Chapter 19

Chapter 19

“Another haunting?”

Yu Lang frowned. This wasn’t the first time he had heard such a claim tonight.

Shopkeeper Liu nodded like a chick pecking for grain, his tone incredibly certain. “I wouldn’t dare lie to deceive you. Moreover… I saw it with my own eyes.”

Ren Fengjue, however, remained calm. He simply asked, “Was it Zhuyan’s ghost?”

“Yes!”

There wasn’t a hint of hesitation on Shopkeeper Liu’s face. “I saw that spectral figure appear in the Young Master’s room with my own eyes. She was even crying out for his life…”

Just as Yu Lang was starting to find this absurd, Ren Fengjue took over the questioning. “You mean to say that Ren Dongxing killed Zhuyan.”

“……”

Shopkeeper Liu suddenly didn’t dare to respond.

Ren Fengjue continued his analysis. “If a ghost truly could take a life, Ren Dongxing should have been killed by Zhuyan a year ago. What happened after that?”

Shopkeeper Liu swallowed hard before carefully replying, “At that time, the vengeful spirit was indeed causing a great deal of trouble. Therefore, the Old Master invited a Taoist priest to the house to exorcise the ghost…”

Yu Lang couldn’t help but interject, “He wasn’t some traveling con artist, was he? I suspect your Master Ren must have been swindled out of quite a bit of money…”

“Vice Minister, please don’t be so skeptical…”

Shopkeeper Liu said solemnly, “That Taoist truly had real ability. He used a Soul-locking Array to trap the vengeful spirit within the formation, and then used a Soul-suppressing Talisman to seal the ghost away. Only then did peace slowly return to the manor.”

Yu Lang listened with half-belief. “Was he truly that formidable?”

Shopkeeper Liu nodded.

In the ensuing silence, Ren Fengjue picked up the teacup from the table again. Holding it in his hand, he began to pace back and forth in the reception hall.

Having worked with him for many years, Yu Lang knew this was Lord Ren’s habit when analyzing a case. Once Ren Fengjue stopped walking, Yu Lang asked impatiently, “Does Lord Ren have a lead?”

Ren Fengjue looked up at him, the corners of his lips curving slightly. “Not exactly. There is still one point I don’t quite understand.”

Based on Shopkeeper Liu’s account, it could basically be concluded that the murderer who killed Zhuyan was Ren Dongxing.

But since the incident had happened over a year ago, why was it only brought to light yesterday?

The appearance of Xia Ximo was undoubtedly the key.

And the point Ren Fengjue didn’t understand lay with this woman.

Regarding their connection, Xia Ximo had only just arrived in the capital. It was impossible for her to have any ties to the Brocade Garment Manor. How did she know there was a painter who had died a wrongful death within the manor?

Furthermore, what was her ultimate goal in taking these actions for a complete stranger?

Thinking of this, Ren Fengjue walked up to Shopkeeper Liu again and asked, “When Miss Xia came to the Clothing Manor last night, she was asking about the injustice surrounding Zhuyan, wasn’t she?”

Without waiting for the other man to answer, he followed up with another question: “Miss Xia must have also said or done something to Ren Dongxing, right? The reason he suddenly fell into a madness and literally scared himself to death must also be related to Zhuyan, isn’t it?”

Seeing that the analysis was nearly identical to the truth, Shopkeeper Liu felt a sense of admiration.

Knowing he couldn’t hide it, he immediately recounted all of Xia Ximo’s strange words and actions after she arrived at the manor last night.

After listening, Ren Fengjue felt somewhat shaken.

But just then, a worker came stumbling into the reception hall to report.

“This is bad, this is bad! The Old Master… he’s been possessed by the vengeful spirit!”

Upon hearing this, Ren Fengjue and Yu Lang exchanged a glance and rushed toward Ren Shuo’s residence in unison.

When they arrived, they saw shattered utensils scattered all over the porch. Several maidservants were crouching nearby, trembling with fear, not daring to get too close.

Having listened to “haunting” stories all night, Yu Lang was now itching to go in and investigate, but he was suddenly stopped by Ren Fengjue.

“You stay outside and keep watch.”

“……”

Vice Minister Yu took a reluctant step back, but quietly asked Shopkeeper Liu beside him, “Where is that Taoist priest you mentioned? Can we invite him here so I can see what he’s made of?”
Shopkeeper Liu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. “With you and the Young Marquis here, they would have fled long ago.”

Yu Lang clicked his tongue. “A pity.”

Ren Fengjue walked to the door alone. Through the half-open door, he cast a glance inside.

The room was unlit. Only the faint light from the corridor lamps allowed him to see a blurry figure reflected within.

Just as he reached out to push the door open, the person inside grew wary.

“Who is out there?”

It was Ren Shuo’s voice, but the tone and inflection had completely changed, carrying a faint trace of terror.

Ren Fengjue tapped lightly on the door. “Cousin Uncle, it is I.”

As the door creaked open, he prepared to step inside, but the person within suddenly let out a startled cry.

“Do not come in!”

It was still Ren Shuo’s voice, but the pitch was exceptionally sharp and grating to the ears.

Clearly, the current “Ren Shuo” was possessed by a ghost.

Ren Fengjue remained calm, standing straight before the door. He replied, “I can stay outside. However, you are not permitted to harm anyone. If you have any grievances, you might as well speak plainly. I will see justice done for you.”

These words sent a shiver down the spines of everyone listening outside.

Yu Lang was particularly shocked, looking as though his eyes had been opened to a whole new world.

If he hadn’t misheard, Lord Ren… was talking to a ghost?!

After a long silence, the “Ren Shuo” inside spoke in a hollow voice. “That I have ended up like this is all thanks to this father and son… If I cannot kill them, the resentment in my heart will never fade.”

Ren Fengjue countered with a question, “Was the one who killed you Ren Dongxing?”

“Yes.”

“He is already dead.”

“Not enough!”

“Ren Shuo” snarled, “Ren Shuo ordered someone to use sorcery to scatter my soul, intending to prevent me from ever finding peace in the afterlife. I must settle this debt with him!”

Ren Fengjue merely gave a faint smile. “The world follows the cycle of karma; it is so in life, and so in death.”

“Ren Dongxing is dead, so your debt of life and death with him is settled. If you kill Ren Shuo now, that will be another debt of life and death. Can you truly bear the consequences?”

Hearing this, “Ren Shuo” fell silent.

After a long while, a low sobbing could be heard. “But I am not resigned… I want to see this father and son get their retribution with my own eyes!”

Ren Fengjue sighed softly. “There is no need for such obsession. I can promise you that after tonight, the mortal realm will grant you justice. As for the path in the underworld, you must walk that yourself.”

After his voice trailed off, there was no further response from within.

A moment later, a dull thud echoed, followed by Ren Shuo’s pained moans and cries.

“Someone! Someone come quickly! My head hurts so much!”

Ren Fengjue pushed the door open directly, catching a glimpse of a dark shadow dissipating by the window sill. He paused slightly, sensing something strange.

Such heavy malevolent energy… it didn’t seem like an ordinary ghost.

Could it be that there was more than just Zhuyan’s ghost in this room just now?

Before he could think further, Yu Lang rushed in from outside, looking around with intense curiosity. “Lord Ren, has that ghost gone?”

Ren Fengjue glanced at him and asked instead, “What ghost? I saw nothing.”

As he spoke, he stepped forward to light the lamps in the room and instructed Shopkeeper Liu, who was hovering at the door, “Have the servants come in to clean and attend to him. Also, fetch a Household Physician to check on the Old Master’s condition.”

Yu Lang’s curiosity had reached its peak, but Ren Fengjue simply refused to take the bait.

Just as he was feeling frustrated, another announcement came from outside.

“Young Marquis, Physician Zhang says the situation is a bit strange. Miss Xia has suddenly woken up and asks for you to come over.”