Chapter Fifteen: The Wooden Plaque

Upon hearing this, Cui Xiu’s heart skipped a beat, and his expression changed instantly. The meaning behind those words was unmistakable.

“What do you mean by this, madam?” he asked, quietly taking a step back.

“Young master, you are a scholar, a clever one at that, and you possess a kind heart. I bear you no ill will, but I must have that item. It would be better for you not to make things difficult for me,” the old woman said, making her intentions clear. She wanted Cui Xiu to hand over the short rod.

Somehow, a black wooden box had appeared in her hand.

Looking at the box, Cui Xiu felt both nervous and puzzled. Though the old woman was a wandering spirit, her demeanor had never shown any malice towards him. Now her sudden change unsettled him, and he didn’t know how to react.

Seeing his hesitation and perhaps sensing his confusion, the old woman offered no explanation. She merely said, “Perhaps you think that, though I am a ghost, I cannot harm you. But let me tell you one thing, so you don’t make the wrong choice.”

She flashed a strange smile. “Tell me, young master, how did you feel when you wandered lost in the forest before?”

It took a moment for Cui Xiu to comprehend her words, but then his heart chilled as her meaning became clear. Had it not been the short rod that caused him to lose his way in the woods? Was it, in fact...

“Madam, you jest. If you want the item, I will not insist on keeping it. Only, I ask you to let me leave this forest first; then I will gladly offer it up with both hands.”

Though still confused, unable to grasp the true nature of the situation, Cui Xiu knew there was no time for hesitation. The old woman’s desire for the rod had brought out some hostility.

He could not risk that the cause of his disorientation was not the old woman; if it truly was her doing, even with the rod’s power, he might not be able to escape once trapped. Better, then, to secure his safety and let go of the rod.

The old woman said nothing, but regarded Cui Xiu for a long moment before quietly replying, “Master Cui, you are honest; I believe you. I can send you out, but you must take this.”

Without waiting for his response, she tossed something to him.

Cui Xiu caught it instinctively. It was cool to the touch—a wooden tablet, about half the size of his palm. Strange inscriptions were carved upon it, their purpose unknown.

He remembered what the old woman had said before: a Daoist had once given her a protective wooden tablet. Whether this was true or not, the tablet she referred to was surely this one.

Had the girl Caoyao and her brother been imprisoned within this tablet?

Cui Xiu suspected the old woman’s motives in handing him the tablet, but for his own safety, he had no choice but to accept it.

As he ran his fingers over the tablet, he suddenly felt the short rod in his right hand tremble slightly, as if suppressing the tablet… Yet, because he had absorbed some of the gray energy from the rod, it soon quieted down.

Sensing this, Cui Xiu’s mind raced…

By all rights, if the old woman truly had the power she claimed, she could have snatched the rod from him with ease. Yet she agreed to his terms, which seemed odd.

But she did not seem to be bluffing; when she claimed to have caused his confusion in the woods, she spoke with utter confidence, betraying no emotion.

This made Cui Xiu wary. So, somewhat absurdly, he followed her quietly out of the forest.

After about half an hour, the mist began to dissipate, and overhead, the moon rabbit had traversed most of its path. In a couple more hours, dawn would break.

Cui Xiu remained silent throughout, holding the rod and the tablet, following the old woman. Because his hands were full, his unsheathed sword was left behind in the woods.

As they walked, the old woman finally turned to him.

“Master Cui, we are here. Hand it over,” she said.

Cui Xiu looked ahead; indeed, they had reached the edge of the forest, and the main road was within sight.

“Please wait, madam,” he replied with a gentle smile, appearing utterly compliant.

The old woman nodded slightly, her gaze greedy as she eyed the rod he offered.

At that moment, from the tablet in Cui Xiu’s left hand, a pair of spectral hands emerged—though Cui Xiu himself seemed unable to see them.

Just as the old woman squinted, producing the black wooden box once more to receive the rod, Cui Xiu abruptly withdrew his hand, slamming the rod onto the tablet.

Then, as if remembering something, he let the rod—about as thick as a finger—stick to the tablet, slapped his forehead loudly, and declared, “Almost forgot, madam; I must return this tablet to you as well!”

His action froze the old woman in her tracks. Her eyes shifted rigidly, gaze fixed on the arms protruding from the tablet, which were instantly snapped back inside.

“You…”

“Take them, madam!” Cui Xiu said, seeming not to notice her ugly expression, and, before she could protest, hurled both items at her.

The old woman’s face changed drastically, and she instantly floated away, far out of reach.

Seeing this, Cui Xiu relaxed and ignored her twisted visage. Instead, he looked at the rod and tablet, now lying on the ground. Though not bound together, his toss had left them stuck, as if glued—an eerie sight.

But Cui Xiu seemed unsurprised, as if he had expected it.

“What’s wrong, madam? Don’t you want the rod anymore?” he asked, feigning surprise.

He then strode over and picked up both items, this time holding only the tablet, not touching the rod directly.

The old woman said nothing, merely stared at him with venom in her eyes.

“What’s the matter, madam? I’ve wasted enough time here. If you don’t want them, I shall take my leave,” Cui Xiu said, his tone oddly mocking.

“Master Cui, you are truly clever; I did not misjudge you. It’s a pity your cleverness is misplaced. If you had just handed over the item, it would have saved us both much trouble…” the old woman replied, her voice ever colder and more ominous.