Flowers of the Departed Souls

This trip to Luoyang Village turned out to be a double loss, but the only gain was the tomb in the Vulture’s Lair. According to archaeological experts, the various burial artifacts and the woman’s body indeed belonged to the Liangzhu period over five thousand years ago, an important discovery for archaeology. And the woman’s body, being able to remain lifelike for five thousand years, was even more incredible.

They were all immensely curious about the woman’s identity. Who was this woman to have so many expensive burial artifacts?

So, Ke’er’s body was transported to the museum, temporarily not for public display. The police officers who became senile in Illusion Cliff gradually woke up and returned to their normal state after sleeping for a whole day, indistinguishable from ordinary people. The only difference was that they couldn’t remember anything that happened in Luoyang Village, let alone what they saw in Illusion Cliff. This baffled Guangming and some doctors and psychologists. If one person lost their memory, that would be one thing, but why would two people lose their memory simultaneously, specifically about that period in Luoyang Village, while retaining all other memories? This seemed exceptionally eerie. Because, before waking up, the two of them were not in the same hospital room, ruling out the possibility of them having discussed it afterward. So, did they plan it while in Illusion Cliff? Was their senility feigned? But judging by their brainwaves, it wasn’t very normal, so it shouldn’t have been feigned.

What worried them even more was that Kelou was still in a coma, not yet out of danger. All of this troubled and worried Guangming immensely.

And where had the villagers of Luoyang Village and the people of the Divine Bird Cult gone? They didn’t go to the Divine Bird Fortress; it was deserted. Such a large place, did they just abandon it? Guangming felt that Luoyang Village was truly not a simple place. It was highly likely that they were still in the village, not having left, but there were more secret places that ordinary people would find hard to locate. Or rather, someone not extremely familiar with the village would be unable to find them. So, what could be more secret than the inn’s secret room and the Vulture’s Lair? The saying goes, a wily rabbit has three burrows. Did they have a third den?

Guangming had been pondering these questions. And now there was an order from above to temporarily take no action against Luoyang Village. Moreover, almost no one was willing to go there. At this moment, Guangming suddenly thought of Chi Ziming. Right, Chi Ziming should have read the letter Xiao Yilian wrote to him. Perhaps he could provide some clues.

Meanwhile, Chi Ziming, holding that letter, had read it countless times, each time shedding tears. He walked to the window, looking at the crescent moon hanging in the sky, able to recall every sentence within the letter again and again. When Guangming came to find him, he was still standing by the window, silently smoking. The night outside was truly dark, truly heavy.

Guangming looked at Chi Ziming with complex emotions, then picked up the letter paper on the table, which bore deeply disturbed fingerprints.

My dearest Ziming,

Please allow me to call you that one last time. Or perhaps, in reality, you might not hear me call you that again, and I will never have the chance to call you that again. I can no longer embrace you from behind, rest my face against your back, and softly, dreamily whisper your name. You don’t know how luxurious each call was to me. Every time, I wondered if I would be able to call you again next time.

Finally, I still left, compelled to leave. In all the years I’ve known you, do you know why I never mentioned my father and mother? Why I never mentioned my past? Every time you asked, I would avoid answering, or change the subject. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to answer; it was that it was a landmine, one that no one could or should touch, because I was afraid that if those things were dug up, I would be shattered into pieces by hatred and anger. If you can imagine, it was seeing the two people you loved most and who were most important in your life, one decapitated, the other burned alive in front of you.

At that time, I was only five years old. Perhaps then you can understand why I’ve been searching for that person, why my heart buried so much sorrow, why I left you without hesitation, you, the only one I loved deeply besides my parents.

You must be wondering why my parents suffered such cruel fates? It was all because of our Xiao family’s ancestral Taotie, carved from extremely precious Hotan red jade, said to be priceless. Our ancestors regarded it as a treasure, and it was finally passed down to my father. I remember my father saying that grandfather admonished him to regard it as the most important thing, that he must not lose the Taotie even if it meant losing his life, otherwise, the entire clan would decline, and future generations would not live well. This is why my father never handed over the Taotie even until his death. However, I saw my mother being killed, and my father being doused with gasoline, about to be set ablaze. I could no longer bear it. I ran out from the wardrobe, found the Taotie, and gave it to the leader, Luo Jialiang. Luo Jialiang probably thought I was too young, so he didn’t kill me. But before he left, his hand still threw a burning branch onto my father’s body… Watching Father burn in the raging fire, I truly didn’t know what to do. I was only five years old. The only thing I could do was stand by and cry…

I don’t know why Luo Jialiang wanted to snatch the Taotie, but that’s not important to me. What’s important is that I must find him and avenge my parents. Over a year ago, I inadvertently discovered that face I can never forget until I die. You know how excited I was at that moment. I had searched for him for twenty-five years. You know, to keep from forgetting that face, I kept drawing it. Although it was just a fleeting encounter, how could I let this opportunity slip away? He and a few others quickly got into a car. I secretly followed that group of people by car and discovered that he was the leader of a mysterious organization. So, I had little chance to act, which is why I went to great lengths to infiltrate it. When I was officially accepted as a member, you know how excited I was, and at the same time, a raging fire burned in my heart. I knew I was at least close to my goal.

So, I had to leave you, devoting myself completely. I didn’t want you to get entangled in this personal vendetta of mine. Moreover, this war was likely to have more ill than good outcomes. When I stepped into the Divine Bird Fortress, I knew one foot was already in the coffin, and I had no intention of coming out alive. However, Luo Jialiang was extremely cunning and hard to track. He rarely stayed in the Divine Bird Fortress. Then, I gradually discovered a village called Luoyang, which seemed to be their main base. But I couldn’t act rashly. While I was monitoring others, I was also being monitored. The Divine Bird Cult despises betrayal of the cult the most. If discovered, they will show no mercy. However, now, the opportunity has come. It’s the annual Divine Bird Cult assembly. On that day, I will definitely see Luo Jialiang. No matter the outcome, I am determined, because I have waited too long for this day.

Ziming, I have been in this hellish fortress for 135 days. These days, every night, I think of you, remember the warmth you gave me, remember when we met. At that time, I was about to teach some hooligans a lesson, and you, foolishly, ran over and said not to bully women, interfering randomly. At that moment, I was both annoyed and amused. I really wanted to punch you, but you didn’t pay attention to the wound on your forehead and instead asked me if I was alright, offering to take me to the hospital. You were so cute then, truly, foolishly adorable. My hardened heart softened for the first time. I looked at your forehead and said, “Come to my house. I have bruise medicine.”

Ziming, the past was truly beautiful. These beautiful moments and happiness were given to me by you. Before that, you know, my heart was filled with childhood wounds and hatred etched into my bones. I would often be woken by nightmares, always dreaming of my parents suffering painful deaths. In my dreams, they would call me tirelessly, again and again. Sometimes, I truly wanted to just die and follow them, but I was unwilling. I was truly unwilling. Unwilling to see the person who murdered my parents live so shamelessly.

Ziming, I can’t write any further. If one day, you can no longer see me, then please remember me, don’t forget me, truly. This is my only request of you. I am truly afraid that after my life disappears, no one will remember me. Even if, with the passage of time, I am just a blurry shadow to you, I will be content, truly. Regardless of whether it’s a luxury for the living, this is my only request. I know you will fulfill it, right? Although, how much I wish to live with you forever, never parting, then we would have many children, watching the sun rise and set, having barbecues in the wilderness, watching them grow little by little, we growing old, our hearts filled with grateful contentment, thankful for everything love has given us…

See, I can’t bear to stop writing. I’m truly afraid that once I finish writing, my life will end. There are truly too many words I want to say. If there’s a next life, then I’ll tell you everything one by one… Ziming, in my heart, I am truly so afraid. Do you know what I’m afraid of? I’m not afraid of death. To me, I already died once when I was five. The reason I’m afraid is because I’m about to lose you forever, never to see you again…

Thank you, Ziming, for giving me so much love these past few years. This is almost the most significant love I’ve ever received in my life. And, don’t look for me, truly. Also, don’t avenge me. But you can reveal the following information to the police. What I want to tell you is about the Divine Bird Fortress. There’s an even more mysterious figure behind it. The true leader is not Luo Jialiang. It can be said that Luo Jialiang is only the nominal leader. The real mastermind behind the Divine Bird Cult is that mysterious figure. And I was solely focused on avenging myself against Luo Jialiang. Furthermore, the people of the Divine Bird Fortress always act mysteriously, each with their own divisions of labor. So, I’m not very clear on other things. However, their main base must be in Luoyang Village, an area not easily accessible to ordinary people.

Also, please forgive me for not telling you these things earlier. I didn’t want you to suffer like me. And please forgive me, my surname is not Cai, but Xiao. I concealed my surname because I didn’t want others to know my secret. Finally, I want you to know the secret of that Taotie. I heard my father say that our Xiao family’s original compound surname was Taotie. It is said that this Taotie jade was left over from the Liangzhu period, and it possesses a very magical power. Once activated, it has infinite power. But if this power is awakened by bad people, the consequences are unimaginable, and it could lead to widespread destruction of life. No one can resist this power, except for something called a jade rod. I was too young then and can’t remember clearly. And Father also didn’t know very clearly. We all don’t know what kind of power this is, or how it can be activated by oneself. Grandfather didn’t know either. Or, it’s just a circulated, exaggerated statement.

Ziming, I have to stop writing. I can’t let the people in the room find out. Please don’t forget me. Also, it’s Chinese New Year’s Eve now. In previous years, we always spent Chinese New Year’s Eve together. This year, I can’t accompany you. Perhaps, in the future, I may never be able to accompany you again. In fact, after leaving you, every night I miss you very much. I miss you so much that I want to cry. Although we sometimes had unpleasant moments, those unpleasant memories are now so precious. Thinking back, sometimes I was so foolish.

I can’t write anymore, Ziming. I still hope you live well. You must live well. Just keep me in your heart. And remember, I love you… I love you very, very much… If there is a soul after death, your name will be engraved on my soul… Farewell, my love…

Your deeply loving Yilian

January 25, 2009, Chinese New Year’s Eve

Guangming finished reading the letter and sighed deeply. So Cai Yilian, no, Xiao Yilian, who outwardly appeared as cold as a winter stone, was actually such a meticulous and deeply emotional woman, yet carried the profound, bone-deep pain of losing her parents.

“This letter… can I make a copy to take back? I want to investigate the case of Xiao Yilian’s parents from twenty-five years ago. Oh, I won’t get it dirty…”

Chi Ziming was silent for a moment, then turned his head. Guangming clearly saw the tears on his cheeks. He nodded towards Guangming. “Take it. I don’t have a copier here. There’s a shop across the street; it should still be open now. Copy it and give it back to me.”

Guangming nodded and ran out. Chi Ziming remained standing by the window. He watched Guangming’s figure disappear into the night like a hurried ant. He knew that everyone, in fact, was an ant, so insignificant, that they could vanish without a trace.

Yilian, have you met your parents? Is it cold over there?