Chapter 416: Huh?

Chapter 416: Huh?

Neither the front nor back gates of the Tang Residence had been open on the night in question. Furthermore, there were no signs of the courtyard walls having been climbed over. However, Tang Yu'an's lamp was smashed inside the collection room, and there was that person who had appeared in the painting.

Every clue seemed to point to... a living person being pulled into the painting...?

This matter was indeed strange.

If it were just Tang Yu'an's soul that had been drawn into the painting, it wouldn't be that strange. If there were ghosts in the painting, pulling a person’s soul into the painting was certainly something they could do. Yet, Tang Yu'an's corporeal body had been pulled in as well, so that meant there had to be a physical space inside the painting.

The painting could not be a storage enchanted tool, as storage enchanted tools could not hold living beings... The most likely scenario was that the painting contained a small world similar to a hidden realm.

"Official Tang, could you tell us more about the origin of this painting?" Jiang Yuebai asked.

"Sure," Tang Song replied. "This is a famous piece by Lin Bingzhu, a renowned court painter of the previous dynasty. Titled Ladies of the Eastern Suburbs, the painting depicts a scene of ladies on an outing. It is an ancient piece that's fairly well known. I bought it from Honorable Su, the chief official of Wu'an City, and paid a hefty price for it. Who knew it would lead to such a strange incident?"

"Since it's a famous painting, it must have passed through many hands before getting to you," Chu Liang remarked as he pondered about the matter. "Have you ever heard of such an incident occurring in the past?"

Tang Song shook his head. "Never."

"If there's nothing wrong with the painting itself, then something must have happened after the purchase that caused things to go awry," Jiang Yuebai mused, lowering her gaze as she analyzed the situation.

Chu Liang said, "If something attached itself to the painting and pulled a soul in, it would certainly be the work of a ghost. But this matter is quite unusual, as the corporeal body has disappeared as well. Further investigation is probably needed to figure out what happened."

"The scroll painting must not be damaged. Otherwise, Young Master Tang may be harmed. Skills from the Great Dao of the World should be used to access it, or... it will need to be reattempted."

"I'll attempt it tonight."

"Huh?" Tang Song uttered in confusion.

After these two young prodigies fell into deep thought, it was as if they suddenly entered another realm. They each seemed to be talking to themselves... How did that end up being a conversation between them?

And... attempt what?

If those who had attended Jiang Yuebai's lecture at Mount Shu were here, they would likely feel a sense of deja vu.

Chu Liang turned to Tang Song. "Official Tang, seeing as the sky's already dark now, let's not rush things. In a while, hang the scroll back in its original spot. I'll stay there tonight to observe. If there are indeed ghosts harming people, they won't just appear once. If nothing happens tonight, we'll take the scroll back to Mount Shu tomorrow and ask an esteemed senior who is an Eminent One to try to access it."

"All right..." Tang Song finally understood the two progidies' plan and nodded repeatedly. "I'll do as you say."

Jiang Yuebai brought her gaze back up and looked at Chu Liang. "Why are you going? I'm the head disciple. I should be the one investigating."

"What if it's a ghost that targets men?" Chu Liang joked with a grin.

Jiang Yuebai curled her lips in annoyance and muttered, "Look at how eager you are."

...

That night, Chu Liang arrived at the Tang Residence's collection room. He held a candle and quietly did a walkthrough of the room, looking at Tang Song's valuable collectibles.

The painting of the Ladies of the Eastern Suburbs was hung in the center of a wall, but there were no signs of movement from it. Nevertheless, Chu Liang didn't feel anxious; he just waited patiently.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yuebai was outside the room, in the courtyard. She had her divine sense locked on the room. She planned to rush in the moment she sensed any unusual activity.

With Chu Liang's and Jiang Yuebai's current abilities, they were more than capable of handling things on their own. Naturally, it would be super easy for them to deal with a couple of ghosts.

The sky darkened as night fell.

Suddenly, a cold wind swept toward Chu Liang, and his keen senses picked up the presence of yin qi. He swiftly turned his gaze to the painting on the wall, but it seemed unchanged.

"Your father sent me to find you and bring you back."

"My father?" Tang Yu'an was stunned. "I just came in for a moment, and he already noticed?"

"Brother Tang, you disappeared last night. A whole day has already passed."

"This..." Tang Yu'an was shocked. "How did that happen?"

"Young noble, time flows differently here," the woman in teal reminded him. "One day in the painting is the same as one year outside."

"Huh?"

Tang Yu'an was astonished. Chu Liang was quite surprised too.

Could this really be a hidden realm where time flows differently?

That would be a true treasure.

Tang Yu'an shook his head. "I must have been enjoying myself too much here. I forgot to leave. What a big mistake."

Chu Liang said puzzledly, "But from outside, you looked absolutely terrified, Brother Tang."

Tang Yu'an shook his head and smiled. "I was scared when I first came in, but Xiao Cui and the others quickly eased my fears."

Looking at the bright smile on Tang Yu'an's face, Chu Liang thought that it indeed appeared that Tang Yu'an's fears had been thoroughly dispelled.

Hang on...

If Tang Yu'an's initial terrified expression was frozen in the painting for so long, could it be...

As a feeling of unease sprouted in Chu Liang's mind, the women gathered around them.

"Young noble, since you came to rescue him, you must be a cultivator, right?"

So, they knew?

Seeing that these women were different from ordinary ghosts, Chu Liang answered truthfully, "I am Chu Liang, a disciple of the Mount Shu Sect."

Upon hearing that, they all knelt down. "Please, young noble, seek justice for us!"

...

Outside the painting...

Jiang Yuebai entered the collection room.

She had sensed the presence of the female ghost earlier, but since the ghost's cultivation level was low, she hadn't taken action.

Knowing that Jiang Yuebai had his back, Chu Liang had followed the ghost into the hidden realm within the painting without hesitation. Naturally, Jiang Yuebai understood why he'd done that.

At this moment, her gaze fell on the painting. She noticed that changes had occurred within the depicted scene.

Tang Song's expression was no longer one of terror. Instead, he was smiling and holding hands with one of the ladies in the painting, enjoying a stroll with her.

Meanwhile, Chu Liang appeared on another part of the riverbank. There was a scarlet-robed woman pressed against his chest...

Jiang Yuebai slowly furrowed her brows. "Huh?"