Chapter 149
Chapter 149
Following the compass’s guidance, Yan Zhengchu arrived before the gate of a side courtyard in Yuelai Villa.
Seeing that the courtyard gate had been locked shut and that weeds had grown wild in front of it, he guessed no one had been here for a very long time.
The chains were mottled with rust as well. Even if he found the key, there was no guarantee the gate would open.
He frowned slightly, then simply pushed off from the ground, leaped up onto the courtyard wall, and jumped straight inside.
The scene within was much the same as outside. The courtyard was overgrown with wild grass and tangled branches. With no one to trim or tend them, even in the bleak of winter, they were enough to obscure the buildings on either side.
It was hard to imagine that a place as grand and splendid on the outside as Yuelai Villa would have such a desolate corner hidden within it.
Who could have once lived in this courtyard…?
As Yan Zhengchu wondered, he came to the main house. When he looked up, he discovered a Black Talisman pasted to the door.
His steps halted. He could not help stopping in place.
As the saying went, people could be good or wicked-and talismans were no different.
Only practitioners with crooked hearts would use a Black Talisman.
Looking at the Talisman above, Yan Zhengchu immediately understood.
No wonder he had not sensed the presence of a Yin Soul at all after entering the villa last night.
So it had been “suppressed” by this Black Talisman.
But this ghost clearly carried heavy resentment and powerful obsession. Even though its soul had been suppressed, the resentment it had accumulated over the years could still turn into a shadow and wander through the villa.
And the reason it had stolen Yu Lang’s shadow was likely to make them stay and seek their help.
Yan Zhengchu immediately took out a Yellow Talisman and placed it over the Black Talisman. As he silently recited an incantation, the two talismans repelled each other and soon burst into flames, burning to ash.
At that moment, a cold, sinister wind rose violently in the courtyard. The doors and windows rattled under the gusts, as though something inside was about to rush out.
The whistling sound was like a sob, chilling the listener to the bone.
Seeing this, Yan Zhengchu took a step back. Then, with a creak, the door sprang open, and a shadow swiftly drifted out from within.
His gaze sharpened. He cast out a Soul-Gathering Talisman, and when he saw the shadow land and take human form, it confirmed the guess in his heart.
Daoist Yan’s feelings were complicated as he walked up to the ghost and asked in a low voice, “Tell me. How do you want us to help you?”
–
Led by a servant, Xia Ximo arrived before Miss Shen’s courtyard.
Her arrival startled the two old women guarding the entrance and chatting idly.
Though they did not know what was going on, how could outsiders be allowed into the inner residence?
One of the old women immediately blocked the path. “Who are you? This place is not-”
Before she could finish, a white shadow drifted past before her eyes.
The next second, both old women froze where they stood and lost consciousness.
Lantern Spirit Wuyou was finally able to come out for some air.
Floating in midair, it said rather smugly to Xia Ximo beside it, “I solved a little problem for you in passing. No need to thank me…”
Xia Ximo still did not appreciate the gesture and walked straight into the courtyard.
Just as Yan Zhengchu had said, the main house was locked. At this moment, only one maid stood guard by the door.
When the maid saw an unfamiliar woman barging into the courtyard alone, she was puzzled at first.
But as the other party drew closer, fear surged through her heart.
“Open the door.”
Xia Ximo coldly uttered two words, her pressure overwhelming.
Meeting those cold, shadowed eyes, the maid instantly trembled. She did not dare refuse and immediately took out the key to unlock the door.
The moment the door opened, the floor inside was revealed to be a complete mess, covered with shattered bowls, plates, and cups. A foul smell of medicinal soup still hung in the air.
At first glance, it did look like a room where an invalid might live.
But it was absolutely not the boudoir of a young lady from a wealthy family.
And on closer inspection, not only was the door locked, but every window had been sealed shut as well, leaving the room utterly cut off from the light of day.
It was plainly a prison.
Xia Ximo frowned.
As for Miss Shen of the Shen Family, Shen Yue, she was curled up on a small couch. She looked sallow and emaciated, her expression dazed.
Faced with the strangers who had suddenly entered, she was tense and terrified, yet she only hugged herself into a tight ball, watching their every move with wary eyes.
Taking in the state of the room, Wuyou could no longer hold back and burst out angrily, “That Old Man Shen is utterly inhuman, isn’t he? He tells everyone outside how much he dotes on his daughter, and this is how he treats her?”
“This isn’t just hypocrisy. His conscience has rotted through!”
Xia Ximo had just been about to take a few steps closer to Shen Yue.
Unexpectedly, Shen Yue immediately snatched up a pillow and hurled it at her, crying out in a hoarse voice, “Don’t come near me! I don’t want to take medicine, and I don’t want to get married!”
Her hands clenched her sleeves tightly. From how hard she was gripping them, faint blue veins stood out on the backs of her pale, skeletal hands.
Who knew what kind of coercion she had suffered these past days to make her so defensive?
Xia Ximo silently took a step back, keeping a certain distance from her. Then she asked, “What exactly has your father, Shen Li, done to you?”
At the sound of the name Shen Li, Shen Yue abruptly lifted her head. Her eyes were filled with hatred as she shouted, each word seeming to bleed, “He is not my father!”
–
When the words “marry into Ling Family Village” came from Ren Fengjue’s mouth, Shen Li’s gaze turned dark and terrifying, as if he were ready to kill.
He seemed to loathe the words “marry into” with every fiber of his being. Gritting his teeth, he corrected him resentfully, “This place is Yuelai Villa. It has nothing to do with the Ling Family.”
Ren Fengjue nodded, but said, “Yuelai Villa is indeed a fine name. Miss Shen is named Shen Yue, and the Old Master loved his daughter dearly, so all the businesses under his name were named after her.”
“As for his daughter’s marriage, that goes without saying. He spared no expense, made grand arrangements, and invited the entire county to the banquet. Such extravagance was all ‘for’ Miss Shen.”
He added in admiration, “Old Master Shen, you truly are a good husband and a good father!”
How could Shen Li not hear the meaning behind his words?
It sounded like praise, but in truth, every word was mockery.
But for Shen Li to have achieved what he had today, how could he possibly care about a sentence or two?
“Yue’er is the only child my wife and I had. If I don’t dote on her, who should I dote on?”
Yu Lang could hardly stand listening anymore and could not help cursing, “You really won’t shed a tear until you see the coffin. Your skin is as thick as it gets.”
Ren Fengjue, however, remained calm. He slowly rose and walked over to Shen Li.
“Old Master Shen, have you ever asked your own conscience whether you feel even the slightest remorse toward Madam Shen and Miss Shen?”
Though Ren Fengjue’s tone was calm, Shen Li could see that his eyes were full of scrutiny, and his presence bore down on him.
For a moment, the words reached Shen Li’s lips, yet he found himself not daring to answer.
But he also knew that he no longer had any path of retreat.
He could only force down his guilty conscience, let out two cold laughs, and ask in return, “Why should I feel remorse toward the people dearest and most beloved to me?”
Ren Fengjue smiled faintly as well, then asked, “Then what about the mother of this Young Master Qin Shu? Do you feel any guilt toward her?”
The moment those words were spoken, Shen Li froze. Qin Shu’s expression also turned unbearably ugly.