Chapter 65: Shadow-Pagoda Tower
【Part One: Sky Light Market】
"Young Master Tang is here!"
Someone's loud shout cut through the quiet of the Sky Light Market. Most people immediately rushed toward the source of the voice. Stall owners set down their tasks, and even shopkeepers from both sides of the street came running out upon hearing the commotion—a testament to the grand spectacle.
Guo Fengxiao, swaying his folding fan, watched the suddenly bustling market with a sigh. "That kid really doesn't fear attracting trouble by standing out. He should be careful—someone might scheme against him without him even knowing."
Yue Fu, standing beside him, continued polishing his saber indifferently. "Madam Shi adores him, the Market Master protects him, and everyone looks out for him. Don’t worry."
"I’m not worried about him at all," Guo Fengxiao scoffed insincerely. As a master strategist, he knew exactly why Tang Yuan acted so boldly.
Tang Yuan, armed with the token gifted by Madam Shi and the Market Master’s calculated schedule for the Sky Light Market’s openings, flaunted his way in and out repeatedly. He traded candies, chocolates, and peculiar modern trinkets for antiques—clearly operating under the Market Master’s wing.
Being a child, Tang Yuan naturally evoked adults’ leniency. Add to that the delicious treats and amusing novelties he brought each time, and it was no wonder most in the market eagerly awaited his visits. Regardless of their hidden motives, anyone daring to harm Tang Yuan would instantly face a united front of defenders armed and ready.
Still, Guo Fengxiao couldn’t stand the boy’s smug, opportunistic demeanor. He’d initially mistaken him for a naive, sweet child, only to discover he was a cunning "sesame-filled tangyuan" (a sweet with hidden depth). Madam Shi was so charmed she nearly embraced him as her godson. What infuriated Guo even more was that, with such advantages, powerful backing, and sheer luck, the boy merely engaged in petty trade. It was maddening! If he were in Tang Yuan’s place... if he were...
Yue Fu glanced at his friend, whose fan was now whirring rapidly, and guessed the nobleman was likely weaving intricate plots in his mind. He didn’t bother speculating—it was futile—and calmly resumed polishing his saber.
Amid the encircling crowd not far away, Tang Yuan, brimming with confidence, slid his bulging backpack off his shoulder and launched into his sales pitch with practiced ease. "This time, I’ve got ballpoint pens even more amazing than last time’s pencils! No sharpening needed, available in all colors—just remember, you can’t erase the ink with a rubber. And check out this telescope! You can see really, really far with it. Don’t believe me? Go ahead, try it! I’m not afraid you’ll snatch it—test it all you want! Oh, and these plush toys. Hey, don’t underestimate this one—this cat repeats whatever you say! Super fun, but it needs batteries. Batteries are its power source, sold separately. Not included, not included!"
As he spoke, he flipped a switch. The cat toy beside him began swaying its head and parroting, "...Not included, not included!"
"Wow! It’s talking! Has it gained a spirit?" "Wow! It’s talking! Has it gained a spirit?" "It really is repeating what I said!" "It really is repeating what I said!"
The crowd marveled in astonishment.To be honest, the things Tang Yuan brought each time were always novel curiosities. Even if the folks at the Sky Light Market had no intention of bartering, they still enjoyed gathering around to watch the lively spectacle. Moreover, Tang Yuan’s asking prices weren’t high—often, ordinary items would suffice for an exchange.
After introducing the goods he’d brought this time, Tang Yuan began trading with the uncles, aunties, older brothers, and sisters. There was no helping it—he was simply too fond of snacks. The pocket money Doctor gave him was never enough to indulge his cravings, and since Doctor forbade him from taking part-time jobs outside, he had to find his own ways to earn extra cash.
Tang Yuan had met the museum Curator during his first visit to the Sky Light Market. After gaining the privilege to come and go freely, he started dabbling in reselling various trinkets.
However, items taken out of the Sky Light Market remained frozen in time, bearing no traces of the years that should have passed. For instance, the owner of a bookshop once traded him a jade toggle for a pencil. Though this jade piece should have originated from the late Qin or early Han dynasty, once outside the market, it appeared as if it had been carved just over a decade ago, rather than more than two thousand years. Fortunately, the jade was finely textured and elegantly antique in design, allowing Tang Yuan to exchange it with the Curator for a considerable sum of pocket money.
For Tang Yuan, this was more than enough. If every item he brought out were a genuine antique, it would surely raise suspicions! Besides, he couldn’t possibly eat through that much money on snacks alone.
He also had no fear of era-defying objects being carried into other time periods by Sky Light Market visitors, because the market itself would automatically judge such items. Anything bearing an anachronistic imprint would turn to dust the moment it was taken out.
Thus, his little business flourished smoothly. The items Tang Yuan brought were quickly snapped up by interested buyers. Once everyone saw that he wasn’t pulling anything more from his backpack, they tactfully dispersed.
What? There were clearly still things inside the backpack? How silly—those were obviously gifts Young Master Tang had brought for the Market Master and Madam Shi!
Tang Yuan cheerfully tucked his newly acquired trades into his backpack. When he looked up, he found a young man in purple still crouched before him, gazing longingly at the bag.
Tang Yuan wasn’t surprised. Aside from Guo Fengxiao and Yue Fu, whom he’d befriended early on, this purple-clad youth counted as his third friend in the Sky Light Market—his name was Ying. Well, what could he say? Fellow foodies just naturally clicked!
“Tang-Tang, do you still have those chocolate balls from last time? The ones with nuts inside? Did you bring any, did you?” The purple-clad youth clasped his hands pleadingly, his eyes full of hope.
“How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t call me Tang-Tang!” Tang Yuan grumbled in embarrassment. Tang-Tang sounded so girlish. “But it rhymes with ‘candy’—it’s cute,” Ying muttered under his breath, secretly swallowing a mouthful of saliva. It wasn’t his fault he was so desperate. The Sky Light Market had everything except food. Having been trapped there for so long, even though he didn’t feel physical hunger, the mental deprivation was unbearable!
Tang Yuan could empathize. If he were in that situation, he’d have gone mad long ago.
“Here, these are today’s snacks. These are sandwich biscuits called ‘White Lovers’—they’re especially delicious. So, what are you trading for them this time?”
Sympathy was one thing, but protocol was protocol. The rule of the Sky Light Market was clear: barter trade, fair and square.Ying knew Tang Yuan gave him special treatment—basically whatever he brought, Tang Yuan would exchange for it, regardless of its value. Glancing at the box of cookies in front of him, Ying pulled something from his sleeve and handed it to Tang Yuan.
The object felt like a piece of jade in his hand, and Tang Yuan’s lips curved into a smile. Jade items were the easiest to convert into cash, and Ying wasn’t the type to take advantage without giving something in return. Next time, he could bring him more delicious snacks.
After handing over the cookies, Tang Yuan looked down and examined the item closely. It was a rectangular piece of white jade with a smooth surface, very much like an uncarved seal. But when he turned it over, his eyes widened in shock—on the surface of the jade, someone had written three large characters in cinnabar: Lu Zigang.
"What is this?" Tang Yuan exclaimed in astonishment. Of course, he knew who Lu Zigang was—the person who had accidentally entered the Sky Light Market with him that night and was now watching over his second brother’s Dumb Shop.
The question was, why was there a jade piece in the Sky Light Market with his name written on it?!
By then, Ying had already torn open the packaging and popped a "White Lover" cookie into his mouth. The sweet flavor made him squint with satisfaction. The name of this cookie was so straightforward—did eating it make people think of sweet lovers?
Hearing Tang Yuan’s question, he replied casually, "This is a piece from Liubo Chess. Haven’t you played Liubo Chess before?"
"Liubo Chess? Uh, I’ve heard of it, but never played." Tang Yuan scratched his head. He remembered his master mentioning it once; he’d even clamored to play it back then, but his master had brushed it off.
"You’ve never played such a fun game?" Ying looked at him sympathetically.
Tang Yuan gritted his teeth inwardly, deciding to bring chess, international chess, checkers, aeroplane chess, and Monopoly for Ying to play next time! Taking a deep breath, he refocused and asked, "Why is there a person’s name on this Liubo Chess piece, and moreover, someone I know?"
Ying swallowed the cookie in his mouth and blinked in surprise. "I don’t know about that. I got this item through an exchange at the Sky Light Market. It’s passed through who knows how many hands already."
Tang Yuan turned the chess piece over and over in his hand but found nothing unusual—it looked like an utterly ordinary piece. "Is this the only piece? Do you have any others?"
Ying licked the cookie crumbs off his fingers and grinned. "Of course I do. Fair trade, item for item." Tang Yuan fell silent. How could he have ever thought this kid was pitiable?!
"There are eleven more pieces, plus the board and the box. Remember, no duplicate snacks for the exchange! Oh, but you can bring another box of these cookies." Ying smacked his lips, counting on his fingers. He’d been worried that Young Master Tang wouldn’t be interested in Liubo Chess; otherwise, the remaining eleven pieces would be incomplete and go to waste. Fortunately, Young Master Tang seemed quite concerned—it hadn’t been in vain that he’d specifically chosen this piece with a name on it.
Tang Yuan could only admire such a relentless foodie spirit. Luckily, snacks were easy for him to buy, so he resignedly sighed, "Alright, alright, I’ll take them all. Do the other pieces have names on them too?"
"Only one other piece does." Thinking of the name on that piece, Ying’s expression darkened. Without another word, he waved the cookie box in his hand and turned to leave.I really want to know whose name is written on that other Liubo Chess piece! Tang Yuan stomped his foot in frustration, yet could do nothing about it.
Normally, he would sneak out to the Sky Light Market while the Doctor was on night shift. But today, after the Cyan Stone Tablet incident, his senior brother had tracked him down at home and unexpectedly met the Doctor. For some reason, the Doctor had gotten it into his head to confront his senior brother, and hadn't returned all night. It seemed he wouldn't be back for quite some time either. Unable to sleep, Tang Yuan had come to the Sky Light Market to sell some items, but couldn't stay as long as usual.
Tang Yuan could only carefully tuck the Liubo Chess piece close to his body before picking up his backpack and approaching Guo Fengxiao and Yue Fu: "Brothers, here are the books you wanted this time. Do they meet your expectations?"
As friends Tang Yuan had made during his first visit to the Sky Light Market, though Guo Fengxiao and Yue Fu had initially harbored ill intentions toward him, things had ultimately worked out well. Moreover, Yue Fu felt deeply guilty about his earlier malicious thoughts and had since helped Tang Yuan numerous times in the market—initially, many people had tried to bully Young Master Tang due to his age.
Tang Yuan always brought them books according to their preferences—Guo Fengxiao enjoyed strategy books, while Yue Fu preferred works on geography and topography. At first, both complained about the simplified characters and left-to-right horizontal reading format, but they eventually had to get used to it. Guo Fengxiao, being widely read and knowledgeable, could even exchange these books with the Boss of the market's bookstore for others to read, which somewhat eased their previously tense relationship.
Yue Fu was a soldier responsible for maintaining order in the Sky Light Market, while Guo Fengxiao had various connections. Combined with their long stays in the market, these two were likely the most well-informed figures there.
What they exchanged with Tang Yuan was information about the Sky Light Market. What had happened during Tang Yuan's absence, who most wanted to obtain certain items, who was growing restless and wanted to leave... such news was less like intelligence and more like gossip.
Tang Yuan's expression would twist upon hearing these tales, as many people in the Sky Light Market were historical celebrities. It took him quite some time to calmly accept the gossip and anecdotes about these figures.
Yue Fu took his books, shared a few gossip items as exchange, then hurried off to find a quiet place to read. Only Guo Fengxiao remained, accompanying Tang Yuan to Madam Shi's embroidery workshop.
"By the way, I heard that Helian recently acquired a brush with restoration capabilities that can rewrite any calligraphy or painting," Guo Fengxiao tapped his fan against his palm, his face full of envy. "Little Tang Yuan, think about what you could bring next time to trade for that Baize Brush."
"The Baize Brush?" Tang Yuan's expression turned slightly grave. He had heard about this antique from his master. "Where did Helian get this Baize Brush from?"
"Reportedly traded from a newcomer who recently arrived at the Sky Light Market—this happened before you came," Guo Fengxiao opened his fan and began waving it slowly. "Why? Do you know about the Baize Brush?"
"I've heard of it," Tang Yuan said only these three words before falling silent.The Sky Light Market appeared to be a place where time stood still, yet in reality, time still flowed. This was because the people arriving at the market came in a specific order. It could only be said that the passage of time in the Sky Light Market was exceptionally slow and existed independently of the real world.
The market was filled with people from various dynasties, yet despite Tang Yuan's numerous visits, he had never encountered anyone from a time more "future" than his own.
What did this signify? Could it mean that the Sky Light Market would one day vanish, and that its remaining time was limited? He dared not dwell on the thought.
The Baize Brush had previously been in Zhao Gao's possession, but whether it remained with him afterward, Tang Yuan did not know. Coupled with the Liubo Chess piece bearing Lu Zigang's name that he had just received, Tang Yuan felt there must be some hidden clues connecting these events.
"Alright, if there's anything you want to know, I'll help you find out. At such a young age, you shouldn't be frowning so deeply." Guo Fengxiao closed his fan and gently tapped Tang Yuan's forehead with its tip, smiling warmly.
"Then I'll leave it to you, big brother! Next time, I'll bring you more books!" Tang Yuan's spirits lifted, and he shared his suspicions, carefully selecting what he could reveal.
As he listened, Guo Fengxiao narrowed his eyes slightly.
【Two: The Pavilion at the Center of West Lake】
A bitter wind swept fiercely across West Lake, stirring ripples on the water's surface. Waves surged and crashed against the shore. Withered yellow leaves were torn from the branches, swirling in circles through the air before scattering across the lake, drifting slowly with the undulating ripples.
Suddenly, the fallen leaves on the water began to rotate counterclockwise, forming a massive whirlpool in the blink of an eye. The water churned violently as a tall, slender figure emerged from the vortex, his clothes completely dry, without a single drop of water. In his hand, he held a small pavilion model, no larger than his palm.
Had the Doctor witnessed this scene, he would have recognized the young man emerging from the depths of the lake as the Boss of Dumb Shop, whom he had been searching for all night. The model in the Boss's hand was the Vibrating Heron Pavilion, which he had taken from Dumb Shop.
The Boss had come here today to retrieve something from West Yong Village.
Zhao Gao was preparing to initiate a chess game with lives at stake, and for the sake of his master, the Boss had no choice but to accept the challenge. The other four players were yet to be found, but he could at least gather the five antiques that would serve as the chess pieces.
To match the malevolent antiques Zhao Gao had collected, he could not select items from Dumb Shop. Most of the antiques there were imbued with lingering attachments, fragile and unable to withstand even the slightest setback, let alone compete with other artifacts.
His only option was to choose from the Hidden Treasury—the sect to which his master belonged specialized in collecting ancient artifacts left behind in the world. After the legendary eras of Emperor Yan, Emperor Huang, Yao, Shun, and Yu, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had diminished. The remaining divine artifacts could exert a profound influence on ordinary people, so ancestors established several treasuries across the Central Plains to seal these artifacts away. Of course, divine artifacts made up only a small portion; the majority were objects that housed lingering souls or had developed their own consciousness.The jade Xuanji left to him by his master was the key to unlocking these treasure troves. However, after Fusu accidentally bonded with the jade Xuanji through a blood pact, he could only bring Fusu along to access them. Following Fusu's death, if he needed to visit any of the guardian repositories, he had no choice but to bring Fusu's current reincarnation with him.
Since Fusu had been mentioned by Zhao Gao earlier, it was likely that Fusu had already fallen into Zhao Gao's hands. Otherwise, Zhao Gao wouldn't be so confident and unafraid of his refusal to comply.
Thus, his only option now was the Doctor...
But the Doctor had lost all memories related to him, and he himself wanted the Doctor to stay far away from this muddy mess. It was only natural to create distance between them, as the Doctor had no responsibility or obligation to be involved in any of this.
So he never considered restoring the Doctor's memories.
This was his burden alone, and he could bear it by himself.
West Yong was also one of the guardian repositories. Besides the rare artifacts left behind by the Shang people, many sunken treasures rested there. At the same time, the drowned souls of those who had perished in the waters remained within. Many, many years ago, two individuals who had left West Yong returned to the mortal world, causing immense turmoil that ultimately led to countless deaths. It was then that he decided to retrieve the Vibrating Heron Pavilion, the entrance to West Yong, and seal it off completely.
It wasn't until the Doctor first entered the Dumb Shop, picked up the model of the Vibrating Heron Pavilion at a glance, and inadvertently fell into West Yong, that he reopened this guardian repository. Back then, he had retrieved the Doctor and, due to a momentary lapse, did not take back the Vibrating Heron Pavilion. Now, he could freely enter and exit using the jade Xuanji, perhaps as if destined by fate.
The Boss had returned to West Yong today to search for antiques suitable for use in the chess game. He eventually selected a few and brought them with him.
As he was leaving, Du Shiniang mentioned that over the past few years, aside from the Doctor, no newcomers had arrived at West Yong. However, two men had left West Yong after the Doctor's departure.
The Boss pondered for a moment but did not inquire about the identities of the two men—since they had been in the modern world for several years without causing any disturbances, they had likely adapted well, and there was no need to investigate further. Still, he feared others in West Yong might follow their example, potentially repeating the tragedy of long ago. To minimize instability, the Boss decided to retrieve and take the Vibrating Heron Pavilion with him before leaving.
Du Shiniang was relieved and urged him to take it back quickly, explaining that as long as the Vibrating Heron Pavilion remained, the women in West Yong would grow restless, always tempted to find opportunities to disembark and wander beneath it. This was because of the legend of the Vibrating Heron Pavilion: it was said that beneath it, one could encounter the person they wished to see, and many long-separated individuals would arrange to meet there...
The Boss stepped ashore, idly rubbing the Vibrating Heron Pavilion in his hand a few times before slipping it into his trench coat pocket. The moment he lifted his head, he saw the Doctor sitting on the steps, hugging his knees.
The Boss's hand gripping the Vibrating Heron Pavilion tightened instantly.
The Doctor stared blankly upward, watching the antique shop owner approach him slowly. The wind whipped the Boss's trench coat, revealing the black shirt embroidered with a Crimson Dragon beneath. The vivid crimson dragon coiled around his waist, one Dragon Claw gripping his chest, while the fanged Dragon Head aimed at his neck, as if ready to strike at any moment.The Doctor always felt that in his memory, the Boss's clothes weren't like this. Yes, in the memories of the Black Jade Orb, the owner of the Dumb Shop wore a Tang suit, not a shirt.
Well, although this Crimson Dragon looked the same, its embroidered position was slightly different.
Seeing the other party walking towards him, the Doctor quickly stood up, only to see the antique shop owner wearing the Red Dragon Robe pass by him without changing his expression.
Instinctively, the Doctor reached out and grabbed the other's wrist, stopping him from moving forward.
The Boss halted his steps but showed no reaction whatsoever. He didn't turn around, didn't speak, not even the slightest twitch of his brow.
The Doctor stared fixedly at the other man, hesitating for a moment before finding his voice again. "Have we... met before?"
"No, you've mistaken me for someone else." The owner of the Dumb Shop replied indifferently, his tone carrying an indescribable sense of detachment.
The Doctor wasn't surprised by the denial. If they had truly known each other, the other would have mentioned it when they met last night. He noticed the skin beneath his palm felt icy cold, so cold it stung—so much so that he couldn't even detect... a pulse! The Doctor widened his eyes, intending to lift the other's wrist for a closer look.
But the Boss didn't give him the chance. Following the Doctor's movement, with some inexplicable twist of his wrist, he effortlessly slipped out of the Doctor's grasp and took a step back, widening the distance between them.
The Doctor suddenly realized he might have been too rude and quickly withdrew his hand. How could this person standing alive before him possibly have no pulse? It must be that his own fingers were frozen stiff, numbing his senses.
The two stood facing each other beneath the lakeside pavilion, enveloped in silence.
"You... why are you here?" The Boss stared at the Doctor for a long while before finally breaking the silence.
"Uh... isn't this a park? Can't anyone enter by buying a ticket?" Faced with the Boss's question, the Doctor forced himself to remain calm as he defended himself, yet he instinctively slipped his hand into his pocket.
Following the movement, the Boss noticed the bulging pocket and caught a glimpse of a black jade orb between the Doctor's fingers. The Boss narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint crease forming between his brows, which then smoothed out almost instantly.
The Doctor had a head full of questions, but under the Boss's gaze, his mind went blank, unsure of what to ask.
When this person made such an expression, he must be feeling troubled but didn't want others to notice, pretending as if nothing had happened...
Wait, why did he think that?
The Doctor clenched the Black Jade Orb in his palm.
They must have known each other before, and... they might even have been close friends.
"Though I don't know why you're here, I advise you, for your own safety, to stay as far away from me as possible." After delivering these words expressionlessly, the Boss brushed off nonexistent dust from his clothes, stepped around the Doctor blocking his path, and continued walking.
See! That detached tone again, but he must surely mean the opposite!
The Doctor didn't know where his confidence came from, understanding this Boss who should have been a stranger to him so well.
Watching the Boss stride away, the Doctor felt no urgency. Instead, he lifted his wrist to check his watch and leisurely followed at a distance.
The lakeside pavilion was a small island in the center of West Lake, accessible only by rowboat. And the next rowboat departure was still a long way off. Even if the Boss tried to avoid him, the island was only so big—where could he possibly go?
In other words, this was the perfect location, absolutely ideal for a heart-to-heart conversation.
Knowing the Boss had nowhere to escape, the Doctor began reorganizing his thoughts, vowing to get to the bottom of things today. But just as he casually glanced up, he saw the Boss disappear behind a willow tree.The Doctor sidestepped a few paces, moving around the willow tree obstructing his view just in time to see Boss pull a bright yellow cloth from his pocket, which was emitting an eerie golden glow.
The Doctor swore that the light was definitely not a reflection of sunlight.
A subconscious feeling that Boss was about to slip away triggered an unprecedented surge of strength in the Doctor. He dashed forward and, just as the golden light began to dissipate, grabbed the other end of the yellow cloth.
The spot beneath the tree where the two had been standing was now empty, leaving only a few withered leaves drifting in the air. They spun in circles before gracefully settling on the ground.
【Chapter Three: The Fan Pagoda】
The moment the Doctor seized the yellow cloth, the world spun around him, and his vision filled with static. He had no choice but to squeeze his eyes shut.
Was this... a symptom of low blood sugar? But that couldn’t be! He’d eaten a basket of steamed buns and a bowl of porridge at Old Zhang’s that morning! There was no time to fish out the chocolate he kept in his pocket for Tang Yuan. He felt as if he were standing on a block of cotton and struggled to maintain his balance to avoid falling.
Perhaps sensing his precarious state, a hand reached out from beside him, steadying his elbow to prevent him from actually collapsing.
The dizziness lasted only a second or two. Soon, the Doctor felt solid ground beneath his feet, and the moment he opened his eyes, the supporting hand withdrew.
Following the direction of the retreating hand, the Doctor caught sight of Boss’s slightly furrowed brow. Had his impulsive action caused trouble for the other man?
Boss tugged the yellow cloth—Zhang Jiao’s Golden Scarf—from the Doctor’s grasp and slipped it back into his coat pocket. This artifact, originally belonging to Zhang Jiao, leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, was one of the antiques Huhai had presented after reuniting with Fusu. Because it was so convenient—eliminating the need for flights or high-speed trains—Fusu had accepted it and then insisted on placing it in Boss’s hands.
Boss curled his lips in a self-mocking smile. He’d been too unsettled earlier, unwilling to wait for the rowboat to reach shore, and had intended to use the Golden Scarf to make a quick escape. Who could have guessed the Doctor would follow? The Golden Scarf required half an hour to recharge before it could be used again. This time, he had truly trapped himself.
The Doctor glanced around, stunned to find himself no longer at the West Lake’s Mid-Lake Pavilion. Instead of an endless expanse of water, lush green woods surrounded him, and directly ahead stood a peculiar brick pagoda.
It was peculiar because he had never seen a pagoda of this style before.
The hexagonal brick pagoda consisted of only three lower levels, as if the upper stories had been abruptly sheared off. At the very center of the third level’s roof sat several smaller tiers, giving the entire structure a severely unbalanced proportion—like a massive bronze chime, with the small pagoda on top resembling the chime’s handle.
Each brick composing the pagoda featured a concave circular niche, within which a raised Buddha statue was carved. Every brick held a unique Buddha, each with distinct expressions and postures. Weathered by wind, sun, rain, and frost, many of the statues had blurred features, exuding a profound sense of historical weight at first glance.The doctor looked around. As expected, the place was deserted, but he spotted familiar railings and trash bins, suggesting this should be a park. He quietly sighed in relief, though he wasn’t naive enough to assume they were still in Hangzhou. "Where have we ended up?" he asked.
As soon as he spoke, he realized how cold it was—his breath formed white puffs in the air.
Since the Boss remained expressionless and silent, the doctor didn’t expect any answers from him. Out of habit, he pulled out his phone and opened the map app. To his surprise, it actually worked!
Huh? Why did he find it strange that the map worked… Was it lingering unease from his time in West Yong, where phones were useless? Shaking his head to dismiss the odd thought, he focused on the location displayed on the map.
"We’re in Kaifeng? And this is… Fan Tower?"
"‘Fan’ isn’t pronounced ‘fán’ here—it’s ‘pó.’ This is Po Tower," the Boss remarked coolly.
Sneakily, the doctor opened Baidu Baike and skimmed through the entry.
Po Tower was originally built in 974 AD and is the oldest surviving Buddhist pagoda in Kaifeng. In its heyday, "Spring Scenery at Po Terrace" was one of the famous Eight Views of Bianjing. The pagoda originally had nine stories, standing over 80 meters tall. During the Yuan Dynasty, it lost two levels to a lightning strike. In the early Ming Dynasty, as part of an effort to "eradicate royal aura," it was further reduced to the current three lower stories. By the early Qing Dynasty, a six-story miniature pagoda was added atop the third level, sealing the structure—forming the Po Tower as it stands today.
After browsing the webpage, the doctor lifted his gaze to the majestic pagoda before him. Though its shape was somewhat peculiar, he detected nothing else out of the ordinary. This was a tourist site, and even though it wasn’t peak season, he could still spot a few scattered visitors traveling in small groups. The doctor reasoned that the Boss wouldn’t have chosen this destination without a purpose. If the memories of Vibrating Heron Pavilion were real, then this place must be equivalent to West Yong Village.
Hmm, his deduction was likely correct. After all, he had arrived here in an instant—not by high-speed rail!
Glancing at the aloof Boss standing nearby, the doctor knew he couldn’t rely on him for explanations and would have to figure things out on his own.
Naturally, the most suspicious element was this very pagoda.
Just then, a tour group approached. The doctor casually fell in behind them, ascending the steps while listening to the guide’s exaggerated account of the early Ming "eradication of royal aura" incident. According to the story, Zhu Yuanzhang went to great lengths to ensure his grandson Zhu Yunwen’s smooth succession to the throne. While surveying the land from a height, he noticed auspicious clouds swirling over the Kaifeng area, as if a Dragon were rising—a sign of imperial energy. He then ordered four stories of Po Tower demolished to eliminate this "royal aura."
As the doctor followed the tour group into the pagoda, he couldn’t resist looking back at the Boss, who remained calmly watching from the base of the steps. The doctor understood that there must be nothing unusual inside the pagoda.
The guide explained that the interior featured a stone spiral staircase winding upward, but it led directly from the first to the third floor. To access the second floor, one had to exit the staircase onto the outer wall—a hazardous route. Thus, standard tours only went up to the third floor, bypassing the second level entirely. Yet, judging by the Boss’s composed demeanor, the doctor guessed the second floor wasn’t the issue either.Afraid that the Boss might slip away while he entered the Fan Pagoda, the Doctor symbolically wandered around for a bit before stepping out. By then, the Boss had already ascended the steps and reached the platform where the pagoda stood.
Seeing that the other party still showed no intention of speaking, the Doctor aimlessly began circling the pagoda. To his surprise, the Boss’s calm expression shifted, even taking on a hint of nervousness.
Could it be? There’s no issue inside the Fan Pagoda, but something’s wrong around it instead?
The Doctor cautiously glanced left and right but found nothing unusual. A few tourists nearby were taking photos against the sunlight. Reassured, the Doctor boldly continued walking around the pagoda.
From behind came the Boss’s footsteps and his deliberately lowered, urging voice: “Stop right now!”
“Why should I stop? Because I didn’t buy a ticket? I’ll pay for one on my way out.” The Doctor, who had been suppressing his anger, spoke almost provocatively. Anyone kept in the dark for so long and suspected of losing a significant chunk of their memory would be furious—he considered himself quite patient!
“You can’t go any further.” The Boss looked up at the sun in the sky, calculated the time, and frowned. “Why can’t I go further? Give me a reason, and I’ll stop.” The Doctor said seriously. Though he slowed his pace, he didn’t actually halt.
The Boss seemed about to say something but held back, instead stepping forward to grab the Doctor’s wrist. Only when he confirmed that the Doctor’s foot had stopped just before stepping into the pagoda’s shadow did he silently release a sigh of relief. The Doctor turned to argue but caught sight of the other’s relieved expression and guessed, “Is there… danger ahead?”
The Boss slowly nodded. “Danger that can’t be spoken of?”
Seeing the Boss nod again slowly, the Doctor began to hesitate. Although the Boss hadn’t told him the truth, he clearly meant no harm. Why should he invite trouble?
But… to just pretend nothing happened? He wasn’t willing to let it go!
The two stood in a stalemate for a while, neither noticing that the pagoda’s shadow, moving with the sun, was inching closer to the Doctor’s feet. The moment the shadow merged with the sole of his shoe, it suddenly spread like a giant net, engulfing everything in an instant.
The Doctor felt the ground give way beneath him, and he plummeted downward. His wrist was tightly gripped by the Boss, but it didn’t hold for long—it seemed the other had fallen with him.
Two girls taking a cheek-to-cheek selfie on the other side of the pagoda faintly heard someone calling for help and paused before pressing the shutter. They put down their phones, circled the pagoda once, and found nothing.
“Must’ve misheard, right? Maybe someone was watching a TikTok video or something.” “Yeah! The tour guide just counted—everyone in our group is here.”
Exactly, in broad daylight, what could possibly go wrong!
(End of Chapter)
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