Chapter 120: Farewell

Ghost-Face Zhang handed me the golden casket and pushed the door open.

The space inside was pitch black, yet far more spacious than where we had just been. We lowered our footsteps as we entered, and seeing nothing unusual, I cautiously swept the area with my flashlight. But I wish I hadn't; the sight that met my eyes nearly made me scream.

The darkness revealed what could only be described as a mass grave. Countless skeletal remains were piled high, some so weathered they had crumbled into a honeycomb of brittle, terrifying layers.

Ghost-Face Zhang and Mengya were far more composed than I. After a brief moment of shock, they both looked at me. Seeing I was pale with terror, Mengya stepped over to shield me.

"These are almost all natural deaths; there are virtually no external injuries," Ghost-Face Zhang said, picking up a skeleton. "Qiutong, look at the level of weathering. Estimate the age."

I steadied myself and examined the bones in his hand. They clearly bore no trauma—at least, no fatal injuries. However, the jawbone joint was unnaturally distended, as if dislocated. I scrutinized the surface; likely due to the long-term exposure to the damp cave environment, the porous bone was mottled with mildew and significant signs of corrosion.

"Give me a tissue," I whispered.

Ghost-Face Zhang looked at Mengya, clearly lacking such an item himself.

Mengya pulled a semi-damp tissue from her pocket and handed it to me. I wiped the crown of the skull, and with that single motion, the bone became oily and lustrous, as if it had been handled and polished for years.

Seeing my intent, Ghost-Face Zhang sneered. "What, looking for your ancestors? You aren't his child, so why the 'eldest son cradling the head' routine?"

I spat, "And you’re a Third Master of the Nine Gates? You don't even know this?" I pointed to the skull's crown. "Look, just one wipe and it’s as glossy as if it were oiled. Given this patina, these bones have been here since at least the Liao or Jin dynasties."

Ghost-Face Zhang looked a bit embarrassed. He took a long drag of his cigarette and asked, "How can you tell?"

Detecting his skepticism, I retorted with a cold laugh, "Any object, under oxidizing conditions, shrinks every hundred years or so, increasing its density over time. Once the density is high enough, a simple touch reveals the patina. Of course, many excavated items are stained or eroded, dulling the luster. You know that human bone has the highest density of any bone in the world. If it were any other creature's bones, this kind of patina would only date back to the Sui or Tang dynasties, but for human bones, you have to push it back several centuries."

Ghost-Face Zhang looked at the polished spot on the skull, uttered an indifferent "Oh," and stared into the depths of the cave without another word.

Mengya and I exchanged a knowing smile. We knew the Third Master was just being petty, so we said nothing and followed him.

Hearing our footsteps, Ghost-Face Zhang held up a hand to signal for silence. He frowned, as if testing the air. After a few silent minutes, he lowered his rasping voice: "Do you see what's ahead?"

I squinted, and there, seemingly spanning the cavern, was a faint, inconspicuous beam of white light. Where the beam hit the ground ahead, it reflected ripples, and it was from there that the sound of splashing water emanated.

"It looks like a beam of light is shining down."

Ghost-Face Zhang nodded. "Do you know what that means?"

"What?"

He exhaled a long breath, as if relieved. "There should be an exit passage up ahead."

Upon hearing this, Mengya and I were nearly ready to jump for joy. Mengya said anxiously, "Then let's hurry!"

"Yes, Third Master, let's go!" We were so happy we could have broken into song.

Seeing our excitement, Ghost-Face Zhang sneered. "Don't get happy too soon. The real trouble is ahead."

"What?" I was stunned. Could there be something even more dangerous than what we had already faced? Were we doomed after all?

***

"Sigh!" Ghost-Face Zhang let out a long sigh and lit a cigarette. "It’s all up to fate now." With that, he pulled a glow stick from his pack and whispered, "Get ready! Follow me and run fast!"

"Wait, wait! Hold on!" I blocked his path. "Run where? What's in front of us?"

"Stop the damn chatter! Don't look for anything, just follow me and run, understand?"

I looked at Mengya, terrified for her safety, especially considering the child she carried.

"Don't look at her; she's far more agile than you."

I nodded. "Mengya, keep close!" As I spoke, tears welled up and spilled over. I was truly afraid that this meeting would be our last.

Seeing me cry, Mengya wiped the tears from my face, her own eyes brimming. She sighed, "It's all right, Qiutong. Nothing will happen." She hugged me.

Ghost-Face Zhang watched us and sneered, "Don't act like this is a funeral farewell. It’s annoying."

Hearing him, I realized I was being too sentimental. I wiped my eyes and said, "Third Master, let's start."

Ghost-Face Zhang took a deep drag of his cigarette, stretched his arms, cracked his neck, and loosened his joints. He pulled the pin on the glow stick, and it instantly emitted a fluorescent light. With a grunt of effort, he hurled the stick into a stone crevice several yards away.

"Close your eyes!"

We obeyed. There was a sudden "clack" as a blinding flash illuminated the entire cavern.

We waited five seconds before slowly opening our eyes, and what we saw made our souls wither in terror.

In the center of the vast space, beneath the ceiling opening, was a massive pool of water. Tossing and turning within the waves was a creature over twenty meters long—a flat, deathly pale monster fish covered in eye-like markings. Its tail was enormous, longer than its body, trailing two fleshy, ribbon-like appendages that broke the surface as the fins slapped the water like giant fans. It was the very prototype of the behemoth we had seen under the overpass.

"What is that?" I asked.

"Don't ask, just run!" Ghost-Face Zhang cursed.

As he spoke, the creature seemed to notice us. The giant fan-like fins abruptly stopped. The strange eyes all over its body swiveled toward me—horrifying, bloodshot eyes that looked like they had been infected for centuries.

"Run!" Ghost-Face Zhang shoved me forward with such force that I stumbled out.

*Snap!* There was a crisp sound as the S-shaped Warring States jade dragon pendant I wore around my neck shattered. I remained unharmed.

Ghost-Face Zhang wiped away cold sweat. "Hurry! Don't you realize how dangerous it is?"

I nodded, scrambled to my feet, and looked at Mengya. "Run!"

Mengya nodded and followed. Ghost-Face Zhang was incredibly fast; a merchant like me couldn't keep up, and Mengya had to slow down to match my pace.

Leading the way, Ghost-Face Zhang kept looking back. "Faster! Don't let the monster recover!"

No sooner had he shouted than the creature rolled its eyes again, the pupils spinning wildly.

*Splash!*

Ghost-Face Zhang took a massive tumble and fell to the ground, motionless.

"Third Master!" I screamed, rushing over to shake him and check his breath.

"How is he?" Mengya asked, frowning.

I hoisted Ghost-Face Zhang onto my back. "He's fainted. I can't watch him die here."

Mengya nodded. She scanned the area and saw a narrow passage to the front right and a wider path to the left. She clicked her tongue. "Which way?"

"Narrow..." Ghost-Face Zhang’s faint voice reached our ears. "You can't run carrying me..."

"No, I won't watch you die here." I started running with him on my back.

The monster’s recovery time seemed to be about half a minute. Just as we picked up Ghost-Face Zhang, the creature’s eyes began to spin again. *Snap!* The Warring States jade dragon pendant around Mengya’s neck shattered.

"Do you have any more ancient jade? Wear it, quick!" Ghost-Face Zhang gasped.

"None left," I replied.

I struggled to run through the uneven, bone-strewn cave. It was less of a run and more of a desperate scramble. The floor was as slippery as ice; one wrong step and you'd be flat on your face.

Another half-minute passed. The monster's eyes began to spin once more.

*Snap!*

I looked to the side and let out a strangled cry. Tears burst from my eyes. Mengya had collapsed to the ground. She had shielded me from behind, closing her eyes with a faint smile.

"Qiutong, run!" Ghost-Face Zhang kicked my lower back with all his remaining strength, sending me sprawling as he let go. "Run! We’re both dead. No one can handle this thing. I fear the old brothers of the Nine Gates all died in here. From now on, the Nine Gates of Beijing are finished!"

He braced himself against the ground, forcing himself onto one knee. He laughed coldly, drawing his long blade to use as a cane. He pointed a finger at the creature in the water. "Third Master dying by your hand today—it’s no disgrace. I, Ghost-Face Zhang, dying at the hands of the King of All Gu—no disgrace!"

He looked up and laughed madly, then, as the monster's eyes spun, he slumped to the ground.

"Third Master!" I roared. Looking at Ghost-Face Zhang, who lay dead with his eyes still open, and Mengya, who still wore that small, serene smile as if she had died for a worthy cause, my heart felt as if it were bleeding. My soul was shattered; I was utterly hollow.

I looked at the monster with a cold, dead gaze. Mengya had died for me; I had no attachments left, only the wish to follow her quickly. There was no despair, no disappointment. I closed my eyes, waiting for the creature’s execution.

*Splash.*

The glow stick on the ceiling slowly flickered out ten minutes later.