Chapter Sixty-Three: Exposed

Night had fallen thick over Feng City. On the pitch-black street, a group hurried forward, moving swiftly under the moon's pale glow.

At their head strode an old woman draped in black, her appearance frightful. She wielded a cane, and though she seemed aged, her stride was energetic, vigorous as any young person. Behind her followed seven or eight others: a well-dressed, corpulent middle-aged man; a frail elder around fifty; and several robust men, all clad in matching uniforms.

This was the retinue of Master Feng. The old woman leading them was Ghost Granny, whom Master Feng had hired at great expense to help find his missing son. The well-dressed, overweight man was Master Feng himself, accompanied by his steward and household guards, all following Ghost Granny in search of his son's whereabouts.

At that moment, a peculiar creature hovered before Ghost Granny—a being with five pairs of limbs and a single head. This was the Road-Seeking Ghost, crafted by Ghost Granny that day from the organs and souls of five strong men. Only Ghost Granny could see it; the others were blind to its presence.

The Road-Seeking Ghost led them straight to Feng Yuan's residence—a grand mansion with nine courtyards, rented in the heart of Feng City. The ghost slipped inside immediately. Ghost Granny watched it vanish into the house, then stopped and turned to Master Feng, saying, "Your son is in here."

Master Feng was overjoyed and hastily ordered his steward, "Quick, knock on the door! Hurry!"

The steward hurried over, reached for the door, and found it locked from the outside. Clearly, no one was within.

"Master, the door is locked from outside. There shouldn't be anyone inside," the steward reported.

Master Feng rushed forward to inspect the heavy lock, growing anxious. "That rascal! Where has he gone at this hour, locking the door behind him? When he returns, I'll make sure he regrets it!"

"You won't punish your son," Ghost Granny intoned, her face expressionless, voice hoarse. "He is dead. Buried in the courtyard within."

"What? Impossible! You're lying!" Master Feng cried, agitated. "My son can't be dead. He's my only child; how could he die?"

"See for yourself whether it's true," Ghost Granny replied, unmoved.

"I don't believe it! I refuse!" Master Feng snapped, shouting at his guards, "Break down the door! I must get inside—now!"

"Master... isn't this a bit risky?" the guards hesitated. "If the patrol finds us, we'll be in real trouble."

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Feng City was patrolled by soldiers at night to keep the peace. If they were caught, it would be considered burglary, and imprisonment would follow.

"I don't care! Why do I keep you around if you can't do this? Find a way—now!" Master Feng glared furiously at his guards.

"Quick, do something!" the steward urged, worried by Master Feng's anger.

The guards quickly searched for a solution. Unable to open the door, they decided to scale the wall. They formed a human ladder, allowing Master Feng to climb over. Then, one by one, they helped each other inside.

Ghost Granny, meanwhile, waved her hand and transformed into a wisp of black smoke, flying directly into the courtyard—a sight that startled Master Feng and his party. Though they knew she was powerful and mysterious, her display unnerved them.

"Follow me," Ghost Granny commanded, then strode swiftly toward the second courtyard. She halted in a secluded corner, where the Road-Seeking Ghost hovered.

She pointed to the ground. "Your son is buried here."

Master Feng hurried over, knelt, and began to dig with his hands, clearing away dead leaves and grass to expose the earth beneath. The soil was not flat and compact, but freshly turned. His face changed drastically.

"Dig! Dig now!" he ordered his guards, trembling all over, his expression grim. Ghost Granny's words seemed true—his son was dead.

"Yes, Master!" Terrified, the guards dropped to their knees and began clawing at the earth with their hands, forgetting to fetch tools in their panic.

Ghost Granny glanced at the ground, then turned her gaze toward the house in the second courtyard, frowning slightly.

Inside, a woman watched Ghost Granny and the others from behind a window—Lan Qirou. She had noticed their arrival as soon as they entered.

At first, she thought Feng Yuan had returned, but instead, it was a group of strangers digging at the grave where Feng Fugui and his companions were buried. Lan Qirou immediately sensed danger.

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If those three bodies were discovered, Feng Yuan would be in grave trouble.

Yet she had no way to warn him. Her only chance to save Feng Yuan would be to kill everyone present. But Ghost Granny emanated an overwhelming aura that cowed Lan Qirou. Her injuries from the wolf demon still hadn't healed, and she doubted her chances. She feared that trying to confront them would only result in her own destruction. Unable to act, she could only watch helplessly.

Meanwhile, Ghost Granny slowly approached Lan Qirou's location, a faint, cold smile curling her lips—she seemed to have sensed Lan Qirou's presence.

Lan Qirou was startled, instantly retreating. She leapt into the painting hanging on the central hall wall, merging with it. The painting rolled itself up and flew into the study, vanishing into a jar of scrolls.

At this moment, Ghost Granny had already pushed open the door and entered the house, her eyes scanning the interior in search of something.

Outside, the guards dug frantically. Soon, a foul stench wafted from the earth, making them gag.

Moments later, they uncovered clothing beneath the soil.

"Quick, fetch a lantern!" Master Feng urged his steward. The moonlight gave only a vague outline of the pit.

The steward hurried to the first courtyard, searching for a lantern. Soon, he returned with one, and by then, most of the pit had been dug out. With the lantern's light, they could see clearly into the hole.

A decaying corpse lay within, dressed in dark blue silk. Master Feng shuddered, recoiling in disbelief as he stared at the garment. Feng Fugui had worn that very outfit the day he disappeared.

"No... I don't believe it! Dig him out, now!" Master Feng roared, and the guards forced themselves to continue excavating, enduring the sickening stench of death.

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