Chapter 39

Chapter 39: The Tomb of Emperor Hui of Jin [7]

Ghosts pounding the wall

The next morning someone knocked on the door of the room, and a “slam-” sounded. Zhang Qiu, who was wrapped around in bed like a baby cicada groaned. Li Shu was so unhuman last night, he had said no, but Li Shu still tossed him around. He was so angry, his body was aching and limping and he could not even open his eyelids.

“It’s all right. You continue to sleep.” Li Shu petted Zhang Qiu’s soft head and his voice was somewhat low and gentle. Zhang Qiu unconsciously rubbed his head against Li Shu’s palm as he listened to Li Shu’s words and began to sleep again.

The sound of knocking on the door became louder and louder. Zhang Qiu pulled the quilt over his head. When Li Shu, who was originally emitted a gentleness went to the noisy door, his eyes suddenly turned cold. He quickly opened the door.

Su WanTing stood at the door impatiently. When the door slammed open and saw the people inside, the hand that was about to knock paused in midair. The impatience on her face instantly turned into a smile, she sweetly said, “Big Brother Li Shu, are you up?” When her eyes swept to Li Shu’s neck and saw a red mark, jealousy flashed in her eyes, but it quickly gone.

“The breakfast in this restaurant is delicious –”

“Call me Li Shu.” Li Shu coldly interrupted Su WanTing, “What’s the matter?”

Su WanTing could not keep her sweet smile on her face anymore, so she muttered, “I want to tell you, don’t miss the air ticket at eleven o’clock this morning.”

Li Shu had no expression and closed the door coldly. Su WanTing bit her lower lip hatefully outside the door. She never wanted anything that was not obtainable. If she listened to her Master's words, this man would come to her sooner or later…

Zhang Qiu vaguely heard the conversation outside. When Li Shu came in, he asked vaguely, “Is it time to move? Then I get up.” When the quilt was opened, his nakedness was exposed; all over his body were mottled red marks, even the inside of his thighs were flakey. Looking at it would make people blush.

Li Shu’s eyes darkened while thinking of the delicacy of Song Bao last night, and he said kindly with his lips raised, “I’ll help you take a bath.”

Zhang Qiu’s head was still groggy. His legs and feet were weak. Since there was a free manpower, he did not need to move, so he nodded happily. Until they entered the bathroom, it was not long before Zhang Qiu’s shout could be heard.

“Where do you think you put your hands, bastard Li Shu?!”

Little Zongzi, who was under the pillow on the bed was startled. He looked around in confusion then rubbed his eyes with his little hands. When he heard the familiar voices of dialogue, he yawned and fell back on the pillow.

When Zhang Qiu came out of the bathroom alive, it was almost ten o’clock. His legs were trembling and his walking was unstable. Li Shu wanted to help, but Zhang Qiu waved him away. “You stay away from me, or I think I might not be able to walk straight out of the hotel door today.”

“Song Bao, if you want me to princess-carry you, just to talk directly. Don’t hint at me like that.”

“Daddy, I beg you to quickly go!” Zhang Qiu even almost wanted to kneel down for Li Shu’s perverseness. Damn spicy chicken[1] had tormented him all day long. It was not fair that he had such good physical strength!

Li Shu stared at Zhang Qiu with interest for a moment. “Ah, it turns out Song Bao likes role-playing!”

Who the fuck likes it? It was no wonder that Zhang Qiu had to rain curses, because he had been tossed and turned all night. Earlier in the bathroom, Li Shu once again made him to shoot sooner. Unexpectedly, Li Shu pinched his, as to not let him release, wanting to do it together with him.

Don't tell me, you have no awareness that your power of endurance is not humanly?! Even cold shouldering him if he was to shoot first! Of course he was at the standard of average male in China, right?! When Li Shu released his hand, Zhang Qiu almost burst open for Li Shu to see.

It was simply annoying!

Li Shu saw that Song Bao was baring fangs and brandishing claws, about to get angry, he then hugged his waist and kissed him intimately. “Be good, it won’t happen next time.”

Zhang Qiu’s face looked cold. You think I’ll believe you?!

After they had planted the mushrooms, Pixian Hui Wang and Pei Qing had been playing with Little Jiangshi in the small living room. Zhang Qiu found that Pei Qing was very good at coaxing children, despite the tough look of a big man. Xiao Jiang did not respond to Pei Qing yesterday, but now he could jump around on Pei Qing.

Pixian Hui Wang saw Zhang Qiu came out, his eyes swept around and clicked his tongue.

Without saying a word, Zhang Qiu knew what second's wife was thinking. He was so embarrassed, blamed it all on Li Shu!

Everyone exchanged greetings. The time was tight; Pixian Hui Wang passed a packaged breakfast to Zhang Qiu, “Eat in the car.”

Zhang Qiu was so moved that he was about to thank second's wife, but Pixian Hui Wang gently smile. “It seems like you still need me to buy you some medicine.”

It took Zhang Qiu a second to understand that second's wife threatened him with hemorrhoid ointment. Zhang Qiu swallowed it. Since Li Shu bought hemorrhoid ointment and second's wife saw it, he had never won against second's wife QAQ.

Still blamed it on Li Shu.

Little Zongzi saw Baba and jumped happily from Pei Qing to Zhang Qiu’s shoulder. Zhang Qiu broke a piece of bread and put it in his pocket, like guiding a puppy for a treat. When Little Zongzi saw it, he jumped into the pocket and sat cross-legged, grabbing the bread and eating it.

When they arrived at the garage, the car that the slave was put in yesterday had gone. When Su WanTing saw Li Shu, her eyes brightened. In the end, it turned to disgust when her eyes swept on Zhang Qiu, who was leaning on Li Shu’s shoulder like he had no bone. She looked away and said, “Pingquan and Xiao Liu drove back to Beijing yesterday. We go to Luoyang and wait for them.”

At the side, Da Liu opened the car's door and said to Su WanTing, “Miss Su can get on the car.”

Only then Zhang Qiu found out that Da Liu looked listless; as if he had mental distress. He had dark circles under his eyes, and his face was very pale. Zhang Qiu had not seen him for one night, but his body seemed to be drained away by something.

Su WanTing’s face did not cover up her disregarding attitude. “Really useless. If Pingquan hadn’t been willing to go back to Beijing in your stead, this work won't finish.”

The task of sending home the slave back to Beijing was given to Liu Brothers. Unexpectedly, last night, Da Liu was like a madman shouting strangely. It almost attracted security attention. Therefore, it was Pingquan who drove back to Beijing instead of Da Liu.

Da Liu didn’t say anything. He lowered his head, his thought unknown. Su WanTing snorted and boarded the car. The driver in front was Bald Head. Da Liu got on the car last. When he turned his head and swept a glance to Zhang Qiu, he hurried into the car with some fear in his eyes.

“Why do I think Da Liu is afraid of me?” Zhang Qiu touched his head and couldn’t figure out what Da Liu’s last look meant.

Pixian Hui Wang’s eyes moved to Zhang Qiu’s pocket, which half of Little Zongzi's head peeked out. Little Zongzi showed his two tiger's teeth and looked at Da Liu’s back proudly. He even nodding his small head, really looked like other people who didn’t know that he did it. Pixian Hui Wang smiled. “You think you are scary? Get on first.”

Zhang Qiu thought so. If he stood with Da Liu, it was obvious that Da Liu looked more fierce than him. How could the other be afraid of him?

When he got on the car, Zhang Qiu pulled out his mobile phone, and registered a new email. After much editing with proper words, he sent the mail. The recipient was the Changsha Museum.

Since they could not stop Bald Head and the rest from going into the pit again, it was up to the authorities to protect it from being destroyed again.

Li Shu’s eyes moved to Zhang Qiu’s face. He looked relaxed like a weight being lifted off his shoulder. The pleasing look on his face looked somewhat stupid but also quite lovely. Li Shu could not help but rise a few points along the curvature of his mouth.

They took off from Changsha and went directly to Luoyang North Suburb Airport. It was already noon and someone came to pick them up at the airport gate. Su WanTing got on a red sedan car and left first.

Zhang Qiu stared, spellbound at Su WanTing's figure disappearing in the direction. Just then, Su WanTing walked so fast, was the one who picked her up the people behind Jin LaoDa?

“Go back to the hotel first.”

Zhang Qiu approached Li Shu and whispered, “You’re not curious where Su WanTing went?”

“Where did she go?” Li Shu retorted.

Zhang Qiu was just about to guess, but noticed Li Shu had a pair of smiling eyes. He suddenly understood that Su WanTing might have gone to see the people behind Jin LaoDa.

“Don't you want to follow and ferret out the person behind the scene?” Zhang Qiu asked.

Li Shu looked at the driver ahead and shook his head. “I can’t keep up. Now that they are here, there’s a chance to meet them.”

Zhang Qiu realized in an instant that the when people left in such a hurry, it meant they had nothing to hide, which showed that they were not afraid to be followed. Vaguely, there was a kind of positive starting bar. This time, they did not know what was inside the pit.

–

Su Family’s hotel was very luxurious; a hot spring resort villa on the hill. This time, there were hot spring pools in the courtyard for everyone. They might spend a few more days in Luoyang because they had to wait for Pingquan, Xiao Liu and the others. This was practically just like spending one's vacation at the public expense.

Zhang Qiu was so happy to hear that one person got one room. Finally, he was able to get a good sleep without Li Shu.

“No, we’ll just have one.” Li Shu pushed Zhang Qiu’s room card back.

Zhang Qiu blew up. “Who says no —” after seeing Li Shu's unperturbed eyes, he pushed the room card back to the front desk after touching it. Panicky, he said, “I mean we’re more environmentally friendly.”

My_life_is_hopeless.jpg

Pixian Hui Wang smiled at Zhang Qiu and asked kindly, “Do you need me to help you look after Xiao Jiang?”

Zhang Qiu almost cried. Second's wife simply wanted to pit him anywhere and anytime! If there was Little Zongzi, Li Shu could exercise a little restraint — although he doubted that Li Shu knew how to write the word restraint. But under the circumstances with Little Zongzi, this was about morality and conduct. If Little Zongzi was gone, he might not need his life. He did not want to be in the headline news because he had died from excessive ejaculation.

He waved his hand quickly. “Xiao Jiang sticks to me so much that he can’t sleep without me.”

Zhang XiaoJiang, who was very much sound asleep: …

After idly talking a few words, they got the room cards and each went back to their rooms.

–

The villa’s rooms were sort of similar to front courtyard. The four of them just happened to be in one courtyard, while Bald Head and the rest were in the courtyard next door.

As soon as Zhang Qiu entered the room, he stripped himself down to a pair of trousers and quickly got into bed. To prevent a wolf attack, he wrapped himself tightly and revealed only his head. He said to Li Shu with dignity and honor, “In order to keep sustainable development in the future, I think we must keep a distance today.”

Undoubtedly, he was extremely terrified, yet he pretended to be fierce. Li Shu was amused when he saw it. “Don’t worry, I won't touch you. After all, there will be ample time for that later.”

Zhang Qiu relaxed, reached out and took Xiao Jiang out of his pocket. The chill was very comfortable, did not even have to switch on the air conditioning.

The father and son were sleeping soundly in their bed. Li Shu went to the large window and watched the endless mountain; his eyebrows slightly frown into the distance.

–

By the time Zhang Qiu woke up, the street lights outside the courtyard had turned on, and the stars around the hot spring pool were arranged in a romantic way. Li Shu was not in the room. Xiao Jiang was asleep on the pillow. Zhang Qiu had a disregard attitude on his face and poked Xiao Jiang’s cool face with his finger.

“Dumb Xiao Jiang!”

“Baba.” Little Zongzi, awakened from harassment, rubbed his eyes in confusion.

Zhang Qiu grabbed his wrinkled T-shirt and put it on at will, and then picked up Xiao Jiang, who was tottering to get up but fell on his butt because he was too sleepy and half conscious. “Go to eat and find your unrestrained Second Aunt by the way!”

“Eat!” Little Zongzi’s eyes lit up when he heard that they were going to eat.

Zhang Qiu laughed, took his son out and met Pei Qing as soon as he left the door.

“Did you see Li Shu?”

Pei Qing shook his head. “No, you can go to the restaurant and look for him there.”

The restaurant was outside the courtyard, a small red-roofed building. Zhang Qiu nodded and followed Pei Qing's suggestion. He took two steps, frowned and looked back at Pei Qing. There was a slight fragrance in the wind just now. Although it was light, it smelled sweet, just like how it smelled in the water at Changsha.

He sniffed, but the sweet smell was gone.

Did he think too much?

–

Out of the courtyard entrance, he could see the Red Roof Restaurant far away. When they passed by at noon, the restaurant was not far from their rooms; they could walk for ten minutes. Zhang Qiu’s hungry stomach shouted ‘gugugu‘. The lunch he had on the plane had all been digested by now.

Zhang Qiu could not help it, so he quickened the pace and walked for about ten minutes. The location of the Red Roof Restaurant from Zhang Qiu’s point of distance seemed unchanged. His heart sank. He had walked so fast, he should have arrived long ago by the distance from the courtyard entrance to the restaurant.

The roadside was surrounded by lawns and dark trees. Who knew whether it was his illusion, but the street lights on both sides were a little darker than before.

Zhang Qiu looked around, and unexpectedly the road ahead and behind turned blurry. The red roofed building in front had disappeared into the night as if it had never appeared before.

Ghosts pounding the wall.[2]

Zhang Qiu thought about this and his heart sank sharply, but his face was calmer than he thought. Perhaps, he knew that now he was alone without Li Shu and Pixian Hui Wang there, he could only rely on himself at this time. He subconsciously patted his pocket. Xiao Jiang popped half of his head out of it. His confused eyes saw the surroundings, and then his eyes were as sharp as Li Shu’s. But Zhang Qiu didn’t notice this.

The road seemed to have disappeared. Zhang Qiu was calm but could not move half of a step.

Behind his ears felt like someone blowing cold air. After a while, a layer of gooseflesh appeared behind his neck. Zhang Qiu dared not look back. He did not know where he had seen it -human has three fires, one on the head and two on the shoulders. If a human chance upon ghosts pounding the wall, one will feel chilly wind blowing from behind. No matter what, do not turn back.

Once you look back, the ghost will blow out the fire on your shoulder. If all three fires are extinguished, then the ghost found the scapegoat and substituted you.

When Zhang Qiu's thought at this point, his palms were soaked in cold sweats. The feeling of shadow following behind him did not disappear. On the contrary, it became stronger and stronger. A sweet fragrance slowly drifted into the tip of his nose, and a heavy weight landed on his shoulder, like a hand, it was heavy.

“Monster!”

Inside the pocket, Xiao Jiang’s angry and cold voice sounded and suddenly rushed behind Zhang Qiu. Zhang Qiu vaguely heard the painful voice of a woman. Gradually, the sweet fragrance faded. Zhang Qiu could breathe a sigh of relief but suddenly heard from the distant, a voice of faint hidden bitterness.

“Your Excellency, save maidservant.”

Footnote:

[1] 辣鸡 là jī (LJ) = (internet slang) Spicy chicken can be used in many places. Either rubbish (LJ), or when you are happy, you can shout: spicy chicken! When you are angry, you can also call spicy chicken! Spicy chicken can express ridicule, can also express admiration. In short, it can be used in many scenes!

[2] 鬼打墙 refers to the fact that people tend to walk around in circles when they’re in situations where there is not enough light or visual cues to help them navigate. The idea is that a person is obstructed by walls that some ghosts have thrown up in front of them, thus forcing that person to walk in circles.

[T/N] I think the pocket that we all are curious about is not necessarily a shirt's pocket though. The 'pocket' here also translated into bag or sack. In my opinion, the pocket here should probably mean the bag/sling bag pocket. It should be larger than a shirt's pocket. ^o^ if I’m wrong, please tell me nicely~

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