I knew about the King of Hell’s summon, but I never imagined it would be me. In my twenty-seven years, I’ve been reckless and free-spirited, but I’ve always tried to live with a clear conscience.
“How do you know about the King of Hell’s summon?” I asked.
“Giggle, you’ll find out after you die.”
With that, Xiang lifted her veil, revealing a horrifying, grotesque face. Her flesh was rotting, her eyes were bloody holes, her mouth was torn wide, and her tongue licked the blood streaming from her eyes. She had no chin.
I’d heard elders say ghosts have no chins, but I thought it was just a myth. Now I knew it was true.
I instinctively tried to back away, but Xiang grabbed my throat.
“Scared?” she asked with a bitter smile.
I swallowed hard, unable to speak.
“Humans fear ghosts, but ghosts know how cruel humans can be. Do you know why I look like this? It’s because of humans.”
I had no rebuttal. She was right. If she hadn’t suffered so much in life, if the butcher hadn’t pushed her into the river, if grave robbers hadn’t dug up her body, Xiang wouldn’t have become what she was.
So, when she confronted me, I had no argument.
“If I kill you, I can cleanse my sins and reincarnate. But unfortunately…”
“Unfortunately what?”
“Unfortunately, I have no interest in being human. I’m not here to kill you today. I’m here to take back what’s mine.”
She released my throat and held out her hand. After a moment, I realized she wanted the lock of hair I’d cut from her forehead. I hurried to the bedroom and retrieved it from a cigarette box.
“We’re even now.”
Xiang took the hair, opened her red umbrella, and walked to the door. Before leaving, she paused and said without turning, “Chow miscalculated. The Yellow River Maiden alone can’t save you.”
With that, she strode away, leaving only a blood-red silhouette.
Shortly after Xiang left, Chow returned, covered in mud and looking like a drowned dog.
“She’s gone?” he asked blankly.
“Yes,” I nodded.
I lit the stove and helped Chow clean his wounds. He was bleeding heavily, but the injuries weren’t serious. Clearly, Xiang had shown him mercy.
Though Xiang had become a vengeful ghost, she wasn’t entirely cruel. Cai deserved to die, and the butcher’s family had brought their fate upon themselves.
Chow asked if Xiang had said anything, and I told him about the King of Hell’s summon. I asked if it was true.
“You’ve been to school. Don’t you know not to believe a ghost’s words?” Chow snapped.
But I sensed he was uneasy, his tone unnatural.
“Even if the King of Hell’s summon isn’t real, how do you explain this? You said the Yellow River Maiden would come tonight to marry me. Where is she?” I pointed to the character *逃* (Escape) on the tablet.
Chow’s face changed when he saw the character. He grabbed the tablet and asked anxiously, “Did she leave only this? Didn’t she tell you her name?”
“Earlier, there was a line that said, *Hua, willing to be your wife.*”
“Good. If she told you her name, it means she accepts the marriage,” Chow said, visibly relieved.
“Then why didn’t she come? Is it true, as Xiang said, that she’s in trouble and can’t help herself?”
“Don’t worry. Your ghost wife is powerful. She’ll be fine. I’ll help you arrange another date for the wedding later,” Chow said.
“Chow, since Xiang’s matter is settled, do I still have to marry her?” I asked awkwardly.
The Yellow River Maiden might be beautiful, but she’s still a ghost—one I can’t even touch. I’m young and full of energy; I can’t live like this.
But Chow shut me down immediately. He said ancient women only revealed their names to their husbands. Since I knew her name was Hua, there was no backing out. If I couldn’t handle Xiang, I certainly couldn’t handle the Yellow River Maiden.
I had to accept it, swallowing my grievances.
Seeing my low spirits, Chow comforted me, saying my ghost wife was powerful and would bring me good fortune. I asked if we could have a normal married life, and he fell silent.
The matter with Xiang was over. Later, I asked Chow if we should rebury her, as her remains were still in my relative’s son’s coffin.
Chow said no. After becoming a vengeful ghost, her remains were no longer important. She hadn’t harmed my relative’s family, perhaps because she felt it was a good resting place.
Indeed, after a life of loneliness, sharing a grave with someone might be a form of solace.
The police couldn’t solve the butcher’s family massacre, but the incident was so shocking that people connected it to the recent strange deaths, blaming Xiang.
In their panic, villagers hired a Taoist priest to exorcise the ghost. The priest, though young, was ordained and experienced. He went to Xiang’s grave to summon her spirit and investigate the cause.
After discovering her remains had been stolen, the priest sighed deeply and came to see Chow.
Strangely, Chow was hostile to the priest and refused to answer questions about Xiang. The priest, being kind, didn’t press further. Before leaving, he gave me a meaningful look and asked my age.
Ignoring Chow’s warning glances, I told him I was twenty-seven.
“Ah, this is your *feng jiu* year. The King of Hell summons those in their *feng jiu* year, bringing great misfortune. If you give me your birthdate, I can help you check your fate.”
“No need. You can’t read his fate,” Chow interrupted sharply.
But I, for some reason, gave the priest my birthdate. He began calculating, but halfway through, his face changed. Sweat poured down his face, and he looked at me with fear. He tried to speak but instead coughed up blood.
I rushed to help him, but he pushed me away and stumbled out of the courtyard.
“Lan, remember this: never give your birthdate to anyone again,” Chow said gravely after the priest left.
“Don’t ask why. If the priest dies, it’s fine. If he lives, you’re in big trouble.”
“What?” I was shocked. How could calculating my birthdate lead to such dire consequences?
“I told him he couldn’t read your fate. If he tries, he’ll die.”
Of all the bizarre events—Cai’s resurrection, the butcher’s massacre, the Yellow River Maiden’s ghost marriage, Xiang’s revenge—nothing shocked me more than Chow’s words.
Though the Nine Dragons Governing Water is rare, it’s not an extraordinary fate. Many people are born on the same day. I began to suspect Chow was hiding something important about my origins. But my family has always been farmers, with a clean history, and I’ve never been different from my peers. What secret could I possibly have?