Chapter 14: The Mourning Hall

I asked Xu Nuo what she meant. What did she mean by saying I wouldn't give up until I saw the coffin? How exactly did she want me to lose hope?

Xu Nuo didn't explain and just told me to wait downstairs at my building. She said she would be there in twenty minutes, but when I tried messaging her again, she didn't reply.

I was a bit confused but changed my clothes, freshened up quickly, and checked the time. Seeing that it was about right, I put on my shoes and went downstairs.

To be honest, you can't trust a woman's sense of time. She said twenty minutes, but I ended up waiting for nearly half an hour. It was already December, and the icy wind from Siberia was howling. My nose was running from the cold, and just as I was about to head back upstairs, a white Audi A4 stopped in front of me.

At first, I didn't react. It wasn't until the window rolled down that I realized Xu Nuo was the one driving. I asked her, "Is this your car?"

Xu Nuo said, "No, it's my mom's. Hurry up and get in. Are you not cold or what?"

I opened the door and got in. As soon as I sat down, I started scolding her. "Didn't you tell me to come down in twenty minutes? It's been almost an hour! What kind of way is this to handle things?"

Xu Nuo was completely unapologetic. "I had to freshen up and wash my face, didn't I? And who knew it was this cold outside? I left the hotel, went home to change, and decided to bring my mom's car. You think going home didn't take time?"

I was pissed. "So, you're saying I wrongly accused you?"

Xu Nuo ignored me. "Stop whining and let me drive. I'm taking you somewhere, and you'll understand when we get there."

I asked where she was taking me, but she wouldn't say, only repeating that I'd understand when we arrived.

Seeing her act so secretive, I stopped asking and started looking around the car's interior. It seemed to be a high-end model. Honestly, judging from the way Xu Nuo casually sent me red envelopes before, I already had a feeling she was well-off. Her clothes were all designer brands, too. But I didn't expect her family to spoil her so much, letting her take the car out so easily.

Xu Nuo kept driving toward our destination. By the time we reached the intersection at Sanbao Temple Road, she turned in, and that's when I started feeling uneasy. I asked her, "Are you taking me to Sanbao Temple?"

She finally spoke. "No, I have a relative who's a Yin-Yang master, and his shop is nearby. I think you've been possessed lately, so I'm taking you to see him."

I said, "You're the one who's possessed! I'm not going to a fortune teller. Turn the car around."

Xu Nuo rolled her eyes. "Fortune teller, my ass. He's a real Yin-Yang master. Do you think he's just some scam artist?"

When she mentioned scam artists, I suddenly remembered the old man from last night. I still didn't know what his deal was. He had disappeared suddenly when I was with Ying Ying, and I had no idea how he left.

More importantly, I wasn't even sure if he was human.

Thinking about this, I figured going to Sanbao Temple wasn't a bad idea. I could also check in with that old man. I wanted to know if he was the one who saved me last night, and if so, why he ran away afterward.

What I didn't expect was that Xu Nuo actually parked the car right in front of the old man's shop.

I remembered it clearly—the most rundown storefront on the entire street, with a filthy signboard. It had to be his place.

I thought to myself, What a coincidence.

I asked Xu Nuo, "Is your relative an old man?"

Xu Nuo frowned. "What old man? He's my uncle."

Then she told me to get out of the car. Still puzzled, I followed her inside.

I was still thinking—if the old man was over sixty, and Xu Nuo called him her uncle, then her dad must be in his seventies or eighties?

But the moment I stepped inside, I realized something was wrong.

Sitting on a chair inside wasn't the old man—but a young man who looked about thirty.

As soon as we entered, Xu Nuo greeted him. "Uncle, this is the friend I mentioned on the phone. Take a look at him."

I was stunned. I turned to Xu Nuo and asked, "This is your uncle?"

Xu Nuo said, "Yeah. What, you think he's handsome?"

I was completely baffled and blurted out, "What the hell? Then who was the old man I saw?"

Xu Nuo looked confused. "What old man? What are you talking about?"

I said, "No, I came to this shop a week ago. There was an old man with a goatee sitting here. He told my fortune. He even went to my school with me last night. Where did that old man go?"

Xu Nuo frowned. "Are you sure you didn't remember wrong? My uncle has been running this shop for years. There's never been an old man here."

I ignored Xu Nuo and turned to the young man. But I could tell something was off about his expression. He had his head down, deep in thought.

After Xu Nuo finished speaking, the young man looked up and smiled at me. "I was out of town for the past two weeks helping someone with a haunted house case. I only got back the day before yesterday, and the shop was closed the whole time. Bro, you must be mistaken."

I shook my head firmly. "No way. This is the shabbiest shop on the whole street. I chose it on purpose. I'm not mistaken."

Xu Nuo smacked me. "Do you have to be so blunt?"

The young man didn't answer me but turned to Xu Nuo with a playful grin. "Hey, niece, I haven't eaten breakfast yet. Could you go buy me a bowl of mutton soup from Li's Dumpling House?"

Xu Nuo rolled her eyes. "No way, that place is so far. Even driving there and back takes half an hour. There's a dumpling shop next door. Just make do with that."

The young man shook his head. "No can do. I really want mutton soup today."

Xu Nuo pointed at me. "Then check him out first. After that, we'll go together. I haven't eaten yet either."

But the young man just kept grinning and shook his head. "Nope, can't do it. I don't have the energy to work on an empty stomach."

Xu Nuo stomped her foot in frustration, but in the end, she gave in. "Fine! You just wait here. I'll go get it."

Before leaving, she kicked me and said, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be running this errand."

I smirked. "You want me to cover the soup money?"

Xu Nuo rolled her eyes. "Screw off."

Once she was gone, the young man smirked at me. "My niece is a bit clueless. Don't mind her."

I didn't say anything. I just stood there, staring at him. From his behavior, I could tell he definitely knew something about the old man. And the way he sent Xu Nuo far away for food—it was obvious he wanted her out of the way.

Sensing my silence, the young man seemed a bit awkward. His smirk faded.

Then he walked up to me, extended his hand, and said, "Let me introduce myself. I'm Xu Mingyang. If I'm not mistaken, the old man you saw was my master."

I shook his hand and replied, "I'm Gu Yan. I came looking for your master. I have something to ask him."

Xu Mingyang sighed and withdrew his hand. "Ah… how do I even explain this?"

I frowned. "What is it? Is your master not here?"

"It's not that he's not here…" Xu Mingyang hesitated. "Forget it. Just follow me."

Then he turned and pulled back a curtain, leading me into a back room.

What I saw inside was something I would never forget.

Against one wall stood a table covered with candles, offerings, and an incense burner. It was unmistakably a mourning hall.

And in the center, hanging in plain sight, was a black-and-white photo of the old man.