Lu Pan

“Do you know where Inspector Cao is?”
Li Xintian tossed a silver ingot to the young man standing at the door and asked.

“You mean him? He’s upstairs, on the second floor. I’ll take you there.”
The young man, emboldened by the silver, volunteered.

Li Xintian followed the young man up to the second floor.

“That fellow over there in purple, that’s Inspector Cao.”
The young man pointed to a portly, middle-aged man dressed in purple.

“Good.”
Li Xintian tossed another silver ingot to him and waved him off.

“You’re Inspector Cao, correct?”
Li Xintian placed a hand firmly on Cao’s shoulder.

“Who are you? Don’t you know that touching someone’s shoulder in a gambling house is bad luck?”
Cao turned around angrily, staring at Li Xintian.

“Well, bad luck is just what you need. Come with me.”
Li Xintian spoke directly.

“Who are you to order me around?”
Cao shook off Li Xintian’s hand in fury.

The entire second floor fell silent, all eyes on the two men.

“You manufacture fake medicine, causing innocent people to be imprisoned. Come with me. I’d rather not use force.”
Li Xintian stated his purpose.

“How amusing! You claim I make fake medicine...”
Cao forced a laugh, but before he could finish, he grabbed a nearby man and shoved him toward Li Xintian, then turned to flee.

Li Xintian steadied the man, then gave chase.

With a few strides, Li Xintian kicked Cao in the back, sending him crashing through the floorboards and landing heavily on the ground floor below.

“What’s going on? Who’s causing trouble?”
The staff of the Dragon Tiger Gambling House rushed out, thinking there was a disturbance.

“I asked you nicely, but you insisted I use force.”
Li Xintian pulled out a hundred taels of silver and tossed it to the man who spoke.

“I’m taking him with me. This should cover the repairs. The rest is compensation.”
Li Xintian grabbed Cao by the collar and strode ahead.

“Alright, sir, take care.”
The middle-aged man, seeing there was no trouble and some money to be made, let it go.

“You people are too inefficient. I’ve brought Inspector Cao to you.”
Li Xintian escorted Cao to the magistrate’s office.

“Excellent! Cao always hides away. Men, hurry and lock him up!”
The magistrate immediately ordered two officers to take Cao away.

“How soon will this be resolved?”
Li Xintian asked.

“Tomorrow, Bai Yongcheng will be released.”
The magistrate, having received instructions from Ren Yuanwu, had intended to delay for a month, but Li Xintian had brought Cao in unexpectedly.

“Alright, I’ll trust you this once. Don’t disappoint me.”
Li Xintian could tell the magistrate was just appeasing him, clearly following Ren Yuanwu’s orders. It seemed he would have to gather the evidence himself.

Leaving the magistrate’s office, Li Xintian went to Windstar Pavilion, instructing Feng Ziqi to collect evidence of Cao’s fake medicine. Once gathered, he told him to send it to the Chen residence.

Night fell, Ten Temples Shrine.

Zhu Erdan returned, delightedly clutching the silver bracelet. Suddenly, thunder rumbled outside, scaring him into fleeing.

“Master Situ, if you hadn’t stopped me just now, I’d have taught Zhu Erdan a lesson. He’s timid, greedy for petty gains, a complete fool. Thankfully, he still fears the spirits.”
Judge Lu and Master Situ appeared as Zhu Erdan left.

“Good thing he’s a fool, or else his greed would drive him to become truly wicked.”
Master Situ nodded.

“No, he won’t descend to depravity.”
Judge Lu shook his head.

Master Situ declined to say more and turned away. Judge Lu, seeing him leave, also departed.

Daybreak.

Zhu Erdan took the silver bracelet to the pawnshop.

“Miss, what’s wrong? Why are you so uneasy?”
Xiaowei noticed Zhang Xiaoman’s unease.

“I’ve never been to a pawnshop, and I don’t know how to bargain, so I’m nervous. Xiaowei, didn’t you help your father pawn something once? Why don’t I give you these jewels and you pawn them for me?”
Zhang Xiaoman held out her jewelry.

“Miss, I can’t. I’m not eloquent. Last time, I couldn’t get a good price and my father scolded me.”
“Now that Young Master Bai is injured and not back at the Healing Hall, Miss, for his sake, you must do it. I’ll keep watch at the door.”
Xiaowei dared not enter the pawnshop again.

Zhang Xiaoman nodded, telling Xiaowei to wait outside.

“Haha, who’d have thought a silver bracelet would fetch so much?”
Zhu Erdan held ten taels of silver, his eyes shining as he turned and bumped into Zhang Xiaoman.

The jewelry in her hands scattered to the ground as she crouched to gather it.

“Miss, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.”
Zhu Erdan crouched to help, stunned by Zhang Xiaoman’s beautiful face.

“It’s alright.”
Zhang Xiaoman smiled as she looked up.

Her smile bewitched Zhu Erdan, who watched her enter the pawnshop.

“So…so beautiful.”
Zhu Erdan sat on the floor, his face slack with adoration. Glancing down, he spotted a jade bracelet, picked it up, and followed her into the pawnshop.

“Miss, you dropped this jade bracelet.”
Zhu Erdan’s eyes squinted with delight as he held it out.

“Thank you, it is mine.”
Zhang Xiaoman nodded, reaching for the bracelet, but Zhu Erdan held it tightly.

Only when she tugged did he let go, still staring at her with infatuation.

Zhang Xiaoman found Zhu Erdan utterly repulsive.

Chen Residence.

“Masters, there’s a young lady outside named Xiaowei asking to see you.”
Li Xintian, Chen Yuanwen, and Bai Yang were chatting when a servant announced the visitor.

“Oh, cousin, your…”
Li Xintian gave Chen Yuanwen a meaningful look, dragging out his words.

“Enough nonsense. Let’s go see for ourselves.”
Chen Yuanwen’s face darkened as he led the way.

“Young Master Bai, you really are here! When your uncle said so, I almost didn’t believe it.”
Xiaowei greeted Bai Yang, ignoring Li Xintian and Chen Yuanwen.

“See? She’s here for Brother Bai, not me.”
Chen Yuanwen replied curtly.

“Haha, staying at home is so boring.”
Li Xintian also grew restless.

“Why don’t we go out for a stroll?”
Chen Yuanwen suggested.

“Don’t forget, grandma said if you dare go out, she’ll break your legs. You’d better stay and study; I won’t take you out.”
Li Xintian warned him.

Bai Yang and Xiaowei: Xiaowei handed Bai Yang a bundle wrapped in a handkerchief and left.

“Brother Bai, quickly open it. What is it? A token of affection?”
Chen Yuanwen moved closer.

Bai Yang opened the handkerchief—two gold ingots.

“Wealthy beauty! Brother Bai, you’re being kept!”
Li Xintian teased.

“Cousin, your description of a wealthy beauty is flawless.”
Chen Yuanwen patted Li Xintian’s shoulder.

“I can’t accept this. I’ll find a chance to return it to Xiaoman.”
Bai Yang wrapped up the gold.

“Are you foolish? It’s Xiaoman’s heartfelt gesture. You should keep it; when your father is released, use it to marry your fiancée, Zhang Xiaoman. Just remember to treat her well.”
Li Xintian didn’t know why Xiaoman gave Bai Yang the gold, but it must have been for a reason.

“Brother Bai, my cousin is right. If you return it, you’ll hurt her feelings.”
Chen Yuanwen chimed in.

“Brother Bai, don’t overthink it. Listen to us.”
Li Xintian placed a hand on Bai Yang’s shoulder.

Zhu Erdan spent the day thinking about Zhang Xiaoman’s enchanting smile and beauty, but seeing Ke Shaorong left him dazed. He was told to attend the Literary Society the next day.

Arriving, the four others were already reading.

“Hello, classmates, my name is Zhu Erdan.”
He greeted them, but received no response and sat awkwardly.

“Students, salute the teacher.”
When Scholar Hong arrived, the others stood to greet him. Zhu Erdan remained seated, only rising after everyone else had sat.

“You’re the new student, Zhu Erdan?”
Scholar Hong asked.

“Yes, teacher.”
Zhu Erdan nodded solemnly.

“As is our custom, on the first day, I test a new student’s talent before tailoring my teaching.”
Scholar Hong nodded.

“Oh no, Zhu Erdan lacks talent, that’s why he joined the society. Teacher, please don’t test me.”
Zhu Erdan’s face fell at the prospect of being examined.

“Don’t worry. Let’s try a couplet.
The first line is: ‘A line of wild geese crosses the sky.’”
Scholar Hong thought for a moment.

Zhu Erdan counted with his fingers—seven characters.

“Seven characters, one to two, got it: ‘Two roast geese hang by the hearth.’”
His answer set off laughter.

“One line to two, wild geese to roast geese, sky to hearth—quite neat!”
“We can drink and eat roast goose now.”

“Ha…”

Zhu Erdan was humiliated and lowered his head.

“Enough, enough.”
Scholar Hong tapped the table.

“I see you lack talent. From now on, study diligently here. Sit down.”
He waited for the laughter to subside.

Zhu Erdan sat, feeling aggrieved, unable to focus for the rest of the lesson.

“If anyone’s braver than me, they’d have to be second.”
“How are you so brave?”
“Yes, tell us.”

“I returned from my uncle’s, took a shortcut—not along the riverbank, but over the back ridge.”
“That’s a graveyard!”
“Indeed.”
“You’re impressive.”

“I’m braver still. One rainy night, unable to return home, I slept in Skeleton Mountain among coffins.”
“You’re brave.”

“That’s nothing. Sleeping in Ten Temples Shrine overnight is true bravery.”
“Would you dare?”

“Of course not. I’ve heard it’s the border of yin and yang, full of ghosts.”
“Yes, even in daytime there’s a chilling aura.”
“You must be timid.”

“No, my uncle said the shrine’s statues are spiritual, especially the Lords.”
The four chatted.

“Yes, yes! I tell you, I saw Lord Lu’s statue, its eyes—they blinked!”
Zhu Erdan joined in.

“When did you ever go to Ten Temples Shrine?”
One of the four pointed at him, disbelieving.

“Three nights ago.”
Zhu Erdan counted on his fingers.

“Your lies are getting wild. You went at night?”
“Exactly.”

“I did, at midnight.”
Zhu Erdan insisted.

“We don’t believe you.”
The four pretended to leave.

“I’m not lying! That night, thunder struck, Lord Lu’s statue toppled, so I picked it up.”
Zhu Erdan blocked their path.

“You’re exaggerating. Are you really that brave?”
“Yes.”

“Then carry the Lord Lu statue again. If you bring it back, I’ll let you use my head as a stool.”
“Bring it back?”
Zhu Erdan hesitated.

“See, you’re just boasting.”

“I’m not! I really carried Lord Lu’s statue.”
Zhu Erdan protested.

“You’re so sure, then it’s settled. If you don’t bring it back, you’re a turtle.”
One pointed at Zhu Erdan, and they left, calling him a turtle.

“Hmph, I won’t be a turtle. I’ll sit on your chair!”
Zhu Erdan laughed, then remembered he had to fetch the statue, his smile fading.

“Oh no, I have to carry Lord Lu’s statue.”

That night, Zhu Erdan went to Ten Temples Shrine.

“Lord Lu, please don’t be offended. Zhu Erdan needs your statue to clear my name. Let me carry you home, and I’ll offer three cups of wine to apologize.”
He spoke before the Judge Lu statue.

“Zhu Erdan finally arrived.”
Li Xintian watched from the shadows, originally hoping to ask Judge Lu for help finding evidence against Cao.

“So heavy, how can I carry it home? Oh!”
Zhu Erdan struggled with the statue, then thunder crashed overhead; terrified, he ran with the statue.

“Such a coward.”
Li Xintian could tell Judge Lu had entered the statue, or Zhu Erdan would not have carried it so easily.

“Brother Li, you summoned me—is there something you need?”
The King of Hell emerged from the statue.

“Greetings, Your Majesty. I need your help to find where Cao hides his evidence.”
Li Xintian bowed.

“Well... Brother Li, it’s not that I won’t help, but the underworld forbids us from interfering with mortal affairs.”
The King’s face was calm.

“Of course. Just give me a hint, and I’ll owe you a favor.”
Li Xintian changed tactics.

“Alright.”
The King pondered; Li Xintian’s favor would be useful.

Li Xintian received a hint, left the shrine, and the King returned to the underworld.

“It’s been about an hour; I bet Zhu Erdan is hiding somewhere, crying from fear.”
“Exactly.”
One of the four spoke, sparking laughter.

“How could he have the guts to touch Lord Lu’s statue?”
“Right, Ten Temples Shrine is especially eerie at night.”

“I’m back. Here’s Lord Lu’s statue.”
Zhu Erdan placed the Judge Lu statue in the study.

“Is it real?”
“Of course.”

Zhu Erdan patted the statue.

“Let’s go!”
The four, seeing the statue, watched as Judge Lu flashed, terrifying them into fleeing.

“Hey, don’t go! I made snacks.”
Ke Shaorong called, but they still ran.

“What’s going on? Do they dislike my hospitality?”
Ke Shaorong watched them leave, puzzled.

“Husband, I made snacks, open the door!”
Ke Shaorong knocked.

“No, don’t disturb me, I’m composing poetry for tomorrow’s class.”
Zhu Erdan held the door.

“After just one day at the society, you’re so diligent. Even if tuition is steep, it’s worth it.”
Inside, Zhu Erdan laughed, covering his mouth.

“Alright, I won’t disturb you.”
Ke Shaorong left.

“Lord Lu, they’re the real cowards. One look at you and they panicked.”
Once Ke Shaorong departed, Zhu Erdan sighed, folded his hands before Judge Lu’s statue.

“Lord Lu, I sincerely apologize. Here’s some wine to make amends.”
He poured wine into a cup and offered it, then spilled the wine on the ground.

When Zhu Erdan looked up, the statue emitted a red glow, frightening him into paralysis.