“Oh, you’re leaving already? Hehe! That was quite the fun time!” Young Master Liu chuckled. “I don’t know where you two brothers live; if it’s nearby, I’d love to visit sometime—no misunderstanding intended! I’ll surely sneak a few bottles of the real good stuff from my father to let you two taste it.” Young Master Liu and these two, Xie and Fan, had genuinely hit it off, conversing so openly that parting felt too soon, so he proposed the idea.

“Where we live?” Seventh Brother Xie paused, then exchanged a look with Eighth Brother Fan. They thought to themselves, Hehe, if you knew where we resided, wouldn't you be scared out of your wits? Among them, the more garrulous Seventh Brother Xie spoke first: “Haha. That will disappoint you, Brother. We wander the Jianghu; we have no fixed abode. We were just doing business here for a spell and happened upon this place, only to meet you by chance. Why wait for another day? Let’s finish the wine in our hands today, and then we go our separate ways. Though the world is vast, there will surely be a day we meet again!”

Hearing this, a shadow crossed Young Master Liu’s heart, but he quickly forced a smile. “Fine! You two are so forthright, I won’t be polite then.” He picked up the wine bottle, about to drink, when he suddenly remembered something and spoke up: “When I was little, I heard the village elders say that if a man and woman are deeply fond of each other, they become husband and wife; if two men share a deep bond, they swear brotherhood. It is rare that you two brothers think so highly of me. After we finish this bottle, why don’t we become sworn brothers? If we meet again in the future, we’ll drink together again—what do you say?” Fan and Xie had an imposing air, and were older by more than a decade. Becoming sworn brothers was not something Young Master Liu usually considered, and even if it crossed his mind, he wouldn't likely voice it. But now, with a nine-tenths drunkenness setting in, he let the words slip out.

“Excellent, excellent! Nothing could be better!” Seventh Brother Xie’s tongue was thick from drinking; his eyes narrowed into crescents, his chubby face beaming with a foolish smile as he agreed.

Young Master Liu turned to Eighth Brother Fan. “What does this brother think?”

Eighth Brother Fan lifted his sleeve to wipe his mouth. “Better to obey than refuse. If the young brother has such a kind intention—cough, cough!—I would be delighted.”

“Good, then it’s settled today!” Young Master Liu was overjoyed and shouted with delight. He then stripped off his outer garment, using it like a mop to sweep a clear patch of ground in the desolate graveyard, blowing away the fallen leaves and dust. Next, he tiptoed around and found three stones about the size of a fist—one placed on top, two underneath—piled into a character shape, serving as an offering. He then broke a tree branch into three equal pieces and stuck them before the stone pile, serving as incense candles. After setting all this up, he looked sheepishly at Fan and Xie. “Brothers, the conditions here are humble, so we’ll just have to make do! If it’s truly inadequate, it’s not too late to make up for it later!”

Witnessing the scene he had orchestrated, Xie Bi’an and Fan Wujiu both struggled to keep from bursting into laughter. After exchanging a look, they nodded in unison, a rare occurrence.

“Hehe, I, Xie, have seen all manner of things in this world, all the facets of life. I certainly won’t quibble over these useless formalities. As long as Brother’s sincerity is true, we are content. Don’t they say that many people put on grand displays that reach the heavens, yet in the end, they hide daggers behind their smiles? Such vicious schemers, for a mere pittance, can push their sworn brothers off a cliff without hesitation. It is truly wicked.”

“Say no more!” Young Master Liu felt deeply moved by Seventh Brother Xie’s words and nodded repeatedly. He then walked to the stone pile, picked up the three branch pieces, pretended to bow a few times, and poured three bowls of wine, handing one to Seventh Brother Xie and one to Eighth Brother Fan. Then the three of them knelt down on the dusty ground. Young Master Liu declared:

“Heaven above! Today I become sworn brothers with these two elders. With the Yellow Sky above and the Empress Earth below, we consecrate this with three bowls of wine as witness. Though we may not wish to be born on the same day of the same month and year, we certainly wish to die on the same day of the same month and year!”

“Good,” Seventh Brother Xie took his wine bowl. He watched as Young Master Liu splashed wine toward the sky, then he splashed his own wine toward the sky, and Eighth Brother Fan followed suit. The two exchanged a look, their thoughts instantly connecting, and they declared: “Heaven above, I, Xie Bi’an (Fan Wujiu), become sworn brothers with this Young Master Liu. We ask all the celestial spirits and Buddhas to bear witness!”

They both kowtowed. As Young Master Liu stood up, Xie Bi’an smiled and asked, “Brother, I am a few years older than you. Today, having entered this bond of brotherhood, I don’t ask for a shared life, but I ask for a shared death. Your day of death will also be this foolish brother’s day of death. Are you willing!?”

“Elder Brother Xie, what kind of talk is that!” Young Master Liu patted his chest vigorously. “To speak like that, you are shortening my own life! From now on, if Elder Brother gives any command, this younger brother will never shrink from death!”

“Hmph hmph, then I thank you in advance, Third Brother!” Xie Bi’an cupped his hands.

“Elder Brother, if you speak like that, it makes us seem distant!” Young Master Liu thumped him heavily on the shoulder.

“Straightforward! Young Brother, say no more. After we drink the wine in these bowls, we are brothers bound by life and death! Come!” Xie Bi’an said, then he and Fan Wujiu clinked cups with Young Master Liu and drank it all down.

“Then that settles it. We shall meet again!” Xie Bi’an and Fan Wujiu stretched languidly, slightly tipsy, and yawned.

“Alright, but…” Young Master Liu’s speech was a bit halting.

“What is it, Brother? Just say what you need to say; don’t be so reserved. Don’t look down on your elder brother,” Xie Bi’an chuckled. Beside him, Fan Wujiu nodded gloomily, indicating agreement.

“Uh, it’s like this. I was wandering around here, and I got lost. Could you tell me how to get out of this place?” Young Master Liu sheepishly scratched his head.

“I thought it was something serious!” Xie Bi’an smiled slightly and pointed a path for Young Master Liu. “Brother, look closely. Follow the path I point out, go straight ahead, do not turn a corner, do not change your route. No matter what, do not look back on the road. You will be home before long!”

“Good, Elder Brother truly knows all the ways!” Young Master Liu gave each of them a bear hug. “I will miss you both.” With that, he turned and walked away without looking back.

As Young Master Liu’s retreating figure grew distant, a chilling, sinister black wind suddenly swept up around Xie and Fan! This extremely strange, gloomy wind enveloped them completely, making it feel as if some monster was about to be born!

In a short while, the eerie wind subsided, and the two of them transformed, their attire completely changed to something bizarre and strange…

They appeared one in black and one in white, both wearing tall, pointed hats. Their tongues were astonishingly long—longer than those of a hanged ghost! The one in black held a mourning staff, and the high hat bore four characters: “Just Coming to Fetch You”; the one in white held iron chains in one hand and a tally tablet in the other. His high hat also had four characters, but their meaning was the complete opposite of the man in black’s, reading: “Instant Riches Upon Sight.”

Their attire was remarkably similar, both clad in coarse hemp garments that trailed to their feet, only the colors differed. The man in black had a ferocious countenance—it was none other than Fan Wujiu; the man in white had a benevolent look—it was undoubtedly Xie Bi’an. Anyone with sharp eyes would surely have the answer in their hearts by now: yes, these two were the spectral emissaries of the Underworld, Black and White Impermanence!

Legend held that the White Impermanence was named Xie Bi’an, and the Black Impermanence was named Fan Wujiu, also known as ‘Seventh Master’ and ‘Eighth Master.’ It was said that Xie and Fan had sworn brotherhood in their youth and were as close as real brothers. One day, they walked together under the Nantai Bridge. Rain was approaching, so Seventh Master asked Eighth Master to wait while he went home to fetch an umbrella. Unexpectedly, after Seventh Master left, a torrential downpour hit, and the river swelled rapidly. Eighth Master, unwilling to break his promise, drowned because of his short stature. Soon after, Seventh Master returned with the umbrella, but Eighth Master was gone. Seventh Master was consumed by grief and hanged himself from a bridge pillar (which is why many images of the White Impermanence show a long, red tongue sticking out). King Yama highly praised their deep loyalty and commanded them to apprehend lawbreakers before the City God. Some say Xie Bi’an means ‘If one rewards the divine, one shall surely be at peace,’ and Fan Wujiu means ‘Those who break the law have no salvation.’

“Ay, the rooster is about to crow; what if we miss tonight’s assignment? Will the King of Hell throw a fit?” Xie Bi’an sighed, frowning at his pale, plump, powdered face.

Fan Wujiu sucked on his long tongue, knitted his brows, and said, “What else can we do? If he throws a fit, he throws a fit!”

“True enough. After living for thousands of years, only today has been the happiest. And the roasted meat—it was truly delicious.” Xie Bi’an gnawed on a candle he had somehow grasped, then tossed it on the ground listlessly, chewing his lips with lingering fondness.

“Hehe, next time we’re out on assignment, let’s grab a roasted rabbit to chew on too!” Fan Wujiu scratched his head with the tally tablet in his hand.

“Definitely. And if we happen to run into that kid again, all the better! Alright, let’s go.” Xie Bi’an put his arm around Fan Wujiu, and they walked back along the path they came from, side by side.

Along the way, all that could be heard was them singing: “Black working with White, White paired with Black; Good brothers serving the Yin; Soul reapers, specters demanding life; Eating roasted meat, and men swearing brotherhood…”

“Hahaha, Little White, let’s go home!”

“Hey, hey! Why do you call me Little White? Am I not older than you? I’m Seventh Master, you’re Eighth Master!”

“Why? Black and White Impermanence! Black and White Impermanence! Just because the word ‘Black’ comes first, I’m the boss!”

“Get lost! That’s no basis whatsoever!”

“Hah! Still not convinced? Then I’ll have to have a serious word with you…”

“Ah!” Young Master Liu suddenly propped himself up on his elbows, his eyes wide open. The darkness before him vanished instantly, and all he could see was his small room, bathed in the moonlight scattered on the floor.

The stray locks of hair on his forehead were soaked with sweat, clinging together, forming knots that were impossible to comb out, having lost all their previous flowing grace.

A bead of cold sweat traced a path down his cheek, itching slightly, before dripping onto his jaw.

Young Master Liu gasped for breath, and the tension in his tightly wound nerves finally eased. He grabbed the bedding and wildly wiped his head.

Looking at the familiar surroundings, Young Master Liu frowned. Could everything that just happened have been merely a dream? But why did it feel so real?

Tremblingly, he scanned his surroundings carefully. The child from under the bed was gone; the small lake and the desolate graveyard had vanished, and the two elder brothers he had just sworn allegiance to were nowhere in sight.

The entire room exuded peace, as if everything that had just occurred had never taken place.

“Strange,” Young Master Liu murmured to himself. He suddenly remembered something and instinctively reached up to touch his neck—the jade pendant was gone!