Chapter 437: The Tes (1/2)
”No tools are allowed this time. It’s a condition for the test,” smiled Song Heting.
I looked out of the window and asked, ”Isn’t there a public security bureau here?”
”No, the Song family patriarch decides on how to deal with criminals. You only need to find out who it is,” Song Heting replied.
I didn't expect the customs here to be so simple, much like China before liberation. ”What am I supposed to investigate?” I asked.
”Let’s not talk about this right now. Eat!” Song Heting waved her hand.
After dinner, Song Heting took me to the Song family’s ancestral temple so I could worship our ancestors. I noticed my grandfather's name among the tablets so I lit three joss sticks and paid my respects.
I suggested we start the test immediately, but Song Heting refused, ”No, you’re tired after such a long trip. Rest for tonight!”
She was both gentle and firm, leaving me no choice but to agree.
The people in the village lived according to the rise and set of the sun. It was extremely dark at night, with no TVs or computers in the old house. The room where I stayed had the bare essentials with a pile of ancient books on the shelf meant for leisure reading.
However, I grew up in this environment so I found nothing wrong with it.
Laying in bed, I glanced at the weak signal on my cell phone and sent Xiaotao a message, informing her of our safe arrival and my relatives’ enthusiasm.
Right then, someone knocked on the door–it was Song Heting. ”Xiao Song Yang, I’ve boiled some hot water so you can take a bath!”
When I thanked her, Song Heting smiled, ”You're welcome. Just think of this as your own home.”
She led me to the bathroom where a big wooden tub full of steaming medicinal bathwater awaited me. ”This is a medicinal concoction secretly passed down from the martial Songs which can heal pain and relieve fatigue,” she explained. “Try it. It’s very comfortable.”
Seeing Song Heting’s intention to stay, I blushed, ”Aunt Song, I can bathe on my own.”
”Oh, you shy thing!” she laughed. “There’s hot water there which you can use when the bathwater cools. Call me if you need anything.”
When she left, I removed my clothes and soaked myself in the medicinal bath. Although the water was warm, it had a mint-like coolness that seemed to drill into my pores, refreshing my entire body and washing away the fatigue.
After my bath, I wrapped myself in a towel and headed back to my room. The floors of the old manor creaked as I walked. Suddenly, the light above me flashed and went out. Was the electricity in the mountains unstable?
Filled with surprise, I wondered, Is this an apparition of my ancestors?!
As for fear, I had none. This wasn’t my first rodeo with ghosts after all.
Ignoring the apparition, I continued walking to my room. Suddenly, a gloomy voice crept up from behind me, ”Song Yang, why aren’t you kneeling before me!”
A cold breeze licked my skin from the back. ”Who are you?” I asked.
”What insolence! I am Song Ci!”
In the dark, I noticed a man wearing a Song Dynasty official uniform. But with Cave Vision, the ‘man’s’ fair face and big, misty eyes were clearly visible to me.
The lights were suddenly turned back on and Song Heting strode over, holding a feather duster in her hand used to spank Song Ci’s imposter. ”What the hell are you doing running about in the middle of the night scaring others!” chided Song Heting.
Dressed as Song Ci, Song Jie smiled and begged for forgiveness, ”Mom, don’t hit me! I was just fooling around!”
”Do you think this is funny?”
Song Jie spat her tongue, ”Didn't you say Song Yang-gege had the Eyes of Yama? I wanted to scare him to see what the Eyes of Yama look like.”
”What nonsense! Go back to your room!” Song Heting rebuked.