Chapter 62: Echoes of the Past

Chapter 62: Echoes of the Past

A pall of sorrow hung in the car. The young ghost clutched the jade pendant, his sobs intermittent, yet when Shen Junlan looked his way, he managed a faint smile.

Shen Junlan turned his head, not daring to speak further. Upon entering the house, he uttered Cui Jie’s name and burned a vast amount of incense for him.

Enveloped by the incense smoke, Cui Jie’s eyes stung intensely. His throat felt constricted, as if stuffed with cotton. After three hundred years, someone had called his name and offered him an inexhaustible supply of incense.

After a long while, Cui Jie composed himself and spoke slowly, "Boss, thank you. This is too much—more than I could ever use in this lifetime."

He had likely encountered the kindest people in the world. As a little ghost who only knew how to scare people, Shen Junlan and the others treated him as a friend. Keeping a ghost in their own home—perhaps only they would be willing to do such a thing.

"As long as you like it. Can incense be shared? I don’t really understand these things. If you happen to have any good friends, you can generously share some with them."

Before they knew Cui Jie’s name, when they burned spirit money, other stray ghosts would sometimes gather to pick them up. In the past, his life must have been quite difficult.

"I don’t have any friends."

The horror amusement park was full of NPCs—either humans or malevolent spirits. They were only fit to make offerings to others, or else face destruction. He had been bullied for a long time until Huo Yanchi helped him. Since then, no malevolent spirits had dared to bully him again.

"You have friends now—me, Huo Yanchi, and the python vine. By the way, have you seen an especially cute little sparrow? He’s quite talkative. Maybe you two could become friends too."

Cui Jie felt a warmth in his heart. In Shen Junlan’s eyes, he was never just a wandering ghost—he was a friend.

He spoke softly, "I’ve seen him, but I don’t understand what he says."

After all, the little sparrow wasn’t a supernatural being, so it was normal not to understand him.

Once Cui Jie’s emotions stabilized, he brought the jade pendant to Shen Junlan and said hoarsely, "This was the token of engagement between me and Miss Xu. We each kept half. Later, I passed the imperial exams and set a wedding date. But on the night before the wedding, I broke the promise."

The Cui and Xu families were prominent clans of the time. An ancestor of the Cui family had once served as prime minister. By Cui Jie’s generation, he was the only child of the main family line, cherished and pampered since childhood.

Cui Jie was intelligent from a young age, proficient in the six arts of a gentleman. Later, he achieved top honors in the imperial examinations, becoming the most sought-after talent of his time.

He and Miss Xu were childhood sweethearts, playmates since they were young. Miss Xu was renowned for her gentleness and virtue. Shortly after she turned sixteen, their families arranged their engagement, agreeing to hold the wedding once Cui Jie entered officialdom.

He lived up to expectations, achieving the third highest rank in the palace exams and joining the Hanlin Academy. That same year, his father went to the Xu family to propose marriage, setting the wedding date for Xiaoman.

With all three matchmakers and six rites completed, he was to marry the girl he loved.

The Cui household was decked with lanterns and streamers, filled with joy.

His father hurriedly came to tell him that a wandering Taoist had arrived at their gate. Seeing the auspicious clouds and radiant energy above their home, the Taoist believed a great talent resided there.

Cui Jie was pushed by his father to welcome the guest and invite the Taoist inside for a wedding toast.

As they drank, the Taoist seemed to grow drunk. He grabbed Cui Jie’s wrist, insisting that Cui Jie was an ill-fated person, unable to bear such great blessings.

Cui Jie’s father panicked and urgently sought a solution from him. The Taoist staggered to his feet and performed a ritual beneath the heavens.

Cui Jie felt a pain in his chest but dismissed it, thinking it was due to recent exhaustion. His father paid three hundred taels for the Taoist’s talismans, posting them throughout the house. The Taoist claimed that after midnight, he would perform one more ritual to resolve the issue.

Until the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), everything remained calm, with no sign of the storm the Taoist had predicted. Yet, strangely, as soon as the hour of Zi (11 PM-1 AM) began, thunderclaps were so dense they could strike people dead.

Cui Jie lay in bed, unable to open his eyes. His consciousness seemed trapped by something, struggling to break free but held down firmly.

Though his eyes were closed, he saw the Cui residence catch fire, the flames spreading from the woodshed to the main hall.

The servants seemed under an immobilization spell, none of them reacting. Cui Jie felt powerless, wanting to shout but unable to make a sound.

In the blink of an eye, he saw the Taoist approach him, caressing his face and body with obsession.

"Heh heh heh, such a fresh body. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a fine vessel."

The Taoist’s skin hung loosely, aging decades in an instant. He was no proper Taoist but a demon who fed on humans.

He coveted the fortune attached to Cui Jie and his youthful body.

Amid the raging fire, Cui Jie’s soul was forcibly expelled from his body. He could only watch as the Taoist changed into the wedding robes, pretending to be Cui Jie, and swaggered out.

The fire spread, and more people arrived to fight the flames. Cui Jie screamed desperately, but his cries passed through them unheard.

The Taoist’s body was burned beyond recognition. Cui Jie, mustering strength from somewhere, managed to possess the Taoist’s corpse. He placed the token of engagement in a box, but the body only allowed him to reach the locust tree. He buried the box there before the body was consumed by the flames.

Overnight, the Cui residence was almost entirely destroyed by the fire.

Everyone lamented that only the elderly, weak, and sick remained of the Cui family. Cui Jie had died, not even all his bones could be recovered.

Upon hearing the news, Miss Xu rushed over in her wedding dress. Even in death, she declared she was Cui Jie’s person in life and his ghost in death.

Defying her family’s objections, she held the remains and insisted on performing the wedding ceremony with him.

Cui Jie could do nothing but scream Miss Xu’s name, watching as she completed the ceremony and then hanged herself at the Cui family’s gate.

In her extreme despair, Miss Xu reincarnated. Cui Jie, unable to bear it, went mad, forgetting all his past experiences and becoming a wandering ghost.

He drifted aimlessly in the world for three hundred years before finally reclaiming his sense of self.

His poor Sister Xu had also lost her life in vain.

Cui Jie’s weeping caused the surrounding energy field to vibrate. Huo Yanchi gripped Shen Junlan’s wrist tightly, wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes.

His Xiao Yezi was a tenderhearted person, unable to hold back tears upon hearing such a tragic story.

Shen Junlan sniffled, tightening his grip on Huo Yanchi’s wrist. If anything were to happen to Huo Yanchi, he would surely join him in death.

The one left behind would suffer the most, trapped with memories for a lifetime—an unbearable torment.

Huo Yanchi waited until Cui Jie’s emotions settled slightly before asking softly, "Zi Yue—he’s that Taoist, isn’t he?"

"Yes."

That was why Cui Jie had reacted so strongly to the sword, and why Zi Yue’s great formation had drawn him in.

Zi Yue had stolen Cui Jie’s body and taken over his karma.

They say evil begets evil, yet Zi Yue, after committing so many wrongs, continued to live in peace.

It was unfair—truly unfair.

"Zi Yue must have lived for many, many years. The bodies he steals can’t last long. He has to keep stealing, changing identities every so often. The black robes he wears hide the rot and decay of the bodies he’s taken. He ages too quickly, forced to change constantly."

Shen Junlan’s heart leaped to his throat, his grip on Huo Yanchi’s wrist trembling with dread.

When they were young, Zi Yue had tried to steal Huo Yanchi’s body. Failing that, he left behind a formation.

In modern society, with rapid economic development, Zi Yue couldn’t simply steal someone’s body at will. So he turned his attention to swapping fortunes.

By swapping fortunes, he could become a new person and prolong his life a little longer.

How terrifying, such a person deserves nothing less than being condemned to the eighteenth level of hell.

The Cui family alone had one hundred and ten members, plus Miss Xu, and the Xu family, who lived in sorrow, as well as Xu's parents, who died prematurely, grief-stricken.

Each and every one of these crimes is too many to be fully listed.

It’s no wonder Cui Jie went mad—any normal person would have turned into a vengeful ghost long ago.

"It was my incompetence, forgetting all my past life, letting him exist unchecked in this world for so many years."

Shen Junlan sensed something amiss and quickly interjected, "Cui Jie, don’t be rash. Zi Yue has been around far too long. Even if you were a vengeful ghost right now, you’d be no match for him."

"We need to make a careful plan, not throw ourselves at him blindly. That wouldn’t be revenge—it would be a waste."

Cui Jie’s emotions settled slightly. He nodded. The boss was right—he was no match for Zi Yue.

"I can’t get close to him. I suspect he doesn’t even know I’m still wandering around. Last time, I dealt him a heavy blow—he’ll need a good rest to recover. He must be very weak right now, making him easiest to deal with."

Cui Jie wasn’t sure what kind of cultivation Zi Yue practiced, but he knew the backlash was severe. Every time Zi Yue exchanged fortunes or stole a body, it took a huge toll.

"Don’t worry, we will help you. And so will Daoist Master Zi Yun—my brother. We will get you justice."

Cui Jie nodded heavily. He had to stay calm and not let the boss’s efforts go to waste.

"Boss, I need some time alone to be alone with my thoughts."

Cui Jie drifted a few steps away but then paused. He stood awkwardly before Shen Junlan, lowered his gaze, and said softly, "Boss, I’m a ghost—I can’t burn joss paper for my family. Could you please help me?"

"Of course."

Without hesitation, Shen Junlan called Huo Yanchi over, and together they gathered all the incense and joss paper in the house. They listened as Cui Jie recited the names one by one, burning the offerings slowly.

When it came to Miss Xu, Cui Jie’s throat was already choked with emotion. He said hoarsely, "Sister Yuan, I failed you. You must be doing very well now. If you’re willing in your next life, I will marry you for sure."

The scent of incense filled the air, but Cui Jie remained agitated for a long time. This was destined to be a sleepless night.

Cui Jie drifted back to his room, clutching the jade pendant, reliving those memories as if dying all over again.

How could a person be so evil? Shen Junlan shivered, holding Huo Yanchi’s fingers, unable to shake the chill.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Zi Yue was lurking in the shadows, ready to harm Huo Yanchi at any moment.

Huo Yanchi noticed his unease and, not wanting to agitate Shen Junlan’s sensitive nerves, tried to steer the conversation toward lighter topics.

"Brother."

With just one look from Shen Junlan, Huo Yanchi’s words caught in his throat.

His worry and helplessness couldn’t escape Xiao Yezi’s sharp eyes.

"Darling, don’t be afraid. We will definitely defeat Zi Yue and send him back to the eighteenth level of hell."

Shen Junlan mumbled in response, holding Huo Yanchi’s neck tightly, his eyes stinging as he blinked.

"Brother, you must stay safe, understand? If anything happens to you, I won’t go on living alone."

"Alright, I’ll cherish my life. My Xiao Yezi has already claimed it—I’m not one person, but two."

Huo Yanchi softened his expression, patting Shen Junlan’s back. His Xiao Yezi was still trembling. Though he had countless words of comfort, they all vanished when he met Xiao Yezi’s gaze.

Staying alive and well was the greatest promise he could make to Xiao Yezi.