Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi distributed a round of spirit-calming pills and asked Chang Rong to instruct the kitchen to brew large quantities of talisman soup. Once most people in the room had regained their senses, they rushed to Tang Yu Yi’s side and asked, “Miss Tang, are you alright?”

Du Tinglan quickly said, “My sister cannot speak right now.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi were stunned. “How can she not speak?”

Tang Yu Yi used her sword hilt to trace characters on Du Tinglan’s palm. Du Tinglan spoke softly, “The Young Lord gave my sister a muting poison. I wonder if the two young Daoists have an antidote?”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi were shocked. How could Senior Brother give Miss Tang a muting poison? Though come to think of it, Senior Brother and Miss Tang hadn’t known peace since they first met. If he wasn’t cursing her magical artifacts, she was wounding him with hidden weapons. If she wasn’t making him mute, he was making her mute.

“We don’t have the antidote,” Qi Zhi said anxiously, pacing in circles. “Senior Brother is busy dealing with the corpse demon now and probably can’t attend to other matters. Let me ask him when I get the chance and try to get the antidote from him.”

Tang Yu Yi nodded gratefully. Though she didn’t expect to get the antidote, it was worth trying. She had Du Tinglan ask them, “Where did the young Daoists go tonight?”

“Don’t mention it,” Jue Sheng said dejectedly. “We fell for the Golden-Robed Young Master’s trick of drawing the tiger away from the mountain. Senior Brother had arranged for many monks and Daoists to patrol inside and outside Chang’an recently. This afternoon, several elders from the outskirts suddenly came into the city seeking help, saying they’d discovered over ten dried corpses in a manor outside the city. Upon investigation, they were all residents who died from having their neck vessels bitten through. They also said two young ladies had just been kidnapped, suspecting it was the work of the corpse demon and the Golden-Robed Young Master.

“To save people, Senior Brother immediately led five Daoists from Dongming Temple to the outskirts. They managed to follow the fierce corpse’s trail and rescue the people, sealing the fierce corpse in time, only to discover it was merely an ordinary corpse fiend rather than the corpse demon. He knew something was wrong and rushed back from the south of the city, but being halfway across the city, he almost didn’t make it back in time. Ah, this is the first time Senior Brother has been outmaneuvered by a demon. He must be furious now.”

Qi Zhi added, “That’s not all. Miss Tang, Miss Du, you may not know, but before Senior Brother left, he specifically arranged the Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Formation inside and outside Prince Cheng’s mansion. This is the supreme first formation of the divine chapters, encompassing all Daoist arts. Any evil spirit would have to retreat before it. Senior Brother had been setting up the formation since two days ago, expending considerable effort. He thought you would be safe in the mansion, but unexpectedly the corpse demon still broke in.”

Tang Yu Yi and Du Tinglan exchanged glances, understanding why Lin Chengyou’s expression had been so terrible.

“However, fortunately with this formation in place, the corpse demon couldn’t find other helpers. Otherwise, if it had summoned the Golden-Robed Young Master or lower-level fierce corpses, the mansion would likely be in complete chaos by now.”

At this moment, Commander Chang returned after arranging matters. Hearing this, he said, “No wonder the corpse demon was alone all night. Even if it wanted to find help temporarily, it could only use the method of turning people into puppets. Minister Meng and Vice Director Li’s young ladies have gone missing. Young Master Gu Xian, Liu Mao, and Liu Quan were all bewitched, oh yes, and Young Master Lu Zhao’an too. I don’t know if the Young Lord has found them yet. Please, young Daoists, watch over this place. I must quickly deploy people to help.”

Qi Zhi and Jue Sheng hurriedly took out talismans from their robes: “Commander Chang, be careful. These are talismans our Master drew before going on his wanderings. They’re stronger than the ones we draw. Commander Chang, carry them with you to ward off evil qi.”

Chang Rong put the talismans in his robe and went to find Lin Chengyou.

While checking on everyone’s recovery, Jue Sheng said to Tang Yu Yi, “Senior Brother said it was Dongming Temple’s Patriarch who suppressed the two demons back then. To capture the corpse demon, we can’t do without Dongming Temple’s assistance. That’s why Senior Brother also brought Daoist Wu Mei Tianxian. We just fear that in the chaos just now, the corpse demon escaped.”

Jue Sheng’s guess wasn’t wrong. In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Chang Rong returned, saying the corpse demon had fled when the Young Lord returned to the mansion. The Young Lord pursued for a while but found not a trace. Fortunately, all the missing people were found. Miss Meng and Miss Li had been thrown into the camellia bushes in the garden. Gu Xian and the others were thrown into the lake. Luckily, Gu Xian had regained some consciousness when hit by the paper ball made from the talisman. After falling into the water, the cold shock made him even more clear-headed. Holding his breath, he managed to swim back to shore.

He happened to meet the Qingyun Temple cultivators who were searching everywhere. Gu Xian directed them to fish out Lu Zhao’an and the others. After being rescued on shore, they were barely saved after treatment, though still not fully awake. Lu Zhao’an was injured the worst, with both his arms dislocated on the spot.

Besides detoxifying them, Lin Chengyou also found medical craftsmen to examine them. The injured were now arranged in the side rooms, waiting for the cultivators to feed them talisman soup.

As they spoke, servants brought soul-calming soup. Under Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi’s encouragement, people carefully left the side room. They saw the flower hall was in complete disarray as if swept through by a violent storm. The main door was broken, the back windows were mostly shattered, and the low couches, tables, and rope beds were smashed to pieces.

Qi Zhi said when the corpse demon controlled puppets, it could make even a weak person have tremendous strength. Moreover, those who were controlled just now were three young strong men. It was lucky the entire flower hall wasn’t torn down.

Just as everyone had drunk the soul-calming soup, Lin Chengyou came in carrying A’Zhi on his back, followed closely by several plump old Daoists – Jian Tian, Jian Xian, Jian Mei, Jian Le, and Jian Xi. Though their clothes were still neat, their expressions were extremely unpleasant.

The five Daoists walked while complaining, “This has exhausted this old Daoist. Who knows how the Patriarch captured it back then? This thing is truly too troublesome.”

Another pursed his lips, clearly unhappy: “I’m drenched in sweat, my Daoist robe is soaked. Young Lord, where is the washroom in your mansion?”

Yet another clutched his stomach: “This poor Daoist’s stomach is empty now. I wonder if the mansion has prepared any hu bing or mo mo? Sorry to trouble the Young Lord, but even a bowl would do to fill my stomach.”

“Ai ai, the Young Lord values the elderly and pities the poor most. After catching demons for half a night, how could the Young Lord dismiss us with just hu bing and mo? Be patient, wait for the kitchen to prepare vegetarian dishes.”

These five Daoists started chattering as soon as they entered, treating Prince Cheng’s mansion like their own temple. Everyone was stunned and looked at each other, but Tang Yu Yi wasn’t surprised. When she went to Dongming Temple last time to break the evil spirit ring, she had already experienced the manner of these “Five Beautiful Immortal Daoists” – each one greedy and noisy, nothing like cultivated Daoists, more like ruffians from the marketplace. She just hadn’t expected them to be so unrestrained even outside.

“Young Lord, no need to make the midnight snack too complicated, four dishes and two soups will do.” The five Daoists hummed as they walked to the head seats and sat down cross-legged one after another.

Lin Chengyou instructed the servants: “You heard them? The five masters are tired from catching demons and need proper nourishment. Quick, go prepare, start with seventeen or eighteen vegetarian dishes, don’t let the masters go hungry.”

The servants bowed and left.

Though still shaken, people in the flower hall couldn’t help but smile at these words. In the waterside pavilion where the poetry gathering was held that afternoon hung a plaque inscribed: ‘The sage eats according to his stomach’s capacity, the worthy man guards against extravagance.’

The calligraphy was proper and elegant, though the strokes showed some immaturity. Whether written by the Young Lord and Second Young Master in their childhood or by the current Princess A’Zhi, whoever wrote it, it showed Prince Cheng’s mansion didn’t advocate extravagance in food and drink. Lin Chengyou instructing the kitchen to make so many midnight dishes for the Five Beautiful Daoists was mocking them for being “neither sage nor worthy.”

The five Daoists couldn’t detect this meaning, only thinking Lin Chengyou meant to honor them, and grew even more pleased. But before they could be smug for long, they heard Lin Chengyou say: “From today on, the Daoist masters will stay in the mansion. Until the corpse demon is caught, we can’t neglect the masters for a single day. Go to Dongming Temple and bring the masters’ clothes and toiletries.”

The smiles froze on the Daoists’ faces.

“Young Lord, that won’t be necessary.” Could it be that if they couldn’t catch the corpse demon, they wouldn’t be allowed to leave Prince Cheng’s mansion?

Lin Chengyou sighed. “I think it’s very necessary. You venerable elders are like dragons showing their heads but not their tails. These past few days, every time we needed to discuss formations and demon-catching, we couldn’t find your traces. Better to gather in one place, save the trouble of going back and forth.”

The five were dumbfounded. In all of Chang’an, they were most jealous of Qingxu Zi. Any slight movement at Qingyun Temple couldn’t escape their five pairs of small eyes. Speaking of Qingxu Zi’s little disciple-grandson, they had watched him grow up and deeply experienced his talent for tormenting people. If they were confined in Prince Cheng’s mansion, they might be dragged out by Lin Chengyou to catch demons in the middle of the night. Before half a month passed, their old bones would be finished in Prince Cheng’s mansion.

“No need!” Daoist Jian Xian was the first to stand up, smiling. “We’ve troubled you all night, the matter is done, we should take our leave. Tomorrow if the Young Lord wishes to discuss demon-catching, anytime is fine, just send word to Dongming Temple. Young Lord need not see us out, we’ll go first.”

The five were about to slip away when servants immediately surrounded them cheerfully: “Masters, please stay. The vegetarian dishes have already started cooking, and the bath water is ready. After the Young Lord discusses demon-catching with the masters, the masters can bathe and dine.”

Watching the five Daoists being escorted back to their seats, Lin Chengyou then said to several old servants beside him: “There’s a pile of case files I got from the Court of Judicial Review in the study, bring them here, we urgently need them.”

The old servants hurried to arrange it.

Lin Chengyou was about to put A’Zhi down from his back, but A’Zhi’s face changed: “Brother, I’m scared!”

Lin Chengyou felt A’Zhi’s forehead and checked her pulse. Confirming his sister was fine in every way, he turned his head to tell A’Zhi: “Don’t be afraid, the demon was driven away by brother, the mansion is very safe now. You’re already nine years old, not a child anymore. Come down, brother has important matters to discuss.”

A’Zhi pouted pitifully: “Then brother can’t leave me.”

“Brother will be right beside you.”

A’Zhi dawdled for a while before coming down, her small hand still gripping Lin Chengyou’s, refusing to let go no matter what.

Lin Chengyou had to lead his sister by the hand as he apologized to everyone in the room: “Today you were all invited to attend the poetry gathering, who knew such a thing would happen, involving everyone in this fright? I feel extremely ashamed. You’ve all had the talisman soup just now, if you still feel unwell, I’ll ask Imperial Physician Yu to check your pulses again.”

Everyone had already heard the explanation from Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi earlier. With the great formation inside and outside Prince Cheng’s mansion, it should have been the safest place in the city. Such an incident was something Lin Chengyou himself could never have imagined. Thinking how even Princess Jingde was scared half to death tonight, Lin Chengyou’s mood couldn’t be better than theirs. Even if some had confused thoughts, they immediately cast them aside and hurriedly returned the courtesy: “Tonight that evil spirit came without warning, Prince Cheng’s mansion suffered the heaviest losses. Young Lord need not feel ashamed, it was just an unexpected disaster.”

At this moment, those old servants carrying several trays came in and said to Lin Chengyou: “Young Lord, we’ve brought them back.”

Tang Yu Yi put down her soup bowl and looked up to see piles of bamboo scrolls on the trays, looking quite aged.

Lin Chengyou had the old servants put down the trays, then said to everyone: “When the corpse demon broke into Prince Cheng’s mansion, you weren’t its target. Shortly, I’ll have Dongming Temple and Qingyun Temple’s Daoists escort you to ensure everyone returns safely. If you’re still afraid, you can stay at Prince Cheng’s mansion for the night and return home at daybreak.”

Most who attended today’s poetry society were young men and women, the oldest being seventeen or eighteen, the youngest like A’Zhi and Reminder Wang’s young lady not yet ten years old. They had originally wanted to take their leave after drinking the soul-calming soup but stayed out of fear of the corpse demon. Hearing Lin Chengyou’s thorough arrangements, they immediately stood up. Except for several young ladies from civil officials’ families who planned to leave at daybreak, the rest all left with the Daoists.

A’Zhi had her maid lead those young ladies to the guest rooms. In the blink of an eye, only a handful of people remained in the flower hall.

Seeing most people had left, Lin Chengyou bent down to pick up a bamboo scroll from the tray and said: “This corpse demon appears only sixteen or seventeen. To deal with her, we must first understand who she was in life—”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi exchanged glances, then suddenly said: “Princess just mentioned that when the demon came tonight, it was Miss Tang’s magical artifact that held it off for a while. Senior Brother, why not let Miss Tang describe what the corpse demon was like?”

The Dongming Temple Daoists had long coveted Tang Yu Yi’s jade sword. Hearing this, they perked up: “Oh? Just with this sword? Miss Tang, please tell us what happened then.”

Tang Yu Yi pointed at her throat and sighed leisurely, indicating she wanted to speak but couldn’t open her mouth.

Qi Zhi seized the opportunity: “Senior Brother, catching the demon is urgent. If Miss Tang could speak, perhaps all the mysteries could be solved.”

A’Zhi started shaking Lin Chengyou’s arm: “Brother, quick, find a way to help Miss Tang with the poison!”

Seeing Lin Chengyou’s poor expression, Tang Yu Yi felt the anger in her chest somewhat relieved. Lin Chengyou had shot himself in the foot – first poisoning her, then the corpse demon showing up. Although it was thanks to his Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Formation that the corpse demon couldn’t go on a killing spree, they had still been frightened in the side room. He might not have known then, but knowing now must make him feel terrible.

Lin Chengyou’s discomfort was her pleasure.

Seeing him remain silent, she wasn’t anxious. Tonight only she had directly confronted the demon. He must want to learn some clues from her mouth. If he missed anything, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself. Therefore, he had to give her the antidote whether he wanted to or not.

Unexpectedly, Lin Chengyou stared at her for a while, then casually coughed and said: “I have other plans regarding Miss Tang’s situation. Let’s first discuss the corpse demon’s background.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi were stunned. Tang Yu Yi’s temple twitched, and she nearly stood up from her seat. Du Tinglan quickly pulled Tang Yu Yi back, leaning close to her ear: “Don’t be hasty. You can’t speak now, so you can’t win an argument with him. He won’t refuse to give you the antidote. Let’s wait and see.”

Tang Yu Yi thought about it and agreed this made sense. If Lin Chengyou didn’t want to give her the antidote, he would have forcibly sent her and her cousin away already. So she steadied her breathing and resumed her serene smile.

The five Daoists kept urging: “Young Lord, what’s the corpse demon’s background?”

Lin Chengyou opened a bamboo scroll and said seriously: “To deal with the corpse demon, we must first understand what happened to her in life. If not for Daoist Dongyang Zi writing a passage in their temple’s strange records a hundred years ago, I couldn’t have found out who the corpse demon was in life. Unfortunately, of Dongming Temple’s strange records from a hundred years ago, only some fragmentary scrolls remain. After organizing them these past few days, I’ve somewhat figured it out. If I’m not mistaken, it should be her – this woman died a full hundred years ago, at exactly sixteen years old.”

Tang Yu Yi had been wondering why the corpse demon targeted her, and this immediately piqued her curiosity. Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi also set aside the matter of the antidote and listened carefully.

A’Zhi couldn’t wait for servants to attend her and personally moved the lamp closer: “Brother, what’s this woman’s background?”

The bamboo scroll was already damaged, but fortunately, the writing inside was still mostly complete, probably due to special preservation.

Lin Chengyou pointed to a spot on the bamboo scroll: “Dongyang Zi wrote in the strange records that when he was tracking the corpse demon’s trail, he followed it to Fan Creek in Chang’an’s southern outskirts. There was an abandoned manor there with a tomb inside. The tomb only had an empty coffin, with evil qi soaring to the heavens for ten li around. From the tombstone in front of the grave, the tomb’s occupant was born in the Gengxu year and died at sixteen, becoming a corpse demon ten years after death.

“The Gengxu year was when the previous dynasty fell. In other words, the woman died exactly when the world fell into chaos. At that time, the previous dynasty’s emperor had fled to Guangling and was captured there. Soon after, the nation fell.

“Dongyang Zi was born blind. After learning about the corpse demon’s birth and death years, he immediately took two disciples and fell through the entire tomb, but found nothing. The tombstone only recorded the woman’s birth and death years. As for her name in life, her parents’ clan, why she died… no records were left at all. Dongyang Zi didn’t know the corpse demon’s background, so naturally couldn’t find her weakness. Therefore, even though he possessed profound Daoist arts, when he later confronted the corpse demon and Golden-Robed Young Master, he still unfortunately perished.”

The five Dongming Temple Daoists began crying: “Our poor Patriarch!”

How could Lin Chengyou tolerate their noise: “Thanks to Elder Dongyang Zi’s records, I confirmed the corpse demon’s birth and death years and the location of her tomb in life. With just these two points, things become much easier. Yesterday I went to the Department of State Affairs to check the previous dynasty’s historical records. Unfortunately, because of that chaos, many of the previous dynasty’s records were burned. I couldn’t find anything just from the woman’s birth and death years, so I had to switch to investigating the abandoned manor in Fan Creek where the woman was buried. Only after checking the previous dynasty’s geographical records from a hundred years ago did I learn that this so-called abandoned manor was situated in one of the deposed emperor’s traveling palaces.

“Due to warfare, the traveling palace was burned down. Since Daoist Dongyang Zi couldn’t see, when he sensed the traveling palace was overgrown with weeds, he mistook it for an abandoned village.”

Tang Yu Yi nodded secretly. How could ordinary people have the chance to check these historical records of the previous dynasty? No wonder Daoist Dongyang Zi couldn’t discover the corpse demon’s life story even until death.

Everyone was shocked: “Buried in the deposed emperor’s traveling palace – was this woman a palace maid or royalty?”

“Either royal family or imperial consort, otherwise she wouldn’t have had a tomb dug in the traveling palace. But we don’t know why her identity was concealed, with only an unnamed tombstone after death.”

Daoist Jian Xian said: “Could she have been a concubine forcibly taken by the deposed emperor? If she was treated as a forbidden plaything in life, it’s not strange she had no name in death.”

This comment was quite improper, and Du Tinglan’s face reddened.

Lin Chengyou glanced at A’Zhi, who was cupping her chubby cheeks in her hands, listening with great interest. He frowned: “It’s too late. You still have to return to the palace tomorrow morning. Go rest first.”

A’Zhi naturally refused: “I won’t rest. I want to know the corpse demon’s background too.”

“Are you scared?”

“I’m not scared anymore. I just want to hear brother tell the story.”

Lin Chengyou picked A’Zhi up and carried her on his back toward the door: “Brother will tell you the story tomorrow. It’s too late today.”

A’Zhi squirmed on Lin Chengyou’s back: “No! I want to listen a bit longer.”

However, she couldn’t overcome Lin Chengyou and was soon forcibly sent away.

The remaining people in the flower hall looked at each other. Jian Mei stroked his beard and took the initiative: “Even if she was the emperor’s forbidden plaything, she should have had a surname, whether Liu or Zhang. It’s strange not to leave even a single character.”

Tang Yu Yi made a sound of agreement. Indeed, it was too unusual. The emperor regarded all people as his children. Even if the woman’s background was unspeakable, as long as the deposed emperor intended to arrange a dignified identity for her, it wouldn’t have been difficult at all.

Lin Chengyou returned to the flower hall and opened another bamboo scroll: “After learning the woman might be of royal blood, I checked all records about the corpse demon. Master once said corpse demons arise in chaotic times, with only one appearing every hundred years. To become a corpse demon, three conditions must be met. Qi Zhi, come here.”

Qi Zhi was caught off guard by his senior brother testing his lessons and hurriedly straightened his back: “Those who become corpse demons often have extremely yin and strange destinies – either exceptionally strong physically or plagued by countless illnesses. This is the first condition.”

Everyone privately wondered – the deposed emperor had access to beauties from all over the world, logically he wouldn’t bother nurturing someone destined to die young. Likely this corpse demon had been exceptionally strong physically.

“Second, for a ‘corpse demon,’ the ‘demon’ character is essential. Those who become corpse demons often have fierce natures in life. Anyone with good intentions or insufficient evil cannot transform through the world’s evil qi after death.”

Tang Yu Yi nodded secretly. This wasn’t wrong. Tonight the corpse demon’s methods of forcing everyone into desperate situations were truly chilling. She must have been thoroughly evil in life, becoming doubly vicious after death.

Qi Zhi continued: “Third, corpse demons must come from wrongful deaths. Only those who die wrongfully can have their vicious qi reach its peak at the moment of death. Combined with chaotic times, when the red star appears in the east, white comets intrude upon the moon gate, yin and yang violently eclipse, and heaven and earth’s qi reverse, only then can such an extremely evil and fierce corpse demon emerge.”

Lin Chengyou added: “As I said earlier, the year the corpse demon died happened to coincide with the previous dynasty’s fall. You could say the timing, location, and human factors all aligned, so she only took ten years to emerge from the earth.”

Jian Mei wept and sighed: “Back then our Patriarch died at the corpse demon’s hands. Now it’s coming out to do evil again. As Dongming Temple’s disciples, how can we stand idly by?”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi touched their heads – you weren’t saying this earlier. If Senior Brother hadn’t forcibly detained you at Prince Cheng’s mansion, you would have already returned to lie down at Dongming Temple.

Jian Xi wiped tears with his sleeve and said angrily: “What’s the corpse demon’s name and birth time? Only by knowing this can we restrain her. Young Lord, have you investigated everything?”

“The Daoist master thinks too highly of me.” Lin Chengyou said, “Even in a hurry we can only investigate step by step. I’ve looked through all surviving historical records, but there are very few records about the Fan Creek traveling palace. Just from the woman’s birth and death years, I couldn’t find anything conclusive. I had to switch to investigating from the Fan Creek abandoned manor where the woman was buried. Only after checking the previous dynasty’s geographical records from a hundred years ago did I learn that in the fifth year of Maode, a court reminder who specifically recorded imperial words and deeds wrote: ‘On the Dragon Boat Festival, the Yangzhou Provincial Governor presented a hundred sugar crabs. The current emperor immediately ordered fifty sent to the Fan Creek traveling palace.’

“Sugar crabs were always tribute items, with fresh and fat ones being the highest grade. One was worth a hundred gold. They had to be sent by fast horse from Guangling to Chang’an. The deposed emperor loved eating sugar crabs, yet could be so generous – you can see how much he valued the traveling palace’s occupant. In the fifth year of Maode, that woman was only seven years old. If she was already living in the traveling palace then, she was likely not the deposed emperor’s consort or forbidden plaything.”

The Daoists were shocked: “Could she have been the deposed emperor’s daughter raised outside the palace?”

Lin Chengyou stroked his chin, neither confirming nor denying.

Tang Yu Yi and Du Tinglan exchanged glances – if she was a princess, what was there to hide?

The Daoists started chattering: “Even if the princess’s birth mother had humble status, the deposed emperor could have given her a title. Why would a princess have only an unnamed tombstone after death?”

“Yes, we’ve never heard of a princess who could only live in a traveling palace in life and couldn’t acknowledge her ancestors after death.”

Lin Chengyou said: “Just thinking about the corpse demon, this point indeed doesn’t make sense. So why not think about the corpse demon’s mother? Perhaps this corpse demon’s mother’s identity was unspeakable, so the corpse demon also had no name.”

Tang Yu Yi’s eyelashes trembled. The meaning of these words was already very clear – no matter how humble a princess’s mother’s status was, just one imperial edict could naturally make her the emperor’s woman, unless this woman could never openly stay by the emperor’s side for life.

The five old Daoists all widened their eyes: “Young Lord, you can’t mean the corpse demon’s mother was already married to another, so although the corpse demon was a princess, she couldn’t acknowledge her ancestors?”

Lin Chengyou said: “I’m just guessing, or perhaps—”

Should he say this? Earlier he was only concerned with coaxing his sister to sleep, forgetting Tang and Du were still present. Though he prided himself on his thick skin, even he had moments when he couldn’t speak. Never mind, Tang Yu Yi was clever enough to guess without him saying it.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, slowly understanding. There was another possibility – that the deposed emperor had relations with some official’s wife, or even committed incest with someone like an imperial consort mother or cousin, and had a daughter with her. But because they had to maintain the royal family’s face, they could never acknowledge this daughter for life.

Perhaps later the deposed emperor had considered finding an official to acknowledge the illegitimate daughter as father, but due to the nation’s fall hadn’t had time to enter her in the clan records. Thus after the corpse demon’s death, she only had an unnamed tombstone.

The hall fell silent. Tang Yu Yi kept her eyes down. If this was true, it would explain why the corpse demon had always been secretly raised in the traveling palace.

Jian Xi coughed to break the awkwardness: “This happened a hundred years ago. If not for our Patriarch finding the tomb where the corpse demon emerged in the Fan Creek abandoned manor back then, later generations would likely never have been able to guess the corpse demon’s identity. Our Patriarch couldn’t get hold of the previous dynasty’s historical records. Even if he guessed something, he probably felt many points didn’t make sense. No wonder the strange records he wrote before his ascension were so vague.”

Qi Zhi asked curiously: “Senior Brother, there’s still one thing that doesn’t make sense. Master said corpse demons prefer to act alone, so why would it get involved with that Golden-Robed Young Master?”

But the five Daoists said: “That question should be asked the other way around. The Golden-Robed Young Master transformed from a golden bird from Mount Zhongnan, with profound cultivation and cunning methods. Many Daoists have dealt with it, and various temples have detailed accounts. It’s naturally romantic, fond of women—ahem, the corpse demon is an impure dead thing, traditionally cold and heartless. Why would this Golden-Robed Young Master forsake his pleasures to follow the corpse demon?”

Lin Chengyou said: “Do you remember where these two demons were suppressed before they broke through the formation?”

“The Caifeng Tower in Pingkang Ward, a brothel.”

Lin Chengyou put the bamboo scroll back on the table: “That brothel was opened by a wealthy merchant from Luoyang named He Mingsheng. Ever since it opened half a year ago, strange events have frequently occurred there. A madam there named E Ji said that when they were renovating Caifeng Tower, the craftsmen accidentally damaged a stone tablet under the backyard ground. Fearing the owner’s blame, they kept it secret. But that night when I inspected the formation’s focal points, I discovered the two demons broke through thirty days ago.”

Jue Sheng exclaimed: “Could it be that the two demons breaking through wasn’t because of the damaged tablet, but for another reason?”

“Besides this, there’s one thing I can’t figure out.” Lin Chengyou looked strangely at Tang Yu Yi. “Miss Tang, the corpse demon seems very interested in you. You must know this by now?”

Tang Yu Yi grumbled internally – if you know this, why not give me the antidote quickly? Looking up, she met Lin Chengyou’s probing gaze. Her heart trembled. Xiao Ya had repeatedly mentioned “borrowing life” to her, saying her recent encounters with evil spirits were related to this. She had long suspected the corpse demon suddenly targeting her was because of this so-called life borrowing. Had Lin Chengyou also become suspicious of her identity, which was why he looked at her that way?

“The corpse demon likes to carve out hearts, especially valuing the first heart it obtains after emerging. This afternoon we examined those dozen or so dried corpses in the southern city. Some died from having their blood drained, others from having their soul essence absorbed, but none had their hearts dug out. This shows that although the corpse demon has been out for a while, it hasn’t yet found a suitable first heart. Why it suddenly targeted Miss Tang puzzles me as well.”

The five Daoists looked strangely at Tang Yu Yi: “Miss Tang, we don’t mean to frighten you, but the corpse demon’s skin and hair appear no different from normal people. Only its chest cavity lacks a heart. After emerging, to fill its void, it will constantly dig out others’ hearts. Once it targets certain prey, it won’t rest until death. We hope tonight was just a coincidence. If the corpse demon has truly set its sights on you, it truly bodes ill rather than well.”

Tang Yu Yi grew increasingly restless. Suddenly feeling the heat in her sleeve, she hurriedly traced on the sword blade: Is there evil?

Not only did Xiao Ya not calm down, it grew even hotter.

Could it be not? She was full of doubts. What did this little old man want to do now? Just then, something seemed to stand up in her sleeve, drawing a character on her palm.

She pondered for a moment before realizing it was the character “you” (佑).

You? What did this mean? She looked around and met Lin Chengyou’s gaze as he was browsing the bamboo scrolls.

Him?

Xiao Ya wrote: Find him, kill the demon.

Tang Yu Yi suddenly understood. Xiao Ya was still thinking about the life-borrowing matter, desperately urging her to deal with the corpse demon herself. Also knowing she couldn’t handle the corpse demon alone, it wanted her to use Lin Chengyou’s help to eliminate the demon.

Wasn’t this a joke? When Lin Chengyou dealt with the corpse demon, how could he be willing to have a burden at his side? Even taking a thousand steps back, if he were willing to cooperate with her, he would be doing most of the work – how could she ensure the merit of demon elimination would be credited to her?

But thinking carefully, she felt Xiao Ya’s idea might not be far-fetched. Things depend on human effort – how would they know without trying? Besides, the corpse demon had already targeted her; one disaster couldn’t be avoided. Lin Chengyou was someone who couldn’t be swayed by either soft or hard approaches. Normal methods wouldn’t work, but when it came to extraordinary measures, she had never been stumped.

At this point, Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi became somewhat panicked: “Senior Brother, is Miss Tang the corpse demon’s first prey?”

Lin Chengyou stroked his chin: “Whether she’s the first, I can’t be certain. After all, that night at Caifeng Tower, three ladies saw the illusion: Ge Jin, Juan’er Li, and Miss Tang. But from how the corpse demon pursued her to Prince Cheng’s mansion tonight, it at least shows it’s very interested in Miss Tang.”

Du Tinglan’s voice trembled slightly: “What should we do? Young Lord, isn’t there any way to quickly eliminate the corpse demon?”

Tang Yu Yi, having thought through how to persuade Lin Chengyou to take her demon-hunting, showed a honey-sweet smile and pointed at her throat to Lin Chengyou, meaning she had something to say, please give her the antidote first.

Lin Chengyou watched her with interest but still said nothing. Tang Yu Yi bit her lip – even at this point, he still didn’t plan to give her the antidote.

Jue Sheng said anxiously: “Senior Brother, Miss Tang is in extremely dangerous circumstances. If the corpse demon goes to harass the Tang mansion, she can’t even speak – how can she call for help?”

“Yes, Senior Brother, please help Miss Tang.”

Even the five Daoists said: “Young Lord, if you have a way, please cure Miss Tang.”

Seeing Lin Chengyou remain silent for so long, Tang Yu Yi had already asked her maid behind her to fetch writing materials. Then she picked up the brush and wrote a line: Young Lord, you should know how dangerous the side room was tonight.

Lin Chengyou stood up and paced around the table, smiling at Tang Yu Yi: You remind me of the situation in the side room – are you trying to leverage gratitude for return favors?

Tang Yu Yi smiled gently: Young Lord thinks too much. But you owing me a favor is a fact – after all, A’Zhi is your dear sister.

Lin Chengyou: Are you sure you want me to speak plainly?

Tang Yu Yi: Don’t tell me you want to deny the debt.

The two of them went back and forth, their gazes hiding sharp edges. Others couldn’t understand, and Qi Zhi curiously pulled Lin Chengyou’s sleeve: “Senior Brother.”

Lin Chengyou suddenly said: “Miss Tang, have you thought about why A’Zhi invited you to attend the poetry gathering at the mansion today?”

Tang Yu Yi silently looked at Lin Chengyou.

He smiled: “This was my idea. These past two days I’ve been searching everywhere for the two demons’ whereabouts. This morning I accidentally discovered some demonic qi near your Tang mansion. I worried the two demons would cause you trouble today, so I had A’Zhi invite you into the mansion. This move was both to probe the demons and to protect you. I had set up the Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Formation in the mansion days ago, sufficient to resist demons and spirits. Although this formation couldn’t stop the corpse demon, it ultimately suppressed its fierce power – otherwise, how could it not have killed anyone tonight? Your jade sword alone couldn’t have dealt with it.”

Tang Yu Yi was stunned. She had wondered why A’Zhi would invite someone she’d only met once – so it was Lin Chengyou’s intention.

“So Miss Tang understands – if A’Zhi hadn’t invited you to the mansion if my formation hadn’t protected you, you might have met with a terrible fate tonight.”

He stopped there. Tang Yu Yi, think carefully – is it that I owe you a favor, or that you owe me another favor?

Unexpectedly, Tang Yu Yi wrote several lines and rose to make a deep bow: I keep the Young Lord’s great kindness in my heart. When I mentioned the side room earlier, it wasn’t to leverage gratitude. But the Young Lord should know that even if the formation could suppress the corpse demon’s fierce power, it couldn’t suppress its ability to bewitch people’s hearts. Previously it had already turned many people into puppets, and later in the side room, almost everyone lost their minds. This method is more terrifying than killing people directly. If not for my magical artifact’s engagement with it, everyone in the room would have been either harmed by puppets or frightened to death. Young Lord, this shouldn’t be something a formation alone can suppress, right?

Lin Chengyou took the paper handed over by the maid and glanced at it without speaking. Fine, what you say makes sense. I’ll count this favor as one I owe you, but favor for a favor – how to repay it is for me to decide.

Tang Yu Yi: Help me cure the poison first.

Lin Chengyou looked innocent, suddenly speaking: “My apologies, I have no solution for Miss Tang’s throat. Anyway, since Miss Tang doesn’t understand Daoist arts, whether you can speak or not doesn’t matter. However, I guarantee I won’t let the corpse demon harm you – if you lose one hair, I’ll compensate you with one hair.”

Everyone was stunned – what did these words mean?

Lin Chengyou looked at the water clock: “Shortly I’ll send you back to your mansion. Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi will stay at the Tang mansion. In the coming days, these two will protect Miss Tang without leaving her side. I’ll also guard outside the Tang mansion. If anything unusual happens, I’ll come as soon as you call.”

Tang Yu Yi was stunned – Lin Chengyou would rather act as her guard than help cure her poison.

Though Du Tinglan was also shocked, she secretly felt relieved. Although Lin Chengyou was arrogant, he was said to always keep his word. Having promised down to a single hair, A’Yu’s situation shouldn’t be too dangerous. Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi were only nine years old – it was reasonable for her sister to host them as honored guests for a few days.

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi were overjoyed – stay at the Tang mansion? Wonderful! Those two boxes of jade dew balls last time were delicious; they wondered if Miss Tang would treat them to vegetarian delicacies every day while they stayed at the Tang mansion.

Lin Chengyou added: “Miss Du, although the corpse demon is targeting Miss Tang, it’s full of schemes. If you return to your mansion, I fear it might go to the Du mansion to find you in order to torment Miss Tang. You’d better stay at the Tang mansion these few days too, and return to your own mansion after we subdue the corpse demon.”

Du Tinglan felt somewhat uneasy but turned to look at Tang Yu Yi, then immediately showed a peaceful expression to reassure her sister, nodding: “Alright, I was already worried about my sister. Staying by her side these days will put my mind more at ease.”

Tang Yu Yi was about to speak when she suddenly felt Xiao Ya’s sword grow hot again. Xiao Ya, hiding in her sleeve, drew a character on her palm: Bath.

She vaguely understood. This old man had previously mumbled about needing regular offerings, the offering being the so-called “Embryonic Breath Transformation Water” – specifically requesting the bath water of Lin Chengyou or his two junior brothers. Now suddenly acting up, could it be that hearing Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi would stay at the mansion, it was getting excited in advance?

Tsk, what was this little old man always thinking about?