Chapter 38 I Won’t Let Her Go Alone

Chapter 38: I Won’t Let Her Walk Alone

"Welcome back." A Chan's face brightened with a smile.

She stepped aside to let Chen Hui enter, then closed the door before asking, "Hui Niang, have you finished what you set out to do?"

"Not yet." Chen Hui settled into a chair. Though she felt no physical fatigue, returning here seemed to bring a profound sense of relaxation to both her body and mind.

A Chan looked surprised.

Chen Hui stated calmly, "Fang Yu and her son are dead, but Yan Liru is still alive."

A Chan wasn't surprised. Yan Liru, as the Left Vice Minister of the Board of Punishments and a high-ranking third-tier official, would cause a major stir if he suddenly died. An investigation would inevitably follow, and Hui Niang would surely be implicated.

Hui Niang was not like Xiao Lin Shi. Though the latter was dead, she was still in this world and needed to plan carefully for her future.

However, knowing Hui Niang as she did, A Chan was certain she wouldn't leave the Yan household without having done something.

"What did you do to him?" A Chan asked with keen interest.

"I fed him my blood."

From the moment she could access Yan Liru’s food, she had daily squeezed out her scarce blood and mixed it into his meals.

The tea she brewed, the pastries she made, every dish she served him—all contained her blood.

As a living corpse, her blood carried a potent corpse poison, undetectable by any silver needle. No matter how cautious Yan Liru was, he was bound to be poisoned.

"If he were to commit suicide now, he might even have a chance to become a living corpse," A Chan chuckled.

"He won't. He's too consumed by power—how could he bear to die? He'll simply rot away slowly, watching himself disintegrate." Chen Hui's tone was flat.

"Oh dear, the townsfolk will be heartbroken. Lord Yan has quite the reputation outside."

Regardless of Yan Liru’s true character, his public image was impeccable. He had genuinely helped some commoners, or else his reputation wouldn't have spread so widely.

"His reputation… Let it be buried with him."

Chen Hui stayed with A Chan. She no longer resembled her appearance a decade later, making it difficult for people to connect her with the proprietress of the eatery at the end of the street. Unless a member of the Yan household happened to pass by and recognize her, she was safe.

Though the chances were slim, Chen Hui still made slight alterations to her appearance, not wanting to bring unnecessary trouble to A Chan.

She styled her hair differently and applied a subtly altered makeup, changing her look by a good third or so.

A Chan watched her prepare, her eyes gleaming with fascination.

After finishing her own makeup, Chen Hui gently guided the restless A Chan onto a stool and applied a beautiful peach-blossom makeup look for her.

A Chan touched her face while gazing into the mirror, feeling utterly radiant today.

Early in the morning, after enjoying the breakfast Chen Hui had prepared, A Chan accompanied her to a nearby carpentry shop.

For now, she had no plans to move. Although Chen Hui didn't need to sleep, she still needed a place to rest.

After discussing it, the two decided to first buy a daybed for the ground floor, where Chen Hui could rest at night.

They selected a daybed of suitable length. A Chan paid, and after the shop assistant noted down the address—which wasn't far—he immediately fetched a cart to deliver it to the shop.

On their way back, A Chan noticed a group of people banging gongs and drums, drawing a crowd to the street corner. Curious, she craned her neck to see.

"What's going on?"

She recognized the man leading them as the headman of Changping Ward, who usually only dealt with curfew breakers. The rest of the time, he was just like any other commoner, occasionally seen on the streets.

She had only learned his identity once, when she overheard someone call him "ward chief."

Seeing A Chan’s curiosity, the deliveryman chuckled, "Go on, enjoy the show, miss. I’ll take my time. If I get there first, I’ll wait for you at the door."

"Alright." A Chan pulled Chen Hui along to join the commotion.

Once people had gathered, the ward chief announced loudly, "Recently, a living corpse has been sighted roaming our ward. Tonight, officials from the Board of Punishments will be searching for it. After curfew, every household must lock their doors and windows. Do not interfere with the investigation."

The crowd barely reacted.

They had heard this several times before, yet the living corpse still hadn't been caught. Fortunately, no more deaths had occurred since then, so people had stopped paying much attention. Who knew it would return after wandering the city?

"Can those officials from the Board of Punishments even do their job? How many times have they tried to catch it now, and still nothing?" someone shouted from the crowd.

The ward chief quickly replied, "Watch your words. Just remember—tonight, no one goes out, and don't open your doors to strangers. We can't have that thing in our homes."

"Don't worry, we'd like to live a few more days. We'll lock up right at the start of the Hour of the Rooster."

Bored by the familiar warning, A Chan soon lost interest. After listening for a while, she and Chen Hui headed home.

On the way, Chen Hui asked, "They still haven't caught that thing?"

She remembered that before she went to the Yan household, the authorities had been searching for it in Changping Ward.

"No. I heard it even went to Changle Ward for a while."

Chen Hui immediately sensed something amiss. "Could it be the living corpse Fang Yu raised? Is it coming for me?"

After a moment’s thought, she dismissed the idea. Even if Fang Yu and her son were still alive, they wouldn't be foolish enough to send a living corpse into the city to kill.

Unless something went wrong.

"Perhaps it's related to those incense pills you took earlier," A Chan said, noticing Chen Hui's furrowed brow. "Don't worry. The living corpse couldn't find you before, and now your scent is even fainter. Even if it comes to Changping Ward, it won't matter."

Of course, she wasn't entirely unprepared. After all, she was just a fragile human now, and quite afraid of dying.

Still, A Chan found the situation peculiar. After so many days, Hui Niang's scent should have faded even more. If the living corpse hadn't been able to find her before, it was even less likely now.

If it wasn't after Hui Niang, then perhaps someone wanted it to appear in Changping Ward.

After all, if the living corpse was a tool she could use, others might think the same.

Unaware of A Chan’s thoughts, Chen Hui said apologetically, "I’ve still brought trouble to you."

"What trouble?" A Chan replied cheerfully. "For me, this is a great opportunity."

Chen Hui looked puzzled, but A Chan only smiled and said no more. Whatever the reason for the living corpse’s movements, they would find out soon enough.

Though the crowd had seemed indifferent when the ward chief made his announcement, by the Hour of the Rooster, nearly every shop and household in Changping Ward had locked up early.

Living corpses preferred to move at night, and at this hour, when the sky wasn't fully dark, it wouldn't emerge. But Xue Mingtang had prepared blood bait in advance—living corpses craved flesh and blood, especially that of living humans.

To lure it out, he had specially requested prisoners from the Board of Punishments’ jail, even cutting them to draw blood.

The officials took these blood baits to several wards where the living corpse had recently been spotted. Soon, a signal arrow rose over Yong’an Ward.

Xue Mingtang was somewhat surprised. The Xue family resided in Yong'an Ward, yet the undead creature had ended up near his home. However, this did not hinder the plan's execution, though his subordinates couldn't understand why the corpse had to be lured specifically to Changping Ward.

As planned, the Board of Punishments clerks would take the human lure directly to Changping Ward.

The undead creature was fast, but the Board of Punishments clerks, aided by the Imperial Astrologers' Gale Talismans, managed to stay just ahead of it. Despite the close calls, they successfully led the creature into Changping Ward.

Xue Mingtang had long divided his subordinates into several teams, positioning them throughout Changping Ward.

When it came to his own role, however, he chose not to team up with anyone, opting instead to act alone.

Some subordinates worried for him, but he insisted. Eventually, all followed his orders and took their assigned positions, while Xue Mingtang made his way to the street where A Chan lived.

Following Xue Mingtang's prior instructions, the Board of Punishments clerk carrying the human lure brought it before him, simultaneously drawing the undead creature closer.

"Sir, you must be careful. That undead creature has grown even faster—it seems close to evolving," the clerk warned hastily before tossing the bait down and retreating.

"Understood. Go ahead," Xue Mingtang dismissed him with a wave.

The clerk wasted no time, knowing his low cultivation would only be a burden, and swiftly departed.

The prisoner serving as bait lay on the ground, his breathing weak, blood pooling around him. He wouldn't last much longer.

Xue Mingtang paid him no mind, calmly waiting for the undead creature to appear.

Before long, it arrived.

Crouched low, it scuttled on all fours. The undead creature retained only a semblance of human form—its behavior was far removed from humanity.

Had Xue Mingtang been more observant, he might have noticed that when both he and the bait were present, the creature's attention wasn't on the bait.

But at this moment, he was too absorbed in the impending success of his plan to notice.

He grabbed the bait and dragged it to A Chan's doorstep, then hurled the half-dead prisoner against the tightly shut door.

Both A Chan and Chen Hui heard the impact—something heavy had struck the door.

Then, Chen Hui caught a familiar, rotting stench. Her face fell as she immediately stood.

"What's wrong?" A Chan looked at her.

"The undead creature is here. Right outside." Chen Hui's gaze locked on the door.

If the creature broke in, even if she couldn't defeat it, she could hold it off long enough for A Chan to escape.

She turned to speak to A Chan, only to find her rummaging through a cabinet. After a moment, A Chan pulled out a small jar and handed it to Chen Hui, motioning for her to open it.

The moment Chen Hui lifted the lid, an eye-watering, throat-clenching stench assaulted her senses.

Since becoming undead, this was the first time she had encountered such a horrifying smell. More accurately, she didn't so much *smell* it as *feel* it—her body reacted physically.

There was no way to block it out.

"What *is* this?" She nearly dropped the jar, hastily slamming the lid back on.

"A special powder I concocted to repel zombies, undead creatures, and wild mountain spirits," A Chan said with feigned innocence. She hadn't expected to use this jar while Hui Niang was home.

Chen Hui, being an undead creature herself, fell silent. Firsthand experience told her the powder's effectiveness.

"How do we use it? Sprinkle it at the door?"

Despite the godawful smell, it might actually stop the undead creature from breaking in.

"Exactly."

Following A Chan's instructions, Chen Hui dusted the powder at the door and windows before quickly sealing the jar again.

The reek gradually permeated the room. Though it couldn't harm her, it made her lightheaded and confused.

Seeing her discomfort, A Chan led her upstairs.

The powder's stench was only overpowering up close. Once upstairs, the smell faded, and Chen Hui immediately felt better.

The ruckus outside continued. Exchanging a glance, A Chan and Chen Hui each took a position by a second-floor window, easing it open just enough to observe the scene below.

Contrary to Xue Mingtang's expectations, the undead creature ignored the bait entirely and made a beeline for him.

He had planned everything meticulously—the creature would devour the bait, accidentally break down the door, and Ji Chan would meet a gruesome death.

Then, he could call in backup to eliminate the undead creature.

But things didn't go as he had envisioned.

Facing Xue Mingtang, the undead creature slobbered uncontrollably, its acidic drool burning pockmarks in the ground.

It locked eyes on him. His body carried a scent that called to it—if it consumed him, it could evolve.

Driven by this craving, the creature went straight for the kill.

Xue Mingtang was of the same rank as the undead creature. While the creature relied on raw power, he had technique to rely on. For a time, neither could get an advantage.

Watching from inside, A Chan was getting antsy. How long would this drag on?

Leaving Chen Hui upstairs, she bolted downstairs and returned moments later with three pouches the size of her palm.

She undid the pouches' ties, handed one to Chen Hui, and pointed at Xue Mingtang. "Throw this at him."

No questions asked, Chen Hui took the pouch, pushed the window open wider, and flung it at Xue Mingtang.

The first missed as he dodged.

The second, however, hit him dead-on as he evaded the undead creature's attack. The pouch burst open, dusting him with powder.

The powder was odorless, but it made Xue Mingtang shoot a look at A Chan's second-floor window in the heat of combat.

At that moment, he thought: even if his plan had failed, getting rid of Ji Chan could not wait. For her to dare interfere at such a time—she truly had a suicidal streak.

If so, he would simply stage an "accident" himself.

Just then, the undead creature's claws swiped across his chest. He couldn't dodge fast enough.

Then he realized—the creature's movements seemed to be accelerating. Its attacks were connecting more often, becoming tougher to dodge.

Was it on the verge of evolving?

He didn't realize the truth: it wasn't that the undead creature had grown faster—*he* was moving slower.

"What's wrong with him?" Chen Hui, upstairs, noticed Xue Mingtang's strange condition and couldn't help but ask A Chan next to her.

His transformation had started right after she threw down that bag of powder.

A Chan watched as the ghoul pinned Xue Mingtang to the ground downstairs, her face lit up with a smile. "He inhaled quite a bit of Fevergrass earlier. It takes a toll on the body."

Chen Hui turned her head, patiently waiting for A Chan to continue.

"I kindly counteracted the poison of the Fevergrass for him. It's just that, for a short while, his body will be a bit slow."

In a fight for his life with a ghoul, even the slightest mistake could be fatal.

A Chan didn't know everything—she just liked having backups.

There was a type of incense called Blended Fragrance.

Used alone, it caused no discomfort. But when combined, it could create a little problem.

She had originally whipped it up casually, without any particular use in mind. But who could have guessed Xue Mingtang would show up right outside her home?

What a waste that'd be not to use it on him?

The ghoul’s claws pierced through Xue Mingtang’s legs, leaving him unable to stand. Then, greedily, it bit into his neck. With a single bite, blood gushed out instantly.

Pain and terror mixed, filling Xue Mingtang's head in that moment.

Only then did it finally hit him: the fear of death.

He couldn’t understand—this was just an ordinary mission, nothing he couldn't handle. How had he ended up like this?

What went wrong?

The ghoul seemed more interested in his blood than his flesh.

It crouched over him, guzzling hungrily. Xue Mingtang had completely lost the strength to resist, could only pray the ghoul wouldn’t kill him.

Indeed, it didn’t. After drinking enough blood, the ghoul finally sensed its moment to transform. It needed to find a safe place to complete its change.

Soon, the ghoul released Xue Mingtang and swiftly slipped into a nearby alley.

"He isn't dead yet," A Chan remarked after the ghoul left, pushing open the window and leaning out to look at Xue Mingtang.

"But almost," Chen Hui added.

"Let’s go down." A Chan handed the last pouch to Chen Hui. "If he can still fight back, hit him again."

"Alright." Chen Hui took the pouch, slipped an arm around A Chan’s waist, and jumped down from the second floor with her. They landed lightly, making no sound.

The two approached Xue Mingtang.

Xue Mingtang’s consciousness was already fading, but he still struggled to open his eyes. He groped at his chest—he had brought a distress flare. If he could just pull it, someone would come to save him. He could survive.

His fingers closed around the flare in his pocket. He pulled it out, but before his smile could fully form, a hand snatched it away.

"Lord Xue, do you like the scent of my incense?" A woman’s soft, sweet voice suddenly rang out. A Chan’s face appeared in Xue Mingtang’s fading sight.

She smiled down at him, tilting her head slightly.

"It’s… you…"

Xue Mingtang suddenly realized—it wasn’t that the ghoul had suddenly grown stronger. He had been tricked without even knowing it!

Was it the incense she had thrown down?

"The Justice Ministry will hunt you down."

A Chan’s tone was innocent. "I was just so scared of the ghoul that I threw down a pouch of incense. Just ordinary incense. When the officials from the Ministry come to investigate, I’ll tell them everything."

Xue Mingtang’s mouth opened, but no words came out.

His only lifeline was now in A Chan’s hands.

He didn’t want to die. He hadn’t been promoted yet. There were still so many things he hadn’t done. He still…

"Lord Xue, what's it like to be on the brink of death?" A Chan’s voice murmured softly.

No, it didn’t feel good at all.

"You should have expected this when you killed Ji Chan."

Of course, he had never imagined it would lead to his own death. His elder sister had wanted Ji Chan gone, so he had casually fired an arrow. There shouldn’t have been any mishaps—she should have died.

But whenever it came to Ji Chan, his plans always went awry.

Last time, and this time.

"Don’t be afraid," A Chan said gently. "Soon, plenty will keep you company. I won’t let her go alone."