Chapter 32: Lanruo Temple? That place is far from auspicious!

A metallic click echoed as the iron lock on the wooden chest was undone. The King of Yama retrieved from within a book bound in thick covers. The scholar, seeing the Record of Redress for the first time, couldn’t help but gaze at it closely—and was so startled that he staggered back, for the cover bore a ghastly, twisted human face, pale as death.

Sun Wuchang, standing nearby, shot him a fierce glare, signaling him to be careful and not to disturb the King of Yama.

At that moment, the King of Yama had already opened the Record of Redress, searching through the page filled with names until he found a blank space. He reached for the pen prepared by his side.

“What is the name of that woman from the Cao family?” The King of Yama lifted his head for the first time, fixing his gaze upon those below.

With just a glance, the three below felt as if thunderstruck, their bodies pinned in place by an invisible hand, unable to move.

“She—her name is Cao Yurou,” the martial magistrate, the only one still lucid, hurriedly replied.

Receiving the answer, the King of Yama withdrew his gaze and began to write “Cao Yurou” in the blank space of the Record of Redress.

Almost as his final stroke fell, a ghostly face formed from black mist suddenly flew out from within the book, emitting shrill, agonized screams.

The three men, including the martial magistrate, were stunned into silence.

“How… how could this be?” The scholar’s face was filled with disbelief.

Whenever a ghostly face and such screams appeared in the Record of Redress, it meant the person whose name was written harbored a great injustice. This was common knowledge among the Ghost Suppression Bureau.

“Cao Yurou died bearing such grievances, and yet you dare come to me seeking closure?” The cold and murderous voice of the King of Yama exploded across the hall.

“I deserve death!” “I deserve death!” The martial magistrate was the first to prostrate himself, followed by Sun Wuchang and the scholar.

*Cough, cough, cough…* “Within seven days, uncover the true culprit behind this case. If you fail, Wu Lie, you might as well return to serving as a ghost messenger.” The King of Yama coughed as he spoke, putting away the Record of Redress and turning to leave, giving no opportunity for the trio to defend themselves.

“Sun Wuchang, Scholar, this is your doing!” The King of Yama departed, leaving the martial magistrate’s eyes ablaze with fury as he berated Sun Wuchang.

“Rest assured, Martial Magistrate, we will solve the case within seven days!” Sun Wuchang and the scholar knelt in unison.

…

Back to Xu Ye.

After returning to his lodgings, the first thing he did was take out the bamboo slip.

“It’s turned green?” he remarked in surprise, noticing that what once appeared ancient and worn was now emerald on the back and ivory on the front—like a freshly split piece from a living bamboo stalk.

Aside from this, the bamboo slip seemed ordinary, showing no other peculiarities.

“Today, my left eye’s ability manifested, and this bamboo slip changed so drastically. Could it be because I used the righteous energy today?” “Or is it because of what Lin Buyu said about blessings and misfortunes?” Xu Ye muttered, staring at the bamboo slip in his hand.

He could think of no other explanation. If he wasn’t worried about destroying the bamboo slip as he had done with the ruler, he would have recited a Tang poem while holding it, just to see what powers it might possess.

“My understanding of the Confucian path is still far too limited. Tomorrow, I should try to learn more at the Ghost Suppression Bureau.” Unable to discern any abilities from the bamboo slip, Xu Ye quietly put it away.

“Let’s check on my left eye instead.” After stowing the slip, he removed the bandage from his eyes.

He wanted to see if his left eye could still reveal anything unusual.

“It seems normal again.” This time, his vision was only awash with blood-red hues, without the previous pain or strange phenomena.

“Perhaps, only at the crime scene and with evidence in hand can I glimpse the moment of the incident?” He took out the scrap of fabric that the young Cao girl clutched in her death and pondered.

“If my guess is correct, then this ability must have a trigger condition,” Xu Ye thought, regretful.

If only his eye could see anything that had happened anywhere, he would truly be set for life. For example, if someone had ever buried treasure in this room, a glance would reveal it all.

“Still, it’s not impossible. Ironmask once said, whether sacred relics or ghostly weapons, they grow through righteous energy… Uh!” As Xu Ye daydreamed, a sudden burning pain shot through his left eye, and he felt the righteous energy within his martial courage draining rapidly.

“It appears this eye’s ability is not only conditional, but also exacts a heavy toll on the body and righteous energy.” Unable to endure the pain, Xu Ye quickly covered his eye again, muttering under his breath.

“Tomorrow, I must go to the Ghost Suppression Bureau and see if there are ways to counteract these side effects.”

With his eye bandaged, Xu Ye sat upright, reciting aloud:

“The human heart is ever perilous, the Dao heart ever subtle; only through purity and unity can one attain the mean.”

As soon as the words left his lips, a surge of righteous energy descended from above, enveloping him and easing the pain in his eye.

*Bang, bang, bang!* Xu Ye was about to recite the sixteen-character mantra again when someone suddenly knocked on his door.

“Who is it?” He stood up, alert.

“It’s me, Lin Buyu.” A melodious young woman’s voice sounded from outside.

“Miss Buyu? Wait a moment, I’ll open the door for you.” Xu Ye replied as he slipped on his shoes.

“You needn’t open the door. I just feared you might forget, so I came to remind you: tomorrow is the Talent Recruitment Literary Gathering. If you still wish to accompany me as my exam partner, you may join me at Lanruo Temple.” Lin Buyu called out in a somewhat flustered tone.

“Lanruo Temple?” The name was familiar, and Xu Ye was taken aback, thinking to himself that the place was hardly auspicious.

“If you would rather not, it’s fine. I won’t force you.” Seeing Xu Ye’s delayed response, Lin Buyu quickly added from outside.

“What time tomorrow?” Xu Ye flung open the door, poking his head out.

“I told you not to open the door!” Lin Buyu stepped back, startled.

“You’re already here; why not come in and sit for a while?” Xu Ye smiled, gesturing to his room.

“No need!” Lin Buyu refused outright.

“If you wish to go, after we’ve reported in tomorrow, I’ll wait for you at the bureau entrance.” With that, Lin Buyu hastily left Xu Ye’s doorway, as if fleeing.

“At least tell me what they test at the literary gathering!” Xu Ye said, half laughing and half exasperated, watching Lin Buyu’s figure vanish into the night.