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墨書 Inktalez
The fox's words were originally meant to provoke Chang Tai, but they also had an element of teasing Xing Ruyi. However, the two people present each had their own thoughts upon hearing it.
Chang Tai wondered, "Are they really getting married?"
Xing Ruyi glanced at the fox's handsome face and thought to herself, "Hmph! If they're getting married, who would still care to see you dressed up?"
Feeling a warmth in her nose, Xing Ruyi quickly lowered her head to check. Fortunately, there was no nosebleed.
The fox changed his clothes quickly, so fast that even Chang Tai suspected he might have only changed his outer garment. But judging by the fabric visible at the collar and cuffs, this man had not only changed his underwear but seemed to have also had time for a bath. He no longer carried the sticky smell from when he first entered; instead, he smelled quite refreshing.
His outfit was still white, but it was embroidered with several green bamboo leaves, which made him appear even more ethereal. Chang Tai stared at the fox for a while; his earlier discomfort seemed to ease a bit. Compared to this otherworldly man, he was merely seeking a common person. If he were a Fox Demon, he would probably make the same choice.
With a light sigh, Chang Tai looked at Xing Ruyi and smiled faintly.
Xing Ruyi sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat strange but couldn't pinpoint what was off. Fortunately, at that moment, the fox spoke up.
"When I just entered, I heard you discussing Wei Village and the schemes of Wei Shu."
"Yes! I noticed something odd in the western sky where the sun sets; it looked somewhat red. So I couldn't help but ask Brother Chang a couple of questions. That's when I learned that there used to be a village there, which was destroyed by high heat and has now become an arsenal of the court. But you—what did you find out from that arsenal to use such peculiar words?"
"That village is a vast Undead Ground; it was never suitable for living people."
"Not suitable for living people? But just now Brother Chang mentioned that before the fire broke out, Wei Clan members all lived there."
"Indeed, I have looked through the County Chronicle, and the Wei Clan Members have indeed lived there for generations. However, what is recorded in the County Chronicle only pertains to the last hundred years; after all, in earlier times, during the upheaval, the common people were displaced, and no one had the leisure to document the County Chronicle."
"That's right! According to my deductions, that Undead Ground was formed no more than a hundred years ago, and the identities of those Wei Villagers are likely not as simple as just being Blacksmiths. That High Heat was not a disaster or an accident, but rather a man-made calamity."
"That place holds secrets, and those secrets are what the Wei Villagers either created or guarded. The High Heat served both to silence witnesses and to cover up the truth!"
"What kind of secrets could exist in such a rural area that would warrant such a brutal act as slaughtering an entire village? Moreover, the current person in charge of that Arsenal is still from the Wei Family. If there were indeed hidden circumstances surrounding that incident back then, wouldn't Wei Shu have noticed?"
"Who didn't notice? If I'm not mistaken, that so-called Taoist from back then was also a member of the Wei Family, and a true member at that. Although that place is known as Undead Ground, there are no wandering spirits; where does this Haunted business come from?"
"No ghosts?" Xing Ruyi looked into the fox's eyes.
She knew that the fox was a spirit; if even it had not sensed any ghostly presence in that place, then it must truly be devoid of them. Even she, possessing ghostly arts, might not be able to match the fox's keen perception. Yet, it was strange that there were none at all. When people die and turn into ghosts, they become souls. The Common People, before their last breath, are drawn to the underworld; once their yang energy dissipates, they immediately enter Reincarnation. Those with unfinished business can return to the mortal realm accompanied by a Ghost Messenger to fulfill their wishes before stepping into the Yellow Springs, crossing the river of oblivion, passing through Naihe Bridge, and entering Fengdu.
The spirits wandering in this world can generally be categorized into several situations:
One type is those who took their own lives; these individuals have not yet reached their natural lifespan nor their destined time in the underworld. Thus, they are not accepted by the underworld and can only drift aimlessly. If they hanged themselves, they must relive their hanging every midnight; if they poisoned themselves, they must taste the bitterness of that poison every day. This serves as a punishment for not cherishing their own lives.
The second type consists of those who died unjustly; these individuals often harbor grievances and will not comply with management in the underworld. They cause disturbances daily and are thus left unattended. Once they come to terms with their situation, they will naturally call upon a Ghost Messenger to take them away. As for how long it takes for them to understand, it varies from ghost to ghost; reportedly, one particularly stubborn spirit has been pondering for over three hundred years without resolution.
These three types are narrow-minded in life and carry resentment in death. Such ghosts are mostly vengeful spirits; even Ghost Messengers avoid them. It's not that they can't handle them; it's simply that they don't want to deal with them. Among vengeful spirits, aside from a few who can be rehabilitated, most are exterminated by Taoists or monks specialized in capturing ghosts from the Underworld. Otherwise, they end up like Xing Ruyi—external personnel who obliterate them completely.
The people of Wei Village almost all perished in the High Heat; even if they did not turn into vengeful spirits, there should at least be some lingering souls left behind. Yet there is no record in the underworld nor any trace remaining in the mortal realm—this is abnormal, extremely abnormal."
Xing Ruyi pondered, and the words of the fox flashed through her mind again, causing her eyes to light up: "What you just said is that there are no wandering ghosts. The absence of wandering ghosts does not mean there are no ghosts at all. In other words, Wei Village has ghosts, but those ghosts are all bound up, so the haunted incidents cannot occur. It's like when someone reports to the authorities about bandits causing chaos, and you bring a large group only to find that those bandits have already been dealt with. They are tied up and thrown into a bottomless pit, unable to climb out; how could they cause any trouble?"
"This analogy is really forced!" The fox wiped his forehead in embarrassment and said, "Though it's a bit far-fetched, the reasoning is indeed correct."
"Um—" Chang Tai, confused by the conversation, had to interrupt the two: "Aren't we discussing the missing children in the city? How did we end up talking about Wei Village and haunted matters? Also, Young Master Yin just said there are no ghosts in Wei Village, but now there are ghosts. So is Wei Village haunted or not? I know there must be things in this world that I don't understand, but if that thing is terrifying, I hope Young Master Yin and Fox Demon can stay away from it."
"Brother Chang, don't worry. Yin Chensi is very capable; whether it's a ghost or a Millennia-old Ghost, he isn't afraid!" Xing Ruyi tried to reassure Chang Tai with her words, but the fox was being contrary.
He raised an eyebrow and seriously added, "I'm not afraid of ghosts, but a Millennia-old Ghost..."
"Are you afraid?" Xing Ruyi raised an eyebrow, giving him a challenging look.
The fox coughed lightly, feeling quite wronged: "Millennia-old Ghosts smell terrible; I really don't want to get my clothes dirty!"
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