Chapter 261
Chapter 261
The ghost infant’s laughter was ethereal and elusive, seeping into every corner.
With Yan Zhengchu covering his eyes in time, Yu Lang escaped disaster.
But Xiaoxizi and several Golden Plume Guards following behind were not so fortunate.
“A ghost infant’s eyes can seize your soul.”
Yan Zhengchu had barely finished explaining when he saw the people behind him walking into the darkness with blank stares.
He could only draw out several Protective Talismans and cast one at each of those who had fallen under the spell.
But the talismans could only protect their bodies for the time being. They could not awaken their captive minds.
With no other choice, he took the bell cord he had used earlier to summon souls from the pouch he carried. He and Yu Lang each held one end, temporarily enclosing the group.
The bells were just loud enough to drown out the ghost infant’s laughter, making it harder for him to control them.
Yu Lang gripped the cord, not daring to let go, and asked nervously, “Daoist Master, what is a ghost infant? Why would there be one here?”
Yan Zhengchu glanced at the nearby skeleton and explained, “Remember? Lady Du was about to give birth when she disappeared.”
“So?”
“The child in her womb was born carrying resentment. Naturally, he became a ghost infant.”
Yan Zhengchu added, “And this one seems to have absorbed a great deal of Yin-Sha Qi. He is even more sinister than an ordinary Vengeful Ghost or Vengeful Spirit.”
The more Yu Lang heard, the more frightened he became. He did not even dare let his eyes wander.
But soon he noticed something wrong. “Daoist Yan, have you noticed that Miss Xia seems to be missing?”
Daoist Yan had been watching the people under the spell so intently that he had paid no attention to Xia Ximo. Only Yu Lang’s reminder brought her to mind.
“You’re right. I just saw her following us. How did she suddenly disappear?”
“Could the ghost infant have seized her soul too?” Yu Lang asked.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Knowing Xia Ximo’s abilities, Yan Zhengchu was not worried. He merely speculated, “Miss Xia has always preferred acting alone. She must have noticed something. There are surely other Vengeful Ghosts and Evil Spirits hidden in these chambers. Stay close to me. Don’t get separated.”
At that, Yu Lang hastily moved closer to Daoist Yan.
Xia Ximo had indeed been following the two men.
But after entering the chamber, the scattered soul inside the Soul-Ferrying Lantern had begun trembling restlessly. A moment’s inattention, and it escaped from the lantern.
Wuyou reminded her, “She must have sensed where her Primary Soul is. If we follow her, we may find a clue.”
Thus, without alerting anyone, Xia Ximo followed the wisp of scattered soul.
The underground chambers were larger than she had imagined. She did not follow blindly, but roughly mapped out the mansion’s layout in her mind as she walked.
She estimated the distance from Ning’an Courtyard to Zhaoyang Courtyard, then to Zhenxia Courtyard.
So the spaces beneath the ground were connected as well, much like another mansion entirely.
After she had gone quite a distance, an infant’s faint crying drifted through the empty passage.
At the sound, even the scattered soul froze for a moment.
Then it began moving toward the cries.
“It’s a ghost infant,” Wuyou said again.
Xia Ximo immediately thought of the connection between the two.
When Lady Du disappeared, she must have been imprisoned underground here. That meant this ghost infant should be her child.
Thus, even with only a wisp of scattered soul remaining, the sound of her child’s cries could still stir her.
Just then, however, footsteps sounded behind her.
Xia Ximo instinctively turned. By the light of the lantern in her hand, she saw a familiar figure standing a short distance away.
It was Ren Fengjue.
“Miss Xia?”
He called to her, then walked quickly out of the darkness.
Seeing his face, Xia Ximo felt a little reassured. “How did you end up here?”
Ren Fengjue explained, “I was waiting in my room for Yu Lang and Daoist Yan to return when a Vengeful Ghost took your appearance and lured me here…”
Xia Ximo frowned. “Took my appearance?”
“If it hadn’t looked like you, I probably wouldn’t have fallen for it.”
As he spoke, Ren Fengjue pointed. “Miss Xia, I think there’s an exit ahead. Come with me…”
He turned and began leading the way.
Xia Ximo was still turning over the meaning of his words. Coming back to herself, she said, “We’re not leaving yet.”
Ren Fengjue paused and looked back. “Didn’t you come to find me?”
Xia Ximo explained, “The princess and Princess Consort Wu are both missing. I suspect they’re here too.”
“Are they? But I haven’t seen any sign of them along the way.”
Xia Ximo did not answer. Turning, she discovered that the wisp of scattered soul had vanished. She immediately asked Wuyou, “Where’s that soul?”
From inside the Soul-Ferrying Lantern, Wuyou answered in a tremble, “Mo…gu, the person beside you… isn’t the Young Marquis…”
At that, Xia Ximo instinctively looked toward “Ren Fengjue”…
He gave an eerie smile. Then his entire face blurred, and his features disappeared with it.
“It’s a Faceless Ghost!” Wuyou cried.
Xia Ximo frowned. As the creature suddenly assumed a hideous form and attacked, she seized it without ceremony and hurled it into the wall.
The Faceless Ghost struck the wall, then became a black shadow and vanished into hiding.
Wuyou immediately said, “These Faceless Ghosts are exceptionally cunning and skilled at changing form. They read your thoughts and take the appearance of the person you want to see. Be careful to identify anyone you meet from now on. Don’t be fooled again.”
Xia Ximo pretended not to hear, but an odd feeling stirred within her.
She did not want to admit that she had been thinking of Ren Fengjue just then.
Nor did she want to admit that a ghost had tricked her because of him.
Least of all did she want to admit that her trust in him had lowered her guard…
But then another thought occurred to her. Had Ren Fengjue disappeared because he too had fallen for this Faceless Ghost’s trick?
“See whether you can find Lady Du.”
Xia Ximo was growing irritated.
Sensing her unsettled mood, Wuyou did not dare provoke her. “There are too many wronged souls here. I can’t tell which one is her.”
“Then find any one of them.”
“There’s no need to look.” Wuyou’s tone suddenly changed, their voice trembling. “…They’re all coming.”
“Who’s coming?”
“A great many ghosts are approaching us. Be careful!”
The words had barely fallen when a powerful, chilling wind swept through the passage, and mist began rising around their feet.
Xia Ximo instinctively narrowed her eyes. Countless shadows slowly appeared on the walls.
Dark mist filled her vision. As they drew closer, a familiar yet strange wave of Yin-Sha Qi washed over her.
She remembered it clearly. She had felt it from the Vengeful Ghost at the Eastern Palace, dreamed of it on Mount Yunhe, and encountered it at the Zhong residence in Beiding County…
That familiar sensation instantly kindled the hatred in her heart.
Before the Yin Souls could approach, a mark appeared on her forehead. The next moment, murderous intent tinged her eyes.