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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 18: Ghost Month Taboos
As I reached the door, my heart was still pounding wildly. I hoped to catch a glimpse of Chi Xinrong the moment I opened it. That mischievous girl, so headstrong yet with a good heart. Her volunteering to go to Riwa Store was a perfect example of her character.
The person who opened the door was the housekeeper from Chi Xinrong's uncle's family. I couldn't remember her name, but she knew mine was Qi. Behind her was a lively Husky, wagging its tail at the sight of me.
"Qi is here?"
"Hello, Auntie." As I stepped inside, I saw Chi Xinrong's uncle and Aunt Er sitting on the sofa chatting. Upon my entrance, they both paused their conversation and turned to me, silently acknowledging the situation.
"Rongrong locked herself in her room when she got back, refusing to eat or drink, and she hasn't come out since. I went to check on her, but there was no one inside."
"When did she come back?"
"Last night at ten o'clock."
She returned that late? She hadn’t contacted me; my phone was charging at that time, and with everything that happened with Fat Yi last night, I completely forgot about Chi Xinrong's return. I asked, "Which room is hers?"
"I'll take you there." Auntie Chih stood up with an indifferent expression and led me toward the rooms. Her uncle casually crossed his legs and started playing with their Husky as if nothing were amiss.
It had been less than three months since Chiang's incident, yet everything at home seemed normal, without any noticeable changes. The only difference was the unusual mindset of his parents.
Chi Xinrong's bedroom was clean and tidy, with a faint scent lingering in the air. On the bedside table stood a lamp with a pink shade, a simple yet practical wardrobe, a cute Mickey Mouse clock, and a clever cabinet that could hold many things.
There was also a desktop computer on the cabinet.
Even the slippers under the bed were neatly arranged. The bedding on the bed was neatly folded as well, not resembling someone who had hurriedly left after a restless sleep.
As I entered the room, I took out the Soul Compass to check for any unusual presence inside.
The compass's long and short needles remained still, like dead water, showing no signs of abnormality.
I was searching the room with Auntie Chih. The open door allowed us to hear the television in the living room and the ringing of a phone. Then, I heard Chi Xinrong's Uncle speaking: "Hmm, oh, is that so? Alright."
I had no idea who he was talking to; his tone was very bureaucratic.
"Is something wrong?" Auntie Chih asked from the doorway without stepping inside.
I put away the compass and shook my head. "No, are you sure she has been in this house?"
"Of course." Auntie Chih had been a great beauty in her youth; I think I've heard her mention it before. "Is there a problem?" She seemed to sense my doubts and took a serious look around the room, pressing me for an answer.
"Nothing, let's go outside."
Auntie Chih and I walked out into the living room. Her Uncle wore an unmistakable smile that he tried to hide but failed, putting on a sorrowful expression instead. "It seems we won't be able to hold Chiang's funeral until after Ghost Month. I'd like to ask Master Ma for help with the arrangements; as for the fee, I'll double it for you. What do you think..."
Taking money to help others avoid disaster.
Originally, we became Morticians to serve the dead. If it weren't for the Ghost Month Taboos, I wouldn't have this leisure to investigate the car accident at Hongqiao Supermarket Entrance. The Ghost Month Taboos didn't seem to affect people like Chi Ruiqiang, but for us, it put us in a difficult position.
There was also one question that puzzled me endlessly. With Chi Xinrong missing, why was her Uncle so focused on arranging Chiang's burial? It seemed he wasn't concerned at all about his niece's disappearance.
When things seem unusual, there must be something amiss.
“Ghost Month Taboos, I think it's better to postpone.”
“Ma Qi, don't get into this feudal superstition. Are you capable or not? If not, I'll find someone else.”
If I turn down Chi Ruiqiang's request, it would undoubtedly create enmity between us. In that case, I wouldn't be able to continue contacting Chi Xinrong or search for her whereabouts.
“What about your niece?”
“Sigh, once a girl grows up, she can't be kept at home. You know her temperament; if she wants to do something, who can stop her? She might have gone out to play with that classmate or friend.”
“Was she like this before?”
“Yeah, when Uncle says one thing, she can retort with hundreds. I don’t dare to complain even a bit. After all, she is the flesh and blood of our Chi Family. With Xiao gone, she is the only child left in our family. I care for her too much to offend her, don’t you think?”
I had to admit that Auntie Chih was quite eloquent; I found myself at a loss for words.
“Alright then! There's no time like the present. Tomorrow we’ll give your son a proper burial and then look for Rongrong. This is my delaying tactic. Now that Chi Xinrong is missing, she must have gone to Riwa Store in Yujia Bay on my orders. If something really happened, I would bear some responsibility.”
I didn’t hear Chi Xinrong's Uncle mention that I sent her to Riwa Store, but rather heard it from her Aunt Er. The talk about classmates and friends made me somewhat skeptical. I knew Chi Xinrong's temperament better than anyone; she always did things her own way and liked to come up with new tricks. Perhaps this time she was playing hide-and-seek to grab my attention.
Thinking this way, I couldn't help but chuckle.
After reluctantly accepting the request, I immediately contacted Fatty and instructed him to prepare everything necessary for the funeral. The reason I chose such a quick date for Chiang's burial was that the fifteenth day of Ghost Month is the actual Ghost Festival, when the Yin Qi is at its peak and the Ghost Gate is wide open—an unsuitable time for any activities. Only by handling Chiang's affairs in advance could we avoid the days close to when the Ghost Gate opens.
While preparing for Chiang's funeral, Chi Ruiqiang surprisingly considered the bigger picture and expressed his wish not to disturb relatives and friends, allowing me to handle everything for his son's burial. Furthermore, he didn’t want his son to be reduced to ashes; he bribed the funeral home staff to secretly transport his son’s body out for a proper burial.
I have to admit, having money and power makes things much easier.
When I returned to Ma Wu Funeral Home, I unexpectedly received a call from Uncle Lin. His voice was choked with tears as he said, "Ma Qi, you need to come to my house right away."
"Uncle Lin, I can't. I'm really busy." I was genuinely occupied, trying to figure out how to continue searching for Chi Xinrong. Seeing how indifferent her uncle was towards her made me feel particularly distressed. If I told Fat about Chi Xinrong's disappearance, he would be even more anxious to find her than I was.
"Ma Qi, please, something really happened. My wife... it's terrifying. You have to come."
"What happened, Uncle Lin?"
"She... she has a lot of things gnawing at her and has torn her clothes apart. Something is biting her flesh." Hearing Uncle Lin say this, an image of Lin's mom in a frenzy flashed through my mind—her hair disheveled, clothes tattered, flailing about wildly.
"Okay, I'll be there right away."
Upon hearing that I would go, Uncle Lin sighed in relief.
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