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Blood Sacrifice: Borrowing the Corpse to Return the Soul
墨書 Inktalez
The night was as deep as an ancient well that swallowed light, eerie and terrifying.
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, during the tenth year of Yong'an, within the imperial capital of Chang'an, the Li Residence stood—a magnificent mansion adorned with intricate carvings and paintings. Yet at this moment, it was shrouded in an unshakeable gloom, as if an invisible hand had gripped its throat, making it hard to breathe.
Master Li, known as Shou Zhuo, was nearing his forties and held the position of a fourth-rank official in charge of admonitions and corrections. Though his rank was low, his power was significant. He sat upright in the grand chair of his study, his brows furrowed deeply like two strokes of dark ink etched into his forehead. In his hand was a cup of tea that had long since gone cold, its surface reflecting his pale face like a shattered mirror, revealing the turmoil and anxiety within him.
His complexion was as white as paper, with dark circles under his eyes that made him look as if he had been soaked in ink. It was evident he had not slept for several nights. He had been repeatedly awakened by the same nightmare: a woman dressed in white, her hair disheveled and her features indistinct, reaching out to him with icy hands in the darkness, her voice a chilling wail that pierced through him like a sharp knife.
All these disturbances stemmed from his wife, Liu.
Liu, whose given name was Mei, hailed from a scholarly family. She was beautiful and gentle, embodying the qualities of a refined lady. However, her behavior had recently become increasingly strange; she often spoke to the empty room as if conversing with an unseen spirit. The words she uttered sent shivers down Shou Zhuo's spine—each syllable felt like a cold nail driven into his heart.
"Sister, is that you? You've finally returned?" Her voice was soft and ethereal, echoing like a whispering wind in the vacant space.
"I know you hate me, but... but I had no choice..." Her tone was filled with sorrow and helplessness, as if concealing a monumental secret.
These words left Shou Zhuo trembling with fear; they plunged him into an icy abyss. The "sister" she referred to was none other than her deceased twin sister, Liu Xu.
The death of Liu Xu had always been a taboo subject within the Li Residence—no one dared to mention it lightly.
Ten years ago, Shou Zhuo was merely an obscure scholar who shared a deep bond with Liu Xu. They often met under the moonlight to compose poetry and pledge their eternal love. However, fate took a cruel turn when Liu's family faced misfortune and fell from grace like a great ship sinking amidst stormy seas. To secure his own future in politics, Shou Zhuo ultimately chose to marry Liu Xu's elder sister, Liu Rumei. This marriage felt more like a cold transaction than a union of love, burying their affection beneath the altar of power.
Not long after their marriage, Liu Xu met an untimely death. Rumors spread that she had drowned herself in despair. This news struck Shou Zhuo like a bolt from the blue, shattering his heart. He was devastated yet powerless to change anything; all he could do was bury this pain deep within himself.
Suddenly, with a loud crash, the teacup slipped from Shou Zhuo's hand and shattered on the floor, jolting him from his memories. Tea splattered everywhere like blooming flowers of death.
He suddenly stood up and walked to the window, pushing it open. A cold wind, carrying the chill of the night, rushed in, making him shiver involuntarily. Outside, the pitch-black night loomed like a massive curtain, enveloping the entire world, with only a few scattered stars flickering in the distance like will-o'-the-wisps, sending a chill down his spine.
"Master, Madam... Madam is talking nonsense again," the Old Nurse Wang said tremulously at the door, her voice quivering like a frightened mouse.
Li Shouzhuo took a deep breath, suppressing the fear and unease within him as he hurried toward Liu's room.
As he pushed open the door, a strong smell of medicine assaulted him, mingled with a faint hint of decay that made him feel nauseous. This scent coiled around his breath like a venomous snake, suffocating him.
Liu sat on the bed with disheveled hair, her eyes hollow like two black holes, devouring all surrounding light. Her complexion was terrifyingly pale, her lips cracked like parched earth, devoid of color. She continued to mutter to herself in a low, hoarse voice that sounded like whispers from hell.
"Sister, I know you blame me, but... but I did it for your own good..." Her voice was filled with pain and struggle, as if she were battling an invisible enemy.
Li Shouzhuo approached the bed and gently patted Liu's shoulder in an attempt to awaken her.
"Madam, Madam, what are you talking about? What’s wrong with you?" His tone was soft and concerned, yet there was an almost imperceptible tremor hidden within.
Liu suddenly lifted her head, a strange glimmer flashing in her eyes like two flickering ghostly flames dancing in the darkness.
"I'm not talking nonsense; Sister... Sister is right here, right here..." She abruptly pointed at the corner of the room, her voice sharp and piercing like a rusty saw pulling at Li Shouzhuo's nerves.
Following her finger, Li Shouzhuo looked but saw nothing. The room was empty except for the dim candlelight flickering and casting distorted shadows on the walls that resembled clawing monsters.
A chill ran from Li Shouzhuo's feet to the top of his head, causing every hair on his body to stand on end. He realized that Liu's condition had worsened significantly; perhaps she truly saw something unclean?
"Someone! Quickly! Go fetch a doctor!" Li Shouzhuo could no longer maintain his composure; he shouted loudly, his voice tinged with barely concealed panic and fear.
Days later, devastating news struck Li Residence like a bolt from the blue.
The Liu had suffered a miscarriage.
The unborn child, like a flower yet to bloom, withered too soon.
The doctor explained that it was due to the Liu's long-term use of sedatives, which led to fetal deformities and ultimately the miscarriage. This explanation cut into Li Shouzhuo's heart like a dull knife, repeatedly inflicting pain.
Suppressing his grief, Li Shouzhuo personally handled the aftermath. He buried the unformed fetus beneath an old locust tree in the backyard and erected a nameless stone tablet there.
However, deep down, he felt that things were not so simple. The Liu's strange behavior, her constant murmuring of "sister," and the lingering scent of medicine all unsettled him, like fishbones stuck in his throat, leaving him restless and uneasy.
He began to suspect that the Liu's miscarriage was not an accident but a meticulously planned conspiracy.
A terrifying thought slithered into his mind like a silent snake, coiling tightly around him and making it hard for him to breathe.
Could it be that the ghost of Liu Xu was back for revenge?
This thought haunted Li Shouzhuo like a nightmare, leaving him restless and terrified every night. He resolved that he must uncover the truth behind this matter and resolve it once and for all, giving the deceased child an explanation.
In the dead of night, with silence enveloping everything and only the distant sound of the watchman's clapper echoing, Li Shouzhuo sat alone in his study. By the dim candlelight, he flipped through the Liu's diary.
The diary chronicled every detail since her pregnancy, as well as her longing and guilt over her sister Liu Xu. The genuine emotions expressed within moved Li Shouzhuo deeply.
However, on the last page of the diary, he discovered a shocking line of text.
"Sister, I will avenge you!"
This line was written in bright red ink, as if it had been penned with blood. It was startling and exuded a strong sense of hatred and murderous intent. Each stroke felt like a sharp blade aimed directly at Li Shouzhuo's heart.
"Thud!" The diary in Li Shouzhuo's hand fell to the ground, making a muffled sound that shattered the tranquility of the study.
His face turned pale instantly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and his whole body trembled like a leaf in the wind.
He suddenly felt that everything seemed to be a meticulously planned revenge.
But who was behind all of this?
Was it Liu himself, or… someone else entirely?
Li Shouzhuo dared not think further; he felt a deep sense of fear and helplessness wash over him.
"Meow—" A piercing cat's cry suddenly pierced the silent night outside, echoing like a ghostly wail, sending chills down his spine.
Li Shouzhuo abruptly raised his head and looked out the window. He saw a shadow flash by, disappearing into the vast darkness with astonishing speed, unlike any ordinary cat.
What was that?
Was it a cat, or… was it a vengeful spirit come to claim a life?
Li Shouzhuo's heart sank like a stone, plummeting into an abyss with no bottom in sight.
He sensed that an even greater storm was about to arrive… and he was already at the center of it, with nowhere to escape.
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