Chapter 003: Who said vengeance couldn’t be exacted after an enemy’s death?

Chapter 003: Who said vengeance couldn't be exacted after an enemy's death?

With the little ghost pulling out the head of the female ghost from under the bed, Chi Shen headed out, accompanied by a headless male corpse, a boy in burial clothes, and the head of a female ghost with only one arm remaining.

They first went to the room next to Chi Shen's.

The headless ghost bravely introduced, despite lacking a head, "An old

Zombie

resides here. He hardly ever comes out, but we don’t dare enter either. Angering him is terrifying; we might want to skip this one."

Chi Shen nodded and then kicked the door open.

The headless ghost and the boy holding the female ghost's head quickly retreated a few meters. The two with heads left displayed expressions that read, "You're courting death."

The room had been set up as a mourning hall. The white curtains billowed as the door opened. A cold draft flowed, not from outside to in, but from within the room outward, seemingly attempting to close the door. At the center of the hall rested a pitch-black coffin, its darkness seeming to absorb all light, unsettling to anyone who glanced upon it.

Chi Shen extended a hand to stop the door from shutting. He greeted the coffin, "Hello, I'm the new neighbor next door, staying here temporarily. I hope we can coexist peacefully."

The breeze from within grew colder and more intense.

"Aside from wanting to get to know you today, I also wanted to ask if any of you are familiar with Bai Ran," Chi Shen said with a polite smile. "Has he mentioned anything special about me to you?"

Seemingly irritated by Chi Shen's persistence, the coffin's lid flew open, revealing an old zombie dressed in Qing Dynasty official attire with a hat and long braid. It leaped out, heading straight for Chi Shen.

Chi Shen covered his nose, unable to bear the overpowering stench of decay. With a single punch, he knocked the zombie down, pinning it underfoot. He then inquired, "Who's keeping the ghosts here? Bai Ran? Or the Bai family?"

The old zombie glared with unblinking eyes, its stiff hands flailing. Chi Shen was puzzled by its apparent distress.

At that moment, the young boy edged closer and whispered, "Big brother, have you ever seen a talking zombie?"

Recalling the zombie films he'd seen as a child, Chi Shen realized that zombies typically didn't speak. Their joints were rigid, and their tongues surely immobile. While zombies in games might speak, real-life spirits were on a different level. He had overlooked this.

"I apologize." Full of remorse, Chi Shen helped the zombie up, dusted it off, and then kicked it back into the coffin, sealing the lid with talismanic papers from the floor. "Pardon the intrusion. I'll visit again another time."

Violent thuds emanated from within the coffin, seemingly protesting Chi Shen's actions. By then, Chi Shen had reached the door, considerately closing it behind him and re-affixing the almost detached sealing talisman.

The headless ghost emerged trembling from behind a pillar. "The next room houses a young girl... a drowned spirit."

——

"Creak..."

The main door to the Bai mansion opened slightly, allowing two men to slip inside.

The one who strutted in boldly was named He Chao, while the more cautious, sneaky one was called Lu Xiangyang.

Upon entering, Lu Xiangyang felt a chilling presence and shivered, suggesting, "Maybe we should come back tomorrow. If that young man is already dead, we can just retrieve the body then."

He Chao replied impatiently, "What are you afraid of? I'm familiar with the ghosts here. Aside from the one in the main house and that old zombie, the rest are weak... At least with the Bai family's protective charms, they're powerless."

Lu Xiangyang nervously looked around and nodded in agreement.

"Oh, wait," He Chao suddenly remembered, "There's also an old ghost in the side building who's been there for years. Even our charms are ineffective against him. But the previous family head sealed him away. Unless the talisman is removed, he won't come out."

Lu Xiangyang said, "What if that guy with the surname Chi has removed the sealing talisman?"

He Chao scoffed, "Do you really believe a greenhorn who's never even seen a ghost can make it far enough to remove that talisman? He'd be gone by the time he reached the door."

——

Chi Shen's tour of the Bai family's old mansion was more than halfway done.

Nobody knew Bai Ran, but a few of the ghosts were familiar with the Bai family.

A hunch was slowly forming in his mind. The spirits in this courtyard might not have any connection to Bai Ran, but they were definitely tied to the Bai family.

The ghosts residing in this mansion had endured a night of chaos. When they saw Chi Shen step into the side courtyard, there was a collective sigh of relief.

"He's as good as dead."

"He won't return."

"Finally, a quiet night ahead."

"He's done for!"

As he entered the side courtyard, Chi Shen noticed that all three of his spectral companions had chosen to stay outside. Even the headless ghost, though lacking a face, seemed to be holding something back.

"What's inside here?" Chi Shen tilted his head, questioning.

The headless ghost replied, sounding somewhat aggrieved, "Even if I tell you, would you listen?"

Chi Shen offered a reassuring smile, "Of course. We're friends, aren't we? I always value information from a friend."

"A bride resides within," the headless ghost murmured, sounding as if he feared being overheard from within.

"On her wedding night, she discovered her husband's affair with her own sister, and then was murdered by the two of them in the bridal chamber."

Rubbing his chin, Chi Shen contemplated. Based on his gaming experiences, the more tragic a ghost's background, the more powerful it became after death. Given her story, this ghost should rank moderately in terms of strength.

"She kills anyone who enters her room," the headless ghost whispered.

Chi Shen, filled with empathy, started walking towards the courtyard, "She's truly pitiable. I'll try to counsel her. If she refuses to listen, then I'll have no choice but to offer some modest assistance to make her forget this vendetta forever."

The doors and windows of the secluded courtyard were covered with yellow talismanic papers. As he stepped inside, a cold gust brushed past him. Turning his head, he saw a woman in white, presumably a cleaner, standing in another room, her eyes coldly fixed on him through a slightly opened window.

There was a deep malice he felt emanating from the cleaning lady. A mere glance like that would have drained the soul from any ordinary person, rendering them lifeless on the spot.

But Chi Shen was no ordinary man.

Respect for the elderly is paramount, so Chi Shen greeted the old woman with a friendly smile and then reached out to touch the door covered with talismanic papers.

The eyes of the elderly figure behind the window widened in shock.

Chi Shen peeled off the talisman from the door's edge and pushed it open.

The moment he entered, the pitch-dark room lit up, revealing an old-fashioned bridal chamber under the dim candlelight. A bright red "Double Happiness" character adorned the room, and everything, from the tablecloth to the bed curtains, was bathed in red.

Yet, in the dead of night, under the faint candlelight, this shade of red felt oppressive, hinting at a sinister aura.

On the red bridal bed sat a bride dressed in a traditional gown embroidered with a phoenix pattern. Her face was veiled by a crimson hood, which, along with her chest, was stained with fresh blood, droplets still dripping.

The bride sat upright, hands resting on her lap, holding a memorial tablet. With his keen eyesight, Chi Shen read the inscription: "In Memory of the Dutiful Daughter, Bai Wan."

The room seemed joyous, but the overpowering stench of blood pervaded the air.

"Your surname is Bai," Chi Shen said gravely, looking at the bride on the bed, "What's your relationship with the Bai family?"

The bride twitched. At the mention of the Bai family, the candles in the room were extinguished. In the blink of an eye, the bride, now standing right in front of Chi Shen, reached out with a finger adorned with a golden ring, aiming straight for his chest.

"Is the old lady outside watching over you?" Chi Shen suddenly remarked.

The bride halted her movement.

"Would you like me to bring her in?" Chi Shen inquired politely, sounding as if he was offering a simple favor.

The candles in the room flickered back to life. In just a split second, the bride had returned to her spot by the bed.

"I am the daughter of the Bai family."

A chilling voice, filled with boundless resentment, echoed in the bridal chamber.

"My parents, deeming me of use, trapped me here."

A solemn expression settled on Chi Shen's face.

"I was transformed into a vengeful spirit by hatred. They not only refused to avenge me but also forced me to watch my enemies revel in front of my spirit, flaunting their prosperity—"

The temperature in the room plummeted, and blood began to seep from every "Double Happiness" character adorning the walls.

"I once believed in the love of my parents—yet, they nurtured me into the most powerful malevolent spirit—"

"I too am a descendant of the Bai family, at least by blood," Chi Shen softly interjected.

The voice of the bridal ghost halted abruptly, and an icy intent of malice focused on him.

"They deemed me talentless, thus disowned me as their son," Chi Shen's gaze met the bride's, "That imposter lured me here."

It seemed the bride was moved by his words. The room's temperature slightly increased, and the murderous intent faded away.

"I want to help you,"

"Avenge."

。”

"They are already dead," the voice of the bridal ghost resounded again, this time a mix of resentment and resignation.

"Merely dead," Chi Shen chuckled, "Their spirits might still linger; such people would be too fearful to descend into hell."

A heavy silence engulfed the bridal chamber.

"When I locate them, I'll bring them to you," promised Chi Shen.

The veil of the bridal ghost rustled slightly, signaling her approval with a nod.

"Additionally, I intend to stay here for a while," Chi Shen added, "I hope we can coexist peacefully."

This time, the bridal ghost didn't respond. The room's candlelight dimmed, and the appearance of the bridal chamber gradually faded, revealing decaying, old furniture.

Taking this as a sign to depart, Chi Shen silently exited the room.

He glanced at his hand. Killing the bridal ghost would have been effortless for him, but he had no desire to harm her. He was a man of reason.

One of his skills was "Empathy," allowing him to connect with spirits and understand their life stories. He knew Bai Wan's tales were genuine. After becoming a spirit, she never harmed anyone, nor sought her revenge. It wasn’t a lack of desire, but rather she was bound by the so-called "parents," fueling her resentment by forcing her to witness her enemies' happiness.

This struck a chord with Chi Shen, for neither his adoptive nor biological parents had ever truly cared for him.

"You've opened the door." A sudden hoarse and ancient voice echoed. The elderly sweeping woman stood behind Chi Shen, eyes bulging, her broom raised high, poised to strike!

With a sidelong glance, Chi Shen drew his scythe-blade, and with a swift motion, the old woman was cleaved in two, dissipating into a mist of darkness.

"Thank you."

He heard a sigh emanating from within the door.

Sheathing his blade, Chi Shen slowly exited the courtyard. Seeing him emerge, the three spirits were visibly taken aback, remaining speechless for a moment.

"Next."

Chi Shen walked past them.

*

Author's note:

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, updates will be every other day from tomorrow.

If there's a twist, maybe daily updates?

Thank you for your support! bows deeply