The Sunshine Boy nodded, sat before the wooden name tokens, and gazed at the six Night Guards outside the threshold.
The six Night Guards stared at each other in confusion, none of them knowing what was happening.
Even the Book Listener shook his head in resignation.
Hao Yunsheng lowered his head slightly, a faint smile touching the corners of his lips.
The Sunshine Boy sat on the carpet, lost in thought.
No one urged him on. He remained perfectly still.
The Sunshine Boy knew in his heart that this naming ceremony, and the treasure-grabbing ritual that would follow, would undoubtedly shape his future.
’I’m not sure what the purpose of this naming ceremony is, but it must involve some power or rule of Deceit. Once my name is chosen, my taint of Deceit will surely deepen. The question is, how do I break the cycle?’
The Sunshine Boy still hadn’t made a choice by noon.
"My dear son, if you don’t wish to choose, just take a nap. When the sun sets, the Lady of Longevity will help you pick one."
"I will choose myself. Just give me a little more time to think."
"Fine." The Deceitful Mother’s two enormous white arms slithered like giant pythons to a spot behind the Sunshine Boy. A massive hand rose and fell, gently patting his back.
The Deceitful Mother’s gentle humming echoed through the hall.
A sudden gust of wind blew outside, sending junk toppling to the ground with a CLATTER.
On the incense altar outside the Hall of the Five Goddesses, the burning incense sticks swayed violently.
On the fifth Divine Token, the one for the "Lady of Longevity," the character for "Longevity" (长) suddenly cracked, its paint peeling and flaking away.
Once all the red lacquer had fallen away, the character for "Longevity" was gone, leaving the character for "Rebirth" (往) in its place.
The five Divine Tokens now read:
Lady of Prayer for Birth.
Lady of Delivery.
Lady of Protection for Birth.
Lady of Celebration for Birth.
Lady of Rebirth.
In the Dark House, Nanny Xiang and Wang Laoshu exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads.
「The sun slanted west.」
The Sunshine Boy suddenly said, "Mother, it’s getting chilly outside. I think you should let them all come in."
"Oh?" The Deceitful Mother’s voice was drawn-out and peculiar.
"They’re all barefoot. It would be more comfortable for them on the carpet," the Sunshine Boy said.
The Deceitful Mother was silent for a long moment before nodding. "All of you, come inside."
"Thank you, Mistress!" Wang Laoshu broke into a grin.
The six Night Guards looked at the Sunshine Boy, then slowly stepped over the threshold and stood just inside the doorway.
The six men glanced at one another again and gave a slight nod.
It was the final moment.
The six men slowly lowered the book boxes and bundles from their backs, placing their weapons where they could be grabbed in an instant.
The Sunshine Boy held out his hand. "Does anyone have a small knife?"
"I do." The Captain tossed over a small knife, about a foot long, with a black leather-wrapped hilt.
The Sunshine Boy drew it. The blade flashed with a dazzling cold light, and the patterns on its surface seemed to flow like water.
The Sunshine Boy held the knife in his right hand and, with his left, picked up the tan Wooden Token that read "Blacksmith." Bit by bit, he began to scrape the word away.
The six Night Guards looked on in a daze, while Nanny Xiang and Wang Laoshu were equally perplexed.
"My son, what are you doing?" The Deceitful Mother’s voice was as gentle as ever, a simple inquiry. It was as if she wouldn’t be angry even if the Sunshine Boy had brought the heavens crashing down.
The Sunshine Boy remained silent, scraping slowly until the word "Blacksmith" was completely gone from the Wooden Token.
The tan Wooden Token, with its brown grain, was now blank.
The Sunshine Boy stood, walked over to a table, and, with his back to the others, began carving new words onto the Wooden Token, stroke by stroke.
Hao Yunsheng suddenly frowned. He didn’t know why, but watching the Sunshine Boy’s back filled him with a sense of unease.
After a good while, the Sunshine Boy finished carving. He then slapped the Spirit Awakening Talisman, which was dripping with Life-Linking Liquid, onto the Wooden Token.
The Spirit Awakening Talisman dissolved into a milky liquid that flowed over the carved words, seeped into the wood, and vanished.
The Sunshine Boy slowly raised the token, holding it toward the black curtain.
"Oh? Are you sure you want to choose this name?"
The Deceitful Mother’s voice was soft. "Good! Excellent! Wonderful! From this day forward, my son’s name shall be Ye Han."
The Sunshine Boy turned, a slight smile on his lips and his eyes shining brightly, and held the name token up for the six Night Guards to see.
The Night Guards looked bewildered. ’Who is Ye Han?’
Hao Yunsheng felt as though lightning had just crackled in the air before him. A brilliant light flashed, and a roar filled his mind.
Complex emotions churned within him, and he was suddenly filled with an intense animosity toward the Sunshine Boy.
Hao Yunsheng thought, ’That’s strange. Why do I hate him so much? That name... I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere. It’s so familiar.’
At the same time, Hao Yunsheng vaguely felt something deep within his soul crack and drift away. It was as if he had lost something of utmost importance, but the memory was hazy and indistinct.
The hair at Hao Yunsheng’s right temple turned partially white, and a few strands from the back of his head fell out silently, scattering on the breeze.
Hao Yunsheng’s eyes grew clouded, his vision blurring. He felt as if the Sunshine Boy’s appearance had changed, now bearing a striking resemblance to himself, like a long-lost twin brother.
Loathing and a sense of kinship warred within Hao Yunsheng’s heart.
"Congratulations to the Young Master on receiving his name!"
Nanny Xiang and Wang Laoshu said in unison.
From behind the black curtain, the Deceitful Mother’s voice sounded even more exhausted.
"Nanny Xiang, go and hang the name token on the tree."
"Yes."
Nanny Xiang left, cradling the Wooden Token carved with the name "Ye Han." When she returned, she said, "Master Ye, please be seated. Next, we will begin the treasure-grabbing ceremony."
Two people carried in a large, low-legged rosewood table and placed it in the center of the carpet. They then began to arrange all sorts of items on top of it.
A seal, books, a brush, ink, paper, an inkstone, a wooden sword, a wooden bow, a wooden knife, rouge, a jade hairpin, earrings...
On and on they went, until the table was completely covered with a vast assortment of objects.
Everyone stared silently at the items for the treasure-grabbing ceremony on the rosewood table.
The Sunshine Boy scanned the faces of the others. They all gave a slight shake of their heads.
Even Hao Yunsheng’s gaze was sincere. This time, he truly didn’t know anything.
Everyone waited quietly. The Sunshine Boy continued to think, occasionally performing the Mind Guarding Life Mansion technique, though for what purpose, no one knew.
An hour passed. From outside, the sharp, high-pitched wail of a suona horn rang out, a sound that seemed to tear through the clouds. It was the famous funeral dirge, *A Parting for the West*.
The people inside exchanged glances, saying nothing.
Another hour passed. The sound of a zither arose—melodious and deep, yet heavy with sorrow. It was another funeral dirge, *Parting in Old Age*.
After another hour, a flute began to play. Its melody was discordant, a grating sound that hurt the ears. It was the funeral dirge, *Seeing Off the White-Robed*.
A moment later, the Sunshine Boy looked toward the door in surprise.
The other Night Guards followed his gaze and turned, their expressions shifting.
Just outside the gate to the West Courtyard stood villagers, one after another. Their hair was disheveled, their arms hung limply at their sides, and their shoulders were slumped. They stared inside with eyes like black, oily vortexes, shedding tears of crimson blood. Murky saliva drooled from the corners of their mouths.
TH-RUMM... TH-RUMM... TH-RUMM... TH-RUMM...
Behind the black curtain, the sound of a Rattle suddenly began, far louder and deeper than any ordinary one.
Everyone looked to see the vague outline of a three-foot-tall Rattle appear behind the black curtain. Two leather pellets swung back and forth, striking the drumheads.
Everyone’s ears twitched. It felt as if tiny insects were wriggling just beneath their skin.
The Sunshine Boy suddenly sighed. He stood up and began to circle the table, observing the items for the ceremony.
The Rattle fell silent.
The flames on the countless candles overhead flared, CRACKLING and SPUTTERING as they brightly illuminated the room.
Wax dripped down like a torrential rain.
In the brightly lit room, the many ceremonial items on the rosewood table lay still. On a square wooden table to one side, a broken branch from a locust tree was soaked in blood.
The Sunshine Boy circled the table for a while longer before asking, "Mother, can I take anything that’s in this room?"
"Of course," the Deceitful Mother’s voice replied, still gentle and kind.