32: The Bold and Forthright Scholar, Zhu Erdan

After discussing some details about the poetry gathering, Zhu Ziqiang took his leave. Once he was out of sight, Yi Fan said, “There may be clues at the gathering. Let’s split up. Master Yuanhui, Daoist Yi, and Daoist Wang, I’ll trouble the three of you to investigate Lu Pan in secret, but avoid alerting him so he doesn’t have time to prepare.”

He glanced at Zhuge Liuyun. “Zhuge and I will attend the gathering to probe for information. If we find anything, we’ll regroup at the villa.”

The three considered his words and agreed. Seeing that it was late, each returned to rest.

The next morning, Yi Fan and Zhuge Liuyun left the residence, walked for half an hour, and arrived at an inn. There, they stated their purpose to the innkeeper.

Upon hearing they were looking for Song Liuming, the innkeeper immediately led them out. “Gentlemen Daoists, please follow me.”

Behind the inn was a large courtyard. At its center lay a lotus pond and rockery, surrounded by a long corridor and eight or nine elegant guest rooms—the inn’s finest, far beyond the reach of ordinary patrons.

“Master Song, two Daoists are here for you, claiming to be your friends.” The innkeeper knocked softly at a door.

A voice responded from inside, and soon the door swung open. Song Liuming, still in disheveled attire, greeted them with a hearty laugh. “So it is Brother Yi and Brother Zhuge. Please wait in the courtyard a moment. I’ll wash up and join you.”

Clearly, the man had not yet risen. Yi Fan, at a loss for words, could only follow Zhuge Liuyun to a nearby pavilion. The Grudge Ghost hopped onto the rockery, crouched, and looked listless.

Yi Fan shook his head and let it be.

After a short wait, Song Liuming reappeared, now neatly dressed, and had the servant prepare food and wine. Once seated, Yi Fan explained their purpose. “Brother Song, I must trouble you to bring Zhuge and me to the poetry gathering.”

“That’s a small matter, Brother Yi. No need for politeness. The gathering is in a few days. We’ll go together then.” Song Liuming looked puzzled. “But this is a gathering of scholars. Why do you wish to attend?”

Yi Fan hesitated whether to reveal the truth, but Zhuge Liuyun spoke without reservation, explaining the situation. “That Zhu fellow could not describe whom he met, so we’ll have to investigate ourselves.”

Song Liuming’s expression changed to one of shock. “I hadn’t thought Miss Deng’s death would be the doing of Lu Pan. But I don’t understand—why kill her and then take her head?”

“That puzzles us as well,” Yi Fan sighed. “We must search for clues step by step. If we find Miss Deng’s head, the authorities can send troops to destroy the shrine and leave the evil god with nowhere to hide.”

He sighed again. “So, Brother Song, we need your help. Whether there are monsters at this gathering or not, we must look into it.”

Song Liuming nodded. “I’ll do all I can to assist. Besides, several of my friends will be there. I won’t sit idly by.”

They chatted for a while, shared a meal, and set a time before Yi Fan and Zhuge Liuyun took their leave.

Back at the villa, they found several constables waiting outside. Seeing Yi Fan and Zhuge Liuyun, the men stepped forward and saluted. “Gentlemen Daoists, we serve at the Hangzhou yamen. The magistrate has sent us to follow your instructions.”

Yi Fan returned the courtesy and invited them in. Since Yuanhui and the other two still had not returned, he had a maid serve tea. Everyone sat and exchanged pleasantries.

“Have you found any other clues?” Yi Fan asked after setting down his cup.

The constables exchanged glances, then forced a smile. “It’s a strange affair. No matter how many officers we’ve sent or how hard we’ve searched, we’ve found nothing. It’s truly baffling.”

Yi Fan nodded and didn’t press further, changing the subject so as not to reveal too much and risk the word spreading.

That afternoon, Yuanhui and the other two returned. The look on their faces showed they had found nothing.

Indeed, Yin Yanxia said, “We each went to the City God’s Temple and several other shrines. Aside from the throngs of worshippers, we found nothing.”

Yi Fan sighed inwardly, then offered a few words of comfort. He shared what he and Zhuge had learned. “In the next few days, we’ll continue to investigate quietly. Meanwhile, the authorities will keep searching openly. We’re bound to find something.”

Three days later, Yi Fan and Zhuge Liuyun met Song Liuming at the inn, boarded a carriage, and rode for more than half an hour to the shore of West Lake. There, a large boat was moored, bustling with elegantly dressed scholars and accompanied by graceful courtesans.

As they approached, someone greeted Song Liuming and, noticing Yi Fan, Zhuge Liuyun, and the Grudge Ghost—who wore a straw hat and carried a bundle—asked, “Song, who are your companions?”

Song Liuming smiled. “These two Daoists are my friends. They wanted to see a scholars’ poetry gathering, so I brought them along.”

The man nodded and said nothing more. Given Song Liuming’s status as a successful candidate in the provincial exams and one of the most talented of his peers, no one would object to his guests.

Onboard, they discovered a remarkable sight: a two-story pavilion with spacious rooms and ample seating, already occupied by many guests.

Song Liuming explained quietly, “The scholars on the first floor are mostly licentiates. The second floor is reserved for those who’ve passed the provincial exams. The distinction is strict.”

As a provincial graduate, Song Liuming naturally led Yi Fan and Zhuge Liuyun upstairs, where several others were already seated, among them Boyi.

After exchanging greetings, they took a table as a courtesan served tea. Song Liuming remarked, “Some guests have yet to arrive. The gathering won’t begin until midday. Meanwhile, there’s plenty to eat and drink, and several of the city’s most famed courtesans are here. It should be great fun.”

As he spoke, a grand carriage pulled up to the shore, surrounded by a handful of brawny attendants. A tall, imposing scholar alighted, dismissed his servants, and boarded the boat.

“There’s a demonic aura,” Zhuge Liuyun whispered.

Yi Fan’s and Zhuge Liuyun’s eyes lit up. Even from a distance, they sensed the heavy, ominous presence clinging to the tall scholar—an aura very similar to that emanating from the idol of Lu Pan.

“Brother Song, who is that scholar?” Yi Fan asked.

“Oh, you mean Zhu Erdan?” Song Liuming replied. “He’s a classmate of mine, earned his provincial degree last year. He’s brash but straightforward—a rough fellow, but trustworthy.”

“Has he behaved oddly of late?” Yi Fan pressed. “Or has anything strange happened to him?”

Song Liuming thought for a moment. “Nothing especially odd, but I did hear of something rather unbelievable.”

“Oh?” Yi Fan urged him to continue.

“Before last autumn, he was just a poor scholar—talented, but unable to pass beyond the licentiate rank. The provincial exam seemed beyond his reach,” Song Liuming recounted. “Still, he was outgoing, albeit crude, and had many friends. Once, during a drinking wager, he was challenged to carry a temple idol down from a mountain. To everyone’s shock, he actually did it—he brought down an idol from the mountain.”

~

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