Chapter 305 The Truth of the Past

Chapter 305 The Truth of the Past

Su Bai had always known that resentful spirits, and the even more potent vengeful spirits, were consumed by hatred. This was their fundamental distinction from malevolent ghosts.

Malevolent ghosts were driven solely by the urge to hunt and feed, their every action geared towards securing more delectable prey and a more thrilling chase. Yet, even the most terrifying and irrational vengeful spirits harbored at least one deep-seated obsession and an enduring hatred in their hearts.

These obsessions and resentments could plunge them into madness, yet a mere touch upon these fixations could snap them back to clarity, and any challenge to their deeply held beliefs would ignite their fury.

A powerful obsession could be both a vengeful spirit's greatest strength and its most profound vulnerability. This, perhaps, was the starkest difference between vengeful spirits and malevolent ghosts.

Earlier, Wen Wen had questioned Ghost Lady's actions. Now, though Ghost Lady appeared enraged, she seemed to yearn for Wen Wen and the other "outsiders" to comprehend and even endorse her unwavering fixation.

"Meow."

As the red moon in the sky was once again veiled by illusions, the little black cat and the cat spirits, previously repelled by Ghost Lady's surging power, returned to Su Bai's wrist. The kitten's meow carried a hint of grievance, clearly displeased with being worn like a bracelet by an unfamiliar, eerie entity.

Su Bai could only gently stroke and comfort the kitten, which had transformed back into a talismanic rope, for more pressing matters lay before him.

With the newcomers safely "hidden" behind him, Su Bai felt secure enough to lift the edge of the bridal veil slightly. He watched as the ruined backyard was once more enveloped by illusions, and the pond and grassy areas reappeared.

What differed from before was a figure, bound and unconscious, lying beside a stone bench in the backyard pavilion. It was someone utterly unknown to Su Bai, yet the person's opulent attire, aged appearance of around sixty, and a cunning, villainous countenance perfectly matched Su Bai's mental image of Master Wang.

"Master Wang, are you awake?"

As the voice echoed, a Butler Zhao, free from the grime that covered his counterpart, appeared beside the fallen Master Wang. His expression was a mixture of tension and excitement.

Given that the mud-covered Butler Zhao was still aimlessly shuffling about nearby, the Butler Zhao and Master Wang in the pavilion were undoubtedly illusions conjured by Ghost Lady.

"What exactly do you want? What did you put in that bowl of meat soup?" The prostrate Master Wang had indeed regained consciousness. As he struggled against his bonds, he roared in anger, "You are the butler I hired! I even paid you more than any butler in the city!"

"Regrettably, that was still not the price I desired," Butler Zhao said, squatting beside him. "Master, did you truly believe that by hiring someone from another town, no one would ever discover your sordid affairs?"

"You..."

"Yes, I know what you did, and I know what you're hiding." The old butler's tone grew increasingly agitated. "I don't ask for much. Just tell me where you've concealed the fortune you acquired, even at the cost of your wife's life. I promise to take only a small fraction, and I will vanish from your sight forever."

"Pah!" The bound Master Wang clearly disdained Butler Zhao's proposition.

"Master, you must know that your wife's family is still frantically searching for you, eager to tear you limb from limb," Butler Zhao said, as if holding Master Wang's deepest secret. "If they discover your whereabouts, you will be left with nothing."

"You..."

Butler Zhao was about to speak further when a violent pounding erupted from the front yard.

"Where is everyone! We've brought the brides, come out and greet them!"

"If anyone's greeting them, it should be us, greeting our village's bride!"

"Open the door now!"

The knocking at the front door escalated, soon joined by the sound of many people battering the gate. This flustered Butler Zhao, who had been poised to continue his conversation. Fearing that the unruly villagers outside might indeed break down the door in their commotion, Butler Zhao hastily grabbed the meat soup from the stone table and forced several more mouthfuls into Master Wang. He then stuffed a cloth into the master's mouth and, with all his might, dragged the struggling Master Wang out of sight.

"Master Wang, if you are wise, do not stir. Otherwise, I will reveal your secrets to those villagers," the agitated Butler Zhao spat furiously. "You should know what those ruffians are capable of."

"Mmm..." Master Wang's voice trembled with fear.

The illusion before them rippled like waves on a pond's surface. After a moment of disorientation, Su Bai saw Butler Zhao leading three brides into the backyard, escorting each to a separate courtyard.

As Butler Zhao settled the three brides, his gaze repeatedly, almost instinctively, drifted towards the pavilion.

Once the backyard was finally empty save for Butler Zhao, the old man rushed back to the pavilion, intent on resuming his unfinished business.

But...

"Where is he? How did he disappear?"

"Damn it!"

Master Wang, who had been bound and left in the pavilion by Butler Zhao, and who had once again consumed the drugged meat soup, seemed to have vanished!

"No, I mustn't panic." Butler Zhao, as agitated as a cat on a hot tin roof, muttered to himself in an attempt to self-soothe. "That fortune must still be in this mansion. It has to be here. I'll find it. I will definitely find it..."