Chapter Twenty-Six: Aftereffects of the Soul-Summoning

The door creaked open to reveal a dim room with drawn curtains. A pungent stench of rotten eggs filled the air, forcing Le Dong to instinctively cover his nose and mouth.

"Yufen?"

Master Hu tremblingly turned on the bedside lamp. Under the dim, yellowish glow, Mrs. Hu lay stiffly on the bed on her side. Master Hu nervously turned her body over, revealing a pale, grayish face—her lips were purple, her limbs were rigid, and there was not a trace of color in her skin.

As for her breath, there was not a hint of warmth left!

"Thump!"

Master Hu’s legs gave way, and he let out a heart-wrenching cry. "She... she... Oh! It’s all my fault... It’s all my fault for not listening to Master Ma, letting those wandering spirits kill her..."

Believing that the wandering spirits summoned during last night’s séance had claimed his wife, Master Hu clutched his head in deep remorse.

Listening to the wailing, Le Dong’s mind raced. He did not believe Mrs. Hu had been killed by wandering spirits. Ever since he overheard her conversation with Butler Ma that night, her behavior had been bizarre. What Le Dong found most suspicious was that whenever Mrs. Hu appeared over the past few days, Butler Ma was nowhere to be found.

"Could it be... that Butler Ma was impersonating Mrs. Hu?"

Le Dong muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the hands of the corpse. Despite the poor lighting, they were clearly soft and fair, whereas Mrs. Hu’s fingers that morning... At this thought, Le Dong cast a side-glance at Butler Ma’s hands—cracked and dark, they looked remarkably similar!

Based on this alone, Le Dong was nearly certain, not to mention the unnatural shape of Mrs. Hu’s chest near the shoulder blades that day, and the fact that Butler Ma wore the exact same perfume as her.

"Master Hu... I’m afraid your wife wasn't killed by wandering spirits," Master Ma Wenwen interrupted the wailing. "Even in the sweltering heat of summer, a body wouldn't smell this foul in just a few dozen minutes. But smell this now... your wife has been dead for at least two days."

Master Hu looked up, wiping away non-existent tears, and recalled, "Now that Master Ma mentions it, I do recall that two nights ago, there was a strange smell on her. Since we were sleeping in separate beds, I didn't think much of it."

"The smell just kept getting stronger. I consulted True Man Zhao, and he told me it was just the Yin energy in her body acting up, advising me not to worry. Later, my wife came downstairs a few times, so I didn't suspect anything else..."

Halfway through, Master Hu could no longer go on. He stared at the corpse, fighting back the urge to retch. He stood up, grabbed Master Ma’s wrist, and wept with genuine emotion:

"Oh, I never imagined... I’ve been sleeping next to a corpse for two days! That Zhao fellow is a real bastard, all show and no substance!"

He wiped the fluid from his nose and leaned closer to Master Ma. "Master Ma, I’m truly terrified. My wife died for no reason—could it be my father’s doing? Will I be next?"

Shaken by Master Hu’s grip, Master Ma Wenwen grew impatient. "Master Hu, don't panic. Let's settle your wife's remains first."

Master Hu let go, hesitating as he looked at the body. This gave Butler Ma, who had been lurking in the shadows, a chance to speak:

"Master Ma, it is only natural for the Master to be anxious. Since you are employed by him, shouldn't you handle these matters as quickly as possible? Why don't I send someone to buy incense, candles, and paper money so we can set up an altar and perform a ritual tonight to resolve this once and for all?"

Upon hearing this, Master Hu’s eyes brightened, and he looked at Master Ma Wenwen with eager anticipation.

"Heh... do you think performing a ritual is as simple as eating or drinking, something you can just do on a whim?"

Master Ma Wenwen retorted on the spot. Just as Butler Ma was about to argue back, Le Dong, who had been observing, cut in.

"Master Hu," Le Dong stepped forward, his tone playful, "your wife’s death was indeed sudden, but I’ve noticed something very interesting in this villa over the past few days that might be related."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the room turned their gaze toward him.

"Heh..."

Le Dong scanned the room and cast a defiant glare at Butler Ma’s cold eyes. He wanted to test this old man.

Butler Ma’s suggestion to buy incense and candles for a ritual tonight reminded Le Dong of the strange text message on his phone that night. Though the message was cryptic, Le Dong had a premonition that the ritual was merely a facade for some ulterior motive—a motive that was certainly nothing good.

His goal was to disrupt Butler Ma’s plans as much as possible and probe for the truth.

"Mr. Le? Well, speak up!" Master Hu urged after a few seconds of silence.

"Ahem..." Le Dong cleared his throat and said softly, "I wonder if you’ve noticed, Master Hu, that your wife has spoken very little lately? And every time she appears, Butler Ma is nowhere to be found?"

Before he could finish, Butler Ma’s expression changed. "What are you implying?"

"Hmph..." Le Dong ignored him and continued, "Furthermore, didn't you find Mrs. Hu’s chest to be rather strange the last time she appeared? And if you take a whiff... doesn't Butler Ma carry the same perfume as her?"

Listening to Le Dong’s analysis, Master Hu’s expression shifted from shock to terror. He pointed a trembling finger at Butler Ma. "Old Ma? Are you saying Yufen was killed by you? And then you impersonated her!"

"Master!" Butler Ma interrupted sharply. "How can you believe the ramblings of these outsiders? How could I possibly..."

"Both of you!" Master Ma Wenwen raised his voice. "The situation is suspicious. Instead of arguing, why not let the deceased speak for herself? Since Le Dong can see Mrs. Hu’s spirit, her soul must still be nearby. Since it is not yet midnight, I can attempt another summoning."

A flash of panic crossed Butler Ma’s eyes. "No! The dead should be respected. You can't just—"

"Everyone out," Master Hu said, having calmed down after Le Dong’s analysis. "Master Ma, let's proceed as you suggested tonight, right here in this room. I will listen from the side."

"Fine!"

Master Ma Wenwen did not hesitate; he pulled Le Dong and Cai Kun downstairs to find the materials for the summoning.

When they returned, only Master Hu was in the bedroom. The trio immediately set up the summoning array and retrieved one of Mrs. Hu’s nightgowns.

Once everything was ready, Master Ma Wenwen placed the nightgown in the center and lit three special summoning incense sticks. Since it was not yet midnight, there was no need to ward off wandering spirits, leaving Le Dong and Cai Kun to lean against the door, watching intently for the appearance of Mrs. Hu.

"Guided by the Yin, the living call upon the soul..." Master Ma Wenwen chanted softly, shaking a copper bell in his hand.

The smoke rose straight up and dispersed a meter above the ground, forming a vague human silhouette. Mrs. Hu’s spirit was much more stable than True Man Zhao’s had been, but her face still bore an expression of terror.

"Luo Yufen, tell me! How did you die?" Master Ma Wenwen asked directly.

Mrs. Hu’s spirit trembled, her lips moving: "It was him... he smothered me..."

"Who is he!"

"It is..."

Before the words could leave her lips, the temperature in the bedroom plummeted. Le Dong, standing near the door, felt as if a block of ice were pressed against his back.

A chilling current of air snaked around his legs, swirling in front of Le Dong and Cai Kun, and in the blink of an eye, it coalesced into two things they would never be able to forget...