Jumping over the god

  Xiao Liu was originally named Zhu Liutou, a yamen runner transferred from Sanhua County. As soon as he arrived in Huangshi Prefecture, he was registered in the official roster. Bi Si knew that Xiao Liu had a powerful backer, so he didn't make things difficult for him. Otherwise, with his young age and unimpressive martial arts skills, it wouldn't have been easy for him to squeeze into the roster. Now that Xiao Liu has died an unjust death, Bi Si won't mention these irrelevant matters again.

  Min An carefully examined Xiao Liu's body in the Ming Tang, making detailed records of external injuries and old wounds. Xiao Liu's mouth and eyes were wide open, his hands and feet were scattered, his tongue was not against his teeth, and there was a clear strangulation mark on his neck. The soles of his shoes had scratch marks from struggling. These signs all matched the situation of being strangled to death by someone. After re-examining multiple times, Min An felt certain and went out to report to Bi Si: "Sir, Xiao Liu was indeed strangled to death from behind by someone. The killer is a head taller than Xiao Liu and has strong arm strength, able to drag Xiao Liu's body with one hand."

  Bi sighed: "It was really wrong to send Xiao Liu to guard the cell of Liu Er, who would have thought that Liu Er's arm strength was so great..."

  Min An said in a low voice, "At that time, I advised you to lock up Liu Er, but you didn't listen. As a result, Xiao Liu was killed for nothing." He secretly blamed himself and his eyebrows furrowed involuntarily. Unexpectedly, Bi Si glanced at him and instead blamed him, saying, "You should have listened to me earlier and released that scourge. Now he's escaped from prison and will continue to commit crimes elsewhere. I won't be able to avoid responsibility."

  Min An was not qualified to argue back, and could only silently acknowledge Bis's accusations, still grieving in his heart for Xiao Liu's miserable death. Bis asked Min An to investigate the details of how Liu Er killed Xiao Liu. Min An asked Lao Ban Tou to bring over Yu Mi, but before he could say anything, Yu Mi saw him and jumped onto his arm, hugging his neck.

  "What's wrong?" Bi Su frowned and asked.

  Min An took out a piece of maltose and stuffed it into the corn's mouth, gently patting its back, saying: "The corn saw me sleeping in the cell last night and followed me. It likes to sneak a peek at Xiaoliu washing... Found Xiaoliu in the outer courtyard house, overjoyed, hanging on the air window calling him. It probably just saw Liu Er kill Xiaoliu, got frightened, so it stayed on my body and didn't dare come down."

  Min An patted the corn with a gourd hat on its head and said, "Demonstrate to the adults what you saw last night, huh?" And gave it another piece of sugar.

  The corn was chirping and being a bit disobedient. Min An frowned, bared his teeth at it, and it immediately jumped onto the table, grabbed a brush, drew something on its own head, and then held it up to offer to Min An. Min An looked at Hua Cui who was waiting beside him and said, "Cuihua, please explain what the corn is saying to me, I don't quite understand."

  Hua Cui looked at the corn stalks carefully and said, "It should be Liu Er who took out a golden hairpin for women, pretending to want to give it to Xiao Liu, deceiving Xiao Liu into getting close. Last night, Xiao Liu ate too many greasy pastries, went to the toilet several times, and his hands and feet were soft and powerless, so he was strangled to death by Liu Er." She wiped her eyes with her sleeve corner and said in a low voice, "The rest, sir, you can guess for yourself. The monkey only said that much."

  Corn jumped off the table, replaced by Peacock Wipe away tears, Peacock hugged it and took it away.

  Min An said, "Liu Er took Xiao Liu's key to open the door and also stole his official uniform and waist card. When the master issues a wanted notice, he should mention that there is an impersonator of a public officer lurking outside, reminding the villagers to be vigilant."

  Bi Shi waved his hand, ordering the people below to take the number plate and lead the weapons to post the wanted notice, recruiting civilians to guard the roads in and out of Huangshi County. For two consecutive days, the search did not yield any news, and Min An inferred from this that Liu Er had probably escaped from Huangshi County.

  Hua Cui pulled Min An to replace Xiao Liu guarding the grave, and took out the package that Xiao Liu had given her earlier to show Min An. She said: "There is some silver in his package, enough for me to buy him a good coffin. There is also a handwritten note, written with 'Sanhua County Yunqiao Road Zhu Family Village' folk customs, you take a look, is he from that place?"

  Min An took the letter and looked at it. The handwriting was regular, like that of a scholar. The ink had dried for some years. He replied: "It's probably written by someone from Xiaoliu's family. Xiaoliu himself is illiterate."

  Hua Cui burned another string of paper money, sighed in front of the grave and said: "No matter if the person who wrote this is your brother or father, there must be a relative waiting for you at home. What about me? Alone... Ah, never mind, I'll stay with you tonight instead." She and Min An squeezed into the simple grave hut, shoulder to shoulder, chatted for a while, and then dozed off together.

  Min An leaned his head on Hua Cui's shoulder before going to sleep, gazing at the blurry stars in the sky. He recalled his father's words about the impermanence of life and death, and felt a pang of sadness in his heart. Although Xia Liu often quarreled with him, he was still his companion, and now that she was suddenly gone, it was hard for him to accept. "A person can just disappear like that, heaven won't give you any warning before taking someone away. Cui Hua, if I'm gone someday, you have to keep watch for me too."

  Hua Cui woke up with a start and slapped Min An's mouth: "Pfft, pfft, those unlucky words have fallen to the ground, heaven doesn't count them. What are you raving about in the middle of the night? After all these years, can't you see through the worldly schemes? Father said that everyone has their fate predetermined, no matter how hard they try to escape, Xia Liu is probably one of them. Think back to over a decade ago, your Min family was prosperous, with high gates and deep courtyards, carriages and horses coming and going, who would have thought that the emperor's edict would bring down your entire family? Your father died, leaving behind an unclear crime name... What are you looking at me like that for? I'm telling the truth, it's just not pleasant to hear. So I advise you, don't struggle to the death anymore, live a good life and enjoy yourself while you can, even if one day your foot kicks out and your eyes close, you'll be a carefree ghost in the afterlife."

  Min An pouted: "I don't want to just enjoy myself, letting my family members lie in their graves and cry injustices. If heaven gives me the opportunity, I will still fight back, at least to clear up the case for the Min family."

  Hua Cuian was silent for a moment before responding: "That makes sense too, forget it, I'll just say the same thing - whatever you do, I'll support you."

  Min Anlu smiled. Hua Cui continued to chat with him, dissolving the faint sadness in his heart.

  After dawn, Min An packed his luggage and brought the documents to report the case to his superior, Wang Huai Li. He set off for Qingquan County, half for official business and half to welcome Wu Ren back. As usual, he wore a white robe and green gauze shirt, with a scholarly air about him as he walked. When going out on official business, one can't be too casual, after all, one has to consider the face of Huangshi County government office. However, whether he could keep his clothes clean and maintain this image, Min An couldn't guarantee. Huai Cui couldn't follow him, so in case of an emergency, she had prepared a package for him with shirts, hats, shoes, and socks inside.

  Min An carried a package on his back and rode a horse, swaying gently as he walked forward. Before long, a sturdy wooden carriage with a thick, cyan fabric canopy came into view behind him. The coachman drove the horses steadily, while Ni Yi lay reclined on the soft seat inside, fiddling with a golden incense ball hanging from the roof beam, releasing a faint, elegant fragrance.

  Min An said that the things used by Fei Yi were exquisite, and even a small county like Huangshi could provide everything he needed. On the carriage's yoke stood a bronze bell-shaped lantern with a crystal tower, Min An took a closer look and suddenly recognized it as Xiao Zhuang's exclusive emblem. With the strong financial backing of Xiao Bao's father, Min An was even more convinced that Fei Yi could accomplish anything in Huangshi County.

  It seems that Fei is about to leave Yellowstone County.

  Min An rode his horse to catch up with the carriage and asked, "Where are you going?" He swallowed back the next sentence, wasn't it to ask Old Man to be his master?

  Fei Yi put down the window curtain and said: "The young master is in Qingquan County, I'll go meet him."

  Min An saw that Fei Yi was willing to answer questions and hurriedly asked: "Will you come back?"

  "Can't bear to part with me?"

  Min An's face turned red: "I still owe you a promise, which has never been fulfilled."

  "When I see Wu Ren, it will be realized."

  Fei Yi left with a sentence, sitting in the carriage and going far away. Min An continued to walk leisurely behind, not expecting Fei Yi to take him along for a ride. By dusk, he finally arrived at Qingquan County. After handing over the documents at the county government office, he asked the doorman about the news of the market, witches, doctors, and craftsmen, and went straight to the street corner.

  The thin dusk floated on the streets, a group of people surrounded the front and did not disperse. Min An squeezed in to take a look, it was Master Wu Ren jumping into the big god. He quickly lowered his head, bent over and drilled towards the back of the crowd.

  Wu Ren shook off the dust, rolled up Min An's cloak and said with a smile: "Little disciple, don't run away, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

  Min An had heard this opening many times before, it was his master's cue for him to perform the "Inviting the Gods" dance as the second god. He had done this many times before and reluctantly walked onto the stage.

  Wu Ren wore a long, deep-colored robe with nine rows of bells tied around his waist. He held a long drumstick in his hand and every time he struck it, the bells would ring out in harmony, causing the jade feathers on his hat to quiver along with them. He danced non-stop around an elderly man sitting on a rug, chanting words that seemed to be summoning spirits to possess the old man's body and cure his leg weakness.

  At this time, Min An wore a long waistband with two ends dragging on the ground and also wore a tall hat made of coarse cloth to pretend to be Ershen standing behind the patient's quilt. He put his hand on Da Shu's shoulder, saw Master turn around and sing, and responded with a familiar voice.

  "Wu Ren dragged out a long voice and said: 'Look at my left hand beating the Wen Wang drum, my right hand holding up the Wu Wang whip, with one shout of command, all under heaven is peaceful, all immortals quickly show your spirit.'"

  The patient sat with his knees bent and did not respond, he didn't understand what this nonsense about inviting gods was all about.

  Wu Ren looked at Min An, who cleared his throat and began to sing: "The python spirit attaches itself to the soles of my feet, ah, my joints ache and I'm tearful; The yellow tiger spirit attaches itself to me, ah, I sleep soundly but laugh and cry out for my parents; The sorrowful king spirit attaches itself to me, ah, my ears are ringing and my energy is depleted; The martial immortal spirit attaches itself to me, ah, my muscles and bones are strong, I wield my staff with abandon." Min An patted the patient's shoulder and asked: "May I ask which type of divine being has possessed you?"

  The patient was bewildered and didn't know how to respond.

  "Wu Ren hastily said: 'Two immortals in the east, two immortals in the west, all around shining brightly. I see that the guest's face is yellow, it would be better to invite out the Golden Essence Spirit to drive away the demonic obstacle.' As he spoke, Wu Ren pointed towards the darkening sky, and from his sleeve flew out a piece of yellow paper soaked in phosphorus powder, which ignited and floated gently to the ground. The crowd's gaze was drawn by the flames, and Wu Ren took advantage of the distraction to dance around the patient, waving his hands and feet, shaking his head and rolling his eyes, as if he had really received divine inspiration. He muttered continuously: 'Eyelids drooping, fond of sleeping, legs weak, walking with difficulty. The great immortal's instructions are clear, I understand.'"

  The onlookers gradually became riotous. Wu Ren turned his head and glanced at Min An, shouting loudly: "Send Jin Cang to the gods!"

  Min Anyang waved his hand and shook the bell ring, making a crisp "ding-dong" sound that attracted the attention of the onlookers. He wore a white robe and a tall hat, with a handsome face, twisting his body to spin around, his clothes fluttering open like a white lotus, much more elegant than Wu Ren's earlier wild dance inviting the gods.

  Wu Ren took a deep breath, wiped away his sweat, and told the patient that he had received all of Jin Cang's instructions. According to the divine will, he had prepared a large package of herbal medicine, which he handed over to the patient on the blanket, selling it at a good price.

  Min An finished dancing, lifted her sleeve to wipe the sweat, and saw a familiar figure standing among the scattered crowd. She was stunned for a moment. Fei Yi's hair was tied up in a bun, wearing a dark-colored brocade robe, with a silver fox fur trim, standing quietly like an ice sculpture, stunningly beautiful. Min An guessed that Fei Yi must have come to see her master, turned her head and looked towards her master again, only to find that Fei Yi's gaze had not moved, still fixed on her face.

  Was he looking for him? Min An hesitated and went forward to ask: "What's wrong?"

  Fei Yi's lips curled up in a faint smile at the corner of his mouth: "After the last lime war, you've opened my eyes again."

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