Chapter 62: The Haunted House and the Beautiful Ghost

Generally, haunted houses are characterized by crooked trees, overgrown weeds, broken window paper everywhere, half-open doors, scattered furniture, accumulated dust, and spiderwebs covering every surface.

Of course, if an ordinary person arrives at a haunted house, the spirits within will cast spells to transform the house into a beautiful and exquisite residence, serve delicious food and drink, and lower the ordinary person's guard.

However, these are all illusions; once the spell is broken, the true haunted house will immediately reveal itself, and, well, it might even be built right next to a grave.

Therefore, Gu Zhao immediately suspected this was an illusion cast by a spirit within the house.

Yet, no matter how he concentrated his power into his eyes to examine carefully, or even extended his divine sense outward, he could not detect a single trace of magic.

"Not an illusion?" Gu Zhao asked in surprise.

"Not an illusion!" Daoist Yan Song said, touching the corridor pillar beside him. "Unless the opponent's magic power is far superior to ours, there is no way we could fail to detect any anomaly."

"But it is also possible he is proficient in illusion techniques." Bai Ke jumped out of the He Xiuniang's bag and landed on the He Xiuniang's shoulder. "If we encounter a fierce ghost proficient in illusions, then the trouble will be great."

Unlike a situation where slightly weaker magic power might still allow for a fight, once one falls under an illusion from which there is no escape, life and death are truly no longer in one's own hands.

The He Xiuniang turned back, saw that the main gate of the residence was still open, and felt a bit frightened. "So, are we still going in?"

Daoist Yan Song also looked at Gu Zhao, waiting for his decision.

"Of course, we go in." Gu Zhao nodded. "Since we are already here!"

Caution is certainly correct, but once a decision is made, one must forge ahead bravely; if a desolate courtyard haunted house in a county town could make them hesitate and stop, how could they ever establish themselves in this world in the future?

A look of gratification flashed in Daoist Yan Song's eyes, and then he stepped out first.

The three entered one after another and soon arrived at the main hall.

Just as they had seen before, the tables and chairs were arranged neatly, the paintings and calligraphy were swept clean of dust, and even the incense burner placed on the side table contained a coil of incense burning, emitting curling wisps of light smoke.

Daoist Yan Song sniffed the air. "The incense also carries flower pollen; the owner of the house was a refined person."

The He Xiuniang looked at the vase placed on the side rack, which was decorated with a pattern of a hundred birds and flowers. "How beautiful!"

Gu Zhao looked up at the portrait hanging in front of the main hall; the painting depicted a middle-aged scholar wearing a Confucian robe, wearing a square cap, holding a book scroll, with a refined and amiable countenance, gazing forward.

Gu Zhao looked into the eyes of the man in the Confucian robe and felt as if that man was also looking at him.

As Gu Zhao scanned the portrait, a flash of realization crossed his eyes. "Could this be another painting demon or painting ghost or something similar?"

Painting demons do not cultivate the physical body, only the soul and spirit, so being proficient in illusion techniques makes sense.

However, before Gu Zhao could test it, footsteps came from behind the hall, and then a clear, cold voice suddenly rang out, "Those who come without invitation and enter without announcement are evil guests."

The group suddenly turned their heads and saw a white figure walking slowly into the hall.

The visitor wore a moon-white silver-thread cloud-patterned gauze skirt, with jet-black beautiful hair pinned up, adorned only with a simple black wood carved hairpin; with no other jewelry on her entire body, her skin was still set off like snow, and her face was as beautiful as a flower.

Although her features were clearly gentle and harmonious, they carried a hint of weakness and powerlessness; at the same time, the woman's eyebrows and eyes clearly bore an air of coldness. "Several of you did not submit a visiting card, did not knock on the door, and broke into a private residence; I ask, what is your purpose?"

The other party did not attack but instead questioned them for breaking into a private residence; Gu Zhao was momentarily stunned and instinctively asked, "Is this your home?"

The woman frowned. "This is naturally my home."

Facing the woman's questioning, Gu Zhao felt slightly embarrassed because the Five Thunder Talisman in his sea of consciousness showed no reaction.

This situation only had two possibilities: one was that the woman's cultivation was far higher than his, hiding her own aura so the Five Thunder Talisman could not sense it; the other was that, like Bai Ke, the woman had never harmed the innocent, and her soul carried no evil qi.

However, Gu Zhao immediately reacted, clasped his hands in a bow, and said, "We intruded presumptuously and have greatly offended."

Just now, the group had already used magic power, so the woman must have already known their identities; Gu Zhao did not hide it. "We are all spellcasters, newly out of the gate with little experience; seeing the yin qi swirling here, we thought to come in and take a look."

The woman nodded. "Now you have seen."

Gu Zhao praised, "Hmm, your home is truly beautiful!"

The woman: "..."

Before the woman could speak, Gu Zhao continued to praise, "Miss, living in seclusion alone, your style is elegant and refined; it seems we have found the right person."

The woman frowned. "What do you want to do?"

Gu Zhao did not answer but instead spoke of another matter. "When we just entered the city, we encountered a butcher shop owner who sold human flesh."

The woman knew this person and said coldly, "Chu Da. Every seven days he kills a living person, sucks their blood to cultivate, and then sells the human flesh as mutton."

"He wanted to kill us, so he died," Gu Zhao said.

The woman looked at the three of them, not surprised; just now, when Daoist Yan Song had used his power to investigate, the magic power he displayed was not weak, and the white fox on the He Xiuniang's shoulder was obviously a demon, yet the three of them followed Gu Zhao as their leader.

Then she heard Gu Zhao continue to ask, "Miss, with a kind heart and having never harmed anyone, you surely do not associate with those who do evil. May I ask, Miss, do you know which demons and ghosts in the city are committing crimes?"

Although the He Xiuniang and Bai Ke did not know how Gu Zhao judged that the female ghost before them had never harmed anyone, the He Xiuniang trusted Gu Zhao completely and naturally did not speak up to question him.

The thunder seed in Daoist Yan Song's sea of consciousness came from the Five Thunder Talisman; since it could eliminate evil and accumulate merit, it naturally had a similar function, so he simply stood aside watching the situation unfold and did not speak.

"Hmm?"

Only the woman did not understand, looked at Gu Zhao, and a sneer appeared at the corner of her mouth. "How do you know I have never harmed anyone?"

How did I know? Naturally because the Five Thunder Talisman has no reaction to you!

Gu Zhao thought this in his heart, but of course would not say it with his mouth. "We trespassed into your residence, Miss, our behavior was frivolous, and our language disrespectful; yet you show no anger on your face and speak no harsh words, which shows your adherence to propriety."

The woman withdrew the faint mockery from the corner of her mouth.

"Evil ghosts who commit crimes only harm people with spells and illusions; they would never truly tidy up the place where they reside," Gu Zhao continued. "Miss, you have kept the residence clean, warm, quiet, and elegant, without a single trace of blood or eeriness, which shows you truly care for this place."

As if thinking of something, the woman's eyes became momentarily vacant.

Gu Zhao pointed to the painting in front of the main hall. "If my guess is correct, the Mr. in the picture should be your relative; Miss, you have cleaned the house and hung your relative's portrait in the main hall, which shows that you still have feelings in your heart."

"Miss, you are not only knowledgeable in propriety and love cleanliness, but you also have true human affection in your heart." Gu Zhao stepped forward, clasped his hands, and smiled. "Therefore, I can naturally judge that Miss has a kind heart and has never harmed anyone."

The woman stared at Gu Zhao, silent for a long time.