Among the thirty-six prefectures of Dongzhou, Yanzhou was considered one of the slower-developing regions. Many places still preserved customs from hundreds of years ago, and it possessed famous mountains and rivers—two lakes and three mountains—making it a scenic area well-suited for tourism.
Su Yun District, where the Luo Clan’s ancestral land was located, lay in the southeast of Yanzhou, rather remote. Only because the famous Xingyun Mountain happened to be nearby did it attract many tourists.
Luo Yuan came to Su Yun District and searched through two locations before finally finding the legendary ancestral land of the Luo Clan. After all, in the eyes of the public, it was a clan that had already declined for two hundred years—its people dead or scattered, long since ignored.
“When I was young, I heard the elders say that the ancestral land of the Luo Clan almost covered the entirety of Xingyun Mountain. Such a large mountain was all the Luo family’s territory. In the early years, wasn’t there famine? Before the Luo Clan completely declined, some people were left behind, and they did not descend the mountain. They lived up there, and occasionally when we mountain-foot people saw them, we felt as if we were seeing immortals. The elders at home even said they could fly… Sigh, rumors are always exaggerated. Once passed on again and again, they become like this.”
The old guide leading them toward the foot of Xingyun Mountain introduced things along the way, speaking of rumors whose truth remained uncertain. His tone carried deep pity toward this fallen clan. “Nowadays, all of Xingyun Mountain has been designated a tourist scenic area, and the Luo Clan’s ancestral land is just that small piece left. Two old people guard a few dilapidated houses. If I hadn’t dealt with them in the past, ordinary people really wouldn’t be able to find this place.”
Indeed, the road he led them on had long deviated from the main path. All here were desolate, narrow trails, and some places had no road at all. Their group had no choice but to get off the vehicle and proceed on foot. The two bodyguards cleared away the thorny shrubs in front. After walking like this for several hours, they finally arrived at what the guide called the ancestral land of the Luo Clan.
It was a typical Yanzhou building—gray-white high walls, black wooden beams, and high, upturned swallow-tail eaves, appearing light and pure. But, having gone many years without repair, it looked dilapidated and desolate, wild trees and withered grass growing all around the house, not at all like a place where people lived.
The guide pointed to the house. “This is it. I haven’t come here in a long time, so I don’t know if those two elders are still around. This place has a strange aura. I don’t dare to go inside. Give me the money now, and I’ll head back first.”
He took the money and left, not caring what these people had come for. With so many of them, surely nothing would happen.
Luo Yuan stepped forward and knocked on the door. After all, this was where the clan’s ancestral deity resided, so she naturally needed to be respectful. But she knocked for quite a while and saw no one respond. Qin Feichang stood behind her and pushed up his glasses. “Madam, there should be no one here anymore. Let’s just go in.”
Seeing the thick layer of dust on the door, Luo Yuan nodded. Qin Feichang gestured, and the two bodyguards immediately stepped forward, using their tools to work on the tightly shut doors. After a series of clanks, they directly removed both doors.
Qin Feichang also said, “Madam, don’t worry. When we leave, we will put the doors back exactly as they were.”
Although Luo Yuan herself did not know why she came here, in the schedule arranged by Qin Feichang and Qin Feimo, this trip had been defined as “returning to her roots” or “visiting her ancestral home.” As members of the husband’s family, they naturally had to behave politely, not embarrassing Madam. Even if there were no members of the Luo Clan here anymore, they had to maintain their own manners.
The group walked into the house with polite steps. Inside was unexpectedly clean and tidy, without the bleakness of dust and cobwebs flying everywhere that one would expect from a long-abandoned house—though it lacked signs of lively human presence.
Referencing the Qin family’s shrine as a model, Luo Yuan walked deeper inside, wanting to find an ancestral hall or shrine to offer incense before leaving. The group passed through the central courtyard and saw clothes drying in the yard, as well as a small cart that seemed to be for selling cold tea—full of signs of daily life.
Luo Yuan: “…Ah, so someone is still living here.”
Qin Feichang adjusted his glasses, “.…” A miscalculation.
Having exhausted herself on the journey, Qin Feimo forced herself to stay alert. “The people living here probably use another entrance, so they don’t use the front door…”
A strange wailing sound came from the dark depths of the house. At first, it sounded like a woman crying, but listening again, it seemed like wind passing through a corridor. Qin Feimo shuddered instantly and slid backward to hide behind her cousin. The bodyguards, trained and alert, formed a circle to protect Luo Yuan in the center.
Luo Yuan silently thought, Did you all get something wrong here? I’m the only one here who isn’t human. If anything really happens, even if everyone gets wiped out, I’ll still be the only one left.
“What kind of people are you! What are you doing breaking in here!” A hunched old man came over carrying a hoe. Seeing such a group of people standing in his courtyard, he widened his eyes at once, as if his territory had been violated. Raising the hoe, he charged straight at them.
Seeing him rush over in rage, the two bodyguards reflexively subdued him. Just then, an old lady rushed out from the other end of the corridor. Upon seeing this scene, she let out a shrill scream and grabbed a big broom. “Who are you! Why are you harming my old partner!”
Luo Yuan felt like her group had become a bunch of villains. She hurriedly signaled the bodyguards to release the old man and quickly explained, “It’s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. I am a descendant of the Luo Clan. I came here today specifically to pay respects.”
She was afraid the two elders might be stubborn and not believe her, so she prepared to take out something to prove her identity. But as soon as her words fell, the two elders simultaneously revealed expressions of wild joy. The old lady threw away the broom in her hand and rushed forward with an agility that did not match her age, grabbing her hand and looking her up and down carefully, every wrinkle on her face filled with kindness and enthusiasm.
“You are a descendant of our Luo Clan? Our Luo Clan still has descendants? Which branch are you from?”
Luo Yuan reported the names of her father and grandfather. The old man also came over, smiling from ear to ear. “Yes, yes, I remember, I remember! They are indeed from our branch, only he left early on, and no one knew where he went. There was never any contact again. I didn’t expect the descendants would return. This is truly wonderful.”
The two elders were overjoyed, hurrying into the house to fetch stools and then busying themselves pouring water.
Luo Yuan said, “You two elders don’t need to be so polite. Please sit and rest a bit, I brought some gifts.”
Qin Feichang stepped forward with the assistant and bodyguards at just the right time. “We will bring the gifts inside on behalf of the elders. As for the tea, we can pour it ourselves. No need to trouble you.”
The two elders waved their hands repeatedly. “No, no, there are no lights in this house. It’s very dark. You all won’t be used to it.” After speaking, before they could react, the elders went inside and soon carried out cups of water.
Luo Yuan chatted casually with them. “We weren’t sure if anyone lived here earlier, so we accidentally removed the front door. But don’t worry, we will put it back before we leave.”
The two elders’ expressions changed. “You are leaving so soon?”
Luo Yuan replied, “My grandfather and father both passed away early, and they never told me about the ancestral land. So I didn’t plan to disturb for long this time. I just wanted to come and take a look, and offer incense at the ancestral land before I go.”
The elders warmly urged her to stay. “At least stay for one night. Our ancestral hall is still here, but according to the rules, if you want to offer incense, you must wait until dusk. The road down the mountain at that time is not easy to walk.”
She could not reject such warm hospitality and had no choice but to nod. She then asked how the two elders lived normally.
“My partner and I have lived here all our lives. We usually grow some vegetables to eat. There is a back door behind. If we go out from there and walk for half a day, the other side has been designated a scenic area. We push our cart there to sell cold tea, and we can exchange it for some money.”
After describing their own situation, the two elders eagerly asked about Luo Yuan’s current circumstances.
Minghuang, who had never found a chance to show off, immediately straightened with a spirited look, ready to step forward and introduce his Madam’s background to show prestige—only to be yanked back again. Luo Yuan, harmless from head to toe, softly explained, “My parents passed away early, but I was lucky enough to marry a wealthy man. Not long ago, I accidentally learned about my background, so I came to take a look.”
Looking around at the bodyguards, the two elders exchanged glances and cautiously asked, “Seeing this formation… could it be… also a family with a clan deity?”
Luo Yuan shook her head. “No, just an ordinary wealthy family. The person I married is older and treats me very well. He doesn’t feel at ease with me traveling so far, so he specially arranged so many bodyguards.”
The Qin entourage: “….” The image of a wealthy old man marrying a young wife suddenly appeared in everyone’s mind.
In the afternoon, the two elders set up several tables in the courtyard and prepared more than a dozen dishes. They didn’t allow them to help, and even brought out two jars of wine from who-knows-where.
“Our Luo Clan has declined, and you traveled from so far away. We don’t have much with which to entertain you. This wine was buried for more than ten years, made with the Luo family’s exclusive brewing recipe. You can’t drink it anywhere else.” The elder filled everyone’s cups.
Seeing the meal beginning, the two elders stood up. The old lady gathered a portion of the dishes as offerings and smiled at Luo Yuan. “It’s almost time. Come with us to the ancestral hall to offer incense first, and then come back to eat.”
Luo Yuan nodded. “Mm, alright.”
Qin Feichang also stood up, clearly wanting to accompany her. The two elders showed embarrassed expressions. “Our ancestral hall cannot be approached by outsiders. Don’t worry, we will be back very soon.”
Luo Yuan was still as easygoing as ever. “That’s true. You all continue eating. I’ll be back quickly.”
Seeing her hand wave behind her as she left, Qin Feichang and Minghuang could only obey and sit down. Once Luo Yuan and the two elders disappeared into the corridor, everyone immediately put down their bowls and chopsticks. One bodyguard, face dark, muttered, “This smells like low-grade knockout drugs. It’s way too obvious. Mixing it into wine is a waste of wine.”
Someone else said, “I feel like this knockout drug might be expired.”
Qin Feichang stood up. “Hurry. Two of you go check inside the house. The rest follow Madam. If something really happens, the clan deity will be angry.”
Everyone jolted in response and moved quickly.
On the other side, Luo Yuan followed the two elders to a pagoda—four stories tall, hexagonal in shape. Beside the pagoda was a crescent-shaped lotus pond. Luo Yuan glanced at the pond a few more times. Nothing was planted in it, barren and bare. The pond mud was black with a hint of red, emitting a strange fishy stench.
“Come, the ancestors of our Luo Clan are all inside the pagoda.” The elder’s withered hand gripped her wrist with surprising strength, practically dragging her toward the pagoda.
Inside, layer upon layer of memorial tablets were stacked on shelves, densely covered in dust. The higher they went, the fewer the tablets. By the time they reached the fourth floor, only one tablet remained, covered with a piece of red cloth.
“What is this?”
“This is our Luo Clan’s clan deity’s memorial tablet.”
Luo Yuan revealed a doubtful expression. “Isn’t our clan deity already gone?”
A fervent light shone in the eyes of the two elders. Their withered, aging faces appeared eerie and frightening in the dim light within the pagoda. “That is all rumor. In truth, our clan deity is still here, protecting the descendants of our Luo Clan! Come, quickly, offer your worship.”
Luo Yuan remained calm as she accepted the incense handed to her by the elders and bowed several times. When she stood up, the old lady stood by the window looking out, suddenly exclaiming in surprise, “What is that?”
Luo Yuan walked over as well. Just as she reached the window, a huge force suddenly pushed her forward from behind.
The fierce smile on the old lady’s face turned into shock when she realized she had pushed into empty air. She had clearly pushed a person, but her hand suddenly met nothing. Because she used too much force, she instead tumbled out of the window herself, falling straight into the lotus pond below.
Head first, four stories high—splash.
Luo Yuan stood perfectly fine by the window, one hand resting on the window frame, calmly turning back to glance at the other elder. “Grandma fell down.”
