Chapter 34: Get Out

The old servant at the entrance didn't even care about the threshold, scrambling on his legs as he ran into the courtyard.

Cheng Xi looked up at the air, lifted her foot, and entered the main gate of the Cheng Family.

Walking all the way in, faint sounds came from the backyard; upon entering the courtyard, she saw the entire Cheng Family gathered there, their eyes staring in terror at the coffin in the yard.

Around the coffin were scattered poles as thick as a fist, presumably used for carrying the coffin, but at this moment the poles were snapped in the middle, and the coffin had smashed a pit into the blue-brick paved ground, sitting there at a crooked angle.

Just then, several Daoist priests hurried out of the room, wearing Dharma Robes and holding Dharma bells; the leader lightly shook his bell, but the sound, which should have been crisp, now seemed to bear a weight of a thousand catties, emitting a dull and sinister tone.

The wind stopped abruptly, and the flowers, plants, and trees in the courtyard rustled; at this moment, the coffin in the yard suddenly emitted a dull sound, the lid jumping violently as if pushed by something, as if something were about to burst out from within.

The people present turned deathly pale, and Cheng Xi's eyes narrowed slightly.

Cheng Fenglan and Cheng Yunjian stood together, the complexions of the two siblings showing a greenish tint beneath their pallor.

Li Shi screamed in terror, hiding half her body behind Cheng Zhouxing, and said, "You must think of a way."

The veins on Cheng Zhouxing's forehead bulged; he remained relatively calm, looking at the Daoist priest and saying, "Daoist Xuan Cheng, what is going on? Didn't you say there wouldn't be any issues?"

Daoist Xuan Cheng looked at Cheng Zhouxing with a troubled expression, "Master Cheng, your late mother's resentment has not dissipated, and she refuses to leave; if we do not deal with this as soon as possible, I fear a great disaster will occur."

Cheng Xi glanced at Daoist Xuan Cheng; he did indeed have some skill, as the Cheng Laotaitai in the coffin already showed signs of transforming into a Vicious Ghost.

She was truly curious about what the old lady had suffered to make her obsession so deep that she refused to enter the Netherworld after death, insisting on becoming a Vicious Ghost.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhouxing's expression changed drastically, "Does the Daoist have any solution?"

Daoist Xuan Cheng looked at Cheng Zhouxing and said, "There are two methods. The first method is to scatter her soul so that she cannot transform into a Vicious Ghost, but in doing so, your mother's soul will be scattered and unable to enter the Netherworld, with no possibility of reincarnation. The second method is for me to trap her soul within the coffin, take the coffin to the Daoist temple, and slowly wear down her resentment. Once the resentment dissipates, she may be buried. However, it is hard to say when the resentment will dissipate; perhaps three or two years, perhaps ten or eight, or perhaps even longer."

Cheng Zhouxing's face turned leaden, his eyes filled with hesitation, unable to make a decision for a moment.

Li Shi grabbed him and shrieked, "Choose the first one, Zhouxing, we must choose the first one. Think of the children; Feng Lan and Yunjian's future is what matters, the house cannot be haunted."

Hearing this, Cheng Yunjian couldn't help but say, "Mother, the Daoist said that once Grandmother's resentment dissipates, she can be buried; I will take care of it then."

If they chose the first method to scatter her soul, there would be no chance for reincarnation; Grandmother had loved him so much, he truly could not watch her soul fly away and scatter.

"What do you know?" Li Shi looked at her son, regretting for the first time that she had raised him to be too kind, "Mother won't harm you, Yunjian, be obedient."

Cheng Yunjian pursed his lips tightly as he looked at his mother, his face full of disapproval, his eyes faintly carrying disappointment.

Li Shi avoided her son's gaze and looked at her husband, "Zhouxing, say something? The Daoist is still waiting, don't delay the hour; have you forgotten what happened last night?"

Cheng Zhouxing's expression stiffened; he took a deep breath, looked at the Daoist, and said, "Let it be done as my wife said."

Cheng Yunjian wanted to say something more upon hearing this, but Cheng Fenglan grabbed him and shook her head at him.

Cheng Yunjian clenched his fists, finally lowering his head.

Cheng Xi watched as Daoist Xuan Cheng hammered seven coffin nails into the lid; those nails were engraved with complex Runes, and under the sunlight, golden light flowed faintly.

Cheng Laotaitai probably never imagined that after her death, she would be treated this way by her son and daughter-in-law.

As the coffin nails were driven into the coffin, faint movements came from within, a thumping sound, scaring people so much that their faces turned sallow and they couldn't help but step back.

At this retreat, Li Shi turned her head and saw Cheng Xi, staring at her with a fierce expression, "What are you doing here? Who let you come? Get out!"

At Li Shi's shout, the Cheng Family all looked over.

Cheng Yunjian looked surprised; she had said she wouldn't come, he hadn't expected her to show up after all.

He stepped forward, blocking Li Shi's gaze at Cheng Xi, and looked down at her, "You came..."

Remembering what had just happened, Cheng Yunjian's face turned pale instantly, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Cheng Fenglan hurried over, pulled her brother aside, and looked at Cheng Xi with a cold face, "You are not welcome here, Cheng Xi, leave."

Cheng Xi sneered, "Naturally I am not welcome; I've never heard of a family holding a funeral for an elder that results in their soul being scattered—you all are truly filial."

Cheng Zhouxing had originally intended to speak to Cheng Xi about the bond between father and daughter, but upon hearing this, the words died in his throat; he looked at her and said, "Since the relationship has been severed, you have no more ties with our Cheng Family; the Cheng Family's funeral has nothing to do with you, leave."

Cheng Xi gave a cold laugh, "I didn't come to pay my respects either; I just happened to be passing by today, and I didn't expect to see such a good show—truly spectacular."

Having dropped these words, Cheng Xi turned and left.

"The time has come, raise the spirit..."

The Cheng Family gate opened, the threshold was removed, and Cheng Laotaitai's coffin was carried out; Cheng Zhouxing led Cheng Yunjian in the front, followed by Daoist Xuan Cheng and the others, walking all the way toward the city gates.

Cheng Xi walked in the opposite direction; she had no intention of doing anything. Cheng Zhouxing and his wife were not good people, and when Cheng Laotaitai was alive, she hadn't been good to the original owner either; she would not meddle in other people's business.

Evil people are their own punishment.

Who would have thought that after a few days, people from the Demon Suppression Pavilion would come knocking.

"Cheng Xi, come with us."

The murderous officers of the Demon Suppression Pavilion surrounded Cheng Xi, with Zhao Kang following behind them as they ran in.

Zhao Kang hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Eldest Miss, the people from the Demon Suppression Pavilion broke in, and I couldn't stop them."

Cheng Xi nodded, "I know, you may step down."

Zhao Kang refused to leave, standing to the side and looking at the people from the Demon Suppression Pavilion, "My lords, our Eldest Miss has not broken any royal laws; you are trespassing on private property, which is against the statutes!"

"Cheng Xi, is Cheng Zhouxing your father?" Shu Tong, a Commandant of the Demon Suppression Pavilion, stepped forward, his sharp eyes fixed on Cheng Xi as he asked.

Cheng Xi said indifferently, "My former father, with whom I have severed ties."

"Then are you aware that Cheng Zhouxing and his wife, Li Shi, were murdered last night? The scene was horrific, and they died without a whole corpse."

After Shu Tong finished this sentence, he stared fixedly at Cheng Xi, trying to detect something from her face.

Cheng Xi was stunned, "Cheng Zhouxing and his wife are dead? How did they die?"

"You had a grudge against the couple, and now you are a suspect; come back to the Demon Suppression Pavilion with me for questioning." With a wave of Shu Tong's hand, officers stepped forward to shackle Cheng Xi.

"Wait!"

Cheng Xi lifted her eyes slightly and saw Li Zhi'an approaching with his men; he held a token and looked at Shu Tong, saying, "This case has been transferred to the Tongtian Division; you may get out!"