Chapter 16: The Cold Hut

  "Miss Huan, although she doesn't say it out loud, I know she hopes to see you before she goes. After all, in this world, apart from the two young ladies, who else is her closest relative? However... alas... the Oath of Wu cannot be broken, otherwise even you would be affected by the backlash." Old Lady Ge told Wu Mei.

  Wu Mei's true feelings were revealed at this moment, and she sighed bitterly, "It's also my own fault. I made a vow that was too harsh back then, saying that we would never see each other again in this life."

  "Miss Huan, in the days before her death, every day she would ask me to take out the dolls you two played with as children and look at them, secretly wiping away tears, calling your name in her dreams." Old Lady Ge said, her cloudy eyes fixed on Nan Yue Lan.

  Wu Mei then pulled her daughter and said, "Lan Sheng, this is the aunt who has been taking care of your sister and me since we were young, just like a mother. Hurry up and call her."

  Nan Yue Lan bowed her head and said, "Auntie Ge."

  Who would have thought that Old Lady Ge suddenly stretched out her withered hand and grasped her wrist, feeling up to her elbow.

  Nan Yue Lan was startled and wanted to pull away, but was stopped by Wu Mei.

  "Lansheng, don't move, let Grandma feel your bones." Wu Mei's hand was on her daughter's shoulder, her eyes seriously looking at Ge Baba, with a hint of tension and expectation.

  The old nun began to mutter to herself, then suddenly started chanting rapidly, her body swaying back and forth.

  Nan Yue Lan felt that the moment she thought this ghostly spiritual technique was ridiculous, suddenly saw Ge Pozi open her eyes wide, and didn't know if it was a psychological effect or what. She suddenly felt dizzy for an instant, as if the whole person was about to float up. But also just for that instant, the scene in front of her recovered its clarity.

  "Mother, how is it?" Although Wu Mei had long been convinced that her daughter was ordinary, she still held a glimmer of hope. Ge Mother might only have average abilities, but after all, she was much older and could perhaps see things that she couldn't.

  Ge Pozi's eyes sparkled, but she still looked old and frail. She let go of her hand and said calmly, "Although Miss Lan Sheng has become a young lady, her appearance hasn't changed much." These words completely dispelled Wu Mei's illusions.

  Nan Yue Lan forced a smile, "Isn't it good to see the old at three years old?" His limbs still had a numb and sore feeling like being pricked by needles.

  "The old lady's eyelids seemed to be about to flip up, but in the end they drooped down. 'The winds are strong and the waters are deep all around, Miss. Not moving is indeed the wisest position.'"

  "Fools have good luck, that's all I can think. " Wu Mei waved her hand impatiently, "Mother-in-law, I have a lot to say to you, but the Three Nights Soul Summoning requires too much preparation."

  Ge Pozi nodded, "For the next three nights, Miss Lanzhen would do best not to stay in the thatched hut. The yin ghost craves the vital energy of living people, especially pure and innocent children."

  "I didn't want her to come with me either, but I'm also worried about letting her go back to the mansion alone. My daughter and I have been dependent on each other for many years, she's a bit spoiled and doesn't like to compromise with others, which gives me a headache. So I brought her along, so that I won't worry about her offending someone she shouldn't when I'm not around." Wu Mei looked out into the distance, "I remember there was a small temple five miles outside of town, is it still there?"

  "It's still there, but just half a year ago the nun from the temple ran away, and the empty temple has been left unattended, I'm afraid it's very dirty." said Ge Pozi.

  "It doesn't matter, bringing Ya Tou is for times like these." Nan Yue Lan didn't mind. It seemed that Wu Mei and the others were going to perform a ritual with bells and drums, disturbing people's peace in the middle of the night, so she definitely wasn't interested.

  Wu Mei agreed and asked Bai Ri to come over and help during the day.

  I don't know what I can help with, but Nan Yue Lan Sheng knew that if she didn't agree, it would take another effort to persuade her. "Yes, but today I'll go over and sweep the floor, it's exhausting."

  Wu Mei led the way and walked into the thatched cottage with her mother-in-law.

  Nan Yue Lan brought Hua Wu Guo to the front of a small hut. The wooden sign above the door had faded ink, and the name of the hut was Li Leng.

  Don't look at the small Pear Cold Hut, it's really a good place. In front of the pear forest, behind the thick and undulating mountain range, you can also hear the sound of flowing water. Next to the door is a tall old pine tree, and a gray squirrel is not afraid of people, holding fruit on the thick branches.

  Pushing the door open, it's even more dazzling in front of me. The delicate quadrangle courtyard has a bright and beautiful view. A three-step floating bridge is surrounded by lotus flowers, and half-reclining willow branches gaze at the tips of bamboo shoots. In one corner, there is a pavilion dedicated to Guanyin, with plum trees quietly sleeping through winter. The ground is paved with large bluestones, and fresh moss squeezes out green earth from the seams. Decaying leaves by the pond have turned into mud, forming a thick layer of dry reeds. In this small piece of land, you can appreciate all four seasons.

  "If it weren't for that Guanyin statue, I would have thought this was some young lady's courtyard, and she must be more educated than our own young lady." Hua couldn't help but praise, while also belittling her own family, "Your courtyard only has stone flooring, not even a potted plant is allowed in."

  "That's a pseudo-palace, where everything can be seen at a glance, and no ghosts or evil spirits can hide. The thief's toes have nowhere to land, so you, this little beauty, can rest easy." Nan Yue Lan couldn't help but feel excited as she looked around, seeing that there was not a single unnecessary item in the courtyard, yet every placement had been carefully considered.

  "You speak as if you've been to the imperial palace." Hua simply pierced through her.

  "Been there." Half-day tour of the Forbidden City.

  There were flowers. What? Had she gone? Was it before she was picked up by the lady? She stared blankly while backing away to push open the door of the main house. Before her hand even touched it, the door swung open. Despite often being fierce and intimidating, she was weak-minded when faced with something strange, letting out a piercing scream that shook the eardrums.

  "Ah——ah——" A scream with echoes burst out from behind the door.

  Nan Yue Lan stood with her arms around herself, unflappable, as a woman stumbled out of the house. The courtyard showed signs of meticulous care everywhere, but there was no one in sight, which was strange.

  The woman wore a blue and white Taoist robe, with a bamboo basket in her hand. Her black hair was coiled up tightly under a small hat, making her face as smooth as jade. A pair of almond-shaped eyes sparkled like rippling water, her lips were painted cherry red, and her cheeks had a peach-like complexion. She was originally a beautiful woman with a lovely fragrance, but she had become a nun; originally a quiet and serene Taoist nun, yet her expression was startled and frightened.

  Her slender figure swayed, supporting herself on the empty stone steps, her mouth curved even colder, her eyes sternly pointing at the young and beautiful Taoist nun, her voice harsh, "Who are you?"

  The Taoist nun quickly raised her eyes and immediately came to Nan Yue Lan's face, bowing and trembling, saying "Zhen Wan has seen Miss."

  Nan Yue Lan didn't say a word and only glanced at Hua with a faint smile. It was then that a chatty maid appeared, taking advantage of the timing to make her presence known.

  Hua Ruo suddenly spoke up, "This temple has been deserted for a long time, where did you come from?"

  Zhen Wan bowed her head and remained still, "Originally, Zhen Wan was an orphan girl taken in by the abbess, along with two other sisters. The small temple relied on a kind lady's daily donations to get by, living a peaceful life without worries. However, after the abbess passed away, that lady suddenly stopped providing for them, and my sister had no choice but to bring me into the city to investigate. It turned out that the lady was bedridden with illness and didn't have time to instruct her servants to send the monthly allowance. My sister and I were grateful for the lady's care, so we stayed in the manor to help her recover from her illness, and before we knew it, several months had passed. Now that the lady is recovering, my sister was worried that the temple would fall into disrepair, so she sent me back first to take care of things."