Last Bus of Route 13 - Chapter 60 - Searching for Semi-Immortal Xu

Zhou Zhuang noticed my wandering gaze, turned around, and saw the woman standing behind him. Smiling, he pulled her closer and introduced her, “This is my wife, Xiao Chu.”

Hearing that she was his wife, I finally let out a sigh of relief. Zhou Zhuang must have noticed me staring at the scars on her face because he quickly explained, “Oh, a few years ago, my wife went into the mountains to gather firewood. She slipped and fell, and some branches scratched up her face pretty badly. It looks a bit scary, but don’t mind it.”

Now that I was closer, she didn’t seem as terrifying as before. Still, the scars on her face-long and thick-didn’t look like they were caused by mere branches. I nodded at Xiao Chu as a polite greeting.

Zhou Zhuang grinned and asked, “So, what brings you to Yangcaogou?”

Having a familiar face around made things easier. I didn’t hold back and told him straight up that I was here to find someone named Semi-Immortal Xu, who was known for his divination skills.

Zhou Zhuang thought for a moment before saying, “Well, there is someone in Yangcaogou who does divinations and treats illnesses, but his last name isn’t Xu.”

Old Liu, who had been listening quietly, chimed in, “Semi-Immortal Xu was the name he used when he first started out. I heard he changed his name after moving here, so it’s not surprising if he doesn’t go by Xu anymore.”

I quickly introduced Old Liu to Zhou Zhuang, saying he was my uncle. Zhou Zhuang chuckled and said, “You two probably don’t have any other relatives or friends here, right? Why don’t you stay at my place?”

I was more than happy to accept his offer and didn’t bother with formalities. Old Liu and I followed him to his house.

Zhou Zhuang’s home was a modest brick house. The west room served as the main bedroom, while the east room was smaller. Though it was a tight fit, Old Liu and I weren’t exactly large, so we managed to squeeze in.

Once we arrived, Zhou Zhuang asked Xiao Chu to head to the kitchen and prepare dinner. Meanwhile, he sat with us on the kang, chatting away.

Back in college, Zhou Zhuang came from a family with limited means. Maybe because of that, he had been extremely introverted, always keeping to himself during classes and meals. But he was kind-hearted. Whenever he bought fruit or snacks, he’d share them with our roommates. I hadn’t been able to attend his wedding since I was out of town for training, but I’d sent him 500 yuan through a mutual friend.

We hadn’t interacted much during our school days, but there was still a bond between us. Now, Zhou Zhuang seemed like a completely different person-talkative and cheerful. Seeing me again, he was full of warmth and nostalgia, recounting countless amusing stories from our college days.

Eventually, I steered the conversation back to the topic at hand and asked about the divination master in the village. Zhou Zhuang began to explain.

“This guy is in his sixties. I don’t know his real name; everyone in the village just calls him Da Lao Wang. He has a wife who’s mute. The two of them are outsiders-they don’t own any land here. Da Lao Wang often goes into the mountains to gather herbs and sells them to make a living.”

Hearing that he was from out of town, I felt a surge of excitement. If he really was the Semi-Immortal Xu we were looking for, it would save us a lot of trouble.

I thought for a moment and asked, “If Da Lao Wang is so skilled, why doesn’t he make a living from divination and treating illnesses?”

Zhou Zhuang laughed and waved his hand dismissively. “Da Lao Wang is incredibly kind-hearted. If someone in the village gets an evil disease, he only asks for a small offering of incense money-never a penny more.”

Hearing about Da Lao Wang’s reputation made me ecstatic. This sounded exactly like the demeanor of a true master. Although I hadn’t met him yet, I was convinced that Da Lao Wang had to be Semi-Immortal Xu!

As we were chatting, Xiao Chu finished preparing the meal. We set up a small round table on the kang and began a hearty dinner.

Catching up with an old classmate after so many years, reminiscing about our youthful days, the more we drank, the more cheerful we became.

By the time we wrapped up, it was already one or two in the morning. Stumbling back to my room, drunk and unsteady, I collapsed onto the bed.

My tolerance for alcohol wasn’t great. After returning to the room, I threw up a few times and was left with a splitting headache. My sleep was light and restless. In a daze, I thought I heard loud arguing coming from Zhou Zhuang’s room, followed by the sound of things being smashed.

Were Zhou Zhuang and Xiao Chu fighting?

But I was so drunk I didn’t even have the strength to lift my head. Even if they were arguing, there was nothing I could do to help. Eventually, I drifted off into a fitful sleep.

The next morning, Old Liu woke me up. Breakfast was already laid out on the stove in the kitchen. Zhou Zhuang and Xiao Chu greeted us briefly before heading out to work in the fields.

Old Liu had already asked Zhou Zhuang for directions to Da Lao Wang’s house earlier in the morning. After finishing breakfast, the two of us set off.

On the way, I asked Old Liu, “Old Liu, if this Semi-Immortal Xu deliberately hid himself in this village and changed his name to Da Lao Wang, what if he refuses to admit that he’s Semi-Immortal Xu?”

Old Liu replied in a low voice as we walked, “Anyone who can divine the secrets of heaven cannot escape the Five Afflictions and Three Deficiencies¹. Semi-Immortal Xu is bound to have some kind of disability. Let’s take a look when we meet him.”

I nodded, feeling a bit more reassured. As long as we could confirm he was Semi-Immortal Xu, I was confident I could persuade him to perform a divination for me.

Before long, we arrived at Da Lao Wang’s house.

His home was a mud house. From the outside, the walls were cracked and peeling, making it look even more rundown than Zhou Zhuang’s place. Old Liu and I stepped inside to find the small room already crowded with people.

On the edge of the kang sat a hunched old man, who I assumed was Da Lao Wang. Across from him stood a young man in his twenties, with a woman-likely the young man’s sister-speaking on his behalf. I listened closely and managed to piece together the gist of their conversation.

The young man wanted to head south to start a business and had come to Da Lao Wang to perform a divination to see if the trip would be profitable.

Da Lao Wang listened carefully to the sister’s explanation, asked for the young man’s Eight Characters, and without much ado, pulled two walnuts from his pocket. Closing his eyes, he muttered something under his breath before tossing the walnuts onto the kang. They landed randomly, scattering to either side.

I was taken aback by the scene and whispered to Old Liu, “Old Liu, aren’t diviners supposed to use their fingers to calculate or read palm lines? What’s with Da Lao Wang tossing a couple of walnuts?”

Old Liu replied in a hushed tone, “That’s the mark of a true master. Unlike those street-side fortune tellers who just recite from books and have no real skill, someone with genuine ability isn’t limited by the tools they use.”

I nodded in sudden understanding and continued watching Da Lao Wang, waiting for his divination results.

Da Lao Wang stared at the two walnuts on the kang for a long time, his brows furrowing deeply.

Finally, he shook his head and said, “Ah, your boy shouldn’t go south. Don’t blame me for speaking harshly, but this child has a solitary and ominous fate. If he stays home and leads a simple life, he might remain a bachelor his whole life, but at least he’ll be safe. If he leaves home and heads south, there’s bound to be bloodshed.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room froze. In rural areas, a young man who remains unmarried for too long becomes the subject of ridicule. And now, Da Lao Wang was outright declaring that this young man would be a lifelong bachelor.

The woman standing nearby, clearly embarrassed, spoke with a darkened expression, “What nonsense are you spouting? My boy’s got the height, he’s got the looks, and you’re saying he can’t find a wife?”

The man standing on the other side, presumably the boy’s father, stiffened at her words. His tone turned cold as he added, “We came here to ask about his fortune, not to hear you ramble. You managed to marry a mute, and you’re saying my handsome son can’t find a wife?”

Hearing this, even I felt a sting. It wasn’t like Da Lao Wang begged them to come for a divination. Now that the outcome wasn’t favorable, he was just being honest, yet they couldn’t accept it.

Da Lao Wang shook his head helplessly and said, “Don’t blame me for being blunt. I just say what I see. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”

The man’s temper flared at this. Pointing at Da Lao Wang, he shouted, “My son’s leaving tonight to catch a bus. We came to you for some good words, a bit of luck, and all you’re spouting is nonsense about bloodshed. You better recalculate!”

I’ve always had a hard time standing by when I see people being unreasonable. Just as I was about to step forward and speak up for Da Lao Wang, Old Liu tugged at my sleeve, holding me back.

Da Lao Wang calmly picked up the two walnuts from the kang and shook his head. “One divination per day. That’s it. I can’t do another. You should head back.”

The man, enraged, raised his arm as if to strike, but the woman quickly intervened, pulling him back. “Enough! Don’t stoop to his level. The whole village says he’s accurate-accurate, my foot! Just wait till my son makes money and comes back. Let’s see how he explains himself then.”

With that, she dragged the young man and the still-fuming father out the door.

Old Liu and I watched the whole scene unfold. Once the family of three had left, Da Lao Wang turned his puzzled gaze toward us. I quickly stepped forward and said, “Big Brother, I’ve come from the city. May I ask, are you Semi-Immortal Xu?”

Da Lao Wang’s expression didn’t change. He simply shook his head and replied, “My surname is Wang. You’ve got the wrong person.”

With that, he leaned on a stick by the kang and got down to the ground. As he moved, I noticed for the first time that his right leg was disabled. He needed the stick for support to walk.

Old Liu’s words echoed in my mind: those who can glimpse the secrets of the heavens are destined to suffer the Five Afflictions and Three Deficiencies. Da Lao Wang had a physical disability-if he wasn’t Semi-Immortal Xu, who else could he be?

Old Liu, seeing this, spoke in a serious tone, “We truly didn’t mean to intrude, but this young man’s life hangs by a thread. Please, we beg you to perform a divination and help him.”

Da Lao Wang waved his hand dismissively. “Why bother asking me? Didn’t you see? People don’t believe me anyway.”

I quickly interjected, “Big Brother, their disbelief is their ignorance. We believe in you. Please, I beg you, show me a way forward.”

Perhaps moved by my sincerity, Da Lao Wang paused for a moment before nodding slightly. “Alright then. But not today. Come back tomorrow.”

Overjoyed, I thanked him profusely and arranged to return the next morning.

On the way back to Zhou Zhuang’s house, Old Liu still wasn’t entirely convinced. He insisted on visiting the village chief to confirm whether Da Lao Wang was truly the Semi-Immortal Xu we were looking for.

Since Zhou Zhuang had fields to tend to, I wanted to get back quickly to help out. So, Old Liu and I decided to split up.

Last night, Zhou Zhuang had mentioned that his fields were easy to find. I just needed to follow the fork in the village road and keep heading right until the end.

I was walking along the road when I suddenly noticed an old man standing in the middle of the path with his back to me.

Hearing my footsteps approach, the old man asked in a low voice, “Young man, what time is it now?”

I found it odd. Why wouldn’t he turn around to ask? Still, I replied softly, “Old man, it’s eleven o’clock, just before noon.”

The old man hunched his back slightly and nodded. “Alright, thank you.”

I said it was no problem and brushed past him. But after taking just a few steps, I couldn’t shake the strange feeling. I turned back to take another look.

That glance nearly made me collapse to the ground. The old man was blind!

But he wasn’t like the blind man I had encountered earlier at the entrance of Community 2386, whose eyes were all white. This old man didn’t even have eyeballs!

Where his eyes should have been were deep, hollow sockets. Even in broad daylight, the sight was chilling to the bone.

The old man must have sensed me staring at him because he suddenly grinned at me.

That eerie smile sent a shiver down my spine. I quickly turned away and picked up my pace, eager to leave him far behind.

When I reached the fields, I mentioned the blind old man to Zhou Zhuang. Zhou told me that the man was a vagrant, not only blind but also mentally unstable. He survived entirely on the charity of the villagers.

I couldn’t help but sigh. What a pitiful old man.

As night fell, Zhou Zhuang, his wife Xiao Chu, and I wrapped up our work in the fields and headed back home.

All the liquor in the house had been finished the night before. Zhou insisted on going to the nearby convenience store to buy more. Unable to talk him out of it, I stayed home with Old Liu, waiting for Zhou to return.

While Old Liu and I were chatting idly on the kang, I suddenly noticed Xiao Chu standing off to the side, staring at me intently, just like she had the first time we met.

Her gaze made me deeply uncomfortable. I lowered my voice and asked, “Sister-in-law, why are you looking at me like that? Is something wrong?”

Xiao Chu bit her lip, hesitating to speak.

I could tell she had something on her mind, so I said, “Sister-in-law, it’s alright. Whatever you want to say, just say it. I’m not easily rattled.”

Finally, Xiao Chu spoke up. “You two need to-”

Before she could finish her sentence, a commotion erupted outside in the courtyard. Moments later, Zhou Zhuang burst into the house, panting and holding a bottle of liquor. He shouted, “Something bad has happened! I just heard that Old Zhang’s son died in a car accident. Old Zhang is blaming Da Lao Wang for cursing his son and is heading to Da Lao Wang’s house with a cleaver to kill him!”

Mr. He had died just moments before saving my life, and now that I had finally found someone like Semi-Immortal Xu who might guide me, I couldn’t let anything happen to him.

Hearing this, I didn’t even bother putting on my shoes. I leapt off the kang in one swift motion.

Zhou Zhuang dropped the bottle of liquor on the floor and rushed out ahead of me. Just as I was about to follow, Xiao Chu suddenly grabbed me from behind. Her voice was urgent as she said, “Remember, whatever happens, don’t believe a word Da Lao Wang says!”

Footnote:

1. Five Afflictions and Three Deficiencies(三弊五缺):The “Five Afflictions and Three Deficiencies” is a concept in Chinese metaphysics, referring to the inevitable hardships and sacrifices faced by those who delve into the secrets of the universe.