Chapter 6: The Curse

Both Zhong Xu and Di Jiang were taken aback. They exchanged glances, both feeling that the woman’s words were hard to believe.

If Old Master Meng had truly passed away, then perhaps it was indeed his doing. But the “Old Master” she spoke of was clearly still alive—albeit in a weakened state. He possessed no mystical powers, his energy was faint, and he was barely clinging to life. Such a frail old man, incapable of even tying his own shoes, how could he possibly curse others?

Di Jiang suppressed her doubts and approached the woman. “Madam, greetings. I am an assistant from the coffin shop of the Zhong family in the southern part of the city. This is our shopkeeper, Zhong Xu, also the 72nd-generation True Master of the Baiyun Temple at Qingyun Mountain.”

“Seventy-second generation,” Zhong Xu coughed lightly.

“Yes, seventy-second generation. That was my slip of the tongue, please do not mind it, Madam,” Di Jiang said smoothly, clearing her throat. “Our shopkeeper has subdued countless evil spirits in his lifetime. Today, we noticed ominous signs around your residence and have come to offer our help. May I ask if there have been any supernatural occurrences in your household recently?”

Upon hearing this, the woman looked up as if seeing a savior. She quickly nodded. “Ever since the new bride entered our home, we haven’t had a single day of peace! She even shattered the porcelain jar that sealed Old Master Meng! She must have been bewitched by him to seek revenge on us!”

“The new bride?” Di Jiang furrowed her brows. After a moment’s thought, she realized the woman was referring to Zhang Siyao, the third daughter of the Ministry of Works Vice Minister. But hadn’t she already died?

“Master Daoist, you must save us! I don’t want to die!” The middle-aged woman bypassed Di Jiang and directly grabbed Zhong Xu’s arm, pleading repeatedly. “Our Old Master Meng met such a tragic end! He must have returned to take revenge on us!”

“Silence!” A sharp voice interrupted the woman.

The next moment, a group of people hurried out from behind the rockery. Leading them was another middle-aged woman, accompanied by the stern old steward Di Jiang had encountered before. Behind the steward were three servants dressed similarly to Liu Si, likely of the same rank.

“Take him down and carry him to the hidden room in the back mountain!” After the woman issued the order, one person swiftly climbed the tree to cut the rope while two others stood below, catching Liu Si’s body securely.

Then, the steward took out a pre-prepared white cloth, covering Liu Si’s face. With a wave of his hand, they carried Liu Si out through the back door.

Throughout the entire process, their movements were swift and practiced, showing no hesitation or surprise, clearly accustomed to handling such situations.

After they left with Liu Si, the woman turned her gaze toward Zhong Xu and Di Jiang. The old steward also glanced over Di Jiang but seemed to pay her no particular attention.

Di Jiang felt a slight sense of astonishment. She prided herself on her remarkable presence; it was inexplicable that he would forget her so soon after seeing her just yesterday.

“Master Daoist Zhong, we meet again.” The woman gave a slight bow.

Zhong Xu immediately clasped his hands together and returned the gesture respectfully. “Greetings, Madam.”

“My sister acted rashly and spoke nonsense. Please forgive her, Master Daoist.” After saying this, the woman nodded to the steward.

Understanding her meaning, the steward walked over to the terrified middle-aged woman and said, “Second Madam, with Master Daoist Zhong here, there is no need for alarm. Allow me to escort you back to rest.”

“... “ The Second Madam wanted to say something but was promptly silenced and dragged away by the steward.

The Second Madam’s maid cast a fleeting glance at Di Jiang, her eyes seemingly carrying a plea for help. However, as a lowly servant without a voice, she appeared timid and fearful. As expected, she did not utter a word and followed the Second Madam shakily.

In the garden, only the First Madam, Zhong Xu, and Di Jiang remained.

“Master Daoist Zhong, have you found any answers regarding the matter I entrusted to you earlier?”

Zhong Xu shook his head. “It remains an unsolved mystery.”

The First Madam looked quite disappointed, lowering her eyes and letting out a deep sigh. “You’ve seen it yourself—the recent events have left me physically and mentally exhausted. If we cannot find the culprit soon, I fear my entire Yangchun residence will have to accompany Siyao in death.”

“Please rest assured, Madam. Within my abilities, I will do everything in my power to resolve this. However...” Zhong Xu paused, then added, “If it exceeds my capabilities, I may have to report the matter to the authorities.”

“What do you mean by that, Master Daoist?”

“What I mean is that these incidents may not be caused by ghosts. Remember, the human heart can be just as terrifying.” Di Jiang smiled faintly as she gazed at the First Madam, who finally noticed her presence.

“And who might this be?”

“I am Master Daoist Zhong’s maid. You may call me Di Jiang.” Di Jiang greeted her with a bright smile.

Seeing Zhong Xu not denying her claim, the First Madam believed her words. Considering her merely a servant, she categorized Di Jiang among the lower ranks, treating her accordingly. The disdain in her eyes became more pronounced.

Di Jiang, however, showed no sign of anger, maintaining her serene smile.

Zhong Xu sensed that the atmosphere between these two women seemed somewhat off, but despite his sharp observational skills, he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was amiss. Changing the subject, he asked, “What exactly happened to Old Master Meng’s tragic death as mentioned by the Second Madam earlier?”

“The Second Madam is narrow-minded and easily swayed by rumors among the servants. Master Daoist Zhong, please do not take her words to heart.”

“Ah... then what about her mentioning ‘the fourth’? From what I know, only the young mistress and Liu Si have died.”

“I’m afraid you misheard her. She was referring to Liu Si, not ‘fourth.’“ The First Madam spoke indifferently, determined to keep her lips sealed.

Di Jiang could tell this much, but Zhong Xu could not.

“The Second Madam must be quite frightened.” Zhong Xu wanted to offer some comfort, but after struggling for a while, all he managed to say was this one sentence.

Di Jiang covered her stomach, suppressing laughter.

The First Madam nodded solemnly and sighed, “My sister, born into a humble family, has not seen much of the world. It’s understandable that she might be a bit unstable in temperament. Please do not hold it against her, Master Daoist Zhong.”

“Not at all. I just hope both Madams take care of their health and don’t give the murderer another chance.”

“Thank you for your concern, Master Daoist.”

Seeing that they had been talking for a while without getting to the point, Di Jiang interjected, “Ordinary people seeing such grotesque corpses would be unable to handle it regardless of whether they come from illustrious families or humble ones. Your composure is admirable, Madam.”

Di Jiang feigned admiration, her expression filled with apparent respect. If there had been a mirror in front of her, she might even have believed her own act.

But she was clearly being sarcastic.

The First Madam raised an eyebrow, maintaining her poise, and shot a glare at Di Jiang. “Master Daoist Zhong’s maid is rather impertinent. While the masters are speaking, who gave you permission to comment?”

“My apologies for my rudeness. I humbly apologize to you, Madam,” Di Jiang bowed, though her lips still bore a smile.

Having lived in a grand household, the First Madam was well-versed in worldly affairs and could easily see that Di Jiang’s politeness was merely superficial. Her suspicions were evident, especially with those sly, darting eyes resembling those of a cunning fox.

The First Madam sneered and said to Zhong Xu, “Master Daoist Zhong, let us go to the tea room for a detailed discussion. Let the others stay outside.”

“Di Jiang is not...”

Before Zhong Xu could finish, Di Jiang interrupted him with a smile, “This servant has long wanted to explore the vibrant peach blossoms in this courtyard. You need not worry about me; I will take care of myself.”

Zhong Xu stared at her for a while, seeing her resolute demeanor, and nodded, “...Alright, don’t wander too far.”

“This servant obeys your command.”

Di Jiang stood rooted to the spot, watching the two leave. Once they entered the inner room, she walked back under the peach tree where Liu Si had been hanged and began examining the surrounding environment closely.

This was the First Madam’s courtyard. Yesterday, she hadn’t been able to enter, but now, viewing it from above, she realized this courtyard was different from the others. Other courtyards followed a typical layout, symmetrical around the central axis, but this one had an additional small courtyard in the northwest corner. It was visible from the mountainside, but from where Di Jiang stood now, nothing could be seen. Where the door to that courtyard was located remained a mystery.

Di Jiang shifted her focus back to the peach tree. Scattered petals lay beneath it, and numerous complex scratches marked the trunk. Comparing the height, Di Jiang deduced that these marks likely resulted from Liu Si’s desperate struggles as his feet flailed.

This indicated that he did not want to die.

But how to explain that eerie smile?

His face clearly conveyed a message: “I await you becoming like me,” “I’ll wait for you in hell,” his grin filled with sinister terror, sending chills down one’s spine.

At that moment, something else caught Di Jiang’s attention. She bent down, brushed aside the fallen petals, and began clearing away along a glimmer. To her surprise, she discovered a small patch of blood on the ground.

Di Jiang reached out and found the bloodstains to be fresh and warm, obviously having just fallen!

Di Jiang abruptly stood up, searching around, but saw no trace of anyone.

The courtyard was eerily quiet.

Where did this blood come from?

Whose blood was it?

Why did it appear before her? What was it trying to convey?

A torrent of mysteries crashed over her like a tidal wave. For the first time, Di Jiang felt her mind wasn’t sufficient to comprehend the intricate conspiracy, unable to grasp even the smallest details.

This feeling of being lost in a fog was unsettling.

She preferred everything to be under control, but reality fell short.

Di Jiang rested her head on her left hand, cradling her left elbow with her right, deep in thought. Suddenly, she felt someone brush away the stray strands of hair from her forehead. Instinctively looking up, she saw no one in front of her.

“What’s wrong with me lately? Why do I always feel so disoriented...” Di Jiang shook her head, pacing back and forth unconsciously. As she turned around, she suddenly noticed a dark-colored robe in front of her.

Focusing her gaze, she saw a little boy standing before her.

“Who are you...?” Di Jiang murmured, startled.

The boy turned his head, staring fixedly at Di Jiang. His eyes held a chilling coldness beyond his years.

Di Jiang suddenly felt that this gaze was strangely familiar!

Sure enough, the next moment, he snorted coldly, scolding harshly, “You stole my Dream Bell, burned down my bedchamber! I’ve repeatedly hinted to you, yet you remain oblivious! Now that I reveal myself, you still can’t recognize me. Di Jiang, what am I to do with you?”

Di Jiang’s mouth dropped open, “Ah!” Smiling, she exclaimed, “So that paper figure was you! No wonder it was so ugly!”

“You!” The boy pointed at Di Jiang, speechless with anger for a moment.

Di Jiang chuckled again, feigning grievance, “I’ve told you countless times that black veils are too eerie. Staying inside for too long can make one psychologically unstable. I did it for your benefit, and yet you blame me...”

The boy snorted again, knowing that although she wore the face of an angel, her heart harbored the cunning of a weasel. But as long as she softened her stance, he didn’t want to dwell on it.

“And what about the Dream Bell?” The boy’s face hardened, his voice cold.

“You have so many treasures, why fixate on this one bell? I found it beautiful and borrowed it for a few days of play. Once I’m done, I’ll return it. Rest assured...” Di Jiang smiled charmingly, leaning closer to him, pointing to a pool of blood on the ground, “Is this also your work?”

The boy looked bewildered, staring at Di Jiang as if she were a monster, then shook his head, “No.”

“How strange... There’s actually someone else daring to cause mischief right under my nose...” Di Jiang mused, when Zhong Xu’s puzzled voice came from behind her.

“Di Jiang, who is he?”

Di Jiang turned around to see Zhong Xu pointing at the boy beside her.

Di Jiang paused, unsure how to respond. Comparatively, she decided to revert to her old tricks, pretending to be oblivious, and said with a dazed expression, “Master, whom are you referring to?”

“Him...” Zhong Xu started, noticing the puzzled look on the nearby First Madam’s face. He suddenly realized that only he could see this boy, while Di Jiang and the First Madam could not.

It must be a ghost.