted again. “What did you say?”