“Is that so?”
Lu Zheng feigned surprise, looking at Ai Weng, “Brother Feng said he promised to marry your daughter after passing the imperial exams, and only then did you pass on to him a technique that could enhance his literary aura.”
Ai Weng’s pupils contracted sharply.
Lu Zheng turned to Ai Heng, “Brother Feng also asked me to ask Miss Ai, since he promised to marry you after passing the exams, why are you still uneasy and put a curse on him?”
“What!” Ai Heng exclaimed in shock, “I didn’t put a curse on Feng Lang. Has Feng Lang been affected by someone else’s dark magic?”
Her words carried deep concern.
“Hmm?” Lu Zheng blinked, feigning confusion, “Could it be that Brother Feng lied to me?”
“What’s wrong with Feng Lang?” Ai Heng floated closer, her face full of worry as she asked.
“Has Feng Jin practised the ‘God-Devouring Technique’?” Ai Weng asked in a grave tone.
“What?” Ai Heng was startled again, “Has Feng Lang really practised the ‘God-Devouring Technique’?”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, “So, the ‘God-Devouring Technique’ wasn’t passed on to him by you?”
Ai Weng shot a fierce glare at Ai Heng.
Ai Heng shrank back, “I, I didn’t know the ‘God-Devouring Technique’ was…”
“You lot aren’t Feng Jin’s friends, are you?” Ai Weng scrutinised Lu Zheng and his companions, “You all carry an air of distinction. Even with Feng Jin’s literary talent, he could hardly have friends like you. Has his practice of the ‘God-Devouring Technique’ been exposed?”
Lu Zheng cupped his hands and recounted Feng Jin’s confession.
…
“Nonsense!” Ai Weng roared.
“Feng… Feng Lang… did she really say that about me?” Ai Heng’s face was full of disbelief, shaking her head, “No, it can’t be, you’re lying to me… you’re lying!”
As she spoke, Ai Heng’s black hair began to move without wind, her white dress billowing. The surrounding temperature dropped sharply.
Lifting her head, her beautiful face turned deathly pale, her eyes like deep abysses, lips dark and cyan, transforming in an instant from a delicate, melancholic woman into a vengeful spectre.
“Calm down!”
Ai Weng bellowed, pressing a hand on Ai Heng’s shoulder, “I told you long ago that Feng Jin was no good!”
As his aura surged, the hand on Ai Heng’s shoulder grew to a foot wide, thick-skinned, with dark veins and festering sores, nails sharp and grey.
At the same time, Ai Weng’s eyes bulged like bronze bells, his mouth splitting to his ears, a thick, black tongue lolling out.
A wave of ghostly energy erupted, suppressing Ai Heng’s aura.
“Hiss…”
Lu Zheng gasped. These two ghosts were not weak.
Moreover…
Though Ai Weng seemed to be restraining Ai Heng, their combined auras surged towards Lu Zheng and his three companions!
This was both a test and a warning!
Lu Zheng’s gaze sharpened, faint clouds of energy gathering around him, flowing subtly, as if he were an immortal.
Zhu Yushan’s expression grew serious, moonlight breaking through the manor’s illusion, forming a beam that shone upon him, waves of cool energy radiating around him.
Li Hanyu conjured a pool of water beneath her feet, rippling softly with a faint swirling sound.
Though Liu Qingyan hid behind Lu Zheng, a faint demonic energy emanated from her, two vague, fluffy white shadows forming behind her.
In that moment, ghostly energy clashed with divine aura, moonlight spilled, and demonic power surged.
…
Moments later, Ai Weng and Ai Heng reverted to their human forms.
Ai Heng remained silent, while Ai Weng chuckled and cupped his hands towards Lu Zheng, “My daughter has been unruly, I hope you all can forgive her.”
Lu Zheng restrained his true energy, cupped his hands, and asked seriously, “May I ask…”
Then, Ai Weng told Lu Zheng a story similar to Feng Jin’s but with a different outcome.
…
They were ghosts of the Dongxiang mass burial ground, avoiding the underworld and causing no trouble.
Two years ago, Feng Jin stumbled into Ai Manor, feeling melancholic and enamoured with the scenery, requesting to stay for a while.
Ai Manor’s illusion was profound, persisting even in daylight. Ai Weng, taking pity on him, allowed him to stay, often discussing poetry and literature with him, offering encouragement.
Later, Feng Jin met Ai Heng, winning her heart with sweet words and learning from her that Ai Weng possessed the ‘God-Devouring Technique,’ which could enhance literary aura.
Feng Jin boldly asked Ai Weng for the technique.
Ai Weng refused, saying it was an evil technique, harmful to others and oneself.
Incidentally, Ai Heng initially only knew its name, not its details.
But Feng Jin, believing Ai Weng was withholding it, persuaded Ai Heng to steal the ‘God-Devouring Technique,’ then fled with it.
…
“With his honeyed words, he promised Hengniang he’d marry her after passing the exams. She believed him completely, stole my ‘God-Devouring Technique’ without even looking at it, gave it to her lover, and helped him escape!”
Ai Weng said, “I told Hengniang the dangers of the ‘God-Devouring Technique.’ She still trusted him, saying he’d return it soon, or wouldn’t practise it, or would bring it back when he came to propose after passing the exams.”
Lu Zheng smacked his lips. According to Ai Weng, Feng Jin was quite the character.
An ordinary scholar, he truly deceived a ghost, a vengeful spectre no less, not only winning her affection and stealing a technique but also escaping safely.
Who knows if Feng Jin ever suspected Hengniang’s true nature…
After finishing the story, Ai Weng asked, “So, Feng Jin…”
Lu Zheng nodded, “Feng Jin killed four scholars, and it’s been exposed.”
“What!” Ai Heng stepped back in shock.
“Hmph!” Ai Weng snorted, “From the moment he took the ‘God-Devouring Technique’ and didn’t return, I knew this day would come!”
“Father—”
Ai Heng looked at Ai Weng.
Ai Weng glared, “What are you looking at? Do you expect me to save him?”
“Feng Lang was momentarily foolish. Since his path to the exams is now cut off, why not bring him to the manor…”
“Foolish! Feng Jin used the ‘God-Devouring Technique’ in the prefecture. The Bureau of Anomalies will surely intervene, perhaps even trace it back to us. Do you think these four are just here for sightseeing?”
Lu Zheng waved a hand, “We also wanted to see a real haunted manor, having never seen one before.”
Ai Heng, “…”
Ai Weng, “…”
“We’re not from the Bureau of Anomalies,” Lu Zheng explained, “We were just entrusted by them to investigate your background and involvement in this case.”
Ai Weng nodded, “So…”
“We won’t act, but I’ll relay your account to the Bureau,” Lu Zheng said calmly, “As for the truth, that’s up to them.”
“Heh…”
Ai Weng chuckled, his eyes flickering.
Though Lu Zheng said this, his ability to investigate on behalf of the Bureau showed that he and his companions were recognised for their strength and status.
Perhaps a single word from Lu Zheng could influence the Bureau’s final stance towards Ai Weng and his daughter.
So…
Ai Weng said earnestly, “Everything I’ve said is true. We only wish to live quietly here, avoiding even underworld affairs. I hope you’ll put in a good word for us with the Bureau.”
“By the way, since you’re guests and our meeting is fate, I have nothing like tea or snacks to offer. Seeing you fine young men and women, clearly two divine couples, I have a small gift. Please don’t refuse.”
Ai Weng reached into his robe, pulled out a book, and with a wave, it floated gently to Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng caught it and looked down.
“Yin-Yang Harmony Soul-Nourishing Method.”
“This technique, though unorthodox, is merely supplementary, with no drawbacks. It’s a secret art for intimate settings, slightly weakened for greater pleasure, so it’s overlooked by profound sects. Still, daily practice is good for nurturing the soul and spirit, perfect for you all.”
Lu Zheng blinked, took a deep breath, and naturally tucked the book into his robe. After a moment’s thought, he added pointedly, “Make sure the ‘God-Devouring Technique’ isn’t passed on again.”
Ai Weng immediately understood, “What Feng Jin stole was the original. I haven’t made a new copy.”
Lu Zheng nodded, pondered briefly, then turned to the still-reluctant Ai Heng, saying softly, “Miss Ai…”
Ai Heng looked at him, her eyes wavering.
Lu Zheng didn’t mind, smiling slightly and saying pointedly, “Feng Jin already has a wife in Yizhou Prefecture.”
Ai Weng’s eyes lit up.
“What?” Ai Heng trembled, stepping back as if struck by lightning.
“Buzz!”
The jade seal in his mind quivered, suddenly gaining over twenty strands of fortune’s light.
Tch, problem solved, with an unexpected bonus!
…
Who’d have thought a casual lie would yield fortune’s light?
“Jade Seal, why do I feel you’re leading me astray?”
Jade Seal, “…”
…
The next morning, Lu Zheng and his three companions bid farewell to Ai Weng and Ai Heng, leaving the manor.
They had no choice. The manor had nothing edible for normal people. Feng Jin could eat there under the illusion’s influence, but Lu Zheng lacked that mindset.
In Dongxiang, they shared the story they heard at the manor with Captain Jin, who was waiting.
“I’ve given you both sides’ accounts. The rest has nothing to do with us. Personally, I find the two ghosts’ story more credible than Feng Jin’s.”
Lu Zheng added, “By the way, a friendly reminder: those two ghosts have over a century of cultivation each, one a giant corpse, the other a vengeful spectre. If you plan to act, be careful.”
Captain Jin shook the written account Lu Zheng had provided the previous night, a factual summary without Ai Weng or Ai Heng’s signatures.
“Dongxiang hasn’t reported any cases related to the mass burial ground in years, showing these ghosts know the rules. As long as they don’t take lives, the Great Jing Dynasty tolerates them.”
Thanking Lu Zheng and his companions, Captain Jin tucked away the account, mounted his horse, and rode off.
Lu Zheng and his group boarded their carriage. Old Huang cracked the whip, his voice brimming with excitement.
“Giddy-up! Giddy-up!”
