Gazing at the grayish-white cliff ahead, Jiang Zhongxue’s voice grew increasingly cold and sharp: “To protect his own reputation, Emperor Xiao Yan exiled Empress Xi and even ordered court historians to fabricate a far-fetched tale glorifying his own virtues. However, since the story claims Empress Xi appeared in the clouds, it suggests she was seen at an extremely high place. And in this ancient land of Shu where she was exiled, the highest point is none other than Mount Ji.”
Qin Changsheng quietly pieced together this information in her mind.
Eagle Eye had mentioned that Mount Ji was once rumored to have eerie ballads, tales of intergenerational marriages and cannibalism among kin. Combined with Jiang Zhongxue’s story today about Empress Xi being exiled to Mount Ji along with her deformed and disabled guards…
If Empress Xi had truly been exiled to Mount Ji, she was, after all, an empress. Even in exile, she shouldn’t have been saddled with the infamy of cannibalism. Yet, after her exile, stories of intergenerational marriages and cannibalism emerged on Mount Ji. What exactly had happened?
Was there truly a man-eating monster on Mount Ji?
Setting that aside, the information they had now was limited. A month ago, Yu Mingming, Yu Yin, and several classmates had climbed Mount Ji and gone missing in this area. According to the Yu family’s indirect inquiries, the group had unanimously claimed that after a fierce argument with Yu Yin, Yu Mingming had stormed out of the campsite without a word to anyone.
The next day, before everyone prepared to descend the mountain, they waited for a while but grew impatient. With her phone turned off, they eventually left the mountain.
No one expected her to end up dead in a sewer just a wall away from their school.
After Yu Mingming’s death, Yu Yin’s personality underwent a drastic change, she became timid and hesitant. Yu Yin’s mother, sensing this shift, instinctively sought out Qin Changsheng, asking her to uncover the reason behind her daughter’s transformation.
She had initially thought her daughter was merely possessed.
After pondering for a long time, Qin Changsheng turned to Jiang Zhongxue and asked, “Have you ever heard of any dark arts that can swap souls?”
The cold moonlight cast shadows across Jiang Zhongxue’s porcelain-like skin, darkening her gaze.
Jiang Zhongxue shook her head. “No.”
After a pause, she continued, “I know what you’re thinking, but I’ve never heard of it or encountered it. I’ve met many extraordinary people and heard countless strange tales, but soul-swapping, I’ve never seen or heard of such a thing.”
Qin Changsheng let out a slightly disappointed “oh.” When she first heard about Yu Yin’s drastic change in personality, her initial suspicion had also been possession. But with her ghost-seeing eyes, she hadn’t detected even a trace of ghostly energy emanating from Yu Yin.
Although, on the day they met, Yu Yin’s body had been far heavier than she expected. But that didn’t prove anything, perhaps she was just denser than her tall, slender frame suggested.
After murmuring in acknowledgment, Qin Changsheng couldn’t help but yawn. It was already 3 a.m., the deepest hour of the night.
Demons and monsters stirred restlessly in the darkness.
Jiang Zhongxue looked at her and said calmly, “Let’s rest here for now.”
Qin Changsheng was momentarily stunned, then immediately overjoyed. As a novice just starting out, following Jiang Zhongxue’s decisions was the best strategy. On this journey, she couldn’t complain of exhaustion or pain. No matter how strict Jiang Zhongxue was, even if she was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open, a single command would force her to squint and climb the cliff ahead.
Anyone else could withdraw from this plan, but she couldn’t. The curse was upon her, and if she wavered, the footsteps of death would echo behind her.
She had always been clever, which was why she immediately decided to follow Jiang Zhongxue’s judgment. Yet, at times, she was too easily satisfied. Hearing Jiang Zhongxue say they could rest now, she quickly pulled a neatly folded black cloth blanket from her backpack, spread it out on the ground, secured its four corners in no time, and lay down on it, smiling as she waved at Jiang Zhongxue.
It was a thin blanket large enough for two. Jiang Zhongxue glanced at her, the corner of his eyebrow twitching slightly. Ignoring Qin Changsheng’s invitation, he walked straight to the side and sat at the base of a large tree, holding his black umbrella as he closed his eyes to sleep.
Qin Changsheng wasn’t offended. The mere thought of being able to sleep filled her with contentment. Placing her backpack under her head, she drifted into a deep slumber.
She was utterly exhausted. Having walked all day and stayed up late, she was completely worn out. Trusting Jiang Zhongxue’s abilities, however faintly, she allowed herself to fall into a peaceful sleep.
The wind blew cold.
Without warning, Qin Changsheng shivered.
Before her stood two girls whose faces were unclear, giggling as they linked arms and whispered secrets to each other.
They were in a courtyard paved with chilly, bluish-gray stones, covered in moist green moss that glistened under the sunlight.
Standing hand in hand before an ancient well, they peered into it, laughing merrily. One wore simple gray clothing, seemingly still a young child, while the other was dressed in a fashionable sky-blue dress that billowed with a clear, spring-like radiance. Her dark blue flats were adorned with a single, smooth pearl.
It was Yu Yin.
Or rather, her ghost.
Qin Changsheng stood before them, facing the ancient well, its circular rim carved from old stone.
The girl in the plain gray clothes looked no older than thirteen or fourteen, and Qin Changsheng didn’t recognize her. But she knew Yu Yin’s ghost. After all, a girl so fair and beautiful was hard to forget after just a few glances.
Especially since she was the main reason for this mission.
Qin Changsheng stared intently at Yu Yin, whose expression was exceptionally serene and innocent. Gazing into the well, she seemed unaware of Qin Changsheng’s presence.
Watching Yu Yin hold the other girl’s hand, Qin Changsheng naturally shifted her gaze to the other girl’s face.
There was no face, only a swirl of white mist.
An expected outcome.
Unfazed, Qin Changsheng stood quietly before them. In illusions woven by ghosts, many scenes were manifestations of their lingering resentment.
What was inside the well?
Qin Changsheng lowered her head to look.
In the dark, ancient well, the faintly reflective black water held a submerged figure.
Sodden, long black hair clung to skin as pale as paper. In this indescribably horrifying scene, the woman slowly lifted her head.
Qin Changsheng watched with rapt attention.
The woman, pale all over with disheveled hair submerged in the icy, pitch-black water of the ancient well, lifted her head.
The sunlight from above focused into her eye sockets, devoid of pupils, and Qin Changsheng heard the sound of her own blood rushing to her head.
The person submerged in the ancient well was Qin Changsheng.
It was herself.