Yama Reborn

*Author's Note: After the novel went live, I decided to change the update schedule.*

*I'll still post two chapters every day.*

*One chapter around 2 p.m., and the other around 9 p.m.*

*Please let everyone know.*

* * *

Chapter Eighty: What the heck?

Chen Nuo felt he might have inadvertently stumbled upon a path to making money. He had a plan to use the account "Jack" to go phishing and hook the person behind the scenes. But now, he was somewhat hesitant.

Maybe I should just wait for the mission to fail, then the person behind the scenes would hire another assassin. At that time, could I make a grab for it? Hey, that's an idea. Or, to be more daring, I could just start a thread myself, offering a bounty for someone to come assassinate me! Then, I'd nab one if one comes, or a pair if two show up! If I could lure in a big shot with a Gold account, robbing just one would set me up for ten years.

Okay, Chen Yanluo was just shooting the breeze. He was well aware that his capabilities had not yet recovered to their peak. If a Gold-level big shot really came, he would definitely be the one on his knees. Not to mention others, like the Star Sky Empress. Despite how fiercely Chen Yanluo bickered online, if she were actually standing in front of Chen Nuo, he'd guarantee he'd turn tail and run! As fast as he possibly could!

The matter with Jiang Yingzi, fishing for the person behind the scenes... that can wait. I'll let it hang for a few days. After all, there won't be any new assignments within thirty days, and the longer this drags on, the more anxious the other party will become. I'll just endure a few more days.

* * *

「May 4th, Youth Day.」

Early in the morning, Chen Nuo went to Brother Lei's auto shop and picked up his sister, Chen Xiaoye. He hadn't seen Xiao Yezi in a few days, and she had actually gained a little weight. Brother Lei has clearly taken good care of her.

The long holiday wasn't over yet, and Brother Lei's shop was running a discount promotion; business was booming. Bald Lei, his face shining with grease, directed his workers to move out the electric bikes. He had also recently negotiated a new price with manufacturers and increased the supply volume. The business of dealing in stolen bikes was shrinking.

Hmm, because with electric bikes, what's being recycled aren't stolen bikes. It's the freaking batteries!

After having a meal of pan-fried soup dumplings with Xiao Yezi, Chen Nuo leisurely headed home with his sister. On the way, Sun Keke called, saying she was back from her grandma's house and asked Chen Nuo to come over for lunch.

Chen Nuo thought about it. Since it was a holiday, he didn't feel right going empty-handed, so he picked up two bottles of Yanghe liquor from the supermarket. But upon arrival, he was scolded by Old Sun.

"It's not easy for you to earn money, and you get it by skipping classes. If you're coming for a meal, just come and eat. Why buy such expensive liquor?" Old Sun placed the liquor on the shoe cabinet at the entrance, saying, "Take it when you leave and return it to the supermarket."

Chen Nuo paid him no mind, immediately took out a bottle, and tore open the packaging in a flash.

"Hey! You kid..." Old Sun didn't manage to stop him in time.

Chen Nuo shook the bottle of liquor in his hand, saying, "It's opened now, so it can't be returned. Let's drink it, Old Sun. We can split this bottle."

Old Sun sighed, "You're still a student. Why drink alcohol? Drink some juice!"

* * *

In the end, the liquor was opened and drunk. How could Old Sun's temper stand up to such a relentless guy like Chen Nuo?

From an absolute refusal to drink, to Chen Nuo persuading Old Sun to take a sip, then Chen Nuo pouring half a glass to accompany him, and finally to the two of them downing three glasses in a row... Unknowingly, more than half a bottle of liquor had been consumed.

Old Sun was a moderate drinker. He ended up with a red face and a bit tipsy, saying, "This won't be a precedent, you hear?"

But he was still somewhat cautious; when Chen Nuo started playfully reaching for cigarettes at the dinner table, Old Sun glared harshly at him, stopping Chen Nuo.

But the liquor could not be stopped. In Hua Country's tradition, elders don't usually oppose boys drinking liquor, especially since Chen Nuo, although only eighteen, was already living independently. Regarding the drinking, Old Sun, after some half-hearted protests, eventually relented.

The dishes were prepared by Yang Xiaoyi. This teacher's wife... well... Chen Nuo had very little respect for her character. But her cooking was truly excellent.

One dish of green peppers stir-fried with pork liver, one dish of braised bream, one dish of cauliflower stir-fried with sliced meat. A pot of winter melon and pork rib soup, and a plate of fried peanuts for the two men to have with their drinks. It was all home cooking, and the Sun family mostly no longer treated Chen Nuo as an outsider.

Old Sun kept being urged to drink by Chen Nuo, and after a while, he had drunk a bit too much, and it was starting to show on his face.

Sun Keke, sitting to the side, carefully served Chen Xiaoye some food, occasionally stealing glances at her parents and then at Chen Nuo. There's something subtle about today's meal, this whole scene, the girl thought, feeling a bit shy.

It's like… like when a son-in-law visits his father-in-law during the holidays?

Sun Keke's face turned red with shyness, but her eyes were fixed sweetly on Chen Nuo.

When Old Sun had downed nearly half a jin of liquor, he was thoroughly intoxicated. He sighed a few times and, his speech a bit slurred, grabbed Chen Nuo's arm and whispered, "Kid, you need to show some drive, you really need to show some drive…"

"Yes, Old Sun, I'm working hard to earn money," Chen Nuo reassured him.

"Hah… I've given up on expecting much from your studies; I know your heart isn't in it," Old Sun waved dismissively, took another small sip of alcohol, and exhaled. "But you must stay on the straight and narrow! Earn honest money! Got it? Otherwise, otherwise..."

Old Sun glanced at his daughter and whispered, "Otherwise, in the future... how can I rest assured handing Keke over to you?"

"Dad!" Sun Keke, hearing this, called out in a shy whisper.

Yang Xiaoyi frowned. "Old Sun, you've had too much to drink!"

"No," Old Sun said with a bitter smile. "I can't stop him... Oh, I can't stop him. This kid's like a slippery imp. Our daughter is so single-minded, and just like that, she's been hooked by him. What can I do about it, what can I do…"

As he spoke, Old Sun suddenly banged the table. SMACK! He glared at the young couple and said, "I'm telling you! No dating before graduation!!!!!"

Sun Keke's face turned bright red, and she was too embarrassed to speak.

Chen Nuo picked up a peanut and tossed it into his mouth, smiling slyly. "Hmm, and what about after graduation?"

"After graduation... After graduation…" Old Sun shook his head. "After graduation, when Keke goes to college, I won't be so concerned anymore…"

"Deal!" Chen Nuo lifted his cup, toasted Old Sun, and said earnestly, "Old Sun, I promise you, before Keke graduates, our relationship will stem from affection but remain within the bounds of propriety!"

Old Sun stared blankly at Chen Nuo, finished his drink, then shook his head. "You see, look at you all! This kid is not just any person! He's a real clever one!"

Yang Xiaoyi's expression wasn't too pleasant. "Old Sun! You've had too much to drink! You're talking too much! The kids are still young, why talk about all this nonsense! Can we even speak clearly about the future now?"

Chen Nuo caught the underlying meaning in her words and smiled faintly at Yang Xiaoyi.

Old Sun was genuinely drunk and paid no heed, directly pointing at his wife. "You don't get it, you really don't get it. You just haven't seen clearly yet."

He then gazed at the glass in front of him, murmuring, "I've seen clearly, I've seen it all. This kid, he's rather interesting.

"Look at Xiao Yezi. When he saw her and realized she was being mistreated, this kid directly took his sister back. He himself is living a frugal life, yet he couldn't bear to see his sister suffer, so he's willing to support her.

"What does this tell you? It indicates character!

"I was originally worried that, being so young and impulsive, he might recklessly mix with bad company out on the streets.

"But instead, he's gone to work for Brother Lei.

"That Brother Lei might look fierce, but he's not actually a bad person.

"He's on the right path now, a legitimate electric bike distributor.

"Chen Nuo working for him is good; he's on the right path!

"At his age, supporting his sister, working to earn money, and he hasn't gone astray.

"That's not easy!"

Having said that, Old Sun picked up his cup again and stood up. Chen Nuo noticed the cup was actually empty, so he quickly grabbed the bottle to fill Old Sun's cup.

Old Sun downed it in one gulp.

"We Sun family, we aren't the sort to despise the poor and idolize the rich! As long as the kid has good character and is willing to strive, I won't look down on him!"

After finishing his statement, Old Sun put down his glass and, with a slip, slid under the table...

Well, Old Sun had completely passed out.

Chen Nuo scratched his head. My future father-in-law doesn't have a very good tolerance for alcohol, huh.

Yang Xiaoyi was somewhat displeased but, in the end, said nothing and stood up to help her husband. Chen Nuo stepped forward to assist, and together they moved Old Sun into the bedroom to lie down.

Chen Xiaoye sat there, a bit worried, gently tugging on Sun Keke's sleeve. "Keke... Why did your dad talk so loudly to my brother? Does he dislike my brother?"

Sun Keke's face turned red, but she pinched Xiao Yezi's cheek. "Of course not. When my dad talks like that, it means he likes your brother."

* * *

Since Old Sun had lain down, the dinner was effectively over. I don't feel like staying to face Yang Xiaoyi's displeasure; it's obvious she isn't satisfied with me, Chen Nuo thought.

No wonder. She has high aspirations for her daughter.

Old Sun is a good person, but his wife isn't necessarily so. That woman is very pragmatic. Seeing that I'm not likely to go to college and have no interest in furthering my studies, Yang Xiaoyi must be less than thrilled with the idea of her daughter dating someone like me. But... who cares what she thinks.

Chen Nuo stood to leave and took Xiao Yezi away from the Old Sun family home. As they were descending the stairs and passing the third floor, he remembered that Teacher Jiang also lived there.

It's a holiday. Since I came to see my class teacher, it wouldn't be right to neglect my Chinese language teacher.

So he went downstairs to the supermarket. Unsure whether Teacher Jiang smoked or drank, he decided to buy a box of tea—he remembered Teacher Jiang always held an enamel tea mug during their tutorial meetings.

Dragging Xiao Yezi with him, they went back to the third floor and knocked on Teacher Jiang's door.

RAP-RAP-RAP.

The door opened, revealing an unfamiliar middle-aged woman. Her round face and features seemed joyful, but some freckles on her face made her look slightly older. Her complexion wasn't very pale and carried a hint of illness.

This must be Teacher Jiang's wife. I've heard she suffers from a chronic illness, and she does seem to fit that description. Actually, whenever I came to Teacher Jiang's house for tutoring, his wife always stayed in her room. She never came out, nor did she ever enter the living room. So, I've barely seen her before, only catching a couple of glimpses on rare occasions, and we've never spoken a word.

"Good day, Mrs. Jiang. I am one of Teacher Jiang's students," Chen Nuo presented himself respectfully. "Since it's the holiday season, I've come to pay a visit to Teacher Jiang."

The woman paused briefly, glanced at the young man, then at Xiao Yezi by Chen Nuo's side, and smiled amiably. "I remember, you're the student who often comes for tutoring, right? Come in."

Leading the siblings inside, Teacher Jiang's wife had them sit down and poured them water. Chen Nuo presented the tea, and Teacher Jiang's wife politely declined it a couple of times before exchanging a few courteous words.

The layout of the Jiang residence was almost identical to the Sun family's, only the furniture was styled more traditionally. This seems to indicate that the Jiangs' financial situation is slightly worse than the Suns'.

"Your Teacher Jiang has gone to the pharmacy to buy medicine."

"Um, Mrs. Jiang, is it Teacher Jiang or yourself who is feeling unwell?" Chen Nuo asked cautiously.

"Oh, drop the 'Mrs. Jiang'—it's too formal," the woman said amiably. "It's your Teacher Jiang. He twisted his back moving something a few days ago and went to get some medicated plasters."

After a pause, she continued, "Really, you don't have to call me Mrs. Jiang. My surname is Song, Song Qiaoyun. Just call me Auntie Song."

Chen Nuo readily acquiesced and changed his address.

Song Qiaoyun was friendly and pleasant, with joyful features—aside from her somewhat sallow complexion. She especially liked Xiao Yezi, immediately getting up to fetch candy for Xiao Yezi to eat.

Chen Nuo's eyes wandered and noticed a clay pot simmering on the stove in the kitchen, bubbling away with an herbaceous aroma.

"Auntie Song, are you decocting herbal medicine?"

"Yes, I'm not in good health and need to regulate it with traditional Chinese medicine," Song Qiaoyun said with a smile. "Your Teacher Jiang doesn't dare brew it when he has classes in the evening, for fear the smell would bother you all, so I prepare it during the daytime to drink."

A thought struck Chen Nuo. This couple... they seem quite decent.

Looking at Song Qiaoyun, she appeared to be the epitome of a kind and amiable Huaxia-style housewife. Then she turned on the TV and said, "Watch some television, drink your tea. Old Jiang should be back soon; the pharmacy is not far, just a few steps away."

Now, Chen Nuo felt awkward about leaving, so he and Ye Zi sat on. Fortunately, a child's spiritual power is easily diverted. When Song Qiaoyun found a channel with cartoons, Xiao Yezi was quickly captivated.

Chen Nuo made small talk with Song Qiaoyun intermittently.

Song Qiaoyun was quite cheerful and laughed, saying, "I've actually heard your name before, Chen Nuo, right? The brave one, involved with Old Sun's daughter?"

"Uh…" Chen Nuo just smiled without speaking.

"Oh, I'm telling you, why can't a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl date? In our time, girls that age could already be married. Well, the city doesn't allow it, but who cares about that in the countryside," Song Qiaoyun chuckled. "Old Sun is just too scholarly. What's there to stop? I think you're quite a decent young man."

Sigh, if only Old Sun shared that mentality... Chen Nuo thought. The more he conversed with this Auntie Song, the more affable she seemed.

Just then…

DONG! DONG! DONG...

The wall clock chimed.

It struck one in the afternoon, thirteen times.

And right after the clock had chimed thirteen times...

Suddenly, Chen Yanluo sensed that something was not right!!!

He looked at Song Qiaoyun, who had been sitting pleasantly. She suddenly stiffened!

With a DUANG! she stood straight up from her chair, tensely rigid!

She's standing bolt upright! Like a zombie!

She turned her head. With a wooden expression and widened eyes, she looked at Chen Nuo, and then at Xiao Yezi.

"Who goes there, demon?!"

"???"

What the hell? Chen Nuo was dumbfounded.

Then he saw Auntie Song get into her element! Flouncing her sleeves, kicking her legs, and holding her head high!

She began to sing:

"Hangzhou~ with scenery~ unmatched in beauty~! West Lake shores~ exotic blooms and grasses~ fragrant in all seasons~~"

WOW!

What a voice! What singing!

A Taiping ballad! "The Legend of the White Snake"!

Auntie Song sang with gusto, then suddenly moved beside the dining table. She grabbed the cup that had been for Chen Nuo's tea and, using it like a storyteller's gavel, smacked it down on the table!

SLAP!

The glass almost shattered! Then she pointed at the stupefied Chen Yanluo and his sister.

"Honored audience!

"Last we spoke of Zhao Zilong who, all alone on Changban Slope, charged seven times back and forth, carrying the young master Ah Dou in his arms. But lo and behold, Cao Aman's mighty army of eight hundred thousand barred his way! Cao Cao, admiring talent, desired Zilong to dismount and surrender! He promised high office, great riches, and a life of luxury! 'Just surrender to me today, Zhao Zilong,' he said, 'and you shall have high office and swift horses to ride!'

"What a hero Zhao Zilong was! Spear in hand, spurring his horse, he pointed at Cao Cao and bellowed:

"You old scoundrel! Stop spouting nonsense!!"

WOW!! Clear and resonant!!

Is Liu Lanfang possessing her or something?!

Chen Nuo was dumbstruck!!

Holy crap! What in the massive hell!

Just then, the door suddenly burst open. Old Jiang rushed in, grabbed Song Qiaoyun around the waist, and swiftly whipped out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket. Unscrewing it, he held it under Song Qiaoyun's nose to let her take a whiff.

After a few sniffs, Song Qiaoyun suddenly relaxed, the strength draining from her body. Her rigid posture softened, and Old Jiang supported her to sit on a chair, her head bowed, muttering something under her breath.

But at least she calmed down.

Old Jiang wiped the sweat from his brow and let out a sigh of relief. Turning to Chen Nuo, Old Jiang's face looked somewhat distressed, but he managed a weak smile. "I'm sorry for the spectacle..."

* * *

He poured another glass of water for Chen Nuo, and they sat down for a chat.

"Old Jiang... your wife, she..."

Old Jiang sighed and waved his hand. "It's been many years, an old ailment." He pointed to his head. "Some issues up here."

A few words into the conversation, and Chen Nuo understood. Old Jiang's wife, Song Qiaoyun, used to work in a traditional performing arts troupe and had left to recuperate at home many years ago—because her mind was affected.

It was unclear why, but most of the time she was like anyone else, with the exception that she would have an episode every day. And each episode started around one in the afternoon, lasting just over an hour. As soon as the time passed, she would be fine again, back to her normal self.

This condition had persisted for many years, and despite seeing countless doctors, it remained uncured. Old Jiang couldn't bear to send his wife to a mental hospital, so he took care of her at home instead.

Fortunately, being a teacher, he could adjust his schedule for the period between one and three in the afternoon. With the school nearby, he would go home every day to look after his wife for an hour or two until she recovered, and then he'd return to school.

In this way, years had passed. They had found a method to manage the symptoms, if not cure the root cause.

She took medication daily to suppress her condition. Every day, on time, before one o'clock, if she took her medicine, she wouldn't have an episode.

But just now, Chen Nuo happened to visit, and Song Qiaoyun was alone at home. As she was busy hosting Chen Nuo, making tea, and chatting, she forgot to take her medicine for those few crucial minutes. A few minutes was all it took for the episode to strike.

"It's also my fault. I was at the pharmacy buying things and lost track of time. If I had gone earlier or later, it would have been fine. Sigh…" Old Jiang sighed again. "I'm sorry for the embarrassment."

Chen Nuo immediately shook his head and laughed. "Not at all! I even got to enjoy a bit of The Legend of The White Snake for free! I'm telling you, your wife's singing was authentic! I must visit again someday! Please make sure your wife sings the full story for me."

Old Jiang looked at Chen Nuo with gratitude. This kid... he's so understanding! No wonder Old Sun complains about him but actually likes him a lot.

Old Jiang forced a smile. "She was originally a cross-talk performer, and she also practiced Taiping lyrics. The Legend of the White Snake was her best piece."

Just at that moment, Song Qiaoyun, hearing them, suddenly lifted her head.

"The White Snake? Has that snake demon shown up? Disciple! Quickly fetch the gold bowl the Buddha gave me!"

Old Jiang didn't know whether to laugh or cry, going over to give her another sniff from the medicine bottle.

Seeing the situation was not right, Chen Nuo quickly got up to take his leave.

Old Jiang released Song Qiaoyun and escorted him to the door. "Actually, it's fine; I'm used to it after all these years. And she only has these episodes at noon for a little while. Once it's over, it's all good. Sometimes, I just enjoy it as if she's performing an opera to satisfy a craving."

Chen Nuo smiled. "You're really open-minded. Sadly, Old Sun is too stubborn. If he were as easy-going as you, he wouldn't just be Director Sun by now; he might even be Principal Sun."

"What? Sun? Has Sun Wukong come?"

That's it!

Inside the room, Song Qiaoyun's expression suddenly changed, and she waved her hands vigorously.

"Quickly, go invite the Tathagata Buddha!"

* * *

Chen Nuo left.

But before the door closed, his gaze penetrated into the room, and he caught a glimpse of the balcony...

There hung a birdcage, with a Hwamei bird inside...

* * *

*Author's Note: Do you still have monthly votes? Don't hold onto them; go ahead and cast them!*