Earth’s Redemption: Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Feng Shui Treasure Cave (2)

Proofread by Cloud Chip Cake

With Ning Buwen’s abilities, killing someone wasn’t difficult, but killing someone without leaving a trace was a bit harder.  

In his heart, Ning Buwen had already turned Zhuzi into a dead pillar ¹, but on the surface, he showed nothing.  

Fortunately, Zhuzi didn’t talk much with him, he was soon called away by the steward.  

“Don’t let him fool you,” the steward, likely feeling pity for Ning Buwen because of his youth, said an extra sentence, “Zhuzi has picked up a few bad habits from outside, but he’s still quick with his work. You’re young, and a boy at that—don’t let yourself get taken advantage of for nothing.”  

Seeing Ning Buwen stay silent, the steward felt he had done his part, sighed, and said no more.  

Ning Buwen watched the steward’s departing figure, rubbed his chin, and pondered for a moment.  

That evening, Ning Buwen came over to them with a silver dollar in hand.  

“Where did you get this money?” The steward was surprised, knowing that this month’s wages hadn’t been distributed yet.  

“I sold my family’s land before I left,” Ning Buwen’s performance was flawless. “I knew living outside would require money, so I sewed it into my clothes. Steward, I want to stay far away from Zhuzi Ge. I like young girls.”  

The steward hadn’t expected that his words would be taken to heart by Ning Buwen. Feeling a bit moved, he said, “Keep the money for yourself. Once the ancestral ritual is over, save up more. In a couple of years, you’ll be able to buy your freedom. Our young master has studied abroad and doesn’t approve of buying and selling servants. If you talk to him, it’ll definitely work.”  

The steward comforted him, adding, “Tomorrow, I’ll transfer you somewhere else. Have you thought about where you want to go?”  

“This… I can choose?” Ning Buwen seemed flustered. “I-I don’t like going out. Steward, is there any quieter work? I’m not picky and very diligent.”  

“You don’t want to stand out?”  

“I… I’m scared.” Ning Buwen lowered his head at the right moment. “I just want to do my work quietly and not think about anything else.”  

Hinting at his intentions, Ning Buwen added, “Besides, in lively places, people argue a lot. I’m not good at talking and can’t argue with others.”  

“If you’re looking for peace and quiet, the only place in the entire Xing household is with the eldest young lady,” the steward thought for a moment and gave his answer. “But the eldest young lady has had a bad temper since her husband passed away. Many servants beg me in tears to be reassigned. Do you want to go?”  

“I do.” Ning Buwen immediately bowed. “Steward, I used to live with my grandfather. He had a bad temper too. I just didn’t speak, and it was fine.”  

“Alright, since you’ve said so, I’ll send you to the eldest young lady tomorrow,” the steward nodded. “You can go back now.”  

“Steward, this money…”  

“Take it back. I don’t need this little bit.”  

“But, Steward, why are you so good to me?” Ning Buwen asked curiously, “You spent money to buy me earlier, and now you’re willing to help me for free. I really don’t know how to repay you.”  

“Maybe it’s because you’re about the same age as my son,” the steward sighed deeply. “I used to have a bad temper and often scolded him. After one scolding, he ran away. For so many years, I haven’t heard any news about him. I don’t even know if he’s gone hungry, suffered from the cold, or… if he’s still alive.”  

“No news is good news,” Ning Buwen comforted. “You’re such a good person, Steward. Your son will definitely come back.”  

“It’s late. Go back to sleep.”  

“Then I won’t disturb you.” Ning Buwen backed away gratefully.  

Going to the eldest young lady, Xing Fangfang, was precisely Ning Buwen’s plan and the reason for his words. Even if the steward hadn’t mentioned the eldest young lady’s name, he would’ve taken the initiative to ask to go to her.

This was a decision Ning Buwen made after careful consideration.  

His current identity had its pros and cons.  

As a servant, he had many channels to gather information, but it also meant the information he obtained was limited and difficult to verify. If things continued like this, he would really only be a servant here, left waiting for the others to make their moves.  

Among the masters of the Xing family, the young master seemed like the best entry point, having studied abroad. However, the trouble was that he was the only male heir, which meant he would be closely watched. Moreover, since he was often away, he likely didn’t know much about the inner workings of the Xing family.  

The second young lady was still just a child—what could she possibly know? As for the concubines… Ning Buwen felt even more uneasy. This time, he was worried about himself.  

In his current body, he looked quite attractive. If one of the concubines took a liking to him, it would spell disaster. He needed to avoid them as much as possible.  

Besides, with six or seven concubines in the household, it was unlikely that they were privy to any significant family secrets. The more concubines there were, the less value they had, and they likely weren’t given much attention. If Ning Buwen wanted to investigate the truth behind the Xing family, he needed to find someone deeply rooted in the family.  

The eldest young lady, Xing Fangfang, was widowed, and everyone avoided disturbing her. She had grown up in the Xing family, so she had to know everything there was to know about it. A bad temper was a bonus, as fewer people would be assigned to watch her, making it easier for him to act.  

The next day, under the sympathetic gazes of the other servants, Ning Buwen was reassigned to serve the eldest young lady.  

Zhuzi even went out of his way to find him, attempting to grab Ning Buwen’s hand several times, only to be dodged each time.  

“Don’t worry, I’ll figure out a way to get you back,” Zhuzi said with deep emotion. “The eldest young lady’s place is unfit for anyone to stay. If you’re bullied, come tell me.”  

Heh.  

In his heart, Ning Buwen had already dismembered this guy into pieces, but on his face, he showed a reluctant expression. “Zhuzi Ge, I’ll wait for you.”  

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely get you back.”  

After speaking, Zhuzi hugged him despite Ning Buwen’s resistance.  

Endure.  

This isn’t my body.  

Ning Buwen discreetly used a hidden nail to cut off a piece of fabric from Zhuzi’s sleeve, holding it in his hand with satisfaction.  

“Zhuzi Ge, I have to go. The steward is rushing me,” Ning Buwen said, unwilling to stay a second longer now that he had what he needed.  

He would have to give himself a good scrub later.  

The courtyard where Xing Fangfang lived was very secluded. It was said that, as a widow, she naturally couldn’t reside in the main house.  

The person who came to fetch Ning Buwen was an elderly woman. She appeared frail and aged, though she might actually be younger than she looked. The hardships of life had given her an unkind appearance, but Ning Buwen didn’t sense any malice from her.  

After thinking for a moment, Ning Buwen approached her. “Excuse me, Granny, are there any taboos I should know about in serving the eldest young lady? I’m new here and unfamiliar with many things.”  

“There aren’t too many taboos. The eldest young lady is a good person,” the granny replied softly. “She’s just had a hard life. She’s also very serious, so as long as you work hard and don’t slack off, there won’t be any problems.”

“I won’t, I promise!” Ning Buwen hurriedly expressed his loyalty. “I’m not good with words and fear offending the eldest young lady without realizing it.”

“Whatever you see, don’t be afraid,” the elderly woman said, glancing at Ning Buwen before continuing. “I’ve been serving the eldest young lady for twenty years, and I haven’t encountered anything bad.”

“Wow, you’ve been serving the eldest young lady for twenty years?” Ning Buwen exclaimed in astonishment. “It’s truly fortunate for the eldest young lady to have such a loyal person by her side.”

“There’s nothing particularly fortunate about it,” the old woman replied, clearly pleased but quickly suppressing her smile. “Just do your work properly. You won’t be shortchanged in any way. Oh, and one more thing—don’t stare at the eldest young lady or show any sort of pity on your face. No matter how difficult her situation might be, she’s still the mistress. Do you understand?”

“I understand, I understand,” Ning Buwen nodded eagerly.

“Today, just sweep the courtyard. I’ll go inform the eldest young lady,” the elderly woman instructed.

“Got it.”

Ning Buwen quickly found a broom and began sweeping, looking every bit the diligent and obedient worker.

“Young Lady, the main house sent over a new young servant,” the elderly woman said from outside the room. “He seems quite honest. By the way, it’s about time for your meal. Shall I have the kitchen prepare something? You like bamboo shoots, don’t you? They just harvested some fresh spring shoots, and they’re at their best now.”

“No need, Granny,” a soft voice drifted from within the room. “I’ll let you know when I’m hungry. The household must be busy with the ancestral rites right now, so let’s not disturb them.”

“You’re the mistress. How could it be a disturbance?”

“Granny, I’m going to recite sutras now,” the eldest young lady interrupted. Soon, the tapping of a wooden fish filled the room.

“Alright then, I won’t disturb you,” the elderly woman sighed. As she left, she gave Ning Buwen specific instructions. “Xiao Er, stay here and be ready to attend to the eldest young lady’s needs. Whatever she asks for, you get it. If you can’t manage, come find me, understood?”

“Don’t worry, Granny,” Ning Buwen replied with a nod. “I understand.”

“I’m not as capable as I used to be,” the old woman said with a bitter smile. “Lately, I’ve been feeling fatigued. I’ll take a nap now and come back tonight to keep watch over the young lady.”

Ning Buwen continued sweeping outside, listening to the constant sounds of a wooden fish and chanting coming from within the room.  

What Xing Fangfang was chanting sounded like the  [Lotus Sutra] ². It was about universal equality among all beings, not the [Rebirth Sutra], ³ which Ning Buwen had initially assumed she would be chanting.  

Strange.  

The more Ning Buwen listened, the more something felt off. Logically, since Xing Fangfang was a widow, she should be chanting the [Rebirth Sutra]. Why would she be reciting this one instead?  

Yet the sounds from the room were consistent and unbroken.  

After about an hour, Xing Fangfang finally opened the door and stepped out.

“You’re the new one?”  

Ning Buwen quickly set the broom aside and trotted over. “My name is Xiao Er. The steward assigned me here. Eldest Young Lady, do you have any instructions for me?”

Dressed in plain clothes, Xing Fangfang looked pale, almost bloodless. Even without makeup, her beauty was evident. Though she appeared frail, it only added to her delicate, pitiable charm. It was likely she had chosen such a remote residence to avoid gossip.

“Do you know how to chant sutras?” Xing Fangfang asked, her gaze falling on Ning Buwen. “I just heard you mumbling to yourself—it sounded like you were chanting as well.”

Ning Buwen’s heart skipped a beat. He had only softly followed along with a few lines earlier, his voice barely audible. How could the eldest young lady have heard him from such a distance?

“I used to follow my grandfather and chant a bit, though I never understood the meanings. I only remember reciting,” Ning Buwen replied, feigning ignorance. “Earlier, I was just repeating after you. Did I make a mistake?”

“No, you didn’t.” Xing Fangfang forced a faint smile. “Since you know how to chant, come inside and help me. I can’t let the sutra chanting stop. I’ll head to the kitchen for a meal and return shortly.”

“This… this doesn’t seem appropriate,” Ning Buwen hesitated, knowing this was a rare opportunity but feigning reluctance. “Should I call Granny? I just got here, and she told me not to disturb you. If I go inside, she might scold me.”

“Granny is old. Let her rest,” Xing Fangfang coughed lightly. “Instead, go to the kitchen and bring me some plain porridge and steamed buns. I’ll eat here.”

“Understood, Young Lady. I’ll get them right away.” Ning Buwen quickly ran off.

As soon as he left, Xing Fangfang stepped back inside her room and locked the door tightly.

Ning Buwen went to the kitchen, easily collecting the food while taking the opportunity to chat with a few maids.

“You’re new here, huh? What bad luck,” one of them remarked. “You must not have bribed the steward. The young master is returning today, and everyone’s fighting for a chance to serve him, but you got assigned to the eldest young lady’s place.”

“The Eldest Young Lady is very kind. My work isn’t hard, and I’m content,” Ning Buwen replied humbly.

“Heh, just wait and see. The Eldest Young Lady’s place is no place for anyone. During the day, she’s fine, but sometimes at night…”  

“What are you babbling about? Do you want smallpox too?” another maid cut her off sharply.  

“No, no! I didn’t say anything!” The first maid quickly covered her mouth and ran off.  

“The eldest young lady is waiting. Why aren’t you leaving yet?” the kitchen steward snapped at Ning Buwen.  

“Yes, sir.” Not daring to offend him, Ning Buwen picked up the tray and left.

It seems Xing Fangfang has some secrets.  

“Young Lady, I’ve brought your food. Could you open the door?” Ning Buwen called out from outside, holding the tray.

The door creaked open.  

“Come in,” the eldest young lady said as she opened the door. “I hope you don’t scare easily.”

Inside, the room had been converted into a small Buddhist shrine. The walls were covered with talismans, giving the space a faintly eerie atmosphere.  

At the center of the shrine stood a small statue of a celestial Buddha in a flying pose. Despite its diminutive size, the statue’s face was exquisitely lifelike, bearing an ambiguous expression that seemed to blend pity and mirth.  

Ning Buwen glanced at it briefly before quickly averting his gaze.  

“Don’t be afraid,” Xing Fangfang said calmly, subtly stepping in front of the statue. “I’m just performing rites to send my husband’s soul to peace.”

“It’s fine,” Ning Buwen replied, setting the food down. He scratched the back of his head and grinned sheepishly. “The ancestral halls in my village are way scarier than this. I even cried once as a kid because I got so scared.”

Xing Fangfang seemed amused. “How frightening could a village ancestral hall possibly be?”

“Terrifying!” Ning Buwen exaggerated, spreading his arms. “There was this fierce-looking Buddha statue holding a massive hammer, this big. Everyone said it was for catching evil spirits, and that naughty children would get taken away too.”

“Just a way to scare kids,” Xing Fangfang said with a faint chuckle as she ate. Perhaps finding Ning Buwen’s chatter amusing and his demeanor simple, she later told him to stay and chat whenever he had free time. Naturally, Ning Buwen happily agreed.

As expected—  

Life is a stage, and acting is everything. 

As Ning Buwen stepped out of the room, he couldn’t help but think to himself: playing the role of a “clueless kid from the countryside” was far more effective than pretending to be a clever and capable servant.

Thankfully, his current body appeared young, around thirteen or fourteen years old. It was just convincing enough to pull this off. If he looked any older, it would’ve been much harder to gain anyone’s trust.

That night, as he prepared to rest, Ning Buwen changed into an entirely new disguise.

He stuffed several layers of insoles into his shoes, making himself appear about ten centimeters taller. Then, he wrapped several layers of cloth tightly around his waist, tousled his hair, and used an eyebrow pencil to draw extra lines around his eyes. Finally, he covered his face with a mask. Once satisfied that he looked like an adult no matter how anyone glanced at him, he dared to head out.

For this night’s reconnaissance, he had spent the past few days diligently playing the role of a hardworking and honest servant. His hands were already calloused. If he didn’t uncover any useful information soon, he’d have no choice but to surrender victory to someone else.

Ning Buwen’s target was the small shrine where Xing Fangfang spent her time.

During his earlier visit to deliver food, he had caught a few glimpses and was certain that the deity Xing Fangfang was worshiping wasn’t a legitimate god or Buddha.

In Pandora’s game, supernatural-themed instances often appeared. Because of this, Ning Buwen had specifically studied religious myths from both Eastern and Western traditions, making him adept at distinguishing between righteous gods and malevolent ones.

How could a proper deity’s shrine be covered with Taoist talismans ⁴?

Under the cover of night, Ning Buwen smoothly slipped into the shrine. This area was largely deserted, especially at this late hour. Who else would come here?

The last time he played Pandora’s Game, he had obtained a mysterious talisman. Even if this shrine harbored a malevolent god, he wasn’t too worried. After all, items from Pandora were known to be effective.

This gave him the courage to risk everything.

Ning Buwen placed the talisman item card against his chest. Its warmth radiated outward, comforting him and boosting his confidence.

The shrine at night was far more eerie than it had been during the day.

Though only faint moonlight illuminated the room, the statue of the deity was peculiarly clear, as if bathed in its own light. It seemed unnervingly close, as though reaching out could allow one to touch it.

The warmth from the talisman against his chest suddenly jolted Ning Buwen back to his senses. Startled, he realized he had unknowingly walked right up to the statue. Only a single centimeter separated him from touching it!

Fuck!

He staggered backward hastily, cold sweat running down his spine as he felt death brush past him.

That was careless.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside the door.

Crap! I can’t afford to be caught now.

Ning Buwen glanced around the shrine, but there was nowhere suitable to hide.

What do I do?

The footsteps grew louder, drawing closer and closer.

Creak.

The door swung open.

Xing Fangfang entered, holding an oil lamp.

She was dressed in a beautiful qipao, her face carefully made up, and her neck and wrists adorned with jewelry. Yet, despite her lavish appearance, a deep sorrow lingered on her face, a grief that even her finery couldn’t conceal.

Ning Buwen crouched silently on a beam above, peering down at her.

“It’s time for the ancestral rites again,” Xing Fangfang murmured as she sat cross-legged on the mat. Facing the empty air, she asked softly, “A-Liang, should we go together?”

Who’s she talking to?

The thought flashed through Ning Buwen’s mind.

Is there something there? Or is it just that I can’t see it?

“A-Liang, why do you keep pointing upward?” Xing Fangfang continued, looking puzzled as she raised her head. “What’s up there?”

Before Ning Buwen could react, her gaze suddenly locked with his.

TN:

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Translator Notes

1. Zhuzi – pillar[↩]
2. Sanskrit: Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram, Sūtra on the White Lotus of the True Dharma. “This sutra can save all living beings. This sutra can cause all living beings to free themselves from suffering and anguish. This sutra can bring great benefits to all living beings and fulfill their desires, as a clear cool pond can satisfy all those who are thirsty. … Such is this Lotus Sutra. It can cause living beings to cast off all distress, all sickness and pain.”

   —The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras, pp. 327–28[↩]

3. The Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Dhāraṇī, sometimes called the Pure Land Rebirth Mantra. The benefits of reciting the Amitabha Dharani, according to Sutra, are included in the full name of this mantra — “Dhāraṇī for pulling out the fundamental cause of karmic obstacles and obtaining rebirth in the Pure Lands”. [↩]
4. In Taoist tradition, talismans are strips of paper on which are written words of power and religious symbols which focus benevolent spiritual energies to purify, heal the sick and drive away demons.[↩]