The atmosphere in the room was tense as Elder Sun slowly walked forward, a faint smile curling across his lips — a smile that hid the vengeance burning in his mind. Each of his slow, deliberate steps echoed in the air, making everyone inside hold their breath. Yan Ming followed behind him frantically, his nervous glances darting from side to side. When Elder Sun finally reached the door, he stopped, turned, and shot Zheng a glare so sharp that it could have sliced through steel — a death stare filled with silent promise.
Only after Elder Sun and Yan Ming disappeared from sight did the others dare to breathe again. Yang Yue exhaled deeply, clutching her chest, while Li let out a long sigh of relief.
"Young Master, what was that about?" Master Ping asked, concern lacing his tone. He was not a man easily rattled, but he knew quite well the kind of person Elder Sun was — vengeful, prideful, and dangerously unpredictable.
"Just a nobody looking for trouble," Zheng replied, his voice calm and steady as if nothing had happened.
"Just a nobody?" Li's eyes widened in disbelief. Did he really say that? The words replayed in his head before he finally erupted, unable to contain himself. "Are you out of your mind? How can you take someone like Elder Sun so lightly?!"
Li threw his hands in the air, pacing back and forth. "You have no idea what kind of man Elder Sun is, Zheng! He once beat a man half to death just because he felt like it! And now—now that you've angered him—he'll definitely come after you."
"He's right, Zheng," said Master Ping gravely. "You should be cautious. Either watch your back or have someone do it for you."
"Zheng," Yang Yue added, her expression softening with genuine concern. "Maybe you should hide for a while, at least until this tension cools down."
Zheng remained unbothered. His face was calm, his tone unshaken. "Don't worry. I'll be fine." He turned slightly toward Master Ping. "So, what brings you here, Master Ping?"
"I came to remind the young master that tomorrow is the day we agreed to leave for the capital," Master Ping replied. "The preparations for our journey are complete."
"I'm almost done with my work here," Zheng said. "By tomorrow morning, I'll be ready to leave."
"Very well then," said Master Ping with a satisfied nod. "We shall depart early morning. I'll make sure to inform Mei Chen when she returns this evening."
"Then I'll take my leave, young master," said Master Ping with a soft chuckle. "You have better things to do than talk with this old man."
Zheng smiled faintly, though he was puzzled by the words. Never once had he thought of Master Ping as a nuisance. Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a young boy standing behind him — nervous, pale, clutching his hands together.
"How can I help you, little man?" Zheng bent down to meet the boy's eye level, his voice gentle and kind.
"M-my fa-father…" The boy could barely speak, trembling as he did so. "Something is wrong with my father."
Yang Yue quickly approached with a cup of water, kneeling beside him. "Here, take this," she said softly. After a few sips, the boy's breathing steadied.
"Now, can you tell us what happened?" Zheng asked calmly.
The boy nodded. "Yesterday, my father went out to collect firewood. He was gone until after sunset, and when he came back… he didn't bring any firewood. Instead, he carried a box." The boy's expression grew uneasy. "He said he found it in the forest — that it was a treasure box. He was so happy. He said we'd never have to work again for the rest of our lives."
Li's eyes immediately sparked with curiosity. "A treasure box? And what did you find inside? Gold? Jewels?"
"When we opened it," the boy continued, "we found a lot of coins and a jade pendant inside. But… after my father touched the pendant, everything changed. He started acting strange. He said the treasure was his — all his — and wouldn't let anyone near it. Then he locked himself in his room and refused to come out."
Li scoffed lightly. "What's strange about that? Maybe he just got greedy after seeing that much gold."
The boy's lip quivered, tears welling up in his eyes. "That's not true, old man!"
Li's face turned red. "Old man?! How dare you—"
"Calm down, Li," Yang Yue interrupted, placing a hand on his shoulder before turning her attention back to the boy. "It's alright, little one. Tell us what else happened."
The boy rubbed his eyes. "My father was laughing all night. I could hear him through the walls — talking to someone. When I called out to him, he didn't answer. It's like he's not my father anymore."
"Huh?" Li frowned. "I still don't see what's so strange about it."
"The look on his face…" the boy whispered, trembling again. "I'd never seen that look before. It wasn't him — it wasn't my father."
Yang Yue froze in thought. A strange box. A jade pendant. Sudden madness. The signs began to form a pattern she recognized from old tales. Her eyes widened in realization. "Wait! Zheng… could it be what I think it is?"
Zheng's expression darkened. "Yes," he said slowly. "I'm thinking the same thing. Little one, can you take us to your father?"
The boy nodded quickly and led the way, moving through the busy streets and narrow alleys. Though he hurried, he constantly looked back to make sure they were following. His small feet barely made a sound against the dirt path, but his urgency spoke louder than words.
"Wait—can someone please explain what's going on?" Li panted as he tried to keep up.
"I can't imagine what this boy must have gone through," Zheng murmured softly, his eyes following the child ahead.
Yang Yue nodded. "Yes… and yet, he's more composed than most children his age would be in his place."
"Master, master!" The boy pointed ahead. "It's just there — around that corner."
They approached a small courtyard house, old and weathered. The timber walls were dark and cracked, the gate worn smooth from years of use. It was the kind of house that once might have felt homey, but now something about it seemed… wrong.
Before they could take another step, a laugh erupted from within the house — a deep, twisted, distorted sound that scraped against the air. It was not the laugh of a human being.
"That's not my father," the boy whispered, voice trembling. "That's not how he laughs."
The courtyard had fallen completely still. No birds perched on the fence, no wind stirred the grass. Even the air seemed to hold its breath, as the eerie laughter echoed once more.
Zheng narrowed his eyes, his senses sharpening. Thin tendrils of dark qi seeped through the cracks of the wooden panels, faintly pulsing against the light of the late morning sun. The energy was heavy, unnatural — a corruption that had no place in this world.
"Master… please," the boy begged, his small hands clutching Zheng's sleeve. "My father… he's inside."
Zheng placed a calming hand on the boy's shoulder. "You did the right thing coming to me. Leave the rest to us."
Yang Yue and Li stood at the gate, uneasy. Even from where they stood, the presence surrounding the house pressed against their senses. The wooden door was shut tight, but it felt as if something — or someone — stood right behind it, watching.
A shiver ran down Yang Yue's spine as she whispered under her breath, "Something is definitely lingering here."