The Dong Mansion Filled with Mystery

"Where is this master from?" Steward Huang asked curiously, trailing a few steps behind and grabbing Ma Yan by the arm.

Ma Yan whispered, "I don't know either, but he's definitely a formidable expert."

Steward Huang looked at Ma Yan with an expression of disbelief.

Ma Yan took two steps, realized Steward Huang was still clutching his clothes, and then, with a helpless look, feigned mystery: "Actually, I really don't know, but this master is my brother-in-law's teacher. He's someone I can trust, which is why I brought him here to take a look."

"Your brother-in-law's teacher? I never expected your brother-in-law to have such luck," Steward Huang exclaimed.

Ma Yan, however, looked indifferent: "Luck? Whether it's luck or not is hard to say. Among those shamans and masters, how many are actually legitimate? My brother-in-law is also..."

He sighed softly at this point and said no more.

His words were not entirely a lie.

Seeing the state Zhou Yan was in after his cultivation, he felt a sense of pity in his heart.

What masters, what supernatural powers—for them, it was all just a struggle for survival!

Steward Huang nodded, thinking of the two masters who had entered the manor earlier.

Those masters not only looked eccentric but were also extremely dangerous.

In this short time, two masters had already met a tragic end.

However, Steward Huang dared not voice this, fearing that this master might also run away.

If that happened, they would be the ones to suffer.

Guided by Steward Huang, Zhou Yan arrived at the main hall and finally met Boss Dong.

Unexpectedly, Boss Dong had a very refined appearance, looking like a cultured scholar with a gentle temperament; there was no trace of the sinister, sharp-featured greed one often saw in the landlords of period dramas.

Yet, his reputation was truly abysmal.

It just goes to show, one cannot judge a book by its cover.

Steward Huang whispered something into Dong Lei's ear, and a smile quickly appeared on Dong Lei's face.

"May I ask the master's name?" Dong Lei asked very politely.

Zhou Yan, shrouded in a black robe, spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice from behind his hood: "Just call me Daoist Corpse."

"Daoist Corpse."

Dong Lei's eyes flashed as he looked at Zhuang Hua and the zombie behind him, seemingly harboring some suspicions.

He didn't say much else, only stating, "Then please, Master, follow me to the backyard."

Zhou Yan nodded and followed him to the backyard.

The coffin of Dong Lei's wife was placed in the main hall. Zhou Yan stepped forward to examine it, sensing a thick aura of ghosts emanating from the corpse.

"Indeed, she was killed by a malicious spirit. Where is the other body?" Zhou Yan asked, looking at Dong Lei after his inspection.

Dong Lei hurriedly gave orders to the steward, and Steward Huang led Zhou Yan to a more secluded room.

"Master, this is where Cuier's body is kept," Steward Huang said respectfully.

Zhou Yan took a look. Although the room where the maid's body was placed was remote, it was well-stocked with incense, candles, and paper money. There was a coffin for her remains, and two maids were assigned to burn paper money.

"Did Cuier have any family?" Zhou Yan suddenly asked.

Steward Huang shook his head slightly: "Cuier's hometown suffered a disaster when she was young, and she was sold to the manor afterward. Her family has long since passed."

Zhou Yan frowned upon hearing this, then nodded slightly.

He scanned the surroundings before stepping forward to inspect the body.

Sure enough, just like the mistress, the corpse was permeated with a thick ghostly aura, clearly the work of a malicious spirit.

Before leaving the room, Zhou Yan took one last look and said, "Isn't there a concubine who is also injured? I will go take a look at her."

"Yes, Master, please follow me."

Steward Huang seemed to have already received orders from Dong Lei, as he complied with everything Zhou Yan said.

Before leaving, Zhou Yan called Ma Yan over and whispered a few words into his ear.

Ma Yan looked slightly surprised, but he nodded quickly.

Steward Huang led Zhou Yan to another courtyard. Just as they walked in, a man rushed out and roared at Steward Huang: "My cousin is already in this state, and you are still messing around with these superstitious ghosts and spirits..."

"Those two masters before were all talk, but in the end, they all failed..."

"I told you long ago, my cousin is suffering from a serious illness and needs a doctor, not these superstitious nonsense..."

"..."

Steward Huang looked embarrassed, but he was timid in the face of the man and dared not talk back.

Finally, a few servants came and managed to half-persuade, half-drag the man away.

Steward Huang breathed a sigh of relief and said to Zhou Yan: "This is the concubine's cousin. He returned from studying abroad and doesn't believe in some of our local customs. Please don't take offense, Master."

"The concubine's cousin? When did he arrive?" Zhou Yan asked.

Steward Huang pondered for a moment before saying, "It was just these past two days. It seems he heard about the concubine's condition and rushed over specifically for that. Master Mage, you might not know, but our concubine also comes from a prestigious family; she took one look at our master and decided to join the household..."

Zhou Yan listened, but he could only believe half of what was said, if not even less.

A delicate woman from a prestigious family willing to become a concubine for a merchant—and a merchant with a rather poor reputation at that—looked suspicious no matter how one viewed it.

Coupled with the situation regarding Cuier, it seemed vastly different from the public perception of Dong Lei.

This forced Zhou Yan to suspect that while a vengeful spirit would certainly take lives, the human heart was far more venomous.

Then there was this mysterious cousin who had suddenly appeared, making Zhou Yan feel as though he were solving a crime rather than hunting a ghost.

Thoughts raced through Zhou Yan's mind, but he remained calm on the surface as he said, "Let's go see the concubine."

Dong Lei's concubine had been bedridden, and as Zhou Yan approached, he could clearly sense the ghostly aura on her, though it was much fainter.

This was to be expected; if the concubine had as much ghostly aura as the mistress or Cuier, her fate would likely be dire.

However...

Zhou Yan stepped closer, gazing at her delicate features, his brows knitting slightly.

Just as he wanted to move a step further, he was blocked by Steward Huang.

"Master Mage, the concubine's spirit has been shaken and she requires proper rest; it would be best not to disturb her."

Zhou Yan looked at Steward Huang, but the steward stood his ground, humble in expression yet not retreating a single step.

Heh, this is truly interesting.

Zhou Yan muttered to himself, feeling that the situation was becoming increasingly complex.

Ever since entering the Dong Mansion, everything had been spiraling in an unknown direction.

Not only Dong Lei and his wife, Cuier, the concubine, and her cousin, but even this Steward Huang seemed far from simple.

However, he was here to deal with evil spirits, not to wade into muddy waters.

In that instant, Zhou Yan felt the urge to turn around and leave immediately...