Little Pink Starfish

Zhang Qiu frowned, still gripping his phone. Li Shu asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Yue Qincang and Kaiming arrived at Enhé Village. They mentioned Grandpa Kule—” Zhang Qiu paused when he saw Li Shu raise an eyebrow in question. “I can’t explain it, but something about him feels… off.”

Li Shu glanced at Grandpa Kule, who was singing by the fire, but didn’t see anything strange.

“Then keep an eye on him.”

Zhang Qiu nodded. That was all they could do. He used to think plants couldn’t possibly survive in such freezing mountains, though animals might. But Grandpa Kule had somehow managed to find all kinds of useful stuff up here—like firewood buried deep in the snow, so compressed the bark was dry inside and burned cleanly.

From his pack, Zhang Qiu pulled out some salt and chili—the only two seasonings they had. Still, the crispy, juicy snow mountain rabbit roasted over the fire was enough to make everyone drool. Zhang Qiu looked down to find his big coat pocket unzipping from the inside—Xiaofei poked out his tiny head, long black hair cascading like a waterfall. He really looked like a little angel.

Even though he was his own kid, Zhang Qiu was still stunned every time. How did I make such a beautiful child?

So proud!

Little Jiang had a rabbit leg and was happily gnawing it, his little mouth greasy. When he saw his sister awake, he tore off a piece and held it out for her.

Xiaofei didn’t mind that it had already been in Little Jiang’s mouth. She opened her little lips, revealing a neat row of glutinous rice-like teeth, and ate slowly and delicately.

After a good meal, everyone felt recharged. They packed up and followed Grandpa Kule to the collapsed mountain. They had taken a detour since the area that had collapsed yesterday was too unstable and might crumble again. As they circled left, another small landslide occurred in the original spot—less severe than the day before.

This mountain, though the smallest in the range, was still massive. And with the top sheared off, it now looked like a chunk had been bitten off by a dog.

Their map’s target—Chenghai City—should now be directly beneath their feet. But they didn’t know exactly where, and they had to beat Christine’s group there.

“Master, there’s a cave here.” Bell’s adventurous spirit was lit. Ever since he stabbed that zombie into a beehive yesterday, he’d been glowing with pride. Now Pei Qing could barely hold him back as Bell floated around in his semi-ghost form.

Pei Qing clutched his chest—used to having Bell cling to him like glue, he now felt slightly abandoned. Still, seeing Bell so lively made him smile.

They followed Bell’s direction, when a voice suddenly shouted from behind: “Don’t go in there!”

They turned to see Grandpa Kule standing behind them, fear in his eyes. Zhang Qiu glanced at the snow cave—there was nothing visible.

“Do you know what’s inside?” Zhang Qiu asked. He was sure Grandpa Kule had been here before.

But Kule looked confused, waved his hand. “I’ve never been here. Just… it’s dangerous.”

Never been here, but knows it’s dangerous? Li Shu narrowed his eyes. “You can wait here. We have to go in.”

“No, no—” Kule’s face twisted with conflict, but after a moment’s hesitation, he gritted his teeth and followed them in. Even he didn’t know why he was scared or why something inside urged him forward.

Though it was an ice cave, it felt warmer than outside. After walking a few dozen meters, they reached a fork with two paths. Everyone paused.

Li Shu looked at Zhang Qiu, who instantly waved his hands. “Don’t make me pick. My luck’s bad.”

Li Shu smiled. “Don’t want to be my lucky charm?”

“You’re getting cheesier by the day,” Zhang Qiu muttered, but his ears were practically grinning.

“Tsk, you two are nauseating,” Qi Xi clicked his tongue. “Aren’t both paths the same? Xiao Rong Rong, you pick.”

“I can’t see,” Qi Zhirong replied coolly.

Zhang Qiu flinched. Way to hit a nerve, Qi Xi. But Qi Xi just leaned in with a grin. “Then I’ll be your eyes.”

And he says I’m the cheesy one? Zhang Qiu glanced at Qi Zhirong’s expression—it was still cold, but he seemed a little pleased.

“This one,” Grandpa Kule pointed at the smaller left path.

Zhang Qiu had been indifferent about which way to go, but Yue Qincang’s earlier warning made him cautious. He exchanged a glance with Li Shu, and they took the right path instead.

“No, not that one!” Grandpa Kule shouted in panic.

Zhang Qiu’s heart softened. Grandpa Kule didn’t seem like a bad person. He’d helped them all this way. Now it felt like they were forcing an old man into danger.

“What do you know?” Zhang Qiu asked gently.

Kule looked confused again. “What?”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Zhang Yushui said. He was also curious what secrets Kule was hiding.

Everyone could now sense something wasn’t right with the old man. Ignoring his protests, they went into the right tunnel. It was deep and narrow. Zhang Qiu pulled out his flashlight and shone it ahead.

“There’s someone there.”

Everyone tensed. Weapons came out. Bell puffed up and dragged Pei Qing behind him, trying to act manly. “Brother, stay behind me. I’ll protect you.”

Pei Qing nearly laughed—his cute little ghost trying to act tough—but he went along with it and nodded. Still, he subtly moved in front of Bell as they advanced.

Little Jiang wasn’t scared at all. He bounced along the front with his bracelets jingling until Zhang Qiu pulled him back. “Daddy’s a bit scared. Don’t go too far.”

With righteous determination, Little Jiang nodded and positioned himself in front of Zhang Qiu like a chubby little guard. “Don’t worry, Daddy.”

Strands of red mist wrapped around Zhang Qiu—Xiaofei poking out from the coat pocket, clearly intent on protecting Daddy too.

“See? My sons are the best—just like little cotton-padded jackets,” Zhang Qiu boasted to Li Shu.

The mood lightened a bit. Qi Xi rolled his eyes. “You really can turn a life-or-death adventure into a sitcom.” He turned and slung an arm around Qi Zhirong. “Shall I carry you, sweetheart?”

“No need.” Qi Zhirong brushed his hand off, expression cold.

Why so moody? Qi Xi pouted and clung tighter. “I’m scared. You have to protect me.”

Qi Zhirong gave him nothing—not even a glance.

They approached a figure frozen into the ice wall—arms outstretched like they were trying to escape, body unnaturally twisted.

“Hello?” Zhang Qiu called out. Qi Xi chuckled. Zhang Qiu glared at Li Shu. “I don’t know this idiot.”

Qi Xi was about to fire back, but stopped when he heard Qi Zhirong snort. Even without seeing his face, Qi Xi could sense his disapproval. He clammed up.

The frozen figure didn’t respond.

“He’s dead.” Li Shu stepped forward. “There’s something wrong with the ice.”

Zhang Qiu suddenly understood. That explained the desperate pose—this man had been trying to flee.

Li Shu drew his dagger and swiftly separated the man’s hands from the ice. The corpse dropped stiffly to the floor. Inside the ice, tiny black specks glimmered.

“Eggs. Human body heat would’ve hatched them immediately,” Li Shu said, glancing back at Grandpa Kule.

The corpse’s face… made Zhang Qiu’s heart stop.

“Grandpa Kule!”

Little Jiang gasped. “Why are there two Grandpas?”

Now it all made sense. At Enhé Village, Kule’s home was dusty and empty. No food. The bedding smelled of mold. Zhang Qiu had chalked it up to bachelor living. Then there was the liquor flask. Kule had kept drinking from it even after it was empty.

An endless flask?

“The wine?” Zhang Qiu’s scalp tingled at the thought of what might be in it.

Zhang Yushui sniffed. “It’s real wine.”

“How?!” Zhang Qiu was baffled.

Kule suddenly cried out and stumbled back, clutching his face. Staring at the body, he muttered, “I’m dead. I died… right. I was looking for Amur…”

“Too much lingering obsession,” Zhang Yushui frowned. Even so, Kule had seemed perfectly normal—drinking, talking, moving around in daylight. That was more than just a ghost.

“Did something happen to you in there? Did you find something?” Zhang Yushui asked.

Only with a stroke of fate could someone become like this.

Pei Qing helped Kule up. The old man trembled as he took another swig of his liquor, then said, “It was a winter a year ago. My wife was very sick. Amur heard that in the smallest mountain here, there was a treasure that could cure all ailments. He went in. I had just picked up medicine from the hospital. My wife was worried, told me to go after him. I left her in the care of villagers and took my dog into the mountains.”

“The snow was blinding. I wandered for five days. Exhausted, I found a cave and went in. That’s when…”

Kule had picked the wrong tunnel. He accidentally touched the ice wall and woke the eggs.

“I don’t know how I survived. I escaped somehow. Still hadn’t found Amur. My wife was waiting. I couldn’t die there…”

He gulped another mouthful. “Somehow, I stumbled into a crystal palace. It was warm and glowing, filled with treasure. But there were zombie soldiers in armor. I was terrified. I bumped into a box. A square piece of white jade fell out. Then they started chasing me. I barely got out.”

“Amur’s still out there. My wife’s waiting. I promised to bring him home…”

It had been a year. The chances of Amur surviving were slim. They hadn’t seen Kule’s wife or son in Enhé Village either—likely all dead. But no one said it.

Kule may have realized it too. He wiped his face, eyes firm. “No matter what, I’m bringing Amur home.” Even if it’s just a body.

No one had words for that. Kule didn’t need comfort. He just needed to fulfill a promise.

They carried his body out and buried him at a good spot Zhang Yushui picked, with Kule’s ghost’s approval. By the time it was done, dusk was falling.

“Don’t stay here,” Kule said. “Follow me.”

They followed him to a hidden spot a few hundred meters from the cave—surrounded by high terrain, sheltered from the wind.

“I hid from the zombies here once,” he said with a grin.

They pitched camp and cooked. Kule passed around his flask, but Zhang Qiu wasn’t touching that again. Kule just laughed. Zhang Qiu had to admit—the old man had resilience. After all that, he was back to smiling.

Over dinner, they didn’t avoid talking around him anymore.

“That crystal palace must be what we’re looking for—specifically, the square white jade piece Kule touched,” Zhang Yushui said.

“The Imperial Jade Seal,” Zhang Qiu added. “Someone in the State of Zhongshan once offered a piece of jade to Prince Huan. Maybe that was it?”

Back then, Qin hadn’t yet unified China. The seal’s predecessor was the He Shi Bi. The one offered was said to bless the holder with prosperity and immortality.

“We have to get there before Christine does—and catch that woman,” Zhang Qiu said. “The more bargaining chips we have, the better our position.”

Everyone nodded. Kule gnawed on frozen jerky like it was nothing. Zhang Qiu couldn’t even chew his.

After dinner, Pei Qing went to gather firewood. Zhang Yushui smiled. “Ayan and I will go.”

Kule had taught them how to find dry wood under snow. Qi Xi sidled up to Qi Zhirong. “Shall we go too?”

“No.”

Qi Xi just leaned his head on Qi Zhirong’s shoulder, grinning and chattering away.

Zhang Qiu marveled at Qi Zhirong’s patience. That must be true love.

Soon, Zhang Yushui and the prince returned, grim-faced.

“That woman took her people into the cave,” Zhang Yushui said.

Zhang Qiu shot to his feet. “What are we waiting for?! Let’s go!”

They left the tent standing, packed up, and hurried to follow—ready to fight if necessary. But that woman surely had more tricks up her sleeve.

“I remember now!”

Everyone turned. Kule had been sitting, deep in thought. Now he clapped his thigh.

“What did you remember?” Zhang Qiu asked.

“How I got out of the crystal palace!” Kule stood and strode off.

Zhang Qiu looked at Li Shu. Is there another entrance?

“Let’s check it out,” Li Shu said.

They followed Kule southwest from the collapsed mountain face. The area hadn’t changed from a year ago.

After ten minutes, they heard the sound of running water.

Kule’s face lit up. “There it is!”

They stood on high ground. Below, a narrow stream flowed from the mountain, winding down and vanishing into the moonlight.

“I came out from here. The water’s warm,” Kule said.

The stream wasn’t wide—maybe three meters at most. Zhang Qiu dipped a hand in. It really was warm.

“Weird.”

“Never mind that—how do we get in?” Qi Xi asked, rolling up his sleeves.

Kule chuckled. “There.”

They followed the stream to its source. Pei Qing stepped up—this was his moment. He sighed. “It’s tight. I’ll do my best.”

He stripped. Bell held his clothes dutifully. Li Shu stepped in front of Zhang Qiu to block his view.

Zhang Qiu: Jealous much? Still, he smiled.

Pei Qing half-shifted—human upper body, dragon tail. He dove in. Water splashed. The tail parted the stream, revealing smooth stones underneath.

Zhang Qiu stripped Little Jiang’s coat. “Cold?”

“Not at all, Daddy!”

Zhang Qiu shivered as he packed clothes into waterproof bags. Everyone did the same and waded in. Though Pei Qing cleared the way, space was tight. Water still splashed over them.

The entrance tunnel was so low they had to crawl—heads up would hit the ceiling. Pei Qing’s tail was too big, so he returned to human form, and water surged back in.

Zhang Qiu sputtered, coughing out water. Good thing we packed smart.

Still, the water’s warmth helped. They crawled through. Kule led. After what felt like forever, they heard him say they’d arrived.

Zhang Qiu surged forward, Li Shu close behind—his eyes darkening as he admired the soaked curve of Zhang Qiu’s backside.

They emerged onto land. Zhang Yushui helped everyone out. It was freezing. They wrung out clothes and threw on jackets, no matter how damp.

Zhang Qiu envied Bell, Kule, and Xiaofei—still dry in the pack.

“From here, there’s a small opening that leads in,” Kule said.

He pointed to a round entrance under stone and weeds—easy to miss. Inside, it was warmer, with wild grass growing.

No one would’ve found it without Kule. The other entrance had been far more obvious.

Zhang Yushui touched the soil. “Old. Not new. Likely dug by craftsmen—an escape tunnel.”

Zhang Qiu had heard of that. Imperial tombs were massive and full of treasure. Workers were often executed to protect the secret. Some dug hidden tunnels to escape once the tomb was sealed.

“This path’s definitely safer,” Zhang Yushui smiled. “We’re lucky.”

Zhang Qiu agreed. The front path was likely full of traps. They might just slip in the back and grab the seal first—leaving Christine’s crew to find only an empty box.