WBICDPH Chapter 65 Part 1

Chapter 65: As If Driven by Ghosts and Gods

“I don’t think we should believe them either. They’ve definitely twisted things and left out something important.”

Hua Nanzhi sighed, clearly irritated. “It’s so annoying. Why can’t they just be honest? We can’t help them escape unless we know the truth. What’s the point of hiding things? They’ve already been trapped for seven years—isn’t that enough?”

“Well…”

Lin Jin let out a soft chuckle and was about to respond when he suddenly stopped mid-step.

Because once again, he felt a cold grip clamp around his right ankle.

His heart skipped. He looked down and, sure enough, that ghostly hand with crimson-painted nails had reappeared.

The first time had been terrifying. The second time—less so.

After only a brief pause, Lin Jin gathered his courage and tried stepping forward.

The ghost hand didn’t grow angry at his movement, nor did it yank off his leg as he had feared before.

It simply held on silently. When he stepped forward, he was dragged along a short distance. When he paused, it paused. Then it was dragged forward again.

…

Lin Jin wanted to see what it was trying to do. Since it didn’t seem immediately threatening, he decided—for now—not to interfere.

He even stopped the little pup on his shoulder, who was preparing to leap down and chase the ghost away.

Then, as if nothing were wrong, Lin Jin continued walking, dragging the ghost hand behind him while carrying on his earlier conversation with Hua Nanzhi—unaware of the two beside him.

“I can tell you a similar story,” he said casually. “It’s from my hometown. Want to hear it?”

“Sure. Go ahead.”

Hua Nanzhi folded her arms, listening attentively.

Lin Jin cleared his throat. “Back where I’m from, there was also a poor scholar named Chen Shimei. He had a lawful wife named Qin Xianglian. She endured years of hardship with him, never leaving his side, supporting his studies and bearing his children. Later, he went to the capital to take the imperial exam and became the top scholar. The emperor, unaware that he already had a wife and children, admired him and offered him the title of imperial son-in-law.”

“That’s outrageous!” Hua Nanzhi protested immediately. “He already had a wife! How could he accept that? If he were a real man, he’d refuse the emperor and bring his wife to the capital to share his success!”

“Exactly. But compared to his wife, he valued wealth and status more. So he concealed the existence of his wife and children from the emperor. He planned to leave his humble past behind forever and be reborn as a noble son-in-law.”

“Bastard!!!”

Hua Nanzhi stamped her foot in anger. Then she paused, narrowing her eyes. “Wait. Your story sounds a bit like Zhao Kang’s. A poor scholar who becomes the top of his class. A devoted girl was left behind in the village. Are you suggesting that the Zhou scholar from Shuangxi Village did the same thing as Chen Shimei—abandoned his benefactor once he gained power?”

Lin Jin shook his head, struggling slightly as he walked. Even speaking was becoming difficult. “We don’t know the full picture yet. I can’t conclude. The similarities just reminded me of that story.”

“Oh. Then what happened to Chen Shimei?”

“Eventually, Qin Xianglian brought her children to confront him at his residence and succeeded in reclaiming justice.”

“That’s something, at least. But Qin Xianglian fought for herself. If Zhu Eryao truly encountered a heartless man, why didn’t she fight back? Why kill herself in a wedding dress? It still doesn’t add up.”

“Exactly. So… so I think even the part about her taking her own life should be treated with… caution… huff—”

“What’s wrong with you?”

Hua Nanzhi frowned. They’d barely walked a few steps. Why did he sound so strained? Anyone listening might think he was pulling a loaded cart.

“I… I don’t know. It’s just… too heavy!”

At first, dragging a single ghost hand hadn’t been difficult. But for some reason, the farther he walked, the heavier it became—so heavy now that he could barely lift his leg.

Lin Jin wiped sweat from his brow and glanced back.

As expected, he was no longer dragging just a hand.

Behind him, a young woman in a red wedding dress lay face down on the ground.

One hand gripped his ankle. She did nothing else—just let herself be dragged forward like a sack of grain.

Hua Nanzhi was still asking, “What’s too heavy?”

“The ghost! The ghost’s too heavy! Zhu Eryao’s been holding onto me this whole time!”

Lin Jin tried to shake her off, but her grip was unbreakable.

He groaned in frustration. “Miss, what do you actually want? If you have something to say, just say it! I really can’t drag you anymore!”

“What are you talking about? Zhu Eryao? I don’t sense any ghostly energy at all!”

Hua Nanzhi concentrated again—nothing. She turned to Xiao Yunkong behind them. “Senior Brother, do you see Zhu Eryao? Do you sense any ghost aura?”

Xiao Yunkong looked at Lin Jin and shook his head.

“That’s impossible,” Lin Jin muttered. “You can’t even sense ghost energy?”

“Nope. Maybe that flower you ate caused hallucinations?”

Lin Jin considered that—but quickly rejected it. “No. I saw her before I ate the flower. Remember? I even asked you to check my foot.”

“That’s true… then why?” Hua Nanzhi rubbed her chin. “Maybe only people with weak cultivation can see her?”

“My cultivation isn’t weak!” Lin Jin protested. “I’m just physically weak!”

“Oh—then maybe only physically weak people can see her?”

“Unlikely,” Xiao Yunkong said calmly. “For ordinary mortals, the frail are indeed more likely to see wandering spirits. But that only applies to incomplete souls or white-robed ghosts. At the level of blue flame and above, ghosts can fully manifest. As a red-clad ghost, Zhu Eryao’s presence should be stronger, not invisible to cultivators.”

“Then the issue must be with you, Lin Lin,” Hua Nanzhi concluded. “Try again. Maybe it really is just your imagination?”

“Even if it were, I can tell whether the weight on my leg is real!”