Wandering Spirit Tavern - Chapter 8 - The Remains

Feng Bei had returned to the Taoist temple to resume his duties as a Taoist priest. His days were filled with rituals for the deceased or blessings for the living, keeping him busy and content. Occasionally, when he had a moment to himself, he would reflect on how his current work wasn’t much different from his previous job-both involved a fair amount of deception.

The main difference was that this job was more exhausting and paid less.

Whenever this thought crossed his mind, Feng Bei couldn’t help but curse his master: “That old man, out of all his disciples, why did he have to drag me into this?”

After several busy days, it suddenly dawned on him that he had forgotten something important. He hadn’t asked the deceased former tavern owner about the fire at the Taoist temple. Was it an accident, or was someone trying to destroy his master’s remains on purpose?

Initially, Feng Bei thought it was all connected to Lin You’s mother’s funeral, but with Lin You’s issues resolved, it seemed unrelated to his master.

So why were his master’s remains burned? Was it really just an accident?

Feng Bei decided to visit the tavern and ask the ghosts there for information.

The tavern had calmed down after its grand opening, and there weren’t many customers. Lin You probably hadn’t figured out the book her aunt left her, so Honest Chen was still managing the tavern’s business.

“Just give me any drink,” Feng Bei said, deciding to ask Honest Chen for information. Despite Honest Chen’s seemingly untrustworthy demeanor, Feng Bei knew from experience that such people often had the most information.

“Sure thing,” Honest Chen replied, going to pour a drink.

Feng Bei asked, “Drinking your wine won’t cause any problems, right?”

Honest Chen laughed, “What are you talking about? This tavern isn’t just for the dead. Of course, we have drinks for the living too.”

Feng Bei joked, “Really? Don’t try to fool me.”

Honest Chen put on a serious face, “How could I? I’m the most honest person around.”

With that, the drink was placed in front of Feng Bei. He didn’t drink it immediately but looked up, dropping the playful tone. “Did you know about the fire at our Taoist temple recently?”

Honest Chen panicked, “It has nothing to do with me!”

“I didn’t say it did. I’m just asking if you have any leads. Why are you so nervous? It’s like you know something you’re not telling.”

Feng Bei felt he was onto something; the fire must be connected to these ghosts.

Honest Chen continued to deny, “How could I? I’m just a wandering spirit. If I knew anything, I wouldn’t hide it from you! You know I’m the most honest person around.”

Feng Bei pressed on, “Alright, then answer my next question honestly, as you always do.”

“Of course, even if you didn’t ask, I’d answer honestly,” Honest Chen replied.

“Did my master offend anyone or any spirits before he died?”

Honest Chen said, “I really don’t know. Taoist Cheng was kind and often helped us. How could such a good person offend anyone?”

Feng Bei asked, “So you don’t know, or he didn’t offend anyone?”

“I don’t know.”

Feng Bei realized he wouldn’t get any useful information, but from Honest Chen’s earlier words, it seemed his master didn’t have a good relationship with these ghosts.

Feng Bei was convinced that most of Honest Chen’s words should be taken with a grain of salt. If he said his master was a good person who often helped them, it probably meant his master often thwarted their plans.

“These guys must have taken revenge on my master after his death. But which ghosts were responsible? And will this revenge extend to me?” These were Feng Bei’s pressing concerns, but answers weren’t forthcoming.

He could only wait, wait for his adversaries to make the first move.

With his master’s issues unresolved, Feng Bei decided to visit Lin You while he was at the tavern.

Upon entering the office, he found Lin You frantically flipping through the book her aunt had left her.

Feng Bei teased, “Don’t just focus on studying, or the little ghosts might sell your tavern!”

Lin You was excited to see Feng Bei, “Oh, that’s not important. You’re just in time. Help me think of a solution!”

Feng Bei asked, “What’s going on?”

Lin You replied, “We need to save Zhou Man.”

Feng Bei asked, “Who’s Zhou Man?”

“The bald girl,” Lin You explained.

The wandering spirits in the tavern had indeed helped Lin You find Zhou Man and had gathered information about her, like why she shaved her head. One of the little ghosts, who had a good relationship with a netherworld enforcer, even learned that Zhou Man was destined to die this month.

As Lin You learned more about Zhou Man’s life from the ghosts, she grew fond of the quirky yet endearing girl. When she found out the girl was about to die, she couldn’t accept it.

“That’s not right. She has so many plans unfulfilled, so many things she hasn’t enjoyed. She’s endured so much; she can’t just die now.”

Lin You decided then and there to save Zhou Man.

To save her, Lin You picked up the book she had been reluctant to read and began searching for a solution. But the book was a jumble of topics-sources of wine, effects of wine, the plight of ghosts, how to prevent ghost threats-everything except how to extend someone’s life.

Just as she was feeling frustrated, Feng Bei arrived, and Lin You saw him as her savior.

“When will she die?” Feng Bei asked.

“I don’t know,” Lin You replied.

“How will she die?” Feng Bei continued.

“I don’t know,” Lin You answered again.

“If you don’t know anything, how can you save her?”

“That’s why we need to figure something out! Can’t you use your Taoist skills?”

“I’ve never learned how to bring the dead back to life.”

“Oh, forget it, this stupid book!” Lin You exclaimed, flipping through it. Suddenly, she shouted, “I found it!”

She had found the method the tavern owner once used to bring someone back to life, called “life-borrowing wine.” As the name suggests, it was a wine that borrowed life from another person.

Feng Bei glanced at the book and frowned, “Evil sorcery!”

Lin You, driven by emotion, said, “Who cares if it’s evil sorcery? It’s a solution.”

Feng Bei retorted, “To save one person by killing another? You call that a solution?”

Lin You argued, “Some people deserve to die.”

Feng Bei countered, “That’s not for you to decide.”

Lin You was momentarily at a loss for words, finally saying, “What if someone is willing to give up their life?”

Feng Bei replied, “Sure, her parents would be willing.”

Lin You fell silent, thinking of her own mother.

Realizing he had been too harsh, Feng Bei added, “Let’s think of other ways. If all else fails, we can help the girl do some things she wants to do, so she can die happy.”

After Feng Bei spoke, Lin You suddenly looked up, her eyes shining.

Feng Bei thought he had convinced her, but Lin You exclaimed, “I have an idea!”

With that, she dashed out of the office.

Feng Bei anticipated it wouldn’t be a good idea, “Oh no, what crazy plan now?”

Lin You rushed to the counter and shouted to the drinking ghosts, “Can any of you find someone who wants to commit suicide?”

Feng Bei slapped his forehead in frustration, “Don’t listen to her! She’s joking!”

Lin You insisted, “I’m not joking. Find someone, and you’ll get free drinks for life.”

Feng Bei exclaimed, “Nonsense!”

He then dragged Lin You back into the office.