Chapter 11: Case Closed? A Deal?

“Is this the sacred heirloom passed down from your Xu family ancestors?”
In a room resembling an interrogation chamber at the Ming Character Camp of the Ghost Suppression Bureau, Judge Wu pushed a tray containing fragments of a ruler toward Xu Ye, his entire demeanor exuding a natural authority.
“Yes,” Xu Ye nodded.
“According to our investigation, your ancestor’s ruler was depleted of its righteous energy more than ten years ago and should have been unusable. Yet now it bears clear signs of recent use. Can you explain what happened?”
Judge Wu fixed his hawk-like gaze upon Xu Ye.
“It was my eldest brother, Li Yuan. In the final moments, he recited a poem I had never heard before, which revived the ruler, allowing it to kill the Skin-Changer Ghost.”
Xu Ye met Judge Wu’s stare with a steady gaze.
Judge Wu regarded Xu Ye in silence for a while, then nodded.
“You have a fine elder brother. He endured the agony of being flayed for fifteen days, just to win you a slim chance of survival.”
He picked up the pen from the table and began making notes on a dossier.
“Judge, may I ask you a question?”
Xu Ye suddenly spoke up.
“Speak.”
Judge Wu replied without looking up.
“Why did the Skin-Changer Ghost only use medicine to paralyze me, instead of simply killing and replacing me?”
Xu Ye voiced a question that had weighed on his heart.
“Though your family has fallen, the ancestral shrine’s incense still burns. The ghost’s aim was to replace your entire clan, then consume that lingering incense to transform into a far more powerful creature. She kept you alive because, if all your kin died, the incense would vanish. So she imprisoned you to slowly feed on your family’s spiritual legacy, intending to devour you last.”
Judge Wu put down his pen and looked at Xu Ye with grave seriousness.
“I see.”
Xu Ye’s heart was illuminated by this answer.
“That’s enough.”
Judge Wu tapped the table lightly, paused, then turned toward the door.
“Sun Wuchang, bring in the case dossier. This matter can now be closed.”
At his words, a man with prominent cheekbones and narrow eyes entered, carrying several scrolls.
“Judge Wu, here is the case dossier. The Lord of the Underworld has already reviewed it. If everything checks out, you may sign and seal it.”
Sun Wuchang placed the stack on the table, his cold, narrow gaze lingering on Xu Ye.
“Xu Ye, look it over. If you have no objections, we can close the case.”
Judge Wu gestured to the dossier before him.

“May I ask, Judge, have all the evil spirits that plagued my family truly been sealed away?”
Xu Ye did not reach for the documents, but asked directly.
“The dossier states that, except for the Painted-Skin Ghost, all others have been sealed.”
Sun Wuchang answered.
Hearing this, Xu Ye’s heart skipped a beat.
“So the Painted-Skin Ghost was not sealed—my guess was right. She was sealed into my left eye by my ancestor.”
Thinking this, Xu Ye instinctively touched his left eye, then quickly decided,
“If one ghost remains unsealed, the case cannot be closed. I will not sign.”
“Stop making trouble. According to the Bureau’s statutes, if most of the evil spirits are eliminated, the case can be closed. Sign it already!”
Sun Wuchang’s face darkened, his expression fierce.
Judge Wu closed his eyes in silence, clearly allowing Sun Wuchang’s approach.
“What’s this? You fail to catch the ghost, yet threaten the victim instead?”
Xu Ye smiled calmly, meeting Sun Wuchang’s glare.
“You—”
Sun Wuchang began to rage, but was stopped by the Right Judge, who opened his eyes and raised a hand.
“Are you listening to Judge Lü and think we’re eager to close the case, so you plan to extort us?”
Judge Wu narrowed his eyes and looked coldly at Xu Ye.
“The dead are gone, but I must continue living. Since you can’t catch the ghost, you should consider the future for me and my young sister.”
Xu Ye leaned back, tapping the table with his fingers, his gaze unwavering as he faced Judge Wu.
“You shameless wretch! If you hadn’t been seduced by that female ghost, your family wouldn’t have suffered. Now you dare threaten the Bureau for your own gain? Despicable!”
Sun Wuchang cursed Xu Ye, clearly despising him.
“Your words remind me of something.”
Xu Ye stroked his chin, then looked to Sun Wuchang,
“Is it really my fault this tragedy befell my family? I doubt it.”
He glanced again at Judge Wu.
Xu Ye’s words were not to defend the body’s previous owner, but rather a conclusion drawn from observing the Painted-Skin Ghost’s actions over the fourteen or fifteen days.
“The disaster that struck the Xu family was not simply caused by ‘him.’ It was more like a carefully planned scheme.”
He shed his cynical demeanor and looked sharply at Judge Wu.

“Don’t make baseless claims. The dossier is right before you. This case was caused by you—there’s no other explanation.”
Sun Wuchang slammed the table and rebuked Xu Ye.
“Why so agitated, Sun Wuchang? Did I hit a nerve?”
Xu Ye replied calmly, a faint smile on his lips.
“You—”
Sun Wuchang was momentarily speechless.
“That’s enough.”
Judge Wu finally opened his eyes.
“Xu Ye, to be frank, the Lord of the Underworld has already issued instructions. Even if not closed, the case must be archived. If you agree to close it, I can try to secure some benefits for you from the authorities.”
He rubbed his brow in exasperation, then tapped the table.
“Thank you, Judge Wu.”
Xu Ye smiled at these words.
“Trading your kin’s lives for favors—shameless!”
“Enough.”
Sun Wuchang began to fume, but was silenced mid-sentence.
“Judge Wu, you know my family is ruined. For my sister and me to survive in the city, we need funds. I’d like to request twenty or thirty thousand taels in compensation.”
Xu Ye ignored Sun Wuchang’s insults, greed shining openly as he addressed Judge Wu.
Judge Wu’s expression remained calm as he uttered two words:
“Get out.”
He stood and turned to leave.
“Wait, Judge Wu, surely we can negotiate further.”
Xu Ye called him back.
“I’ll give you one more chance. Think carefully before you speak.”
Judge Wu paused, glaring at Xu Ye.
Xu Ye dropped his smile and looked at Judge Wu with earnestness,
“Judge Wu, would you recommend me for a position in the Ghost Suppression Bureau, to serve as a ghost officer under your command?”