Chapter 56: Weeping Bride 26

“I see, in that case, I'll go out and break it.” Su Man spoke so matter-of-factly that, for a moment, no one noticed anything amiss and simply nodded in agreement.

She then inquired about other precautions, such as how to break the formation once outside.

“There must be array points set up around this house. They can't play any real tricks, so it must be talismans. Just remove the talismans and the formation will be broken. There are eighteen points in total, and all must be destroyed.” Since this concerned his own safety, Zhang Gui explained everything in detail.

Su Man nodded; it didn’t sound too difficult.

After a moment's thought, she asked, “Earlier, you mentioned that gossiping behind someone’s back would attract those eerie things, didn’t you?”

When she and Huang Mei were whispering upon their arrival, Zhang Gui had used that as a threat to scare them.

He hesitated. “...”

In truth, he hadn’t lied. “Those things are real, but actually quite weak. I was just trying to scare you so you wouldn’t act rashly.”

He now realized that someone as strong-willed as Su Man wouldn’t be frightened by such tactics.

“Alright. Where can I find those things?”

“What?” Zhang Gui thought he’d misheard.

“Where can I find them?” Su Man repeated, unbothered.

“Behind the village, there’s a well where yin energy gathers. Some weaker spirits hide there.” Meeting Su Man’s gaze, Zhang Gui explained, almost involuntarily.

This wasn’t really a secret in their village. Even in a place of exorcists, there are always sunless corners where strange things fester.

Su Man nodded her understanding and told them to wait for her return.

She also retrieved the talismans Zhang Gui had provided. “What are these for? How do I use them?”

He explained their purposes and usage reflexively, only then realizing Su Man truly meant to go outside. He asked, somewhat dumbfounded, “How are you going to get out?”

“I’ll die once and see how it goes. I’ll return when I’m done.” With that, Su Man swiftly drew a dagger and slit her own throat before anyone could react, leaving the group staring in stunned disbelief.

When Su Man regained consciousness, an hour had passed. She glanced around—good, she hadn’t revived in the same spot.

She had never feared reviving in place before, but if it happened now, her death would have been in vain.

Looking at her surroundings, she realized her position was ideal: not far from the back of the village. With a quick detour, she could reach her destination unnoticed.

She hurried over and found the well Zhang Gui had mentioned. It was shaded, a perfect hiding place for darkness.

Peering in, she was surprised to see a glimmer of light at the bottom!

The resurrection card was hidden well indeed; had she not come, she’d never have found it.

She picked up a small stone and tossed it in.

A faint splash sounded, followed by the thud of the stone hitting the ground.

She quickly deduced that there was some water at the bottom, but not much.

Still, she was reluctant to climb down. Honestly, such a place seemed like a one-way trip.

While pondering what to do, a force suddenly shoved her from behind, pushing her toward the well.

Instead of fear, Su Man laughed.

It was as if fate had sent her a pillow just as she needed to sleep—a helper gifted at the perfect moment.

She grabbed a talisman from her bag and flung it behind her. Instantly, the pressure on her back vanished.

She broke free from the cold, clammy grip and turned to see a dripping, long-haired spirit glaring at her with pitch-black eyes.

Su Man waved her dagger meaningfully. “You’ll follow my orders from now on, understood? Otherwise, that murderous intent you just showed is enough reason for me to chop your head off and kick it like a ball.”

The spirit—just as weak as Zhang Gui had described—was cowed by her threat.

It had no choice but to obey; the talisman held it fast, the spot where it adhered burning intensely, its very soul on the verge of unraveling.

The spirit introduced herself as Mei Huan, a tourist who had come seeking relatives ten years ago.

Her death was shrouded in mystery: one night, after hearing a noise in her room, she switched on the light before she could even see anything—and lost consciousness. When she awoke, she realized she was dead, trapped around the well for ten years.

She’d occasionally heard that if a water ghost found a substitute, it could reincarnate, so she sometimes entertained the thought. But she’d never succeeded; villagers only passed nearby and never approached the well. Only Su Man had come close, which was why she considered acting.

“But you’re not a drowned ghost; finding a substitute won’t help, will it?” Su Man didn’t care about her scheme and certainly had no intention of being her substitute. Without sympathy, she pointed to the glowing spot in the well. “Go fetch that for me.”

Mei Huan sighed with a trace of grievance—most people would feel sorry for her after such a tragic story, wouldn’t they?

But Su Man showed no sympathy, just waited, expressionless, for Mei Huan to retrieve the item.

After spending ten years drifting around here, picking up an object was no challenge for Mei Huan.

Although she found Su Man somewhat heartless, she couldn’t resist talking after so long without company.

“Do you know whom I came here to find? My sister. I had an elder sister who disappeared here fifty years ago. If she’s still alive, she’d be over seventy now. I never actually met her; she was a cousin. My parents always spoke of how outstanding she was—I’ve longed to see this remarkable person.”

“And do you know? Her name was Mei Lun. I’m Mei Huan. Together we’d be—Mei Lun and Mei Huan, a perfect pair!” She made a silly joke, but it fell flat; Su Man didn’t laugh, though Mei Huan herself was doubled over with laughter.

“Here’s what you wanted.” Though talkative, Mei Huan was efficient. The resurrection card was a small stone, which Su Man accepted.

But her mind lingered on the name Mei Lun—a woman who vanished fifty years ago. Was it mere coincidence?

With no photograph and no way to recognize her, it was pointless to dwell on it now.

“Come here and help me with one more thing.”

After dispatching Mei Huan with a stack of talismans, Su Man was on her way to investigate at the village chief’s house when she ran into Miao Sheng.

No—she hadn’t run into him by chance; it was more like he was waiting for her.

He appeared as calm and carefree as the first time they’d met, silver earrings tinkling in the breeze.

He smiled, but his words were chilling enough to make one shiver: “If you could choose your own death, how would you prefer to die?”