I am a sedan chair carrier, specializing in carrying people up the mountain—but never ordinary people.
Business is slow during the day, but at night it’s booming. Without an appointment, I won’t take the job.
On the night of the Ghost Festival, the fifteenth day of the seventh month, I accepted a special order and even canceled a date with my girlfriend for it. I bathed and burned incense in preparation, arriving early at the foot of the mountain—only to be stopped by several men blocking my path.
“Carry us up the mountain. We want to watch the sunrise. Name your price!”
The man tossed a wad of cash toward me, his tone arrogant.
I was about to refuse when I saw my girlfriend—who should have been home asleep—walk up and wrap her arm around his.
“Victor Hughes, the wealthiest man in Riverdale, is willing to sit in your sedan chair. You should be grateful.”
There wasn’t the slightest trace of guilt in her eyes for cheating—only smug satisfaction.
“You, a sedan carrier, could work ten years and still not make enough to buy me a single handbag. Take Victor’s order and you’ll never have to carry that shabby chair again in your life.”
I kept my face solemn but politely declined.
Victor immediately grew angry, threatening to break my arms so I could never carry a sedan again.
I could only sigh helplessly.
Because my sedan chair never carries the living.
“Ethan Cole, you penniless fool, Victor is showing you respect by hiring you to carry him. Don’t be so ungrateful.”
My girlfriend, Bella Moore, sneered and kicked at my bamboo sedan.
I frowned. For this particular client, I had specially borrowed this sedan from Marcus Lee, my senior brother. It was made from rare Yin-infused incense bamboo. If it was damaged, Marcus would have my hide.
“Bella Moore, I can overlook your cheating, but if you damage my sedan, I won’t be able to answer for it!”
Bella burst into mocking laughter.
“Ethan, has a mule kicked you in the head? How much could your broken chair possibly be worth? Victor could buy ten of them with the cost of one of his suits.”
I stared at the woman who had once seemed so gentle and lovely, now baring a face twisted with arrogance and spite, my fists clenched tight.
I had fallen for her at first sight, chased her for three years before she finally agreed to be with me. Marcus had warned me she was cursed—our fates clashed—and being with her would bring me to a bad end.
I believed love could defy fate, but now, I’d been blindsided and handed a massive green hat to wear.
Glancing at the time, I saw it was an hour until midnight.
This order was supposed to be carried with Marcus tonight. Out of respect, I’d arrived early—only to run into Victor and his crew causing trouble.
We were at Mount Hazel, a famous scenic area packed with visitors during the day. Sedan carriers at the foot of the mountain were in high demand—most people didn’t want to climb.
Clearly, Victor and his group had mistaken me for an ordinary carrier.
When they refused to let me go, I patiently explained,
“This sedan isn’t for just anyone. Besides, I already have an appointment—it’s for your own good.”
But Victor’s anger only deepened. He kicked my sedan hard.
“A mere chair carrier acting like some big shot who needs an appointment? You couldn’t even get hired as a gigolo.”
“You worthless piece of trash. Don’t you know when to take an opportunity? If it weren’t for me wanting to take Bella to see the sunrise, you think I’d look twice at this shabby thing? You’d better carry me up now.”
I looked at my overturned sedan, my face darkening. But given the special nature of tonight, I didn’t want to damage my karmic merit, so I still tried to explain calmly.
