Chapter 53 The Shadow of the Luo Mansion
The two hit it off immediately.
Rong Jiang tapped her index and middle fingers lightly on the table twice. She looked at Jiu Ya meaningfully and said, "Since A Jiu is a cultivator, you must be quite skilled in concealing your form and hiding your aura, right?"
In the mortal realm, it's normal for ordinary martial arts practitioners to go undetected if they pay a little attention. However, the "concealment technique" that Rong Jiang refers to is clearly beyond ordinary martial arts. It's a sophisticated technique that can only be mastered after truly embarking on the path of cultivation, allowing one's figure and aura to completely blend into the environment, making it difficult to detect even if one passes right in front of others.
"Huh?" Jiu Ya was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized. So in the human world, this basic stealth technique was called "concealment"? She coughed lightly, feigning indifference, as if to say, "This is just a minor skill, but I know a little bit about it, enough to be of some use."
“That would be excellent.” Rong Jiang’s smile deepened. “Then we can follow that Young Master Luo to the Luo residence to find out what’s going on.” She paused, turned her gaze to the window, and asked casually, “A-Jiu’s two subordinates must also be quite skilled. Would you like to come along?”
"Bai Yu and Li Yue?" Jiu Ya waved her hand. "No need. Just let them wait at the inn for instructions. It's a small matter, why make such a fuss?" She didn't want her subordinates to see her now, sneaking around like this, following mortals, as it would damage the Demon Lord's dignity.
Rong Jiang nodded: "Okay."
The two women had already finished their meal. In the private room next door, Luo Qi and the Daoist Qingyangzi seemed to still be drinking and talking. Jiu Ya wasn't in a hurry. She ordered another pot of tea and sat opposite Rong Jiang, sipping it slowly. They appeared to be chatting idly, but in reality, her spiritual senses had already given them complete insight into the activities next door.
When Luo Qi and his group finished their meal and got up to pay the bill, Jiu Ya and Rong Jiang exchanged a smile, tacitly put down their teacups, and quietly went downstairs.
In the lobby on the first floor, Jiu Ya briefly instructed Bai Yu and Li Yue, who were waiting there, saying that she had gone out with this "Miss Ranran" on business and told them to do their own thing and continue to gather information. Although Bai Yu was puzzled, he did not dare to ask any questions and respectfully agreed.
Immediately, Jiu Ya and Rong Jiang subtly moved, their auras instantly concealed, and their forms became blurred. They thus concealed themselves, following Luo Qi and his group who were about to board the carriage at a distance.
Bai Yu stared blankly at the two figures that disappeared around the street corner in the blink of an eye. She tugged at Li Yue's sleeve and muttered under her breath, "Isn't it just a mortal's mansion haunted by a female ghost? When did Your Majesty become so concerned about such trivial matters?" In her opinion, what did the affairs of vengeful spirits and ghosts in the mortal world have to do with their demon race? Your Majesty was far too "concerned about the people's plight".
Li Yue gazed intently in the direction the two had departed. “His Excellency’s actions must have a deeper meaning. Perhaps… the Luo family or that female ghost are not as simple as they seem. Or perhaps, His Excellency has discovered some clues related to the purpose of our trip.” He felt that the aura of the suddenly appearing “Miss Ranran” was somewhat strange, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
Bai Yu shrugged. Since the Venerable One didn't want them to come, they were happy to have some peace and quiet: "Alright, alright, since the Venerable One has given the order, let's continue to inquire about the old lady's maternal clan this afternoon."
Li Yue hummed in agreement, and the two settled the bill at the restaurant before turning and disappearing into the afternoon crowds of Linzi City.
Meanwhile, Jiu Ya and Rong Jiang, concealing their tracks, followed Luo Qi's carriage through several bustling streets, finally stopping in front of a rather grand mansion. The vermilion gate, gilded animal rings, and imposing stone lions stood before it, while a plaque bearing the words "Luo Mansion" hung high above the lintel, exuding an air of opulence.
After getting out of the car, Luo Qi went straight into the mansion and walked quickly towards the main courtyard.
Jiu Ya and Rong Jiang, like two invisible breezes, silently slipped in. The mansion's pavilions, terraces, artificial hills, and flowing water were exquisitely arranged, with winding corridors and carved doors and windows, all showcasing the owner's wealth and status. The garden was lush with flowers and trees, yet to Jiu Ya and Rong Jiang's perception, beneath this seemingly vibrant ground lay a gloomy and deathly stillness.
Luo Qi arrived at the main courtyard and respectfully entered the house to pay his respects to his mother.
Madam Luo waved her hand to dismiss all the maids and servants around her, leaving only the mother and son in the room to talk.
"Qi'er, how did it go? Did you manage to invite Master Qingyangzi?" Madam Luo leaned against the soft couch, her head adorned with jewels and her clothes magnificent, yet she couldn't hide the haggardness and panic on her face. Her complexion was ashen, and even thick makeup couldn't conceal the dark circles under her eyes and the sagging of her skin. The jade bracelet on her wrist looked empty, clearly indicating that she had lost a lot of weight recently. The successive frights had already exhausted her, and now she only hoped that her son could find a master as soon as possible to exorcise the evil spirit causing the trouble.
Luo Qi quickly stepped forward and lowered his voice, saying, "Mother, rest assured, I have personally requested that Daoist Qingyangzi have agreed. He will definitely come to the manor before sunset to perform an exorcism!"
Upon hearing the confirmation, Madam Luo did not relax. Instead, her well-maintained fingers gripped Luo Qi's wrist tightly, her voice trembling slightly with fear: "Why...why do we have to wait until tonight? Why doesn't that Taoist priest come immediately? Qi'er, you don't know...that thing appears as soon as it gets dark! Crying, shadows...I...I'm so terrified! If we wait any longer, I'm afraid...I'm afraid I won't be able to wait for the Taoist priest before I fall victim to that vile woman's cruelty!"
Luo Qi winced in pain but dared not break free. He could only patiently soothe her: "Mother! Please calm down! The Taoist priest said that ghosts and evil spirits are all yin beings. They only manifest when the yin energy is strongest at night. Only by taking action at that time can we capture them in one fell swoop and eliminate future troubles! The Taoist priest promised to arrive before sunset and will definitely ensure Mother's safety!"
Madam Luo's violently heaving chest calmed down slightly. She composed herself and, as if suddenly remembering something extremely important, anxiously asked, "Qi'er, does that Taoist priest... know the origins and background of that female ghost?"
A cold glint flashed in Luo Qi's eyes. "Mother, rest assured. I only said that the evil spirits in the Daoist temple were disturbing our home and harming many servants. I invited the Daoist priest to come and exorcise them. As for other matters... the Daoist priest is a man outside the secular world. He only cares about the strength of the ghosts. Why would he bother to investigate their past lives? Besides, the reward I gave him is enough for him to act without asking any questions." He sneered inwardly. He had hired Qingyangzi at great expense, not only because of his reputation, but also because this old Daoist priest was known for his ruthless methods and disregard for injustice.
"That's good, that's good... We mustn't let anyone know..." Upon hearing this, Madam Luo finally breathed a long sigh of relief, her tense shoulders relaxing. She then asked, "Qi'er, you should go back and check on Yue Niang. She's pregnant and has been terribly frightened these past few days. It's all that evil devil's fault!"
Knowing that a master was about to arrive, Madam Luo seemed to have gained some confidence, and in her words she attributed all the blame to the "evil" female ghost.
"Yes, son will go right away. Mother, please rest well. Your son and the Daoist priest will take care of everything." Luo Qi replied respectfully.
"Oh, right!" Madam Luo hurriedly added, "This matter must be kept from your father! He must never know the details!"
Luo Qi smiled knowingly: "I understand. I have already informed Father that we invited the Taoist priest to our residence today to pray for the whole family, ward off disasters, ensure Mother's health, and bless Mother Yue's pregnancy."
"That's good, that's good..." Madam Luo finally felt completely relieved and waved her hand weakly.
Luo Qi bowed and took his leave, then turned and left the main courtyard, walking briskly towards his own residence.
In the shadows, Jiu Ya, who had overheard the entire conversation between the mother and son, couldn't help but purse her lips. She transmitted her thoughts to Rong Jiang: "Ranran, did you hear that? This mother and son are clearly hiding something! I think that female ghost didn't harm people for no reason; they must have done something wrong!"
If they hadn't come along and had only listened to Luo Qi's one-sided story, wouldn't they have been deceived by the mother and son, and let the possibly wronged female ghost be "eliminated" by that money-grubbing Taoist priest for nothing?
“Hmm,” Rong Jiang’s voice remained cold and clear, “The Luo family mansion is shrouded in resentment, and the Yin energy is far beyond what one or two new souls could condense. Beneath the garden, there are probably more than one skeleton. That female ghost may just be one of them.”
The moment she stepped into the Luo residence, her senses detected the abnormality of the place. The soaring resentment was barely suppressed by some force, yet it still seeped out in wisps. Ordinary people might only feel a chill, but in her eyes, this place could almost be called a small mass grave.
With her hands behind her back, Jiu Ya's ethereal figure floated gently in the air. She stroked her chin and speculated, "Tsk, judging from Madam Luo and Luo Qi's tone, they've probably done something heinous, something that drove someone to their death. Now the victim has become a vengeful ghost to settle scores with them! I wonder if that Yue Niang knows anything? If she's kept in the dark, wouldn't she and her unborn child suffer this undeserved calamity? What a tragedy! If she knows or even participated… Hmph, then this family is truly rotten to the core, even their unborn child will suffer retribution!"
"Right and wrong will be revealed tonight." Rong Jiang's eyes were icy. To her, if the Luo family was full of sins, then being haunted by vengeful spirits was simply the cycle of karma, a consequence of their own actions. What she cared more about was whether the female ghost had come in accordance with the law or for personal revenge. The difference between these two matters to the balance of Yin and Yang in this place.
“That’s right!” Jiu Ya nodded heavily, her desire to join in the fun growing stronger.
At this moment, Luo Qi had hurriedly returned to his exquisite and luxurious bedroom.
Inside the room, his wife, Yue Niang, was leaning against the brocade couch with a pale face. When she saw Luo Qi enter, she immediately sat up and asked anxiously, "Husband, you're back? How did things go? Did you manage to invite that Taoist priest?" Her voice was gentle, but her tone revealed an undisguised urgency, even a hint of aggressiveness.
The Moon Maiden had a gentle and charming appearance, but now, her face was pale with fear, making her look even more pitiful.
"Don't worry, Madam. Daoist Qingyangzi has agreed to come to the manor before sunset to settle this matter completely!" Luo Qi replied as he walked to the bedside.
"My husband is indeed reliable!" Upon hearing this, Yue Niang's eyes half-closed, as if she had breathed a sigh of relief. But then, as if thinking of something, the gentleness on her face was instantly replaced by resentment, and she gritted her teeth. "I only hope that Taoist priest is truly capable and will beat those persistent little vile women to pieces tonight! They were restless when they were alive, and they still come to bother us even after they're dead! They are truly a bunch of despicable sluts!"
Her gentle face was contorted, her mild features contrasting sharply with the ruthless glint in her eyes.
"Moon Lady! You are pregnant now, and it is most important not to get upset or worry. It's not worth it for those things!" Luo Qi frowned when he saw this and stepped forward to try to comfort her.
"How can I not be angry?" Yue Niang suddenly raised her eyes and glared at him. She became more and more agitated as she spoke, and her voice became sharp. "How can I not be angry? If it weren't for you, my husband, being unable to control yourself and flirting with other women, bringing those filthy vixens into the manor, how could we have suffered this disaster today? Why would I have to endure this fright and torment?"
Luo Qi was annoyed by her barrage of questions. He sat down at the table, pinched his brow, and said impatiently, "It's normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines! They're just maids and concubines. It's no big deal to take them in! But you're so narrow-minded, always arguing with them. Now that this has happened, you're making it all my fault!"
He returned home weary from his journey, barely able to catch his breath, only to be scolded by his wife like this, leaving him feeling extremely frustrated.
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