The door closed with little force, smoother than expected, though I didn't know why.
Looking back down at the Han Yin Temple, everything seemed as usual. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
I packed up my gear and messaged Zheng Bingbing. She sent the rope zipline over. I attached my hook and rode the rope back to the summit.
"Uncle, how did you get up here? How was it?" Zheng Bingbing asked eagerly.
I described the layout of the cave to her, but omitted the part about the person in the coffin, fearing it would scare her. I lied, claiming the coffin contained archives from a past war that were crucial for me, a history researcher, and that I needed to open it.
Zheng Bingbing didn't seem to know much about history and readily believed my flimsy excuse. She nodded vigorously, "That's easy! We'll go back and buy a chainsaw!"
I checked the time. "Time is tight. How about this, Bingbing? You're quick on your feet. You go to town and buy it, and I'll wait here. That way, we won't waste any time."
Her speed going down the mountain and back up was at least twice mine. If I went, by the time I bought the chainsaw and returned, Shen Xingyue would probably be back already.
Zheng Bingbing's eyes darted around, and she grinned slyly, "I can do that, but I have a condition!"
"What is it?"
"Uncle! When I bring it back, you have to take me down with you."
"No way!"
"Then I'm not going." Zheng Bingbing plopped down on a rock, pouting angrily.
There was no other choice. Shen Xingyue wouldn't fall for the same trick twice, and this time I had to resort to underhanded tactics.
Everything depended on this. I only had one chance, so I had to agree to Zheng Bingbing's terms.
"Hooray! I'm going now!"
"How much will it cost? I'll transfer the money to you via WeChat. Get the best one, the most powerful one!" I said.
As she ran down the mountain, Zheng Bingbing waved her hand, "No need, Uncle, they aren't expensive."
Watching her run, it was clear she had practiced downhill off-road running. From the summit to the Pajero at the foot of the mountain, I estimated it would take twenty minutes. Yet, she "rolled and scrambled" her way down in just three minutes. This was the difference between an ordinary person and a world-class athlete.
The Pajero roared to life, kicking up dust as it sped away.
I was freezing from my time in the cave. I found a sunny spot to bask, smoke, and replenish my body heat.
Before I finished my cigarette, I suddenly heard voices from the north side of the summit!
Had I been discovered?
I quickly stubbed out my cigarette and tiptoed back to the summit, using the rocks for cover. Peering down, I saw the young monk Xingyao walking with a middle-aged man and woman. They were emerging from a sea buckthorn path behind the Han Yin Temple and heading towards the Nine Immortal Cave. Xingyao was telling them about the history of the cave, much of which he had already told me.
The middle-aged couple were impeccably dressed. The man wore a suit, slicked-back hair, and gold-rimmed glasses. The woman wore a black qipao embroidered with peonies, her hair pulled up high. She was slightly overweight, clearly a lady of means, perhaps even a "coffin lady."
Indeed, a few seconds later, Xingyao's words confirmed my suspicion. He parted the sea buckthorn branches blocking their way and said deferentially, "Prefect He, Madam He, please be careful not to get pricked."
Ordinary people weren't allowed to visit the Nine Immortal Cave, but the rich and powerful were. A clear double standard.
The middle-aged couple arrived below the cave entrance and looked up. I concealed myself behind a cluster of branches, camouflaged as a small tree on the summit, and watched through the leaves.
"Each of these nine caves is inhabited by a different immortal. Which deity do you, Prefect He and Madam He, wish to pay homage to?" Xingyao asked. When speaking to such high-ranking officials, he naturally couldn't call them demons, referring to them only as "immortals."
Prefect He adjusted his glasses and said in a solemn tone, "Since we're here, let's pay our respects to all of them."
Madam He, however, expressed her objection, "That would seem insincere. Little monk, could you tell me which deity's cave offers... hmm... smooth sailing in officialdom?"
"Smooth sailing in officialdom?" Xingyao scratched his bald head, possibly because his limited education prevented him from understanding the sophisticated term.
"Yes, you know, to ensure Prefect He's career continues to flourish. Not necessarily promotions, but at least to overcome any obstacles and ensure he remains out of trouble, understand?" Madam He explained patiently.
Xingyao didn't catch the underlying meaning. After all, he was young and lacked social experience. But I understood perfectly. It seemed Prefect He had sensed trouble brewing and knew he was about to be investigated by the Censorate. He had come to pray for divine protection to get through it safely.
Heh, if I were part of the Censorate investigating corruption in a region, I'd simply stake out reputable temples and Taoist monasteries. Anyone showing up to pray for safety there, especially if they were a "coffin person," would be a guaranteed catch.