Chapter 170: Daoist Yu
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Cao Zhao Di’s cold, piercing gaze fixed upon him. Her face, grotesquely deformed from the damage it had endured, was even more horrifying. “So, you finally admit it? Back then, the reason you killed your father, your grandparents, the village chief’s family, and Cao San Er was all to win my favor—to have me tell you about your maternal grandfather’s identity.”
At first, Cao Yao Zu tried to deny it, but after Cao Zhao Di mercilessly exposed his every lie, he finally erupted in shameful fury. “Yes! I wanted to know my maternal grandfather’s identity!”
“My mother was the daughter of a high-ranking official. My maternal grandfather was a powerful man. I wanted to find him and live a better life. What was so wrong with that?”
“If it weren’t for you refusing to tell me, my life wouldn’t have spiraled into misery over these years!”
“I should have had a bright future, a life filled with adoration, countless servants, and people scrambling to curry favor with me. Like the noblemen in the city, I should have had multiple wives and concubines. But because you withheld the truth, I’ve been nothing but a useless student candidate all these years!”
“They were the ones who ruined my mother’s life and robbed me of wealth and honor. They deserved to die! And you… you refused to tell me my maternal grandfather’s identity, so you deserve to die too!”
Turning toward the elderly Daoist, he barked, “What are you waiting for? Kill her already!”
The old Daoist offered Cao Zhao Di an awkward smile but made no move.
Fuming, Cao Yao Zu snapped, “I didn’t bring you here to just stand around! Besides, she’s a fierce ghost. Do you think sparing her will mean she spares you?”
Before anyone could respond, Cao Zhao Di spoke: “You five, leave now.”
Cao Yao Zu froze. “What?”
The old Daoist and his group exchanged uneasy glances. Then, as realization dawned, their relief was palpable.
In moments like this, only fools would linger. Without a second thought, the five men turned and bolted. Even if they had wanted to stay, none of them could muster the courage. While the full story of what happened back then remained unclear, Cao Yao Zu’s and the ghost’s words revealed enough: he had slaughtered many people.
No one wanted to remain near such a cold-blooded man. Knowing his secret only heightened their fear—who could guarantee he wouldn’t kill them to silence them?
In the end, only Cao Yao Zu remained. Cao Zhao Di’s ghostly form began to shift, and two streams of blood-tears trickled from her eyes. “Yao Zu, since you call me ‘Mother,’ come take my place. If you die, I can leave this river and be reborn.”
A chilling dread gripped Cao Yao Zu. He shook his head violently. “No… no, I won’t!”
“I gave you so many lives before—let them take your place!”
Cao Zhao Di’s voice was steady. “I didn’t kill them. Even though some of them died in the river, unless I lay a hand on them, their souls can’t replace mine.”
“No! You can’t kill me! I… I’m your Sister Fan’s own son!”
But the oppressive cold and dampness grew heavier around him. Terror completely overtook Cao Yao Zu, and he began babbling incoherently. “I’ll find more people for you!”
“You know I can do it. When I was fifteen, I managed to lure those people to the riverbank and kill them. Now that I’m older, fooling a few more wouldn’t take much effort.”
“This time, I won’t kill them myself. I’ll hand them over to you—you can kill them yourself!”
His frantic words seemed to have some effect. The chilling aura enveloping him abruptly dissipated.
Cao Yao Zu’s face lit up with hope. But before his smile could fully form, it froze. His expression twisted into terror again as he heard Cao Zhao Di speak.
“Did you hear all that?”
Cao Yao Zu’s neck stiffened as he turned. “W-who are you talking to?”
The black mist cleared, revealing Yu Zhi Yi and her party.
Liu Fei Yang gave Cao Yao Zu a casual wave. “Hey there, murderer.”
Yu Zhi Yi held out her government token and spoke coldly, “I am Yu Zhi Yi, a Fifth-Rank Official in the Ministry of Justice, personally appointed by His Majesty as an investigator. Four days ago, the female ghost case in South Cao Village was reopened. I am here to investigate. Cao Yao Zu, you are suspected of murdering two households in South Cao Village, a total of seven people. You are under arrest.”
Upon realizing that the one speaking to him was a stunning young woman, Cao Yao Zu bolted without a second thought, legs kicking into high gear.
Unfortunately for him, the individuals present were far from ordinary—there was no way he’d escape their grasp. After barely covering a few steps, his legs were ensnared by two black, ominous vines formed from dense malevolent energy. He tumbled forward with a resounding thud, inertia sending him skidding two or three meters across the ground.
Cao Zhao Di cast him a frosty glance before turning her gaze to Yu Zhi Yi. “I have a rather presumptuous request,” she said coldly.
Yu Zhi Yi’s lips pressed into a thin line. “You wish to meet the Fan siblings?”
Cao Zhao Di nodded solemnly. “We all died in this village. If I could become a ghost, surely they could as well. Yet for some reason, I’ve been unable to find them all these years.”
Liu Fei Yang, ever curious, edged closer to Yu Zhi Yi. “Great Immortal, why is it that despite sharing the same unjust deaths, Cao Zhao Di became a fierce ghost while they did not?”
Great Immortal…
Yu Zhi Yi’s brow twitched slightly as she shot him a chilly look.
Liu Fei Yang offered a sheepish grin, revealing a neat row of eight pearly teeth. With that foolish expression, he reminded Yu Zhi Yi of a hapless stray dog she’d once seen roaming the streets. Feeling her eyes prickle at the sight, she quietly turned her head away.
Suddenly, Du Zi Heng stepped forward, his expression grim. “Yes, Zhi Yi. Why is that?”
Yu Zhi Yi ignored Du Zi Heng and instead gazed at Cao Zhao Di with a trace of pity. “Have you truly forgotten? Or perhaps, deep down, you refuse to remember?”
Cao Zhao Di froze, her expression faltering.
Yu Zhi Yi’s clear, stream-like eyes seemed to possess a cleansing effect. Simply looking into them made Cao Zhao Di feel her soul slowly unburdening, memories long suppressed beginning to resurface.
Suddenly, she clutched her head and let out a blood-curdling scream: “Ah!!!”
The piercing cry seemed to tear through the heavens and earth. Dark energy churned violently over the village, winds howling, water swirling in chaos, and blood-red currents seeping ominously into the air. The ferocity of the storm nearly sent the group flying.
Thankfully, a golden light flared around Yu Zhi Yi, followed by the emergence of an invisible barrier that enveloped everyone within.
Liu Fei Yang instinctively sidled closer to Yu Zhi Yi, the faint scent of sandalwood emanating from her calming his nerves. “How terrifying. What’s happening to her?”
You Bing Yue, who had been watching all this unfold, noticed with narrowed eyes how the Crown Prince of Yunnan seemed to gravitate towards Yu Zhi Yi. A cold glint flickered through her gaze.
Before Yu Zhi Yi could respond, You Bing Yue interjected, her tone icy. “Her sudden outburst must be connected to the Fan siblings’ souls. Perhaps they’ve encountered some kind of danger.”
Ou Yang Shuo, having somewhat recovered, looked at Yu Zhi Yi with a complicated expression. Unwilling to admit defeat to a mere “rogue practitioner,” he speculated gravely, “It’s also possible that the villagers, fearing the Fan siblings’ ghosts would wreak havoc, sought out a skilled master to suppress them.”
Liu Fei Yang looked at Yu Zhi Yi with wide, hopeful eyes. “Yu Physician, Great Immortal, what’s really going on?”
Yu Zhi Yi’s brow twitched again, her lips curling into an ominous smile. “If I hear the words ‘Great Immortal’ one more time, I’ll make sure you experience just how ‘great’ an immortal can be.”