Unable to resist Shen Mingshu’s insistence, Yun Niang was taken away from Huaihua Village by Leng Feng.
Shen Mingshu turned to Pei Jingheng, who sat composedly across from her, and asked in confusion, “Why didn’t you leave with Leng Feng?”
Pei Jingheng raised his left hand, where the red thread between them coiled around each of their wrists. A deeply hidden amusement flickered in his eyes as he said, “Because you’re here. I want to stay with you.”
His words carried a hint of ambiguity, making Shen Mingshu’s cheeks flush instantly. In her previous life, she had spent eighteen years solely focused on exorcising ghosts and subduing demons, never sparing a glance at any man.
She raised a hand to cover her lips and coughed lightly, feigning indifference as she replied, “There’s no need. Once I’ve dealt with matters here, I’ll go to Huaiyang Town to find you.”
Pei Jingheng chuckled softly, stood up, and moved to sit beside her. His large hand gently hooked around her wrist. “I’m afraid you might faint suddenly again and end up clinging to someone else’s hand. Wouldn’t that make this red thread a joke?”
His fingertips were warm, pressing against her skin like a brand.
Shen Mingshu’s fingers curled slightly as she pulled her wrist free. “I’m only interested in you. I have no interest in anyone else.”
Unaware of the implications of her words, she quickly stood and walked out, tossing back a reminder, “Stay inside and don’t come out. If the corpse really does change, the deathly aura it carries isn’t something you can withstand.”
She strode briskly out of the courtyard, failing to notice the faint reddening of Pei Jingheng’s ears.
Pei Jingheng savored her earlier words, only interested in him?
A faint smile tugged at his lips before he quickly suppressed it.
Had he really grown so pleased over a single sentence from her, despite having known her for such a short time?
Perhaps it was because she could suppress the deathly aura within him that he felt this peculiar attachment to her.
Frowning slightly, Pei Jingheng stepped into the courtyard and called in a low voice, “Yue Ying.”
Like a ghost, Yue Ying emerged from the shadows and landed before him. “Master.”
“Follow her and protect her. If her life is in danger, bring her back immediately, and we’ll leave for Huaiyang Town.” Pei Jingheng had no interest in the affairs of this village, especially not a group of unruly peasants who didn’t deserve his sympathy.
Yue Ying clasped his fists in acknowledgment. “Understood!”
With a light step, he leaped into the air, his speed leaving behind afterimages as he vanished across the rooftops.
…
The entrance of the Zhang household was already draped with red silk, and even the corpse on the bed had been dressed in a red wedding robe.
The crowd gathered at the door quickly parted to make way as Shen Mingshu approached.
Stepping into the courtyard, the stench of rot and decay from the corpse filled her nostrils.
Even Chen Yang covered his nose with his sleeve, clearly struggling with the foul odor.
Zhang Cuilan brought over the red cotton-padded jacket. “Daughter-in-law, put this on quickly.”
Her face was alight with joy, and anyone unaware of the situation might have genuinely believed Shen Mingshu was about to become her daughter-in-law.
Shen Mingshu’s expression remained impassive, as if resigned to her fate, allowing Zhang Cuilan to dress her in the red jacket.
The orange hues of dusk had begun to spread across the sky, the auspicious hour was approaching.
Chen Yang waved his horsetail whisk and announced loudly, “Carry the groom. We’ll proceed to the western end of the village for the wedding ceremony beneath the locust tree.”
As Zhang Cuilan gripped Shen Mingshu’s arm and pulled her along, Shen Mingshu asked coldly, “Shouldn’t the ceremony be held here?”
Zhang Cuilan explained, “Master Chen said he’s worried about the corpse changing, so we’re taking you to the locust tree at the west end of the village. It’s far from the houses, so if anything happens, everyone can still run back home to hide.”
“Sophora tree!” Shen Mingshu was shocked, barely suppressing the words that were about to escape her lips.
Her gaze fell on Chen Yang walking ahead, her eyes frosting over with a chilling glint.
Before night completely descended, Shen Mingshu saw the sophora tree growing on the hillside.
Its massive canopy blotted out the sky, and its trunk was so thick that even five grown adults couldn’t wrap their arms around it.
Nearly the entire village had gathered, except for the elderly who couldn’t walk and young children.
They formed a loose circle, surrounding the tree from a distance and blocking any possible escape route for Shen Mingshu.
The bed was placed beneath the tree, with Shen Mingshu and Zhang Cuilan standing beside it.
Night fell.
The air suddenly turned icy and piercing.
Chen Yang circled the tree once, then pointed at its roots. “Dig the pit here,” he ordered.
Several burly young men obediently began shoveling the earth with spades.
Zhang Cuilan stared pleadingly at Shen Mingshu, clasping her hands in a gesture of supplication. “Mingshu, my dear, from now on, you’ll be the great benefactor of our Zhang family. Dashan will take good care of you. Every festival, I’ll burn offerings for you both, so you’ll never want for food or clothes.”
The village chief, standing further away, chimed in, “Yes, Mingshu, you’ll be the village’s great benefactor. We’ll all burn paper money for you in the future!”
Shen Mingshu let out a cold laugh, her clear voice ringing out. “It was Zhang Cuilan who made the mistake, yet now I have to pay with my life. Have you no shame?”
Though she berated them, no one dared to retort.
With a swift motion, Shen Mingshu yanked away the red cloth covering the bed, revealing a face with bluish-black skin covered in corpse spots. She slapped it hard. “While I’m still alive, I’ll vent my anger!”
Zhang Cuilan rushed forward to grab her. “You little wretch! How dare you hit my son!”
Shen Mingshu kicked her away, sending her tumbling down the slope. “Get lost!”
Zhang Cuilan cursed and tried to crawl back, but the village chief pulled her aside. “Zhang Cuilan, calm down! The ritual must be completed!”
Finally free from prying eyes, Shen Mingshu walked to the sophora tree, running her hand along its trunk as she circled it.
Chen Yang frowned at her. “What are you doing?”
Shen Mingshu shot him a glance. “I’ve never seen such a huge sophora tree before. I’m curious.”
His skin prickled under her icy gaze. How strange, this girl’s eyes were unnervingly fierce. Perhaps it was the ferocity of someone facing death.
He looked up at the moon, waiting for the right moment.
Shen Mingshu channeled the Crimson Sun Golden Flame into the tree trunk, then began setting up an array around the tree.
The villagers saw her crouching from time to time but had no idea what she was doing.
The soil on the slope was tightly packed, held firm by the tree’s roots, making the digging laborious.
Time passed minute by minute until the pit was finally deep enough.
Chen Yang calculated the timing with his fingers and waved his horsetail whisk. “Put the body inside,” he commanded.
Yet no one stepped forward to lift the corpse, just looking at it was nauseating, let alone touching it.
Chen Yang had no choice but to say, “Members of the Zhang family, come and carry it yourselves.”
Zhang Cuilan and Zhang Dahai lifted the corpse together, but after just a few steps, flames erupted from the body.
Zhang Dahai screamed and immediately let go. “My hand! Ahhh!”
Zhang Cuilan’s hands also caught fire, and she shrieked, “My son! My son’s body!”
The two tried to extinguish the flames, but the fire only grew fiercer.
The corpse on the ground was also engulfed in raging flames, resembling a fiery figure.
No one could have imagined that the sudden ignition of the corpse was related to Shen Mingshu’s slap.
Shen Mingshu murmured an incantation under her breath, manipulating the flames as the burning corpse slowly rose from the ground.
“It’s risen from the dead!”
“Run for your lives!”
Someone screamed in terror, and in an instant, everyone began to flee.