“Good morning, Boss Jiang.”
“Good morning.”
“Boss Jiang, out for a stroll?”
“Just browsing.”
…
Jiang Liu strolled leisurely down the street, frequently stopping to greet the passersby who waved and smiled at him. He returned their gestures with a polite nod, all the while surveying the eclectic shops that lined both sides of the street. Some were quaint, with traditional octagonal roofs and ornate eaves, while others resembled small, opulent palaces. There were Gothic-style buildings with spires and intricate columns, as well as modern concrete and steel skyscrapers.
The architectural styles were bizarrely diverse, creating a strange and discordant atmosphere. However, the people on the street didn’t seem to mind at all—perhaps because they themselves were even more varied in style.
Over there, a hungry figure with blood-red eyes and bared fangs stood drooling in front of a roast duck shop’s window. Nearby, another figure, freshly emerged from a coffin and still learning to walk, hopped down the street with outstretched arms and a pale face. Translucent, floating creatures occasionally drifted overhead, sending chills down people’s spines. At their feet, odd and peculiar beings scurried about, requiring constant attention to avoid stepping on them.
Even those who appeared to be normal humans came in various forms—some wore traditional Chinese robes, others sported miniskirts, some donned armor, and others were dressed as nuns. Some had swords strapped to their waists, while others had talismans stuck to their foreheads. The street was a medley of strange and exotic sights.
This was Baiji Street, the hidden world of non-humans in Taoyuan City.
Hotels, restaurants, department stores, hospitals, schools, churches, and residential areas—all the necessities were present. The street was teeming with all kinds of inexplicable non-human beings. Some lived here permanently, some came to shop, some were tourists, and others were wandering spirits who had missed their chance at reincarnation. The street was always bustling, especially at night. Despite the chaos and constant flow of people, security wasn’t too bad, thanks to patrolling ghost guards and powerful spirits employed as security in various shops and residential areas.
Jiang Liu had considered opening Tuo Gu Xiang here initially, but he ultimately decided that it would be better for Xiaosi to live a life closer to that of a normal human.
Many of the non-humans who required blood to maintain their vitality were regular customers at Tuo Gu Xiang, though few knew that Jiang Liu and Jiang Xiaosi were actually zombies. Most only knew that they were under the protection of the street’s top boss, Miao Yan, so they generally didn’t dare cause trouble or skip out on paying for their purchases.
Jiang Liu had come to Baiji Street today in search of the ghost baby that had escaped last time. Ever since it had injured him, there had been no sign of it. The little ghost was mischievous, and Jiang Liu suspected it would eventually come to this lively place. He had already informed his contacts here, and when word came that the ghost baby had been spotted on Baiji Street, he immediately rushed over from the hospital.
The ghost baby was powerful. Although it wasn’t malevolent and hadn’t harmed anyone, it enjoyed playing pranks, often leaving chaos in its wake. Jiang Liu figured it was best to capture it as soon as possible before its physical form deteriorated any further.
“Brother Jiang!”
Suddenly, a man’s voice called out behind him, accompanied by a light tap on his shoulder from a folding fan.
Jiang Liu turned around to see a refined man in a moon-white robe, his hair tied up in a traditional topknot. The man smiled and nodded at him, exuding a scholarly air as if he had just stepped out of ancient times.
Jiang Liu was momentarily confused, narrowing his eyes slightly as he quickly searched his memory. He might not have a photographic memory, but he usually remembered faces he had seen before. However, this person seemed completely unfamiliar.
Judging by his attire, Jiang Liu assumed he was new to the area, so he returned the greeting with a polite nod and a slight bow. “May I ask who you are, my friend?”
The man chuckled heartily, waving his fan, then hunched over and coughed into his fist in a familiar gesture. Suddenly, Jiang Liu realized who it was.
“Granny Ye?”
Shen Koudan nodded with a grin. “Brother Jiang, are you here to catch that ghost baby?”
“Indeed. What brings you here?”
“I heard that the ghost baby was spotted on Baiji Street, so I came to lend you a hand. After all, this situation arose because of me.”
Jiang Liu smiled and shook his head. “Let’s drop the formalities. But why the getup?”
Shen Koudan tapped her head with the folded fan. “Oops, my bad. It’s a habit I’ve developed over the years. When I disguise myself, I instinctively take on the mannerisms too—it’s become second nature. How do you like the outfit? I usually read a lot of wuxia novels, but I usually have to disguise myself as a police officer or a lawyer. Now that I’m on Baiji Street, I get to live out my martial arts fantasy.”
“Maybe you should carry a sword too.”
“True masters don’t need to carry swords, right? A folding fan is enough to sweep through the martial world.”
Shen Koudan flicked her wrist gracefully, exuding an air of elegance.
Jiang Liu chuckled. “So, have you found the ghost baby yet?”
“Nope. Baiji Street is long, and there are too many fun places to explore. I doubt it’ll leave anytime soon. Why don’t we head over to Qianli Restaurant for a drink and a bite first, then continue our search?”
Jiang Liu raised an eyebrow in surprise but nodded with a smile.
Qianli Restaurant was the largest restaurant on Baiji Street, towering five stories high. It offered private rooms, elegant seating, and even had ghostly songstresses performing from time to time. The seating arrangements were varied, catering to the unique needs of different non-humans.
Jiang Liu, dressed in a black trench coat, and Shen Koudan, in her white ancient robe, walked into the restaurant together, an oddly mismatched pair. However, the patrons were used to such sights and didn’t pay them much attention.
They chose a window seat in the large hall on the third floor. Shen Koudan noticed that many patrons greeted Jiang Liu with nods, waves, or loud hellos, and she smiled.
“Your business seems to be booming.”
“It’s doing okay.”
“You’re a human, so why are you in the business of serving ghosts and monsters?”
“Because it’s lucrative.”
“You don’t seem like someone who’s hurting for money. You’re a doctor, a mortician, and you run a shop. Isn’t that exhausting?”
“Not really.” She wouldn’t understand that after living for a thousand years, the emptiness inside could only be filled by staying busy. It gave life a semblance of meaning.
“Waiter! Bring us a pot of Qianli Fragrance and two pounds of braised beef,” Shen Koudan called out.
“Right away!”
The waiter, a half-materialized spirit, floated around the restaurant with remarkable speed and efficiency.
Shen Koudan raised her cup in a toast and downed it in one gulp. Jiang Liu sipped his drink and said, “Don’t rush. Good wine should be savored slowly.”
“I’m impatient and a heavy drinker—it’s a bad habit that often gets me into trouble. My uncle made the little cat watch over me to keep me from drinking, so I can only sneak in here now and then by disguising myself. As soon as I entered Baiji Street, I caught the scent of this wine from afar and couldn’t resist. One cup to quench my thirst, two to savor, and three to fully enjoy—just let me indulge.”
Jiang Liu nodded. “Qianli Restaurant’s wine is famous for its fragrance that travels a thousand miles. Many souls who should have reincarnated linger in the human world just for the chance to taste it. They refuse to move on.”
“Indeed. If it were me, I wouldn’t want to leave either.”
After drinking and chatting, the two left the restaurant and resumed their search for the ghost baby.
“Excuse me, you two, please wait a moment.”
Suddenly, a voice called out to them. Shen Koudan turned around, looking left and right. She pointed her fan at herself.
“Are you talking to us?”
The middle-aged man who approached them had shifty eyes, a few sparse strands of beard, and a large red mole on his right cheek. Behind him, a long fox tail trailed on the ground. A banner fluttered beside his stall, with large characters proclaiming, “Half Immortal, Half Demon—Mad and Wise in Equal Measure.” He was clearly a fortune teller.
“Such distinguished guests—would you like to have your fortune read? Perhaps a palm reading or a character analysis?”
Jiang Liu smiled and waved him off. “Thanks, but no.” He didn’t believe in fate, let alone fortune-telling.
However, Shen Koudan had already sat down at the stall. “I’ve heard that fox spirits are excellent fortune tellers. Let’s give it a try.”
“You’re right, sir. My predictions are always accurate. If I’m wrong, I don’t charge.”
Shen Koudan removed her disguise and extended her palm for a reading. Jiang Liu, who rarely turned people down, also allowed the fox spirit to examine his hand.
The fortune teller stroked his whiskers thoughtfully for a moment before saying, “Ah, so this young master is actually a lady. I have a piece of advice for both of you. Young master, you will soon lose the most important thing to you. Young lady, you will soon recover the most important thing to you.”
With a sly smile, he looked at them both.
“That’s it?” Shen Koudan exclaimed. She had expected a long and detailed fortune. In wuxia novels, fortune tellers could predict everything from names and ages to whether someone had married.
“This great immortal sees through fate itself. I focus on the future, not on trivial matters like your background.”
“So how will we know if you’re telling the truth?”
“When it happens, come back and pay me. If you want more answers, just add a bit extra.”
Too vague and boring. Shen Koudan left disappointed. Jiang Liu, on the other hand, frowned and remained silent for a while.
“Brother Jiang, you don’t actually believe him, do you?”
Jiang Liu shook his head. He didn’t believe in fate, but when it came to Xiaosi and Liuzhi, anything that concerned them would always put him on guard.
“Brother Jiang, we’ve got a little tail following us.”
Jiang Liu turned and spotted a familiar figure hurriedly ducking into a nearby bun shop. He couldn’t help but smile.
He walked inside and found the person hunched over, scarfing down a bun without looking up.
“Yuchen?”
“Mmff, mmff…” Yuchen swallowed hard, his face flushed with embarrassment. He waved sheepishly. “Haha, Brother Jiang! What a coincidence! Fancy running into you here. Out shopping too?”
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