Chapter 128: An Embroidered Slipper

"Didn't I tell you already? After the founding of the People's Republic, the Ghost Sect actually made significant contributions. That 'Destroy the Four Olds' campaign was closely tied to the teachings of the Ghost Sect. Later, some people wanted something that belonged to the sect, but they refused to hand it over, which led to the split," Fatty said. I noticed his eyes darting around as he spoke, as if he were reluctant to say anything more about what happened afterward.

"Since you've already decided to come clean and have revealed such core secrets, why hold back now?" I looked at him and pressed.

"It’s not that I don’t want to tell you what happened next, it’s that I don’t know. I only know that the Jade Emperor Sect apparently used some unscrupulous means to gain access to the new core circle of power. But you can't blame my sect entirely; the Ghost Sect’s style was too extreme, and they refused to cater to the needs of the powerful elite at the time. The saying 'when the rabbits are gone, the hounds are cooked' was inevitable; even without my sect's involvement, they couldn't have lasted long. Although I am a member of the Jade Emperor Sect, my master had a falling out with the sect due to some of their actions back then, and he spent most of his time cultivating in Zifu Mountain. I came here for the same reason you did: curiosity. First, I wanted to know how the Jade Emperor Sect managed to buy off so many people to defect, and second, I wanted to know exactly what the Ghost Sect was guarding that was worth sacrificing their status for. Alright, stop looking at me like that. I’ve said all I can; I truly don't know anything else." Fatty waved his hands and stood up.

Uncle Zhuzi looked at Fatty with a faint smile and asked, "You really don't know anything else?"

Fatty glared at him, his face flushing with irritation. He pointed at Uncle Zhuzi and said, "Don't use that tone with me. Let me tell you, what I just said wasn't something you tricked out of me. I told you all this only for Ye’s sake. He’s too naive, and I couldn't bear to lie to him. As for the rest, if I say I don't know, I don't know. Believe it or not."

Having known Fatty for so long, I knew he hadn't really lied to me. Even the secrets he just revealed were things he had alluded to before. Even without Uncle Zhuzi’s pressure, he probably would have told me eventually. Seeing his genuine annoyance, I stepped in: "Alright, alright, let's drop it. Thanks for telling us all this today, Fatty. Regardless of anything else, at least things here have come to a temporary end. Let's not keep the atmosphere so heavy."

We had been talking in the room for so long that dawn had already broken. My mother and Han Xue went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for our large group. My older brother went into Grandfather’s room, took out his tobacco pipe, and sat in the courtyard on the small wooden stool Grandfather used every day, lost in thought. I went out for a walk with Fatty; after the events of the night, we needed to clear the air.

Once we were outside, Fatty said to me, "Ye, I really didn't lie to you. I honestly don't know what comes next. But I can tell you this: the 'A' team and the 'A Project' your father was involved in are all related to what happened back then. This is why I don’t trust Chen Dongfang. It's not just that no one at that level is a good person; it's that people at that level are used to being two-faced. Even if they still have a shred of kindness in their hearts, they are often not the masters of their own actions. At first, I thought it was about immortality. After all, those veterans were getting old, and having survived the war to gain wealth and glory, they wanted more. But I’ve discovered it’s not that simple. Immortality might be the goal for some, like Old Man Liu, whose purpose is simple—he just wants that Dragon Essence. What I'm afraid of is that there is much more to it than that."

I nodded and hooked my arm around Fatty’s shoulder. "I’m happy enough that you told me this much today. Growing up, you’re the only true friend I’ve had. If I don’t believe you, who can I believe? It’s just that I’m still uneasy, especially after learning my grandfather’s secret. I feel like it’s all very precarious. The Twelve Ghost Caves were guarded by my grandfather, but the Dragon Essence is still inside. As long as that thing remains, there’s no guarantee that Old Man Liu and his lot will just let it go."

"They certainly won't let it go, but after what happened, they’ll probably lay low for a while. Don’t overthink it; you’ve got your brother, don't you? Even though the Ghost Sect has fallen, they are not to be underestimated. Now that your grandfather has brought everything out into the open, it might not be a bad thing. At least everyone knows you are a descendant of the Ghost Sect and that the treasures of the Ghost Sect are here in Fudigou. Anyone who wants to try anything again will have to think twice," Fatty said.

"Do you think no one knew before?" I asked.

Fatty didn't reply, and I went silent as well. Now, all the problems seemed to return to "me." It was true that my family was part of the Ghost Sect, but it seemed my father had angered them by bringing me back from Shennongjia. So, even if the Ghost Sect was powerful, they hadn't lifted a finger to help in this situation.

I shook my head, feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of it all. After a while, my head started to spin. I gave Fatty a bitter smile and said, "I used to think it was just Tang Renjie who was interested in Fudigou. I thought at most, the Twelve Ghost Caves just held some ancient treasure buried by someone. Then Old Man Liu joined in, and Chen Dongfang, though he seemed indifferent, was actually involved all along. I thought these big shots were just bored, but now... damn it, I’m just a small village official, I really can't handle this."

We walked in silence for a while. The people under Old Man Liu and Tang Renjie had retreated quickly, and the cars belonging to Chen Dongfang, the 'A' team, and Li Qing were also gone. We went back to the Twelve Ghost Caves, where the Luoshui River had returned to calm; only the two fire pits that Chen Qingshan and I had lit remained as proof that the events of the night had truly occurred.

When we got back home, breakfast was ready. After eating, my brother and I went back into Grandfather’s room to sort through his belongings. Regardless of his current state, in everyone’s eyes, he was effectively gone—or at least, he wouldn't be coming back. Besides, we hoped to find some clues.

I rarely came into Grandfather's room. Now that I was inside, the air was filled with his scent. He loved to smoke and had a persistent cough, yet the floor was spotless, and even his bed and cabinets were neat and tidy.

Later, in a hidden compartment under his cabinet, my brother found a box. It was exquisite, like a jewelry box from a wealthy family of the past. My brother looked at me, and I shook my head, saying, "I’ve never seen this before, and Grandfather never mentioned it."

"Should we open it?" my brother asked.

"Open it," I said. I was intensely curious about my mysterious and stoic grandfather. I wondered what he had hidden away—was it the seal of the City God? A mask of the Ghost Sect? Or perhaps a secret manual of martial arts?

When my brother opened it, I walked over and was stunned. Inside was nothing but a single embroidered shoe.

It was made of green satin, embroidered with a few small blue flowers.

"What is this? Is it a keepsake of Grandma’s?" I was dumbfounded. Was this all my grandfather had cherished enough to hide away? I picked it up and found that the shoe was brand new, as if it had never been worn.

"Why is there only one? Why not a pair?" I asked, bewildered.

I had never imagined the box would contain a shoe! And clearly, a woman’s shoe at that!

I never met my grandmother. I was told as a child that she died in childbirth when my father was born, so I naturally assumed this was her keepsake and that Grandfather kept it out of longing.

"This is a shoe for the dead," my brother said softly.

"What?" I was so startled I nearly dropped it.

"Shoes for the dead don't distinguish between left and right. Look at it—it’s the same on both sides," my brother said.