Chapter 26: The Emergence

Chapter 26: The Emergence

"Chu Liang, something terrible has happened..." Lin Bei burst into the room.

He appeared flustered as he rushed in, his eyes widening as he took in the scene.

Lin Bei commented, "Oh, Ms. Song is here too! Well, it's quite lively here, isn't it?"

The individuals who were standing and those who were lying down could have formed separate groups for a game of mahjong.

"Why are you here? And where is Li Jue?" Chu Liang inquired.

"Li Jue is missing!" Lin Bei responded urgently.

"Eh?" Chu Liang exclaimed.

Lin Bei then explained, "I was keeping watch outside, and for a long while, there was no sign of any activity from inside. I found it strange, so I knocked and realized the window was open. I have no idea where Li Jue went, so I hurried over to see you."

"Did you hear anything unusual?" Chu Liang asked.

"No." Lin Bei shook his head. "There was absolutely no sign of strange auras or sounds. I suspect he might have sneaked out on his own, but I don't understand why he would do that."

Chu Liang's thoughts raced, his brow furrowing in deep contemplation, as he replied, "Maybe he's keeping something from us. Li Jue could also be Situ Yan's prey... We're unsure of his whereabouts. What's our next move?"

"I... I might be able to help," Song Qingyi suddenly offered.

"Do you have a way to locate Li Jue?" Both Lin Bei and Chu Liang looked at her.

"Yes," Song Qingyi said as she gently nodded. She then raised her hand and took out a half-sheet of aged golden paper, seemingly blank but radiating a subtle aura of vitality.

With her right hand, she mimicked the movement of writing with a brush and lightly moved her fingers across the half-sheet of paper. Suddenly, a vermillion light emerged, and as her fingertips danced, words began to form.

Li... Jue...

After writing the name, Song Qingyi tossed the half-sheet of paper into the air. It spun three times in the sky and appeared to find its direction. It descended with a bright glow, flying out of the window in the indicated direction.

"Follow it," Song Qingyi instructed as she chased after the guiding light and flew out of the window with the half-sheet of paper.

"Someone should stay behind to keep an eye on Xiaohu." Chu Liang pointed at Yan Xiaohu.

"I'll stay." Lin Bei volunteered this time.

Chu Liang nodded, and then he followed Song Qingyi, flying out as well.

In the room, only Yan Xiaohu and Lin Bei remained, looking at each other.

After a brief silence, Yan Xiaohu cautiously asked, "So... what should we do now?"

Lin Bei pondered for a moment and said, "Let's start by ordering some food."

"Huh?" Yan Xiaohu was taken aback.

Lin Bei casually reclined in his chair. "Then we'll wake them up, resume the music, and keep dancing!"

"It was an accident, but I caused your death.

"I've been living in constant fear these days, avoiding the truth... But I can't run from it any longer.

"Situ Yan, if you truly became a ghost, seek retribution from me. Spare others from your vengeance."

His voice, intermittent, carried on the wind, reaching the ears of Chu Liang and Song Qingyi.

It became evident that Li Jue had directly caused Situ Yan's drowning, rather than Situ Yan taking her own life by jumping into the water.

No wonder Li Jue was so fearful; he had been tormented for days by the guilt of unintentional killings and the fear of a vengeful spirit. Today seemed to be the day he could no longer bear this torment, leading him to this spot.

However, even after speaking alone for an extended time, nothing out of the ordinary occurred.

Li Jue glanced around and muttered, "Are you not here, or are you unwilling to reveal yourself? Well... in that case, I'll go and atone for my sins myself..."

Murmuring to himself, he stood up and headed towards the lake below.

It appeared as though he wanted to end his own life.

"Li—-"

Song Qingyi was about to intervene, but Chu Liang dragged her back.

"Wait a bit more," Chu Liang whispered.

Just as Li Jue reached the edge of the lake, he hesitated for a moment. This moment of hesitation didn’t last long as he soon made a fateful decision and leaped into the water!

Just as Song Qingyi was ready to intervene, a chilling wind suddenly swept through the area.

The gusts created ripples on the previously calm lake's surface. Icy winds seemed to converge from all directions, surrounding Li Jue in mid-jump and pushing him back to the shore.

Thud!

Li Jue fell to the ground but swiftly got up. "Situ Yan, is it you?"

The turbulent cold winds finally gathered in one place, taking on a human-like form in front of him, only to dissipate in the blink of an eye.

A faint, ghostly silhouette remained in its original position.

It was a woman in Confucian attire, half her face marred by prominent scars. She could be none other than the rumored Situ Yan.

Li Jue met the ghost he had feared for such a long time.

He showed a sense of relief, saying, "You've finally come to see me."

Chu Liang and Song Qingyi were now on high alert.

The intense aura of death suggested that this wasn't an ordinary vengeful spirit, a fact confirmed by its solidified form. Although they didn't know what had transpired to bestow her with such power...

They were sure of one thing. Situ Yan was indeed the Painted Skin Ghost!