Chapter Fifty-Two: The Calamity of Qixi (Part Eight)

A traditional three-courtyard residence is designed in accordance with the principles of the Eight Trigrams and the Five Elements. It faces south with its back to the north, and its main gate is situated in the southeast position, which symbolizes the gathering of wealth and the expulsion of impurities. The outer compound is shielded by shrubs to ward off misfortune, while the choice of trees within the inner courtyard is left to the owner’s discretion—yet pear and mulberry trees are strictly forbidden. Pear, in its homonym, means separation; mulberry, death.

Yet in this three-courtyard house, the main gate at the southeast is occupied by a locust tree, echoing the giant locust in the outer yard. These serve only to attract spirits. Combined with the proliferation of mulberry trees in the inner court, the feng shui here is ominous and fiery, a domain where a hundred ghosts roam at night.

Luo Hanya stood before the locust tree at the main entrance, a chill seeping into his heart. The giant locust in the center of the outer compound seemed to serve as the king of ghosts, while two smaller locust trees occupied the southeast and south positions, creating a mysterious spectral domain before the gate. Cautiously, Luo Hanya and Menghen Lige advanced step by step, fearing that even the slightest misstep would cost them their lives.

Strangely, nothing happened as they reached the gate. With a keen eye, Menghen Lige noticed two talismans for warding off spirits attached to the locust trees.

“Don’t touch them yet. This is strange. This setup should be extremely dangerous—a veritable ghost domain—so why is there no reaction at all?” Luo Hanya took a deep breath, stopping Menghen Lige from grabbing the talismans.

“Isn’t that a good thing? The sooner we finish, the better. Frankly, I never want to see you again,” Menghen Lige replied coldly, looking at Luo Hanya with disdain.

“Hey! We’re comrades fighting side by side, aren’t we? How can you be so heartless?” Luo Hanya’s face contorted with grievance as he asked.

After several seconds of silence, there was still no response from Menghen Lige. Luo Hanya found this odd and, glancing back, realized Menghen Lige had disappeared.

On high alert, Luo Hanya scanned his surroundings, not daring to relax for a moment. Menghen Lige was clearly stronger than himself—yet she had vanished without a sound. That was anything but normal.

“Lady Menghen? Lady Menghen?” Luo Hanya called out, his voice echoing. There was no reply.

What’s going on? Was she bewitched, or had he fallen into an illusion himself? Doubt gnawed at Luo Hanya’s heart, but the situation was too complex to judge immediately.

Moments later, his expression grew somber as he noticed something different: the moon in the sky was blood-red.

And the giant locust tree in the center of the outer yard had begun to burn.

Approaching, Luo Hanya saw the fire raging, the entire tree engulfed in flames. Fortunately, there was nothing nearby to feed the fire, so it did not spread.

He rubbed his eyes, looking above the locust tree. The flames had obscured his vision earlier, but now he saw what hung above the tree: a stone suspended by silk threads—one half pure white as jade, the other pitch black as ink. Or were they two stones, joined together?

Luo Hanya stared at the stone, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if it held some profound significance for him. The fire grew fiercer, and the stone fell, splitting in two, vanishing in the flames. A suffocating weight pressed upon his chest, an urge rising within him to rush forward and retrieve the stones. But the fire was too intense; he couldn’t get near, let alone touch them.

His brow furrowed. The locust tree was burning in utter silence, and suddenly, other sounds filled his ears.

He seemed to hear countless people weeping and wailing.

Despite the inferno, an endless chill crept over him.

A scream tore from his throat as his eyes seemed to ignite, the agony forcing another cry from his lips. Blood instantly streamed down his face, blurring his vision until all he saw was red.

“What is happening?” Luo Hanya knelt in agony, clutching his eyes.

Another scream escaped him as he forced his eyes open. What eyes they were! Bloodshot, crisscrossed with fissures like shattered glass.

Enduring the pain, he tried to glimpse what was happening at the locust tree.

Suddenly, he saw hands emerging from beneath the tree, as if trying to topple the giant locust.

Mournful laughter and bitter weeping echoed, threatening to split his head apart. The pain in his eyes forced him to close them once more.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Within the flames, the locust tree seemed to be battered, as though someone—or something—was trying to push it down.

Withered, corpse-like hands—some bluish, some deathly pale—reached up from the earth, heedless of the searing flames, striking the great locust tree. The fire crackled and snapped as it scorched the shriveled hands, splitting skin and searing flesh, yet the hands remained fearless.

Suddenly, the pain in Luo Hanya’s eyes eased, replaced by a cool sensation. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself surrounded by a crowd of people.

They were dressed in ancient garb, evidently the departed souls of this household, now gathered around the burning locust tree. Through his blood-red vision, Luo Hanya saw them kneel and bow in reverence before the inferno, their lips moving in silent prayer or lament.

The cacophony mounted, red filled his sight, and the world seemed drenched in blood—each person bleeding before his eyes.

All at once, every gaze turned toward Luo Hanya, as if they had noticed the presence of an outsider.

Oblivious, Luo Hanya saw nothing but blood and fire, while an ancient, sorrowful song drifted to his ears. He could not make out the words, but the sense of desolation pierced his heart.

The dead closed in around him, kneeling in a circle, their eyes full of hope, as though expecting him to deliver them.

Yet Luo Hanya remained lost, unable to comprehend what was happening.

The ghosts grew impatient, pressing closer and closer until they were right before him.

A faint, almost inaudible sound resonated through the heavens and earth. Luo Hanya staggered, then collapsed to the ground.

At that moment, all the spirits shrieked and vanished, as if confronted by their nemesis.

“Mmm, here you are. Truly, you shouldn’t have come here,” a man’s voice whispered in Luo Hanya’s ear as he slipped into unconsciousness. But soon, darkness swallowed him whole.