Chapter 25 The No. 24 Bus

The surrounding mist gradually dispersed, especially after leaving the northern suburban villa district, and the scenery ahead came into clear view. Straight roads lined with pine trees stretched before them; the pines here were a dark shade of green, perhaps dulled by a layer of dust, which lent them a rather somber appearance. There were no vehicles to be seen on the road, though the occasional discarded funeral item, mostly in white or yellow, could be found by the roadside. If one was unfortunate, half-burnt paper offerings might also come into view.

The air was heavy with the scent of smoke and gunpowder—whether from burning offerings or the lingering residue of cremations, it was hard to tell. At the end of the road stood their destination: the funeral parlor. In the distance, its high walls loomed, and old willow trees reached over them, their branches swaying in the wind as if gesturing to the visitors. If one ignored the sign with its engraved characters above the entrance, this place might easily be mistaken for a tranquil resort. The greenery inside the walls was far superior to that of the bustling city, and the environment was utterly still.

The streetlights on either side of the road, neglected due to the lack of pedestrians and maintenance staff, flickered dimly in the night. Chu Ning pointed to the dark shape atop a withered tree in the distance and remarked, “That might be a crow, or perhaps a bat. Here, you’ll always find creatures people tend to loathe.” The cawing of crows was especially distinct.

He felt no particular reaction to this. Even though crows were considered omens of misfortune, seeing them so often had dulled his sense of dread or dislike. Chu Ning had never told anyone that, in the early mornings, one could also hear cuckoos calling here. There was an unusual abundance and variety of birdlife in the area—perhaps because it was far from the city, but more importantly, because it was a funeral parlor.

Chu Ning didn’t know the official name of the place; the locals simply called it the funeral parlor. Since there was only one in Mang City, there was no need for further distinction. The only time the locals would clearly learn the funeral parlor’s proper name would be the handful of times in their lives they were forced to interact with it—something no one wished for.

“What’s that area over there with the smoke?” Tanya asked curiously, pointing into the distance. Everything around here felt new and strange to her; in a way, it was a sort of sightseeing in advance.

“Probably just the residue from the burnings,” Chu Ning replied with a glance, losing interest immediately, though he couldn’t deny there was a subtle lure drawing him to explore further.

Tanya looked around at the monotonous landscape. During the day, the place really was desolate, and she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

“The bus stop is just ahead!”

The signpost up ahead leaned at an odd angle. The old iron bus sign was rusted to the point that the stops were almost illegible; only the faint number 24 could be made out. Chu Ning stood quietly by the sign, the cold wind whistling around him as he waited for the number 24 bus. An unspoken mood seemed to linger in the air, urging them to remain silent.

After a few minutes, the bus approached at speed, its brakes screeching. With no cameras or other vehicles nearby, it was only natural for the driver to hurry along.

“When we get on, be careful!” Tanya warned anxiously as the bus drew near. She glanced at Chu Ning, who was still lost in thought, and waved for him to hurry up. After all, this was someone else’s territory; it was best not to cause trouble.

Chu Ning said nothing as he waited for the bus to stop in front of them. He always felt a peculiar emotion about leaving this place—a fear of facing the unknown.

With a hiss, the number 24 bus pulled up. The body was worn, covered in scratches and flaking paint. The bumper was dented, and the lopsided headlight blinked on and off.

Tanya boarded first, head lowered, quietly dropping her fare into the box before finding an empty seat at the back, where she sat in silence. She had no desire to interact with anyone on board.

Even as the other passengers stared at her with strange looks, whispering about her, Tanya acted as if she neither heard, saw, nor smelled anything—even the stench that filled the bus.

Chu Ning followed after, gripping the handrail at the front and stopping by the driver’s seat. He greeted the driver warmly, “Driver, does this bus go to Honghai Community? If so, could you let me know when we get there?”

Tanya, sitting behind, anxiously signaled for Chu Ning to hurry and join her, lest he anger the driver. This was someone else’s territory after all, and causing trouble was never wise.

“Sure, I’ll let you know when we get to Honghai Community!” the driver replied pleasantly to Chu Ning, adding that he would call him when they arrived so he could rest easy on the journey, since it was a long ride.

“Thank you, sir!”

Chu Ning quickly made his way to sit beside Tanya, settling comfortably into the seat and preparing to rest. Having a direct bus was truly a blessing!

Tanya tugged discreetly at Chu Ning’s sleeve and whispered, “You forgot to pay your fare! Hurry up, or who knows what might happen!”

She spoke from hard-earned experience; the last time, she had nearly become a permanent passenger on this bus, only saved by a timely deposit from a friend that allowed her to escape a dire fate.

The driver’s head turned all the way around, his bloodshot eyes glaring at Tanya. He was about to warn her, but Chu Ning’s voice interrupted him.

“Oh right! I forgot about the fare. Sorry, sorry! I’ll pay right away, please wait a moment, driver.” Chu Ning apologized as he smacked his forehead, searching his pockets for his remaining change, reluctantly pulling out the coins to hand over.

“No need, it’s on me this time! Just sit tight and enjoy the ride—do me this favor,” the driver replied heartily, his body snapping back to normal as he firmly declined Chu Ning’s offer.

“Thanks for the trouble, sir!” Chu Ning accepted the gesture without fuss. After all, saving a bit of money was always welcome, and from the driver’s expression, he seemed happy with the arrangement as well.

Tanya stared in astonishment at this scene. This world, it seemed, was unequal even in death. She thought of her own first ride on this bus—the fear she’d felt, the driver’s rough and forceful manner—and felt an ache in her heart.