Chapter Twelve: The Origin

This was nothing worth concealing; evidently, the old woman must have noticed this detail from somewhere, hence her seeking out Cui Xiu. Otherwise, with little Grass’s help, Cui Xiu could have left this place without the old woman’s intervention.

“I have practiced some methods of cultivating vital energy. Previously, I did absorb some strange currents from these bones, which helped restore my health. But I wonder, what does the matter you wish to accomplish have to do with these bones?” Cui Xiu feigned a background in energy cultivation. The old woman did not probe further; by her own account, she was no more than an ordinary elder in her lifetime. Perhaps living long had taught her much, or perhaps becoming a ghost had granted her further insight, but she voiced no suspicion.

She merely wished for Cui Xiu’s help, so for her, it was enough that he could absorb whatever lingered on the bones.

“To be candid, young sir, the matter I wish you to assist with is indeed related to what dwells within these bones,” the old woman replied after a moment’s recollection.

Cui Xiu thus learned that the strange currents within the bones were connected to the environment of this place.

Five years ago, Liu Hu and his band of brigands slaughtered the villagers of Liu Family Village, leaving their corpses in the mountain forest. Due to the peculiar influence of this locale, each victim became a ghost after death, retaining their rationality.

At first, some proposed revenge, but the villagers, now ghosts, possessed no special powers and could only act at night, making retaliation impossible. Of course, if they could grow stronger, such a feat might not be beyond reach. Yet, there was a crucial obstacle: the villagers, transformed into ghosts, not only could not grow stronger, but they could not leave this place.

This was not entirely tragic. Most villagers were honest folk; to linger in the world after death was not the worst fate. Sometimes, they would warn travelers passing through, urging them not to stay in Liu Family Village, quietly enduring their circumstances.

But later, things changed.

The ghostly villagers began to disappear, and their vanishings were inexplicable. Panic spread among those who remained. Some lost their wits, no longer warning travelers, but growing increasingly frenzied as their numbers dwindled.

Some tried to find the cause, but being simple villagers, none could uncover any clues.

Later, a traveling merchant slain by the bandits was tossed here; he too became a ghost. With his help, the remaining villagers realized the environmental influence and even located its source. Alas, no one could resolve it.

Gradually, more ghosts vanished. Because Liu Hu’s gang continued their crimes, new corpses occasionally arrived, spawning new ghosts. All sought change, but none succeeded. Even when they enlisted the aid of a brave scholar, he failed to dispel the mist and was instead consumed by a strange gray fog, perishing without even leaving behind a spirit.

Hearing this, Cui Xiu surmised that the gray fog which killed the scholar was likely the same gray current he had absorbed.

Though he had his suspicions, he did not interrupt the old woman, listening quietly.

Driven mad by the environment, the ghosts ceased warning travelers, growing ever more frenzied, disappearing faster and faster. Only the old woman and her two grandchildren, being kind-hearted, still occasionally cautioned passersby.

They were rewarded for this kindness.

Once, a passing priest, alerted by the old woman, recognized their ghostly nature. Though he had no means to help, he gifted them a wooden talisman, instructing them to hide inside it for protection.

The talisman served its purpose. Even as all other ghosts vanished due to the environment, the old woman’s family endured. Yet lately, the talisman had begun to fail, becoming brittle and decayed.

“Grandmother, are you asking me to resolve the source of the anomaly here?” Cui Xiu now understood: she had seen him absorb the gray currents from the bones, unlike the scholar who was corrupted by them, and wished him to eliminate the trouble.

The old woman nodded, stroking little Grass’s head with a bitter smile. “That’s right. I myself do not mind, but Grass is so young—trapped here as a ghost, doomed to suffer again. I cannot bear it.”

“To be honest, young sir, I learned of your ability from this skull—it belonged to my other grandchild. After you absorbed what lingered within, he escaped the gray fog’s corruption and now hides within the priest’s talisman.”

“I hope you can help Grass and her brother—not begging you to solve the whole anomaly, only to cleanse their bones, take the talisman, and lead them away from here.”

With these words, the old woman prepared to kneel before Cui Xiu, weeping softly, “Whatever happens, please look after them. Even if they leave, and the King of the Underworld reclaims their souls, at least they would have a chance at rebirth—a fate far better than lingering here.”

Cui Xiu was taken aback; he had not expected the old woman’s request to be so simple.

He had assumed she would ask him to resolve the source of the anomaly, but it seemed he had overthought.

He sighed, reflecting. By nature, he was not a virtuous man; the experiences of his past life had made him selfish, though he possessed certain principles and was not one to offer help lightly. Yet, perhaps influenced by the original owner of this body—a scholar steeped in Confucian books—or perhaps his own nature was more benevolent than he admitted, the memories of the original owner had loosened the walls around his heart.

Moreover, the old woman had shown him kindness.

“Grandmother, please rise. There’s no need for this. Could you first take me to see the source?” Cui Xiu decided to try—perhaps his ability to absorb the gray fog could resolve the troubles of this place.

If he succeeded, it would repay the old woman and Grass for their kindness. Of course, his good intentions would only be acted upon if his own safety was assured. If things proved dangerous, he would simply do as the old woman wished.

The old woman was surprised. “Young sir, that place is perilous for the living. Though you can absorb those things, still…”

“Grandmother, don’t worry—I only wish to investigate. If it’s impossible, I won’t overreach.” Cui Xiu smiled.

From the old woman’s account, he had not heard of any direct harm from the source itself. If anything, it was the gray currents. But for him, the gray currents were a valuable source of power.