The next morning, with a creak, the door to my room swung open. I jolted awake.
"Ethan, the sun’s already up. Come on, get out of bed, it’s already ten o’clock. I made some porridge—have some, and we’ll eat soon."
I rubbed my sore, gritty eyes and got up. Though I’d been angry last night, once I fell asleep, I felt truly at ease. No nightmares disturbed me.
After finishing my porridge, I saw my dad busy in the kitchen. I walked over to help him wash the vegetables.
"How’s Auntie doing?"
He sighed, "That Howard kid, honestly... Even when I asked your uncle why he sent him off to Putian Temple, he just dodged the question. But the whole family supported it. That boy never did anything proper. And now, who knows where he’s gone? I heard after leaving the temple with a few brothers, he ran off again. Still hasn’t changed his ways."
I smiled bitterly. Whenever I thought of my cousin, I could only sigh. He really hasn’t changed. The last time I saw him, he’d run off just to chase after a pretty girl. He’s probably hiding out at some woman’s place right now.
"But Ethan, have you found a new job lately?"
I gave an awkward smile.
According to what Rufina Howard taught me, the formation she showed me only needs a decent piece of jade. Submerge it in clear, clean water for three days and nights—that’s the first step to creating the Jade Gate Array.
"What kind of job is it?"
I started to panic. I couldn’t exactly tell him it was something like the Ghost Burial Squad.
Out on the street, I took two buses and arrived at a pedestrian mall. I found a gold shop, went inside, and looked around. There were plenty of jade pieces, but I had no idea how to judge their quality. Rufina Howard said the better the jade, the stronger the formation.
My dad just nodded, not suspecting a thing. But my heart was pounding. This was the first time I’d ever lied to him. I’d never deceived my parents before, but now I had no choice.
"You really should find something stable, Ethan. You can’t just drift like this. Why not try taking the civil service exam?"
"Okay, Dad, I know. I’ll look into it and maybe study for a while."
After we finished eating, my dad planned to go out and play mahjong with his friends. I told him I’d head out for a walk too. As soon as he left, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Old Moe?"
Old Moe dragged me out by force. The shop’s security guards surrounded us. I hurried to explain, and under the confused stares of everyone, I followed Old Moe into a secluded alley.
"Old Moe, what are you doing?"
It took a while before I calmed down. Ever since I was little, my father always taught me that a person should be honest. No matter what you face, never run away.
But this time, it was my own problem—the remnants of a past I don’t want to remember, that childhood I’d rather forget.
My phone rang. I picked up immediately—it was Rachel Lan.
"Ethan, when are you coming back? Is something wrong?"
"It’s nothing, really. I’m just home for a few days. I’ll be back soon."
There was a long silence on the other end.
"Ethan... is something bothering you? That day when you left, you didn’t look well. Let me come help you, okay?"
"Sorry, Miss Lan... This is my own business. I don’t need anyone’s help. Sorry."
I hung up right away and walked out of the house.
According to what Ruo Fei Huangfu taught me, the formation she showed me only needs a decent piece of jade. Submerge it in clear, clean water for three days and nights—that’s the first step to creating the Jade Gate Formation.
I’d already thought it over this morning, feeling grateful to that little girl. With this formation, my chances against that ghost go up. But thinking back, that ghost isn’t simple. In my memory, my father’s friend—the old Daoist—had to use a golden talisman to cure me.
I’d gotten cocky before—so many ghost incidents, and there was always someone helping. But this time, I’m on my own. No one’s coming. I have to be ready for anything.
Out on the street, I took two buses and arrived at a pedestrian mall. I found a gold shop, went inside, and looked around. There were plenty of jade pieces, but I had no idea how to judge their quality. Ruo Fei Huangfu said the better the jade, the stronger the formation.
I counted the cash in my pocket—less than ten thousand. The price tags on the jade ranged from a few hundred to tens of thousands.
"Sir, are you looking for jade?"
A saleswoman smiled and walked over, launching into a detailed sales pitch. I listened, completely lost. I didn’t understand a thing. Feeling flustered, I spotted a jade piece for 8,989—the color looked good.
Suddenly, a hand wrapped around my neck. A wave of body odor hit me.
"Uncle Mo?"
Uncle Mo dragged me out by force. The shop’s security guards surrounded us. I hurried to explain, and under the confused stares of everyone, I followed Uncle Mo into a secluded alley.
"Uncle Mo, what are you doing?"
"Hey, hey, don’t be so cold. My daughter’s really worried about you, you know. That silly girl, honestly."
I lowered my head in embarrassment, muttering a quiet thank you.
"How did you know?"
"Alright, alright, I get it. Ethan, I have some ties with that old Daoist, Elder Martin Ma. He called me last night. That ghost, apparently, was badly hurt before, so it hasn’t shown itself for a while. But soon, the Day of Calamity is coming. It might recover."
I gasped, remembering what the red-haired ghost said last night—the Day of Calamity is coming.
"It’s about time. In a few days, the so-called Day of Calamity marks a cycle—every eighty-one years, there’s a day of great misfortune. On that day, all ghosts get stronger—even the ordinary ones. Fierce ghosts become even more terrifying, empowered by the day’s force."
I gasped, remembering what the red-haired ghost said last night—the Star of Calamity is coming.
"So what exactly is it?"
"It’s about time. In a few days, the so-called Star of Calamity marks a cycle—every eighty-one years, there’s a day of great misfortune. On that day, all ghosts get stronger—even the ordinary ones. Fierce ghosts become even more terrifying, empowered by the star’s force."
"No, Old Moe. Thanks for the warning, but no matter how things turn out, I need to bury the past myself. I don’t want anyone involved."
"But..." I started to speak, then just smiled and shook my head.
"No, Uncle Mo. Thanks for the warning, but no matter how things turn out, I need to bury the past myself. I don’t want anyone involved."
Uncle Mo smiled and patted my shoulder.
"I get it, I get it, I really do. Men always act on impulse. I was the same when I was young. No wonder you’re my son-in-law."
I shot Uncle Mo a resentful look.
Suddenly, Uncle Mo’s smile faded. He rubbed the back of my head.
"Whatever you do, brat, just don’t make my daughter cry."
I nodded seriously.
"But honestly, if you’re buying jade, don’t go to those shops. That piece was alright, but you’d get ripped off by at least six thousand. You’re such a fool. Come on, I’ll take you somewhere better."
Without waiting for me to respond, Uncle Mo dragged me off. People stared as we went down the street—a beggar pulling me along. I shook off his hand.
I sighed, while Old Moe just smiled.
"Alright, just stick close to me," Old Moe said reassuringly.
"Alright, just stick close to me."
I followed Old Moe to an even more secluded spot. There was a garbage dump nearby, and the stench was overwhelming.
I pinched my nose and asked,
"Old Moe, why did you bring me here?"
Old Moe gave a mysterious smile and beckoned me over. As I walked up, he suddenly opened a manhole cover and motioned for me to go down.
I gasped, but Uncle Mo didn’t hesitate—he jumped right in.
I had no choice but to follow down the ladder. It was pitch black inside, rats squeaked everywhere, and the smell was unbearable.
I gasped, but Old Moe didn’t hesitate—he jumped right in.
I had no choice but to follow down the ladder. It was pitch black inside, rats squeaked everywhere, and the smell was unbearable.
"Hold on, Ethan," Old Moe said. Suddenly, a yellow light flared around him.
"Ling East, Silk West, Heaven Above, Earth Below, emerge..." Suddenly, I saw Old Moe pull out a wide strip of Crimson Veil. It floated above the filthy water.
"Hop on, kid. I’ll take you across," Old Moe said.
I gasped again as Old Moe stepped onto it. I followed, and the white silk underneath extended, curling up like handlebars.
"It’ll be fast. Hold tight and don’t fall off." My palms were sweaty as I gripped the silk. My feet felt soft and unstable—I was scared.
"Let’s go, son-in-law," Old Moe said.
I was about to say something, but the Crimson Veil shot forward. My mind buzzed—all I could hear was Old Moe’s laughter. I couldn’t see a thing. We twisted left, then right, and I grew dizzy.
Suddenly, something wrapped around me. I cried out, feeling the world spin and my body nearly torn apart by the rushing wind.
"That’s not really the issue," I said, feeling miserable.
"Wow, kid, you’re really weak. You couldn’t handle even that?" Old Moe teased.
"That’s not really the issue," I said, feeling miserable.
"Heh, maybe you’re right. Sorry, sorry," Old Moe said.
Old Moe used the Crimson Veil to pull me back up to the surface.
An old man, hunched over, wearing a bowler hat and round glasses, with a large black mole on his left cheek.
I washed off the vomit and sat at the door for a while, feeling a bit better. Old Moe helped me into the house.
"Why did you bring me here, Uncle Mo?" I asked weakly.
"To buy you some top-quality jade. Come on, this is a great antique shop!"