Chapter 120: Leaving Baozhi (7.4K Words)
Chapter 120
Upon hearing that his daughter was involved in a ghost case from fifty or sixty years ago, Liu Chunquan’s reaction slowed by half a beat. His expression froze, as if his mind briefly went blank.
Since his daughter’s disappearance, he had spent ten years full of resentment, hatred, and longing, always believing she had eloped with some young man, cruelly abandoning her aging parents. He never imagined that Zhao Fusheng’s words implied his daughter was entangled in a case involving a vengeful spirit.
Liu Chunquan’s body began trembling uncontrollably, and he could barely stand upright. Zhao Fusheng exchanged a glance with Zheng He, signaling him to steady the man.
Zheng He, feeling annoyed, regretful, and fearful, roughly lifted Liu Chunquan like a hawk catching a chick, then unceremoniously tossed him onto the boat’s railing, forcing him to hold on for balance without offering any real assistance.
“What... what connection is there? My Honghong, what does she have to do with a ghost case?” Liu Chunquan kicked his legs, trying to stand, but perhaps due to the boat’s sway, dizziness washed over him. His legs weakened, unable to support his weight no matter how many times he tried, so he had no choice but to slump against the railing.
Zhao Fusheng lifted the edge of her garment and squatted beside him.
“Did you ever perform at the home of a general from the Demon Suppression Division? Someone like General Jin?” She nearly said it outright but reconsidered, realizing the timing and ages didn’t align, so she rephrased, “Did your father-in-law, when alive, ever perform for a general Jin in the imperial capital’s Demon Suppression Division?”
“General Jin?”
Heaven above!
Liu Chunquan quickly shook his head. “No, no.”
Zhao Fusheng didn’t believe him. “Really not?”
“Really not, sir!”
Hearing her skepticism, panic surged through Liu Chunquan. He grabbed Zheng He’s pants desperately. “Lord Zheng, please vouch for me—I really haven’t!”
“If not, how could your troupe have been marked by a vengeful spirit?” Zhao Fusheng’s face darkened. “You think because I’m young, you can deceive me?”
“I really haven’t!” Liu Chunquan shouted, tugging at Zheng He’s trouser leg.
“Let go! Let go!” Zheng He growled as Liu’s frantic pull nearly tore off his pants.
Not wanting to embarrass himself before Zhao Fusheng, Zheng He momentarily wanted to strike Liu Chunquan senseless but instead focused on holding tight to his waistband to avoid being undressed.
“Let go!”
“Lord Zheng, please testify, I truly never performed at General Jin’s home!” Liu Chunquan ignored Zheng He’s scowl, shaking his pants once more.
The tearing of fabric sounded sharply.
Copper-colored spots spread across Zheng He’s face. His ghostly aura thickened. Excited agitation stirred the ghostly head suppressed in his abdomen beneath hell’s and ghost chariots’ seals, as it tried to break free, prodding at his belly.
“Let go, or your pants will fall!”
He lost patience and kicked Liu Chunquan.
Liu Chunquan howled in pain, curling up and finally releasing his grip.
Zheng He saved face but caught Zhao Fusheng’s angry glare.
“Why did you hit him?” she demanded.
“He—he grabbed my pants—” Zheng He protested, angry and frustrated.
He bit his lip, forced himself calm, then admitted, “Liu Chunquan’s right—his father-in-law wouldn’t have performed at the Demon Suppression Division’s general’s home.”
The Red Spring Troupe had gained some fame in recent years, but who was General Jin in the Demon Suppression Division?
The more ferocious the vengeful spirit a ghost handler commanded, the more they lost human emotions.
Those high-ranking generals in the Demon Suppression Division, like General Jin, each controlled at least a calamity-level fierce ghost. They had long abandoned joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, ruled solely by imperial power.
Many lost any desire for food, drink, or enjoyment, acting whimsically and cruelly.
In other words, these men were walking corpses. No matter how famous the Red Spring Troupe was, such people cared little.
“I was once obsessed with opera, but later—” Zheng He shook his head.
He wasn’t particularly fond of opera now.
Perhaps after losing his humanity through ghost control, he clung to past pursuits to prove he still retained some trace of humanity.
Zhao Fusheng pondered this.
Zheng He continued, “Performing in the Demon Suppression Division is an unparalleled honor. If he had really been there, everyone in the empire would have known.”
Liu Chunquan nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, Lord Zheng is right.”
“That shouldn’t be,” Zhao Fusheng said, her suspicion growing.
“Could there be another reason?”
Liu Chunquan hesitated, then his eyes brightened.
“We never performed at the Demon Suppression Division for General Jin, but when my father-in-law was alive, he once sang for an official in the capital.”
He explained, “My father-in-law had a good voice, well known in our village for its clarity. He once performed for a capital official and even received a reward.”
“What was the official’s surname?” Zhao Fusheng asked, not expecting much.
Liu Chunquan awkwardly shook his head. “I don’t remember. Our troupe was performing in the capital, and my father-in-law said the official was passing by in a sedan chair and tipped him one tael of silver.”
“One tael is no small sum,” Zhao Fusheng remarked.
Liu Chunquan quickly agreed. “Indeed. After receiving the reward, my father-in-law wanted to learn the official’s name.”
He added, “In our line of work, it’s a rule not to take money without performing properly. The money earned this way is honest.”
He sighed. “But later, it was forgotten. Soon after, some trouble happened in the capital, security tightened, and my father-in-law feared trouble, so he hurriedly left with the troupe.”
“This matter became a regret for him, and before he died, he still lamented that our troupe missed performing for that official.”
Though these words offered no clear clues, decades had passed, conditions were backward, and many details were lost.
The three sat in silence.
Liu Chunquan nervously glanced at Zheng He—whose face was dark and expression cold, resembling a faintly glowing specter in the shadows. Even after some time together, Liu was still unsettled by his demeanor.
He shivered inside and then looked at Zhao Fusheng.
Compared to Zheng He, Zhao Fusheng carried more vitality but was even more unfamiliar to him.
Though the Red Spring Troupe had some fame, it was insignificant to such powerful figures who could easily shatter his troupe.
He was anxious.
Yet his daughter’s disappearance remained a deep mystery. He had long resigned himself to never seeing her again in his lifetime. Now, unexpectedly learning her whereabouts from Zhao Fusheng, he could no longer hold back and asked:
“Sir, the ghost case you mentioned—”
“Oh, it’s a special case,” Zhao Fusheng replied, snapping out of her thoughts.
She glanced at Liu Chunquan and deliberately said, “Just hearing or mentioning this case can cause one to be marked by a vengeful spirit—”
“...”
Zheng He’s mouth twitched nervously, fearing that even a delayed word would bring trouble.
“Sir, I just remembered something...”
“Don’t rush,” Zhao Fusheng interrupted sharply.
Zheng He’s anger flared, wanting to argue, but fearing Zhao Fusheng’s power, he swallowed his pride and said, “I’m a little anxious.”
Seeing this, she said bluntly, fearing he might feign ignorance:
“I don’t want to hear about this ghost case, nor be marked by a vengeful spirit.”
Zhao Fusheng stared at him in disbelief. “With that attitude, how did the court let you govern a county?”
She complained, “I serve the court without ever receiving a penny. Yet someone like you gets special treatment. Bao County’s magistrate must be richer than me in Wan’an County!”
Growing more displeased, she added, “I solved a ghost case for you this time; you should owe me your salary.”
“...”
Zheng He’s mouth twitched again.
But money was the last thing on his mind now. He said generously, “Take it, sir. But this ghost case—”
“Whether you listen or not doesn’t matter. Because of this case, you’ve already been marked.” Zhao Fusheng’s face softened slightly and what she said next stunned Zheng He speechless for a long while.
“Let me get straight to the point.”
Both were familiar with the ghost carriage case, and Zheng He’s name was recorded in the ghost register. Zhao Fusheng wasted no time:
“Decades ago, there was a ghost case in the capital, probably the beheading case you mentioned earlier.”
She was curious about the origin of the headless ghost and decided to have Zheng He compile the case file to study it thoroughly.
The headless ghost was now in the Liu ancestral shrine and would surely cause trouble sooner or later. To resolve it, she needed to understand the ghost’s past and find a way to deal with it.
The Investiture of the Gods was only a last resort.
Unlocking a god’s position could instantly elevate a fierce ghost to godhood, but the two ghosts in the Liu shrine were balanced. Unless Zhao Fusheng could activate two god positions simultaneously, she couldn’t seal both.
Yet the merit points required to unlock god positions were exorbitant.
After the initial discount, the second unlock cost ten thousand merit points, and she suspected the third would be even more expensive.
Since the second and third levels of hell required ten thousand merit points each to open, merit points were always in short supply, and she often had to rely on herself.
She sighed, focusing back on the ghost carriage case.
“The case I want to discuss isn’t the ghost case itself, but that it caused a general’s death.”
Upon hearing this, Zheng He immediately understood.
“Ghost... Ghost Carriage—”
With those words, Zhao Fusheng confirmed the carriage spotted in Wan’an County’s Ding’an Tower was indeed the fierce ghost of the general from decades ago.
“Exactly.”
Zhao Fusheng nodded. “This general’s fierce ghost carried a great calamity object—a ghost carriage.”
She looked at Zheng He. “Looks like you knew this already.”
“It’s not my fault!” Zheng He protested.
“Many in the Demon Suppression Division know about this, but no one there has ever been marked, right?”
“No marks?”
Zhao Fusheng was suspicious.
“Yes.” Zheng He gritted his teeth and said grimly, “Except for commanders, whose information is recorded in registers and submitted to the emperor, everyone’s birth, background, and ghost control methods are supposed to be documented.”
He gave Zhao Fusheng a peculiar look, thinking: except for wild cards like Zhao Fusheng.
“Some refuse to reveal their secrets or lie, but at least on the surface, things go through the motions.”
Zheng He continued, “If commanders have connections, you can learn about each other’s strengths by inquiry.”
All commanders control ghosts, and the chance of ghost revival increases with each case solved. When on the edge of losing control, the court dispatches someone to replace the failing commander—and clean up the mess.
“In this situation, sir, you should realize that if merely knowing about a ghost case caused marking, there would be chaos.”
Zheng He explained, “So I don’t know what the court did, but Demon Suppression Division personnel with ghost revival don’t get marked just by hearing or mentioning cases, unless the county government suffers an incident like in Wan’an County, which allows the fierce ghosts to run rampant.”
Zhao Fusheng found this odd.
If hearing or mentioning a ghost case could cause marking—a contagious curse—how did the Demon Suppression Division avoid it?
She was sure it had nothing to do with the soul register.
After all, when she encountered the ghost carriage, she was listed in the soul register but still couldn’t avoid boarding it.
If entering the soul register couldn’t prevent such a curse, the court must have other means of controlling ghost curses. She might investigate this further in the capital someday.
Liu Chunquan trembled at the words “General Jin” and “ghost carriage.” His eyes flicked between the two, wanting to speak but afraid to interrupt their conversation. Anxious, he sat quietly, waiting to be acknowledged.
Zhao Fusheng, unable to solve the mystery for now, continued:
“After the ghost carriage went out of control, it wandered about. The ghost driving it held a register—anyone whose name was on it would be invited aboard.”
Liu Chunquan’s face paled.
“You mean...”
He wasn’t foolish.
Recalling his daughter boarding a black carriage late at night ten years ago, he had thought she was bewitched and eloped, feeling ashamed and angry yet unwilling to tell others.
Now he realized Zhao Fusheng implied his daughter had truly been taken by a fierce ghost.
Was he then a witness to her dying moments?
“I saw Liu Honghong’s name on the ghost carriage register,” Zhao Fusheng said quietly.
Though her voice was low, these words struck Liu Chunquan like thunder, leaving him dazed and speechless.
Zheng He’s heart chilled.
Liu Chunquan had told him this before. According to the rules Zhao Fusheng described, he should have been marked by a fierce ghost.
But the Demon Suppression Division had an unwritten law: even if personnel died from ghost revival, merely hearing, seeing, or mentioning the ghost wouldn’t cause marking.
This rule had never failed.
He had resisted Zhao Fusheng’s ghost case at first, but recalling this law, he felt some peace.
“Wah—my daughter—”
Liu Chunquan finally reacted, wailing sorrowfully on the boat, like a lone bird mourning its lost child.
Someone peeked from the cabin, looking over.
Though sympathetic, Zhao Fusheng warned him: “Keep your voice down. This matter must not spread. Don’t casually tell others about the ghost carriage, or it will bring disaster.”
She looked at Zheng He.
The magistrate’s deputy had relaxed after learning about the ghost carriage. She smiled but warned him:
“Be careful.”
Zheng He smirked. “Thanks for your concern, but—”
“No buts,” Zhao Fusheng cut him off with a sharp look.
Her gaze unsettled him. Just as he was about to speak, she added:
“Your name is next on the ghost carriage register.”
“Ghost carriage—” Zheng He repeated with a stiff smile, then his face turned grim, the ghostly aura intensifying.
“What do you mean?”
“Your name is on the register now. The ghost carriage will come for you next.”
Zhao Fusheng, feeling in good spirits, repeated it.
Zheng He’s expression changed drastically.
“Impossible! Are you joking?”
“I never joke about ghost cases.” Zhao Fusheng waved her hand, amused by his changing face.
“But for now, don’t worry. If you’re lucky, the ghost carriage might not find you before your fierce ghost revives.”
She glanced pointedly at his chest.
“Don’t joke...”
Zheng He’s vision darkened.
“All right, enough serious talk. Go hurry the seafood.”
Zhao Fusheng looked toward the distance, where a large group was approaching the riverbank from Ding’an Tower—led by the Fan brothers.
Fan Bisi laughed and chatted, entertaining a crowd of gentry and wealthy merchants.
Seeing this, and considering the magistrate’s party’s gains, Zhao Fusheng felt a sense of satisfaction.
She had resolved the Zhao couple’s ghost revival, succeeded in her first god sealing, gaining part of the door god’s power, and now had over two thousand merit points.
Besides, Xu Yachen and others had donated much gold, enough to renovate the Demon Suppression Division and surrounding shops.
These shops were now under her name. With her presence, property values would surely rise.
When she had money, she could truly transform Wan’an County.
“...”
Zheng He had no mind to hurry seafood or enjoy the celebration banquet.
He was puzzled why his name appeared in the ghost register.
He had suspected Zhao Fusheng might be scaring him, since Demon Suppression Division personnel should know about the ghost carriage, especially as it involved the magistrate’s headless ghost.
She had reviewed old cases and knew the ghost carriage’s existence was no surprise.
But knowing Liu Honghong’s name unsettled him.
He wanted to ask more, but Zhao Fusheng had turned away, unwilling to discuss ghosts further.
Zheng He looked at the distraught Liu Chunquan, full of regret, wondering if the troupe had brought this trouble upon them.
He had many doubts: Where did Zhao Fusheng see the register? How did she know the ghost carriage might not find him? Most importantly, was she deceiving him?
His expression darkened. He bit his lip and walked off.
“I’ll go hurry the seafood.”
Bao County couldn’t be stayed in. Even if reporting to the court invited death, it was better than trembling in fear, waiting for the ghost carriage.
At least he had served the court, and before his fierce ghost fully revived, the court would not kill him.
He resolved not to say more.
The Red Spring Troupe heard their leader’s wailing, confused, often peeking out.
Zhao Fusheng gestured for them to help Liu Chunquan back and comfort him.
Several martial actors nervously came out and carried the dazed Liu Chunquan away.
Zhao Fusheng stood by the boat alone for a long while, enjoying rare quiet and solitude.
After some time, the aroma of cooked river delicacies drifted from the boat.
Fan Bisi personally invited her, saying the banquet was ready and awaiting her arrival.
Several tables were set up in Youyuan Lane. Zhao Fusheng glanced and saw the magistrate’s notable gentry almost all present, including Xu Yachen, who had promised to move to Wan’an County.
At the head table, only a few chairs were set.
Having learned her name was on the ghost carriage register, Zheng He’s fear had vanished. A pale, well-groomed youth stood beside him, both nervous and excited.
Zhao Fusheng’s face darkened instantly.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Fan Bisi said, “Deputy Commander Zheng said you glanced a little too long at Liu Shan in the troupe, so they sent someone to pour you wine—”
He stopped when he saw Zhao Fusheng’s expression.
Zheng He, clueless, strode over.
“Please, this is your—”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Take him back where he came from!” Zhao Fusheng’s face turned faintly green.
Zheng He shrugged. “Don’t worry, ma’am. These troupe people are used to it. Wherever they go, they accompany. If you fancy him, it’s his honor—”
Zhao Fusheng wanted to punch him twice. She felt her hard-earned reputation for ghost hunting was destroyed in an instant.
The youth looked helpless, sensing her displeasure but unaware of any wrongdoing, growing fearful.
Zhao Fusheng shot Zheng He a cold glare.
She didn’t send the youth away immediately, instead taking her seat at the head table.
Guests toasted her, but the youth blocked their advances, and the atmosphere grew lively.
With the crisis averted, the magistrate’s party lavished praise and compliments on Zhao Fusheng.
She quickly set aside the minor annoyance and focused on enjoying the feast.
Midway through, the stage was ready, and the troupe performed.
The Red Spring Troupe’s young nightingale had a fine figure and excellent singing voice, melodious and penetrating.
Once she appeared, the noisy boat fell silent, and Zhao Fusheng showed appreciation.
...
The celebration lasted over two hours until Zhao Fusheng announced her return to Ding’an Tower, and everyone rose to leave.
She sent the troupe youth away and had Zheng He arrange lodging for the Fan brothers, then returned alone to Ding’an Tower.
The ghost carriage remained inside.
Without the golden bell to guide it, the ghost carriage was stalled, no longer moving.
The fierce ghost sat before it, the ghost horse as still as a statue.
The coffin behind was sealed tightly, suppressing the fierce ghost inside.
Ordinary people would be terrified seeing such a ghost.
But Zhao Fusheng was no ordinary person.
After confirming the ghost carriage could not harm her for now, she treated it as a special “roommate.”
She washed her face simply, extinguished the lights, and lay down to rest with eyes closed.
Though aware of the ghost carriage’s unusual state, she remained vigilant.
That night, she did not truly sleep, only relaxing when dawn came.
Early that morning, the group hurried back to Wan’an County.
At Ding’an Tower, the Fan brothers, Zheng He, the magistrate, and several commanders including Gu Jiansheng arrived.
When Zhao Fusheng came downstairs, the return carriage was ready.
Another carriage, prepared by Zheng He, awaited as well.
Fan Bisi greeted her, “Good morning, ma’am.”
He noticed Zhao Fusheng’s unusual state.
Though the ghost case was resolved last night, she seemed sleepless, her eyes red and bruised. She even yawned when he greeted her.
“Ready?” she asked.
Fan Bisi nodded. “Ready. One carriage for us, the other prepared by Deputy Commander Zheng, loaded with nine thousand taels of gold and some jewels.”
He explained, “The gold promised by Xu Yachen and others will be delivered gradually to the Demon Suppression Division in Wan’an County.”
Zhao Fusheng nodded approvingly.
“Why not stay a few more days so I can show proper hospitality?” Zheng He approached eagerly.
He hadn’t slept well either; his money spots were more obvious, ghostly aura restless—he was in poor shape.
Their eyes met, and Zhao Fusheng shook her head.
“No. Before I leave, I have a few things to tell you.”
Zheng He paused, then smiled, “Please, ma’am.”
“First, after I leave, you must not enter Ding’an Tower again. Not only you, but it’s best to seal the tower and prevent anyone from wandering in.”
Her words confused Zheng He, but ghost handlers had peculiar tempers. The greater their power, the grander their style.
This was the Prince of Chu’s private property. No one dared speak out with Zhao Fusheng’s orders.
He nodded. “Anything else?”
“Watch over the Red Spring Troupe. I feel something’s off about them—”
Zhao Fusheng’s words gave Zheng He pause; he showed some resistance.
“This—”
Zhao Fusheng glanced at him and suddenly asked, “Your fierce ghost revival isn’t far off, is it?”
This wasn’t a secret.
Zheng He had been a ghost handler for over three years, considered a veteran in the Han dynasty.
He’d been in Bao County for over two years and, by imperial order, had personally “sent off” the previous commander a year ago, serving as deputy commander since.
He completed three ghost cases last year, but this year had not taken action.
Without case resolutions, anyone could see he was near his end.
“Right,” he calmly admitted, “I can only last until the end of this year.”
Happy New Year to all! May the new year bring new beginnings!
Also hoping for good health and a renewed spirit in the year ahead (gradually turning into a wish chapter), hahaha!
The Bao County subplot concludes here. Next, Fusheng embarks on a new journey~~~