The Temple fair

The red lanterns hanging along the streets cast a faint glow, bathing everything in a blood-red hue.

But this would change at midnight when the moon shines full, a festival of the undead would appear, the streets don’t sleep, nor would the fair end.

Little Shanshan wandered in the streets, the warm lantern lights and crowded streets behind her, making the little girl with silver hair less noticeable in the crowd. Shanshan had sneaked out of her house this evening and mysteriously got lost in the mist. Then she found herself in the middle of this noisy temple fair.

But something was different about this fair. Everyone attending was a ghost or a demon. Spirits with heads of cows and horses fill the fair, while dog demons shout on the streets, selling the most attractive roast chicken that Shanshan had ever seen.

Even though Shanshan’s grandma had always told her these stories of ghosts and demons, Shanshan was frightened by the sight. She runs into the crowd, trying hard not to scream out.

She keeps running until Shanshan bumps into a lady wearing a fabric cloak and a straw hat.

“Uh…so…sor…sorry Miss…” Shanshan squeaked, her voice trembling in fear. The lady, a slim figure, turned back, lifting her straw hat. She looked human, but her skin was pale and bloodless, and her eyes were dark and unsettlingly red.

The lady crouched down, patting Shanshan’s head. Her hand felt warm, unlike the fog that surrounded Shanshan.

“Have you ever heard about wandering ghosts?” The lady said. Her voice was soft but recognizable. “A creature strapped between yin and yang, the actions they once performed. Pointless… and yet they persist.”

The lady smiled but didn’t continue. For some reason, Shanshan felt she could trust her. She held the lady’s hand as they walked deeper into the temple fair.

“About wandering ghosts,” Shanshan suddenly asked. “Is it from a folk story?”

“Have you never heard?” The lady asked.

“My Grandma used to tell me ghost stories,” Shanshan said. “But she never told the story about wandering ghosts.”

“Wandering ghosts appear because of unfinished desires or strong regrets before death,” The lady started. “Once there was a village that starved because of famine. The villagers, before death, wished for an endless festival. Where there would always be plenty of food and no one would starve.”

“As much food as the landlords own?” Shanshan asked.

“More than the landlords would ever own.” The lady answered gently.

They stopped in front of a shop, and inside a demon with the head of a cow greeted them. He sold roasted duck, which was twice as large as any Shanshan had ever seen, its crispy red skin fragrant and inviting.

The lady bought some, dropping some coins onto the counter.

“Here, have some.” The lady passed Shanshan the duck leg, which was warm and greasy, typically favored by a child like Shanshan. She bites into the duck, the crispy skin melted into savory sweetness, giving way to the perfectly tender meat inside.

They sat on benches far away from the noisy crowdWhile Shanshan finished her duck leg, the lady took a pink fruit from her sleeve and bit into it.

Shanshan noticed and looked at the fruit with curiosity.

“Would you like one?” The lady asked her, passing Shanshan one of the juicy pink fruits.

“I’m fine, thank you,” Shanshan said, passing the fruit back to the lady. “I remember seeing that kind of fruit with my friends just out in the forest. Even though they look sweet and juicy, the fruit has a strong and bitter taste, and an unbearable sourness.”

The lady paused for a second, looking at the pink fruit in her hand.

“Have you lost your taste?” Shanshan asked her.

“True, I can not taste the fruit fully,” The lady answered. “You don’t need to feel pity for me, souls who walked far along this path had always lost some parts of them.”

“But deep down, I can still taste a sense of sweetness in the red juice. Faintly, but I know it’s there.”

After their short meal, the lady accompanies Shanshan, walking among the temple fair.

The skies started to darken, and rain started to fall through the skies, extinguishing the lanterns.

The lady opened an umbrella, sheltering herself and Shanshan. The paper umbrella was patterned red. An eye-catching color, contrasting with the grey surroundings.

She stared into the puddle of water, which now reflected her image and the gloomy surroundings behind her. The only sound that could be heard was the rain dropping into the shallow lake.

“This rain seemed to have never stopped.” The girl said.

“Maybe it’s because some resentment had not yet been solved.”

“Have you ever heard of wandering ghosts?” The lady asked, “A creature wandering among yin and yang, repeating certain actions they once did. Pointless, but still one had stayed with me for a long time.”

The little girl held out her hands, trying to feel the rain. But the raindrops fell straight through her transparent hands, dropping into the lake that had formed beneath them.

“A famine struck many years ago, caused by a flood. It completely devastated this town.” The lady sighed. “Everyone left. But those who stayed, young children and old people who could not walk far, starved to death in this village.”

“I remember now.” The girl said, “It turns out to be that… I am already dead.”

“Yes.”

“And you came and stayed with me?”

“It is my job to look after every soul crossing to the far side.” The lady answered.

“Even if that is meaningless?”

“Even if it is meaningless, some jobs must be done.”

“I understand.” The soul, a young child once named Shanshan, said softly.

The rain slowly stopped, and a ray of sunlight started to appear among the horizons.

“Before I leave, can you tell me what lies among the distant shores?” The soul asked.

The lady smiled at her gently, folding her umbrella.

“Beyond the shore, you would find a land of void. But don’t be afraid, a mark of red would be there to guide your way. That is the color of existence, embrace it, and may it end your long dreams.”

She reached out and held Shanshan’s hand. “I can guide you part of the way. But you must walk the rest alone. I cannot accompany you further.”

“Before you leave, can you tell me your name?”

The lady smiled and whispered something in Shanshan’s ear. Which were quickly dissolved by the wind and blown towards the far shore.