Chapter 139: Chapter 138: Possessed by a Vengeful Spirit!
"In the secrets of arcane arts, there is a mystical power called... summoning spirits! How have I never seen it?"
Yu Nianzhao spoke with pride, jokingly. As a King Yan herself and a deity of the Netherworld, even the gods of the Three Realms had to show her some respect.
"Mmm, Zhaozhao is truly amazing," Xie Jiuxiao mused for a moment, then casually asked, "But what exactly is Zhaozhao’s true identity?"
Xie Jiuxiao was not foolish; he knew Yu Nianzhao must harbor secrets unknown to him.
In the past, he only thought that Yu Nianzhao could break his destiny, and she approached him with a purpose as well, making their relationship mutually beneficial.
Now, he no longer simply wanted to use her; he even started to envision the future...
So, he desired to gradually learn more about the unknown Yu Nianzhao.
Yu Nianzhao blinked her beautiful eyes, her radiant face approached Xie Jiuxiao, smiling as she said, "Trying to find out my identity? Hush... the secrets of heaven cannot be leaked. I am Yu Nianzhao, an ordinary orphan."
The subtext was clear: if you want to know my identity, find out for yourself.
She would not voluntarily tell him unless... it was truly his destined time.
Of course, Xie Jiuxiao understood her intent and did not urge further, a faint smile resting on his lips, "How could you be an orphan? The Prince Su Mansion is your home."
"Home?"
Yu Nianzhao murmured to herself, a vague memory rising in her mind; she seemed to have had a home as well.
"By the way, I suddenly remembered something. Has there been any progress on the human organs trafficking case you were investigating earlier?" An idea struck Yu Nianzhao, and she thought of it.
"No, the mastermind has seemingly vanished into thin air, leaving no trace, as if... such a person never existed."
Speaking of this case, Xie Jiuxiao’s smile faded somewhat, "However, the Black Market Netherworld did provide a hint, saying someone saw other infernal emissaries in a neighboring town, and the Dragon Shadow Guards have been sent to capture them."
"Perhaps I can offer some clues," Yu Nianzhao leaned against Xie Jiuxiao’s arm, "During the fortunetelling for Chu Wenyao, there was a female ghost in red beside him. I saw her once in the Zhaoyi Prison. I found it odd then, and indeed, there were some souls there that did not belong to Zhaoyi Prison!"
"What do you mean?" Xie Jiuxiao supported her with one hand, urgently asking.
"Let’s go, change our route to visit Zhaoyi Prison first." Yu Nianzhao clapped her hands, deciding immediately.
"Alright!" Listening to her, Xie Jiuxiao turned the carriage towards Zhaoyi Prison.
"My lord, my lady, why have you come suddenly?"
Mr. Zhao was interrogating prisoners and immediately came to greet them upon hearing their arrival.
"Mr. Zhao, have all the prisoners in Zhaoyi Prison brought to one place so I can inspect them one by one," Yu Nianzhao ordered directly.
Mr. Zhao glanced at Xie Jiuxiao, who did not object, and immediately waved his hand, "Obey the lady’s orders and bring all the prisoners."
"Yes!"
Mr. Zhao’s son had been saved by Yu Nianzhao, and Xie Jiuxiao trusted her greatly, so he naturally complied with her words.
In no time, all the prisoners held in Zhaoyi Prison were gathered together.
Most of those imprisoned in Zhaoyi Prison were serious offenders.
Each had fierce eyes, though they cowered in front of Xie Jiuxiao.
"What does your lady plan to do?" Mr. Zhao whispered.
"No hurry."
Yu Nianzhao formed a seal with her hands, and a talisman flashed briefly. A small bug emitting a green light flew out.
The bug fluttered among the prisoners, quickly locking onto a target, perching on a short man.
Yu Nianzhao squinted her eyes and pointed at the man, "Leave him alone. The others can go."
"Yes, my lady."
Mr. Zhao waved his hand, and the jailers returned the other prisoners to their cells.
The short prisoner crouched on the ground in fear, shivering and trembling incessantly as soon as everyone else left.
"Who is he?"
"He’s a secretary from the Hanlin Academy, named Zhang Hao, an official of the eighth rank. Previously, at the Hanlin Academy, lacking any backing, he was always oppressed and bullied, an overly cautious and timid type. Perhaps pushed too far, he snapped, and after being mocked and bullied by colleagues during the day, he locked them up together in the evening, drew a dagger, and stabbed two colleagues to death. Another escaped through a window, narrowly surviving."
Mr. Zhao recognized him at a glance, "For killing his colleagues, he was found to have some mental illness, and since being captured, he’s always been this cowardly. Those unaware wouldn’t believe someone of his nature could murder. He’s already sentenced to death, awaiting execution after the spring."
"Many possibilities can change a person’s character overnight."
Yu Nianzhao slowly approached Zhang Hao, Mr. Zhao hesitated, but Xie Jiuxiao raised his hand to stop him and followed Yu Nianzhao to protect her.
"It might be a desperate resistance after bullying, or perhaps... possessed by a fierce ghost."
Yu Nianzhao smirked derisively, then unceremoniously kicked Zhang Hao.
Zhang Hao cried out in pain, collapsing unexpectedly to the ground, wailing, "I won’t dare anymore, spare me, don’t beat me!"
This reflex was reminiscent of someone previously abused.
"Does he have a fierce ghost on him?" Xie Jiuxiao asked.
"Really? This behavior doesn’t seem quite like it?"
Though Mr. Zhao had doubts, having witnessed Yu Nianzhao’s prowess, he dared not refute her.
"A pretty well-hidden little thing, thinking I am like other average Daoists who can’t see your true face?"
Yu Nianzhao sneered, pinching a talisman in her hand, pressing it onto Zhang Hao’s forehead.
Crackle!
The talisman’s intense light wrapped around Zhang Hao, immediately sparking up, and a heated temperature swept over him, akin to being roasted by scalding flames. Zhang Hao’s body trembled more violently. He opened his mouth, his body contorted as if broken, arms twisting abnormally behind his back.
"Aaaahh..."
A strange sound came from Zhang Hao’s mouth, which stretched into a massive abyssal maw, ripping his mouth’s flesh and exposing the teeth and bones inside. Black gas streamed continuously from his mouth. Even Mr. Zhao, seasoned in bloody scenes, felt a chilling fear.
Mr. Zhao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, equally shocked, "This guy’s been here for months now, never expected he’d be hiding such a ghostly thing. It’s truly terrifying."