Chapter 138

Chapter 138

◎Behind the Horror◎

If they could be dissuaded by a few words, they wouldn’t be the Cui family, who wanted to seize all the property, drive Lv Xiaojie out, and even label her as a jinx to her husband.

Regardless, Xia Junyan’s words had taken root in their minds, and they began to subconsciously weigh money against their lives.

But once they stepped out of Cui Yi’s house onto the busy street, the blazing sun made them feel less fearful. As the fear subsided, greed once again took over.

They comforted themselves, thinking they hadn’t stolen anything from Cui Yi. After all, inheritance was legally supported. At most, they’d take their rightful share.

The three Cui men quickly made up their minds. Zhao Yuhong, with no voice in the matter, had to go along with their decision.

Just as they were about to find a budget hotel to stay in, Lv Xiaojie called them, arranging a meeting place.

The four of them hurried to the location Lv Xiaojie had specified. Seeing her with light makeup and dressed in sharp, professional attire, the Cui family almost didn’t recognize her.

The Lv Xiaojie they’d known was consumed by grief over Cui Yi’s death. She wasn’t a mess, but she had no energy to tend to herself. No matter how much they pushed her around, Lv Xiaojie had always endured and yielded, eventually being driven out.

To them, Lv Xiaojie was just a helpless widow, someone they could easily control.

But today, seeing her as a confident, high-status figure, they couldn’t help but feel intimidated.

But the Cui family would never let that show. Instead, they tried to assert themselves even more forcefully to take control.

Before Cui Yong could speak, Lv Xiaojie, who had already seen the Cui family’s true colors, said, “This is a public place. If you cause a scene and get thrown out, our next meeting will be in court.”

With that, she sipped her coffee, exuding confidence.

Cui Yong tugged at his father and sat down on the sofa across from Lv Xiaojie, directly asking, “What do you want to talk about by meeting us?”

Lv Xiaojie glanced at the Cui family, who looked nothing like Cui Yi, and said, “What else is there to discuss? It’s about my husband’s estate, of course. I didn’t want to fight before, so I let you take it and walked away. But these days, I’ve been having dreams of Cui Yi every night. He’s furious that you took what’s his and demands I reclaim it.”

Zhao Yuhong blurted out, “You’re just after the money—stop acting so righteous!”

Lv Xiaojie gave them a knowing smile. “You know the truth as well as I do. Cui Yi said in the dream that he won’t let you have a dime. If you do, he’ll haunt you forever.”

Cui Yong slammed the table, putting on a brave face but clearly shaken. “Nonsense! Let him try! I wasn’t afraid of him when he was alive, why should I be afraid of him now that he’s dead?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the water glass in front of them moved on its own without anyone touching it.

The Cui family froze. The glass slowly moved to the edge of the table, stopping just before it was about to fall.

The Cui family instantly turned pale, sweating profusely, realizing that Cui Yi was indeed following them, even in broad daylight.

But wasn’t it always said in TV dramas that ghosts fear sunlight and would never come out during the day?

Lv Xiaojie stared at the glass for a long time. She knew Cui Yi was there, but she also knew she would never see him again. Unlike the Cui family’s fear, she felt a sense of loss.

After glancing at the ashen-faced family, Lv Xiaojie picked up her bag and stood up. “Today, I just wanted to convey Cui Yi’s message. If you cooperate and settle the inheritance, Cui Yi will let you go. If you don’t cooperate, then it’s hard to say. Also, I’ve gathered evidence about how you abandoned Cui Yi back then. I will file a lawsuit, so be prepared for a legal battle.”

After saying this, Lv Xiaojie left. The Cui family, though furious, didn’t dare to act out. The glass at the edge of the table was the best deterrent.

In a place they couldn’t see, Xie Paner was cheering for Cui Yi, “Go, go, put more effort into it!”

Cui Yi, almost crouching on the table, held the glass with both hands, trying to channel his ghostly energy. His original plan wasn’t just to move the glass but to make it explode in front of the Cui family, scaring them to death!

However, while he managed to move the glass, he couldn’t make it explode. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t crush the seemingly ordinary glass cup.

Seeing Cui Yi's futile efforts to crush the cup, Xie Paner couldn't help but sigh, "Let it go, just moving it was enough to scare them. Let's not damage the shop's property. This cup is clearly domestically made, and the quality is so good."

Cui Yi also sighed, "Maybe my ghostly energy isn't strong enough."

Sitting on the other side, Ji Nanxing propped his chin with one hand, his slender fingers half-covering his face. He watched the whole thing as Cui Yi and Xie Paner tried to crush the cup.

Especially when he saw Cui Yi climb onto the table, almost kneeling on it while holding the cup with both hands and channeling his ghostly energy, he almost couldn't hold back his laughter.

Xiao Ye, who couldn't see the lingering ghost, noticed Ji Nanxing's amused expression and glanced over, only to see the pale-faced Cui family members hastily standing up and fleeing in panic.

"What's so funny?" Xiao Ye asked.

Ji Nanxing took out his phone, snapped a photo of the scene, and then used ghostly energy to reveal the ghost in the photo before handing it to Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye laughed out loud upon seeing the photo, "It seems that behind every terrifying moment, there's a ghost working hard to create the terror."

Ji Nanxing also chuckled, "Yes, they’re really working hard."

The Cui family knew a bit about inheritance. In the information age, they’d learned a bit from watching short videos, but the specifics were unclear. For example, they had given Cui Yi away but hadn't transferred ownership or raised him. It was unclear if they could still inherit his estate.

However, they didn’t want to shell out for a lawyer, as they had already prepared themselves for the possibility of getting nothing.

Dealing with the living is easier, but how to handle the lingering ghost haunting them? If Cui Yi wanted their lives, taking their lives would be a piece of cake.

Big Cui, after having his ankle grabbed, was already considering giving up. This time it was his ankle, but what about next time? If he got strangled like his dad, would he make it?

But fear of death aside, the bitterness was real.

Who could let go of millions in property that were practically theirs?

Cui the Third didn’t really care. His dad and brother were on it, and Cui Yi hadn't come after him yet. If they could get the money, he’d definitely get a cut. So, compared to the frightened Cui Wenbin and the indecisive Cui Yong, Cui the Third was pretty chill.

But his calmness didn't last long.

Lv Xiaojie wanted to go to court to dispute the inheritance. If they wanted to get the money, they would have to respond to the lawsuit. This lawsuit could drag on forever, and hotels were way too pricey. A night or two in a hotel was doable, but in the long run, it would be a significant expense.

The park where they’d stayed before seemed like a good option, so they checked out of the hotel and headed to the park.

Cui the Third looked disdainful, "We’re starting to look like bums. I'm going home tomorrow. Staying here is too expensive. Why don't Dad and Brother stay here, and Mom and I go back first? If anything happens, you can call us, and we'll come over."

Big Cui said, "My leg hurts. You stay here and help Dad with the errands. Mom and I will go back first."

Cui the Third rolled his eyes, "Dad got choked and didn’t whine about it, but you're making a fuss."

Big Cui was instantly furious. This wasn’t just about getting choked or having your leg grabbed; they were being haunted by a vengeful ghost, and it was a matter of life and death!

Afraid they would start arguing again, Zhao Yuhong quickly tried to mediate.

The weather was already hot, and the park was full of greenery. While the shade provided some relief, there were also many mosquitoes. Annoyed by the mosquito bites, Cui the Third kicked a tree and stormed off.

Zhao Yuhong called out, "Where are you going?"

Cui the Third replied, "Just going for a stroll!"

He also wanted to see if there was a nearby internet cafe. For a few dollars, he could play on the computer, stay overnight, and enjoy the air conditioning, which was much better than staying in the sweltering park.

As he walked along the artificial lake towards the park's exit, Cui the Third was suddenly pushed by an unseen force. He lost his balance and fell into the lake.

He was a strong swimmer, having grown up fishing in rivers. Instinctively, he reached out to grab the stone steps by the roadside to pull himself up, but soon a powerful force tugged at his feet. A cold, icy hand gripped his ankle, pulling him down relentlessly.

Cui the Third panicked instantly, his grip on the steps slipped, and he almost immediately sank down.

He desperately tried to climb up, but the force pulling him down grew stronger, and the hand gripping his ankle tightened. In his panic, he couldn’t hold his breath and choked on the water, leading to a suffocating death.

He was going to die—this time, he was really going to die. Cui Yi hadn’t come for him earlier not to spare him, but because he was waiting, waiting to drown him directly.

At that moment, Cui the Third thought only of survival. He didn’t want to die; he was truly terrified. Why had he been so greedy, grabbing what wasn’t his?

The words of the young man they had met in the park earlier were coming true. Cui Yi harbored resentment toward all of them, and he intended to take them all away.

Before, with his family around, he felt his parents would handle anything, even if the sky fell. So, although Cui the Third was scared, he wasn’t that scared. But now he knew being haunted wasn’t safe, even with someone else to protect him.

In that moment, he gained a clearer, more terrifying understanding of ghosts.

As the air thinned and his chest and lungs felt ready to explode, a strong arm suddenly wrapped around his waist, and the hand gripping his ankle vanished.

Cui the Third was yanked out of the water. He coughed and gasped for air as soon as he surfaced, never realizing how wonderful it was just to breathe.

The man who had pulled him out wrung out his clothes and looked at him, saying, “It’s almost dark. Stay away from the lake in the future. If no one passes by, you won’t be so lucky.”

Cui the Third coughed too hard to speak. He wanted to express his gratitude, but his throat hurt, his chest hurt, and every breath was painful.

When he finally caught his breath, his savior had vanished.

The bodyguard, now in dry clothes, walked over to the car parked across from the park and said, “He’s out.”

Ji Nanxing smiled and said, “Good job. You’ve earned a big break tomorrow.”

The bodyguard smiled and walked to the car behind. They knew their young employer, a Taoist, was helping a ghost claim an inheritance. So when told to wait by the river and when to pull someone out, they didn’t question it. They just followed orders.

Xiao Ye played with Ji Nanxing’s fingers and said, “After scaring them like that, they’ll give up, right?”

Ji Nanxing looked out the car window at the park and said, “Who knows? Never underestimate human greed.”

Xiao Ye pressed a finger against Ji Nanxing’s chin, forcing him to turn and look at him. “I agree with that. Never underestimate human greed. So let’s not look at those greedy people anymore. It’s bringing us down. There’s a self-service teppanyaki place nearby. Want to try it?”

Ji Nanxing asked, “Self-service teppanyaki? Like a buffet?”

Xiao Ye replied, “You cook, I’ll eat. Let’s go, I’m starving.”

The cars parked by the roadside gradually drove away. After recovering from his near-death experience, Cui the Third limped to his parents. Seeing him soaked, Zhao Yuhong exclaimed, “Son, did you fall into the water?”

As soon as Cui the Third saw his mother, he hugged her and burst into tears. “Mom! I almost died. It was Cui Yi who pushed me. He pushed me in and pulled my leg underwater, trying to drag me down. If it weren’t for a big brother passing by and saving me, I would’ve died. I really would’ve died!”

Cui the Third pulled up his pant leg, revealing a black handprint on one of his ankles.

Cui Yong and Cui Wenbin’s faces changed again, and they exchanged glances, their eyes filled with fear and unease.

Zhao Yuhong’s heart ached as she comforted her son. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t be afraid.”

Cui the Third wiped his face, unsure if it was lake water or tears, and said, “I don’t want it anymore. I don’t want anything. If we take even a penny from him, he’ll take our lives! Mom, let’s go home. Let’s go home right now!”

Zhao Yuhong quickly agreed, “Okay, okay, we’ll go home right now. We don’t want it anymore. We don’t want anything.”

Their lives hadn’t been too hard before. They had a small house in the town, no debts, and lived within their means. They weren’t rich, but they weren’t doing too badly either.

Now, if they were to lose their lives over this inheritance, it would be too much of a loss.

Cui the Third refused to stay any longer, but there were no more buses back to their hometown that day. They would have to wait until the next day. He huddled between his parents, like a terrified bird, too scared to move.

Cui the Elder was smoking a cigarette nearby, glancing at the still shaken Cui the Third: "Are you just going to give up like that?"

Cui the Third huddled up and looked at him: "I don't want to die."

The handprint on his ankle grew darker, a constant reminder of the consequences of not giving up.

By the lake, Cui Yi struggled to pull himself out of the water and looked at Xie Paner squatting beside him: "How did it go?"

Xie Paner gave him a thumbs-up: "They’re already scared enough to give up and head home. We’re one big step closer to success!"

The two ghosts high-fived.

Cui Yi, having a hard time climbing up, said: "Since I’m not a ghost that died in water, I kept sinking when I went in, almost didn’t make it back up."

Xie Paner was curious: "Are there other ghosts in the water?"

Cui Yi shook his head: "No, it’s quite clean."

If there had been other ghosts in the water, he wouldn’t have needed to go down himself; he could have just asked them to pull for him.

In the Cui family, Cui Yong was the one who really called the shots. He knew that the late Cui Yi truly hated them and wanting their lives was no joke. Cui Yong was scared, but also felt that was his son—how could a son kill his father?

Though he didn’t know where his conviction came from, it was this conviction that made him hesitate between giving up and persisting.

A son’s belongings, after his death, should naturally go to his father.

Cui Yong even thought in his heart, the young man who last time could see the problems on them, that proved someone was knowledgeable. If there are ghosts in this world, then there must be those who catch ghosts. Cui Yi died and didn’t move on, still harming and killing people; he should be caught.

But the problem was, where could they find someone who knew how to catch ghosts, and Cui Yi might be tailing them right now. If he knew their intentions, would he go all out?

Cui Yong kept these thoughts bottled up; no one knew what he was thinking, but Cui Yi, who was following him, could tell from his expression that nearly drowning Cui the Third wasn’t a strong enough deterrent for Cui Yong; he hadn’t given up yet.

At daybreak, Cui the Third was desperate to go home, feeling that every extra day in Yulan brought him closer to death.

Cui Yong thought it was pointless to keep guarding here, so he also planned to go home first, to inquire in his hometown if there was anyone knowledgeable, like a ghost catcher, who could capture Cui Yi. If they could do that, then they had nothing to fear.

As they lugged their bags toward the station, passing by a low residential building, while crossing an alley, Cui Yong didn’t see a loose brick and stumbled, nearly falling. Just half a step away from him, a flowerpot fell from above.

The shards of the flowerpot even hit him, cutting his face, narrowly missing his eye.

The sudden crash of the flowerpot from above shocked the Cui family. When they looked up to curse, they saw a person standing at the edge of the rooftop, looking down at them.

But this sight made the Cui family’s blood run cold, because that person was none other than Cui Yi, who had been dead for several months!

Even though it was several floors away, they all clearly saw Cui Yi’s face, even saw him smile at them—a cold, malicious smile.

They didn’t even know how they got out of the alley, almost crawling, even leaving their luggage behind, just wanting to get away from here, far away, never to come back to this ghostly Yulan city!

Cui Yong kept muttering as he ran: "We don’t want it, we don’t want your things! Stop haunting us!"

They squeezed into the crowd, but the bustling crowd couldn’t dispel the panic and fear in their hearts. They headed straight for the station, not wanting to stay a minute longer.

Finally, at the station, Lv Xiaojie called: "Cui Yi has visited me in another dream, saying you have three days to come and do the notarization, otherwise you can’t escape."

After saying that, Lv Xiaojie hung up. The Cui family felt a chill in their hearts. Yes, as long as this matter wasn’t resolved, Cui Yi could follow them wherever they went. If a ghost wants to haunt and kill, how could they escape?

Cui Yi only had parents and siblings by blood, so handling the inheritance wasn’t complicated. As long as his parents and siblings signed a statement renouncing the inheritance, then Lv Xiaojie could inherit everything.

The moment he signed, Cui Yong seemed to age a decade, his body hunched over. Not long ago, they were living in a big house, dreaming of getting rich; now they had nothing.

Every stroke of the pen was an expression of hatred towards Cui Yi. If only they had strangled the boy back then instead of handing him over to his brother, allowing him to enjoy so many years of fortune in the city, and even after death, he still had to cause trouble!

Cui Yi didn’t care how much the old man hated him in his heart. His goal was achieved; his property was completely untouched by them. He left everything to his wife, ensuring she was taken care of.

In the future, whether his wife chose to start a new life with someone else or live freely on her own, he respected and supported her. He gave her everything he could, even though he couldn’t be with her until old age. Since this was fate, he had to accept it.

As his wife sincerely thanked Ji Nanxing, Cui Yi’s eyes filled with reluctance. He knew it was all over; it was time for him to go. If he stayed, he would only hinder the living. He could no longer be a part of her life.

Xie Paner patted him, acknowledging the divide between life and death—the living reluctant, the dead unwilling.

Lv Xiaojie also knew it was all over. From now on, Cui Yi would never appear in her life again. She glanced back, unsure if he was there, but if he was, he was surely watching her.

Gazing at the empty space behind her, Lv Xiaojie silently bid farewell. She would walk the path ahead alone, but it was okay. She had been loved deeply, enough to transcend the boundaries of life and death. Though the memories were painful, they were also the courage that would carry her forward.

Watching Lv Xiaojie’s departing figure, Xie Paner could somewhat understand Cui Yi’s feelings at that moment. She deliberately changed the subject, "There’s something I’m quite curious about."

When Lv Xiaojie was completely out of sight, Cui Yi looked up at the sky. He suddenly felt as if he were about to dissolve, as though a heavy burden had been lifted, making his entire being feel light. But before leaving, he satisfied Xie Paner’s curiosity.

"Curious about what?"

Xie Paner: "You scared the three Cui men, why didn’t you scare your mother?"

Cui Yi was silent for a while, then said, "Because when she sent me away, she gave me a piece of candy."

This woman, who always depended on Cui Yong and never had her own opinions, who favored the eldest and the youngest but always ignored him, gave him a piece of candy that day, telling him to be good in his new home.

He wasn’t sure if she felt relief or reluctance when she sent him away, but he remembered that candy—sweet yet bitter.