Strange Tales of the Ghosts

Yab-Yum (Part 16)

The book recorded that a nurtured corpse looked no different from a human.
They could speak, smile, and drink water and blood but could not eat.
This meant they had every appearance as a human has, including tears, and Li Bandian didn't miss her upsetting eyes.
After they finished eating, Li Bandian looked at her and asked, “What's wrong? Are you still angry at me?”

“I'm not angry.” Su Qing'e was holding the feather she pulled out from the chicken, the feather was stunning in colour, and she didn't want to throw it away.

Li Bandian sighed, “Don't blame me, it's for your own good.”

“I understand.
You are worried that I will drink human blood and cause a rampage.
I remember everything you told me not to do.
You looked so scary, and I thought you were going to throw me away,” Su Qing'e turned to look at him while biting her lips.
There was no resentment in her eyes but traces of feeling wronged by him.

“Okay, it's my fault, and I will make sure to remember it.
I won't doubt you ever again.” Li Bandian promised.

Su Qing'e asked naughtily, “Really? You won't be mad at me again?”

“Of course.”

“I believe you.” Su Qing'e rested her head on Li Bandian's shoulders and smiled satisfyingly like a little child.

After resting for a while, the old and young ones started their journey again.
Green mountains and clear lakes on the way were filled with their reflections.
Sometimes they laughed, and sometimes they worried about finding food.
Li Bandian had no choice but to change Su Qing'e's food to fish blood, rabbit blood, and other animal blood to survive on the road.

After half a year of traveling on foot, Li Bandian and Su Qing'e finally arrived at Green Willow Manor.
Junior Lv'er once mentioned in her letters that this manor was gifted to her by Liu Wuya, which was named after their names: Lv meaning green, and Liu meaning willow.
Li Bandian looked at the luxurious manor in front of his eyes and sighed, “It looks like Junior Liu surely made a lot over these past years.”

“Father, is your junior apprentice the only one living here?” Su Qing'e ran around the manor once and thought it was even a few times bigger than Li Bandian's temple.

Li Bandian shook his head, “I don't know.” He had never come here before and wouldn't even be able to find it if his junior apprentice didn't write the detailed address in her letter.
The door to the manor was closed; he knocked on it.

Someone finally answered the door after a long time.
The door cracked open, and a granny in her fifties appeared in front of the pair.
The granny looked at Li Bandian and Su Qing'e cautiously.

“Who are you looking for?”

“You are?” Li Bandian hadn't seen Lv'er for thirty years, and he didn't know what she looked like now.
He looked at the granny for a long time and wasn't sure if she was Lv'er.

Granny glanced at Li Bandian and replied carefreely, “It's not important who I am, what's important is who you are looking for.”

“I'm looking for Lv'er.”

“You are looking for Miss?” Granny looked surprised that he was here for Lv'er and asked again, “And who are you?”

“I am her senior apprentice, Li Banshan.”

“Wait here.
I shall notify her first.” The granny slammed the door shut.

It was the first time Su Qing'e heard Li Bandian's name and whispered, “Father, is your real name Li Banshan?”

“Mhm,” Li Bandian nodded.
It had been more than thirty years, and he never told anyone his real name because it was unnecessary.
He won't reencounter most of them ever again in his life, and it wasn't important whether they knew about his name or not.

TL Notes:

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