Chapter 54: The Bamboo Grove Guild Visits the Haunted House

“Wonderful! Now it will be perfectly natural for us to get inside!”

Hearing the good news brought by Liu Buwen, Luo Gan was overjoyed, and the members of the Bamboo Grove Guild began discussing their next steps.

Farmer Jia rubbed his hands eagerly. “A classic case of luring the tiger from the mountain—now it's our turn to show what we're made of!”

Uncle De, ever methodical, cautioned, “Don’t celebrate too soon. The real battle is still ahead.”

Everyone adopted an air of seriousness as they held their strategy meeting, except for Erhu, who seemed preoccupied. Luo Gan found it odd to see the usually boisterous and simple-minded Erhu so silent.

Luo Gan prompted, “Everyone’s sharing their thoughts, Erhu, what about you?”

Erhu, with the gravity of a statesman, declared, “My wife once said, sneaking into someone else’s house in the middle of the night isn’t something decent folks do!”

No one expected Erhu to be so afraid of his wife, and laughter broke out among the group. Luo Gan, laughing along, suddenly recalled the image of Ayu toiling away in the illusion and, glancing at Erhu now, wondered in confusion which was real and which was not.

Liu Buwen remarked, “As the ancients said, a gentleman never acts without purpose; when he acts, it must be righteous. Seeing Brother Erhu’s sense of right and wrong, I’d say he’s reliable.”

Farmer Jia slapped Erhu’s thigh, teasing, “Maybe not at midnight, but I remember you used to throw things into other people’s yards plenty when you were little.”

Erhu looked a bit embarrassed, and Luo Gan realized that since the illusion, Erhu’s temperament had indeed changed somewhat.

“Erhu is still Erhu, upright as ever. But we’re here to uncover the truth, nothing more. No need to overthink it.”

Just then, Xiao Zhi entered from outside, still dressed in the Tiger’s Roost livery, holding a dragon-carved wooden staff.

Luo Gan exclaimed, “Wow! Xiao Zhi, you’ve made quite an impressive treasure this time!”

Everyone gathered around to admire the staff. The dragon carving was exquisite, the long handle emitted a fragrant scent, and it was noticeably heavier than an ordinary wooden staff.

“Brother Luo, it’s our secret weapon—I made it overnight.”

When Xiao Zhi got serious, he was indeed dependable. The group launched into a lively discussion about their nighttime operation as darkness fell.

The last time Luo Gan had entered the Sima residence by climbing over the wall alone, it had taken every ounce of strength he had. Now, at last, they could enter openly, bringing along Erhu, Uncle De, Xiao Zhi, Farmer Jia, Yanshan, and others, with Liu Buwen supporting them from outside. Each carried equipment and tools; seven of them formed a small battalion marching grandly toward the Sima residence.

Compared to the others with their various treasures, Luo Gan brought only his bottle of wine. At critical moments, it was still his trump card, though with so many people around, it would be harder for him to use it freely—a mixed blessing.

Liu Buwen had arrived at the gate early, liaising with Zhang Jifeng, instructing him to keep watch outside and, if anything happened, to join the others inside.

Luo Gan’s appearance had changed significantly. Zhang Jifeng, accustomed to seeing all manner of rogues in the court, likely no longer recognized Luo Gan’s unremarkable face. Yet Luo Gan could never forget how Zhang Jifeng and Magistrate Wang had humiliated him that day; every time they met, he could barely suppress his anger.

Zhang Jifeng said, “You lot, be careful in there, don’t cause any trouble, understand?!”

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Having suffered humiliation at the hands of Magistrate Wang in the yamen, Zhang Jifeng had come to guard the Sima residence, all to escape further indignity. In front of commoners like Luo Gan, he still had to put on an official’s airs—otherwise, where would his dignity be?

Luo Gan saluted, his expression calm, though his hands trembled with suppressed anger.

Zhang Jifeng, mistaking the trembling for cold, mocked, “Oh, our brave ghost-catcher should dress warmer—your hands are shaking so!”

Luo Gan swallowed his resentment and held his temper; this was not the time to turn against Zhang Jifeng. Patience!

He smiled, “Thank you for your concern, Constable Zhang. I will do my utmost to live up to the task.”

The tiresome exchange over, the Bamboo Grove Guild opened the gate of the Sima residence. The moment it swung open, a fierce wind swept through, carrying with it a cacophony of noises: curtains flapping, pots and pans crashing, and even a faint snoring sound.

Farmer Jia looked nervously around, set his feng shui compass on the ground, and began a rapid series of ritual gestures.

Luo Gan asked, “What are you doing?”

Yanshan watched intently. “Could it be you’re summoning divine protection?”

Farmer Jia closed his eyes, concentrating, murmuring under his breath—a string of incantations—to the effect of, “Deities of the four directions, this feng shui compass was costly, show your power and protect us in subduing evil spirits!”

He shouted, “Hah!” but the compass remained motionless. “Strange… Shouldn’t it be pointing somewhere?”

Luo Gan picked up the compass—clearly just a brass plate marked with the cardinal directions.

Turning, he saw Uncle De had already plastered the foyer walls with yellow talismans for warding off evil, covering every surface.

Farmer Jia hurried over to protest, “No wonder my summoning failed! Uncle De, why did you put up the charms? You’re blocking my ritual!”

Uncle De grimaced, “Never mind the gods—let’s keep out the ghosts first.”

Erhu was taken aback. “Uncle De, didn’t you always say since we were kids that there are gods three feet above our heads, and we must act with conscience?”

Uncle De replied, “That was just to scare you kids straight. I’ve never seen a god, but I’ve run into plenty of ghosts, that’s for sure.”

Farmer Jia insisted, “This feng shui compass is from my father. It’s always worked.”

Uncle De countered, “And my talismans work too! They ward off evil and keep us safe. What if you summon something that’s not a god? How old is your compass, anyway?”

“From my father, it’s been in use for at least forty years.”

Uncle De waved dismissively. “My family’s charms have been passed down since my grandfather—over a hundred years, at least.”

Erhu, picking a talisman off the wall, asked, “These look familiar. Didn’t you say you were out of charms when I asked a few days ago? Now there are so many?”

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Uncle De replied, “Oh, sincerity is what counts! One becomes two, two becomes three, and three become… many, many charms! No need to fuss over such details.”

Luo Gan felt helpless, beginning to wonder if he would have done better to come alone.

Xiao Zhi shook the wooden staff; using its magnetic properties, it pointed upward. Xiao Zhi raised it high like a high priest in a magical world.

“Xiao Zhi, are you… summoning lightning?”

Xiao Zhi explained, “Brother Luo, I installed something in this staff. It works like a compass—there must be something upstairs.”

At his words, everyone focused on their surroundings. The sounds did seem to be coming from above.

Luo Gan said, “Since the compass points upstairs, let’s go have a look.”

Everyone prepared to move, but Uncle De stopped them.

“Let’s not rush. Better to observe first and go up later!”

Farmer Jia, still uncertain, peered anxiously at his compass, hoping for a miracle. Yanshan firmly stood by Luo Gan’s side, while the skeptical Erhu, seeing everyone so cautious, grew impatient.

“I don’t buy it! It’s just an ordinary house—what could possibly happen? It’s all in your heads!”

With that, he headed up the stairs alone. Uncle De’s legs gave out and he plopped down on the floor.

“Oh no, I can’t, I can’t. My legs aren’t up to it—I’d better stay here.”

“In that case, Uncle De, rest here. We’ll check upstairs.”

Everyone grabbed their gear and headed up. Once they were gone, Uncle De breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, a fierce gust howled through the windows, sending things flying all over the first floor, and Uncle De, terrified, sprinted up the stairs with surprising agility.

Erhu, seeing this, asked with great curiosity, “Uncle De, didn’t you say your legs wouldn’t let you come up?”

Uncle De replied, “Old injury, flares up from time to time. I’m alright now!”

The precise source of the noises on the second floor was still unclear. Guided by the magnetic staff, the group advanced cautiously.