That night, Young Master Liu and Goudan lay side by side, yet neither could sleep. Young Master Liu kept wondering when Zhang Enpu and the others would return, and also puzzling over things in the book he didn't quite grasp, like "Thunder Heaven Great Marsh" and "Decaying Square Re-treading"—so many things. It was long after midnight before he finally drifted off.

The next morning, Young Master Liu rose early and practiced his footwork and hand seals in the courtyard. Goudan eventually stirred and climbed up, asking, "You're up so early. What are you doing?"

Knowing Goudan wouldn't understand if he explained, Young Master Liu vaguely replied that he was just exercising his body.

After playing in the courtyard for a while, Old Man Liu prepared a meal and called them in. Once they had eaten, Young Master Liu remembered it had been a long time since he’d visited Second Master Huang. So, taking Goudan along, he headed out toward the small grove.

"Where are we going?" Goudan asked, panting with exertion.

"To meet a good friend of mine! I played with him every day when you weren't here!"

With that, Young Master Liu and Goudan arrived at the small grove. At their usual spot, Young Master Liu called out, "Second Master Huang… Second Master Huang… Young Master Liu has come to see you!"

After calling for a long time, there was still no sign of Second Master Huang.

Young Master Liu pondered for a moment, then went over to check the tree hollow. Sure enough, he saw Second Master Huang asleep inside. Young Master Liu lifted him out, and immediately a powerful stench of alcohol flooded his senses. Who knew where Second Master Huang had been drinking this time? He was clearly deeply intoxicated and wouldn't be waking up anytime soon.

Goudan, observing the sight, said with curiosity, "Such a big rat!"

"Don't talk nonsense. This is Second Master Huang. Don't shout carelessly," Young Master Liu cautioned.

He carefully placed Second Master Huang back into the tree hollow, and then Young Master Liu and Goudan left the small grove and descended the hill.

As they approached his grandmother’s house, Young Master Liu felt a pang of homesickness. He said to Goudan, "I want to go take a look at Old Man Zhang's doorway!"

Goudan asked, "Isn't it locked up? Do you have the key?"

"I don't. We can just wait by the door for a while," Young Master Liu replied.

The two arrived at the entrance. A sadness welled up in Young Master Liu’s heart as he recalled the laughter he and Zhang Enpu used to share inside. Now, he could only linger outside, wondering how his master was, whether he had reached his relative’s place yet, and hoping he would return soon.

Goudan sensed Young Master Liu’s melancholy and said, "Don't be sad, Young Master. They’ll be back soon. Don't be upset; Goudan will play with you!"

Young Master Liu managed a weak smile. Just as he was about to leave with Goudan, he turned back, wanting one last look at the courtyard. He walked to the door and crouched down, peering through the crack in the doorframe.

What he saw made him jump with a shock—a fleeting white shadow had just darted across the courtyard!

He felt fine hairs prickle up on his back. After a moment of stunned silence, Young Master Liu tried to dismiss it, thinking he must have imagined it. Gathering his courage, he leaned down again and looked through the crack.

He met the gaze of a single, blood-red eye!

The figure inside was also crouched down, peering out at Young Master Liu!

Terrified, Young Master Liu cried out, "Ah!" and tumbled backward onto the ground.

He felt utterly drained of strength to even stand, trembling uncontrollably. There truly was an eye staring directly back at him! It was right there, pressed against the bottom of the door, peering out.

Seeing Young Master Liu seated on the ground, Goudan asked, confused, "What are you doing? What did you see?"

Young Master Liu could barely articulate words; he could only point at the door.

Goudan looked at Young Master Liu with suspicion, then walked straight to the door. Mimicking Young Master Liu, he crouched down and peered inside.

After watching for a while, Goudan suddenly recoiled and shouted, "Mother of heaven! There’s a ghost!"

Young Master Liu, already nearly paralyzed with fear, broke out in a cold sweat when Goudan screamed. He hastily asked, "Was it… a red eye… and was it… peering through the crack?"

"Yes! And it had big ears, and teeth as long as my fingers! And that ghost even spoke to me, it said Young Master is a coward, haha!"

Young Master Liu realized Goudan was teasing him. He stood up and asked, "You… you really didn't see anything?"

Goudan looked utterly normal and replied, "See anything? There’s nothing inside!"

Young Master Liu looked at Goudan, then cautiously approached the door again, crouching to look through the crack.

Indeed, there was nothing there—only the tidy courtyard left exactly as Mr. and Mrs. Liu had tidied it before leaving. Young Master Liu pulled his head back and straightened up. He thought, perhaps he had just seen things, but he distinctly remembered that red eye. Could it have been a hallucination?

Suddenly, the house felt unfamiliar, yet he dismissed it as his own overactive imagination.

Seeing Young Master Liu so preoccupied, Goudan suggested they return to his home, lest Goudan’s 'deadbeat' father start worrying. So, they left. However, as they departed, Young Master Liu couldn't shake the unsettling feeling of being watched from behind.

After returning to Goudan's house and playing for a while, Young Master Liu took out his book, turning to the chapter on "Feng Shui Fortune" in The Celestial Master's Record.

Watching him read, Goudan picked up the copy of The Celestial Master's Record lying next to him and pretended to read earnestly.

“To the ultimate Yin-Yang year clarity, endless flow both backward and forward…”

Young Master Liu laughed and corrected him, "That’s 'Yin-Yang Foul Clarity,' you big dummy!"

Goudan held the book against his face and grinned sheepishly, "I haven't learned that character yet, hehe."

The two wrestled playfully for a while longer, then ate dinner, and the day vanished in a blink.

The next day, while Young Master Liu and Goudan were playing outside, several strangers arrived and headed in the direction of Zhang Enpu's residence. Young Master Liu and Goudan followed discreetly behind them.

The leader of the group was a neatly dressed man in his early thirties. Beside him was a woman adorned with numerous pieces of gold and silver jewelry, presumably his wife. Trailing them were three or four younger people who looked like servants, though the entire entourage wore grim expressions.

As expected, they arrived at Zhang Enpu's house, knocked a few times, and receiving no answer, they noticed Young Master Liu and Goudan standing in the distance and approached them.

"Little sirs, could you tell us where Celestial Master Zhang resides?" the man asked.

So, they were indeed looking for Zhang Enpu.

Young Master Liu replied, "My master is away on a long journey and won't be back for quite some time. I am his disciple, and the house you just knocked on is his!"

The man sized up Young Master Liu and asked, "Is that so? And when might the elder master be returning?"

"In about a month!" Young Master Liu replied.

Hearing this, the man lowered his head dejectedly, murmuring to himself, "A month, and everything will be ruined."

The woman beside him comforted the man, saying things like "It's alright." Young Master Liu closed his eyes and observed the man, utilizing the 'Qi Observation' technique he had learned from The Celestial Master's Record.

He saw a dark cloud hovering above the man's brow—the unmistakable aura of impending death within his household.

Young Master Liu spoke up, "Uncle, I see a dark cloud above your brow. I fear there is a death looming in your family!"

The man visibly flinched, stepping forward and grasping Young Master Liu’s hand as if clutching a lifeline. "A true prodigy! I won't hide it from you, my household has indeed been very troubled recently!"

Hearing this, Young Master Liu said, "Uncle, perhaps you could tell me. I have learned some Daoist arts from my master and might be able to help you."

The man sighed deeply and spoke slowly, "Alas, I won't hide it from the little celestial prodigy. My family is the Qian lineage from Xiushan Village; my name is Qian Qing. Our household has always enjoyed peace and prosperity, and we have performed many good deeds. But somehow, things have turned like this!"

Qian Qing’s face was etched with sorrow as he continued, "A few nights ago, as soon as evening fell, the pots and pans in the kitchen would clang incessantly. At first, we paid it no mind, thinking it was mice. But then, one of the servants hanged himself, and one after another, servants either went mad or broke their limbs. Soon, servants left or became deranged, and the unrest in the house only grew. The village elders advised me to seek out your master. It’s a house with vermilion iron gates, and so here I am."