Chapter 047: I am willing to peel back my heart, layer by layer.

Chapter 047: I am willing to peel back my heart, layer by layer.

The onlookers were all from the Bai family, somewhat familiar with the arts of yin and yang. From just a few words by Lu Xiangyang, most could grasp the situation.

Some who had previously attacked Chi Shen persisted, "There must be more to this. This creature's face is unrecognizable. Who would believe he's Lu Xiangyang?!"

Others, previously silent spectators, now remarked, "Do you all know Lu Xiangyang that well? To recognize him in such a state?"

Lu Xiangyang wasn't a prominent figure in the Bai family. Among the younger generation, he wasn’t particularly popular. Bai Ran had chosen him earlier only because he was easy to manipulate, so it was understandable that some didn't recognize him.

Yet, Bai Ximing and Xu Xiuyin are familiar with Lu Xiangyang; after all, he's close to Bai Ran, so they recognize him by face.

Bai Ximing and Xu Xiuyin immediately identified him as Lu Xiangyang, the very one who, after He Chao's death in the old mansion, met his end in his own home.

"I don't know you! Stop slandering!" Bai Ran shouted, "Chi Shen! Can't you control ghosts? This must be a ghost Chi Shen found somewhere to impersonate Lu Xiangyang. It isn’t him; I know exactly how Lu Xiangyang died!"

The ghost, with its upper body covered in tumors, stared at Bai Ran, its eyes nearly overflowing with tears of blood.

Seeing him in this state, Bai Ran turned and ran. He couldn't let this monster catch him – not at any cost!

In the blink of an eye, the creature that had once been Lu Xiangyang was beneath the wall, reaching up to climb to the second floor.

"The Bai family will not tolerate a malevolent spirit like you!"

Witnessing this, Bai Ximing reacted swiftly, brandishing a talisman towards Lu Xiangyang. Instantly, a bloody hole appeared on Lu.

Bai Ximing sternly yelled, "What are you all waiting for? Regardless if he's the real Lu Xiangyang, are you going to watch a vengeful ghost wreak havoc in the Bai household?"

Seeing the current situation, others also took out their weapons, trying to prevent Lu Xiangyang from advancing. After all, they are living humans, and if a ghost were to kill someone in the Bai residence, their reputation would be ruined.

At that moment, Bai Ximing retreated to the perimeter, as if the righteous man from moments ago wasn’t him. He cast a fierce glance at Chi Shen in the shadows, then glared at Bai Ran's window, muttering under his breath, "Useless!"

Xu Xiuyin, standing behind Bai Ximing, looked worried and murmured, "Ran Ran..."

"We need to help him," Chi Shen commented from the side.

Ghost Face, seeming somewhat timid, hid behind Chi Shen and peeked out, asking cautiously, "How can we help?"

Chi Shen glanced at Ghost Face.

Ghost Face returned the look.

Chi Shen: "It's not ideal for me to intervene directly. Though I'm not entirely sure about human norms, I know a regular person wouldn't fight dozens alone."

Ghost Face: "So?"

The next moment, Chi Shen grabbed Ghost Face and threw him out.

"Ahh—"

With Ghostface's scream echoing, he landed precisely behind Lu Xiangyang. Confronted with a crowd wielding various talismans and bursting with intent, Ghostface instantly enlarged himself multiple times, opening a mouth so vast it could fit several basketballs. Frost formed wherever his cold breath reached, creating an ambiance reminiscent of a northern winter.

The crowd scattered to evade. Those too slow and caught in the chilling mist turned blue and fell, immobilized. But in the Bai residence, such a curse might only lead to severe illness; their lives were not in danger.

"Am I that powerful?" Observing his influence, Ghostface momentarily pondered before concluding it probably wasn't entirely his doing. Yet, he decided to revel in this momentary illusion of power.

By now, Lu Xiangyang had almost reached the second-floor window. His hand on the ledge blistered and bubbled as if scorched, but he persisted, climbing with gritted teeth.

Chi Shen noticed and thought of Bai Ran's room filled with talismans. When he had entered with the faceless mirror, neither the amputated ghost nor Ghostface had triggered any charms, but Lu Xiangyang was a different case.

He mused, while a normal person wouldn't single-handedly confront a mob, scaling a two-story building should be doable, right?

Without hesitation and any need for a running start, Chi Shen stepped up the wall and reached the second-floor window. To the astonishment of many, he gracefully vaulted into Bai Ran's room.

Bai Ran's door was open, suggesting he had tried to flee. However, with a limp, he was no match for Chi Shen, who easily caught him and, amidst Bai Ran's horrified expressions, threw him out the window.

Chi Shen then dusted off his hands and cheerfully told Lu Xiangyang, "You're welcome."

Lu Xiangyang hesitated, then released his bloodied, burnt hand, falling to the ground.

Intimidated by Ghostface's cold mist, none dared approach. Some even prepared to flee.

After dispatching Bai Ran, Chi Shen elegantly jumped from the second-floor window, placing an arm around where he guessed Lu Xiangyang's shoulder might be, and addressed the crowd, "Why the rush? Don't you want to hear the victim's account? Any accomplices among you?"

The crowd froze. Not listening could implicate them in the murder of an outsider disciple of the Bai family - a blame no one wanted.

Chi Shen patted Lu Xiangyang's shoulder, "Take your time. I understand you're not verbose. In this situation, feel free to express yourself without interruption."

Lu Xiangyang cast a complex gaze at him, nodded in appreciation, and approached Bai Ran.

Lying amid the soft grass illuminated by the lamp, Bai Ran clutched his injured leg, crying out, "Mother, Mother, save me!"

Xu Xiuyin tried to rush forward but was held back. Even Bai Ximing stopped her, leaving her tearful and helpless amidst the crowd.

"I am indeed Lu Xiangyang."

Under the lamp's glow, Lu Xiangyang, his upper body riddled with tumors and sores, began peeling the growths that obscured his face.

The moment he dug into the flesh, putrid blood spurted out, forming a pool beneath him. A nauseating stench pervaded the air, causing some to retch.

Pain was evident in his eyes, but he did not stop. With his hands, he tore away the protective growths, revealing his true face beneath the layers of disfigurement.

His face bore a massive bite mark, stretching across its entirety, with a deflated appearance to the head. He unearthed that face from amidst countless tumors, presenting it for all to see.

"My name is Lu Xiangyang."

He repeated himself, and by then he was covered in blood. Immense pain nearly brought him to his knees, but he stood erect, directing that bloodied face towards Bai Ran.

Among the crowd, those with weaker constitutions began to retch, and many others averted their eyes, refusing to witness such a gruesome and terrifying scene.

By now, no one questioned his identity; they all listened to his words intently.

"He Chao and I encountered a ghostly child dressed for burial in the old Bai mansion. He invited us to play hide and seek, and He Chao died." Lu Xiangyang's own mouth moved as he narrated the harrowing ordeal. "I survived. I was terrified then, and only now do I realize that it was Chi Shen who saved me."

"Later, Bai Ran came to see me. I was touched. He seemed as caring as ever. But only when I was on the brink of death did I realize that his usual demeanor was a facade. He's unspeakably vile. Because I said it was him who sent He Chao and me to the mansion, he wanted to kill me." Lu Xiangyang looked at Bai Ran, each word dripping with anguish. "Using the bones of the malevolent spirit he found, he lured it to devour me piece by piece. But somehow, in the end, I merged with that spirit, and that's why I look this way now."

"Surprisingly, he tried to pin all of his actions on Chi Shen—the one he replaced as the Bai family's young master, and whom he's been plotting to kill!"

At this, Lu Xiangyang lifted his bloodstained face to the audience and declared, "The one who harbored the ghost was Bai Ran! And the one who murdered me was also Bai Ran!"

Upon hearing this, several individuals who had been familiar with the Bai family for years began to connect the dots. They had always perceived Bai Ran as gentle and grounded—a promising member of the Bai lineage. But Bai Ran's recent panic and malevolence had sown seeds of doubt. Now, with Lu Xiangyang's testimony, everything fell into place.

Intrigues and conspiracies, framing and deceit; who hadn't seen these play out in the Bai household time and again?

It's just that the stakes this evening were exceptionally high.

Realizing his pleas were falling on deaf ears, Bai Ran, clutching his injured leg, turned to Bai Ximing and Xu XiuYun, tears streaming down his face. He cried out in utter despair, "Father, Mother, I know I was wrong. I just didn't want Chi Shen to take your love away from me. I wanted to stay by your side. Please, save me!"

From the moment Lu Xiangyang revealed his face, Bai Ximing had been deep in thought. Xu XiuYun's eyes were filled with tears. Hearing Bai Ran's cry, she turned to her husband, "He's still our child, raised by us for twenty years. And... and he can't die now. You know why."

Her words seemed to fortify Bai Ximing's resolve. He announced, "For harboring a ghost and causing the death of non-family disciples, Bai Ran will be punished according to our family laws. We'll confine him for now, and discuss further actions after settling the matter of the old mansion."

Hope ignited in Bai Ran's eyes; Bai Ximing's words implied he might be spared.

They were just two non-family disciples, after all. A mere symbolic punishment following an apology would likely suffice. At least until Chi Shen truly returns to the Bai family, Bai Ran would retain his privileged status.

"Hold on," a robust voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

Bai Ximing felt a jolt of unease, turning to find Yuan YiPing in the crowd. He froze. Why was this agent from the Special Security Bureau here?

"For conspiring with a ghost to commit murder, we need to take Bai Ran in for questioning," Yuan YiPing declared as he approached Bai Ximing, extending a hand. "I trust the head of the Bai family wouldn't oppose the Special Security Bureau for someone not of Bai bloodline?"

Bai Ximing gave him a cold look, poised to respond, when Bai HengQing's voice intervened from behind, "Let them take him. We're better off without this scourge in the Bai household."

Seeing the situation unfold, Xu Xiuyun cried out, "Uncle, he has been our child for over twenty years..."

Bai Hengqing snorted coldly, pointing towards Chi Shen, "Your own flesh and blood stands right there!"

Amidst the chaos at the Bai residence, Chi Shen watched from the sidelines. The ghost-face had retreated into Chi Shen's pocket. Compared to the Bai family, the ghost was more fearful of the special bureau agents, hence it dared not make a move.

Chi Shen felt a slight shift in his shadow, signaling Ji Xingchen's return.

Xu Jiayuan led a few men to take Bai Ran to a police car. He then approached Chi Shen, "That move you did earlier, scaling the wall, was so cool! Have you trained for it?"

When Lu Xiangyang appeared, the special bureau agents had already arrived. However, Yuan Yiping told them to wait, to see how events played out. Unexpectedly, Bai Ran's guilt was directly ascertained, confirming that he had killed two people.

One of the bureau's personnel was negotiating with Lu Xiangyang. Although he trembled as he spoke, the formidable ghost in his eyes obediently followed him into the police car.

Chi Shen, seeing Xu Jiayuan's eager questioning, smiled and said, "When I was young, we were poor, so I learned to scale walls."

Xu Jiayuan asked with curiosity, "How is that related?"

Without answering, Chi Shen let him realize that the wandering soul that had led them earlier was missing. Ji Xingchen had to go inform Xu Jiayuan and then disappeared back into Chi Shen's shadow.

Once Bai Ran was taken away and most of the spectators had dispersed, those who remained were genuinely curious, not intending to get involved.

Bai Ximing, observing Chi Shen who had not left, began, "Chi Shen, I heard you wish to return..."

"Hold on," Chi Shen interrupted, pulling out his phone amidst Bai Ximing's displeasure. "The total medical fees, taxi charges, supplements, etc., for the old lady sum up to 73,887. Considering future wages lost and emotional distress, let's round it up. Give me 100,000. Anything extra will go to the old lady's family, ensuring they have the best care."

Bai Ximing was taken aback. What was happening?

"Perhaps you don't wish to admit any connection to this. But no worries, I've recorded it," Chi Shen mentioned, playing a recording of Bai Ran coldly narrating the circumstances of the old lady's accident.

Not only Bai Ximing, but everyone around was stunned. What a twist!

Seeing Bai Ximing's lack of response, Chi Shen smiled, "Such a grand family as the Bai's surely has some responsibility, right?"

Bai Ximing's face darkened. As the head of the family, no younger generation had ever spoken to him this way, especially with Yuan Yiping and Bai Hengqing watching. Yuan Yiping seemed to be enjoying the drama, preventing Bai Ximing from losing his temper.

"Transfer the money to him," Bai Ximing ordered sternly before turning away.

Bai Hengqing, who had remained silent during Bai Ran's predicament, now laughed out loud, "Interesting. Chi Shen, when do you plan to adopt the surname Bai?"

With an enigmatic glance, Chi Shen looked at Bai Hengqing. The corner of his lips curled slightly, revealing a hint of amusement. "I'll go back and ask Bai Wan first."

The moment the name "Bai Wan" was mentioned, Bai Hengqing's complexion visibly changed. He almost fled from his own garden, retreating swiftly into his house.

Observing the now desolate garden and the scorched trees, Chi Shen cheerfully remarked, "Home at last!"