Chapter Text
The streets of Ghost City are as chaotic and boisterous as it usually is. Ghosts, demons, and the occasional mortals and heavenly officials roamed the city. A mortal man dressed in plain loose but clean and of fine enough quality robes and trousers seated within a chá lóu1 glanced outside looking nervously in anticipation at Gambler’s Den. He watched with worry, drumming small hurried knocks against the wood of the table, ignoring the cold food and tea as creatures entered and left the establishment, yet the people he waited for had yet to make their exit. Sighing, he looked away to give a quick glance at the large silent stone coffin wrapped in several chains and littered with protective talismans.
They were grave robbers who had waited for this day weeks after discovering and unearthing that cursed three layered coffin in Yong’An. The coffin that held the supposed dead bones of Guoshi Fangxin, curiously though, his body was neither rotten nor a skeleton. Ignoring the filth of mold, blood, and the large stake plunged in his chest, Guoshi Fangxin perhaps appeared no different than the day he was buried decades ago. After a number of, eventful hassles, the few rogue cultivators traveling with the caravan advised them to take the Guoshi – coffins and all, along with talismans to add a new seal layer for protection should Guoshi Fangxin and that white ribbon demon make another attempt to leave the coffins – to try their luck in Gambler’s Den, rather than any underground and black markets less the Warden of the East, the martial god Taihua, discover what they’ve done and bring his wrath upon them all. The rogue cultivators left afterwards, one by one as the caravan traveled towards Ghost City. Though, the reason for their departure, Yáo Míngyú2 could only guess.
They had waited in Ghost City, staying in various inns as close to Gambler’s Den as possible, taking turns to stay at and watch over the coffin, and heading out to catch even a whisper of either Waning Moon Officer or Crimson Rain Sought Flower’s whereabouts. And if they weren’t, then they had to gamble for luck at Gambler’s Den in order to increase their chances of being able to meet get Crimson Rain to take on a a trade or gamble. The day has come for Yáo Míngyú and Dèng Hào3 to oversee the coffin as the others spread out, it didn’t take long for them to regroup at the inn once word that tonight, Crimson Rain Sought Flower, the calamity who ruled Ghost City returned.
Having their patience paid off, a plan was quick to be laid out. Yáo Míngyú and Dèng Hào will continue staying back, the two would wait for further information from everyone else who’ll enter Gambler’s Den to try to catch Crimson Rain’s attention and hopefully strike a deal with him. They’ll offer him the coffin with the living dead Guoshi Fangxin plus the band demon, in exchange, they each have their own individual requests they hope he’ll fulfill.
Dèng Hào grinned, seemingly at ease as he languidly poured himself another cup of tea. This person, why is he so calm? Yáo Míngyú thick brows furrowed slightly in disbelief as he watched him down the tea in one go before picking up the dark wooden chopsticks laid near his bowl to eat – whatever the mystery meat noodle soup the lǎobǎn4 of this restaurant swore is human consumption friendly – his meal. He kept these thoughts to himself, choosing to stay quiet less Dèng Hào go on another one of his long speeches ‘bout his good fortune and how everything will play out his way.
Though Yáo Míngyú heavily doubted his so called “good fortune” can help him and everyone else part of the caravan to convince Crimson Rain to take the deal much less win in a gamble against him.
He returned his gaze at Gambler’s Den once more.