Wu Xin: The Monster Killer

Chapter 80 The Funeral Hall

Wuxin sat in the room, drinking tea cup after cup. As evening approached, the door opened, and Shengyi, dressed in mourning clothes, staggered in. Seeing this, Wuxin casually picked up a teacup, poured a cup of hot tea, and handed it to him. Shengyi took the hot tea and plopped down, first letting out a long sigh, then saying in a hoarse voice, "I'm exhausted."

Before he could finish speaking, Saiwei staggered back. He glanced at the table and found that both teacups were occupied. Looking at Saiwei, he saw that Saiwei's lips were dry and pale, and he clearly needed tea more than Shengyi.

Wu Xin had always treated women better than men. After a moment's thought, and seeing that Sheng Yi was holding a teacup with no intention of drinking, he gently reached out and took the teacup from Sheng Yi's hand, handing it to Sai Wei: "Please accept my condolences and sit down to rest."

Saiwei, who both admired Wuxin and didn't dislike Shengyi, accepted the teacup without hesitation. Leaning against the edge of the table, she lowered her head, blowing on it with her pursed lips as she sipped. Shengyi, however, looked up at Wuxin in surprise: "Wasn't this for me? Why are you trying to take it back?"

Then he turned to Saiwei: "Sister, don't take his kindness for granted."

Saiwei ignored him and yelled at his mother in a loud, ravenous voice to prepare dinner.

The Ma family mansion had a large kitchen that always provided meals for the whole family, with the fire burning continuously from morning till night. The old woman, seeing that the second young lady and the third young master were going to stay in the second concubine's courtyard, assumed it was out of nostalgia and was quite pleased. Meanwhile, Saiwei and Shengyi had shared a large courtyard after entering middle school, where two young maids were responsible for chores. At this moment, the maids and the old woman worked together to carry the food back from the kitchen in large food boxes.

Sheng Yi still held a grudge over a cup of tea, and glared at Wu Xin at the dinner table: "Are you even a monk anymore? You're fawning over my sister again, and eating meat too!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a chill on the back of his neck. He jolted, immediately turned his head, and sneezed loudly, nearly choking on a grain of rice. Wuxin quickly reached out and patted his back, then whispered above him, "Stop fooling around."

Xiao Jian squatted on Sheng Yi's head, arguing indignantly, "He's bullying you!"

Wuxin laughed: "Just kidding, it's not really teasing. Go have fun by yourself, but stay away from him. Yin and Yang are mutually exclusive, be careful you don't hurt him and harm yourself."

Then he waved his hand good-naturedly: "Go on, go on, listen to me."

Xiao Jian liked him and was always ready to flatter him, but he never appreciated it, so Xiao Jian angrily stormed into the wall like a gust of wind. Meanwhile, Saiwei, biting the tip of his chopsticks, stared intently at Wuxin and mumbled, "Who are you talking to?"

Wuxin replied, "The little rascal is already gone."

Sheng Yi put down her chopsticks, immediately hugged her shoulders, and curled up into a ball, looking around haphazardly. Sai Wei's heart stirred, and she asked again, "Master Wuxin, since you can see the little ghost, it shows that people do indeed have souls. Our mother…"

Before she could finish speaking, Wuxin shook her head: "The house is very clean, I didn't see your mother."

Sheng Yi pulled up a chair and moved to sit next to Wu Xin. Sai Wei then said, "They're not in the house, shall we go to the mourning hall and check?"

Wuxin nodded: "Okay."

Shengyi spoke up: "But sister, when are we going to go see it?"

Savi replied, "We'll go in a bit! It's our own mother, we can look at her however we want, who cares? Anyone who dares to gossip, I'll slap them to death!"

Sheng Yi moved her own bowl and chopsticks in front of her, and said to Wu Xin, "My sister isn't bragging. She used to have a nickname on the girls' school volleyball team: 'Thunderbolt Hand,' because she could slap a lapdog to death."

Saiwei continued to pretend she hadn't heard. Her brother's words and actions were unpopular; he specifically targeted her past mistakes.

Wuxin smiled but didn't know how to continue the conversation.

After the three of them had eaten and drunk their fill, Saiwei and Shengyi, though exhausted from their elaborate efforts at the funeral hall that afternoon, were young and quickly recovered their energy with a little food and drink. Saiwei, finding Wuxin's attire shabby, took him to Shengyi's room. Shengyi was a fashion-conscious young man with countless new clothes, but unfortunately, none of them fit Wuxin's size. He only had a pair of canvas overalls, which Shengyi had bought on a whim; they were enormous, big enough to fit two Shengyis, or one and a half Wuxins. Saiwei told him to wear them, and he did, even though he had never worn them before.

He was changing clothes inside the room when Shengyi whispered outside, "Sister, he seems to listen to us a lot. Let's keep him here!"

Saiwei deliberately retorted, "What's the point of keeping him around?"

Sheng Yi replied, "Let him stay with us and protect us! He has nothing anyway, we'll support him, what more could he ask for?"

Upon hearing that he intended to raise Wuxin like a dog, Saiwei immediately became furious and wanted to find some harsh words to teach him a lesson. However, before he could utter the words "slut," the door in front opened, and Wuxin walked out with a smile. The sturdy, rough work pants he wore actually had a certain style. Under the suspenders on his upper body was Shengyi's old shirt. The shirt's shoulders were a bit narrow, so the collar buttons were undone, revealing a small patch of clean, white skin.

Saiwei looked at him without saying a word, her mind racing like a phonograph. First, she thought, "He's fairer than me," then, "How can I get my dad to find him a job?" Next, she thought, "Maybe doing business would be good too," and finally, she thought, "I must leave Beijing after we get married, otherwise they'll laugh at me."

By the time Sheng Yi elbowed her in the ribs, she was already thinking about how to financially support herself and start a family. Having a husband who looked like a homeless person was certainly not something to be proud of, so a battle with her family was inevitable. Just as she was choosing her words to curse, she suddenly heard Sheng Yi's voice: "Sister, what are you daydreaming about? Aren't you coming?"

Saiwei reluctantly ended her fantasy, as she had no intention of marrying Wuxin at all. However, for some reason, she would often find herself lost in uncontrollable daydreams about Wuxin.

The Ma family estate had many houses, so the funeral hall was set up in an empty building at the front of the estate. The second concubine was, after all, a concubine. Although she was a bit old and had a pair of children to support her, a concubine is always a concubine, and her children were still immature foodies. Therefore, the funeral would not be very grand.

According to custom, the coffin is placed three days after the funeral, so the second concubine has already been placed in the coffin. However, since her biological children have not yet seen her one last time, the coffin lid is tilted with a gap, so that Saiwei and Shengyi can see their mother one last time when they return. The geomancer has chosen an auspicious time, and the coffin will be officially closed tomorrow morning.

Saiwei and Shengyi could still chat and laugh as if nothing had happened after leaving the mourning hall; but now that they've returned, they're filled with dread, and grief has taken over again. The Ma family is not on good terms, and it's nighttime, so only an old servant is keeping watch, half-asleep. Saiwei and Shengyi send him away, then stand in a row, looking lost and bewildered.

Wuxin slowly circled the coffin, finally stopping at the gap at the head of the coffin. Saiwei and Shengyi, seeing his actions, knew there must be a reason; Wuxin rolled up his shirt sleeves to his elbows, held the two corners of the coffin with both hands, leaned down and put his eyes close to the gap.

The coffin was pitch black, and in that darkness lay the second concubine, dressed in elaborate makeup and with a ferocious expression. Her eyes were not fully closed, but her pupils had rolled back, revealing a pale line between her bright red eyelids.

Even someone who dies a violent death shouldn't have such a bizarre appearance. Wuxin thought for a moment, then straightened up and turned to the siblings: "Have you seen your mother?"

Saiwei and Shengyi stood side by side and nodded together. Saiwei then said in a low voice, "I only glanced at it... I didn't dare to look any longer."

Wu Xin knew that although they were mischievous and lazy, they were still young after all. He smiled at them again and said softly, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Then he lowered his eyes and slowly slipped his right hand into the crevice. His palm was thin, and his arm snaked in like a white snake. His fingertips brushed against the second concubine's hair, and he frowned slightly, softly calling, "Xiao Jian!"

Xiao Jian peeked out from the crack, one eye at a time: "You need me again?"

Wuxin said, "Why can't I find it?"

His eyes disappeared, and he regained feeling in his fingertips. A cool sensation moved slowly, finally stopping his fingertip on the top of the second concubine's head. Beneath the thick, greasy hair, a tiny, barely visible tip appeared. He whispered, "Xiao Jian, nonsense. Where's the nail?"

His fingernails clamped onto the hard tip, and he gritted his teeth as he pulled it out: "It's clearly a needle!"

Xiao Jian was about to retort when he suddenly shrank back: "Someone's coming!"

Wu Xin abruptly withdrew his hand, bent down, and picked up the small oil bottle under the offering table. At the same time, a dark shadow flashed at the entrance of the mourning hall, and Ma Yinghao appeared without warning.

Saiwei and Shengyi were startled, but despite their fright, they didn't panic. With practiced ease, they turned towards the door and called out together, somewhat sheepishly, "Big Brother."

Ma Yinghao had changed into a black robe; his clothes, hair, and eyebrows were all black. Leaning on his cane, he slowly walked in and said calmly, "Are you keeping vigil for my second aunt?"

Saiwei nodded, as if his bones were about to fall apart: "Big brother, from now on we'll be like motherless children."

Ma Yinghao stopped at the end of the coffin, moved his eyes to scan the mourning hall, and replied, "You and Lao San are both very filial. If your second aunt is watching from heaven, she should be pleased."

Then he turned his gaze to Wuxin: "Master is here too?"

Wu Xin replied briefly, "I'm a free man with nothing to do, so I can keep them company."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned his back to Ma Yinghao, picked up the small oil can, and added oil to the ever-burning lamp. Meanwhile, Saiwei, still looking sullen, asked listlessly, "Brother, why are you here too? You've already worked so hard arranging Mother's funeral; you should be getting some rest tonight!"

Ma Yinghao replied, "I was worried that the servants would slack off. Now that you are all here, I feel at ease."

Having said that, he turned to leave, but before he did, he added, "Do you have a flashlight?"

Saiwei and Shengyi exchanged a glance, then replied, "We don't have flashlights, but we have lanterns."

Ma Yinghao nodded, then turned to look at Wuxin: "Since Master is a free man, could you please carry my lantern and give me a ride?"

Wu Xin, who had been carrying the small oil can, put it down and replied, "Of course."

Then he lit a heavy white lantern, walked around the coffin, and approached Ma Yinghao. Ma Yinghao stopped looking at him and walked away on his own, leaning on his cane.

Watching Wuxin's heartless figure leave the mourning hall, Shengyi muttered to herself, "Look at how weird and sarcastic Big Brother is!"

Savi remained silent, noticing oil stains on the ground where she had inadvertently stood—clearly, hastily written words made with lamp oil. Approaching and bending down for a closer look, she softly read aloud: "A needle inside the hair."

Then she smeared the writing with her foot, and inexplicably repeated to Shengyi, "A needle in the hair? Hair? Hair? Whose hair?"

Sheng Yi immediately looked into the crack in the coffin: "Sister, wasn't he just reaching out to touch Mother's head?"

Knowing that Sheng Yi was timid, Sai Wei rolled up her sleeves and, mustering her courage, reached her hand into the coffin. However, before she could reach deep inside, she felt a steel needle protruding half an inch above the second concubine's head. Gritting her teeth, Sai Wei pinched the end of the needle and pulled with all her might, instantly removing the long needle completely.

But before she could remove the needle and examine it closely, a heavy sigh suddenly came from inside the coffin. The stench of decay spread from the cracks, and she clearly felt her mother's head sink down, a sign of utter exhaustion and relaxation.

Meanwhile, Wuxin had already escorted Ma Yinghao through two courtyards. Ma Yinghao walked slowly, questioning Wuxin about his background as they went. His pace was slow, his speech slow, everything deliberate and methodical. Wuxin, carrying a lantern, answered each question in turn, the questions the same old ones. Just as they were about to reach the young master's courtyard, a commotion of voices suddenly arose in the distance. Wuxin and Ma Yinghao looked towards the sound and saw a red glow shooting into the sky from the direction of the mourning hall—it was on fire!

(End of this chapter)