Book 2: Chapter 5

Book 2: Chapter 5

Zhang Qishan used a tree branch to move the soil away from the corpse. They saw that the head had no skin or flesh, and there was a big hole in the top of the skull.

The brain was sucked away, Zhang Qishan said. Old Ba, tell me what might cause this.

The Classic of Regions Within the Seas: North (1) mentions that Taoquans look like dogs and are green in color. When they eat people, they start from their heads. Qiongqis look like tigers and have wings. They also start from the head when they eat people, but theyll also eat the hair. Qiongqis live further north of Taoquans. Some say that when Qiongqis eat people, they start from their feet, Qi Tiezui said. The Classic of Mountains and Seas says that both Taoquans and Qiongqis start from the head when they eat people.

Zhang Qishan looked back at him. So youre saying that I ate it. (2)

Its also possible that a Taoquan ate it. Qi Tiezui started to hide behind Zhang Xiaoyu.

Zhang Qishan cut the vine and the corpse fell to the ground.

Qi Tiezui continued, Theres also a kind of monster in Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (3). We only know that it looks like a wild dog and eats human brains.

Why is the human skin gone? Zhang Qishan asked. Does this monster only eat skin and not meat?

When monsters take skin, they take it in order to wear it instead of eating it, Qi Tiezui said. We have to be careful. Maybe the thing were hunting is dressed in human skin and looks like a human.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Maybe thats your love affair. Zhang Xiaoyu laughed. Dont shy away from it, Ba Ye. It is a mountain god after all.

Qi Tiezui looked at the carcass and said unconfidently, Fo Ye, if Im guessing right, this is an Erfu. Its a kind of snake.

It has a human face.

This thing is very fierce. It eats human brains and lives underground. The corpse just now shouldve been eaten by it. But it Qi Tiezui paused. Why is it dead as well? He wondered.

****

TN Notes:

(1) Its the 12th chapter of The Classic of Mountains and Seas, which is known as Shan Hai Jing. Its a Chinese classic text and a compilation of mythic geography and beasts. Wiki link here.

(2) Zhang Qishans tattoo is a Qiongqi.

(3) Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, or Liaozhai Zhiyi, is a collection of Classical Chinese stories by Pu Songling, comprising close to five hundred marvel tales. Wiki link here.

****

Tiffanys Notes: Well, it seems like Fiddlefire isnt the only one who thinks that maybe Ba Ye will have a love affair with the mountain god lol