Chapter Eighty: Turning the Tables

Li Yue's face showed a trace of bewilderment. She looked at me, her eyes filled with confusion and puzzlement.

My own face turned pale; I wanted to say something more, but then Li Cangshui's cold voice came from within the door, "See the guest out, Xiao Yue."

Li Yue shook her head at me and walked downstairs.

Wang Erjun looked uneasy, clearly at a loss for words, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Though I hadn't had much interaction with Li Cangshui, I understood well enough: he had spoken his final word. Even if I knelt here and begged, he would never help me.

Turning away, I followed Li Yue downstairs, beckoning Wang Erjun along.

Li Yue stood outside the guesthouse, her face filled with hesitation. I forced a smile, not knowing what to say.

"Is it the female ghost and your mother you want to save?" Li Yue suddenly asked.

My heart skipped a beat, for I had never spoken to her about these things.

She pursed her lips. "When you confronted my master, your demeanor was completely different from when you first met us. It's because of that female ghost, isn't it? That's why you broke your promise?"

I was silent, but still nodded, for Li Yue harbored no malice toward me.

She bit her lower lip and continued, "When you mentioned the resentment in that house, you said it was your mother’s doing, and afterwards you fell silent, your mood darkened. My master struggled to deal with ghosts of that caliber—your mother must have paid a heavy price."

"I will return. I owe you thanks for getting out of Wang Family Pass," Li Yue’s words kept striking deep places in my heart, suffocating me. I could not bear to hear any more, nor continue this conversation, so I interrupted her.

But Li Yue looked at me deeply and suddenly said, "She left something on me."

As she spoke, Li Yue raised her hand, and in her palm lay an ancient jade token.

My expression changed; my heart thudded.

"I don’t know why she placed this on me. She didn’t follow you—perhaps something’s happened to her?" Li Yue ventured.

I remained silent.

Li Yue handed me the jade token, biting her lip. "I hadn’t intended to give it back. That female ghost possessed me; she should have left something behind, or I’d be at a loss. But instinctively, I felt that if I didn’t give it to you, I’d end up seeking you out again."

Hearing this, my heart trembled.

Suddenly, I realized Li Yue had left only to double back—not just to please her master.

She had been with Li Cangshui for years; she must know his ways. She had said herself, Li Cangshui wouldn’t help me again.

Li Yue’s return to help me must be inextricably tied to Chan Shu!

Otherwise, there was no reason for Chan Shu to take possession of Li Yue at Li Cangshui’s side.

Afterwards, Chan Shu could no longer maintain her soul’s human form and rested on my chest; surely, this was connected—Li Yue’s body was no easy vessel.

The more I thought, the more my heart trembled.

Chan Shu must have foreseen trouble and prepared for every possibility.

Li Yue sighed again. "You and Fatty, the shadow monkey behind your ears, it’s dormant now. At least for a while, nothing will happen. My master is steadfast; he won’t break his own rules."

"If you want his help, you’d have to get entangled with him again, but that chance is slim, nearly impossible."

"You and Fatty should leave as soon as possible."

After she finished, Li Yue gave a lingering glance at the wooden box in my hand, turned, and headed upstairs back into the guesthouse.

Wang Erjun’s face was pale, his voice confused and helpless. "Xie Yuan, what do we do now? We’ve got nowhere to go."

I frowned tightly, my thoughts racing.

The jade token in my hand suddenly emitted a chilling cold, easing the pain in my body.

I hung the token around my neck, narrowed my eyes, and looked down at the box.

Squatting, I opened it.

Something was missing.

Besides the peach wood sword, clothes, and the blue book, the bronze mirror had vanished.

I jerked my head up, looking at the stairs of the guesthouse, my heart pounding.

Suddenly, I understood the meaning behind Li Yue’s last words.

"Erjun, how much money do you have on you?"

I took a deep breath.

Wang Erjun paused, counting his fingers. "My dad saved up money for my marriage all these years, had me bring it along. The old village chief came to our house back then, accused my dad of murder for profit, and found a pile of gold bars and copper coins, blaming him. But they missed one stash when they searched—under my dad’s head in his coffin."

My eyelids twitched; I hesitated.

Wang Erjun bit his lip, sighing, "My dad had two gold bars and a small pouch of copper coins under his head. That was from when we first escaped the village. After we got home, my dad appeared in my dreams, said he hadn’t done much for me, or my mother, he’d been murdered, and left these dead men’s coins as a token."

I sighed. "Everyone in Hundred House Village is dead. Using this money won’t cause any trouble now."

"Let’s get a room, we’ll stay in this guesthouse."

Wang Erjun looked puzzled. "Li Yue’s master won’t help us. If we’ve got money, we could head to the city and find a real expert to get rid of the thing behind our ears."

He paused, his expression uneasy, then clenched his jaw. "When I left the village, I swore to my dad, knelt before him, that my life belonged to you now. If you want to go back, I’ll follow you."

I was moved, and explained to Wang Erjun that even Granny Li didn’t recognize the shadow monkey, and finding someone to help was unlikely. We’d barely left the village, and were more likely to be tricked.

Li Cangshui was still nearby.

And Li Yue—she was helping us.

By the end, my voice was low.

Wang Erjun was baffled. "Didn’t that girl tell us to leave? Why’s she helping us?"

I told him Li Yue had taken something from me, and her final hints were telling me what to do.

Wang Erjun scratched his head, utterly lost. "You and that girl are full of riddles. I didn’t understand a word."

He paid for a room in the guesthouse.

We stayed at the end of the corridor, not near Li Cangshui’s room.

Inside, I explained to Wang Erjun that Li Cangshui and Li Yue both believed in cause and effect.

Li Yue taking my item had tied her fate to mine.

Most importantly, her last words meant I needed to establish a connection with her master.

This opportunity was right before me.

Wang Erjun’s face changed. "Xie Yuan, are you thinking of getting involved with the coffin by the river? We just escaped death at Hundred House Village, and now you want to mess with some new evil. These are just guesses—what if you’re wrong?"

I narrowed my eyes, shaking my head. "This time, I won’t be wrong."

Wang Erjun was clearly frightened, wanting to dissuade me.

I took out the last two Thunder Talismans, handed one to him, telling him it was a life-saving charm—even the likes of White Funeral Liu could be repelled with it.

Wang Erjun looked amazed, as if he thought of something, opening his mouth but not speaking.

I smiled. "Relax. This time, we’re not bringing trouble upon ourselves—we’re bringing trouble to the ghosts."

As I finished, I suddenly felt a coolness on my chest, and sensed a faint sharpness in me, reminiscent of how I felt when I first wore the clothes from Master Wang Jiu’s owner.

"We’ll head to the riverside before dark. Until then, let’s rest properly."

My voice was solemn.

Wang Erjun’s tone was uneasy. "Xie Yuan, you seem changed all of a sudden. You’re scaring me a little."

"Are you really okay? And your hand—look at what it’s become…"