“That steward seems reliable. He just said that in a few days there will be a temple fair in the city, and many out-of-town vendors will come—medicine sellers and herb gatherers alike. The medicines they sell will be cheaper. Even if you can’t recognize the herbs and think those street vendors aren’t trustworthy, the pharmacies in the city will also be cheaper during those days than usual.” Aunt said to them again, “The medicine at home is enough for Charles Walton’s father for a few more days. I’m thinking, let’s skip those out-of-town street vendors since we can’t tell if what they sell is real or fake. When the time comes, we’ll just go to Jishi Hall where we bought medicine last time. Hopefully, it’ll really be a bit cheaper.”

Cousin also grunted in agreement.

Henry Walton, however, was having some thoughts as he listened—

There are two temple fairs nearby.

One is right in Shucun, the Sangu Temple Fair, which is relatively small and held every year on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, which just passed not long ago.

The other is in the city, the Luoxian Temple Fair, which is larger and takes place every year on the second day of the second lunar month.

Last year, the Luoxian Temple Fair happened to be when Henry Walton fell into the water. After being rescued by Uncle, he lay in bed for a few days, supposedly to recover and calm his spirit, so he didn’t go to the fair. At that time, Uncle wasn’t ill yet, and though life at home was tight, they could still manage. Early spring was a rare time for leisure and fun, so the fair was a must. Henry Walton couldn’t go, but the others did.

Henry Walton only remembered lying in bed, lost in thought about life, while Cousin Charles Walton sat by his side, envious, telling him about what he saw at the fair.

The Luoxian deity statue parading through the streets, the dancing fangxiang performers, dazzling snacks and trinkets. Wandering witches and sorcerers, fortune tellers under the bridge, and all sorts of strange, inexplicable magical acts.

Witches and sorcerers…

Fortune tellers…

Magical acts like those of immortals…

Who knows if it’s just sleight of hand, or if there really are some strange spells involved.

And who knows if it might trigger a reaction from the ancient book.

“Henry Walton needs to study, and he just spent the night at that family’s ancestral hall. Who knows if it’s taken a toll on his health… Oh dear… Charles Walton, you’re going alone, so be extra careful.” Aunt was always worried.

“Got it, Mom.”

“Aunt.” Henry Walton looked up, his lips still shiny with oil, and considered before saying, “I heard from Grandpa Shu, who often tells stories at the Xiaqiao Pavilion, that after people have dealings with monsters, they might pick up some demonic aura or other unclean things. On my way back from cutting grass today, I went to pay respects at the Sangu Temple, and I heard people say the Luoxian in the county is also very effective. I’d like to go pay my respects too. Why don’t I go instead?”

“Oh, that’s really true!” Aunt immediately agreed, “Then Charles Walton can go with you. You’ve read more books, so you’re less likely to be tricked, and he can carry your things.”

“That works.”

“You really saw a monster there?”

“In a dream…”

“What was it like? Tell us!”

People in these times are indeed full of curiosity about such things, though family members are even more concerned.

Henry Walton was only thinking about eating and the temple fair, but since Aunt had asked, he had to put down his chopsticks and thoughts for now, and recounted last night’s events in even more detail than he had that morning.

……

In just a few days, it was time for the temple fair.

“Let’s go!”

Cousin carried a big basket on his back, filled with bamboo shoots, and called for Henry Walton to head to the city.

Henry Walton tucked the ancient book into his clothes and carried a smaller basket on his back.

Shucun is two hours’ walk through the mountains from the county seat.

The roads here are rough. Someone once wrote a poem: “Deep woods, villages by water, little land, half the people farm the mountains.” It’s quite fitting. The mountains here are large, and the forests are mostly bamboo—rarely do you see such vast mountains completely covered in bamboo. The forest is so dense that even during the day it blocks out the sky; now, before dawn, it was even darker.

When the wind blew, the bamboo groves rustled and shook.

Whether it was just nerves, or the monster’s breath had really weakened him, or for some other reason, Henry Walton followed behind Cousin, and from time to time felt as if strange shadows were flickering in the woods.

If only he had a machete, maybe he’d feel a bit braver.

Luckily, it was almost dawn. Not long after they set out, the sky began to lighten, and after a while, it was fully bright.

Things felt much better once it was light.

At the same time, more and more people appeared on the road.

These days, there aren’t many markets, so if you want to buy or sell anything, you have to go to the city. Many poor farmers from the countryside carried heavy loads and baskets, gradually coming out from all the little country paths to join the main road, like streams converging into a river. It was quite a sight.

The road immediately became much livelier.

With so many people around, both on the road and in your heart, who could still worry about monsters or ghosts?

Soon, the city gates came into view.

“Pour your bamboo shoots into my basket too. I’ll go sell them first in Tiandeng Alley. You go buy the medicine—you’re the smart one. By the time you’re done, I should be finished selling. Let’s meet up on the street behind Luoxian Temple Hill to watch the magic show. If we’re late, we might miss it. Even if it’s not over, we won’t get a good spot.”

All these bamboo shoots were dug up by this little Cousin himself from the mountains, before the shoots even poked out of the ground—just a small crack in the earth, and he’d dig them up. They were tender enough, and he was confident in his sales.

“Alright.”

Henry Walton agreed.