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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Seven
"Madam, please wake up. Just drink the medicine, and you'll be fine... Just drink the medicine..." He called out softly again and again, his voice trembling with a hint of desperate plea, each word echoing in the empty room.
But Liu remained unconscious, as if lost in an endless darkness, deaf to his calls, offering no response whatsoever.
Li Shouzhuo's heart felt as if it had plunged into an ice cellar, coldness spreading from his feet to the top of his head, making him shiver involuntarily.
Could it be... could it be that even his heart's blood could not awaken her?
Could it be... could she really be leaving him?
No, he could not accept such an outcome!
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down; he must not panic or lose control.
He could not give up; he had to save her!
He recalled what the Taoist had said: only the blood of a close relative could drive away evil and avert disaster. Perhaps... perhaps there was still hope.
Could it be... could this blood not be enough?
Could it be... did he need more?
A terrifying thought flashed through his mind like lightning, causing him to tremble all over, a chill rising from his spine.
He looked at the half bowl of medicinal soup remaining in his hand, its eerie dark red color resembling congealed blood. Under the candlelight, it emitted a nauseating metallic smell that sent shivers down his spine.
He hesitated for a moment, a flicker of struggle crossing his eyes. Finally, gritting his teeth, he brought the bowl to his lips and took the remaining medicine into his mouth, deciding to personally feed Liu with it.
As the soup entered his mouth, a foul stench spread throughout his oral cavity. The taste was akin to swallowing a piece of rotten flesh, making him nearly gag as his stomach churned violently.
He suppressed the turmoil in his stomach, holding onto Liu tightly, feeling her faint breaths and her cold body temperature. It seemed that only by doing this could he prove she was still alive.
Time passed, second by second, like fine sand flowing through an hourglass, each moment stretching out painfully long.
Inside the room, there was a profound silence, broken only by the patter of rain, which sounded like a mournful dirge, striking at everyone’s nerves and causing unease.
Suddenly, Liu's fingers twitched slightly. This tiny movement sent Li Shouzhuo into a frenzy of joy.
Seeing this, Li Shouzhuo's heart leaped with excitement as he leaned closer, afraid to miss anything.
Liu's eyelids fluttered a few times before slowly opening. The motion resembled a slow-motion scene from a movie, where every detail was magnified infinitely.
Those once vacant eyes now regained a glimmer of life, like stars twinkling in the night sky, emitting a faint glow. Yet within that light lingered an unsettling aura.
"Madam, you’re awake?" Li Shouzhuo exclaimed, gripping Liu's hand tightly. His voice trembled with disbelief and joy, tears already welling in his eyes.
Liu's gaze slowly fell upon Li Shouzhuo's face. Her expression was confused and unfamiliar, as if she did not recognize him at all, tightening his heart with dread.
Li Shouzhuo felt his heart sink sharply; a chill rushed from his feet to the top of his head, plunging him into an icy abyss.
That gaze… that gaze…
It wasn’t Liu!
It was Liu Xu!
"Sister… Brother-in-law…" A mournful voice escaped Liu's lips, sounding like whispers from hell, filled with endless resentment and unwillingness that sent shivers down his spine.
Li Shouzhuo felt as if all the blood in his body had frozen; he was plunged into an icy pit, his body stiffening like a stone.
He looked at the figure before him, "the Liu." The pale face, the hollow eyes, and that eerie smile filled him with an overwhelming sense of dread, a chill rising from the depths of his heart.
He finally understood that the blood he had sacrificed to awaken was not his wife, but rather...
That vengeful spirit!
Outside, the rain continued to pour, sounding like wails of ghosts and howls of wolves, sending shivers down his spine as if it were recounting an unknown grievance.
Inside the room, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like it could drip with water, oppressive enough to suffocate him. An eerie aura permeated the air.
Li Shouzhuo stared at "Liu Xu," feeling a coldness rise from his core, instantly spreading through his limbs and rendering him immobile.
He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out; it felt as if something was lodged in his throat, preventing any sound from escaping.
Suddenly, everything went dark before his eyes, and he lost consciousness, his body collapsing limply.
...
In the dimly lit room, the light was murky and unclear, filled with a strong stench of blood that made him nauseous, mixed with the bitter scent of herbs.
Li Shouzhuo lay on the bed, his complexion as pale as paper, devoid of any color, resembling a lifeless puppet.
His chest was wrapped in thick bandages; beneath them lay a horrifying wound that continued to seep blood. The crimson stains were clearly visible through the bandages.
Slowly, he opened his eyes. The world around him spun chaotically; everything appeared blurred as if viewed through a thick fog.
He struggled to sit up but found himself utterly powerless, as if all strength had been drained from his body.
"My lord, my lord, you’re awake?" A familiar voice rang in his ears, laced with surprise and concern.
Li Shouzhuo turned to see a Daoist priest in a blue robe standing by his bedside, holding a bowl of dark brown medicinal soup. The soup was steaming, exuding a strong herbal aroma.
This priest was the same one who had cast spells for him earlier. At this moment, his face bore signs of fatigue; his eyes were sunken, and his beard was unkempt, giving him a somewhat disheveled appearance.
"Madam... Madam she..." Li Shouzhuo struggled to speak, his voice hoarse and weak, as if it had been scraped by sandpaper.
A strange smile appeared on the priest's face as he slowly replied, "Madam is fine now, but... she is no longer your wife..." He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully. "Or rather, she is both your wife and not your wife..."
The priest's eyes flickered with meaning, hinting at some hidden secret.
"What... what do you mean by that?" A heavy dread settled in Li Shouzhuo's heart as an ominous premonition surged within him. He struggled to sit up but was held down by the priest's hand on his shoulder.
"Do not rush, my lord. You are weak and need to rest," the priest said calmly, though there was an undeniable authority in his tone. "Some things are better left unknown."
"No, I need to know! Tell me, what happened to Madam?" Li Shouzhuo's emotions flared up as he fixed his gaze on the priest's eyes, desperate to glean some truth from them.
The priest sighed, appearing somewhat helpless. He spoke slowly, "My lord, do you know that there exists a dark art in this world called 'Borrowing a Corpse to Reincarnate'?"
"Borrowing a Corpse to Reincarnate?" Li Shouzhuo's pupils dilated sharply. He had only encountered this term in strange tales; could such dark magic truly exist?
"Indeed, it is 'Borrowing a Corpse to Reincarnate,'" the priest nodded and continued. "This dark art allows a person's soul to inhabit another's body, thereby achieving the goal of reincarnation."
"Are you saying... Madam..." Li Shouzhuo couldn't believe his ears. He widened his eyes at the priest, hoping for a denial.
"Yes, your wife has been possessed by Ling Mei's soul," the priest stated calmly, yet it struck Li Shouzhuo like a thunderclap.
"This... this is impossible!" Li Shouzhuo murmured to himself. He couldn't accept this reality; he would rather believe it was all just a dream—a nightmare.
"My lord, I know it's hard for you to accept, but this is the truth," the priest said with a hint of sympathy in his voice. "Ling Mei's soul harbors too much resentment; she could not bear to die like this and chose to borrow a corpse to return to the living world."
“Then... what about my lady? Where is my lady?” Li Shouzhuo's voice trembled as he dared not imagine the consequences if Liu's body were possessed by the soul of Liu Xu. Where would Liu's soul go?
“The lady's soul... has already been devoured by Ling Mei's soul,” the Taoist spoke with a hint of compassion. “So now, the lady is both Liu and Liu Xu.”
“No... it can't be... this is impossible...” Li Shouzhuo closed his eyes in pain, tears streaming down his cheeks. “Master, please, save my lady, save her...”
“Alas...” The Taoist sighed deeply. “My lord, it's not that I cannot help; it's that I am powerless. Ling Mei's resentment is too strong; it has already merged with the lady's body, unless...”
“Unless what?” Li Shouzhuo grasped at the last hope, asking urgently.
“Unless we find Ling Mei's corpse, bury it properly, and perform a ritual to guide her soul to peace. Perhaps there might still be a glimmer of hope,” the Taoist said slowly.
“Corpse... Corpse...” Li Shouzhuo murmured to himself. Suddenly, he remembered something and opened his eyes wide. “I know! I know where Liu Xu's corpse is!”
“Oh? Where?” A glimmer of light flashed in the Taoist's eyes.
“It’s... it’s in the dry well in the backyard!” Li Shouzhuo's voice trembled with both fear and determination. “Years ago, I was the one who... who pushed her down there...”
The Taoist understood instantly and nodded. “We mustn't delay; let’s go now!”
Li Shouzhuo struggled to rise but was stopped by the Taoist. “My lord, your condition is not suitable for movement. Allow me to go instead.”
“No, I must go myself!” Li Shouzhuo insisted firmly. “This is my sin; I must resolve it myself!”
Seeing the determination in Li Shouzhuo's eyes, the Taoist knew further persuasion would be futile. He supported Li Shouzhuo as they stepped out of the room together.
The rain had stopped outside, leaving a scent of damp earth in the air. The sky was overcast, as if another storm could break at any moment.
Li Shouzhuo and the Taoist arrived at the backyard, where the dry well stood in a corner of the yard, surrounded by overgrown weeds that indicated it had been neglected for quite some time.
"Here it is," Li Shouzhuo said, pointing at the dry well, his voice hoarse.
The Taoist priest approached the edge of the well and leaned over to look down. It was pitch black inside, unfathomably deep, and a chilling aura emanated from the bottom, sending shivers down his spine.
"Someone, prepare the rope and go down to take a look!" the priest commanded.
A few servants hurried over at his call. They tied one end of the rope to the winch at the well's edge and secured the other end around one of the servants' waists before slowly lowering him down.
Time passed slowly, each second feeling unbearably long and torturous.
Finally, a voice came from below: "I found it! I found it!"
The crowd quickly pulled the servant back up. In his arms, he cradled a set of bones, already fragmented but still vaguely recognizable as those of a woman.
Li Shouzhuo gazed at the bones, tears streaming down his face once more. He trembled as he took the remains into his arms, holding them tightly as if they were a long-lost treasure.
"Willow Catkin, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry…" he sobbed, tears falling onto the bones with a faint sound.
The Taoist priest observed this scene and sighed softly. He walked over to Li Shouzhuo and said, "My lord, once someone has passed away, they cannot return to life. You must try to accept this loss."
Li Shouzhuo remained silent, clutching the bones tightly as if they were his last hope for redemption.
The priest shook his head and began to set up a ritual altar to perform a rite for Willow Catkin's soul.
Once the altar was prepared, he placed the remains on it and lit three incense sticks, inserting them into the incense burner.
"By the decree of the Supreme One, I summon your lonely soul; may all spirits be blessed..." The priest chanted softly as he began the ritual.
As he recited the incantation, the candles on the altar flickered to life without any wind, their flames dancing erratically as if responding to something unseen.
Suddenly, a chilling wind swept through the courtyard, rustling the leaves of the trees as if something was drifting in the air.
“Liu Xu, do you still harbor resentment?” Li Shouzhuo gazed at the Corpse on the altar and asked softly, “I know you hate me for everything I did to you back then, but I was also powerless…”
His voice faded into the wind, filled with endless regret and helplessness.
“If you still hate me, then come find me. I am willing to pay back the debt with my life…”
Suddenly, the candles on the altar extinguished violently, plunging the surroundings into darkness, with only the faint glow of the Peach Wood Sword in the Taoist's hand.
“Be careful, my lord!” The Taoist shouted, shielding Li Shouzhuo behind him.
“Jie jie jie…” A sinister laughter echoed through the courtyard, sending chills down their spines.
“Li Shouzhuo, you finally admit it!” A woman's voice emerged from the darkness; it was unmistakably Liu Xu's voice.
“Liu Xu, is that really you?” Li Shouzhuo asked excitedly.
“If it’s not me, then who else could it be?” Liu Xu's voice was filled with resentment. “Li Shouzhuo, you heartless man! You killed me and my family. I want blood for blood!”
“Liu Xu, I know I wronged you, but I had my reasons!” Li Shouzhuo defended himself. “Back then, if I hadn’t done that, we would all have died!”
“Reasons? Hahaha…” Liu Xu's laughter grew more piercing. “Your reasons were for your own future and glory. Is it worth sacrificing the lives of my entire family?”
“I…” Li Shouzhuo was at a loss for words. He knew that no matter what he said, he could never atone for his sins.
“Li Shouzhuo, I want you dead!” Liu Xu's voice suddenly turned sharp as a powerful Yin Qi surged toward Li Shouzhuo.
“My lord, be careful!” The Taoist shouted again, swinging the Peach Wood Sword to confront it.
The Peach Wood Sword clashed with the Yin Qi, producing a sizzling sound. The Taoist was jolted back repeatedly, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth.
"Are you alright, Daoist?" Li Shouzhuo hurriedly supported the Taoist.
"I'm fine. You must leave quickly; this place is for me to handle!" The Taoist wiped the blood from his mouth and said.
"No, I won't leave!" A look of determination flashed in Li Shouzhuo's eyes. "This is my sin; I must bear it myself!"
With that, he pushed the Taoist aside and walked toward the direction from which the Yin Qi was approaching.
"Li Shouzhuo, do you really think that dying will absolve you of your sins?" The voice of Liu Xu echoed again. "I want you to live; I want you to suffer worse than death!"
"Liu Xu, what do you want?" Li Shouzhuo stopped in his tracks and asked.
"What do I want? Hahaha..." Liu Xu's laughter was filled with madness. "I want you to witness the death of everyone you love, one by one. I want you to experience the pain of losing your loved ones!"
"No, please don't!" Li Shouzhuo shouted in terror. "Whatever grudges you have, take them out on me! Don't harm anyone else!"
"It's too late!" Liu Xu's voice was cold and merciless. "Li Shouzhuo, just wait and repent in hell!"
With that, the Yin Qi dissipated, and the courtyard returned to silence. Only the extinguished candles and scattered incense ash remained on the ground, proving that what had just occurred was not an illusion.
Li Shouzhuo collapsed onto the ground, his face pale as paper, his eyes hollow and devoid of spirit, as if he had lost his soul.
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