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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Two
Li Shouzhuo had not slept a wink throughout the night.
He sat rigidly in the redwood armchair in his study, motionless, like a lifeless statue, with only the slight rise and fall of his chest proving that he was still alive.
Outside the window, the sky gradually lightened, and the morning light crept in through the gaps in the window frame like tiny silver needles. The dawn's glow spilled into the study, casting mottled shadows on the floor, yet it could not dispel the gloom in his heart; instead, it made those shadows appear like clawing phantoms.
The news of Liu's miscarriage exploded like a bomb within the Li Residence.
Servants whispered among themselves, gossiping incessantly as rumors spread like wild grass. The atmosphere in the manor was tense; everyone said that the Li family mansion was truly haunted.
Some claimed that Liu was suffering retribution for having stolen her sister's fate. The rumors were detailed and vivid, suggesting that Liu's sister and Li Shouzhuo were a match made in heaven, only for Liu to use underhanded means to tear them apart.
Others said it was the ghost of Liu's sister returning to claim vengeance, seeking to punish Li Shouzhuo for his cold-heartedness. That young lady had been a pitiful figure; she was once renowned as a beauty throughout the region and had grown up alongside Li Shouzhuo, sharing an innocent bond. Who would have thought she would end up taking her own life?
Even more claimed that the Li Residence had poor feng shui and was haunted, necessitating a priest to perform rituals to exorcise evil spirits. They said there were bones buried beneath the house, and that the Yin Qi was too heavy, predicting calamity sooner or later. Some even insisted they had seen a white figure drifting through the manor at midnight, weeping softly—a sight that was utterly chilling.
These words pierced Li Shouzhuo's heart like poisonous thorns, causing him unbearable pain.
He didn't know how to explain or face any of this. He wanted to speak up in his defense but found his throat constricted as if something were blocking it; he couldn't utter a single word.
He could only isolate himself in the study, repeatedly flipping through Liu's diary, hoping to find some clues to unravel this mystery.
Within its pages were not only her longing and guilt towards her sister but also an abundance of resentment and curses directed at Li Shouzhuo.
"Li Shouzhuo, you heartless man! You ruined my life; I won't let you off even as a ghost!"
"I will return for revenge; just wait! I will make you pay for your blood debts!"
These words struck Li Shouzhuo's heart like sharp blades, suffocating him as if an invisible hand were gripping his throat.
Fear surged within him like a tidal wave, drowning him. He felt his body tremble slightly as cold sweat trickled down his forehead, soaking his collar.
He felt an unprecedented sense of despair and helplessness.
Suddenly, he recalled the line written on the last page of the diary:
"Dear sister, I will avenge you!"
This line was written in bright red ink, glaring like blood against the pale pages, making it appear particularly sinister.
Could it be that Liu had split into the personality of her deceased sister? The thought sent a chill down his spine.
He slammed the diary shut, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself. He attempted to use reason to dispel the fear that gripped his heart, but those eerie thoughts clung to him like a parasite, refusing to leave.
He knew that this was not the time to be afraid; he had to uncover the truth as quickly as possible to protect himself and provide an explanation to Liu.
He decided to start with Liu's personal maid, Xiao Cui.
Xiao Cui was a maid brought from Liu's family, loyal and honest in her service.
Li Shouzhuo summoned Xiao Cui to the study and carefully inquired about Liu's recent behavior.
Xiao Cui knelt trembling on the floor, afraid to look up, her body shaking slightly like a frightened fawn.
"Master, Madam... Madam has been saying strange things lately, and... she often talks to the air as if she is speaking to someone," Xiao Cui's voice was barely above a whisper, laced with an almost imperceptible fear.
"What has she been saying?" Li Shouzhuo pressed, his tone deep and authoritative.
"Madam... Madam said she saw her sister and that her sister has come back to find her," Xiao Cui's voice quivered as if she might burst into tears at any moment, tears welling in her eyes.
"Her sister?" Li Shouzhuo's brow furrowed tightly, a sense of foreboding rising within him. "Isn't her sister already…?"
"I... I don't know either. Madam has become very strange lately, as if... as if she has turned into another person," Xiao Cui said, keeping her head down and avoiding Li Shouzhuo's gaze. She twisted the handkerchief in her hands tightly, her knuckles turning pale.
Li Shouzhuo fell silent for a moment, then waved his hand, signaling Xiao Cui to leave.
Xiao Cui, as if granted a reprieve, quickly bowed her head and exited the study.
Alone in the study, Li Shouzhuo sank into deep thought. His mind felt chaotic, like countless flies buzzing around inside.
The strange behavior of Liu and Xiao Cui's testimony pointed to a terrifying possibility:
Liu might truly be possessed by her sister's ghost.
This thought sent shivers down his spine. He suddenly recalled Liu's gaze on the night of the miscarriage—cold and unfamiliar, it was nothing like the Liu he knew.
He stood up and walked to the window, pushing it open and taking a deep breath.
Outside, the sun shone brightly, birds chirped, and flowers bloomed; everything seemed so beautiful.
Yet, in Li Shouzhuo's eyes, all of this was shrouded in a layer of shadow, turning it eerie and terrifying. He felt that even the bright sunlight could not dispel the chill within the room.
He sensed that he was caught in a vast conspiracy, utterly powerless to change anything.
At that moment, he suddenly heard faint footsteps approaching from outside the door.
He whipped around, alertly gazing at the entrance, his heart pounding as if it would leap from his chest.
The door creaked open slowly, revealing a figure at the threshold. The sound of the opening door echoed like a chilling omen.
It was Liu.
Her hair hung loose, her face pale, and her eyes hollow—she looked like a ghost. Dressed in a flowing white gown that swayed gently in the breeze, she added an unsettling atmosphere to the scene.
"You... you came," Liu's voice was low and hoarse, as if it had emerged from the depths of hell.
Li Shouzhuo's heart sank suddenly. He felt a chill rising from his feet, quickly spreading throughout his body.
He sensed that something terrifying was about to happen.
He fixed his gaze on the Liu, not daring to relax for even a moment.
The Liu slowly approached him, each step feeling like a weight pressing down on his heart, suffocating him. Her footsteps were light, almost silent, like a ghost gliding through the air.
"What... what do you want?" Li Shouzhuo forced himself to sound calm as he asked. His voice trembled slightly, and he could hear it himself.
The Liu did not respond. She stopped right in front of Li Shouzhuo. The distance between them was so close that he could smell a faint, putrid odor emanating from her, reminiscent of decaying flesh.
She lifted her head, and a strange glint flickered in her eyes, like two will-o'-the-wisps dancing in the dark.
"Your sister... she wants you to pay with your life!"
The Liu's voice suddenly turned sharp and piercing, like a rusty saw tugging at Li Shouzhuo's nerves.
Li Shouzhuo felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He wanted to retreat but found that his legs felt as heavy as lead, unable to move.
He watched helplessly as the Liu reached out her hands toward him...
Those hands were pale and cold, like the hands of a corpse.
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