Volume One: The Carefree Journey Beyond Recognition Chapter Three: The Alley of the Dead

Old Bark couldn’t help but wave his hand in front of Yang Ning’s eyes.

Yang Ning could only gently remind him, “Old Bark, I may have forgotten some things, but I’m not blind—I can still see. Could you help me jog my memory?”

Old Bark gave a wry smile. “Half a year ago, you brought Miss Butterfly here to this city. You told me you met during your flight from danger; she was being bullied, and you saved her. Since then, you’ve been as close as siblings, relying on each other for survival.”

“Drifted into Huize City half a year ago?” Yang Ning narrowed his eyes. Strangely, as soon as Old Bark mentioned it, fleeting images surfaced in his mind—blurry and indistinct, yet the vague outline of a young girl appeared, her features strangely familiar.

“Do you remember what happened after you arrived in Huize?” Old Bark grew worried at Yang Ning’s puzzled expression.

Yang Ning tried to think, but perhaps because he was still recovering from a serious illness, every attempt at deep thought made the back of his head throb with a dull, dizzying ache.

“Where is Butterfly now?” From Old Bark’s words, Yang Ning already knew that he owed his survival to her, and it was clear their relationship was far from ordinary.

Old Bark sighed helplessly. “You truly don’t remember? She’s been staying with Madam Hua. Over the past half year, you’ve often visited her. Everything I know about her is what you told me.”

“Madam Hua?” Yang Ning asked in surprise. “Who is this Madam Hua?”

Before Old Bark could answer, the sound of Monkey’s voice came from behind them. “Madam Hua is the widow of Magistrate Hua. Heh, there aren’t many in this city who dare cross her.”

Monkey had already entered, with a beggar behind him carrying a battered wooden bucket filled with water, which he set down beside Yang Ning.

Yang Ning rolled up his sleeves, feeling itchy and uncomfortable. He moved closer to the bucket, ready to wash his face, but the moment his hands reached the water, he froze.

He’d prepared himself psychologically, but actually seeing the reflection in the water still startled him.

It was a face smudged with dirt, no cleaner than any of the others. Yet, the features were delicate, clearly those of a youth of fifteen or sixteen. The cheeks were a bit thin, but the eyebrows arched sharply, lending a certain heroic air to an otherwise handsome visage.

He’d originally thought Monkey and the others had a unique “disheveled hair” style, but now realized that his own hair was just as wild and tangled. At least outwardly, he truly looked the part of a proper beggar.

Yang Ning paused, shook his head with a wry smile, then washed his face. The cold water refreshed him somewhat. “The widow of Magistrate Hua? Is Butterfly working as a maid in her household?”

Old Bark’s face was full of worry. “The night Miss Butterfly left, she said she’d visit you if she had the chance. But it’s been days now, and not a word. That night, she snuck out of the Hua residence—who knows if she was discovered when she went back. It’s really worrying.”

“She saved my life. I must thank her properly,” Yang Ning said, his sense of gratitude clear despite his faint memory of her. “By the way, where exactly is Magistrate Hua’s residence? Once the rain stops, I should go see Butterfly.”

Monkey looked at him in surprise. “You don’t remember where the Hua residence is? You used to go there all the time.”

Yang Ning shook his head. “Do you know?”

Monkey quickly replied, “Madam Hua lives in Deadman’s Alley, a bit of a walk from here. Once the rain stops, I can take you. But… we can’t go during the day—we’d have to sneak over at night.”

“Deadman’s Alley?” Yang Ning thought the name sounded ominous. Surely it wasn’t a street for coffin and funeral trades?

“It didn’t always have a name,” Monkey explained, looking like a know-it-all. “But since the Hua residence is there, no one dares approach. Last year, Eel from East City bet someone he’d go there in broad daylight. He got thrown out, battered all over, with several broken ribs—still hasn’t fully recovered. Ever since, we’ve called it Deadman’s Alley.”

Yang Ning sneered. “That was the work of the Hua household?”

“Magistrate Hua was a powerful figure in Huize,” Monkey said. “There’s only one family in Deadman’s Alley—it has to be them. Besides, Madam Hua does her shady business in secret. Of course she doesn’t let people get too close.”

“Shady business?” Yang Ning was unfamiliar with the term. “What kind of business is that?”

“Not legitimate business—something unspeakable,” Monkey answered with a sly grin. “Some concubines of the rich and powerful secretly take on clients, or widows with young maids, unable to make ends meet, do odd jobs on the side. That’s what we call shady business.”

Yang Ning paused. “By ‘jobs,’ you mean…?” But he already understood.

“As the saying goes, ‘A wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine not as good as a secret lover.’ Those rakes love nothing more than dallying with the wives and concubines of the elite,” Monkey said, all animated and grinning. “Those women are trained in the ways of the gentry, prettier and more refined than brothel girls, clever and discerning. They’re not openly courtesans, so their shyness drives men wild.” His eyes gleamed as he spoke.

Yang Ning sighed, surprised that such things existed.

Monkey continued, “Magistrate Hua died young from illness two years ago. When he was alive, there were a dozen or more servants in the house. After his death, with no more income, Madam Hua started doing shady business with her maids.” He laughed lewdly. “The city’s not big, and though she tried to be discreet, rumors spread. People started calling her Madam Hua. She’s over thirty now, but I hear she relies on her maids to take on clients.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Ning’s heart sank. If Butterfly was in such a household, her fate was uncertain.

Late at night, with the wind and rain still beating down, Yang Ning felt weary. He knew that, in weather like this, no matter how much he worried about Butterfly, he couldn’t go out. Everything would have to wait until the rain ceased.

After so much turmoil, the others were tired as well. Yang Ning signaled for them to rest. The Earth God Temple had a main hall and a side room. Yang Ning currently stayed in the side room with Old Bark, while the others went to rest in the main hall.

Lying down, Yang Ning’s mind turned to thoughts of his future.

Being a disciple of the Beggars’ Guild was hardly a calling that suited him, but since he’d been thrust into this world, there was no changing it—he could only adapt.

What frustrated him was that this era didn’t match any he remembered from history. Otherwise, with foreknowledge, he could have made a great name for himself. Before he crossed over, he’d been in business and believed his accumulated experience could be put to great use here. Yet, penniless as he was, he couldn’t even start a business, and he knew nothing of the local market conditions. For now, trade was out of the question.

He tossed and turned for a long time before finally drifting into a fitful sleep. Perhaps he was truly exhausted after his illness, for the rest of the night he slept soundly.

The next day, Old Bark woke him from a deep sleep, and he realized he’d slept until noon. The storm had passed, and when Yang Ning stepped outside, the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and grass, invigorating him as he breathed deeply.

Looking around, he saw that the temple was in a remote spot, with few houses nearby. Not far ahead was a pond, beside which old willows grew at an angle, their branches trailing gracefully over the water. A light breeze set them swaying, like slender dancers at a ball.

“Where have the others gone?” Not seeing Monkey or the rest, Yang Ning asked Old Bark.

“They went out earlier,” Old Bark replied. “Said you’d recovered from illness and they wanted to scrounge something up to celebrate.”

Yang Ning laughed. “So they’re that thoughtful?”

Old Bark, mistaking his meaning, said, “Little Mink, as long as you know what they’re up to. They made you the leader of this temple, but they certainly don’t have good intentions.”

Yang Ning had only been joking, but Old Bark’s serious tone made him suspicious. “Old Bark, do they really have ulterior motives?”

“Ulterior motives?” Old Bark shook his head. “Not exactly evil, but certainly nothing good. There are hundreds of Beggars’ Guild disciples in this city. Though all are under the same guild, there are factions and rivalries everywhere.”

“A few hundred people?” Yang Ning hadn’t realized the guild was so strong in Huize.

Old Bark sighed. “Monkey has always been unruly. You used to keep a low profile, but he likes making trouble. Now that he knows how capable you are, he wants you as his figurehead, so he can fight the other guild factions. Mink, listen to me—there’s always someone better out there, and even if you’re talented, don’t let Monkey drag you into trouble. Better to keep your head down and stay safe.”

He spoke with heartfelt sincerity, clearly out of genuine concern for Yang Ning.