Chapter Four: The Gathering of Nine Shadows, Souls Born to Wander

"Uncle Jin, are you saying that you’ve spent years dealing with those filthy things...?" A chill crawled up my spine. The words Uncle Jin spoke today threatened to shatter the materialistic beliefs I’d held for more than twenty years.

"Using vengeful spirits as dye sounds terrifying, I know," he said, "but in truth, ‘ghosts’ are only the lingering wishes left behind after death. Most are from those recently departed. If a soul harbors strong regrets or unfinished business, that’s when a vicious spirit appears. Yin-Yang Embroidery: embroidering the balance, dyeing with lonely souls, weaving it into oneself.

Since your grandfather decided to pass this craft on to you, it’s only right that I, as your uncle, tell you all this. Take some time to think it through. If you want to take this commission, give me a call, and I’ll have someone deliver the dyes."

With that, Uncle Jin began humming a tune as he walked out the door. My mind was in complete chaos. I glanced at the wall where "Peace" was embroidered in bold characters. I couldn’t help but mutter, "Grandpa, you really didn’t want me to have a peaceful life when you named this shop..."

I opened the pitch-black box my grandfather had left behind and pulled out the illustrated manual. On the flyleaf, someone had written a few lines in small, careful script: The Rules of Yin-Yang Embroidery.

Beneath, several rules were listed:

1. Yin-Yang Embroiderers must observe the principles of fate and geomancy; never defy heaven’s will or arbitrarily match patterns.
2. Yin-Yang Embroiderers must never use Yin embroidery to harm others—retribution will surely follow.
3. Should an embroiderer encounter the Nine-Dragon Coffin, the Obsidian Qilin, the Three-Legged Golden Crow, or the Six-Finned Koi tattoo, disaster is certain. Remember to preserve the incense of Yin-Yang Embroidery.
4. Yin-Yang Embroiderers must never tattoo themselves with Yin-Yang Embroidery.

After reading, a deep exhaustion swept over me. I’d only wanted to be a small shopkeeper, hire a couple of assistants, and live a leisurely life with birdsong and music. Why did fate have to play such a cruel joke on me?

The patterns in the manual seemed to have always been imprinted in my mind. Seeing them again now fully awakened the memories. So, should I accept Zhao Jun’s commission or not?

I took out my phone and dialed, "Hey, Xiaowei, come to the shop—I need to discuss something with you."

Before long, a young man in a Meituan delivery uniform rushed in. Shaking his signature yellow helmet ears, he grabbed the teacup on the table and gulped down water. "Gulp, gulp! What’s up, Xu? You sounded urgent."

Xiaowei was my childhood friend; we’d grown up together, thick as thieves. He was always fearless—as a kid, he’d sneak off to abandoned graveyards to scavenge offerings, and once even chased after will-o’-the-wisps. Luckily nothing strange ever happened to him, or who knows if he’d still be here.

I briefly explained what happened today. To my surprise, he slammed his helmet onto the ground.

"Damn! You should’ve told me about this sooner! Let’s take the job! Why keep delivering food? Ten grand, man! How many deliveries would it take to earn that? Madam Hu doesn’t scare me—watch Meituan Xiaowei in action!"

I hurriedly covered his mouth, silently reciting, "No hard feelings, no hard feelings," while making a secret vow: my grandfather’s whereabouts remain a mystery, and there are so many secrets about my own origins yet to be uncovered. Inheriting Yin-Yang Embroidery might just be the beginning; perhaps fate truly intends for me to seek out the truth.

Pacing back and forth in the shop, I hesitated a moment longer before calling Zhao Jun. "Mr. Zhao, we’ll take your commission. Send me your company’s address—we’ll come by tomorrow to take a look. And have your driver, Old Ma, there too."

After arrangements were made, Xiaowei dashed off on his next delivery. I lay back on the tattooing bed, tossing and turning. Was this really the right choice? What exactly is Yin-Yang Embroidery?

Unknowingly, I drifted off to sleep. In my dream, I woke up on the tattoo bed to find night had fallen. As I was about to close the windows and doors, I heard clanging noises outside. Curious, I looked out and saw two tall figures moving lightly down the corridor, their steps barely touching the ground.

Peering closer, I saw they wore black and white robes. As they passed my window, they shouted, "Fortune at first sight! Peace under heaven!"

"Black and White Impermanence!" I shuddered in terror, clamped my hand over my mouth, and curled up beneath the window.

Suddenly, they stopped outside my window and raised their mourning rods. The small bells tied to the rods jingled. White Impermanence glanced at my window and exclaimed, "Nine Yin Convergence, and yet born missing a soul—how marvelous!" With that, they lowered their rods and hurried away.

I awoke with a start, drenched in cold sweat. Their words echoed in my mind. As a child, I’d heard roadside priests say my fate was the 'Nine Yin Convergence.' But what did it mean to be born missing a soul? Looking outside, the sky was already streaked with pale light—it was well past midnight, yet what had just happened felt so real.

I recalled my grandfather’s teachings: people possess three souls and seven spirits. The three souls—Ethereal Essence, Platform Light, and Refreshing Spirit—govern the self; the seven spirits preside over the body’s organs. There are always those born missing a spirit—every village has its simple-minded fool, often called the Village Guardian.

They exist to ward off misfortune for the village, and their madness stems from the absence of a spirit. ‘Lost soul and scattered spirit’—in deep sleep or moments of great fright, it’s possible for the soul to briefly depart the body. But I’d never heard of anyone born missing a soul.

What secret does my fate truly hold?