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After finishing the porridge given as alms, all the survivors had hidden away. Beggar Alley fell into an eerie silence.
According to the young man who offered alms at the Confucian Temple, the moment the alms were distributed, a Malevolent Ghost would arrive. Everyone had hidden as if playing hide-and-seek. At this moment, anyone still daring to walk freely in the streets, besides the Malevolent Ghost, would likely be no other being.
"..."
The Malevolent Ghost was here!
Zhao Fusheng's hair stood on end. Her first thought was: the Malevolent Ghost's oppressive aura was terrifying. In a moment of crisis, she instinctively reached into her bosom and pulled out the box of lamp oil that Paper Man Zhang had given her.
According to Paper Man Zhang and Zhang Chuanshi, this lamp oil could block the Malevolent Ghost's perception. As long as a place was enveloped in its light, the Malevolent Ghost would be unable to detect her presence.
Thinking this, Zhao Fusheng felt a little relieved. Once she had something to protect herself, the fear in Zhao Fusheng's heart gradually faded, replaced by a surge of eagerness. She had entered Beggar Alley precisely to resolve the ghostly disaster, and now that the Malevolent Ghost was upon them, she naturally couldn't cower.
"Hoo—hiss—hoo—hiss—"
After several deep breaths, Zhao Fusheng suppressed her desire to flee and crawled towards the door. Amidst the rapid, frantic pounding of her heart, she carefully pried open the door crack. The door was old and worn, and even a gentle nudge produced a creaking sound.
Normally, such a small sound would go unnoticed, but in the extreme silence, it sounded incredibly harsh. When Zhao Fusheng heard the sound, her mind went blank for a moment, her heart rate spiked, and her hands trembled twice, almost dropping the box of lamp oil she held.
She paused, gripping the lamp oil box tightly, forcing herself to calm down. The crisis did not follow. Her mind suddenly recalled what Fan Bisi had mentioned: rules.
Malevolent Ghosts killed according to their own rules. Once a Malevolent Ghost's rule was triggered, even holding one's breath would not save one from its pursuit; but if the Malevolent Ghost's killing rule was not triggered, even being in the same room as the ghost might not necessarily lead to death.
Based on what she had seen and heard since entering Beggar Alley, it seemed the Malevolent Ghost's killings were related to a 'Register'. On that 'Register', the previously named 'Sun Fu' was clearly the unlucky one who would trigger the Malevolent Ghost's killing rule next.
Thinking this, Zhao Fusheng's mind quickly became active again.
She boldly pressed her head to the door crack. After all, she was dealing with a ghost. Even though she had been reborn into this era and had mentally prepared herself for future encounters with ghosts after being entangled with one, Zhao Fusheng still spent a good while building up her courage before abruptly opening her eyes.
The scene on the street entered her sight.
At this moment, Beggar Alley's street was empty. At some unknown point, thick, rolling baleful energy permeated the air. A damp, musty smell arrived first, then the pungent smell of blood mixed with the unique stench of decaying corpses, forming a deathly aroma that permeated Zhao Fusheng's nostrils.
She held her breath, staring wide-eyed into the ghostly mist. Within that black mist, a blurry figure moved slowly.
'Tap, tap, tap—'
Footsteps sounded, and the stiff shadow emerged from the mist, gradually becoming clearer, and approaching the street where Zhao Fusheng was hiding.
A ghost!
Zhao Fusheng had not yet clearly seen the black figure's face, but the Malevolent Ghost's unique baleful aura and chilling coldness had already spread, enveloping her. The shadow drew closer and closer, gradually emerging from the embrace of the black mist, revealing itself before her eyes.
Her free hand gripped the door panel tightly, trying desperately to steady her trembling body, while simultaneously suppressing her fearful urge to escape and hide. Zhao Fusheng knew that fear would only lead to trouble. If she didn't seize the opportunity to remember the Malevolent Ghost's characteristics, when it was her turn to trigger its rules in the future, it would be her death.
She widened her eyes, watching the 'shadow' walk step by step out of the black mist.
After seeing the ghost's appearance, Zhao Fusheng's face 'swish'ed and darkened. The ghost appearing before her was completely different from the Headless Ghost mentioned by Liu Wu.
This ghost actually had a head! Its body was gaunt, slightly hunched, and its limbs were as thin as bamboo poles. The Malevolent Ghost's head, covered in grayish-white, disheveled hair, rested upon its elongated neck. What Zhao Fusheng found noteworthy were its hands, which hung by its legs, one appearing long and the other short.
Its body was mottled with blood, and its exposed skin was a mix of blue and purple, covered with large and small corpse spots. A blood-stained head-band hung loosely, obscuring one of its gray, lifeless eyes, while the other eye was covered with a grayish, misty film. The Malevolent Ghost's corpse was stiff; its knees didn't bend when it walked, and its steps were heavy, making its movements somewhat strange. One could easily distinguish it from a human at a glance.
"..."
Zhao Fusheng's face was extremely grim.
She knew Fan Bisi and Paper Man Zhang were not good people. They knew she intended to investigate the ghost case, and perhaps hoped she would die in Beggar Alley, thus not fully disclosing the true clues about the Malevolent Ghost. Therefore, before entering Beggar Alley, she had been extremely cautious, making preparations repeatedly, but she hadn't expected the worst-case scenario to indeed occur—the Malevolent Ghost of Beggar Alley was not the same ghostly disaster that afflicted the Liu family forty years ago.
The characteristics of the two ghosts were completely different, rendering the clues she had gathered useless in an instant.
However, she then thought again, and the situation might not be so bad after all. After all, Liu Wu had mentioned that although the ghostly disaster at the Liu Clan Ancestral Temple forty years ago was caused by a Headless Ghost, the Headless Ghost's killings involved taking the heads of living people. Perhaps the head on the Malevolent Ghost's neck at this moment was not its original appearance, but rather one it had acquired by killing.
Thinking this, Zhao Fusheng felt a little relieved. She suppressed her anxiety, widening her eyes to try and discern if there were any signs of a seam on the Malevolent Ghost's neck—but the black mist was pervasive, and her body, dominated by instinctive fear, also affected her perception. She stared intently but still couldn't make out any clues.
The Malevolent Ghost aimlessly wandered back and forth on the street, then turned into another alley at the end. The ghostly shadow, dragging black mist, vanished into the night sky. The 'tap, tap' sounds gradually receded.
Zhao Fusheng, her heart pounding, pressed her face to the door crack, listening and watching for a long time, but heard no screams from afar. The Malevolent Ghost had wandered off to some unknown place. Just as she was anxiously debating whether to light the ghost lamp and investigate—
The heavy 'tap, tap, tap' of footsteps sounded again. The ghost seemed to have returned, and quickly.
Not long after, the black aura, carrying the stench of blood and decay, returned with full force. The Malevolent Ghost reappeared from the other end of the alley. At the corner of the alley, it suddenly turned around, its terrifying blue-and-purple-mottled face turning to stare blankly at Zhao Fusheng, who was peering out through the door crack.
"!!!"
Zhao Fusheng's heart constricted sharply at the sight. Just as she thought her doom was nigh, the Malevolent Ghost turned its head away again, then slowly walked towards the direction opposite the house where Zhao Fusheng was hidden. It moved along the door frame, and the people in the opposite house had already heard the Malevolent Ghost's footsteps.
The survivors who had endured in Beggar Alley until now were more familiar with the Malevolent Ghost's aura than Zhao Fusheng. Perhaps knowing their death was imminent, the hearts of the people hidden in that cluster of houses instantly rose to their throats.
The Malevolent Ghost passed house after house, finally stopping in front of a tightly shut door. It paused for a moment, then suddenly began to knock.
'Thump! Thump thump!'
This action caught Zhao Fusheng by surprise. She hadn't expected a ghost to be so courteous, actually knowing to knock before entering a house. This absurd action somewhat distracted her from her fear. Naturally, the people inside the house dared not open the door.
But upon realizing they had become the Malevolent Ghost's chosen target, a desperate wail of despair came from within that house. The sobbing instantly spread throughout the entire street, echoing repeatedly.
'Thump thump thump!'
The Malevolent Ghost remained unaffected by the screams, continuing to knock on the door.
After the third knock sounded, the Malevolent Ghost's previously solid form gradually dissipated. Its terrifying blue-and-purple mottled body seeped into the door panel like liquefied asphalt, melting a huge hole into the door. Through the dark hole in the door, Zhao Fusheng saw the Malevolent Ghost's figure reassemble inside the room. It dragged its heavy, stiff body into the house, then its ghostly shadow was swallowed by the darkness. A moment later, a man's terrified, piercing scream suddenly erupted from inside the house:
"Ah—"
But the scream quickly cut off, followed by a scalp-prickling tearing sound.
Beggar Alley, enveloped by the Ghost Domain, was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. The survivors held their breath. Because of this, even the slightest sound was amplified to its extreme. The sound of blood splashing, and the delicate 'rustling' sound as if a large hand was stirring in thick mud, clearly entered Zhao Fusheng's ears.
Tension, fear, and the relief of surviving mixed with the strong smell of blood, spreading outwards. These odors also carried the distinct miasma of internal organs, which was slightly irritating to the eyes. The Malevolent Ghost, having successfully hunted, quickly emerged from the darkness. At this moment, the ghost was completely different from before. Its previously shriveled abdomen was abnormally bloated several times its size, as if it had just feasted. Several blood-stained intestines were wrapped around its body and arms, with blood and undigested faeces from the intestines 'drizzling' down. The Malevolent Ghost held a human head in its hand. The head's eyes were wide open, its lips drawn back, revealing sparse, blood-stained yellow teeth. The terror and horror of its final moments were frozen on the face of this unlucky ghost.
Zhao Fusheng witnessed a Malevolent Ghost's hunt firsthand, and she was utterly shaken. This kind of deterrence could not be described in the few words of the Demon Suppression Division's dossiers.
But she knew this was not the time for fear. Zhao Fusheng desperately forced herself to ignore the fear the Malevolent Ghost's killing brought her, and focused her gaze on the human head held in the ghost's hand. Although the person's face was distorted by the pain of death, Zhao Fusheng could still vaguely make out that it was indeed 'Sun Fu,' the first person called out by name during the almsgiving in front of the Confucian Temple that evening.
The Malevolent Ghost's killings indeed followed the 'Register'. This meant that the Confucian Temple's almsgiving was related to the Malevolent Ghost's killings, and the 'Register' was certainly no ordinary item; it must be closely connected to the Malevolent Ghost. From the current clues, it seemed that after the Confucian Temple's almsgiving, everyone who had accepted the Confucian Temple's food was likely registered.
The Malevolent Ghost would kill according to the register. When the almsgiving began, the first person called out would enter the Malevolent Ghost's 'sight' and become the target of the Malevolent Ghost's hunt during that cycle of its wandering.
Zhao Fusheng's mind worked quickly. From this series of clues, she quickly discovered that the method to avoid the Malevolent Ghost's killing rule was very simple: do not accept the Confucian Temple's bowl. If one did not receive alms from the Confucian Temple, their name would not appear on the register. Those whose names did not appear on the list would not be within the Malevolent Ghost's sight. If Fan Bisi's rules were absolutely accurate, then someone who had not violated the Malevolent Ghost's rules could stand directly in front of the ghost, and it might still ignore them.
Thinking of this, Zhao Fusheng's face turned ashen. She realized the darkness of human nature. The survivors who had lived in this place until now must have known this, yet at the Confucian Temple, some people had still forced the young man's porridge into her hands, compelling her onto the ghost's register. Thinking of this, a sense of vexation and disgust arose in her heart. This anger quickly transformed into a murderous intent, making her wish she could immediately drag out that malicious survivor and let him experience the ghost's methods.
Zhao Fusheng quickly realized the violence within her emotions; this state was clearly abnormal. She had used the Malevolent Ghost's power once. Although the merits from the Investiture of the Gods List had eliminated the Malevolent Ghost's influence, it now seemed that the after-effects of wielding a Malevolent Ghost were stronger than she had imagined. Although she had escaped the Malevolent Ghost's control at the time, the ghost's influence on her was still significant. She tried her best to quell her anger, doing her utmost to avoid being disturbed by this malevolent aura, and instead refocused her attention on the Malevolent Ghost's killing rules.
The ghost killed according to the names on a register, and she had already thought of a way to avoid the ghost's rules, but it was not applicable at the moment. Beggar Alley was already enveloped by the Ghost Domain, and the survivors trapped within Beggar Alley had nowhere to escape. Humans needed to eat to live. In their desperate situation, the Confucian Temple's alms were their only chance to survive. Even if this meal was a deadly final meal, they had no choice but to accept it.
Zhao Fusheng could also guess what would happen next: the survivors trapped in the Confucian Temple prolonged their lives through alms, while the Malevolent Ghost killed based on the alms list. The two formed a perfect death trap; those living here could neither escape nor avoid, only endure and passively await death. If she didn't enter Beggar Alley, didn't dispel the Malevolent Ghost, and couldn't complete the mission, everyone would be trapped and die in the Ghost Domain!
Having understood all this, Zhao Fusheng sighed deeply. A human life had ended.
The Malevolent Ghost, 'satisfied,' retraced its steps, 'tap, tap,' fading into the distance. Its ghostly figure was enveloped by black mist, and the footsteps gradually receded, finally disappearing. All the survivors breathed a collective sigh of relief, and faint, almost imperceptible sobs could be heard. This sound was a signal. Even though those who had been trapped here for some time feared the Malevolent Ghost, the deaths of many had allowed the surviving ones to figure out the Malevolent Ghost's killing rules earlier than Zhao Fusheng. Trapped in this place, they desperately awaited their doom, spending each day in a cycle of fear and momentary relief.
Black mist filled every corner of Beggar Alley. Despair and relief, two starkly contrasting atmospheres, merged with the ghostly qi, pervading this Ghost Domain.
Zhao Fusheng finished summarizing the clues and then quickly realized her oversight: "No, that's not right."
She had initially vaguely concluded that the Malevolent Ghost appeared after each almsgiving, and its appearance meant one person would certainly be killed. But she then remembered that the houses on the street enveloped by the Ghost Domain were one person per house, and the young man who offered alms in front of the Confucian Temple had also reminded her earlier when handing her the food: to find an empty house.
This meant that the ghost's killing rule might not be counted by 'number of people', but by 'one house'. The moment the ghost knocked on a door, the person inside that house was undoubtedly marked as the ghost's prey, signifying that death was imminent.
Zhao Fusheng hadn't figured out the origin of this ghost, how it formed, or its killing methods. But one thing was certain: it was not the same headless ghost that appeared before Liu Huacheng's birthday banquet forty years ago. Although this ghost case was a reluctant choice for her, Paper Man Zhang had indeed deceived her, enticing her into a death trap based on her needs. Fortunately, she had burned Paper Man Zhang's old lair, giving herself a preemptive vent of anger.
She began to ponder the origin of this Malevolent Ghost. The ghost was inextricably linked to the Confucian Temple's almsgiving, and its killings involved the alms list. Furthermore, the Confucian Temple was formerly the Liu Clan Ancestral Temple. There must be a connection between the two. And the young man who now oversaw the almsgiving at the Confucian Temple was the key to solving the mystery.
Thinking this, Zhao Fusheng's gaze deepened. She sat down, accumulated some strength for a moment, then put the box of lamp oil back into her bosom, then crawled on all fours back into the corner and sat down properly. Although she had made preparations before entering and even had a Malevolent Ghost hidden within her, witnessing the ghost's killing firsthand still gave Zhao Fusheng, who was born in an era of peace and prosperity, a huge psychological shock. This direct, on-site observation of a human life vanishing was different from dreaming; it was more shocking, more cruel.
Fan Bisi's reminder echoed in her mind: dealing with ghosts means nine deaths out of ten.
She touched the lamp oil in her bosom, then the Soul Fate Register she kept close to her body, then her back. At the same time, her consciousness sank into her Sea of Consciousness to look at the divine positions on the Investiture of the Gods List again. Only then did she feel slightly at ease.
The Malevolent Ghost had killed and departed, but the vigilance in Beggar Alley had not faded. Everyone's hearts were filled with fear, and the strong scent of blood permeated the air. The aura of death spread across the street, inhaled by everyone into their lungs. Although Zhao Fusheng had guessed she was temporarily safe, having witnessed the Malevolent Ghost's killing for the first time, she wasn't yet mentally prepared for a direct confrontation with the ghost. The young man's warning in front of the Confucian Temple echoed in her mind, making her dare not gamble easily and open the door.
Time passed bit by bit. The black mist gradually dissipated, and the entire street was enveloped in a gray mist. The suffocating chill receded like a tide.
Zhao Fusheng slowly got up and stretched her limbs. She had many things to do today and couldn't stay trapped here, pointlessly waiting to die. After a night of settling, she had adjusted her mindset. Once her blood circulated and her numb limbs regained their flexibility, she finally pulled open the door that had been tightly closed all night.
When the house door creaked open, she could sense many gazes from all around secretly peering at her through door cracks, just as she had peeked at the Malevolent Ghost last night. She turned her head, feeling a little uncomfortable, following the sensation of being watched. Those peeking gazes quickly averted, then brazenly fell back upon her.
Zhao Fusheng frowned. Her time was short; there was no need to waste it confronting these people. Thinking this, she quickly looked up in the direction of the Confucian Temple. Since entering Beggar Alley yesterday, she had found that within the Ghost Domain, there seemed to be no distinction between day and night, but from some subtle details, she could barely distinguish the time. The young man's words during the almsgiving at the Confucian Temple hinted that it was 'night' then.
Ghosts appeared at night, and after a ghost killed and departed, there would be a brief 'safe period.' At this time, the black mist turned gray, which should be what the young man referred to as 'day.'
The Confucian Temple was as conspicuous as ever within the Ghost Domain; its lit lanterns had not yet extinguished. Zhao Fusheng steadied herself, then strode towards the Confucian Temple. Her memory was excellent, and this ghost case concerned her life and death, so whether it was before taking the alms or after leaving with the porridge last night, she had paid special attention to the surrounding terrain, memorizing all the details of the buildings and roads. This caution and meticulousness had once made her work easy to handle, and now it might very well save her life at a crucial moment.
She quickly arrived in front of the Confucian Temple. The Confucian Temple at this moment presented a stark contrast to when she had arrived last night. The hall of the Confucian Temple was deserted and empty, and the surroundings were silent. The stone table where the alms porridge was distributed stood empty, all miscellaneous items neatly put away. Within the Ghost Domain, there was no wind, nor could the sounds of birds or insects be heard. After the Malevolent Ghost's killing last night, the survivors held their breath, making it so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.
The temple gate was still wide open, and the light illuminated half of the inner hall. The surroundings were extremely quiet, with no trace of living presence. The empty blue stone ground in front of the Confucian Temple gate was damp, as if a heavy rain had just fallen before she arrived, washing the stone bricks and ground cracks. The water seeped into the muddy crevices, stirring up a unique earthy smell. But perhaps it was a lingering effect of having personally witnessed the Malevolent Ghost's killing last night, she always felt that besides the muddy smell, a faint scent of blood and the lingering musty smell from the Malevolent Ghost still lingered in her nostrils.
Zhao Fusheng couldn't help but lower her head, pinching her clothes to smell them, then her gaze swept over the water-washed ground. At this time, dawn was breaking. The Malevolent Ghost had just disappeared, and the surviving crowds dared not come out and wander around. Beggar Alley was within a Ghost Domain, with no distinction between day and night. All natural phenomena were isolated here, so it was impossible for heavy rain to appear out of thin air. The dampness in front of the Confucian Temple could not be an accident; it must have been deliberately washed beforehand.
She bit her lip, grinding the dry, chapped skin between her teeth. Zhao Fusheng looked up—the lanterns above the Confucian Temple had not yet extinguished. From the looks of it, they had been lit since last night. The lantern light was pale, illuminating the bright blue plaque above, enveloping the surrounding empty space in its white glow. Zhao Fusheng stood in the light and shadow, instinctively feeling a sense of unease, and subconsciously wanted to conceal her figure.
Having lost the lively crowds, the Confucian Temple, the only brightly lit place in the Ghost Domain, seemed eerily ominous, making one shiver involuntarily.
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