Hall of the Precious Cauldron

Midnight.

Lin Guichen was deep in sleep when he suddenly felt a cool touch on his face. His spiritual senses were stirred, and he snapped his eyes open.

By the dim candlelight on the table, he saw Chen Linyu sitting at the edge of his bed.

“Soundproof the room first,” Chen Linyu said.

Lin Guichen reached for the bone flute beside his pillow, isolating all sounds near the bed before replying, “Why are you in my room?”

His previous room had its door and windows smashed, impossible to repair overnight, so he’d moved to a guest room next door.

“You can still sleep at a time like this?”

Chen Linyu frowned slightly. “I guarantee Grandfather now suspects you’ve inherited my father’s legacy. He’s probably guessed you’ve opened your spiritual aperture. Why did you ask him for a pistol?”

“Without the gun, your father’s skills can’t be put to use,” Lin Guichen answered calmly. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

“You know what you’re doing?”

Seeing his composed demeanor, Chen Linyu relaxed a little, though she still frowned. “Don’t think the spirit aperture can’t be detected. As far as I know, besides powerful ancestral gods who can sense their bloodline’s spirit apertures, certain extraordinary wandering spirits can do so as well.”

Lin Guichen made a sound of acknowledgment. “I understand.”

Chen Mu Zhi, after all, had detected his dual apertures through the marriage contract.

There were, theoretically, other ways to sense spiritual apertures.

“So long as you know what you’re doing.” Chen Linyu glanced at him and said nothing more, then turned into a shadowy wind and vanished.

…

The next morning.

After finishing the chicken noodle soup and a small plate of smoked fish delivered by Xiao Cui, Lin Guichen carried a bowl of mulberries and leisurely lay back in a chair beneath the tree.

Earlier, Third Master Chen had sent Su Zichu to inform him to wait until the afternoon, when he would take him to the Black Lantern Temple to make an offering and seek a protective talisman from the Lady of the Black Lantern.

It would likely require a substantial donation, so the morning would be spent gathering the funds.

“Hey, you’ve saved up enough Spirit Awakening Pills.”

The little Taoist boy sat cross-legged on the stone table, grinning. He hooked the string of the pill pouch with his pinky, swinging it in arcs that whistled through the air.

“Twelve pills?” Lin Guichen’s eyes lit up. “Give them to me now.”

…

Moments later.

Lin Guichen slowly opened his eyes, finally sensing the clear stream in his mind fading away.

This time, he had taken twelve Spirit Awakening Pills, as if a torrent had fiercely scrubbed the dust from his muddied mental mirror.

His senses were much keener than before.

Even with his eyes closed, he could faintly perceive the movement of the large tree in the courtyard as the wind rustled its leaves.

Without consciously focusing, he could sense the locations of the two talismans on his body, even gauging the strength of their contained magic.

The damaged Travel Talisman’s power was much weaker; the Spirit Transformation Talisman was far stronger.

His perception of his own spiritual energy had also become far more accurate.

“Four apertures…”

Lin Guichen marveled inwardly. “This is just four apertures—how strong must nine be?”

Only now did he understand.

So this was what Chen Linyu felt—no wonder her senses and judgment were so precise.

He still had some way to go before reaching nine apertures.

“Worship the gods, raise my spiritual strength to twenty years, then obtain Chen Mu Zhi’s extraordinary technique…”

…

After noon, a white-canopied double-shaft carriage rolled from the ancestral Chen residence, heading straight to Guanqian Street.

Guanqian Street was the center of Kangle County, home to the Shrine of Lady of the Dark Sky. Though the shrine was rather deserted and lacked the fervent incense offerings of the Black Lantern Temple, the street itself was the county’s most bustling and vibrant district.

“It’s lively, isn’t it?”

Lin Guichen peered through the carriage window, fascinated by the street.

On either side stood shops of blue bricks and gray tiles, arranged in a pleasing jumble. The sidewalks bustled with people—some in long robes and jackets, some vendors carrying loads or pushing carts, farmers leading cattle and sheep. Most walked, and where the crowds thinned, a few rode bicycles, but in denser areas, they had to dismount and push, tinkling their double-bell horns in showy bursts.

The clanging bells and shouts of vendors rose and fell, creating a noisy, lively atmosphere.

After days of isolation, Lin Guichen had grown restless, and now couldn’t help but gaze out for quite some time.

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After withdrawing his gaze, Lin Guichen turned to Third Master Chen across from him, curiosity in his voice: “Is the Black Lantern Temple located in such a lively area?”

“This is Guanqian Street, leading to the Lady of the Dark Sky Shrine.”

Third Master Chen smiled warmly. “Don’t be impatient. I’ll take you to meet someone first, then decide about the Black Lantern Temple.”

“Who?” Lin Guichen suspected Third Master Chen was seeking someone to check his spiritual aperture.

Third Master Chen only smiled, lifting the curtain for a glance outside. “We’re here.”

Soon, the carriage stopped before a tea house.

After alighting, Third Master Chen sent the driver to park, then, supported by Su Zichu, beckoned Lin Guichen to follow him inside.

Before entering, Lin Guichen looked up at the sign above the door.

A black plaque with gold lettering hung there, reading “Treasure Cauldron Pavilion” in bold, dignified script.

Inside, the guests were few but well-dressed, not the sort to hail from impoverished families. In a corner, several screens stood half-concealed.

The air was laced with subtle aromas of tea and incense, with a faint hint of ink.

Some patrons read newspapers and magazines, others chatted or played chess. Even when they spoke, voices were subdued, keeping the atmosphere calm.

“Master Chen.”

A fair-faced, portly middle-aged man—clearly the manager—greeted them with a smile. “Second Proprietor is waiting for you upstairs.”

“Only the Second Proprietor?”

“Indeed.” The manager smiled. “Second Proprietor said the matter’s minor, any proprietor will do.”

Third Master Chen paused for a moment. “That’s true.”

He said nothing more, glanced at Lin Guichen, and with a “follow me,” allowed Su Zichu to help him up to the second floor.

The second floor was noticeably more refined than the first.

Sunlight filtered through carved window lattices, painting mottled shadows on the polished rosewood tables.

At the center stood a nearly human-sized cauldron.

Inside, herbs or spices released a strange aroma, mingled with faint purple sandalwood, drifting throughout the floor.

Behind one table sat a woman in a cheongsam, legs elegantly crossed, the slit revealing graceful lines of her legs—refined and sensual, accentuating her voluptuous figure. The jewel-blue silk gleamed against her fair skin in striking contrast.

She wasn’t exactly beautiful, but as she drew deeply from a slender cigarette, the smoke swirling around her face in the sunlight lent her an enigmatic, hazy allure.

“Madam Cao.”

Third Master Chen smiled, leading Lin Guichen toward the cheongsam-clad woman.

Madam Cao, the Second Proprietor, glanced through a haze of smoke, not bothering to stand. She flipped open a silver pocket watch on the table, lazily saying, “You’re punctual, Third Master. Let him sit.”

Third Master Chen patted Lin Guichen’s shoulder. “Go on, sit.”

Lin Guichen said nothing, walking over to take a seat.

“So this is the kid…” Madam Cao cast a languid look at him. “Seems pretty ordinary—not like someone who’s opened a spiritual aperture.”

“Spiritual aperture?” Lin Guichen glanced at Third Master Chen.

“Please, Madam Cao, take a look. Otherwise I can’t be at ease.” Third Master Chen spoke gently.

“What a bother…”

Madam Cao shook her head. “Just break his arms and legs, hide him away, and toss him in the coffin on the wedding day. Why go to all this trouble…”

Lin Guichen frowned slightly.

So this Second Proprietor of Treasure Cauldron Pavilion was in on Third Master Chen’s schemes? And to speak so openly in front of him, clearly he was of no consequence in their eyes.

“Madam Cao,” Lin Guichen suddenly spoke. “When someone is bent on dying, keeping them alive is troublesome too, isn’t it?”

Madam Cao paused, cigarette halfway to her lips, squinting at him. Then she laughed. “This child has some wit.”

“A pity, really,” Third Master Chen said. “Madam Cao, please ask your patron to take a look.”

Madam Cao smiled cryptically at Lin Guichen, then stood, twisting her slender waist as she approached the cauldron at the center.

She produced a pouch of unknown powder, pouring its black contents into the cauldron.

Gradually, pale purple smoke wafted up.

Madam Cao leaned over the cauldron, head bowed, waist bent, pressing her abdomen against the rim—her upper body almost inside the cauldron, both feet balancing on tiptoe in embroidered shoes, as if searching or whispering to someone within.

She seemed unconcerned about her revealing posture, intent only on immersing herself in the cauldron.

The purple smoke thickened.

A faint buzzing and murmur echoed from the cauldron.

“Hmm…”

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Suddenly, Madam Cao’s legs kicked wildly, as if her upper body were being sucked into the cauldron, her feet leaving the floor entirely.

Lin Guichen saw one embroidered shoe fall to the ground, her toes curling tightly and trembling.

He had no idea what she was doing—this scene was bizarre and surreal.

After a moment, Madam Cao jerked her head up from the cauldron, as if she’d held her breath too long, her face flushed red and purple, gasping for air and kneeling by the cauldron, somewhat disheveled.

The purple smoke gradually dissipated.

After a while, Madam Cao recovered, slowly turning toward Lin Guichen.

He noticed her dark eyes had morphed into eerie double pupils, as if another pair of eyes were hidden within. The whites of her eyes were streaked with crimson veins, lending her a terrifying appearance.

“Let Auntie have a look.”

Madam Cao stared at Lin Guichen, her bloodshot double pupils seeming to pierce through him.

At that moment, Lin Guichen felt the magic of the “Hidden Heart Talisman” he’d activated last night begin to stir and drain, responding to Madam Cao’s probing.

After a while—

“Bah!”

Madam Cao spat toward Third Master Chen, snorting. “There’s no spiritual aperture! Nothing at all—and I went to all that trouble!”

Third Master Chen was taken aback, glancing at Lin Guichen, and couldn’t help but confirm, “Truly no spiritual aperture?”

“Nonsense!” Madam Cao snapped. “Would Auntie lie to you? Or do you doubt Lady of the Cauldron?”

She stood, leaning on the cauldron, lighting another slender cigarette, taking a deep drag, and said irritably, “Hurry up and pay me—five hundred silver dollars!”

Third Master Chen was silent for a moment, looked at Lin Guichen again, then shook his head with a sigh. “Very well, seems I was being overly cautious. Five hundred silver dollars—someone will deliver them to the Pavilion tonight.”

Madam Cao snorted. “You may go now.”

“Thank you, Madam Cao. Farewell.”

Third Master Chen shook his head helplessly, and, supported by Su Zichu, descended the stairs.

Madam Cao leaned against the cauldron, smoking, her tone lazy and cold: “Don’t forget what you promised us. Otherwise…not only your granddaughter, but this one beside you must be returned to us.”

Lin Guichen felt a stir in his heart.

Return Su Zichu to the Pavilion?

What did that mean?

Was Su Zichu originally from the Pavilion?

And what of Chen Linyu?

He sensed Third Master Chen and Treasure Cauldron Pavilion shared some secret cooperation, but couldn’t guess what.

Still, for him, this ordeal was over.

…

After the Chen family carriage left Treasure Cauldron Pavilion, it returned to the street.

“Third Master brought me here just to check my spiritual aperture?”

Lin Guichen looked at Third Master Chen. “Why do you care if I have a spiritual aperture?”

Third Master Chen smiled calmly. “It’s nothing. When you’re old, you tend to overthink things—just want peace of mind.”

“I thought you were looking for a son-in-law with a spiritual aperture,” Lin Guichen said.

“Rest assured, this was the last check.”

Third Master Chen smiled. “Now I’m truly at ease. You wanted a pistol—I’ll get you one tomorrow. For now, I’ll take you to Black Lantern Temple. The old drum master has his eye on you, so this is safer—spending more money is no matter.”

Lin Guichen said nothing, maintaining his usual calm and numbness.

Yet inwardly, anticipation stirred.

If he worshipped at Black Lantern Temple and dreamed of the Lady of the Black Lantern, he could raise his spiritual strength to twenty years and inherit Chen Mu Zhi’s extraordinary technique.

Then…

Suppressing his emotions, Lin Guichen changed the subject: “What was Madam Cao, the Second Proprietor, doing in the cauldron? Was she summoning an ancestral god?”

“That cauldron does allow communication with a shadowy spirit,” Third Master Chen said, now utterly at ease. “But not an ancestral god—a wandering spirit.”

“Lady of the Cauldron?” Lin Guichen recalled Madam Cao’s words.

“Yes.” Third Master Chen nodded. “Lady of the Cauldron is a powerful shadowy spirit, rivaling the Drum Yama.”

As they spoke, the carriage suddenly stopped.

The Black Lantern Temple was nearby, and in just those few words, they had arrived.

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