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First Supernatural Scene
墨書 Inktalez
Thirty seconds ago, Old Ge jumped off the train bound for Chengdu from Luoyang. According to Old Qiao, they were in the smoking area enjoying the breeze when, without any warning, Old Ge suddenly leaped from the train. Instinctively, Old Qiao reached out to grab him but only managed to catch his crossbody bag, which contained some basic gear and a sealed Data Bag.
"Damn it, that bastard!" his junior cursed as he rushed out the door. A Li, feeling uneasy, said, "I’ll go with you!" and followed suit. That left only me and Old Qiao in the compartment.
I knew Old Ge well; he was always full of ambition but lacked the courage to act on it. Jumping off a train was something he would never do, even if you gave him ten doses of courage. I glanced outside and turned back to Old Qiao; it was time to play the emotional card. "Just us two, alright? Let’s be honest."
Old Qiao paused for a moment before quickly regaining his composure. It was so fast that anyone who wasn’t close to him wouldn’t have noticed. Damn it, this guy really had something going on!
A nagging feeling crept into my mind; ever since returning from Xi'an, it seemed everyone had been hiding something from me. It felt like being trapped in a foggy forest, lost and unable to find my way out while they watched me flounder like a headless fly. It was as if they had isolated me like a virus.
Old Qiao always maintained his calm demeanor. He shook off his clothes and sat down on the opposite bunk. I thought he was going to waste time with more circular talk, but then he cut straight to the point: "You guessed wrong this time; it wasn’t me playing Tai Chi with you, it was Old Ge. His act of 'losing both the wife and the soldiers' is just a prelude; we’ll see if there’s any 'truth' in that Data Bag."
The train continued rumbling forward as I took the Data Bag from him. Instinctively, I inhaled deeply, my heart suddenly racing with anticipation as if a truth was about to be unveiled. The thrill coursed through my veins, making me forget everything—trust and betrayal were cast aside. With a swift motion, I tore open the bag like a butcher.
Inside fell a stack of thick stationery.
Dear:
I have prayed that this letter would never reach your hands. If you are reading this now, then unfortunately it means my hopes have been dashed.
I have known your master since we were teenagers; we’ve been friends for nearly twenty years now. I have never seen a man as accommodating and responsible as he is. What he has done for you far exceeds what any teacher or father could do. So when you asked me to investigate him, I was genuinely shocked and quite angry. I couldn’t understand why you would suddenly entertain such foolish thoughts—how could you doubt your master!
You have grown up before our eyes, like our own child. We wish for your happiness and hope that you will live a carefree life. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, there are some things we intended to keep hidden from you. It wasn't until today, when I met Qiao Qi, Dui, and A Li, that I realized everything could no longer be concealed. Rather than have you hear rumors and make wild guesses from others in the future, it is better for me to tell you the truth directly. At least this way, I can restore your master's reputation, which is why I wrote this letter overnight (I apologize for initially wanting to back out of my promise to you).
The errand-running profession has its roots in the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period, gradually developing into the Song and Yuan Dynasties, where it split into the New School and Old School. The Old School consists of professional Errand Runners whose disciples can only engage in this line of work at any time and place. They are highly skilled and hold themselves in high regard, looking down on the New School, which has increasingly turned errand-running into a side job. Ironically, the relationship between the New School and Old School is not fixed; for instance, your Shiye belongs to the Old School, but by the time of you and your master’s generation, it had become part of the New School. As for the reason behind this shift, I am not entirely sure; I only heard your master mention that your Shiye had tried hard to break away from the Old School, and his death seems to be related to this.
Thus, the grievances between the new Old School cannot be summarized in just a few words. The boundaries between them are not merely about professional versus side-job errand running; there are deeper connections involved. This connection not only relates to your fate and your master's fate but also affects your entire Shimen and even humanity's destiny. This is the significance and mission of your existence as an Errand Runner.
I assure you that my words are not alarmist; this matter is too significant, involving hundreds of generations of Errand Runners and countless lives... What I know is merely superficial. After much thought, I believe it would be more appropriate for your master to tell you directly. Do not ask others about this matter anymore, especially do not trust what your Third Granduncle Master or Shishu say; they are unworthy even to carry your master’s shoes.
At this point, I must also remind you as part of fulfilling my duty. Your master has five brothers in total: Master Sun is Sun Gongzhou, who is Li's master; Er Shibo is Sun Hou Zhou, who is Kun Ba's master. These four disciples are all part of the New School like you; you can get closer to them. If you encounter any trouble in the future, seek their help—they will do their utmost to protect you. Then there’s your Third Granduncle Master Sun Bozhou, whom you met previously in the underground palace; he is Kan Liu and Gen Qi's master. Lastly, there’s Shishu Sun Nan Zhou, who is Zhen Si and Xun Wu's master.
These individuals belong to the Old School and are your master's sworn enemies; they will also become your enemies in due course. You must remember: if by chance you encounter them, do not hesitate—turn around and run without a second thought. Do not trust anything they say; whatever happens, do not fall into their hands. You have yet to interact with them; each one is ruthless and cunning beyond measure. Their thoughts are filled with selfishness and filth—if it comes down to it, you might find yourself unable to survive or die...
Well then, I've rambled on for so long that it's time to conclude. I know you must be very confused right now; given your personality, there are likely many questions you want answered... If you still regard me as a brother, heed my advice: life is precious because it is often unclear. Knowing certain truths may not necessarily be a good thing. Since your master has already done so much for you, how can you bear to let him down?
I understand that my words may not resonate with you; since childhood, you've been a smart and dutiful child but stubbornly curious about everything. Have you considered that if you continue to cling stubbornly to this path of inquiry, it won't just be you who suffers? Those around you who care for and protect you will also bear the burden... So please let it go; I'll pretend nothing has happened while waiting for your return home in Luoyang.
Old Ge
The following pages were blank sheets of paper. I checked them repeatedly three times to ensure there was no hidden information within them. My heart felt somewhat heavy; after going through such a long journey from Luoyang to Xi'an—almost losing my life several times—I ended up with nearly nothing.
Old Ge was right; I was too stubborn and persistent in seeking clarity—hitting a wall yet refusing to turn back—insisting on uncovering every detail until everything was clear as day. But upon reflection, who isn’t like that? While I stubbornly sought answers, they were equally determined to cover up the truth under the guise of caring for me—wasn't that a form of stubbornness as well?
Of course, these thoughts are secondary now.
As I was lost in thought, Old Qiao lifted his head from the letter, pinching his chin, and chuckled, "So that's it! This is indeed a shocking piece of news!"
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