Chapter 51

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Lu Liangsheng had only glanced through a few medical texts and was not proficient in the field. At that moment, he had the intention but did not dare to rashly offer to help someone in need of treatment.

Once the conversations outside had subsided, he stood up, took the few books, and walked out to bid farewell to the old man under the eaves.

Zhou Zhen nodded and walked with this junior to the front yard to see him out, likely with the intention of getting some fresh air.

“…I originally wanted to talk more with Liangsheng, but there are some minor matters at home. However, I’ve already instructed the kitchen to prepare a feast for dinner. I’ll send someone to find you when it’s time. By the way, where are you staying, Liangsheng?”

The old man was quite pleasant…

Lu Liangsheng sighed in his heart. At least among the people he had met, this was true—except for the late Lu Erlai and the Chen family father and son, who were wealthy but unkind.

Thinking back to the conversation he had overheard in the study, he couldn’t help but speak up.

“Earlier… I heard Elder Zhou talking with the steward. I hope it’s not too forward of me to ask, but what exactly is happening at the manor?”

The old man seemed reluctant to share personal matters, but now that it had been brought up, his cheeks puffed up slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he sighed.

“Indeed, something has happened at home. This old man has two sons and a daughter. The daughter is the youngest, and she has been engaged to a family in the city…”

The old man slowly began to explain the situation.

About three months ago, his daughter suddenly fell ill with a peculiar ailment. Every night as she fell asleep, it felt as though countless voices were speaking in her ears—some male, some female, and even the sounds of horses neighing and carts clattering, as if she were in a bustling market.

At first, they didn’t pay it much attention, thinking she was simply having strange dreams. However, by the third day, she began to suffer from splitting headaches and could hardly get out of bed, her spirit and energy greatly diminished.

Hearing this, Lu Liangsheng couldn’t help but think of the dream-entering technique his Master had once used on him.

Could it be that someone has used a sinister technique that absorbs a person’s yang energy on the Zhou’s family young lady?

As they stepped out from under the eaves, he casually asked: “The steward also mentioned an old woman… What’s that about?”

Upon hearing the mention of the words “old woman”, Zhou Zhen tightly pursed his lips, as if lost in deep thought. After a long moment, he continued speaking.

“That old woman… No one in the household recognizes her. It’s as if she appeared out of thin air. Every time my daughter falls ill, the woman appears, circling around the house. The maids and servants have seen her several times, with water constantly streaming from her nose and mouth.”

“Has Elder Zhou seen her himself?”

“Not once. I only found it too bizarre to believe, thinking perhaps the servants had made a mistake.”

As the elder and the younger man were talking, they had already walked into the courtyard. A servant came running up behind them, panting heavily, and shouted: “Old Lord, the young lady is seriously ill this time. She’s acting as if she’s gone mad, smashing things wildly.”

“Liangsheng, you should go for now. I cannot accompany you further at this moment.”

Zhou Zhen, now visibly flustered, called for a guard to escort the scholar out of the estate before hurrying off with the servant.

As the sky gradually darkened and the wind picked up, Lu Liangsheng watched the old man’s retreating figure. Glancing down at the book in his hand, he didn’t wait for the guard beside him to speak. Instead, he quickly followed after Zhou Zhen.

Before even reaching the side courtyard, he could already hear a woman’s hysterical screaming and the sounds of objects being thrown and smashed. Several maids stood outside the door, too afraid to enter. One of them had blood on her head and face, likely having been accidentally injured by Young Lady Zhou.

Seeing Zhou Zhen approach, the maids quickly stood to the side, lowering their heads respectfully.

“Old Lord.”

At that moment, Madam Zhou also rushed over from the back courtyard, joining her husband as they both ran into their daughter’s room. Lu Liangsheng stood at a distance, as it would be improper for him to enter a young lady’s boudoir.

Suddenly, a loud bang was heard as something was hurled from the room, a bronze mirror, which hit the ground with a loud crash. Zhou Zhen shielded his wife as they backed toward the door, still continuing to try and calm their daughter.

Through the commotion, Lu Liangsheng caught a glimpse of Young Lady Zhou. Her hair was disheveled, and she was clad in nothing but her undergarments. Clutching her head, she screamed wildly. Her once dignified face was now twisted in agony, and the floor around her was littered with books and decorative objects that had been swept to the ground.

“Ahhhhh…”

She tugged at her hair, pulling out strands, fresh blood trickled down her cheeks as her delicate face twisted in anguish.

“Father… Mother… Rong’er is in so much pain… so much pain… Ahhhhh—”

She collapsed onto the ground, her tears and snot mixing with dust, smearing across her face as she writhed like a worm. Outside, the faces of Zhou Zhen and his wife, as well as the maidservants, paled.

“My daughter… my precious Rong’er! You old fool, think of something!!”

“I’m no physician, what can I possibly do!?”

“What should we do… What are we going to do with the young lady like this…”

Amidst the panic and confusion, Lu Liangsheng carefully observed the writhing figure. Her hair hung loose over her face, and her eyes, wide open, showed more white than black, her pupils unfocused.

“…It might truly be demonic possession. Let her calm down for a moment.”

With a swift gesture, hidden under his broad sleeves, he silently formed a hand seal. His finger pointed toward the room from a distance, and a wave of warmth spread over the writhing girl. After a few more desperate cries, she gradually quieted down.

“Rong’er!”

Madam Zhou shouted and rushed into the room. As she did, Lu Liangsheng withdrew his spell, turned, and quietly left. He exited the Zhou Manor and returned to the Fortune and Prosperity Inn.

Amidst the noisy clatter of people dining in the first-floor hall, he ascended to the third floor and opened the door to his room. There, he saw Sun Yinxian seated at the table, while the Toad Daoist stood on the table, extending its webbed hand. The two were playing a drinking game, with a jar of wine set beside them.

“You…”

Sun Yinxian slapped off the mud seal on the wine jar and poured two cups, laughing mischievously.

“Things were getting dull, so this Daoist invited Master Toad to drink and play a little game. We’ve just started. Care to join?”

From beside the window, Nie Honglian, who had been gazing at the nighttime streets outside, floated over and quietly closed the door.

“Didn’t young master say you’d stay there for dinner before coming back? Why are you back so soon?”

Lu Liangsheng set down the few books he had with him, washed his hands in the copper basin, then walked over to the table. He then picked up a pair of chopsticks and grabbed a peanut.

“…Something happened over there. Elder Zhou’s daughter seems to have been possessed by some evil spirit, so naturally, there was no time for dinner.”

As he spoke, Lu Liangsheng glanced at the Daoist: “This kind of thing is right up your alley. Why don’t you come with me to help?”

“Not going. This kind of noble young ladies cannot be touched. You have to cast spells from two or three zhang away, as if we’re beneath them!” Sun Yinxian grumbled, clearly displeased. It seemed he’d encountered this sort of situation before.

[TL_Note: Zhang = 3.3 meters]

He continued drinking and playing the finger-guessing game with the Toad Daoist, completely uninterested in Lu Liangsheng’s suggestion. However, he did add another remark.

“Besides, you seem to have a good relationship with that family. It’s only natural for you to help out. Who knows, you might even secure a marriage… Ow!”

Bang!

The copper mirror sitting on the vanity suddenly flew through the air and struck Sun Yinxian on the head. He yelped, clutching his head as he jumped from his seat, his eyes darting around the room.

Nie Honglian, seemingly unbothered, was carefully examining her nails, flipping them back and forth.

“Some people ought to watch their words… Next time, it might be a knife flying at your head.”

“You—!” Sun Yinxian, too angry to speak, let out a snort and sat back down, this time making sure to face the female ghost. He kept a close eye on her, just in case.

Lu Liangsheng glared at the group, his initial words swallowed back down in frustration. His gaze shifted to his master, the Toad Daoist, who simply waved his hand dismissively.

“This sort of trivial matter is worthy of this Master stepping in?”

Having drunk a bit, the Toad Daoist was now in high spirits, urging Sun Yinxian to continue their game.

The room echoed with their rowdy cheers, the sound of one man and one toad engaged in their boisterous drinking game. Meanwhile, the female ghost stood by the window, her long sleeves swaying as she hummed a traditional opera tune. Occasionally, she poked her head through the wall, causing startled screams from the neighbors.

Lu Liangsheng lay on the bed, his mind drifting back to the events at the Zhou Manor and the old woman Zhou Zhen had mentioned… After some time, there was a sudden knock at the door.

Suddenly, the room fell silent for a moment. Sun Yinxian, with a flushed face and the smell of alcohol, opened the door. An elderly man in a blue robe stood outside, he glanced inside and clasping his hands in greeting.

“Excuse me, may I ask if Lu Liangsheng, Lu Lang, is here?”

Sun Yinxian turned and shouted toward the bed: “He’s looking for you.”

Then, he returned to the table. The scholar had already approached the door, bowing to the elderly man in blue. “I am Lu Liangsheng.”

“This old man is a servant from the Zhou Manor. The Old Lord has prepared a banquet and invites Lu Lang to dine.”

“Hm, I’ll go right away!”

Lu Liangsheng gestured for the old man to go ahead, then returned to his room to grab his writing brush. He turned to the Daoist: “Don’t let my master drink too much, or it’ll cause trouble.”

The Daoist waved his hand impatiently.

“Just go. I know what to do.”

Once the person left, he stood up, placing a foot on the stool, rolling up his sleeves. “Old Toad, come! If I don’t get you drunk today, I won’t be surnamed Sun…”

“Ha ha… I’ve never lost yet!”

The night wind rustled through the long street, the old pine tree outside the courtyard swaying gently.

Lu Liangsheng knocked on the courtyard door and was quickly ushered inside by the steward. The front hall began to fill with voices as maidservants passed beneath the glow of lanterns, carrying dishes.

At the round table in the hall, a lavish spread of food awaited.

“Good to see you, Liangsheng… This afternoon, I was a bit preoccupied with family matters. Come, take a seat.” The elder’s mood had noticeably improved now that his daughter’s condition had stabilized.

As soon as they sat, a maidservant approached to pour wine.

Lu Liangsheng raised his cup first. “Elder Zhou, you’re being too formal. In the future, while I’m in He Valley Prefecture, there will be many areas in my studies that I need to consult you about.”

He offered a toast, lightly clinking his cup with the elder’s before downing the wine in one go.

“Excellent… Having a young talent like you to discuss learning with is a great joy,” Zhou Zhen said, smiling as he set down his cup. He signaled for the maidservant to refill their glasses and continued: “Back in the day, I shared similar drinks and conversations with your teacher. A few years have passed in a flash and we’ve both grown old…”

The elder sighed and downed his cup in one go, indicating he had already consumed quite a bit before Lu Liangsheng arrived.

“I used to laugh at him, but now I find myself envying Mister Shuhua. He has no children, no burdens… The only daughter I cared for, is now suffering like this. I truly don’t know what I’ve done to anger the heavens.”

Across the table, Lu Liangsheng waved away the maidservant and poured wine for the elder himself.

“Elder Zhou, while you envy my teacher, he might not necessarily envy you for having children and a harmonious family. However, regarding Miss Zhou, there may be a turning point soon.”

“Haha, then I shall borrow your good fortune, Liangsheng.”

The elder downed another cup. After sharing his heartfelt thoughts, their conversation grew more animated, as the old man and the young scholar discussed the upcoming autumn examinations and academic matters.

Before long, the barking of dogs erupted suddenly from within the estate.

In the hall, the flickering flames cast dancing shadows on the lantern cover, and insects buzzed and collided with it. Lu Liangsheng turned his head to look at the wall and the direction beyond it, which he couldn’t see.

Setting down his cup and feeling a bit tipsy, he smiled at the elder: “Elder Zhou, this junior will excuse himself for a moment. I’ll return shortly.”

Thinking the young man was simply going to relieve himself, the elder, now feeling tipsy, summoned a servant to guide the scholar.

Stepping outside, the cool night breeze brushed against his face, and Lu Liangsheng’s expression darkened—his previous inebriation vanished.

“Young Master Lu, this way please.”

Noticing he was hesitant, the servant hurried ahead and gestured along the wall.

Lu Liangsheng nodded and followed him to the back of the hall.

In the courtyard, the branches swayed in the wind, and warm yellow light spilled from the window. Inside, Zhou Rong tossed and turned in her sleep, softly murmuring as her dark hair swayed gently.

“…Don’t come looking for me…”

“Don’t come closer…”

“Help me… Help me…”

Madam Zhou, dozing by the bedside, was jolted awake by the sounds. “Rong’er…” She rose to check on her daughter but suddenly sensed a faint disturbance outside. Moments later, the dogs in the courtyard began to bark wildly.

Turning her head to look outside.

She saw the branches casting shadows against the paper window, their shapes resembling monstrous figures swaying erratically.

Rustle, rustle…

Rustle, rustle, rustle…

In the darkness, human footsteps approached the window, accompanied by the sound of water splashing. A bloated figure leaned on a cane, slowly making its way closer. With each step, there was a faint plop sound, as if water were being sprayed.

In the shadows, the figure’s face remained hidden, but drops of water fell to the ground, soaking the tiles and leaving a faint trail of shallow footprints behind.
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Orluros’s Vault of Secrets: Hello everyone, I’ll be taking a short vacation after this week, so as an early gift I shall post double the chapters I usually do all week 🙂 I wish you all a Merry Holiday and a Happy New Year.
I’ll see you all next year 🙂
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