CHAPTER 83: ZHANG HAI

“This sounds like possession, or evil qi invading the body,” Bai Hongtu murmured thoughtfully.

Li Yanchu frowned. “It doesn’t seem that simple. Let’s go take a look.”

Madam Zhang's face was filled with panic. All the fear and distress she had bottled up over the past few days seemed to erupt at this moment.

Li Yanchu gently reassured her, “Madam, don’t be afraid. Qingyun Temple specializes in subduing evil and capturing spirits. If your husband is indeed afflicted, I will do everything I can to drive it out.”

Hearing this, tears streaked Madam Zhang’s face. “Thank you, Daoist Master... My husband’s life is in your hands.”

The three of them quickly set off for the Zhang household. According to Madam Zhang, her husband, Zhang Hai, hadn’t been to their shop for several days. He’d locked himself inside the house and refused to come out.

The Zhang family wasn’t exactly wealthy, but they were reasonably well-off. Their home was neatly arranged, and a parasol tree stood in the middle of the courtyard.

But there was something ominous at the gate: a white lantern bearing the word Dian, which meant “in mourning”, hung there, and scattered funeral paper lay across the ground.

Inside the main hall stood a coffin. Judging by the layout, it was clearly a mourning hall.

Zhang Hai... is dead?

Madam Zhang’s expression changed drastically, and she was the first to rush inside. As soon as she entered, her face filled with shock and disbelief. She muttered, “Impossible... This can’t be...“

When Li Yanchu and Bai Hongtu stepped inside, their eyes fell on the spirit tablet on the altar.

Spirit tablet of the late wife, Madam Zhang.

The inscription left them stunned.

Li Yanchu stepped forward and looked inside the coffin, only to see that the body lying within was not a man... But a plump, elegant woman, with bruised marks on her neck, clear signs of strangulation. It was Madam Zhang herself!

“Daoist Master, what... what is going on? What’s happening?” Madam Zhang stared at Li Yanchu as he entered, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Li Yanchu sighed and said, “Madam, it’s time to wake up. You are already dead.”

You are already dead...

The words struck like thunder.

Madam Zhang’s face rapidly shifted. Disbelief, fear, shock, and finally dawning realization flickered through her expression in an instant.

In the end, two streams of tears slid down her cheeks, and her face was filled with grief.

“Yes... yes, I’ve already died. I’m... I’m a dead woman...”

For the first time, Li Yanchu looked upon a wandering spirit with genuine sympathy. Bai Hongtu turned his head away, unable to bear the sight.

This was definitely an abrupt wake-up call.

In the strange tales and ghost stories of the folk, there were often cases like this: a person would die without realizing it, continuing to go through the motions of their life as if nothing had happened, until someone finally broke the truth to them. Only then do they suddenly awaken and realize they’d been dead for some time.

To introduce Li Yanchu to the Dao, Master Xuancheng had told him many things about cultivation and the spirit world. This kind of case was extremely rare, appearing only under very special circumstances, and the deceased must have had an unusually unique fate.

Usually, it happened to those who died with intense regrets or attachments in their hearts, and even then, only if they were good-hearted and deeply blessed in life. Otherwise, such a spirit would have long since turned into a malevolent ghost.

Madam Zhang was clearly one of the rare exceptions. The fact that she had not turned into a vengeful ghost was proof enough of her kindness in life.

Suddenly, Madam Zhang fell to her knees and pleaded with all her heart, “Daoist Master, I don’t blame him... I don’t blame him... Please, save my husband’s life. He treated me well. I beg you, please save him!”

Li Yanchu sighed, “I can only promise to do my best. Madam, rest in peace now.”

Though still young, Li Yanchu was already renowned throughout Wei City. His words carried great weight and authority.

Madam Zhang wept with gratitude, repeatedly saying, “Thank you, Daoist Master! Thank you!”

A strange and unseen power seemed to descend upon Madam Zhang, and her form gradually turned ethereal before vanishing completely.

Bai Hongtu, who had been silent ever since they entered, suddenly spoke, “What do you make of this?”

Li Yanchu let out a sigh. “The memorial is set up in the house, but her husband is nowhere to be seen. Most likely, he’s already been arrested by the authorities.”

With such obvious signs of strangulation, it was impossible that the neighbors who came to pay respects hadn’t noticed. If Zhang Hai wasn’t here to keeping vigil over the body, then he had either been thrown into jail... or he had fled.

Earlier, Bai Hongtu hadn’t realized anything strange about Madam Zhang. On the way over, Li Yanchu had quietly pointed to her neck, and only then did Bai Hongtu catch on that Madam Zhang’s neck had been smooth and fair, with no trace of strangulation marks.

At that moment, a maid dressed in mourning white stepped out carrying a tray. When she saw the two young men, she froze in surprise.

“Who are you?”

Li Yanchu replied, “We’ve come to pay our respects. Do you know where Zhang Hai has gone?”

The maid's eyes were full of caution. Two unfamiliar but handsome young men showing up to mourn the lady of the house?

“Who are these lechers...? Wait, are you Daoist Master Yanchu?”

The maid suddenly recognized him, her expression turning to surprise.

Li Yanchu gave a faint nod.

“What exactly happened in this house? How did Madam Zhang die?” he asked.

The maid, moved by his sincere tone, suddenly burst into tears.

From her, they learned that her name was Ku Xing, and that Madam Zhang had died suddenly in the middle of the night. Zhang Hai had been grief-stricken and ordered preparations for the funeral.

But then someone noticed the corpse bore dark bruises in the shape of handprints around her neck, which was clear evidence of strangulation.

Murdering one’s own wife was an act so heinous and inhuman it defied comprehension. The townsfolk quickly reported the matter to the authorities, and the officers came to take Zhang Hai to the yamen.

“As expected, he was taken away,” Li Yanchu and Bai Hongtu exchanged a glance.

According to Ku Xing’s account, the Zhang couple had always shared a deep and affectionate relationship, though they had never been blessed with children.

Zhang Hai often traveled far for his antique business, leaving the household entirely in Madam Zhang’s care. She had a kind and gentle nature, always willing to lend a hand to neighbors in need. She frequently visited temples to pray for her husband’s safety and would give alms to beggars.

Ku Xing, having no family of her own, had been bought by Madam Zhang, who treated her almost like a daughter. Their bond was strong, and now Ku Xing wore mourning white and kept vigil over her mistress's spirit out of deep gratitude and grief.

As for the strange behavior Zhang Hai exhibited after returning from his recent antique hunt, it was just as Madam Zhang had described.

“By the way,” Li Yanchu suddenly asked, “do you know which village Zhang Hai visited to look for antiques?”

Ku Xing thought for a moment, then replied softly, “I heard Madam mention it once... I believe it was called Longmen Village. She said there were red carp three chi long in the village lake, so it stuck with me.”

Longmen Village... Li Yanchu nodded and then headed with Bai Hongtu to the Wei City yamen.

Upon hearing the situation, Captain Wang immediately accompanied them to the prison. The Wei City prison was heavily guarded, especially after the previous jailbreak. Magistrate Xu had ordered an increase in security to prevent such incidents from recurring.

When the guard led the three to Zhang Hai’s cell, they found a disheveled man curled up in the corner, looking terrified out of his wits, as if he had seen something horrifying. Even just approaching the cell, they could feel a chilling, eerie air surrounding it.

Captain Wang banged on the cell bars and called out sternly, “Zhang Hai, someone’s here to see you!”

Zhang Hai, hair hanging in his face, trembled violently. He looked up at Captain Wang in a panic, eyes glassy and unfocused.

Then suddenly, his neck gave a jerk, and he collapsed limply to the ground.

He looked as though he had been literally scared to death! Seeing this, Head Constable Wang was dumbfounded.