Jiangjiang the Skeleton Spirit - Chapter 1

I had been a skeleton in the mountains, dwelling in this mass grave for hundreds upon hundreds of years, hoping that one day I could cultivate a human form.

My persistence paid off. After drawing on the essence of heaven and earth day and night, I finally got my wish.

Except…

I looked down at my naked body.

Sister Suhe had told me that humans were different from us skeletons. They always wrapped themselves up tightly to cover their nakedness.

I didn’t understand why nakedness needed covering, but now that I had a human form, I ought to behave like everyone else.

I looked around and fixed my eyes on the man beside me.

He didn’t seem to be breathing anymore.

Looking at his handsome face, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.

Such a pretty face. What a shame he was dead.

Human clothing was complicated. It took considerable effort to peel it all off him.

When only his underdrawers remained, I froze.

What was that?

I blinked, staring curiously.

Then I looked down at myself.

Nothing there.

Was there some sort of treasure hidden inside?

I crouched and reached to untie his underdrawers.

A hand suddenly stopped me. “Not there. You can’t.”

There was a burning heat in his voice, and speaking seemed to take considerable effort.

His eyes were misty. Perhaps the movement had pulled at a wound on his hand; his face twisted in pain.

I stared blankly at him, only then noticing his injuries.

Sword wounds and knife wounds, old and new. There wasn’t an uninjured patch anywhere on him.

Seeing me stare, he turned his head away awkwardly, though he still held me fast to keep me from touching him.

Sister Suhe had said never to force anyone to do what they didn’t want. Since he wouldn’t let me look, I couldn’t insist.

I studied his pale face. He seemed to be in terrible pain.

I’d taken his clothes. I couldn’t take them for nothing.

After some thought, I asked, “Can you still move?”

He gritted his teeth and shook his head.

With a sigh, I struggled to help him up.

“Come down the mountain with me. I’ll take you to Sister Suhe. She’ll know how to save you.”

He looked lean, but there was plenty of muscle on him.

He was hard all over, and it dug into me uncomfortably.

“I’m Jiangjiang. What should I call you?”

He was silent for a while before answering, “Just call me Song Yu.”

I nodded, thinking that his name certainly sounded nicer than mine.

Sister Suhe had attained human form a long time ago.

But instead of leaving the Wanchong Mountains, she’d built a bamboo cottage below.

At first, she’d said she couldn’t stop worrying about me and wanted to wait until my cultivation bore fruit before leaving.

Later, I discovered I wasn’t the only reason she stayed. She was waiting for a man.

When I brought Song Yu to the cottage, she was staring at that jade bracelet again.

According to her, it was the only token the man had left her.

If he ever came back to marry her, this would be their pledge.

When she saw me in the doorway, joy suddenly lit up her lovely, melancholy face.

“Jiangjiang! You’ve finally attained human form!”

I wanted to run over and embrace her, then remembered the man draped over my shoulder.

Worn out by the journey, Song Yu had lost consciousness.

“Sister Suhe, I picked up a man. Come and take a look at him.”

Suhe looked at the naked man, then eyed me suspiciously.

But my expression was perfectly innocent. I had no secrets to hide.

She examined Song Yu’s wounds carefully, her brows drawing together.

“Whoever inflicted these wounds wasn’t holding back. They wanted him dead.”

His injuries were indeed ghastly. Who hated him so much?

“Can you save him?”

Suhe glanced at me thoughtfully. “Has he promised you anything?”

I shook my head.

I simply didn’t want him to die.

She patted my head and sighed. “Don’t go picking up men in the future. They’ll only give you someone to worry about. No good comes of it.”

Despite her words, Sister Suhe still took Song Yu from me.

I didn’t know what method she’d used, but in a few days, Song Yu was not only awake but walking around.

Once he felt better, I worried that he’d get bored indoors, so I kept dragging him up the mountain to hunt and gather wild mushrooms.

I had to admit, his reflexes and archery were remarkable.

At the slightest movement nearby, he could quickly take aim and hit his quarry.

Impressed and curious, I asked, “Song Yu, what do you do? How are you so good at this?”

He came over carrying two wild rabbits and answered haltingly, “I’m used to hunting with my father.”

I nodded. “Oh, you’re a hunter.”

Most mountain hunters looked like Uncle Li next door—rough-featured and dark-skinned. Few were as fine-looking and handsome as Song Yu.

He neither confirmed nor denied my words.

Watching the rabbits struggle in his hands, I suddenly remembered his wounds.

“Why were you in the mass grave? And how did you get so badly hurt?”

The hand stroking a rabbit’s fur stopped. He pressed his lips together and fell silent.

After a long moment, he said, “Someone betrayed me.”

Something painful seemed to come to mind, and his expression darkened.

Thinking he was upset, I gently patted his back, the way grown-ups soothed children.

“Song Yu, don’t be sad. I won’t betray you. Never.”

His tense body began to relax, and his eyes fell on my other hand.

As if he’d suddenly remembered something, a suspicious blush rose in his face.

He cleared his throat. “Don’t pull other men’s clothes off in the future.”

Looking at his faintly reddened face, I asked in bewilderment, “Why?”

“Men and women are different.”

I’d only just attained human form and knew little about such matters. After all, skeletons weren’t male or female.

Then I remembered what I’d seen of Song Yu that day…

Oh.

Different?

My gaze gradually drifted downward.

Perhaps I was being too blatant. Song Yu started and instinctively covered my eyes.

“Jiangjiang, you…”

His warm palm lay over my eyes. I could feel his heat distinctly.

He was nervous.

I supposed he was protecting his treasure.

“Don’t be scared. I won’t take it.”

I’d meant to reassure him, but unexpectedly, his palm grew even hotter.

“Have you got a fever?”

I quickly pulled his hand down and reached to feel his forehead, only for him to block me in a fluster.

“It’s getting late. We should head back.”

Watching him flee, I decided he probably did have a fever.