Xu Buhuo has left.

Bronze Key.

As I gazed at the key in my father's palm, I knew instantly—this was the bronze key I had been desperately searching for. On the final day, my father brought it to me; was this, too, a scheme of my grandmother's?

After all, as a corpse demon, my father would never be capable of such reasoning. Grandmother must have foreseen this, so she arranged for my father—whose mind was barely lucid—to deliver the key at the very last moment.

The bronze key seemed to have always been with him. Because he was a corpse demon, his body was cold, icy to the touch.

Clutching the key tightly, I looked at my father’s face, half concealed, and an unspeakable ache welled up in my heart.

In the blink of an eye, he had been gone for over a decade.

My memories of him remained frozen in those years past. He died when I was young, my recollections vague; all these years, my only image of him was the wedding photo with my mother.

Suddenly, I wanted to look at him properly. I reached out to remove the cloth draped over his face.

His complexion was deathly pale, his eyes dark red, his features not much changed from the photograph.

“Dad.”

Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

“Dongsheng, is that you? Are you back?” My mother’s voice, tremulous with excitement, rang out behind me. She rushed over, and before I could stop her, she embraced my father, now a corpse demon.

Her action made me anxious; I watched my father closely, afraid he might harm her.

Though he was my father, I still remembered he was a being capable of tearing humans apart. Despite grandmother’s precautions, I worried something might go awry.

“Tap, tap...”

My father seemed to sense my mother’s yearning. Sounds escaped his mouth, and my mother burst into tears, clinging to him desperately.

Suddenly, noises came from Xu Buhuo's room. Worried he might hurt my father, I moved to comfort my mother and gently pried her hands away.

“Tap, tap...”

My father’s reddened gaze swept over us, then he vanished into the darkness like wind. My mother collapsed, sitting on the floor, sobbing.

Though recent events hadn't targeted her, I knew the pressure she endured was immense. I offered little comfort, understanding she needed release, a reason to vent.

“Your father came?” Xu Buhuo emerged from his room, searching for my father but finding only me. I nodded, opening my palm and said, “He brought me the key.”

Xu Buhuo instinctively stepped forward, reaching for the key, but I didn’t give him the chance. Closing my hand, I slipped it into my pocket. “It’s bronze. It must be the bronze key.”

Denied the key, Xu Buhuo’s expression shifted, but he said nothing, only, “Now that you’ve found it, you must decide: will you give it to him, or not?”

With that, he turned and retreated to his room, apparently losing interest.

Staring at his back, my heart was tangled. I knew my earlier actions and refusal to show the key had displeased Xu Buhuo.

He had cared deeply at first, but after I dodged his attempts to talk, and refused to let him see the key, he was clearly frustrated.

Was it wrong?

---

Though I knew my suspicious nature was a flaw, the events unfolding made me more distrustful. I wondered again why that scene had happened, and whether Xu Buhuo’s intentions were truly helpful or something else.

After crying, my mother felt a bit better. I escorted her to her room, and Shi Tou got up to take my place. Though not tired, I lay in bed.

Watching the flickering soul-return lamp, I recalled Xu Buhuo’s efforts; I wanted to trust him, but the memory of his secret meeting with Old Qin filled me with anger.

I had acquired the bronze key on the last day; unwilling to let it slip away in confusion, I tied it securely with a red thread and hung it around my neck before drifting to sleep.

Shi Tou soon learned the bronze key had been found. When I woke, he came to ask, “Ziwu, what do you plan to do?”

Earlier, Xu Buhuo had firmly insisted the key must not be given to Old Qin, implying Fatty would have to die. Shi Tou’s relationship with Fatty was like mine, so now that the key was found, it was time to decide. He wanted to know my stance.

“What else? I’ll hand it over to save them.”

This decision was one I had made long ago, and nothing could change it. Especially since my father had personally brought me the key last night, I was certain I was right.

If grandmother had agreed with Xu Buhuo, using Fatty and Cao Guangshan’s lives to save the villagers, she would never have sent my father to deliver the bronze key. By letting him bring it, she silently showed support for my plan.

First, give the key to Old Qin, save Cao Guangshan and Fatty, then move to thwart Old Qin’s scheme.

“Good brother, I knew I didn’t misjudge you.” Shi Tou hugged me.

Soon, Xu Buhuo got up. He was evidently still angry about last night, ignoring everyone, dragging a stool to the corner to bask in the sun, half alive.

Seeing this, I knew he was truly upset and had withdrawn from the matter. Our once-close bond had suddenly soured. I wanted to talk to him, but couldn’t bring myself to try, so I reluctantly gave up.

With the bronze key in hand, my goal was to find Old Qin and exchange it for Cao Guangshan and Fatty’s souls.

After lunch, recalling the previous secret meeting between Old Qin and Xu Buhuo, I quietly handed the bronze key to Shi Tou for safekeeping, then set out alone to Heishui Ravine to negotiate with Old Qin.

On the mountain path, I couldn’t help but look back, hoping Xu Buhuo would follow. But each time I turned, there was nothing.

When I reached Heishui Ravine, I shouted, “Old man, I found the key. If you want it, come out!”

My voice echoed and faded; the surroundings were bleak and silent—no insects, nothing.

Soon, footsteps rustled in the nearby brush. Old Qin appeared, smiling. “You really found it?”

My hand gripped the opened spring knife in my pocket. Looking at his vile face, I wanted to rush forward and teach him a lesson, to show him I wasn’t so easily bullied.

“I found it, but you have to wake them first. Only once I know they’re safe will I hand over the key.”

That was my purpose here.

Once bitten, not twice. Old Qin’s shifting demeanor taught me never to let him control me again. If I gave him the bronze key first and he broke his word, all my effort would be wasted.

Let them wake first, then hand over the key.

“Ziwu, do you really think I’ll believe you just because you say you found it? You think I haven’t searched for that key?” Old Qin sat on the grass. “If you’ve found it, show me.”

“Old man, did you think I’d bring it with me to see you?”

At this point, my irritation flared. I spoke bluntly: “Why should I trust you? Whether you believe me or not is your affair. I’m here to tell you: if you want the bronze key, wake my two friends first.”

---

Control the initiative to have a voice.

Before I came, I decided not to let Old Qin lead the conversation. With the bronze key in my possession, I had the power.

After speaking, I turned and walked away without looking back.

“Wait.”

I turned and said, “Out with it.”

“Simple. I just want to know—where did you find the key?”

Old Qin had searched for the bronze key in many places, and now wanted to confirm I truly had it. I didn’t hide it: “My father brought it to me last night.”

Old Qin’s brows shot up, surprised. He muttered, “So it was with him. No wonder, no wonder. Ha, Ziwu, your grandmother really is a shrewd planner. I never thought of this method.”

I ignored him and kept walking. Old Qin called after me, “When you get home, those two will wake. At dusk, I’ll come for the key. Don’t try any tricks. If I could steal their souls once, I can do it again. If you cross me, next time won’t be soul-stealing—it’ll be corpse collecting.”

When I looked back, he was gone.

His words echoed in my mind; even if I had the guts, I wouldn’t dare play tricks. Some people don’t care about those close to them, but I could never be so indifferent. By now, I knew well how ruthless Old Qin was.

I sprinted home. Just as I entered, I saw Fatty, supported by Shi Tou, walking out of the hall, with Cao Guangshan following behind.

So fast?

I had no idea how Old Qin managed it, how their souls returned so quickly. Seeing they were unharmed, my worry finally eased. I took back the bronze key from Shi Tou and kept it safe.

After soul separation, the body’s yang energy is depleted; sunbathing is a way to replenish it.

Neither of them knew why it had happened; I explained, and told them how to quickly regain their spirits.

“Ziwu, do you remember what you asked me to investigate?” Cao Guangshan suddenly spoke.

I nodded, glanced into the house, knowing this was not something to discuss openly, and led him outside.

“I looked into it. He’s clean. He did have a twin brother who recently died. I went to West Mountain Village, and the results matched what you said. Also, I discovered the county once had a strange murder case. Do you know who handled it?” Cao Guangshan’s face was full of mystery.

Hearing this, I felt uneasy and urged him, “Out with it.”

Perhaps sensing my mood, Cao Guangshan didn’t dare joke. “He and your grandmother. Lots of people died mysteriously, caused a huge stir. In the end, the authorities invited your grandmother, and she insisted he be called in, and together they closed the case.”

Xu Buhuo and my grandmother really knew each other.

I had wronged Xu Buhuo. I rushed inside to find him, wondering where he’d gone. Shi Tou said, “He left. Shortly after you went out, he packed up and left. I asked where he was going, and he said home.”

He left. Xu Buhuo left because of my suspicion.

I knew I was wrong.

Utterly, irrevocably wrong.