Huckster (百夜楼)

[This story is purely fictional. Any resemblance is coincidental.]

Make way for the dead!

Chief,

the weather has been kind this year.

The Dashiye statue for today's sea ritual is even taller than last year's.

Next year should be another good one.

It's all thanks to Dashiye's blessing.

Chang,

have you found your wife?

Don't even get me started.

Probably ran off with some guy again.

Chief,

I'm gonna go check on the temple first,

just in case anything goes sideways during the ritual.

Okay.

Wrap them up.

Okay.

- Master. - Master.

You're back.

Master, you're back.

The offerings must be fresh.

Use the largest incense burner.

Secure the statue's frame tight!

Okay.

Pay attention to the details!

Yes, Master.

- Okay! - You got it!

Let's get to it!

How is it going?

Everything is ready.

Once the procession passes,

we can welcome Dashiye in.

Fire! Fire!

- It's on fire! - Fire!

Get water! Put it out!

Who did this?

Hurry, put it out!

Put out the fire!

- Put out the fire! - Hurry! Get water!

Damn you!

Move!

Master, this is bad.

The statue is ruined,

Dashiye will punish us!

This is the only way.

There's no other choice.

Forgive us, Dashiye.

Next year, we will rebuild your golden body

and keep your incense burning forever.

Master, they're here!

They're here!

Welcome Dashiye in!

Unveil the banners!

Get down!

Hey!

What are you doing up there?

Get down, now!

Get down!

Oh no!

Dashiye's angry!

He's angry!

Somebody, help!

Master!

Master, are you alright?

Master!

Begone, all evils!

Begone, all evils!

Settle the soul, still the spirit!

Settle the soul, still the spirit!

Lingbao Tianzun,

guard this form.

Shield his soul,

and the mysteries within.

I have questions for you.

Are you Dashiye?

Then are you looking for someone?

For him?

Is he the one who killed you?

Where is the body?

Open the statue! Now!

That's against the rules!

This is forbidden!

Master!

I dare any of you to try!

Breaking open the statue

is sacrilege!

If Dashiye punishes us,

and the disasters

strike the people,

can you answer for the consequences?

Chief, you're the head of this clan,

please say something!

Please say something...

This is about a human life,

open it!

Chief, you can't open it!

Dashiye is watching us!

How can you let him deceive us

with his lies?

Chief!

It's true!

So you sealed the body in the statue,

wanting to burn it at sea?

Oh, Chang...

You have lost your mind!

You can leave now.

I've settled this for you.

Master Feng, Master Feng!

Save me!

Save me!

Save me!

Chang,

how could you do this?

No one

can save you from this!

Hua killed him!

This is karma!

Karma,

this is karma!

Hua,

you have had your revenge,

you can rest.

Go in peace now.

Such a eerie night.

A small token of our gratitude.

I travel across the land

to vanquish evil.

I am not a man who craves money.

But if I don't take any money,

you would surely feel guilty.

So, I shall accept with humble gratitude.

Where's the money?

Didn't you say you don't want it?

I accept with humble gratitude!

Give it to Master Feng!

Excuse me.

Chief, what about Dashiye?

The rules must be upheld.

Send off Dashiye!

Cigarettes! Matches!

Monkey,

we've made a name for ourselves around Panyu.

What do they call me?

Master Ma!

Business has been booming lately.

If we pull off another big job,

we can turn our luck around.

What are you thinking about?

How do you think Chang died?

That Taoist priest looked shifty.

It must be him.

What's wrong?

You mean that Taoist priest helped Chang hide the body,

and then killed him to shut him up?

Who cares?

We've done our job and earned our money.

Oil sellers don't sell cigarettes.

It's none of our business.

Let's go.

What's the meaning of this?

Don't play dumb.

We agreed that we'll split it fifty-fifty after it's done.

I'll save this money for you

so you can marry a wife by the end of the year.

Besides, you should call me uncle!

- You don't trust me? - Cut it out!

You old swindler, trying to take advantage of me again!

Don't worry about it.

It's not the thief I fear, but that he's always watching.

Wait!

You little brat, wait for me!

Folks!

Excuse me!

Make way!

Make way!

Stop! Stop!

Make way!

Ma!

Chunfeng!

I missed you so much!

Go ahead.

I have something to do.

Chunfeng...

I'll save this money for you

so you can marry a wife by the end of the year.

You little brat, come back here!

You!

He's...

He's getting in the way!

Chunfeng, please,

can I put this on my tab?

Get lost!

What the...

Gouzi!

Monkey's back!

Let's go.

Hurry up.

Let's go.

Hurry up.

Come here.