Centuries

Chapter 16

 Men smoked at the docks while others were unloading cargo from ships. It seemed that no one could see Horseface and me. The men chatted as they worked, grunting and carrying the crates onto shore, while in the distance, courtesans from the nearby houses beckoned to those men.

"So here we are," Horseface said. "I can't wait."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Remember the gingko fruit that I'd taken? I remembered one of my sins. Something that I'd done a long time ago. I'd killed a man."

"But we all 'kill' people, Horseface," I say. "We harvest their souls."

"No, but I truly killed a man. He was not part of the heavenly decree, and I was punished for it. Both you and I had to take Meng Po's potion of forgetting," he said. "That was our punishment."

"I don't understand. Wouldn't our punishment have been to make amends?"

"No. Not this one. I believe that our master was a bit more benevolent in the past. He wanted us to forget and he didn't blame us."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded.

"But this time, I am going to apologise. I will set things right."

"But how do you know it's him?" I asked.

"I checked the hell of records," was the reply. "Same as you. How is your search for your girlfriend going, anyway?"

I blushed.

"I found her. But now, she's now... a boy."

"Interesting."

We walked through the harbour and made our way through the harbour, and then past the gambling dens, which were filled with raucous laughter. We went in. Two men were fighting their crickets against one another, like what I'd seen the last time in Hangzhou. One of them had a long beard, and the other, a shorter one. They stared at their insects in concentration, as though willing them to fight will result in their win. Mortals were so silly at times. And at last, at that final, crucial moment, Longbeard's cricket must've died, because he yelped in agony, and Shortbeard danced in joy.

"There. I've proven that I can beat you again. Now, you will pay me the money you owe."

Longbeard looked shocked. He staggered back, and glanced at the exits. He ran towards it, but Shortbeard chased after him and tugged at his robes.

"Mr Rong," he said, pointing his knife at him. "Pay your debts."

Mr Rong now rushed towards the door, but the gambling den's guards trapped him. They dragged him upstairs, with Shortbeard following. I wondered what was going to happen next. Horseface and I wanted to follow, but we would be stopped. And so, we did the next best thing. We waited.

After what seemed like forever, we heard a scream. Everyone did. We rushed towards the rooms to find that Mr Rong was dead. Shortbeard had stabbed him and his eyes lolled back. Those onlookers who had gathered shrugged and went about their business again, but we stayed. The innkeeper looked over him and sighed.

"Men, come clear this up."

"Wait." Horseface bent down to close Mr Rong's eyes. The deceased man's spirit appeared and stood next to him.

"I--I wasn't ready."

"That's what they all say," I replied.

"My wife and my children will now know what I've done," he said, burying his face in his hands.

"I will take care of that," Horseface said. I stared at him as if to ask, "How?"

"I will bring you back to the Netherworld. There is no way around it. And I will ask my companion to help you."

He turned to me. Well, he was the one who vouched for me in front of the Lord of the Dead. How could I say no?

"Where can I find your wife and children?" I asked.

"Longjing street," he said. "Look for the house covered with door gods."

I watched as Horseface escorted him out of the den and out back to the port, where he would journey to the Underworld. As for me? I had to find the Longbeard's wife and help him out. We were told not to get involved with a mortal's affairs, but that was too late. Moreover, if it would assuage Horseface's guilt in killing him, then so be it.

I turned to leave the gambling den and saw him. Ye Chun.

His face was made up and he was clanging some cymbals, marching along with his performing troupe. I froze. My heart told me to go to him, but my loyalty to my partner dictated that I should help. I took a deep breath and made my decision.