Chapter 5, Evil Spirits

Zhou Zishu hurriedly interrupted Gu Xiang's highly damaging mental attack. He had already noticed that this girl had a knack for saying exactly what others did not want to hear, so he cleared his throat and said: "I truly did not see that, my apologies."

She curled her lips in disdain towards such cheating behavior

Gu Xiang scoffed and said in a sarcastic tone, "Alright, dear aunt, we all know this kid has a capable father, but what does it matter if he is a hero or a great man? Isn't he still being chased and hacked at in the middle of the night..."

This reasoning is too poor, which made Gu Xiang's expression even more astonished

Gu Xiang asked in a rapid-fire manner: "Your father seems to have some reputation, doesn't he? We arrived a couple of days ago and had already heard about him. It is said that he had quite a bit of skill when he was young, and in recent years, as his family business has grown, he has semi-retired and settled here, not getting involved in much. There are also quite a few skilled guests living in the village, and no one wants to provoke them. With such a father, who would chase after his son in the middle of the night?"

Gu Xiang blinked and said, "So tell me, is it that Xue Fang?"

Zhou Zishu's expression was grave as he supported Zhang Chengling, gently brushing over his sleeping acupoint. The young man then went limp in his embrace, and Zhou Zishu carefully laid him down to one side. He sighed and said, "He has only just realized what has happened; the impact on his mind has been too severe. Let him sleep for a while."

Zhou Zishu was almost at his weakest every dawn, and the brief moment of meditation had not allowed him to recover. He was also not very willing to engage with others, so he said softly: "Hide the people well, and take cover."

Who are you referring to

After a while, Zhou Zishu sighed and said, "That Brother Li is truly an extraordinary person amidst the dust of the world." He then turned to the old woman, who was merely a rough servant, completely clueless, her mind a muddle, only capable of shedding tears, "Do you have any relatives, ma'am"

His ruthless move truly had a deterrent effect, causing all the masked individuals to pause momentarily, cautiously assessing this seemingly unstable sick man.

He recalled her nonchalant mention of Zhang Yusen, as well as the elusive master who was like a dragon that could be seen at the front but not at the tail. Zhou Zishu forced himself to divert his attention and asked, "What about that brother from the restaurant today? Did he not come with you?"

Zhou Zishu smiled and said, "Yes, is your master also here?"

He took a brief moment to catch his breath when suddenly, Gu Xiang, who had been dozing off with her head drooping against the Buddha shrine, abruptly woke up. Her almond-shaped eyes darted around and she said tersely: "There is someone."

The old woman nodded and said, "I have a nephew in the south of the city"

Zhou Zishu hesitated for a moment: "If... his meaning refers to Qingzhuling, the hanging ghosts of the evil spirits..."

The seven orifices and three autumn nails would inevitably act up every night in the latter half of the night, so he always went to bed early to conserve his energy, enduring through the midnight hours. However, on this particular day, he was disturbed and could not fall asleep again in the latter half of the night. He could only grit his teeth and silently endure until the dawn began to break, at which point he gradually felt some relief. Zhou Zishu felt that his entire body had become somewhat numb.

Zhou Zishu shook his head, intending to speak, but the dull pain in his chest caused him to pause momentarily. He could only adopt a contemplative expression. After a while, he finally managed to say: "It is said that there is a valley in Fengya Mountain and Qingzhu Ridge, known as the Ghost Valley. In recent years, those who have committed heinous crimes in the martial world and seek refuge, when left with no other options, go to the Ghost Valley. Once one enters the Ghost Valley, they are no longer human, and all grievances in the mortal realm come to an end. If one can survive in the Ghost Valley, it is considered a narrow escape from death. The legends surrounding the Ghost Valley are so terrifying that enemies no longer pursue their grudges. I have heard that the hanged ghost Xue Fang was once a notorious flower thief, responsible for the deaths of twenty-six young men and women, including a closed-door disciple of the Emei Sect's leader. He was relentlessly hunted by the six major sects and had no choice but to hide in the Ghost Valley of Qingzhu Ridge."

Zhou Zishu did not understand how the blue smoke and the hanging ghost were connected in her mind. Seeing her smug expression as if she had figured something out, he did not have the heart to discourage her. However, feeling a great deal of pain in his body, he chose to remain silent, leaning against the side with his eyes closed, waiting for dawn to arrive with the books.

He leisurely adjusted his sleeves, as if that tattered garment were still the long robe with silver edges from years past. Halfway through the motion, he felt it inappropriate, so he stopped, chuckled to himself, and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, it's quite early in the morning, and without even a greeting, you are all pouncing on a defenseless child. Isn't that a bit beneath your dignity?"

My surname is Zhang, and my name is Zhang Chengling. The young man sat down, his round face displaying a dark hue with various colors. Although his clothes were tattered and torn, the underlying fabric of the brocade was still discernible, something that common folk could not afford to wear.

She took the money and could not bear to stay even a moment longer in this place filled with thatch and the dead. She expressed her desire to leave, thinking that as a mere firewood gatherer, no one would care about her. Zhou Zishu showed no particular reaction and watched her leave with endless gratitude.

Who are you referring to

Gu Xiang glanced at him with a hint of sarcasm: "You seem to know quite a lot; how many hanged ghosts are there in this world?"

He paused, unsure of how to address this disheveled man who resembled a beggar

Zhou Zishu merely thought that the man in gray kept such a beautiful young lady by his side, assuming she was a concubine or something of the sort, and thus looked at her with a puzzled expression

There was a tone of indifference in her voice, which caused the elderly woman beside her to become displeased and say: "My master is a truly great benefactor and a chivalrous hero, with a kind heart and a strong sense of justice. Whenever someone encounters difficulties and seeks him out, regardless of whether they are acquainted or not, he generously offers his assistance..."

Just as there was to be action, it was already too late. A group of masked individuals, well-trained, broke through the door. They immediately spotted the unconscious Zhang Chengling and, without a word, charged forward with great ferocity. Zhou Zishu was still leaning against the incense table, watching as one masked figure rushed directly at the youth with a drawn sword. Before he could clearly see the movement, a shadow flashed, and a hand, as emaciated as the face mask it wore, had already grasped the masked man's neck.

The masked man did not even have time to let out a cry of despair; he convulsed once and then lost his breath

Zhou Zishu then took out a gold ingot from his pocket and handed it to her, saying: "Take this and find your own way out. I see that you have been loyal by following the young master of the Zhang family to this place. At your age, you should not have to endure the hardships of wandering and sleeping outdoors any longer"

Only that old Li is an eccentric person. Five years ago, he arrived by the Suzhou River, doing some small ferrying jobs. He has always secretly supported the Zhang family but is unwilling to come to the village. According to his own words, eating the Zhang family's food would make him a dependent guest and a hired hand, which he does not wish to be. He is here to repay a kindness.

Zhou Zishu cleared his throat, feeling somewhat awkward, and rubbed his nose: "A young lady..."

The old woman took the silver, instinctively biting it with her teeth, then realized and smiled a little embarrassedly. There were no more tears, and her tone became lighter as she said: "Indeed, at my age, I am also a burden to the young master"

Zhou Zishu smiled and said: "Xue Fang has been notorious for thirty years, a truly wicked person. How could he be easily dealt with by a little girl like you?"

Gu Xiang bared her teeth at him like a little beast, then seemed to recall something, using her toes to nudge the oblivious youth Zhang Chengling, who was lost in a daze: "Do you believe what he said? That the man in black is a ghost who hanged himself?"

He suddenly took a deep breath, as if he had recalled something, as if he had come to an understanding. The blood, fireworks, and screams from the entire night all surfaced before his eyes. He began to tremble, his face pale and ashen, his body convulsing, and he was even unable to speak.

Zhang Yusen, at the age of fifty, is indeed a person of high moral standing and reputation, a title that is well-deserved. In his early years, he married and had children, and since then, he has rarely been active in the martial arts community. However, if there is a grand martial arts event, he is generally invited to attend as a sign of respect. Zhou Zishu felt that, after all, the deceased should be treated with reverence, and although this young lady might not have meant any harm, her actions were rather disrespectful. He interrupted her and asked, "Who was the person that was chasing you just now?"

Gu Xiang was taken aback and blurted out: "Are you Zhang Yusen's son?"

Fortunately, over the past year, he has become accustomed to it, and thus he has not shown any signs of it, appearing as if nothing is amiss. Wearing a human skin mask, Gu Xiang is unable to discern his expression.

Zhang Chengling spoke slowly and deliberately: "It is the hanged ghost Xue Fang, I heard others call him that with my own ears..."

He turned to ask the bewildered old woman, "Madam, has the Zhang family been schemed against by someone?"

The incredulous expression on his face was completely unmasked, openly conveying the doubt of "How could Zhang Yusen have such a useless son"

Gu Xiang was taken aback and pointed at him, saying: "Isn't he having a seizure?"

Zhou Zishu and Gu Xiang spoke almost in unison, with Zhou Zishu frowning and Gu Xiang displaying a look of strange astonishment

Gu Xiang sat on the incense table, her legs dangling above the ground, swaying gently. With her head tilted, she appeared quite innocent and adorable. When asked, she slightly lowered her eyelids and shrugged her shoulders, saying: "He must have gone to see his old flame."

The old woman, observing Zhang Chengling's demeanor, was at a loss for words. After a while of sniffling and crying, she finally managed to clarify the situation—around midnight that day, a fire suddenly broke out in the backyard of the Zhang family, and then a group of black-clad figures, seemingly like evil spirits, descended from the sky.

"Hide? Where to hide?" Gu Xiang stared at him with a pair of innocent, large eyes.

Zhou Zishu was momentarily powerless

Gu Xiang secretly stuck out her tongue, jumped down from the incense table, and stood behind Zhou Zishu

At midnight, Zhou Zishu felt as if his chest had been pricked by a small needle, and he knew that the Seven Orifices and Three Autumn Nails were acting up again. The pain was neither the tearing agony of flesh nor the dull ache of internal injury, but rather felt as if someone were using a small knife to slice along his meridians inch by inch.

Gu Xiang murmured, "Zhang Chengling? That name sounds somewhat familiar."

Gu Xiang was initially about to explode in anger, but after a moment of reflection, she found some reason in it and nodded, saying: "Indeed, if the hanging ghost really wants me to kill him just like that, then it would mean that smoke is rising from my ancestral grave—however, I have no father or mother, and I don't even know where my ancestral grave is, perhaps it doesn't exist at all, and there certainly wouldn't be any smoke, so he must not be a hanging ghost"

Zhang Chengling fell silent for a moment and said in a low voice: "It is the hanged ghost, Xue Fang"

Zhou Zishu furrowed his brows, and naturally heard it. He immediately wanted to stand up but stumbled and couldn't get up. Tilting his head, he saw Gu Xiang looking at him in surprise, so he could only slowly support himself on the incense table to stand straight while whispering: "My legs have gone numb."

Gu Xiang was taken aback and first asked, "How did you know he was with me?" Then she nodded and said, "I see, you overheard us talking—when I asked you that question, how did you say the same thing as my master?"

Zhou Zishu glanced around and immediately understood that these individuals were merely dressed to appear intimidating. Observing their cautious demeanor, it was evident that they were certainly not death-seeking assassins. If they were the assassins from the previous incident, they would not hesitate to rush towards their target, even if it meant sacrificing a comrade or having their own necks gripped by others. They were also definitely not the legendary evil spirits, as those spirits act independently and could not possibly be as organized as these individuals. It seems they are intentionally targeting the Zhang family.

The most terrifying thing is that none of those "experts" who are usually easily startled by the slightest disturbance have been able to rise; it is unclear when they were led astray.

It is fortunate to have such an oddity, which barely allows the old Zhang family to retain this line of blood.

Zhang Chengling clearly caught a glimpse of her expression, burying his head even lower, with both hands tightly clenched into fists, tucked at his sides.

Zhang Chengling forced a smile, but it was not very successful, and he lowered his head again. As he did so, his gaze fell upon the dusty ground of the dilapidated temple, covered in straw and dirt. He felt utterly lost, momentarily unsure of what day it was. The sudden turn of events that night had been so significant that his mind had not yet caught up with the unfolding situation

"Just call me Uncle." Zhou Zishu said shamelessly

Zhou Zishu then asked, "Is your father the hero Zhang from Nanhe Manor?"

Gu Xiang wrinkled her nose, glared at him, and scolded: "What are you looking at me for? He goes to sleep with a man, am I supposed to stand outside the window and listen for sounds?"