Chapter 031: A Joyous Evening.
Meanwhile, in the old mansion's courtyard.
Several of the younger members assisted Bai Ran to his feet. They looked at him with a mix of panic and fear. Moments ago, they witnessed Bai Ran invoke their ancestors' spirits to suppress the ghostly bride in the annex. Yet now, he was in this state.
Their fear grew, seeing the two strongest among them in such dire states. Bai Heng Qing had initially been unconscious and upon waking was injured. Bai Ran too was now in distress. To add to it, they had just encountered the terrifyng apparition of the woman in red.
The happiness they felt for resolving the evening's matter was now overshadowed by dread. Both looked helplessly at Bai Heng Qing. One asked, "Uncle, what's happened to the young master?"
A bespectacled young one stepped forward to examine and quickly said, "His soul's trapped. We need to retrieve it. Who will assist me?"
"Leave, now!"
Bai Heng Qing's voice suddenly rang out, his tone stern and his face dark.
Everyone was taken aback by his sudden severity. Some wanted to voice their concerns, but Bai Heng Qing cut them off, "Discuss it outside. Carry him and move, now!"
None dared to disobey. Even though everything seemed peaceful, with even the winds from their ritual having ceased, an oppressive aura filled the place. It felt as if unseen entities were watching them from the eaves, corridors, and windows. Knowing the nature of this place, they hastily carried the injured out.
They rushed out of the mansion's main gate, and one quickly shut the heavy door, only then did the eerie feeling of being watched dissipate.
Outside the mansion, they saw the warm light shining from the gatekeeper's quarters and collectively sighed in relief, feeling as if they had narrowly escaped death.
"Gatekeeper He?" someone shouted towards the lit quarters.
The room remained silent with only the light offering any sign of life.
Someone sensed something was amiss, "Is Gatekeeper He not here?"
"That's not right. If we were in danger inside the mansion, Gatekeeper He would've come looking for us. But when the elder fainted and the young master..."
Bai Heng Qing raised his hand, silencing the speaker. They all realized something was very wrong.
The gatekeeper, who had guarded the mansion for decades, was inexplicably missing on this crucial night.
"Go check," Bai Heng Qing directed one of the younger members.
The young man immediately acknowledged and hurried into the gatekeeper's quarters.
In a short while, he returned, his face full of confusion: "Gatekeeper He is gone. Everything is in its place, but he's nowhere to be seen."
Bai Hengqing inquired, “Are there no signs of struggle?”
The younger generation replied, “None. It's as if he just walked away on his own.”
Bai Hengqing furrowed his brow, considering that the elder He should have been guarding the entrance of the mansion, preventing nosy outsiders from entering, or stepping in to aid them if necessary. Even if he hadn’t noticed the dire situation inside, he shouldn’t have left his post.
Nevertheless, without lingering, Bai Hengqing swiftly decided, “Let’s discuss this back home.”
The group got into their vehicles, with care taken to safely lift Bai Ran inside. The cars then headed towards Bai Hengqing’s residence.
During the journey, Bai Hengqing checked Bai Ran’s condition.
Bai Ran showed no visible injuries, and he was still breathing. However, his eyes were wide open, as if he had witnessed something terrifying, and he was unable to snap out of it. His pulse was erratic, alternating between fast and slow.
Bai Hengqing was puzzled. Bai Ran was brave enough to confront the ghost bride without showing fear, so what could possibly have frightened him to this extent?
The trip from the old mansion to Bai Hengqing’s home was not short. Throughout, Bai Hengqing made good use of the time. While some attended to the wounds of the younger member bitten by the old zombie, he tried various methods to awaken Bai Ran.
Initially, he used a soul-calling charm, shouting at Bai Ran for a long while to no avail. Subsequently, he tried various other techniques such as using golden needles, personal items, summoning spirit helpers, and employing talismans, yet Bai Ran remained unresponsive.
While Bai Hengqing was making a swift escape from the mansion, Chi Shen was inside, crafting paper candy.
He wrote various candy names on the paper: not only milk candies but also strawberry, apple, and orange peel candies. Whatever they desired, Chi Shen wrote.
He found that paper candy seemed especially popular among ghosts. After finishing, he gave several to the red-dressed ghost. She momentarily forgot her fear, joyfully lunging towards Chi Shen for a hug, only to be held back by Ji Xingchen’s grip on her hair.
Pushed back, she wasn’t easily deterred. Snarling and baring her teeth for a while, she tried lunging again when Ji Xingchen was distracted. This time, Ji Xingchen thrust her directly into a cupboard, asking the cupboard spirit, “Would you mind keeping an eye on her?”
The red-dressed ghost, after failing to knock the cupboard door open, mused: While I wanted to thank that stern man, it seems I achieved another wish instead?
The cupboard spirit, which remained silent amidst the knocking: …
The two spirits exchanged glances in the dark confines of the cupboard. Soon after, muffled sounds emanated from within. To Chi Shen, it seemed like typical interaction between the two spirits and he paid it no heed.
The red candles burned tranquilly inside the room, their warm glow illuminating the space, overpowering the dim incandescent lighting.
Previously, Bai Wan's candlelight was oppressive. The spread of red candles made the surroundings seem even darker, making it hard to see beyond a meter from them. Now, they gently lit the entire room.
She no longer dripped blood, her wedding dress and veil were spotless and neatly arranged. If it weren’t for the spirit tablet she clutched, she’d look like a bride prepared for a traditional Chinese wedding.
The spirit tablet underwent a change, with two bloody handprints appearing on it: one rugged, resembling a man's handprint, and the other slender, resembling a woman's.
Chi Shen pondered for a moment and then turned off the light, thinking it would save electricity.
Bai Wan was also occupied; she was tidying up Chi Shen’s room.
Many visitors had been to Chi Shen’s room today. Along with the mischievous red-robed ghost's antics, the room had always been in a state of disarray. Today, out of gratitude, Bai Wan decided to clean up the place.
Bai Wan's red candles illuminated every corner of the room, brightening the place. Her candles had a unique quality: even with paper placed directly above, they wouldn’t cause a fire. They would only burn what she willed. Chi Shen found this ability incredibly handy, so he asked Bai Wan to place even more candles.
Being a fierce ghost, Bai Wan didn’t need to clean physically. She sat quietly at the table. Suddenly, the two bloody handprints on her spirit tablet became restless. Invisible hands seemed to extend from it, setting right overturned chairs, neatly folding linens, tidying up opened drawers, and even catching a mouse that had been running on the ceiling and tossing it into the courtyard.
Chi Shen, noting Bai Wan’s efforts, generously offered her a handful of candy. After tasting one, the candles in the room danced vivaciously.
Ji Xing Chen adjusted his glasses and silently took a step towards Chi Shen. Chi Shen smiled and dimmed two of the candles, giving Ji Xing Chen a bit more room to move.
These red candles, being manifestations of Bai Wan's ghostly energy, could harm wandering spirits like Ji Xing Chen.
"Miss Bai is from the Qing Dynasty," Ji Xing Chen suddenly remarked, "She has never tasted these candies."
As he spoke, a handful of candy materialized in his hand. After a pause, he gently placed them into his coat pocket and continued, "She really enjoys them."
Understanding his point, Chi Shen laughed, "Take her out sometime. There's so much in this world she hasn’t seen yet."
Ji Xing Chen didn’t add anything further, unwrapping a candy and placing it in his mouth. Observing the scene in the room, a faint smile curled on his lips.
For some reason, he felt like he hadn’t experienced such joy in a long time.
"Alright, time to rest." Not wanting the spirits to linger too long and being quite exhausted from working late the previous night, Chi Shen ushered them out.
He opened a cupboard, pulling out the red-robed female ghost. Her once sleek hair was now a tangled mess. She bared her teeth angrily at another spirit inside the cupboard, who retorted loudly.
With one hand, Chi Shen shut the cupboard, and with the other, he brandished a pair of scissors. Both spirits immediately calmed down, with the red-robed ghost fleeing in a flash.
"Good." Chi Shen surveyed his now tidy room and the pacified roommates, declaring contentedly, "Time to sleep!"
At that moment, the group that had escaped the old mansion finally arrived at Bai Heng Qing's residence.
Bai Xi Ming also lived nearby. Out of fear, he hadn’t ventured to the old mansion. Now, believing Bai Heng Qing's home was the safest place, he insisted on moving in temporarily.
Seeing them return, Bai Ximing immediately emerged to greet them. But as he was about to speak, the sight of the injured three made him swallow his words.
Bai Ximing's wife and Bai Ran's mother, Xu Xiuyun, also stepped out after him. Her eyes swiftly moved past the younger generation who had been bitten by the old zombie and a disheveled Bai Hengqing, settling directly on the carried Bai Ran.
"Ranran!" Xu Xiuyun rushed over, holding back her tears. She then pulled Bai Hengqing aside, "Uncle, what happened to Ranran? Why is he like this?"
"He's been possessed," Bai Hengqing briefly responded, glancing at Bai Ximing.
"How did he get possessed? Didn't you all protect him? He is..."
Bai Ximing nodded, leaving the distressed Xu Xiuyun behind as the two of them headed to the study.
Suddenly, one of the younger ones asked, "Aunt Xu, aren't you worried about Chi Shen? He's been living there all this time."
"Oh, Chi Shen," Xu Xiuyun seemed to snap back to reality, "What happened to him?"
*
Author's Note:
I'm unsatisfied with the second draft and am rewriting it. The update might be late. Please come back after a good rest tomorrow. My apologies.
Chapter 031: A Joyous Evening.
Meanwhile, in the old mansion's courtyard.
Several of the younger members assisted Bai Ran to his feet. They looked at him with a mix of panic and fear. Moments ago, they witnessed Bai Ran invoke their ancestors' spirits to suppress the ghostly bride in the annex. Yet now, he was in this state.
Their fear grew, seeing the two strongest among them in such dire states. Bai Heng Qing had initially been unconscious and upon waking was injured. Bai Ran too was now in distress. To add to it, they had just encountered the terrifyng apparition of the woman in red.
The happiness they felt for resolving the evening's matter was now overshadowed by dread. Both looked helplessly at Bai Heng Qing. One asked, "Uncle, what's happened to the young master?"
A bespectacled young one stepped forward to examine and quickly said, "His soul's trapped. We need to retrieve it. Who will assist me?"
"Leave, now!"
Bai Heng Qing's voice suddenly rang out, his tone stern and his face dark.
Everyone was taken aback by his sudden severity. Some wanted to voice their concerns, but Bai Heng Qing cut them off, "Discuss it outside. Carry him and move, now!"
None dared to disobey. Even though everything seemed peaceful, with even the winds from their ritual having ceased, an oppressive aura filled the place. It felt as if unseen entities were watching them from the eaves, corridors, and windows. Knowing the nature of this place, they hastily carried the injured out.
They rushed out of the mansion's main gate, and one quickly shut the heavy door, only then did the eerie feeling of being watched dissipate.
Outside the mansion, they saw the warm light shining from the gatekeeper's quarters and collectively sighed in relief, feeling as if they had narrowly escaped death.
"Gatekeeper He?" someone shouted towards the lit quarters.
The room remained silent with only the light offering any sign of life.
Someone sensed something was amiss, "Is Gatekeeper He not here?"
"That's not right. If we were in danger inside the mansion, Gatekeeper He would've come looking for us. But when the elder fainted and the young master..."
Bai Heng Qing raised his hand, silencing the speaker. They all realized something was very wrong.
The gatekeeper, who had guarded the mansion for decades, was inexplicably missing on this crucial night.
"Go check," Bai Heng Qing directed one of the younger members.
The young man immediately acknowledged and hurried into the gatekeeper's quarters.
In a short while, he returned, his face full of confusion: "Gatekeeper He is gone. Everything is in its place, but he's nowhere to be seen."
Bai Hengqing inquired, “Are there no signs of struggle?”
The younger generation replied, “None. It's as if he just walked away on his own.”
Bai Hengqing furrowed his brow, considering that the elder He should have been guarding the entrance of the mansion, preventing nosy outsiders from entering, or stepping in to aid them if necessary. Even if he hadn’t noticed the dire situation inside, he shouldn’t have left his post.
Nevertheless, without lingering, Bai Hengqing swiftly decided, “Let’s discuss this back home.”
The group got into their vehicles, with care taken to safely lift Bai Ran inside. The cars then headed towards Bai Hengqing’s residence.
During the journey, Bai Hengqing checked Bai Ran’s condition.
Bai Ran showed no visible injuries, and he was still breathing. However, his eyes were wide open, as if he had witnessed something terrifying, and he was unable to snap out of it. His pulse was erratic, alternating between fast and slow.
Bai Hengqing was puzzled. Bai Ran was brave enough to confront the ghost bride without showing fear, so what could possibly have frightened him to this extent?
The trip from the old mansion to Bai Hengqing’s home was not short. Throughout, Bai Hengqing made good use of the time. While some attended to the wounds of the younger member bitten by the old zombie, he tried various methods to awaken Bai Ran.
Initially, he used a soul-calling charm, shouting at Bai Ran for a long while to no avail. Subsequently, he tried various other techniques such as using golden needles, personal items, summoning spirit helpers, and employing talismans, yet Bai Ran remained unresponsive.
While Bai Hengqing was making a swift escape from the mansion, Chi Shen was inside, crafting paper candy.
He wrote various candy names on the paper: not only milk candies but also strawberry, apple, and orange peel candies. Whatever they desired, Chi Shen wrote.
He found that paper candy seemed especially popular among ghosts. After finishing, he gave several to the red-dressed ghost. She momentarily forgot her fear, joyfully lunging towards Chi Shen for a hug, only to be held back by Ji Xingchen’s grip on her hair.
Pushed back, she wasn’t easily deterred. Snarling and baring her teeth for a while, she tried lunging again when Ji Xingchen was distracted. This time, Ji Xingchen thrust her directly into a cupboard, asking the cupboard spirit, “Would you mind keeping an eye on her?”
The red-dressed ghost, after failing to knock the cupboard door open, mused: While I wanted to thank that stern man, it seems I achieved another wish instead?
The cupboard spirit, which remained silent amidst the knocking: …
The two spirits exchanged glances in the dark confines of the cupboard. Soon after, muffled sounds emanated from within. To Chi Shen, it seemed like typical interaction between the two spirits and he paid it no heed.
The red candles burned tranquilly inside the room, their warm glow illuminating the space, overpowering the dim incandescent lighting.
Previously, Bai Wan's candlelight was oppressive. The spread of red candles made the surroundings seem even darker, making it hard to see beyond a meter from them. Now, they gently lit the entire room.
She no longer dripped blood, her wedding dress and veil were spotless and neatly arranged. If it weren’t for the spirit tablet she clutched, she’d look like a bride prepared for a traditional Chinese wedding.
The spirit tablet underwent a change, with two bloody handprints appearing on it: one rugged, resembling a man's handprint, and the other slender, resembling a woman's.
Chi Shen pondered for a moment and then turned off the light, thinking it would save electricity.
Bai Wan was also occupied; she was tidying up Chi Shen’s room.
Many visitors had been to Chi Shen’s room today. Along with the mischievous red-robed ghost's antics, the room had always been in a state of disarray. Today, out of gratitude, Bai Wan decided to clean up the place.
Bai Wan's red candles illuminated every corner of the room, brightening the place. Her candles had a unique quality: even with paper placed directly above, they wouldn’t cause a fire. They would only burn what she willed. Chi Shen found this ability incredibly handy, so he asked Bai Wan to place even more candles.
Being a fierce ghost, Bai Wan didn’t need to clean physically. She sat quietly at the table. Suddenly, the two bloody handprints on her spirit tablet became restless. Invisible hands seemed to extend from it, setting right overturned chairs, neatly folding linens, tidying up opened drawers, and even catching a mouse that had been running on the ceiling and tossing it into the courtyard.
Chi Shen, noting Bai Wan’s efforts, generously offered her a handful of candy. After tasting one, the candles in the room danced vivaciously.
Ji Xing Chen adjusted his glasses and silently took a step towards Chi Shen. Chi Shen smiled and dimmed two of the candles, giving Ji Xing Chen a bit more room to move.
These red candles, being manifestations of Bai Wan's ghostly energy, could harm wandering spirits like Ji Xing Chen.
"Miss Bai is from the Qing Dynasty," Ji Xing Chen suddenly remarked, "She has never tasted these candies."
As he spoke, a handful of candy materialized in his hand. After a pause, he gently placed them into his coat pocket and continued, "She really enjoys them."
Understanding his point, Chi Shen laughed, "Take her out sometime. There's so much in this world she hasn’t seen yet."
Ji Xing Chen didn’t add anything further, unwrapping a candy and placing it in his mouth. Observing the scene in the room, a faint smile curled on his lips.
For some reason, he felt like he hadn’t experienced such joy in a long time.
"Alright, time to rest." Not wanting the spirits to linger too long and being quite exhausted from working late the previous night, Chi Shen ushered them out.
He opened a cupboard, pulling out the red-robed female ghost. Her once sleek hair was now a tangled mess. She bared her teeth angrily at another spirit inside the cupboard, who retorted loudly.
With one hand, Chi Shen shut the cupboard, and with the other, he brandished a pair of scissors. Both spirits immediately calmed down, with the red-robed ghost fleeing in a flash.
"Good." Chi Shen surveyed his now tidy room and the pacified roommates, declaring contentedly, "Time to sleep!"
At that moment, the group that had escaped the old mansion finally arrived at Bai Heng Qing's residence.
Bai Xi Ming also lived nearby. Out of fear, he hadn’t ventured to the old mansion. Now, believing Bai Heng Qing's home was the safest place, he insisted on moving in temporarily.
Seeing them return, Bai Ximing immediately emerged to greet them. But as he was about to speak, the sight of the injured three made him swallow his words.
Bai Ximing's wife and Bai Ran's mother, Xu Xiuyun, also stepped out after him. Her eyes swiftly moved past the younger generation who had been bitten by the old zombie and a disheveled Bai Hengqing, settling directly on the carried Bai Ran.
"Ranran!" Xu Xiuyun rushed over, holding back her tears. She then pulled Bai Hengqing aside, "Uncle, what happened to Ranran? Why is he like this?"
"He's been possessed," Bai Hengqing briefly responded, glancing at Bai Ximing.
"How did he get possessed? Didn't you all protect him? He is..."
Bai Ximing nodded, leaving the distressed Xu Xiuyun behind as the two of them headed to the study.
Suddenly, one of the younger ones asked, "Aunt Xu, aren't you worried about Chi Shen? He's been living there all this time."
"Oh, Chi Shen," Xu Xiuyun seemed to snap back to reality, "What happened to him?"
*
Author's Note:
I'm unsatisfied with the second draft and am rewriting it. The update might be late. Please come back after a good rest tomorrow. My apologies.
