Chapter 373: Revenge!? Murder Pattern? Night Investigation of the Xu Family Loft

“After inspecting the scene, I believe this case is not an ordinary murder, but rather related to an evil spirit. That’s why I want you to come with me.” Head Constable Wang was genuinely wary of this strange case, afraid that even a slight mistake could lead to an inexplicable death.

“Alright, I’ll go with you,” Li Yanchu nodded.

When the

yamen

requested monks or Daoists to exorcise spirits or capture ghosts, there was always a reward, and a generous one at that.

Of course, Li Yanchu wasn’t going for the bounty. He already carried tens of thousands of taels in silver, enough to purchase dozens of properties in Wei City at once.

***

The Xu family weren’t the wealthiest merchants in Wei City, but their household was solid. Mr. Xu ran a rice shop and was known for his honesty and fair pricing. His death was truly unfortunate.

“It’s a ghost! Absolutely a ghost! Wen’er’s spirit has come for revenge!”

Madam Xu, distraught, clutched the arm of the young, handsome Daoist in front of her while crying out pitifully, her face pale and eyes wide with terror.

She was Mr. Xu’s newlywed wife, and she was only nineteen, married for barely a month.

She was said to be the daughter of a wealthy southern family, well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. After her family’s decline, she was married off to Xu, who had gone to Shu City to visit friends.

Though unadorned and with her hair in disarray, her natural elegance and delicate beauty could not be concealed. She was soft-bodied and graceful, reportedly skilled in singing and dancing; she was truly a rare and charming woman.

Li Yanchu remained composed, gently withdrawing his arm and saying, “Madam Xu, please do not panic. Tell me in detail what happened last night.”

The young widow kept clinging to his arm, brushing against him, making it difficult to focus.

She raised her tear-streaked face, glanced at Li Yanchu, and re-clutched his arm while sobbing. “Then I will tell you, Daoist. You must protect me.”

Head Constable Wang’s lips twitched slightly. When he had come earlier to question her, the young and beautiful widow had not been so forward.

“Wen’er was the Old Master’s daughter. She fell in love with a poor scholar and refused the marriage arranged by her family. Her father strongly opposed it. But unexpectedly, the girl, in a moment of despair, hanged herself. Last night, in a daze, I opened my eyes and saw a figure standing by the bed; it was Wen’er with her hair disheveled!

“No matter how I called Old Master’s name, he wouldn’t wake up. I fainted, and when I opened my eyes again... Old Master... Old Master was already dead! Wen’er must have come to take revenge on Old Master!” Xu Lishi spoke incoherently, panicked and distraught.

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Li Yanchu slightly nodded, gently freeing himself from Xu Lishi’s embrace and stepping back.

A glint of spiritual light appeared in his eyes as he activated his Qi Sight and Spirit Eyes. With that, a lingering cold, oppressive aura filled the room. It was indeed haunted, it wasn’t just someone pretending to be a ghost.

When he had entered, he had already assessed the Xu family’s feng shui layout. The house was protected by concealed winds and gathered waters, normally a safe home. By rights, such a tragic incident should not have occurred.

“Daoist Master, please save me!” Xu Lishi cried out.

“Rest assured, Madam Xu. Daoist Master Yanchu is a master of exorcism and ghost-catching. A mere female ghost is no threat!” Head Constable Wang said.

Only then did Xu Lishi relax slightly. With the support of the other women in the household, she retreated to the inner chambers to rest.

After she left, Head Constable Wang looked at Li Yanchu and asked, “Daoist Master Yanchu, have you discovered any clues?”

Li Yanchu frowned. “The yin qi here is unusually dense. By all rights, since Miss Xu just died, the resentment shouldn’t be this strong.”

The more tragic the death, the stronger the grudge. A vengeful spirit that becomes a demon loses all reason, retaining only primal ferocity. Even if revenge is completed, innocent people will be slaughtered. Such a spirit must be eradicated.

Head Constable Wang pondered, “Could it be that Miss Xu’s death is not so simple? Perhaps there is a great injustice in her life?”

Li Yanchu glanced at him but said nothing.

Head Constable Wang, lost in thought, raised his eyes slightly and gave an embarrassed smile. After all, he was the

yamen

head constable; the other party was just a hired ghost-hunter, not a detective.

Li Yanchu and Head Constable Wang inspected the body of the deceased. The flesh and blood were mangled, barely recognizable as human.

What kind of hatred could produce this...?

Li Yanchu frowned.

In the world, ghosts took all sorts of forms, and their killing patterns varied wildly. For example, the beheading ghost of Zhang Family Village, who only went after heads, or the mourning ghost that targeted those who grieved and cried, or wandering ghosts who constantly asked for directions. Some ghosts liked to drain human yang qi, while others simply enjoyed playing tricks on people.

Of course, most were interested in the life force of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys of the living, savoring that fresh, tender essence.

The ghost in the Xu household, judging from the current situation, seemed to specifically target men. However, this was not certain; it could be perverse, killing men first and then women later.

Humans could have mental illnesses; naturally, so could ghosts. The mixture of corpse qi, ghostly aura, and blood qi at the scene made it difficult to distinguish.

“Such a vengeful spirit will reappear whenever its killing conditions are triggered. Tonight, I can stay here and wait for it,” Li Yanchu said.

“With Daoist Master Yanchu in charge, there’s nothing to worry about! I’ll take care of the women of the Xu household and bring them to a safe place,” Head Constable Wang replied.

Old Wang had already realized that Li Yanchu was an incredible ally, a master at slaying demons! Naturally, he chose to handle logistics rather than get in the way.

Li Yanchu took two talismans from his robe and handed them to Head Constable Wang. “These are exorcism talismans. Keep them on you just in case.”

Head Constable Wang beamed, carefully taking the yellow talismans.

Li Yanchu’s spiritual power was now profound, infused with pure yang lightning and fire. The talismans he drew carried formidable power.

***

Night fell.

Inside the Xu household’s inner chambers, a two-story loft awaited. It was a graceful space that had originally been Miss Xu’s boudoir. Since her death, it had been left vacant.

A horizontal beam in the room was where Miss Xu had hanged herself; the lingering resentment was intense. The entire loft exuded a heavy, chilling yin qi.

However, for Li Yanchu, this level of grudge was nothing. He sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed, cultivating his spirit. The Jiaoslayer rested across his knees.

He used the Sun Veil to mask his aura, appearing like an ordinary, vigorous young man.

Creak... creak... creak...

The surroundings were eerily silent and deathly still, except for the constant sound in the loft that resembled someone gnawing on bones. In the empty, cold atmosphere, it felt as if someone were chewing on their own skull, sending chills down the spine.

Suddenly, the grating gnawing sound stopped, and silence returned, more oppressive than before.

Li Yanchu opened his eyes and glanced toward the door. He saw a disheveled figure, hair matted and face obscured, crouching on the doorframe, its black silhouette forming a shadowy human shape.