Chapter 13: Zhu family (1/2)
Translator: Dragon Rider
After He Zheng left, Old Master Zhu moved his eyes onto Li Zong. Somewhat embarrassedly, he wiped the corners of his eyes with his hands. ”My little grandson came back. I haven't seen him for a very long time. I'm sorry to have inflicted this on you, Superintendent Li. You must have found it ridiculous.” Li Zong smiled. It was a real smile, not the one he had had on the corners of his mouth on his way here. ”Emotion makes a man. It's a natural thing that old master has deep affection for your grandson. It never struck me as ridiculous.”
”Dad, perhaps you should invite our guest in and talk later,” a middle-aged man reminded Old Master Zhu from behind.
”I'm going senile. Come, Li Zong. Come in.” Old Master Zhu amiably patted Li Zong's shoulder.
As soon as they entered the room, Old Master Zhu invited them to sit down. Li Zong's seat was beside the host seat.
Old Master Zhu said, ”It must be because of the turmoil on August 25th – the Obon, that you came here today, I suppose?”
Obon, otherwise known as the Ghost Festival, was celebrated on August 25th. Every year, on the Ghost Festival when the portal of the netherworld was open, large numbers of ghosts and demons would show up in the world of the living, and the Supernaturalism Management Bureau (SMB) would draft a lot of staff members from other affiliated offices to this city to prevent ghosts from hurting people.
”This year, all personnel drafted here from Sui City, Hang City and Yu City have been injured. According to the report given by people of the Fengdu Office, it's very likely that some demons have been making trouble by possessing bodies of ghosts. Back then, subordinates of the seven chairmen of the Counter-Demon Committee joined hands, dismembered that powerful demon, which was showing signs of resurrection, into three parts and sealed them in three different places. Such watertight precaution should have excluded the possibility of the resurgence of demons,” observed Old Master Zhu, a faintly severe look on his face.
Li Zong calmly watched Old Master Zhu. ”How did the divination go, Old Master Zhu?”
”It suggested moderately good fortune. There should be no havoc coming.”
”People of the Fengdu Special Missions also reported no suspicious traces. With Old Master's divination, I think it's safe to say that there would be no big trouble. Later, I'll go and check the scene myself. Then I'll report to the headquarter.”
Old Master Zhu nodded. ”The matter of the Ghost Festival should be no problem, but... ” Old Master Zhu looked at Li Zong and continued, ”There's an issue concerning both Supt. Li and my grandson.”