Cataclysm Chapter 97: The Mortality Meter 03

Chapter 97: The Mortality Meter 03

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Chen Yang asked, “We had two spots for our department, right?”

“Three,” Ma Shanfeng corrected him.

Chen Yang counted and realized there were three spots, which was too many. He said, “I think only I need a spot. Lao Kou participated in previous years, so he doesn’t need one. Qiudao doesn’t need one either. Xiaoli doesn’t need one since she’s going back to Maoshan. Lu Xiuzhi probably doesn’t need a spot either. Honestly, I think I don’t need one either.”

Ma Shanfeng replied, “That’s not good. We have to give a little face. If everyone just takes the backdoor, it might upset the others.”

Chen Yang glanced at the two people from the General Bureau, then nudged Du Shuo, who was still drinking, with his elbow. “What about your people? Aren’t they fighting for it?” While speaking, he looked back and saw that Du Shuo had already finished almost half a bottle of white wine. He was startled and quickly grabbed the bottle. “You started drinking this much already?”

Du Shuo took a couple of sips and, hearing this, said, “It’s only half a bottle. They’ve been drinking too.” He pointed at Ma Shanfeng and Lu Xiuzhi, both of whom had half a cup of white wine in front of them. Ma Shanfeng moved his mouth toward Ma Shen, implying that he couldn’t drink too much with his wife around. Lu Xiuzhi didn’t make any other moves but showed with his actions that he preferred chilled yangmei wine over white wine.

Chen Yang took the remaining half bottle of white wine away. “I’ll supervise you. No drinking too much.”

Du Shuo paused for a moment. “Fine, I’ll listen to you.” He had no choice but to slowly finish the half cup of white wine left in his hand. Chen Yang pointed to the two people from the General Bureau, signaling him to answer the earlier question. Du Shuo’s response was rather indifferent, “If even a small ‘obstacle’ requires shortcuts, it shows weakness. If you don’t have the strength and aren’t focused on the right path, it’s embarrassing to go.”

Chen Yang clapped his hands. “Harsh.” Then he turned to Ma Shanfeng and said, “This time, everyone’s going to the Heavenly Master’s Manor. Kui Xuan and Ji Jiang will go too. Uncle Ma, Aunt Ma, are you both going?”

Ma Shanfeng, who had originally planned to refuse, quickly agreed when he heard that Kui Xuan was going. After agreeing, he remembered Kui Xuan’s studies. “Do we need to ask for leave?”

“Rather than saying Kui Xuan is still in school, it’s more accurate to say she’s running a gang,” Chen Yang glanced at Kui Xuan, who was happily fighting with Big Fatty for food. “Don’t think I don’t know that teachers have been coming to her. She’s the boss of the entire grade, especially the troublemakers. The local thugs have to pay respects to her whenever they arrive, and it’s become a tradition.”

Ma Shanfeng smiled awkwardly. “Just kids playing around.”

Chen Yang had already given up hope on Ma Shanfeng’s blind indulgence. “She can take a week off, treat it like a vacation.”

Ma Shanfeng ran off to discuss it with Ma Shen. Since Ma Shen had nothing to do and figured she wouldn’t see Kui Xuan for at least a week if they didn’t go, she agreed. As for Ji Jiang, she didn’t mind; she had traveled a lot before and was familiar with the mortal world. She also had an ID card.

When Kui Xuan heard about it, she asked if the other maojiangs could come along too, but Kou Xuanling said, “Their white fur is too much. It’s hard to hide their identities.”

Chen Yang suggested, “How about buying some hair removal products? Xiaoli helped them remove their fur once before, and it lasted the whole night. Just buy more hair removal products.”

Kou Xuanling replied, “They don’t have ID cards.”

Chen Yang slapped his head. “Right, no ID cards, that’s a problem. It’ll take time to get them now, and we won’t make it in time.”

The several maojiangs said it was fine if they didn’t go; they’d stay at the department to watch over things. They didn’t like being in crowded places, especially when thinking about packed trains and high-speed trains, which terrified them.

Chen Yang told the maojiangs, “Then please watch over the branch office.”

The maojiangs waved their hands, saying it wasn’t a hassle. After that, Chen Yang grabbed Ma Shanfeng’s phone and fell into thought while reading a message from the Daoist Association. Kou Xuanling leaned in to look at the message too, wearing a thoughtful expression.

Du Shuo glanced at the two of them, and while Chen Yang wasn’t paying attention, he quickly drank the white wine in his glass in one gulp. Then, from a box near his feet, he retrieved an unopened bottle of white wine. He opened it swiftly, poured half a glass, screwed the cap back on, and hid the bottle again. The entire process took less than a minute, and Du Shuo remained calm and organized throughout, clearly having done this many times before.

Chen Yang sensed something and looked at Du Shuo. He glanced at Du Shuo’s calm demeanor and then at the glass in his hand, his gaze sharp. He turned to Kui Xuan and said, “Kui Xuan, can I borrow your ruler for a second?”

Kui Xuan responded, “Oh, sure.” Her small backpack was not far away, so she quickly ran over, grabbed the ruler, and handed it to Chen Yang.

Chen Yang took the ruler and leaned over to measure the white wine in Du Shuo’s glass. Du Shuo raised his glass to avoid him. “Chen Xiaoyang, do you have to be like this?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Do you know how dangerous it is to drink half a bottle of white wine in half an hour? You’ve been using gatherings like this to drink a few bottles every time. You’ve only avoided alcohol poisoning because your body’s stronger than most. Do you understand self-discipline?” Chen Yang stretched out his hand. “Hand it over. I think there’s more in there than what I saw earlier.”

“It’s just a trick of the eyes.” Du Shuo’s brow twitched. “I’m not old enough to be practicing self-discipline.”

Chen Yang scoffed.

The Emperor instantly wanted to drag Chen Xiaoyang, who had learned to be sarcastic, back to the room to show him if he was at the age to start practicing self-discipline. However, Chen Yang was so insistent that he could only reluctantly hand over the glass for him to measure.

Kou Xuanling, seeing this, glanced at Lu Xiuzhi, who smiled gently while holding his chilled yangmei wine. Kou Xuanling said, “Good.”

Ma Shanfeng quickly swore his loyalty. “I always drink tea to settle my stomach. I rarely touch fruit wine.”

Ma Shen didn’t even turn her head, coldly sneering. “Try drinking in front of me, and see what happens.”

Ma Shanfeng immediately shut his mouth, no longer trying to please her. That’s right, he didn’t dare.

Chen Yang finished measuring, placed the ruler back on the table, and didn’t say how many milliliters it was. He then picked up Ma Shanfeng’s phone again and said, “Uncle Ma, later you need to send this message to the group and have everyone download the Mortality Meter app.”

Ma Shanfeng was confused. “Why?”

Kou Xuanling spoke up first. “From the Imperial Capital to the Heavenly Master’s Mansion, there are many scenic spots along the way. We can enjoy the views as we go. But it might get boring if we just look at the scenery the whole time, so why not download the Mortality Meter app and play a game? Let’s see who will die and who will survive.”

Chen Yang’s eyes lit up. “Let’s place a bet, anything for the stakes. Whoever wins gets the bet. Starting tomorrow, we’ll input birth dates, and I’ll have someone calculate them for you. If you want to play, you can sign up now. If not, that’s fine too.”

Ma Shanfeng hadn’t reacted yet, but Kui Xuan quickly jumped in and shouted, “I want to play!” Ma Shen, pampering Kui Xuan, then said, “Then I’ll sign up too.”

Lu Xiuzhi and Du Shuo didn’t mind, so they joined in. As for Zhang Qiudao, they would ask him later on WeChat. So, aside from Mao Xiaoli heading back to Maoshan and Ji Jiang, who was looking after Kui Xuan, everyone else heading to the Heavenly Master’s Mansion decided to join the game.

They eagerly discussed what time they would die and how, while the two members from the headquarters silently closed their mouths. They had tried everything to avoid the ‘roadblock’, but the department members were eager to join the game, and they couldn’t understand it.

Regardless of what the others thought, once Chen Yang received Zhang Qiudao’s confirmation, everyone decided to start the “Roadblock” game. That night, Chen Yang sent the birth dates of those who signed up to the Daoist Association, and by dawn, he received a reply.

Chen Yang distributed the eight birth dates in the group, each person receiving a fake birth date paired with their own. After receiving the birth dates, they input them into the downloaded Mortality Meter, along with their names and some simple questions, which then provided the results. Everyone had to share their results in the group.

After Chen Yang inputted his birth date, it showed that within the next seven days, he would die in a fire. He rushed to Du Shuo’s back and asked, “Old Du, what’s yours? Let me see.” Du Shuo stretched his result in front of him, and Chen Yang read aloud, “No solution? Why no solution?”

Du Shuo grabbed Chen Yang and pulled him into his arms, tossing his phone onto the table. “The Mortality Meter calculates based on the name and birth date. Any birth date paired with my name will result in ‘no solution.’”

“I forgot your identity is different, and also Lu Xiuzhi’s.” Chen Yang slapped his forehead, realizing. “I should have kicked Lu Xiuzhi out earlier, then it would have been a guaranteed win for you.” After a moment, he cheerfully added, “But it’s fine, winning half is still winning.”

Chen Yang asked the group for their results, and gradually, people began posting theirs. Like Du Shuo, Lu Xiuzhi also had no solution, but no one expected Kui Xuan’s result to be the same. Ji Jiang explained, “The Mortality Meter calculates based on the name, birth date, and the answers to the questions. Kui Xuan’s birth date is normal, but the name and the answers to the questions can’t be calculated.”

Chen Yang asked, “What’s the problem?” The questions in the Mortality Meter were random, so he had no idea what the issue with Kui Xuan’s answers might be.

Ji Jiang replied, “For example, when it asked her parents’ names, place of birth, and birth date, Kui Xuan answered truthfully.”

In the system of Ba Zi (Eight Characters), one first looks at the lifespan, which is determined by the Life Star. There are four Life Stars: Food, Seal, Day Master, and Wealth. These can all be considered as Life Stars. Food refers to the Food God, Day Master refers to the Destiny Element, which can also be extended to the Nobility Star. Wealth represents the Wealth God, and wealth is the source of life; if wealth is lost, it can lead to danger or even death. Seal refers to the Seal Star, which represents the parents. Those who give life to me are the Seal Stars. In the Six Lines (of divination), the Seal Star is seen as the parents, and by looking at the parent lines, one can predict lifespan.

Kui Xuan had used a fake birth date and provided the real birth dates of her parents, so the system returned “no solution.”

Chen Yang said, “Alright, another one removed. I should’ve thought of that. Oh well. Let’s see… Old Kou’s result says within three days, he’ll die from a disaster. Disaster? What kind of disaster?”

Disasters refer to calamities, and unless one dies of old age, everything else is considered a disaster. Car accidents, man-made disasters, water accidents, and other unexpected calamities can all be referred to as “disasters,” which can vary in severity. Since Kou Xuanling’s death is clearly from a disaster, it is confirmed to be a major one. However, the specific disaster causing his death remains unclear, and it could be any calamity that might lead to his demise.

“Uncle Ma is going to die from illness within seven days, and Aunt Ma will face disaster within four days… She’s got a slim chance of survival with a birth date like that. Looks like the odds are better for her.” The fact that Aunt Ma’s disaster didn’t result in a clear verdict on her life or death means the disaster could be large or small, but there is still a small chance of survival. “Qiudao will die within five days, also from a disaster, similar to Old Kou.”

After knowing everyone’s time of death and the cause, Chen Yang packed up and went downstairs. He waited in the living room for two hours. During this time, others came down one by one, with their luggage at their feet. Soon, Ma Shanfeng appeared, carrying two suitcases with Aunt Ma. “Come over and get your substitute dolls.”

The Daoist Association had issued a substitute doll to each Tianshi attending the Daoist exchange conference to ward off disasters. Each doll contained the birth date of the Tianshi who received it. If the substitute doll dies, it is considered that the Tianshi lost.

Ma Shanfeng said, “Master Wu Yi is generously sponsoring and asking us to spread the word. She even sent cards to the department. She said that since we’re on good terms with Director Chen, we can get a 30% discount if we want to buy substitute dolls or witchcraft dolls in the future.”

Chen Yang pondered, “Master Wu Yi’s generous sponsorship is essentially free advertising?”

“Of course. Every year at the Daoist exchange conference, whenever there’s a life-related ‘roadblock’ issue, Master Wu Yi’s assistance is needed. The witch tribe develops new dolls and features for each session, so their business is booming. Do you know which sects are the wealthiest in the Tianshi world?”

Chen Yang shook his head. “No idea.”

“Among the Tianshi sects, aside from the top-tier ones like the Zhang Tianshi, Bai Yun Guan, and the Headquarters, the witch tribe is the richest. Other sects need fame or to take orders, but the Wu tribe only needs to sell dolls to rank high in the Tianshi income list. Their dolls are especially popular, especially the witchcraft dolls. A single witchcraft doll can sell for tens of millions, at the very least, over a million.”

Kou Xuanling hissed. Although he was a descendant of the Northern Tianshi Dao and his Kou family was a famous Tianshi sect, they still weren’t as well-off as the Wu tribe. He said, “Are they encrusted with diamonds?”

Ma Shanfeng replied, “Each witchcraft doll made by the Wu tribe takes two or three years to create. They can cry, laugh, help with tasks, and even bring wealth. Selling for tens of millions is considered cheap.”

Kui Xuan nodded in agreement. “That’s right. Some dolls, just for their realism, can sell for three or four million. The witchcraft dolls are actually quite affordable.”

Kou Xuanling was curious. “Didn’t ancient people avoid witchcraft dolls?”

Kui Xuan replied, “That was because they feared them. The original purpose of the witchcraft dolls was to help bring wealth and good luck to their masters, to accompany them, and, if necessary, to ward off fatal danger. Over time, people grew afraid of the dolls’ lifelike features, and it’s undeniable that humanoid dolls might invite evil spirits. But once a witchcraft doll is made, it already possesses life, so it won’t be taken over by evil spirits.”

Chen Yang opened his suitcase, revealing six boxes. He raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Shouldn’t there be eight?”

Ma Shanfeng said, “Master Wu Yi said only six are needed.”

Chen Yang raised his eyes to glance at Du Shuo and Lu Xiuzhi, knowing that Master Wu Yi must have figured something out, so he didn’t ask any further. He handed the box with the labeled name to the others, and they opened it to reveal the substitute doll inside.

The substitute doll wasn’t much different from an ordinary cloth doll—it couldn’t talk, didn’t have a soul residing in it, and its main function was to replace a life. The making of a substitute doll didn’t take long and could be mass-produced, while the production of a witchcraft doll required two to three years and was much more time-consuming.

Kui Xuan opened the box and let out an exclamation when she saw the beautiful, luxurious doll inside. “So pretty! Yangyang, look, the doll is so pretty!”

Chen Yang glanced over and saw that the doll in Kui Xuan’s box wasn’t a regular substitute doll but a witchcraft doll. This doll was about forty centimeters tall, exquisitely crafted, with delicate and beautiful features, and it resembled Kui Xuan about fifty percent.

Ma Shanfeng said, “Master Wu Yi took a photo of Kui Xuan from me earlier and said she wanted to give her a small gift. I didn’t expect it to be a witchcraft doll.”

Chen Yang patted Kui Xuan’s hair. “Then you can drop your fingertip blood on its heart to bring it to life.” He then turned to Ma Shanfeng. “Make sure to thank Master Wu Yi later.”

Kui Xuan nodded eagerly. Just as she was about to bite her finger, she suddenly remembered she was a flying zombie. “Will the doll turn into a jiangshi?”

“No,” Chen Yang replied. “Even if jiangshi blood is toxic, it can’t infect an inanimate object.”

Kui Xuan, excited, bit her finger, dripping a drop of jiangshi blood onto the witchcraft doll’s chest. A few minutes later, the doll woke up and snuggled up to Kui Xuan, the two quickly becoming good friends.

Chen Yang smiled and opened his own box. As soon as he did, a shadow quickly jumped out and pounced on his neck. “Yangyang! I’m here!”

Looking closely, he realized it was Master Wu Yi’s witchcraft doll. Chen Yang chuckled. “Doll, how come it’s you?”

The doll proudly said, “I snuck in. Yangyang, your witchcraft doll can only be me, not anyone else!”

“Does Master Wu Yi know?”

“No,” the doll replied, holding onto Chen Yang’s collar and swinging back and forth. Then it noticed Kui Xuan standing nearby, glaring at it, and instantly felt a sense of danger. It crouched on Chen Yang’s shoulder and asked, “Yangyang, who is she?”

Kui Xuan wasn’t happy. “Chen Xiaoyang, what is this thing?”

The doll pouted. “You’re the thing! Are you a feijiang? Why is a jiangshi here?”

Kui Xuan rushed forward, wanting to grab the doll that had taken Chen Yang, shouting, “You’re just a witchcraft doll! Little brat! Get away from Chen Xiaoyang! He’s mine!”

“Hehe, Yangyang is mine, not yours!”

Kui Xuan and the doll suddenly started arguing, and Chen Yang felt a headache coming on. Fortunately, Big Fatty, round and plump, arrived just in time to draw attention. Big Fatty, who entered like a rolling ball, saw the annoying feijiang and witchcraft doll and immediately started ranting. “I knew something bad was going on at the branch office. Turns out, it’s a feijiang and a little ghost fighting.”

Kui Xuan and the doll immediately stopped talking and turned to look at Big Fatty. The next second, they both pounced, the doll pulling at Big Fatty’s fur, and Kui Xuan grabbing Big Fatty’s tail. Kui Xuan’s witchcraft doll quietly cheered them on.

Big Fatty was done for.

As everyone got in the car, Big Fatty lay on the seat with his head feeling cold and a heavy mood. Chen Yang awkwardly tried to comfort him, saying, “Kids don’t understand, don’t be upset. Besides, your hairstyle looks great, really, very cool.”

Big Fatty lifted his head to look at his reflection in the car window. His round, plump forehead was bald, a patch that had been pulled out by the doll earlier, and he almost didn’t manage to get a girl. After finally growing a little thin hair, it was pulled out again, and he felt like he’d aged ten years in an instant.

Big Fatty rested his two chubby paws on his chin and continued sulking. The two culprits, Kui Xuan and the doll, sat on either side of Chen Yang, not giving up their spots, occasionally teasing Big Fatty, the cat ghost. As these sinister beings, they naturally had an irresistible aversion to others of their kind and would immediately want to fight for territory whenever they met.

Chen Yang looked at Kou Xuanling. “Old Kou, think of something.”

Kou Xuanling replied, “I looked up some hair growth products online, do you want to see them?” Big Fatty uninterestedly glanced at the phone screen, lazily clicking on a few hair growth products before rubbing his bald forehead and letting out a human-like sigh.

Chen Yang and Kou Xuanling both shook their arms in frustration, and in the end, Chen Yang suggested, “How about we get you a wig for now?” Big Fatty finally stopped sulking.

When they arrived at the high-speed train station, they sent Big Fatty to the pet shipping service, while the others went to find their train compartments and seats. Kui Xuan and the doll still wanted to sit next to Chen Yang, but when they saw the cold Du Shuo beside them, they hesitated for a moment before silently backing off.

Chen Yang pulled out the itinerary. “Next stop is J Province, where we’ll stay for three days in Shimen Town. The high-speed train from the west station to the north station takes about an hour and a half. Let me lean on your shoulder for a bit, I need to rest.”

Du Shuo took out an eye mask and put it on Chen Yang, then wrapped his arm around his shoulder to let him lean on him and sleep. Chen Yang hugged Du Shuo’s waist and closed his eyes to rest. He was only woken up when they were nearly at their destination. As they got off the train, Kui Xuan, holding the two witchcraft dolls, ran up, subtly tossing one of them away.

When there were many people around, the doll had to pretend to be an ordinary doll. Luckily, it was made to look ugly and scary, so most people wouldn’t want to pick it up. Ma Shanfeng picked it up, and the doll clung to his arm, silently recording this humiliation and waiting for a chance to take revenge.

Kou Xuanling went to pick up the now round and plump Big Fatty, noticing that during this trip, it had somehow regained its vitality. The others, who had been puzzled, immediately understood after seeing the other beautiful cats in the pet shipping area express reluctance to part with Big Fatty. Their gazes filled with admiration and astonishment—Big Fatty, still bald, somehow had other beautiful cats liking him. He was truly a natural winner.

Chen Yang called for a minivan to transport the tourists, which could fit all their luggage. J Province was a popular tourist destination, and Shimen Town was well-known nationwide, so the hotels and transportation were convenient. They booked a nearby hotel, and once they arrived, everyone went to get their luggage. Big Fatty jumped onto a suitcase and refused to move. Kui Xuan and the doll, who lay still, began to argue loudly, while Ma Shanfeng and his wife watched them with affectionate smiles.

Zhang Qiudao buried himself in a game, seeming to be in touch with Mao Xiaoli, his mood improved, no longer as downcast as before. Kou Xuanling whispered to Lu Xiuzhi, while Chen Yang leaned on Du Shuo’s arm, whispering to him. The driver shouted from behind, “You’re still missing a piece of luggage.”

Kou Xuanling turned around and said, “I’ll go get it,” then handed his luggage to Lu Xiuzhi and ran off to retrieve his own. As he walked back, the hotel entrance was bustling with people, and he passed by a few, but when he took a few more steps into an open area, the surrounding space within three meters was suddenly empty.

Chen Yang and the others hadn’t noticed anything unusual yet when Kou Xuanling flashed a smile at Lu Xiuzhi, who returned it with a smile of his own. Suddenly, his pupils constricted as if he saw something alarming. Before Kou Xuanling could react, Lu Xiuzhi yanked him forcefully, causing Kou Xuanling to crash into his embrace just as a loud crash and terrified gasps echoed from behind them. Kou Xuanling was enveloped in a tight, protective hold.

Kou Xuanling’s heart skipped a beat as he looked back, only to see that the spot he had been standing at had been shattered by a large pane of glass. The glass was about one meter wide and long, now broken into fragments. It was easy to imagine that if he hadn’t moved in time, the glass would have severed his head.

Despite narrowly escaping death, Kou Xuanling didn’t feel afraid. Perhaps it was because he knew Lu Xiuzhi was there, providing protection. But while Kou Xuanling wasn’t afraid, Lu Xiuzhi couldn’t suppress the unease he felt.

Lu Xiuzhi’s expression was icy, his cold gaze fixed on the spot where the large glass pane had fallen from the ceiling.

Chen Yang’s face was darkened. “That was really dangerous. Could that be the disaster calculated by The Mortality Meter? This is getting a bit out of hand.”

Zhang Qiudao spoke seriously, “My father and the others wouldn’t act recklessly. Something’s clearly gone wrong, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s The Mortality Meter’s fault.”

Ma Shanfeng added, “It might actually be Kou Xuanling’s doing.”

Author’s note:
Unexpected accidents like the one from above are truly terrifying.

I remember on the afternoon of the 30th, I had to take care of some business. Since I get dizzy on the subway, I couldn’t handle more than seven stops and had to get off to ride a shared bike. On the way, I passed a bus stop, and there was a subtle slope I couldn’t see, which was very slippery. The people in front of me quickly rode past it, but when it was my turn to pass that point, I suddenly heard a loud crash, like something falling down (it was a sidewalk, and on the right side was a wide green belt). The noise was right behind me. I was startled, and then I heard the shocked cries of two girls about five to six meters away waiting for the bus (they had seen what happened behind me and cried out in surprise). That terrified me even more. I didn’t dare to look back and quickly pedaled my bike away.

Even now, I don’t know exactly what had fallen, but I’m sure it was something heavy. I only remember thinking that if I had been just a second slower, it would have hit me in the head. It really scared me so much that my heart skipped a beat.

 

 

 

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