Chapter 16

Chapter 16: "Star Records"

“Miscarriage?”

Wang Shi’s words instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the room.

Under the gaze of so many martial artists, Wang Shi’s words faltered for a moment, but she continued, “Yes—” She took a deep breath, her tone becoming lighter and slower. “I’ve prescribed this before, and I remember it clearly.”

It was obvious there was some story behind it.

However, given the current situation, no one had the energy to inquire further, and Wang Shi herself didn’t feel her past experiences were anything to be proud of.

She hurriedly closed her mouth, not saying anything else. The group of martial artists looked at each other, considering the information she had just revealed.

Bai Zhengliu and Mei Yinghan were pondering what this prescription could mean, while Fu Ming, after thinking for a moment, his eyes brightened slightly.

“I understand now!” he said. “The matter of miscarriage is usually something among women! It must be that the Huang family’s poisonous woman has come up with a new trick to harm Liu Shi.”

Gu Miao, on the other hand, hesitated. “If this is to harm someone, why would she openly write the prescription in the account book?”

Fu Ming paused, but quickly responded, “Earlier, Zheng... Mei Daxia looked at it, and didn’t think it was anything other than common blood-activating and cold-dispelling herbs, right? Most others would think the same.”

Gu Miao fell silent. That reasoning made sense.

Fu Ming was now certain. “There’s no mistake! The head of the Chang family might have neglected his first wife because of the Huang family’s poisonous woman, but once the first wife was brought back, he was just an ordinary man.” Men, after all, may despise their wives, but when it comes to relations, it's another matter entirely. “During this process, when a child was involved, it made Huang Shi jealous. Perhaps even the later harm to Liu Shi that led to her death was because she was pregnant.”

Liu Shi’s marriage to Chang Laoye was still valid. If she had given birth, the child would have been the legitimate heir, and most of Chang Laoye’s estate would have gone to that child. How could Miss Huang endure such a situation?

This also explained why Liu Shi had carefully treasured the handkerchief with Chang Laoye’s name on it. From her perspective, the couple had not severed their ties. On the contrary, her husband still had feelings for her, but now there was this evil person, Miss Huang, in the way.

Even Fu Ming, who had always thought from Chang Laoye’s point of view, could not help but say, “This matter really was unfair of the head of the Chang family.”

His words were clear and resonant. Bai Zhengliu lowered his eyes, looking at the account book in his hand, the balance in his mind gradually tipping.

Perhaps there really weren’t as many doubts as he thought, maybe he was just overthinking things.

He thought so in his heart, but didn’t voice it. Instead, he said, “Let’s wait and see.”

But there was nothing else to see.The group had stayed in the accounting room for the entire morning. When it was lunchtime, as usual, An Bo came to find them.

Not only did he come alone, but he also brought with him the things that Chang Laoye had sorted out. It was said to be a book of techniques left by the Daoist of Miao Ji Guan before his death. The cover had three big words written on it: "Star Records."

The swordsman held the book, asking An Bo, "Where is Chang Laoye?"

An Bo’s face turned bitter. After a long pause, he stammered, "After you two great heroes left last night, our lord began sorting through these things. While he was tidying up, Lady Liu..."

In short, Liu Shi had come again, and Chang Laoye was unable to get out of bed.

Bai Zhengliu’s eyelids twitched, and the face of the middle-aged man he had seen last night flashed through his mind.

The light was there, and Chang Laoye had always seemed trembling and fearful. He only remembered the other person’s face being dull, always lowering his head in guilt. Upon further reflection, he couldn’t quite recall what the man looked like.

Looking at his cowardly and timid appearance, cursing Liu Shi to death on one hand, while on the other hand, he’d rather hide in the cabinet than truly face his first wife, it was easy to imagine how Chang Laoye must have behaved when actually confronted by Liu Shi.

Bai Zhengliu shook his head and carefully examined the book in his hand.

Though it was called a book, it was actually just a collection of torn pages. Bai Zhengliu flipped through it briefly and saw several formation diagrams for confinement, talismans for soul-cutting, and other minor spells for finding objects, opening paths, and so on.

On the side of each page, there were also detailed notes on the materials needed for the formations and spells. But apart from terms like "vermillion," which were easy to understand, the rest were obscure and used other names.

The swordsman asked, "What do these writings mean? Do you think your lord can understand them?"

An Bo cautiously nodded first, then shook his head, explaining, "Of course, he can’t fully understand. But the Daoist priests left some things behind, and if we compare them one by one, we should be able to figure it out."

Fu Ming, already anxious from not being able to get the book, immediately said, "Then what are we waiting for? We should start the ritual at once!"

But the swordsman responded, "What happens after the ritual? If Liu Shi is confined, then what?"

Fu Ming: "…"

Fu Ming once again glared at Bai Zhengliu.

However, Mei Yinghan had already figured it out: Ultimately, "The matter of the Chang family" and "Our arrival at the Chang family" were two separate things.Even though Bai Zhengliu had already believed about seventy to eighty percent of the stories told by the people in the Chang household, there was still one problem lingering over them.

If they dealt with Liu Shi, would they be able to leave the Chang residence? Or would they still be unable to leave, while the people who didn’t have to guard the house, like Chang Laoye and the others, could leisurely leave?

Thinking of this, a thin chill rose from Mei Yinghan’s neck. He said nothing but looked at An Bo.

An Bo was also used to being dismissed whenever the group of martial artists discussed something. He forced a smile and said, "Alright, you all discuss, I…"

His lips trembled, and he muttered, "We don’t have much time left! Last night, Chun Ying also left, and if things continue like this, the Chang family may really be finished!"

The housekeeper left, leaving five rational and communicable living people, plus a butcher with them.

Fu Ming glanced at Bai Zhengliu with annoyance, "If you don’t want to do the ritual, then just give me the book."

— There was another thought behind these words.

Previously, he had never heard of Miao Ji Guan, but the fact that they had such a book and could temporarily suppress the vengeful ghost Liu Shi was enough to prove that the Daoists in the temple had real abilities. In other words, the "Star摘 Records" was indeed a genuine book of magic.

Having it meant that he could practice the ways of immortality and exterminate demons.

After everything that happened at the Chang residence, it was hard to say how much of Fu Ming’s "chivalrous spirit" remained, but since he now knew that vengeful ghosts who claimed lives were real, how could he not make more preparations? If he had the "Star摘 Records" earlier, when the female ghost dragged him into the water, he wouldn’t have been so helpless.

He was very forceful. Even when Bai Zhengliu later said, "You must think carefully. Once this bow is drawn, there is no turning back," Fu Ming only took it as a sign that the swordsman was frightened.

He sneered and said, "Zhengliu, are you perhaps scared after we dealt with the blood demon earlier? Acting so cautious is not the way a ‘great hero’ like you should behave."

Bai Zhengliu slightly furrowed his brows and said, "Courage and recklessness are two different things."

Fu Ming: "People die every day in the Chang residence! Yesterday, we didn’t know who it was, but clearly, it was that maid! Even if, aside from Liu Shi, you and I really can’t leave this house, at least we won’t face any more danger to our lives—"

"Alright, alright." Gu Miao mediated, "Brother Fu, Brother Bai, you’re both thinking of us, there’s no need for such tension." Although, seeing his new lover and his old lover falling out, Gu Miao felt guilty, but also a hint of joy.

He would never show it.

After all, who wouldn’t want their lover to only have eyes for them? Who wouldn’t fear their significant other maintaining ties with others? Fu Ming’s actions now clearly told Gu Miao that Fu Ming had truly severed his bond with Bai Zhengliu.

Brother Bai, I am truly sorry.Fu Lang, since you haven’t noticed my previous selfishness, I still hope to go out with you...

Gu Miao’s eyes slightly flickered. His own words didn’t count, and now he was trying to get Mei Yinghan to mediate.

He called out, “Shixiong! You say something too.”

Mei Yinghan glanced at him, then at Bai Zhengliu.

Under the swordsman’s gaze, Fu Ming’s eyes narrowed slightly. He spoke with a calm tone: “Still, Miao Miao understands me.”

At the same time, Mei Yinghan said, “Since we have to trust the people of the Chang residence, why don’t we ask them directly why we can’t leave?”

Everyone present: “…”

In the midst of bewildered gazes, Mei Yinghan remained calm and indifferent, and asked in return: “Or, does anyone else have a better idea?”

Others: “…” No, no, we have no other ideas. But, this move of yours... isn’t it a bit too unconventional?

Mei Yinghan calmly analyzed: “We originally followed the words of the people in the Chang residence, believing they were the ones who invited the exorcists because we didn’t trust them and were on guard. But now, we believe what they said is true, and there’s not a single lie. So perhaps it’s time to stop acting.”

The scene fell into an eerie silence.

Fu Ming instinctively wanted to object, but as the words reached his throat, he realized that to refute now would be like slapping his own face.

Gu Miao was completely lost, thinking, “Is this really possible? If the people in the Chang residence didn’t know they were ghosts before, but we woke them up…” He shuddered. Didn’t this just make him believe that what he ate yesterday was some filthy thing?

Lady Wang had no idea what to do, so she just listened to the others.

Finally, Bai Zhengliu, the last one, slowly revealed a look of admiration.

“Good idea,” he said. “Why didn’t I think of this earlier?”

Gu Miao couldn’t help but say, “What if we provoke them…”

Bai Zhengliu replied, “That would show that what they said wasn’t trustworthy. We shouldn’t have listened to them, and we should deal with Lady Liu.”

Gu Miao struggled to turn the idea over in his mind. Fu Ming quickly followed with, “Why take such a risk? Why not examine other ways to determine whether their words are true or false?”Bai Zhengliu asked in return, “What channels?”

“…” Fu Ming was speechless, and a bit frustrated, feeling that the sword and knife-wielding guests were likely trying to make things difficult for their group.

They didn’t dare face Liu Shi directly, so they came up with excuses to avoid the issue.

But Fu Ming didn’t know that Bai Zhengliu had already prepared for the worst-case scenario in his mind.

If, by any chance, Master Chang was really "angered" and turned into a ghost, it would mean that from the very beginning, they had fallen into a nest of ghosts. Whether they dealt with Liu Shi or not would be secondary, or rather, if they followed Master Chang’s idea and dealt with Liu Shi, it might be even more dangerous for them.

This was a calamity they couldn’t escape. Rather than passively face it, it was better to face it proactively. But when the time came, the situation they would have to face would likely be even more brutal than when they dealt with the blood demon.

Author’s note:

I feel like I've become a water jar.

Spent the whole day just dripping, dripping, dripping (...).

Thanks to all the little angels for their concern! I really feel okay, aside from the fever and sore throat, there are no other symptoms. Compared to many friends around me who are aching all over, I feel quite lucky.