Chapter 282: Night Excursion Notes
Creak!
Wang Zheng pushed open a hidden secret door behind a bookshelf in the Yanping University library. After turning on the flashlight in his hand, his facial expression darkened as he looked at Fang Mu, “Come with me.”
Fang Mu followed closely behind.
Once Fang Mu had also entered the secret passage, Wang Zheng familiarly patted the wall lightly on the right side. The secret door that had opened behind them automatically closed again with the mechanism.
“I never thought there would be a secret passage here.” Fang Mu felt extremely surprised. Yanping University was even more unusual than he had imagined.
Wang Zheng gave him a sidelong glance and said calmly, “During the war period in the past, this was a secret base for a special agent organization. After the war ended, no one knew about it anymore.”
“Then how did you know?” Fang Mu asked curiously.
“Before becoming a teacher at the university, I worked here as a librarian for a very long time. It was during a cleaning session that I accidentally found the school’s architectural design drawings. To not be humble, I have a talent for spatial geometry. I sensitively noticed that the data for the library side was a bit strange. I got interested, measured a little, and discovered the hidden secret passage here.” Wang Zheng’s mouth corners curved up slightly, and his chin lifted.
Fang Mu could tell that Teacher Wang had indeed been quite proud when he discovered the secret passage back then, and that emotion had persisted until now.
“So, you have no intention of reporting the discovery here?” Fang Mu said meaningfully, “You should know that if someone finds out here one day, it will be hard for you to clear your name.”
Wang Zheng’s breathing became a bit heavier. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke hoarsely, “If you want to hide something, this is an excellent hiding spot.”
He turned back to look at Fang Mu, “Most people outside are now crazy. Before understanding true science, they blindly pursue ‘scientific advancement’ and ‘social development,’ completely denying all history and extremely cutting down everything with a single stroke. If there were no people like me persisting to guard the traces of time, those past cultural relics and culture would be gone. I don’t want people to regret it endlessly when they awaken.
Look, hasn’t someone like you finally come? You want to know the past history of this land in Yanping.”
Hearing this, Fang Mu’s expression became complicated. What he sought was not ordinary history and culture; it was the dregs of the dregs, the taboo of taboos. If possible, he also did not hope that anyone would seek taboo knowledge like he did.
When Fang Mu told Wang Zheng his true purpose, Wang Zheng was extremely shocked and even suspected at one point that Fang Mu was sent by that side for phishing. But after communicating with Fang Mu and carefully observing his words and deeds, he felt that the other party should not be from that side. This scholar, who appeared obedient in his attire, actually had a “rebellious” heart just like him.
The two were somewhat similar, but that was not the reason Wang Zheng was willing to risk bringing Fang Mu to his “secret base.”
Most importantly, Wang Zheng sensed an unusual temperament from Fang Mu. Behind the facade of gentleness was madness and danger. The other party seemed always composed, but every question he asked was step by step pressing, urgently and eagerly wanting to find answers.
Wang Zheng did not know what answers Fang Mu was pursuing, but he thought it must be something tied to the other’s life and quite dangerous.
After walking down a rather deep staircase, the two arrived at a secret chamber. Wang Zheng took out a match and lit the oil lamps around. The full view of the secret chamber was revealed as the light enveloped it.
Ancient books, cultural relics, and other things considered taboo by the outside world were all placed here. Fang Mu stood in front of one bookshelf and discovered that there were even some manuscripts written by Wang Zheng himself on it.
He took down one and flipped through it casually, then quickly put it back. These were all articles not suitable for publication now.
“Find whatever you want on your own, but you can’t stay too long. At most, I’ll give you one hour.” Wang Zheng said seriously to Fang Mu, “If I disappear for too long, people outside will get suspicious.”
“I understand.” Fang Mu nodded and carefully searched every bookshelf in the secret chamber. Wang Zheng pulled out a chair, sat down at the desk, picked up the open book on the desk that had not been closed, and continued reading. He occasionally looked up to check the commotion on Fang Mu’s side.
Thanks to Wang Zheng having classified the books, it became very simple for Fang Mu to find books related to local folklore and belief culture. He took down all the books he wanted from the bookshelf, then sat next to Wang Zheng holding a stack nearly half a meter high, and began flipping through them under the light of the kerosene lamp.
Wang Zheng glanced at the books Fang Mu had taken down, somewhat surprised, but did not ask. He just offered a suggestion: “If you’re interested in occultism, I recommend you check the third book on the second-to-last shelf from the bottom, most left side nearby, a book called ‘Night Tour Notes’.”
Fang Mu was stunned and immediately thanked him, then ran to get the book.
After getting that book 《Night Tour Notes》, Fang Mu flipped through a few pages casually and found that it was a translated manuscript, not the original. The person who translated the original called himself “Ye Gong” and was also an ancient person from several hundred years ago.
The original author of 《Night Tour Notes》 is unknown. It is said to have been written by a traveling Taoist based on his own experiences, mainly collecting wondrous things from various parts of the world. Its nature is somewhat like the Classic of Mountains and Seas’ section on the seas within, only the content is even more unorthodox and eerie mysterious.
This book might harbor some mysterious power. When Fang Mu touched it, he only felt a cold sensation coming from the fingertip touching the book. When he immersed himself in reading, all his senses seemed to be frozen numb by half.
Fang Mu flipped page by page. The first anomaly recorded at the beginning already made him dread.
Zhao Woman, who calls herself of the Zhao clan, her name unknown. Her appearance varies to those who see her, but generally beautiful and alluring enough to topple kingdoms. She delights in eating all things and is fond of eating humans. Not human, truly a monster of gluttony. Some say she is the Evolving Daughter, Mother Earth.
“Evolving Daughter, Mother Earth…” Fang Mu recalled the “goddess” mentioned by that unknown group a few days ago. When he saw a special symbol depicted in the book while introducing this anomaly “Zhao Woman,” he immediately recalled the eerie runes on that little goat.
He confirmed it: this Zhao Woman was that “goddess.”
“This book… is the real deal.” Fang Mu’s heart chilled by half. He glanced at the thickness of the book and suddenly felt immense despair.
As thick as one-third of a new Chinese dictionary… How many terrifying secrets is this world still hiding.
Fang Mu continued flipping through, getting to know one anomaly after another.
East Sea Mermaid, human-rat, Ushi-Oni, Maggot Person, Yellow Sand God…
Some of the things inside Fang Mu recognized, having seen them elsewhere; some he did not recognize, but he discovered that those “things” even had traces of appearing in human society.
“Found it!” Fang Mu flipped through the book with his whole body ice-cold, exhaling a breath of cold air. His eyes lit up when he turned to the next page.
Frog God, god of weather, god of harvest. Folk commonly worship for blessings of favorable weather and plentiful harvests year after year. In reality, it is one entity two faces with the Toad God…
Toad God, sleep god, dark god, wealth god, child-granting god. Resides under the southwestern mountains, in the abyss water palace, sharing a body with the Frog God…
Fang Mu eagerly absorbed the textual knowledge above, hoping to find more about Them. If he could find a method to escape Their blessing, that would be best.
“Those blessed by the Toad Frog God must offer tribute from their own things daily for worship. Toads and frogs of the world will supervise the blessed person as Toad Frog envoys. Those who fail to offer tribute and worship on time will suffer the Toad Frog rage…” Fang Mu read silently in his heart and suddenly felt another pair of eyes appear in his field of vision.
With a glance, Fang Mu then discovered that Wang Zheng had somehow brought his face close, staring straight at him with fixed eyes.
“Wang… Teacher Wang, what are you looking at?” Fang Mu moved away from the other a bit and laughed dryly.
Wang Zheng did not answer his question. Staring at Fang Mu’s unusual expression, he said, “You’re looking for things about the Frog God, right?”
“…Yes.” Fang Mu did not deny it.
Wang Zheng pondered, “I also know some things about the Frog God that are not in this book. Do you want to hear?”
“Please tell.” Fang Mu nodded.
Wang Zheng said, “In legends, the Frog God’s true body came from Saturn, then split into two bodies. The side symbolizing desire resides in the abyss, called the Toad God; the other wanders between dreams, called the Frog God. Since the Toad God and Frog God are one entity, praying to the Frog God is actually also worshiping the Toad God. Similarly, offering to the Toad God is actually seeking blessings from the Frog God.”
Hearing this, Fang Mu’s face stiffened. No wonder in his previous life, even though he clearly stayed away from the Toad God and areas prone to floods, he still could not escape the great flood in the end. It turned out that when he angered the Toad God, he had simultaneously angered the Frog God.
Twenty years later, that great flood weather that swept Yanping City… was actually caused by him? Fang Mu’s heart grew heavy.
“Almost every certain period, a ‘blessed person’ appears. Because this blessed person receives the attention of the Toad Frog God, the blessed person’s prayers to them are more easily heard and thus more easily realized.” Wang Zheng’s gaze toward Fang Mu gradually became somewhat strange. That kind of gaze, Fang Mu had seen in the Old Village Chief of Wenyatun in his previous life. It carried an emotion of respect, but also a greedy desire.
Wang Zheng narrowed his eyes and said, “Therefore, the ‘blessed person’ is called the envoy by us. At the annual worship ritual, we push the envoy onto the altar to host, having him represent us in praying to the Toad Frog God. Almost any wish the envoy is willing to make can be realized, even something eerie like a virgin giving birth.”
At this point, Wang Zheng suddenly showed a somewhat eerie smile, “Fang Sen, you’re so concerned about the Toad Frog God’s blessing. Is there some reason?”
Hearing the other’s words, Fang Mu also forced a grin, “Something good like realizing wishes, I want it too. I really hope to encounter one. I wonder if Teacher Wang knows how to tell if someone has received the Toad Frog God’s blessing?”
“Those blessed by the Toad Frog God all have a common trait: they are easily favored by Toad Frog-like creatures. Those Toad Frogs appear frequently where they often go.” Wang Zheng laughed.
Fang Mu fell silent. No wonder in his previous life, inexplicably, the markets near every place he lived had suddenly many more vendors selling Toad Frogs, directly causing the market price of Toad Frogs to drop repeatedly. It turned out this was also brought by him.
Croak…
Fang Mu’s muscles tensed all over. While locking eyes with Wang Zheng, he heard a startling frog croak, and the source of that sound was right behind Fang Mu.
Fang Mu turned back to look and was shocked to discover that somehow, a toad full of pimples and protrusions had appeared in the secret chamber. That toad’s extremely human-like eyes were staring straight at him.
“Heh… how did a toad get in here?” Fang Mu asked with a dry laugh.
Wang Zheng: “I don’t know either, heh.”
Fang Mu fell silent, then stood up, holding this book 《Night Tour Notes》, and said, “I want to borrow this book for a while.” He secretly reached toward his waist; he had already clipped a wrench to his belt in advance, prepared to knock the person out and grab the book at any moment.
If Wang Zheng did not agree, he would unhesitatingly pull out the wrench and smash it toward the other’s head.
“Of course you can.” Unexpectedly, Wang Zheng agreed so readily. He then stood up and said, “It’s about time anyway. We should go out.”
Fang Mu did not know what Wang Zheng was thinking at this moment, but still thanked him.
Leaving the secret chamber and returning to the Yanping University library, under Wang Zheng’s lead, the two smoothly left the school.
“Fang Sen, where are you staying tonight?” Wang Zheng suddenly became warmly hospitable. After leaving the school gate, he had no intention of letting Fang Mu go immediately.
Fang Mu was extremely vigilant and lied, “No need, I already have a place to stay around here.”
“Want me to walk you there?”
“Big brother, you don’t even have a car, how are you going to walk me?” Fang Mu felt a chill. Could it be that this Teacher Wang wanted to walk him there? That was something only couples would do.
Wang Zheng: “It’s fine, I’m not afraid of trouble.”
“Thanks, but I’m afraid, so no need.” Fang Mu directly rejected Wang Zheng’s proposal.
Wang Zheng felt some regret but was not deterred, “Where do you live?”
Fang Mu certainly could not tell the other where he lived. He casually named an inn he had seen on the way to Yanping University, along with a room number. Wang Zheng seemed to really believe it and even said he would come visit if he had time.
Fang Mu welcomed it warmly on the surface, but in his heart, he was pondering whether to leave Yanping City directly while it was dark today.
After much verbal deflection, Fang Mu finally found an opportunity to shake off Wang Zheng’s entanglement.
He thought that Wang Zheng had probably guessed he was the blessed person and was very certain that the rumors of the blessed person’s wishes coming true were real. Then, the other party perhaps wanted to use him to achieve some wish.
Fang Mu did not think those wishes came without a price. There is no free lunch in this world, especially in the hands of abnormal gods like the Toad God.
