Travel through the heavens

Chapter 292 The Female Ghost in Painted Skin

After parting ways with Daoist Yu Lingzi at the street corner, Fang Muye did not return directly to the General's Mansion, but continued to stroll around Anping City.

He appeared to be strolling around, but in reality, his divine sense spread out like an invisible net, subtly sensing the myriad auras flowing through this city.

Before he knew it, Fang Muye had arrived in front of the Zhenfu Division.

Compared to other parts of the city, this area near the Zhenfu Division appears particularly solemn.

The Zhenfusi (镇抚司) was surrounded by high, imposing walls, with its black lacquered gate wide open. Instead of ordinary stone lions, two more ferocious stone beasts with menacing eyes stood on either side, said to be able to identify evil and scare away demons.

Another captain, dressed in black armor and with a standard long sword at his waist, stood guard by the door like a javelin, exuding an invisible sense of oppression.

Upon seeing Fang Muye, the captain's previously serious face immediately broke into a smile. He respectfully clasped his hands in a salute, showing a touch of enthusiasm for "one of his own," and exclaimed, "Young master, you've arrived."

Fang Muye smiled in response and asked, "Brother, do you know me?"

The captain chuckled and said, "Yesterday, the general and his son-in-law got married. I was fortunate enough to attend the wedding banquet and meet the son-in-law."

Fang Muye cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Nice to meet you. How should I address you, brother?"

"My name is Chen Song," the captain said with a smile. "You're here to see the general, aren't you, young master?"

Just as Fang Muye was about to answer, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps and terrified shouts approaching from afar.

"Help! Sir, help me! There's a ghost! A ghost is trying to harm me!"

A man came tumbling and crawling towards them; it was Mr. Wang, the same man who had spoken with Yu Lingzi earlier.

His appearance at this moment was far worse than before. Not only was his hair disheveled, but his scholar's robe was also torn in several places and covered in dust. His face was completely bloodless, and his eyes were wide open, with his pupils dilated due to extreme fear.

He practically scrambled to the gate of the Zhenfu Division, and if Chen Song hadn't caught him in time, he probably would have fallen right into the gate.

"Insolence! This is a sacred place of the Zhenfu Division, how dare you make a fuss here!" Chen Song shouted sternly. Even after seeing the scholar's miserable appearance and hearing him shout the word "ghost," his expression remained unchanged, clearly indicating that he was used to such things.

Perhaps because he had arrived at the Zhenfu Division, Mr. Wang felt somewhat calmer and was no longer so panicked. He composed himself and said in a trembling voice, "Sir, there is a female ghost in my house... there is a female ghost in my house."

Chen Song patted him on the back and said loudly, "It's just a female ghost. Now that you're in our Zhenfu Division, there's no need to be afraid. Come with me and tell the general the details. The general will make his decision."

Chen Song turned to Fang Muye and said, "Young Master, let's go in together."

Fang Muye smiled and nodded: "Alright, please lead the way, Brother Chen."

Only then did Mr. Wang notice Fang Muye. Seeing that he was the young master he had met with the old Taoist priest, and hearing the Zhenfu Division captain call him "son-in-law," he immediately forced a smile and cupped his hands in greeting to Fang Muye.

Fang Muye returned the greeting with a cupped hand, and the two of them followed Chen Song into the gate of the Zhenfu Division.

The interior of the Zhenfu Division appears even more profound and somber than the exterior. The courtyard is spacious, with the ground paved with dark blue boulders. Several corridors are built on both sides, and captains in full armor are seen hurrying in and out from time to time.

Chen Song led Fang Muye and the other man through the front courtyard to the main hall.

Inside the main hall, Gu Yueqing sat behind her desk, looking at the documents on the table, and whispering something with several sharp-looking captains.

She had already removed her golden armor and was only wearing a red battle robe, but the heroic spirit and majesty between her brows remained undiminished.

Hearing the noise, she looked up, her gaze first falling on Chen Song in front of her, then on the disheveled Mr. Wang, and finally on Fang Muye, a barely perceptible look of surprise flashing in her eyes.

She nodded to Fang Muye, then turned her gaze back to Chen Song and asked, "What is it?"

Chen Song bowed respectfully, about to reply, but Mr. Wang spoke first.

"My name is Wang Shunsheng, and I live on Xishui Street in the South City. A wicked ghost has infiltrated my residence. I beg the general to save my life."

When Wang Shunsheng saw Gu Yueqing, he was like a drowning man grasping at a straw, and he knelt down with a thud, his voice hoarse and trembling.

Gu Yueqing's eyes narrowed, revealing a piercing sharpness, and she asked in a deep voice, "You said that an evil spirit has infiltrated your home. How did that evil spirit infiltrate, and how did you discover it? Please tell me in detail first."

"Yes, General," Wang Shunsheng replied, and began to recount his terrifying experience with trepidation.

A few days ago, Wang Shunsheng had a gathering with some friends and didn't leave until late at night.

On my way home, as I turned into an alley, I accidentally bumped into a young woman carrying a bundle who was walking towards me.

After helping her up, Wang Shunsheng kindly said, "It's a bit dangerous for you to walk the dark path alone. These days are tough, there are many bad people on the road, so you have to be careful."

By the light of the lantern, he could see that she had beautiful features and a graceful figure. Wang Shunsheng said, "Miss, it's dark here. Let me escort you. Where are you going?"

The woman said pitifully, "I have nowhere to go, I'll just go wherever I can."

Wang Shunsheng asked in surprise, "How come there's nowhere to go?"

The woman began to sob softly, choking out, "My parents were greedy and sold me to a wealthy family as a concubine. The first wife there was vicious and jealous. She would beat and scold me all the time, as if she wanted to eat me alive. I couldn't bear it any longer, so I ran away, thinking that wherever I could escape to was better than suffering there."

Wang Shunsheng felt a pang of pity and was also captivated by her beauty, so he said as if possessed, "Your plight is truly pitiful. How about this, if you don't mind, you can come to my house for a few days and let's hear what's going on."

The woman was naturally grateful and agreed. Wang Shunsheng then settled her in a small, unused academy in his own home. This academy was where he usually studied in peace and quiet, and few people went there except for him.

Since the woman moved into the academy, Wang Shunsheng often used studying as an excuse to linger there.

The woman was gentle, considerate, and understanding, which captivated him, and he couldn't help but consider taking her as his concubine.

Today, Wang Shunsheng went to the street intending to buy some rouge and face powder for that woman, but unexpectedly ran into the old Taoist priest Yu Lingzi, who said he was possessed by evil spirits.

At first, Wang Shunsheng thought the Taoist priest was just talking nonsense and making alarmist claims, but later he couldn't help but feel as if a thorn had been stuck in his heart.

Wang Shunsheng had originally planned to go to the academy, so he thought he would wait until he got there and then test the waters.

When he arrived at the academy, he found the gate tightly closed and could not be pushed open. This made Wang Shunsheng even more suspicious, so he did not knock on the gate, but climbed over the wall and entered the courtyard.

Seeing that the door was also closed, Wang Shunsheng felt uneasy. He immediately tiptoed and quietly approached the window of the room where the woman lived.

He held his breath, licked his fingers to wet them, quietly poked a small hole in the window paper, leaned forward, and peered inside with one eye.

Upon seeing this, he was so frightened that his soul almost left his body on the spot!

But inside the room, there was no longer any beautiful woman!

There was only one hideous, dark blue-black demon sitting in front of the dressing table!

The demon had protruding fangs, eyes like copper bells gleaming with a greenish light, and ten sharp, hook-like fingers.

What's even more chilling is that this evil spirit is holding a colored pen and drawing on a human skin!

The human skin had exquisite features and was lifelike; it was clearly the woman's appearance!

After the evil spirit finished painting the human skin, it carefully shook the skin and put it on its body as if putting on clothes. After a moment, the evil spirit with a blue face and fangs disappeared, and what was reflected in the mirror was the beautiful woman who was charming and pitiful.

Wang Shunsheng could no longer suppress his fear and quickly covered his mouth with both hands, afraid that he would scream and attract the attention of the evil spirit.

He tumbled and fell down the steps, ignoring the pain, and scrambled to his feet, running frantically towards the outside of the courtyard as if countless vengeful ghosts were chasing him.

As Wang Shunsheng spoke, his whole body trembled violently, as if he were seeing that terrifying scene again, and his voice became shrill and distorted.