Chapter 231: Origins
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
“Wife… It’s me, the one who meets you every day… Every night, I come to meet you in your dreams. Do you miss me? Why didn’t you come sooner?” His soft laugh sent shivers down Wen Ning’s spine, filling her with terror.
Lu Chao Chao’s Radiant Sword transformed into a smaller size, perfect for her tiny hands. She held the sword and slowly walked toward a grave mound.
[What a coincidence,] she thought. [Last time, when I ran away from home, I slept on this very grave.]
“Chao Chao, come back!” Wen Ning’s heart nearly stopped when she saw the little girl climbing onto the grave.
Lu Chao Chao waved her hand dismissively, “Why are you haunting my sister?” she asked in a clear, childish voice, standing firmly on the grave mound.
“Ah! Chao Chao, he’s behind you!!” Wen Ning screamed in fright, nearly fainting as she pointed at the man standing behind Lu Chao Chao.
The man was disheveled, his head drooping, and his clothes soaked, leaving a trail of water on the ground.
“A water ghost?” Lu Chao Chao whispered to herself.
“She and I are destined to be together. She is my chosen wife, and no one can stop me!” the man declared. “Without a substitute, I cannot reincarnate. What’s wrong with finding a wife to accompany me? She accepted my betrothal gift, so she is my wife… hahaha…” He revealed his face, covered with corpse spots and a large red birthmark.
The maid fainted from fear, collapsing into the snow. Wen Ning trembled but stood protectively in front of Chao Chao.
“Chao Chao, run quickly.”
Lu Chao Chao held the small sword calmly, “Just two paper dolls? You’re so poor!” She took out paper dolls from her pocket and threw them at the man’s feet. The dolls burst into flames without any source of fire.
The wandering soul screamed in agony when touched by the flames, fear filling his expression.
“How can mortal fire harm me?” the man howled in pain, clutching his foot as the flames burned his soul. “It’s the aura of merit. You have the golden light of merit!” he recoiled in terror.
“Why, why!! I couldn’t find a substitute. I just wanted a woman. Why?”
“Marquis Zhongyong, Marquis Zhongyong, you won’t die a good death!!” The wandering soul’s eyes turned blood-red, almost transforming into a vengeful spirit.
Lu Chao Chao paused, “Who did you mention? You know Marquis Zhongyong?” She was about to draw the Radiant Sword but stopped.
The wandering soul screamed in despair, “If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be in this wretched state!”
“Damn Marquis Zhongyong! He married the noble lady, but drowned me in the moat. I am unwilling to accept this, I am unwilling…” The soul emitted a thick aura of resentment, seemingly losing its sanity.
Lu Chao Chao didn’t draw the sword. She just struck the soul with the Radiant Sword’s scabbard.
Poof…
The barely condensed soul wobbled, nearly dispersing, almost scattering on the spot. The soul’s sanity returned instantly, and he knelt on the ground obediently, no longer as arrogant as before.
“You know Lu Yuan Ze?” Lu Chao Chao’s patience was wearing thin.
Wen Ning looked at Lu Chao Chao, then at the docile vengeful spirit kneeling on the ground. At this moment, Chao Chao’s aura was heavier than that of the ghost. It was hard to tell who was more terrifying.
The wandering soul shed two lines of bloody tears, “Marquis Zhongyong’s Lu Yuan Ze, I’d recognize him even if he turned to ashes! Back then, he fancied the eldest daughter of the Xu family and had someone disguise as mountain bandits to hijack her carriage. He heroically saved her and got stabbed, securing a good marriage. We had an agreement that he’d give me a thousand taels of silver after the deed, and I’d leave the capital, never to return. But he slaughtered my brothers, and though I fled outside the city, I couldn’t escape… He drowned me before I died, turning me into a water ghost in the moat. I need a substitute to reincarnate. Lu Yuan Ze, even in death, I won’t let him go! After he married Xu’s daughter, his fortune flourished, and I couldn’t get near him. I hate him… he’s a liar, yet heaven protects him so! Last year, he divorced Xu, and I could finally get closer. But there’s always a strong force in the city, and I didn’t dare appear rashly.” In the end, he haunted Wen Ning. Wen Ning’s fate matched his, so he entered her dreams.
Lu Chao Chao glanced at the Radiant Sword, indeed… the Radiant Sword could subdue evil spirits.
“Please, spare me, little one. I won’t dare anymore…” The wandering soul looked fearfully at the small sword in her hand, the Radiant Sword being a nemesis to evil spirits.
Wen Ning pursed her lips, now understanding everything, “Chao Chao, Aunt Xu’s life was deceived by him. He’s an accomplice, we can’t let him go!” She looked at the evil spirit with disgust.
The evil spirit was stunned, “You are?”
Lu Chao Chao revealed a cruel smile, “The daughter of the Xu family.”
The evil spirit turned into black smoke, trying to escape. Lu Chao Chao drew the Radiant Sword, short as it was, and thrust it into the grave.
“Ah!!!” The screams were endless. With a light wave, the Radiant Sword split the grave mound in half, revealing the white bones inside.
His skeleton was discovered while cleaning the moat back then. Otherwise, it would still be submerged in the icy water.
“Do you feel no guilt towards my mother?” Lu Chao Chao was furious, “Go repent in front of my mother!”
She took out a jade bottle from her pendant, and a faint fiery aura could be seen inside. The moment the evil spirit was put in, Lu Chao Chao closed the bottle. The screams were muffled. This fire, unextinguished for a thousand years, was used by Lu Chao Chao for alchemy back then.
Wen Ning carried the fainted maid, while Lu Chao Chao silently climbed into the carriage. The little girl felt sorry for her mother.
“Chao Chao, thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know what to do…” Wen Ning was still in shock. She was really out of her mind, bringing Chao Chao to find the person in her dreams.
“I promised Second Brother to take care of you. Sister Ning, my second brother is earning military merits for you. He said he’d marry Sister Ning with great honor.”
Wen Ning hugged Chao Chao, her voice gentle, “I know, I know.”
Wen Ning took Lu Chao Chao to the door, “Sister’s too disheveled. I’ll visit Aunt Xu tomorrow.” Her dress was soaked by the snow.
Lu Chao Chao nodded, said goodbye to Wen Ning, and ran to the main courtyard with the jade bottle.
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Madam Xu was offering incense to the Buddha, praying for Lu Yan Shu’s success in the royal examination, and Lu Zheng Yue’s health and safety…
“Chao Chao, did you skip school again today?” Madam Xu turned and glared at her. Seeing her dirty clothes, she frowned.
“No, I got permission from the tutor,” the little girl replied confidently.
“That’s not permission, that’s informing,” Madam Xu looked at her disapprovingly.
Lu Chao Chao blinked and looked at Madam Xu cautiously, “Mom, do you remember how you met Scummy Dad?”
Madam Xu glanced at her, “Why are you asking this?”