119: The Hidden Truth

In less than half a moment, the dark shadow fell to the ground and curled into a corner, taking on a misty form as if it might dissipate at any second, devoid of all its former ferocity.

Seeing this, Yi Fan retracted his hand seals, and the talisman fell, to be tucked away into his magic pouch. Shen San stepped forward, his sword humming in his hand, completely dispelling the chill in the room.

"Wicked spirit, you have taken many lives over these past few months and turned the Zhu household upside down. Will you submit to justice now?"

As if provoked, the ghost, which had been on the verge of fading, forcibly coalesced into the form of a pale woman. Her eyes filled with hatred as she spat, "What crime have I committed? You hypocrites always keep benevolence and virtue on your lips, yet you commit the most heinous of acts. If it weren't for you, I would have already carved out the heart of that wolf-hearted dog to see if it were truly black."

With that, she transformed into green smoke once more and lunged toward the unconscious Master Zhu on the bed.

Shen San let out a cold snort. With a slight flick of his sword, a streak of sword energy appeared out of thin air, landing a hair's breadth before the smoke to block her assault.

Yi Fan felt a stir in his heart. There was clearly a hidden story here, so he stopped pressing her and instead rebuked, "Master Zhu has spent his life performing good deeds, running porridge stalls, saving refugees, and sparing countless lives. He is a truly virtuous man. You, as his late wife, receive blood offerings every year and enjoy the long-lasting fragrance of incense. Yet, you are bent on evil. How can you still argue? Do you truly believe the sword in my hand dares not strike you down?"

The green smoke descended, looking frantic and filled with poisonous resentment. "He performs good deeds? It is nothing but false benevolence. Think back to when he was destitute: I labored day and night to support his studies and bore his children. Who could have foreseen such an end for me?"

"Oh? Tell me then. If there is a hidden truth, I shall uphold justice for you myself."

"Are you serious?"

Yi Fan snorted coldly, too disdainful to answer.

More than twenty years ago, this region had no wealthy Zhu household. There was only a poor, pathetic scholar of over thirty who had yet to marry. Mocked for his repeated failures in the imperial examinations, Master Zhu lived in abject poverty, struggling from meal to meal, relying on his elderly mother to pick wild herbs and wash clothes for others to survive.

During a great flood that submerged many fields and claimed countless lives, Master Zhu happened to save a wandering woman. Seeing that she was decent and from a respectable family, he took her in. Over time, affection blossomed, and he took her as his wife.

The woman was grateful. She managed the household well and was skilled in farm work, which greatly pleased Master Zhu's mother. Although life was bitter, it was harmonious. Before long, she became pregnant and bore Master Zhu a son and a daughter.

It was then that the current Emperor announced an imperial grace examination, allowing scholars who had failed repeatedly to travel to the capital to test again. Master Zhu, who had once abandoned all hope of passing, could no longer sit still. After several days of contemplation, he left a letter, took most of the family's money, and set off for the capital alone.

The already impoverished home lost its pillar and fell into ruin instantly. Master Zhu's mother wept daily, her health failing until she went blind and became bedridden within months.

The burden of the household fell upon the woman. She had to care for the elderly mother and raise two children, all while the rice jar had long since gone empty.

One day, while gathering wild vegetables in the fields, she was violated by a ruffian. She dared not speak of it, nor did she dare to seek death. Instead, she turned to prostitution to earn money to raise her children and treat her mother-in-law's illness.

Year after year passed, and Master Zhu remained silent. Just as she believed him to be dead, Master Zhu returned home.

By then, he wore a scholar's cap and a belt of fine jade. He was radiant and refined, for he had passed the examinations and had gained significant prestige with the support of a wealthy family.

Upon his return, Master Zhu did not mistreat the woman. He moved them into a large mansion in the county, personally tutored the children, and bought maids and servants to care for his mother.

Yet, the woman grew depressed day by day. Finally, unable to bear it, she confessed what she had done over the years. This left Master Zhu both furious and ashamed. Their relationship turned cold, and the woman, gritting her teeth, took the initiative to ask for a divorce. She left alone, hiding her name, and moved to the countryside.

Everything was fine at first; Master Zhu continued to provide for her and even bought her land. She lived a decent life and did not remarry.

Just as she thought she would live out her days in solitude, she encountered a gorgeously dressed woman accompanied by three or four servants. The woman did not speak to her, only watching from afar as she washed clothes and worked the fields.

After a few times, they stopped coming. Though she was suspicious, she didn't think much of it. One night, while she was asleep, her door was smashed open. Two people rushed in, covered her mouth, and drowned her in the river.

In a daze, she did not know how she became a wandering ghost. She watched as Master Zhu came to pay his respects; she saw her two children, lively and adorable; and she saw the woman who had often come to watch her—who was, in fact, Master Zhu's current wife.

What made her spirit nearly scatter was the realization that one of the people in that woman's entourage was the very person who had drowned her. Her heart was filled with resentment that she could not release.

As days and nights cycled, just as she was about to dissipate, a wind from nowhere blew her into a mountain hollow where she saw thousands of spirits, of which she was but one.

At first, she could not move, but as time passed, her soul grew stable and she could walk. The other wild ghosts were the same; some dissipated, while those who remained headed toward the center of the hollow.

Filled with resentment, she left the valley.

Following her memories, she returned to the Zhu household. By then, it was one of the wealthiest families in the county, with many servants and guards patrolling, and famous people from the county frequently visiting—truly, a house where no one of low status tread.

She saw Master Zhu's mother being served, she saw the woman who had harmed her, and she saw the portly Master Zhu. But she did not see her own children.

She sent a dream to Master Zhu’s mother and learned that in the years after her death, both children had died of illness. Her resentment grew even deeper.

Thus, she wreaked havoc in the Zhu household.

Hearing this, Yi Fan sighed in his heart. She was truly a pitiful soul.

At some point, the previously unconscious Master Zhu began to cover his face and weep uncontrollably. The mistress on the bed, whose eyes had been gouged out, also woke up, screaming in agony.

Master Zhu suddenly rose, ignoring his own injuries, and struck the mistress several times. "You poisonous woman! How dare you harm people! Tell me, why did you kill my late wife?"

After the blows, the mistress stopped screaming and instead burst into laughter. "Do you truly not know? She had committed such ugly deeds; if she had not died, it would have been a stain on our family's reputation, and you would have been mocked."

She shoved Master Zhu away, covered her eyes, and said viciously, "Not only did I have her killed, but I also had her children poisoned. The spawn of such an unchaste woman would eventually become a disaster. You have suspected as much for years, but you deliberately chose to remain silent."

Master Zhu’s face turned ghastly, and he grabbed her by the throat. "You speak nothing but nonsense! You are mad! Mad!"

"I am mad? You didn't bury those two bastards in the ancestral graveyard, but instead buried them in the wild mountains—was that not because you were afraid people would find out about the shameful deeds that slut committed, which would tarnish your family name?"

At these words, Master Zhu was struck as if by lightning. His body trembled, and he remained silent for a long time before collapsing onto the ground.