"You're saying my wife has provoked a vengeful spirit?"
In the middle of the night at the Marquis's ancestral hall, after hearing Ban Xia's general explanation, Minister Hou still couldn't believe it.
Ban Xia frowned: "But I have a feeling that what happened to your wife wasn't done by this enemy from her past life."
"So you're suspecting me then?"
"No, when I first entered your wife's chamber, I sensed a sinister aura, and this aura is completely different from that old ghost... I can't quite explain it properly."
"Can't explain it properly? Then you..."
Before Minister Hou could finish his sentence, Xuan Ye had already sprung into action, first signaling them to be quiet, then placing a hand on his sword hilt.
"He's here."
With just these three words, the Moonlight Sheen Blade was already drawn with a ringing sound, flying through the air to the top of a laurel tree in the courtyard.
Sure enough, a dark figure was hiding beneath the tree. After being exposed, it charged straight toward the ancestral hall, flipping its palm to send the coffin lid flying.
Seeing this, Minister Hou's eyes turned red as he rushed forward to block its path, shouting fiercely: "You've already killed her! What more do you want!!"
"She's dead..." the figure stammered, its back hunched, fingers pitch black - it was the same old ghost who had been pounding frogs that Ban Xia had seen earlier.
"How could she die." After a moment, it muttered again, ten black fingers gripping the coffin edge, crushing the nanmu wood into powder: "I haven't even arrived yet, haven't caught her, one by one... plucking out her fingernails, haven't even heard her screams yet, how could she die!!"
"But she's already dead. Moreover, you absolutely won't have any chance to search for her reincarnation."
Xuan Ye's cold voice came from nearby as he hooked his finger, the Moonlight Sheen Blade cutting through the wind to point directly between the ghost's eyebrows.
At the same time, on the street in front of Phoenix Nest Brothel, Chi Xue hugged his Layered Lotus, so hungry he couldn't take another step, and could only squat by the wall.
His master's worries had been justified - he was indeed a fool. Not long after leaving home, all his money had been swindled, his luggage lost, his fur coat stolen, and before even reaching the capital, he had completely become a beggar.
"Beggar, that beggar, hey, I'm talking to you!" Someone came out from Phoenix Nest Brothel, hands on hips shooing him away: "Get lost right now! If you dirty my ground, I'll make you pay!"
"Oh." Chi Xue responded, hugging his flower, "Auntie, can I walk away? I'm a bit stupid, not very good at rolling, not like my little dog Ah Huang who goes tumble-tumble when he rolls."
This made the madam burst out laughing, thinking what kind of fool was this, then she glared fiercely: "Roll, you must roll! You've dirtied my wall!"
"Oh." Chi Xue responded again, putting down his flower, head toward the ground, buttocks raised, and actually rolled once with a tumble, though he rolled crookedly, his forehead hitting the wall with a loud "thump," making quite a commotion.
The madam was beside herself with laughter, leaning against the wall gasping for breath, just thinking about how to continue tormenting him when Feng Yi came out.
"Madam, why are you bullying him?" Feng Yi reeked of alcohol, eyes drowsy from drink, as she came over to help Chi Xue up: "This young man looks so handsome, he must have fallen on hard times. You shouldn't treat him like this."
"Why are you out here? What about the guests? Didn't three distinguished guests arrive?""The distinguished guests have all been knocked out by me, and right now they're hugging the table legs vomiting." Feng Yi laughed. Though clearly a courtesan, she carried a certain heroic air. "I'm not doing so well either, just came out for some fresh air." After speaking, she pulled a piece of broken silver from her pocket and placed it in Chi Xue's arms.
"Young man, take this for now. Everyone faces urgent needs and unexpected difficulties."
"My name is Chi Xue," Chi Xue stammered.
"So it's Young Master Chi, my apologies."
"I can't take your money. I'm not a beggar."
"Then consider it a loan from me." Feng Yi laughed again, truly spirited and not the least bit coy. "You can repay me another day."
Chi Xue looked at himself, clearly lacking confidence in his ability to repay, his face flushing red as he struggled for words. Finally, he suddenly said, "Then let me tell your fortune! I can read fortunes."
"Alright." Feng Yi bent down. "Then tell me, when will I escape this soul-crushing sea of fire?"
Chi Xue nodded, took one of her hands, pricked her fingertip, squeezed out a drop of blood, and solemnly smeared it on his own eyelids before closing his eyes.
Using the Mind-Calming Technique, the world instantly fell silent—windless, rainless, desireless, selfless.
Vague images began to emerge.
A copper coin, a reddish-brown snake, a cave, ghosts... and moans of pleasure.
He saw Feng Yi with wide-open eyes, her expression terrified as if the sky were collapsing and the earth giving way.
The vision ended at that moment. Drenched in sweat, he gripped Feng Yi's wrist tightly and said, "You're facing great calamity, very soon, related to a snake!"
Feng Yi was stunned for a moment, then laughed after a while. "Is that so?" She seemed completely unconcerned.
Chi Xue's heartbeat gradually returned to normal as he caught his breath, then added, "But it might not be accurate. My foresight is always half right, half wrong."
The madam laughed upon hearing this. "Half right, half wrong? Isn't that just useless? Hah..."
Chi Xue lowered his head.
"It's alright." Feng Yi looked up and smiled, her bright eyes and white teeth gleaming. "Thank you anyway." After speaking, she turned to go back.
"You should still be careful. Remember... remember... don't touch any copper coins!" Chi Xue shouted after her.
"Alright," Feng Yi replied casually, waving her hand as she stepped through the courtyard gate.
"It probably wasn't him."
At Vice Minister Hou's residence, the battle ended in three minutes. Ban Xia watched as the old ghost was collected into Moon Glow, feeling vaguely unsettled. After stating it once, she repeated, "It definitely wasn't him."
"Not him," Xuan Ye said deeply, sheathing his blade. "If it were him, he wouldn't have taken such a risk to come here investigating. He would've fled right after taking revenge."
"Then who could it be!" Vice Minister Hou's voice rose.
"Still unknown," Xuan Ye replied, supporting his forehead as if overwhelmed by exhaustion, his voice hoarse. "If Lord Hou permits, we could stay at your residence to continue investigating this matter thoroughly."
"Of course," Vice Minister Hou, having witnessed him collecting ghosts, was thoroughly convinced. He turned and called for the steward. "Please follow the steward, Taoist priest. He will arrange guest rooms for you both."
After all, he still thought Xuan Ye was a Taoist priest.
Xuan Ye didn't explain, following the steward all the way with unsteady steps. After entering the guest room, he bolted the door and didn't say another word to Ban Xia.
The next day, the sun was high when Ban Xia woke naturally. After eating the breakfast provided by the Hou residence, she went to knock on Xuan Ye's door.
To her surprise, the usually diligent Master Xuan had also just gotten up and was washing his face with a square handkerchief.His face was somewhat pale, and with his handsome features, his profile looked exceptionally beautiful. Ban Xia leaned against the doorframe, enjoying watching him wash his face while making casual conversation: "You say you're not a Taoist priest, so how did you learn to collect ghosts?"
"Like you, it's innate," Xuan Ye replied, still with that harmless gentleness.
"Innate?"
"Yes, ever since I encountered this blade, I naturally gained this power, as if it had been unsheathed overnight."
"When did you encounter this blade?"
Xuan Ye didn't get to answer this question because the manor's steward rushed in urgently, panting, bringing crucial news: "The master's friend from the Ministry of Justice sent word that another woman died last night, in exactly the same manner as the mistress. The master requests both of you to go to the side hall to depart together for investigation."
At the Gu residence, Gu Wanyun's corpse remained in the room. Master Gu was still away, and Madam Gu, overwhelmed by grief, had lost her senses, persistently insisting that her daughter wasn't dead and refusing to allow the coroner to examine the body.
Ban Xia's cunning came into play here. She approached, bowed to Madam Gu, and claimed to be an immortal master from Mount Mao who could exorcise demons and pacify spirits, summoning the young lady's soul back.
Madam Gu looked at her and actually believed, clutching her wrist tightly: "Yes, yes, my daughter is just bewitched. Great immortal, quickly summon my daughter's soul back!" After saying this, she dragged her into the room.
Inside the room, Gu Wanyun's corpse had turned cold, the arm-width ligature mark on her neck had purpled, and even the blood below her waist had darkened and hardened.
Raped then murdered - this point left no doubt.
While searching the room, Ban Xia clearly sensed that evil aura again - cold and damp, carrying the chill of millennia without sunlight.
She hugged her arms tightly and retreated several steps. Carelessly, she happened to bump into the table behind her.
The copper coin on the table thus clattered down, coincidentally landing right by her feet again.
She bent down and picked up the coin.
The strange red mark on the copper coin had disappeared, just like last time in Yuan Fang's room - this was just an ordinary copper coin.
Ban Xia frowned, completely clueless. Just as she was about to ask something, she heard noisy commotion outside.
"Elegant Confinement! Elegant Confinement!! Chi Xue finally found you!!!"It was the flower-clutching, silly Chi Xue, who had now found the Gu residence and was breaking through all obstacles, charging straight toward Xuan Ye."
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