Chapter Thirty-Six: Tears

Suddenly, a light breeze swept through the air, but instead of bringing comfort, it carried a chilling sense of foreboding. Liu Ji’s expression grew grave. The village ahead was so eerily quiet that it was unsettling—so silent, in fact, that it felt deathly, a silence that made one’s heart tremble. Even without stepping into the village, he could already sense an unmistakable strangeness, a kind of unnaturalness that made one afraid to set foot inside.

At that moment, Third Uncle spoke up. “Sirs, did you see that? It’s too strange. When I returned last night, there wasn’t a soul in the village. But it was late, so I thought everyone had simply gone to sleep.” As he spoke, his face twisted in terror and his voice started to shake, tinged with the urge to weep. “But who could have known, the moment I opened the door, two shadowy figures rushed at me, pinning me to the ground. If I hadn’t managed to escape, I’d probably be dead right now too!”

Liu Heng waved his hand and strode into the village. The others, Liu Ji included, followed in quick succession. Some began to search the nearby houses, but soon returned to gather around Liu Heng. One of them bowed his fists and reported, “My lord, there isn’t a single person inside the houses.”

He paused, then added, “And there are no signs of struggle or destruction. It’s as if the villagers have simply vanished into thin air!”

Third Uncle cried out, “No! They haven’t vanished! Last night I saw Xiaoya’s parents. They were the ones who knocked me down!”

Liu Heng turned to him. “Take us there.”

Third Uncle shuddered, his face filled with fear as he shrank back. “I—I’m scared. I don’t dare go in front...”

Liu Heng sighed resignedly and turned to the Southern Tiger Cavalry. “Search the area within a hundred meters of the village thoroughly. If you see anything suspicious, report to me immediately.”

“Yes, sir!” the cavalrymen replied in unison, then set off toward the surrounding hills to begin their search.

Liu Heng looked at Third Uncle. “Lead the way.”

“O-okay…”

With Third Uncle guiding them, Liu Ji, Liu Heng, Yan Ye, Xiaoya, and the others soon stood before a thatched hut. The walls were made of packed earth, and the roof was woven from some unknown grass, serving only to shield against wind, rain, and sun.

It was clear that Xiaoya’s family was not well off.

Third Uncle pointed a trembling finger at the hut. “Th-that’s the one. When I opened the door, two shadows came at me…”

“I’ll take a look,” Liu Ji said, stepping forward, but Liu Heng stopped him and looked to Yan Ye. Yan Ye understood, stepped forward, and pushed open the door.

A long creak echoed through the silence, heightening the sense of the uncanny.

Nothing appeared out of the ordinary.

Liu Heng glanced at Third Uncle before stepping inside. Liu Ji, Xiaoya, and the others followed. Inside, the furnishings were sparse—nothing but some pots and bowls—there was nothing else.

It was the very picture of poverty.

But then, Liu Ji thought, if Xiaoya’s family had even a bit more money, what parents would sell their beloved daughter away?

“Father… Mother…”

From the moment she entered the hut, Xiaoya’s face had turned deathly pale, her spirit seemed to have left her body, and her small frame trembled with every difficult step, as if her legs were made of lead. If Liu Ji hadn’t been supporting her, he was sure she would have collapsed to the ground.

From what he knew, although Xiaoya had been sold to the Southern Prince’s household by her parents, she returned home every year at the end of the year to visit, and their family had always been on good terms. Now, with her parents’ fate uncertain, one could only imagine the blow that had struck the heart of this teenage girl. The fact that she had not broken down in tears was a testament to her strength of spirit.

It was truly remarkable.

Suddenly, a beastly roar erupted from a dark corner, and a shadow darted at Xiaoya.

Liu Ji’s senses snapped to attention. With a shout, his blood surged through his veins, and he struck out with a fist, sending the shadow flying into the wall with a crash.

But before he could recover, a second shadow rushed at Xiaoya, moving so swiftly that even Liu Heng, standing several meters away, couldn’t react in time. Xiaoya stood frozen in place.

“Xiaoya!”

Third Uncle, who had been right behind her, yanked Xiaoya behind him and shielded her with his own body.

A split second later, his body was flung across the room, taking Xiaoya down with him. He crashed heavily against the wall, leaving cracks in the packed earth, and curled up on the floor, moaning in pain.

But his action had bought Liu Ji the moment he needed. In a flash, Liu Ji was at Xiaoya’s side, his hand striking out with the precision of an eagle’s claw, seizing the shadowy attacker by the throat.

It all happened so fast that even Liu Heng and Yan Ye hadn’t seen it coming. When they realized what had happened, they saw Liu Ji gripping a person who was snarling like a wild beast.

“...Mother?”

Behind Liu Ji, Xiaoya murmured in disbelief, unable to accept that the person in Liu Ji’s grasp was her own mother.

What they saw was a wild-haired, middle-aged woman. Her eyes bulged, as if they might burst from their sockets. Even more horrifying, her face was covered in a network of purple veins that pulsed and writhed like hideous worms.

Liu Ji’s heart sank at Xiaoya’s trembling voice.

He gazed with a complex expression at the woman he held by the throat, struggling desperately in his grip. As he feared, Xiaoya’s parents had indeed been possessed by vengeful spirits.

“Mother… you…”

He saw Xiaoya move toward the woman, and quickly raised his left arm to block her. His voice was heavy. “Xiaoya, your mother is possessed. She… she’s no longer the mother you remember!”

“No! You’re lying! My mother has the talisman I bought her—she can’t be possessed! Let her go! My mother hasn’t been possessed!”

But by then, Xiaoya was already sobbing uncontrollably. She could not hear Liu Ji’s words, or perhaps she simply refused to believe them, because she knew what fate awaited those possessed by vengeful spirits.

Still, Liu Ji held her firmly.

Even so, Xiaoya fought, screaming and crying, desperately trying to break free and reach the mother she hadn’t seen in a year.

Liu Ji turned to Liu Heng. “What should we do?” His meaning was clear: was there truly no other way?

Liu Heng shook his head, sighing. “You and I both know once someone is possessed by a vengeful spirit, their mind—their very soul—is consumed. Even if you force the spirit out, all that’s left is an empty shell.”

Liu Ji’s face darkened.

This woman was, after all, Xiaoya’s mother. He didn’t want to see Xiaoya orphaned like this. But Liu Heng was right—once possessed, there was no hope of survival.

Suddenly, pain shot through Liu Ji’s arm. He turned to see Xiaoya biting him as hard as she could, so fiercely that he gasped in pain.

Perhaps she hoped it would make him let go.

Liu Heng gestured, and one of the Southern Tiger Cavalry stepped forward, knocked Xiaoya unconscious, and carried her outside. Liu Heng stepped before the woman and brought his palm down on her head.

A gray shadow burst from her skull, clearly trying to escape, but Liu Heng gave it no chance. With a blade-shaped hand, he struck into the shadow, which let out a shriek and dissolved.

Liu Ji gently laid the middle-aged woman on the floor and turned to leave. The woman’s head lolled toward the door, and in her dim eyes, a sudden clarity appeared. Reflected there was Xiaoya’s figure.

“Xiao…ya…” A faint, barely audible whisper slipped from her lips, followed by a tear that slid from the corner of her eye, tracing a path down her purple-stained cheek…

...

...

P.S. Second chapter of the day. Please vote for recommendations.