Love Beyond the Grave

Lord Iril's face showed astonishment. He Simu glanced at his expression and, as if realizing she had spoken out of turn, smiled and said, "It seems you didn’t know. Then forget I mentioned it. Since the Rakshasa Hall Master’s contract with you still stands, you can’t keep my ghost anyway."

Though his expression darkened, Lord Iril forced a smile. "I wasn’t planning to keep it myself. With this Evil Ghost brother by my side, I naturally have a better place for him."

Duan Xu thought to himself, No wonder those nobles who worshipped the sacred relics in Iril’s household returned with great fortune—he must have introduced Evil Ghosts to them.

While eating, He Simu asked, "You want my ghost. What do you offer in exchange?"

"Gold, silver, jewels..."

"Boring."

"Then what does the lady desire?"

"I’ve heard Lord Iril has a garden filled with rare and exotic flowers. It’s spring now, and the fragrance must be intoxicating."

"That’s the rear garden of my estate."

"Then give me your estate as payment."

Lord Iril fell silent for a moment before replying, "We’ve lived here since arriving in Fujian City—over thirty years."

"Oh? Then give me this estate you’ve lived in for thirty years."

He Simu spoke smoothly, as if it were the most natural request.

Lord Iril’s face stiffened briefly before he laughed. "Let me think on this matter. In the meantime, why not stay at my residence? Whether the deal goes through or not, consider it a chance to make a new friend."

He Simu set down her chopsticks and tilted her head, silver hair ornaments swaying as she smiled. "I don’t make friends. But I’ll visit your estate."

Lord Iril’s expression shifted several times. In Fujian City, he was accustomed to others fawning over him—never had a Han commoner treated him with such disregard. Clenching his fists, he glared at He Simu but ultimately forced another smile. "Very well. There’s one more thing I’d like to ask. Earlier, you mentioned something about the Rakshasa Hall Master. Could you share more details?"

He Simu tapped her fingers on the table, pausing before answering carelessly, "He offended their king and has fled in fear. He’ll likely be captured and executed soon."

After a pause, she added with a smile, "You haven’t received any response when summoning him lately, have you? Honestly, this is an unwarranted disaster for you. I hear conflicts in the Ghost Realm can drag on for decades. If he remains in hiding, unresponsive, and you can’t form a new contract, your whole life will pass by. If I were you, I’d hope he perishes soon so you can find another ghost."

Lord Iril’s already grim expression turned even uglier. Yet He Simu acted oblivious, standing up cheerfully. "Weren’t you inviting me to your estate? Let’s go."

With a snap of her fingers, she signaled Duan Xu to follow and strode out leisurely. Lord Iril, unused to such audacity, stood stunned before finally calling servants to lead the way.

Duan Xu lifted a corner of his veiled hat’s black gauze, glancing back at Lord Iril before whispering to He Simu, "I don’t think I was born in the Year of the Rat—more like the Year of Bait. Commander Qin used me as bait, and now so do you."

He Simu gave him an enigmatic smile but said nothing.Fujian City was renowned as the City of Flowers, and Yilier, being the wealthiest household in the entire city, naturally had the finest garden. Rare and exotic flowers filled the grounds, and it was said that maintaining this garden alone cost tens of thousands in gold annually.

The moment He Simu arrived at Yilier’s residence, she unceremoniously plunged into his garden, examining and sniffing every corner as if determined to identify every scent. Meanwhile, Duan Xu stood beside her, arms crossed, gazing at the famous Glazed Tile Pagoda at the garden’s center.

The pagoda was a vibrant emerald green, with bells hanging from each corner. Under the sunlight, it sparkled brilliantly, its chimes delicate and melodious, woven into the fine threads of the wind. Though merely a tower housing sacred relics, without explanation, one might mistake the pagoda itself for the sacred object.

“Yilier worships Evil Ghosts but also enshrines relics of the Azure God. If the High Priest were to find out, Heaven Knows what would—” Duan Xu turned his head as he spoke, only to see the Ghost King squatting on the ground, cradling a cluster of precious white peonies known as “Mountain Path Snow,” her face nearly buried in the blossoms.

Duan Xu couldn’t help but chuckle. “Stop burying yourself like that. Even the finest nose would be ruined by your sniffing. Go to the woodshed later and take in the smell of firewood—that might restore your sense of smell a little.”

He Simu frowned and stood up. “Mortals are so troublesome.”

Duan Xu laughed heartily and steered the conversation back. “The Rakshasa Hall Master was a Han in life, wasn’t he?”

He Simu replied absentmindedly, “The Han outnumber the Hú Qì People by over three hundred times. The same holds true in the Ghost Realm. All twenty-four Hall Masters were Han in life. The laws of the Ghost Realm have nothing to do with lineage, but Han Evil Ghosts, seeing their descendants suffer oppression in the living world, naturally don’t treat Hú Qì Evil Ghosts kindly. In the Ghost Realm, it’s the Hú Qì ghosts who have it hard.”

“How ironic, the reversal of fortunes between life and death.”

“Hatred begets hatred—that’s just the way of things.”

“If the hatred of the living could be severed, would the hatred of the dead cease as well?”

He Simu gave a light laugh and walked toward the garden’s back gate. “The hatred of the living can end because the living die. After a few generations, painful memories fade, and so does the hatred. But the dead endure for centuries, and their hatred never ceases. Otherwise, why do you think becoming an Evil Ghost is considered a punishment for humans?”

Duan Xu watched her retreating figure and called out, “Where are you going?”

Without turning back, He Simu replied, “To the woodshed to smell the smoke.”

Duan Xu couldn’t suppress another laugh. She truly seemed to have come to Yilier’s mansion solely to collect scents rather than to track down the Rakshasa Hall Master. He murmured under his breath, “How adorable.”

Thanks to the Ghost King Lamp’s blessing, Duan Xu’s eyes could discern the balance between yin and yang. In Yilier’s mansion, ghostly energy was meticulously concealed—so much so that without entering the garden’s Glazed Tile Pagoda, it was nearly undetectable. Even the Wandering Souls commonly seen elsewhere were absent here.

It was said the pagoda enshrined relics of the Azure God, yet Duan Xu sensed no spiritual energy within it. Instead, faint traces of ghostly energy lingered around the tower. It seemed this pagoda wasn’t for sacred relics but for the Rakshasa Hall Master. Was the claim about the relics a lie, or did Yilier enshrine them elsewhere?Duan Xu followed his thoughts to the firewood shed, where he saw two old women leaning against the door, whispering. They spoke of how the master had invited a strange guest—a pretty girl who actually went to the firewood shed to smell the wood.

Duan Xu smiled and was about to enter when he overheard one of the women say, "That girl looks about the same age as Young Master Luda. If he were home, I’d think the master had found him a wife."

Duan Xu’s steps halted.

The other woman added, "The young master hasn’t returned since he left for the Upper Capital at ten. Seems the master doesn’t want him back."

"What nonsense! The master only has two children left. How could he not—"

Duan Xu walked past them into the shed, where He Simu was crouched, sorting through firewood. He asked, "Simu, is Yilier’s youngest son, the high-ranking official in the Upper Capital… Luda?"

He Simu held a piece of wood and looked up at him. "What, another old acquaintance of yours?"

Duan Xu’s eyes flickered slightly as he chuckled. "Old acquaintance would be too generous. Who in the Danzi Royal Court wouldn’t know the favored disciple of our Grand Priest—Young Priest Luda? Though he probably doesn’t know me."

During his time as a Heaven Knows assassin, Duan Xu had occasionally visited the Grand Priest with his mentor. Each time, he’d see Luda—three or four years his senior, with an ethereal, otherworldly air. Luda would sit quietly beside the Grand Priest, eyes lowered over a scroll, seemingly absorbed yet distant.

Luda appeared "empty," and it was said this emptiness was the most crucial quality for communing with the divine.

Yilier’s youngest son was Luda? The son of a family that raised ghosts was a nation’s Young Priest—likely to become the Grand Priest one day.

The world truly defied all reason.

"If it’s Luda… the Grand Priest would deny him nothing if he asked. Maybe Yilier really does have a sacred relic." Comparing Yilier’s rotund figure to Luda’s delicate features from memory, Duan Xu sighed. "Time is a butcher’s knife."

He Simu inhaled the fresh scent of the wood and said flatly, "Time will butcher you the same way."

Duan Xu leaned down. "Time ought to be kinder to me. After all, I’m destined to turn misfortune into fortune. Turning ugly would be a great misfortune."

His eyes flickered behind the black veil. Even obscured, his amusement was clear.

He Simu looked up at him.

Her Curse-Bound Person could be quite obedient—she’d told him to wear the veiled hat to hide his presence in the mortal world, and he never removed it outside. But sometimes…

Frowning, she pushed him away and stood. "Let’s go."

As she stepped out, the two women hastily bowed, whispering behind her back about whether the girl had just pushed air, whether she’d been talking to herself, how odd she seemed.

Duan Xu laughed and followed her out.

Yilier had vast enterprises to manage, endless social obligations, and was perpetually busy. Yet he still found time to attend to his two guests—especially Duan Xu.He was very interested in Duan Xu, this obedient "Evil Ghost," and would often subtly inquire about how Duan Xu had formed the Curse Bond with He Simu. He also hinted at the various benefits Duan Xu would gain by joining his side, boasting about the wealth and influence of the noblemen he knew.

Duan Xu would feign amazement at the right moments but remained vague about his origins, name, and stance.

The man and the ghost seemed to have come to this estate solely to freeload—eating, drinking, and lounging in the gardens.

Three days after their arrival at Yilier’s estate, Yilier suddenly rushed to find He Simu and Duan Xu, saying, "Miss Seventeen, there’s something I’d like to ask for your help with."

He Simu, idly twirling a sandalwood fan she had procured from who-knows-where, replied, "What is it?"

"My son, Luda, will soon return to Fucheng to visit me. Could you ask this Evil Ghost brother to intercept him and send him back to the Upper Capital?"