Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Yin Soldiers [4]

Starting from Qingdao, Zhang Qiu was worried about the visa issues. After all, they had to go through the Korean Strait to cross the Yellow Sea. As soon as he mentioned it, Qi Xi said with a smile, “What don’t you understand about the ship we’re on?”

“Doesn’t a very luxurious ship need a visa?” Zhang Qiu looked suspiciously at Qi Xi.

Qi Xi patted his forehead, with a convincing expression, and said: “Who is the owner of this ship? Don’t talk about where we’re crossing, even if we sail directly to Japan, no one will check.”

“How magical?!” Once again, Zhang Qiu realised that this boat was different. 

After dinner, everyone discussed the route on deck. Hua Ting took out a small notebook, which recorded all his research during this period, and said: “I have a speculation that the Yin soldiers were made under the order of Qin Shihuang[1], and our current route is very similar to the route that Xu Fu[2] used when he went to sea to find the Elixir of Immortality. Now there are all kinds of theories, but the most mainstream is that he fled to Japan.” After a pause, he asked Hei Qian, “When did you find the Military Tally, and when did you lose it?” 

Hei Qian frowned, that time was too long ago. At that time, he hadn’t yet taken over the affairs of the Underworld. These things were what he had heard from the previous official.

“At the end of the Han Dynasty, after years of war, the souls collected by the Underworld were not right. After sending people to investigate, they discovered that there were people in the Underworld secretly refining Yin soldiers, but those people couldn’t be found.” Hei Qian also felt there was something strange. What person had the ability to evade his Jiujiu[3]? “Later, the Military Tally was found, and the Yin soldiers were integrated. The Tally was then protected by Jiujiu, but it was lost at the end of the Song Dynasty.”

About what Hei Qian had said, Zhang Qiu felt that there was something wrong with Hei Qian’s Jiujiu, King Yama, but if he thought about it carefully, something wasn’t right. If King Yama really made it, what kind of Military Tally were they looking for now? His family were civil servants of the Heavenly court, and he is also an official. 

“I know what you’re all thinking. Don’t doubt my Jiujiu. He is a man---” Hei Qian’s expression was hard to describe, “You’ll know when you meet him, that things are often lost. The Book of Life and Death has not been lost.”

Zhang Qiu was embarrassed after hearing this, “Your Jiujiu must be a very strong backstage supporter[4].” Otherwise, what kind of boss could tolerate Hei Qian’s way of doing things?

“Pride and arrogance.” Hei Qian commented on his Jiujiu with those four words[5].

Zhang Qiu: ……

He really couldn’t think of how King Yama was spoiled. His three views would be broken. 

After talking about the spoiled King Yama, Zhang Qiu felt it was time to get back to the point, so he asked Senior Brother what his theory was. 

“If Xu Fu went out to sea at that time, he was not just looking for the Elixir of Immortality, and he didn’t disappear with the people he took, as the outside world had said.” Hua Ting said: “If Xu Fu really fled to Japan as was said, why didn’t Qin Shihuang send people to look for him?” 

Zhang Qiu thought about it too, the First Emperor’s public persona was venerable and domineering. Someone disobeyed orders under his nose, and he still couldn’t catch them!

“If they found the person, it’s not recorded in history books. The Emperor even went to the extent of burning books and burying Confucian scholars alive. It’s normal to not want others to record that he lost face and was deceived.” Qi Xi retorted with a straight face. 

Hua Ting smiled, did not argue, and said: “I also don’t know what happened before, it’s just a guess, unless Qin Shihuang is still alive.”

“If that’s true, he should be in Shaanxi.” Seeing Senior Brother smiling at Li Shu, Zhang Qiu immediately understood, “If the First Emperor really wanted to be alive like Li Shu, that would be too fun.”

Zhang Qiu was very excited to meet the venerable and domineering Qin Shihuang. Ordinary people don’t have that kind of opportunity, but the thought that Qin Shihuang could advocate behind his back was certainly very distressing. 

“I quite like the First Emperor, but don’t want to fight against him.” 

Li Shu listened to Zhang Qiu harp on[6], with a black face, and asked: “What do you about like the First Emperor?”

“Many---” Zhang Qiu reacted quickly, smiled and flattered Li Shu, “I’ll treat him the same, really, I much prefer General Li Shu now!”

Li Shu licked his lips, “Really?” Holding Zhang Qiu’s waist, he said to the group: “It’s dark, we will go back first.” 

“Hey, hey, hey, it’s not dark at all, I still want to see the night scenery……” Zhang Qiu dying to delay, he still didn’t know if his waist was okay! It turned out his protest was useless, and Li Shu lazily took him away.

When Xiao Jiang saw that, he stopped playing, and followed behind with his Didi on his head, like a little tail, falling behind his fathers. Zhang Qiu looked back, he saw that Laozi’s waist was saved, and he quickly said: “Our sons are still here! Although I want to heiheihei[7] with you, but it can’t be in front of our sons, right?”

Li Shu stopped, looked at Zhang Qiu, and said with a smile, “You’re right, you can’t teach a son bad things.”

On the deck, Lu Feng smiled when he heard that. He had seen Xiao Jiang being rushed to the door and squatting in front of the basin to play with ducks. Now, the couple were very good fathers!

The sea breeze in winter makes a person’s face hurt, especially in the evening. It’s dark all around, and there were waves and wind whistling in his ears. After he was finished speaking, especially due to Li Shu’s highly suggestive words, among those present, Qi Xi’s eyebrows openly flew[8] at Qi Zhirong, groaning and saying: “Xiao Rongrong, the wind is so strong that my skin is wrinkled and dehydrated. Let’s quickly go back and rest!”

Yue Qincang was also a small fan of Qi Xi’s, but since coming into contact with Qi Xi, he has already taken off the powder[9]. Hearing Qi Xi’s sticky and wicked words, he said “With you like this, I’m almost a black fan[10]. Forget it, Lao---Kai Ming are you cold? I’m want to go back and sleep.”

“Let’s go.” Kai Ming said lightly from the wheelchair.

Yue Qincang pushed Kai Ming away and left the table. Qi Xi was more solicitous, but Qi Zhirong was not moved, stood up and said: “Go back to your own room.”

“Aren’t we sharing one together?” Qi Xi looked at Hei Qian dazedly. Hei Qian shrugged his shoulders and said: “There are plenty of rooms. Mr Qi doesn’t want to stay with you.” 

Qi Xi: ……

“Xiao Rongrong, listen to me, it’s so cold here, you’ll wake up in the middle of the night. I’m so hot, I’ll warm you up, don’t walk so fast, wait for me---.” 

“Bang ---”

The door was closed tightly, and Qi Xi stood at the door very pitifully. Seeing Hua Ting and Lu Feng approaching, he boasted and said: “Xiao Rongrong told me to go back to get my luggage. I’ll take my luggage and find our family’s Xiao Rongrong to warm the bed as soon as possible.” 

Lu Feng smiled but didn’t say anything. Just then, it was so loud that they couldn’t not hear or see. 

The busy deck was soon quiet, after helping Xiao Jiang bathe, Zhang Qiu also played with the water, conveniently rinsing himself . Holding the slippery Xiao Jiang, sitting on his shoulders was an equally slippery Xiao Fei. However, different from Xiao Jiang’s boldness, Xiao Fei was more shy, his long hair covered his body, while Xiao Jiang exposed his ‘small bird’. 

Zhang Qiu was afraid that he would have to work hard all night, so he put his sons in the middle of the bed. He would have a good sleep tonight. 

Zhang Qiu slept well until midnight, when he suddenly shivered coldly. When he woke up, he found that he had come out of the room and was walking down the hallway. He had a strong hand around his waist, the crimson colour of Li Shu’s pupils hadn’t been hidden yet, his lips curled up and said: “If you’re cold, hold me tightly.”

“Li Shu what, what are you doing?” Alarms rang in Zhang Qiu’s heart. 

Li Shu said with a smile, “You said you wanted to heiheihei, but it’s hard to do so because of our sons. In this case, let’s go to the deck. It’s quiet there. You also wanted to see the night scenery.” 

Fuck, Li Shu do you want to be so careful when you hold grudges!

Zhang Qiu started to run but was hugged by Li Shu’s long arms and pulled directly into Li Shu’s chest. Smiling, Li Shu said: “Can’t wait? Then I will satisfy you.”

……

Li Shu was fully prepared and had brought a blanket to wrap around Zhang Qiu. Under the dark moonlight, Zhang Qiu’s long, straight legs couldn’t be covered. Li Shu laughed with satisfaction and raised his arm, “Hold my waist.” Seeing that Zhang Qiu didn’t move, he turned to Zhang Qiu’s upturned behind, and Zhang Qiu’s hair stood on end nervously. It was like having an affair. His heart began to itch. 

The moonlight on the sea was absolutely beautiful, bright and round. The moonlight scattered on Li Shu’s perfect face. Zhang Qiu drooled when he saw it. His body was much more obedient than his mouth. 

Just now, Zhang Qiu was still cold. After a while, he was covered in sweat. He wanted to throw off the blanket, but he was thoroughly covered by Li Shu. 

“Don’t be cocky, you’ll catch a cold.” Li Shu finished speaking with a deep thrust, and sure enough, he felt Song Bao’s enthusiasm. He smiled in satisfaction.

“Always dishonest.”

……

Qi Xi planned to sneak into Qi Zhirong’s room at midnight. When he walked down the hallway, he heard the sounds of moaning and groaning, sneaking over to look, he immediately clicked his tongue. From such a long distance, after he finished doing it, Li Shu suddenly turned his head. Cold, crimson eyes shot over. Qi Xi was stunned, and quickly said: “I was just passing by.” While speaking, suddenly his eyes widened, “There is something in the distance.” 

Before he had finished speaking, Li Shu had quickly fled from the deck with Zhang Qiu in his arms. But the next second, soft tentacles had slapped the deck, and the whole deck was shaking violently, the head moved towards downloading[11].

Li Shu quickly took Zhang Qiu, who had fainted, back to the room. When he came back, Hei Qian and Pei Qing had also run onto the deck. 

“Fuck, you guys should move faster. Laozi is going to be hit in the face by this ugly monster. We don’t have any friends to do it.” Qi Xi was still holding a pillow in his hand, he planned to go to Qi Zhirong’s room, groan and act like a spoiled child. Now he had lost the pillow and his pyjamas were sticky and dripping. He didn’t have a self-defence dagger. The tentacles were sticky and cunning. Just then, he was almost hit. Now he grabbed the tentacle lying on the deck with one hand, and then viciously said: “You dare to thrash me, Laozi will chop you up and eat you!” 

“Crash---.”

The ship swayed violently, and two huge tentacles rushed out of the sea to slap directly onto the deck. The head of the large ship sank instantly, and the three huge tentacles tightly wrapped around Qi Xi, who was immediately tightly bound. 

Li Shu was like a flash of lightning, quickly rushing to the tightly bound tentacles. The dagger in his hand quickly severed the tentacle around Qi Xi’s neck. The tentacle was enraged, and the ship on the sea once again swayed violently. At this time, at Hei Qian’s tentacle, a long black crescent shaped sickle, that he took out of nowhere, appeared in his hand. He immediately jumped off the deck, and in the next instant, they heard a forlorn and shrill cry.

Hei Qian seemed to come out of the ink, wearing sunglasses, and holding a black sickle, jumping back on the deck lightly. The hull was slowly stabilised, and the captain and sailors did not panic at all, orderly tidying up the greasy liquid on the deck. 

Qi Xi was furious, viciously cussing, “What kind of monster thing has the ability to come out. Eat your grandfather’s wooden paddle![12]” He looked up and saw Qi Zhirong coming over. Suddenly his temperament changed, and he groaned instantly, pitifully saying: “Just now, something with many hands almost killed me. Fortunately, I was brave.” 

If Zhang Qiu were there, he would praise that Qi Xi would’ve failed if he wasn’t a king of the silver screen. 

Qi Zhirong’s cold face could see through the essence, but he couldn’t resist Qi Xi’s coquettish voice. Finally, he nodded his head and comforted him with a few words. That was like giving Qi Xi a ladder. Qi Xi climbed up with a swish, and after a while, Qi Xi entered Qi Zhirong’s room with his injured body. 

Li Shu stood at the side, watching the whole process with an indifferent face. 

Everyone had come out. Yue Qincang pushed Kai Ming pulled his down jacket, shivering coldly, and asked: “What happened just now?” 

Xiao Jiang licked his small tiger’s teeth, “Fragrant, delicious!” Then he looked regretful that he couldn’t eat it. 

Hei Qian smiled, “Some people refine spirit beasts. It seems that there are people who don’t want us to follow.” This kind of spirit beast is very sensitive. It was ordered to hide in the deep sea. Once awakened by its owner, it will frantically attack. The method for refining spirit beasts is the same as the Yin soldiers. 

“Back then, at the snowy mountain, there was a foreign-born Chinese woman in human skin, who was essentially a giant python.” Pei Qing thought about Christine, the snake that fried into meat foam. 

Hei Qian pushed his sunglasses and said: “It seems that some will do that.” 

The deck was soon cleaned up, the sea was calm again, and at a glance, the end could not be seen. It was unknown how the turbulent waves were hidden under such calmness. 

The next morning, Zhang Qiu woke up to hear what had happened the night before. He was a little embarrassed. He had fainted and didn’t wake up. Not to mention, Qi Xi kept looking at him with a smile, and Zhang Qiu beat him up.

After that octopus spirit beast appeared that night, it seemed that they thought about it too much, nothing else happened. The rest of the journey was peaceful and serene. They crossed the Yellow Sea and entered the Korean Strait. They pulled over to the side, re-stocked nearby, and set out again.

Xiao Jiang had just finished eating a piece of mango cake, licking his lips, longing for more, looking at his dad with his chin in his fleshy hands. 

Without his son opening his mouth, Zhang Qiu knew what he was going to say, “That’s already the second piece, you can’t eat. Do you want to keep your sharp white teeth?”

Frightened, Xiao Jiang hurriedly covered his mouth, shaking his head like a rattle. It’s because Zhang Qiu restricts Xiao Jiang from eating sweets, that Xiao Jiang can’t forget them. However, he is particularly shameless. Given the option of eating or damaging his handsome appearance, it was obvious what his priorities were. 

“I thought it would take at least ten days, but I didn’t expect that we would be so fast that we could reach the Sea of Japan in the afternoon.” Hua Ting said.

Zhang Qiu also felt that the ship they were on was much faster. 

There was not much entertainment on the ship. Even if they were fast, they had been on the ship for more than five days, and they had nothing to do. When the weather was fine, like today, they would go up to the table on the deck, to have a meal, chat and bask in the sun. 

Xiao Jiang was playing with Xiao Fei, when suddenly the bells on his wrist jingled.

Zhang Qiu heard the sound and looked over. Xiao Jiang touched his wrist, and the jingling stopped. 

Everyone on deck was playing cards, chatting and reading. When the tide came up at four o’clock in the afternoon, Zhang Qiu glanced at the sky, it was clear just now with lots of sunlight, but now it was heavily overcast. The moisture in the sea seemed to be getting into people's bones from top to bottom. 

“Why is it suddenly cold?” Zhang Qiu took a sip of tea, the hot tea in the cup became cold, and got even colder after a sip. He couldn’t help but wave at Xiao Jiang, “Come back with Dad to put on more clothes, Li Shu, are you cold? I’ll bring a scarf back for you, too.”

“Okay.” Li Shu nodded. 

Zhang Qiu took Xiao Jiang and went back to put on more layers. Turning around, he saw Xiao Jiang laying on the sofa, flipping through his school bag. 

“What are you looking for?” As soon as Zhang Qiu finished speaking, he saw his son holding the compass and small vanity mirror in his hands. He was taken aback and instantly understood that there was a problem with the change of the sky. With a serious expression on his face, he said: “If you have any problems, don’t take risks.” It’s better to stay with the big guys. 

Going back out, he gave the scarf to Li Shu and Zhang Qiu turned to Hei Qian to ask, “Is there a problem here?” 

“It’s almost five o’clock. At dusk, when the sun sets, Yin and Yang alternates, and spirits travel at night.” Hei Qian looked at the quiet sea, turned to look at them, “Do you want to go below and avoid it?”

Zhang Qiu thought that everyone was a team. It was not good to leave Hei Qian alone in case of an accident. Before he said anything, Qi Xi said first: “Don’t you look down on us elders and brethren! Xiao Hei, your thinking is very wrong! Friends should help and care for each other, unless you are robbed of your lover[13], then you can stick in two knives……”

“Shut up.” Qi Zhirong said coldly. 

Hei Qian was in a daze when he was called ‘Xiao Hei’ for the first time, but he wasn’t angry. He said with a smile: “I thought that I was just a business partner, I didn’t expect to be a friend!” In a low voice, as if talking to himself, he looked at Qi Xi and said, “You’re right, I might need a friend's help.”

Qi Xi suddenly patted his chest to show that he could help. 

When he saw Hei Qian, Zhang Qiu couldn’t help but think of the last time he teased Bai Shengsheng. He immediately lit candles for Qi Xi. He heard Hei Qian say: “I may need bait. See, you are tall and strong, so you’ll be the bait.”  

Qi Xi: ……

“That, okay, come on! Just say tell me what to do.” He couldn’t lose face in front of his family’s Xiao Rongrong. 

Hei Qian laughed, “I’m joking.” After a pause, he looked at everyone and said: “As soon as it hits five o’clock, the wind direction will be wrong. After the ghosts enters, there will be hallucinations. No matter what you see, stay in your rooms and don’t come out. Even if you come out, don’t look into my eyes.” The last sentence was very solemn, as if a ghost entering was like child’s play, but looking at Hei Qian’s eyes was even more troublesome. 

Zhang Qiu couldn’t help but look at Hei Qian. Since he met Hei Qian, he had been wearing sunglasses, and had never taken them off. Sometimes he wonders whether this person wore glasses at night, it seems very likely now. 

Everyone nodded, Xiao Jiang, holding the compass, said crisply: “I can help.”

“Okay.” Hei Qian said with a smile, but apparently he didn’t take it seriously. Xiao Jiang nodded his head with little tiger teeth showing, thinking that he was going to do something big to help. 

The sky was getting darker and darker, the clouds in the distance forming a dense mass, like they could squeeze out the water. It was just past five o’clock, and the sky suddenly darkened. Lu Feng and Hua Ting went back to their room first. They were ordinary people staying here, they couldn’t be of much help, and they both knew that they would just hold everyone back. 

“Jingle, jingle---”

Xiao Jiang’s wrist bells were getting louder and louder. Hei Qian glanced at him. Xiao Jiang’s big eyes were excited, regardless of the bells ringing on his wrists, he held the compass in his hand, like he had learnt from Er-Bobo[14], staring at him with a serious face. Hei Qian wanted to say that the child was very funny. A little evil being was holding a magic weapon that was used to conquer evil things, but it was no joke, Xiao Jiang really had some skill. 

“Delicious cooking-Gege, the ship is in the wrong orientation.” Xiao Jiang said with a small frown. 

Hei Qian was shocked, “Wrong?” He didn’t sense anything and called the captain to ask. The captain firmly said: “It’s impossible. We are following the route you said, it is impossible to be wrong. Do you believe in my twenty plus years of sea experience, or do you believe in this kid?” 

Xiao Jiang pouted, unhappy. Li Shu touched his son’s face, looked at the captain and said coldly: “I believe this child.”

“Then how do you insist we go?” The captain was being questioned on his experience, he was very dissatisfied, but the price offered by the other party was very high and he didn’t dare provoke them. He knew the small child called the man ‘Dad’, suppressing the fire in his heart, and slowly said: “I am not targeting the child, but there really is no indication of error. If you guys need to change the route, then tell me where to go, and I will follow your decision.”

Hei Qian hesitated, and looked at Xiao Jiang, who poked the compass with his short, fat fingers, thought about it, and finally pointed to the East. 

“That is the opposite way.” The captain said hastily. 

Seeing Xiao Jiang’s big face tighten, Hei Qian was obviously afraid that they would not believe him, so he couldn’t help but smile, and said: “Go East.” If it is wrong, just turn back. 

With dissatisfaction in his eyes, the captain nodded in agreement. He returned to the control room and changed the direction, but he wanted to deliver them as soon as possible to receive the remaining money. He was delayed by a small child and didn’t know when they would arrive. He hesitated, but he changed the direction back, following the original route. 

______________________________________________________

Translator’s notes:

[1] Name of the First Emperor of Qin.

[2] A necromancer from the Qin Dynasty.

[3] I am using this term now, because in later chapters, it will be helpful when distinguishing characters. You’ll find out what I mean later.

[4] Background supporter; someone who supports another from behind the scenes.

[5] A four-word idiom in Chinese, but in English, it is only three words. I just kept four words because I wanted to.

[6] Rambling, but in a fan-boy kind of way.

[7] Lewd, suggestive kind of laughter. It is another way to say ‘papapa’, but more subtly.

[8] It’s like when you look at someone and you raise your eyebrows up and down suggestively.

[9] Kinda like a façade? Or rose-tinted glasses? Meaning that Yue Qincang sees the real Qi Xi, and not his on-screen persona.

[10] Anti-fan

[11] Possibly means that the head (of the ship?) went directly downwards, like a download? I’m not entirely sure.

[12] I am sure this is a curse, since the Chinese have pretty colourful curses, but I couldn’t find a better way to write it, so I left it how it is.

[13] I am not sure if he means ‘unless you rob your lover’ or ‘unless you are robbed of your lover’ but I chose the latter since it seems like more of a reason to stab someone. Also, who in their right mind would rob their lover?

[14] Second-uncle, Zhang Yushui. 

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