Chapter 148: The Cousin Returns Again

Nothing of note happened that day. Early the next morning, Chen Qingshan arrived bearing gifts to express his gratitude. Judging by his demeanor, he looked as though he wished to present the Fatty with a silk banner inscribed with the words: "Miraculous hands and a compassionate heart, curing my impotence." Seeing how he had completely shaken off yesterday's haggard and decadent appearance, I knew the Fatty's prescription had undoubtedly worked. I helped the Fatty accept Chen Qingshan's offerings, which consisted mainly of snacks. Chen Qingshan knew the Fatty lacked nothing in terms of wealth and harbored a profound fondness for food.

Mindful that there was still a female companion in the house, making it inconvenient to discuss such matters, the three of us walked outside and headed toward the village committee office. Once we arrived, I couldn't help asking, "Uncle Qingshan, did it work?"

Tears of emotion practically welled up in Chen Qingshan's eyes as he replied, "It worked! Master Fatty is truly a divine person! It really worked! For all these years, this is the first time I've felt such glorious relief!"

I couldn't help but feel genuinely happy for him.

"Not only are Master Fatty's abilities peerless, but his medical skills are also exceptionally brilliant! I am thoroughly convinced!" Chen Qingshan said, giving the Fatty a thumbs-up.

While the two of us were brimming with excitement, the Fatty remained completely composed, wearing an expression that seemed to say: "You inexperienced mortals are making a fuss over nothing, while I don't even consider this worth mentioning." After our excitement subsided, the Fatty instructed, "Remember my warning. Just like the commercial on television: though Jiangjiu is wonderful, do not overindulge."

"Naturally, naturally," Chen Qingshan agreed.

After Chen Qingshan left, watching him stride away with vigorous and spirited steps, I had to admit—even though I wasn't the one who had cured his ailment—I thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of healing the sick and saving the lives of others. I turned to the Fatty and said, "Master Fatty, with abilities like yours, why don't you dedicate yourself to saving the world and delivering the masses? You can capture ghosts and subdue demons, and you can heal the sick and rescue the dying. If you truly devoted yourself to this, your renown would spread across the entire world in no time."

"The times have changed," the Fatty remarked. "Do you really think people still follow the path of cultivation with hearts for all living beings under heaven? In times of chaos, people need our kind, but in peaceful eras, they guard against us as if we were thieves, terrified that someone might unearth a dragon vein and usurp the Mandate of Heaven. Forget it, I won't talk to you about this. Every time I try to reason with you, I feel like I'm corrupting an innocent young cabbage."

I thought carefully about the Fatty's words. Though I didn't fully comprehend them, I could still guess a fraction of their meaning. It seemed the Fatty was right; ever since I left campus and returned to the village, I hadn't touched upon that level of society. As for the decline of public morals and the corruption of human hearts, I truly knew nothing of it.

Just at that moment, my cell phone rang. Pulling it out to check, I saw it was that same number from Beijing—the call from my unfamiliar distant cousin.

"Your sister-in-law isn't by my side today. Once I get back, I'll have her call you back!" I answered the phone and said.

"I'm not looking for your sister-in-law today. I'm looking for you. Your maternal grandmother—my grandmother—has vanished," the girl on the other end said, her tone somewhat urgent.

"You've got to be kidding me? An old lady like that can't be found? Could someone have invited her out for a meal?" I retorted. She wasn't some senile old grandmother; although advanced in years, she lived like an absolute matriarch. How could she possibly go missing?

"I just got off the plane and will be at your place soon. Things are already in total chaos at home; we'll talk in detail when we meet." Without waiting for a response, she hung up the phone. This was perhaps the habit of those who had long occupied positions of power: they never waited for the other person to finish speaking before hanging up.

After the call ended, the Fatty asked with a puzzled expression, "You don't say? That old lady is missing?"

"Indeed she is! The formidable Li family isn't even looking for her. Even if an old lady wandered off, there's no need to come looking for me. What use would finding me be?" I said.

The Fatty furrowed his brow. To be honest, I didn't know much about this grandmother. Conversely, the Fatty was far more aware of how terrifying she was than I was. Therefore, he certainly understood what her disappearance implied. He paced back and forth inside the room, turning around a few times before saying, "Leaf, do you think this could be connected to that shoe—that embroidered shoe?"

"Oh?" I prompted.

"Thinking back on it now, that old lady taking the shoe wasn't simply a matter of jealousy. She was far too determined to get her hands on it, even resorting to theft. Moreover, if it weren't related to that shoe, the people from the Li family wouldn't have any reason to come looking for you."

I slapped my forehead. Put that way by the Fatty, it actually sounded quite reasonable. I suggested, "Let's wait until the young lady arrives and assess the situation. Let's not blindly guess for now."

"When it comes to the affairs of the Li family, it's best not to get involved if you can avoid it. Just think about it—I heard from my master that back in the days of his glory, Bended-Back Liu possessed an unbeatable left-handed saber that shook the martial world for thirty years. Later, he retired at the peak of his success and attained that extraordinary status. Even a man like that had to show deference to this old lady. In fact, Bended-Back Liu still calls her Old Master Six, though no one knows his true given name. Everyone in the entire Li family carries this old lady's surname! This old lady's surname is Li! From that, you can imagine just how formidable she is," the Fatty said.

"You've got to be kidding me? Holy crap!" I exclaimed.

"It's true. I used to think this old lady was merely a survivor of the Ghost Path from back in the day. But now it seems that, given Bended-Back Liu's status, even if Guo Zhongyong of the Ghost Path were still alive, he might not necessarily fear her—let alone anyone else," the Fatty added.

"Perhaps Old Master Six is truly in love with her?" I suggested.

"Oh, give it a rest! Do you think everyone is as naive as you? Still, that possibility can't be entirely ruled out. What Master Fatty fears most is that Bended-Back Liu's forbearance toward Old Madam Li might also stem from matters concerning the Ghost Path. After all, back in the day, Old Madam Li and your grandfather were known as the Golden Boy and Jade Maiden of the Ghost Path. Whatever secrets your grandfather knew, she knows as well," the Fatty reasoned.

The Fatty always analyzed problems logically and systematically. Even his speculations sounded so plausible that one naturally assumed they were the absolute truth. Consequently, listening to his words made me feel somewhat nervous.

I waved my hand and said, "Alright, alright! Stop guessing! Let's wait for that girl to arrive. This time, I am definitely not going to meddle in other people's business, rest assured."

"I'm just afraid that escape will be impossible. Damn it, that day Master Fatty was feeling bored and decided to tease that girl, so I called her and had her teach that Liu fellow—the top official—a lesson. As a result, both of us now owe her a favor. A human favor is heavier than a debt. Tsk tsk, I've truly dug a pit for myself and jumped right in!" the Fatty lamented regretfully.

We waited at the village entrance for over an hour before a car came rushing toward us like a flying missile. As the vehicle sped past, people behind it cursed angrily. The dust it kicked up rose two to three meters high, leaving the village residents riding bicycles behind it completely covered in grime. The car screeched to a halt beside us. The young girl yanked open the door and stepped out. Seeing us straight away, she asked directly, "Where is Sun Zhongmou?"

"You're looking for him? Unfortunately, he's not here," the Fatty replied.

"Get in the car." Unlike her eccentric and mischievous demeanor from last time, she now appeared exceptionally valiant and heroic.

The two of us got into the car. With a sharp drift, she slammed my head directly against the car door, while the Fatty was also knocked dizzy and disoriented. He shouted, "Are you in such a rush to go die?"

"I don't believe Sun Zhongmou isn't around," the girl said curtly. Slamming her foot on the accelerator, she headed straight toward Sanlitun. Although she had never been to my eldest brother's house, the route she took was completely correct. It seemed these people had thoroughly investigated our backgrounds beforehand. Driving at breakneck speed amidst another flurry of dust along the way, she slammed her hands against the steering wheel the moment she caught sight of my eldest brother's tightly sealed front door and demanded, "Where did he go?"

"Tell me, young lady, can you not be in such a frantic hurry? Care to explain what on earth is going on?" I asked.

Staring at my eldest brother's front gate for a long while, the girl took a deep breath and said, "After my grandmother went back, she stared at that shoe day and night without stopping, even peering at it the entire way home without uttering a single word. Later, when I went to bring her some pastries, Grandmother suddenly told me that this Sun Zhongmou is a smart man, just like Ye Tianhua. When I asked her about anything else, she wouldn't say another word. But the next morning, Grandmother was gone."

"Didn't you search for her?" I asked.

"How could we not? Grandmother went out on her own without letting anyone accompany her. She is the backbone of our family, and these past two days things have descended into complete chaos. You know the influence our family holds; we used every ounce of our strength yet found no trace of her whatsoever. The last image of Grandmother captured on surveillance footage was her meeting with Sun Zhongmou, after which the two of them completely vanished."

"No way? My eldest brother went to find the Ghost Tailor to make a wedding dress for your sister-in-law! How could he possibly be looking for your grandmother? Could your grandmother be the legendary Ghost Tailor?" I blurted out.

The moment the words left my mouth, the Fatty clamped his hand firmly over my lips.

I was startled out of my wits in an instant.

Finding the Ghost Tailor to make a wedding dress for Han Xue was a top-secret endeavor. With my big mouth, I had actually let slip a crucial secret—and right in front of someone from the Ghost Path!