I Became a Witch in a World Full of Urban Legends

Chapter 18: Half a Man

Remember when we were young? We used to go to those haunted places! We had a lot of fun, didnt we? Why are you so scared now?

Excuse me? Just run away? Youre carrying that iron lump around! We arent getting far with that thing around!

Sumi joked around while reaching out to touch Acala, the Immovable, but was pushed away mercilessly by Lu Yibei.

Back off! This is my saviour! I wont let your filthy hands desecrate it!

Woah, okay, Sumi withdrew his hand, leaning against the edge of the door. That iron lumpcan it ward off evil spirits?

Tsk, who knows?

Yibei turned away and said, I used this to kill a man last night. It does more than ward off evil spirits.

Forget it, Sumi waved his hands. You can sleep over tonight, but

A wretched smile appeared on his face, and his jet-black eyes wandered back and forth on Lu Yibeis body hungrily.

Lu Yibei stepped back and covered his chest vigilantly with both hands, H-hey! I treat you like you are my brother, and you want me to pay you back?

Not that way! Even if you wash up and strip yourself and present yourself on my bed, Im not interested! Sumi laughed. I want to eat your food! I dont want to eat disgusting takeout anymore.

Like Lu Yibei, Sumi grew up in a single-parent family. His mother was busy, so half of his meals were eaten at Yibeis house.

However, ever since Yibeis father got into an accident, he hadnt eaten in his house for two whole years.

Please? I dont ask for much Maybe I want some steamed fish, mapo tofu, meat and garlic, stir-fried eggplants

Okay, okay Lu Yibei interrupted. Ill cook them, but you have to pay for the ingredients.

Of course! Thats a trivial matter.

Lets get some vegetables then. Yibei rolled his eyes. Im guessing that you dont have many ingredients in your fridge except for frozen food.

Sumi took out his wallet and handed it over to Yibei, smiling, You know me.

W-wait! Give me your guitar bag!

Excuse me?

Youre just going to shop for ingredients do you really need to bring that thing around?

Lu Yibei patted the statue as he stuffed it into the guitar bag and handed it over to Sumi: Help me carry it.

After leaving Peony Street and a short kilometre walk to the east, they pass through an alley surrounded by old buildings and reach the gate of a local market. 

The farmers market has been around for quite some time. The sign above the rusty iron gate has long since faded, but Yibei vaguely remembers that it was called the [Jiuliu Vegetable Market].

Buns! Come get your steamed buns!

Freshly baked!

Fresh fish! Get yer fresh fish ere!

It had just been ten minutes, and Yibei had practically filtered out all the bargaining cries in the market. When he was young, he would follow his father to this same market and stare at the items as if he were in a zoo.

He didnt feel disgusted in this dirty and dingy market. In fact, he felt warm.

However, this intimate feeling lasted only for a short moment.

His eyes burnt.

In the air, streaks of turbid, grey air flowed.

He could hear the fish and the shrimp in the tiny tubs of water chatting in a strange language and the whines and cries of the chickens and ducks that pierced through his brain.

On the hook of the butchers stall was a pigs leg. Grey fog surrounded the leg, forming a whole pig that whispered faintly to nothing.

Great. Now Ill feel guilty for eating.

Young man, would you like some beef and mutton? Freshly slaughtered!

Turning around, he could see that same grey fog wrapping around the meat, and the grey fog took the shape of a pig.

Yibei stared straight through the butcher and said, Sorry, I dont want it.

How do you sleep at night selling me pork and telling me its beef and mutton?

Thinking of this, he turned around and froze as he peered into a shop that sold frozen meat.

It was a small shop that had white, blinding lamps that illuminated the whole shop. The owner of the shop was leaning on his recliner and fanning himself with a giant fan.

Through the frosted glass of the freezer, one could vaguely see a cloud of mist swimming inside.

The mist took the shape of a chicken, a duck, cattle, sheep, and

half a man!

Half of the man was cut from top to bottom, and one could see the cross-section of the man as well. It was extremely messy as if he had been cut with a blunt knife.

The fog was lying face up on the edge of the freezer. His messy, long, black hair hung all the way to the ground. His facial features seemed obscured by the fog. He would groan every time a customer walked past.

Lu Yibei felt his stomach turn and couldnt help but run away.

Peony Street.

Meanwhile, Sumi picked up his phone and spread the news about the return of his old neighbour.

Hey, Liu! Lu Yibei is back in town! Want to come over to my house and eat?

Hey! Uncle Zhang? Yibeis back in town, and I heard he was making pork livers with pickled peppers. Come over and grab a plate!

Lili, its me! N-no, Im not here to make a confession. Lu Yibeis cooking lunch today. Want to come over for a meal?

When Lu Yibei hurried back, there were already several people sitting in front of the gate. They all cast expectant gazes at him but fell silent upon seeing him return empty-handed.

Seeing this, Sumi laughed. He pulled Yibei to the side and whispered, Why did you come back empty-handed? I called everyone over! And

I-I Lu Yibeis chest violently heaved as he tried to catch his breath. You wont understand.

Thinking of the human-shaped mist in the freezer, his face turned pale, and he hastily threw Sumis wallet back to him, saying, Forget it. You wont believe me. If you want to eat what I cook, buy the ingredients for me.

O-okay, Ill go buy them. Why are you crying, anyway?

Lu Yibei motioned for him to hurry up and leave.

Wait!

Whats the matter?

D-dont buy frozen meat!

Alright! The freshest meat for Chef Lu!

And dont buy the beef and buttons from Booth 37!

Oooookay, anything else?nove(l)bi(n.)com

Thats it.