Chapter 21-Part 1

E Ji held up the lantern, leading the way: “Daozhang, Ge Jin’s resting place is just ahead. It’s a waterside pavilion called Yi Cuixuan. The place is peaceful and elegant, perfect for her recovery. Unfortunately, since her incident, she’s been disheartened, shutting herself away all day.”

Teng Yuyi observed the surroundings.

While all the top courtesans of Caifeng Tower lived in one area, there were differences in rank.

As the star courtesan, Ge Jin’s residence was different from the others.

The chambers were divided into two rows, east and west, winding like a serpent, with each row containing about thirty rooms.

Ge Jin resided in the largest room on the east side, with the front window facing the peony garden and the back window overlooking the water.

In spring, one could enjoy the flowers, and in winter, admire the snow.

The arrangement was thoughtful, befitting Ge Jin’s esteemed status in Caifeng Tower.

The courtesan remained in the front building, and the corridors of the back garden’s waterside pavilion were unusually quiet.

The flickering light of the lanterns beneath the eaves was dim and ghostly, far less bright than the crescent moon overhead.

E Ji raised the lantern high and looked ahead, spotting Ge Jin’s door tightly shut.

She sighed with relief: “The door is still closed, and there are talismans everywhere from the daozhang. As long as Ge Jin doesn’t open the door on her own, nothing should go wrong.”

When they reached the door, Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi tiptoed for a look: “Senior brother, the talismans are still in place.”

Without saying a word, Lin Chengyou kicked the door open.

Everyone craned their necks to peer inside, but the room was filled only with cold moonlight—Ge Jin was nowhere to be seen.

“She’s vanished! Where could she have gone?”

Lin Chengyou had already darted to the window, leaping out: “She hasn’t gone far. Hurry, after her!”

Without hesitation, Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi followed him out the window.

Jue Sheng was the first to jump down, but there was a splash, followed by a cry: “Ow! Senior brother, why didn’t you tell us there’s a pond outside?”

Lin Chengyou’s voice came from a distance: “Do I have to tell you? Can’t you check before jumping? Qi Zhi’s hand is injured—don’t go into the water. Set up a Golden Child Array inside the room first, then come to the shore to assist him.”

Qi Zhi was dangling head-down from the window but, fortunately, hadn’t plunged into the water like Jue Sheng.

Flailing his arms, he cut a rather sorry figure.

He weakly called out, “Young Master, could you lend me a hand?”

Teng Yuyi hurried over and pulled Qi Zhi back inside.

“Tsk, now I understand why your senior brother scolds you two all the time.”

Then she looked out the window.

The ledge was unusually wide, enough for two people to sit and enjoy the moon over drinks.

In the pond below, Jue Sheng was splashing around awkwardly.

The moonlight shimmered on the water, and as Teng Yuyi gazed at it, memories of her previous life’s final night came flooding back.

Her face turned pale.

Qi Zhi, now steady on his feet, looked curiously at Teng Yuyi: “Young Master, are you afraid of water?”

Feigning nonchalance, Teng Yuyi responded, “Is Jue Sheng alright? Should we fish him out?”

“He’s fine; he knows how to swim. I’ll find him once I’ve set up the array.”

Qi Zhi ran back into the room.

He Mingsheng leaned weakly against the doorframe, his legs trembling uncontrollably: “That was terrifying! You just saved Juan Erli, and now Ge Jin’s disappeared. This place is so eerie. Daozhang, could you escort me back to the front building quickly?”

Qi Zhi was taken aback: “No time for that now. Ge Jin’s life is in danger, and I must assist my senior brother in saving her.”

He Mingsheng wiped the sweat from his chubby face: “It won’t take long to send us back. Please, Daozhang, be kind—run a quick errand and then return.”

Qi Zhi quickly finished drawing the array: “With this array protecting the room, it’s the safest place for you right now. You four stay here and don’t wander.”

And with that, he darted off.

He Mingsheng stomped his foot in frustration.

Though unwilling, he could only slowly shuffle back inside.

Teng Yuyi and Huo Qiu stood by the window, watching him with amusement.

E Ji, seemingly embarrassed by her master’s cowardice, had an uneasy expression as well.

But He Mingsheng paid no mind, sitting down at Ge Jin’s vanity and wiping the sweat from his head: “So many things have happened in just a few days. It feels like Caifeng Tower is on the brink of ruin!”

Teng Yuyi strolled over to the couch and sat down: “I hear you’re from Luoyang, Master He? What business were you in before?”

“Leather harnesses, grain, silk, pearls—I’ve dabbled in everything.”

He Mingsheng replied pompously.

“Up early and to bed late, scraping together every bit of profit. After years of hard work, I finally saved enough to invest in Caifeng Tower. If we can’t get rid of the evil here, I might end up losing half my life’s savings.”

E Ji flattered him: “The master is a famous merchant from Luoyang. How could a little place like Caifeng Tower cause such a loss?”

He Mingsheng glared at her: “Listen to this—typical woman’s thinking! Caifeng Tower isn’t just any place. It requires large sums of silver to keep running. When business is good, it’s like a spring, constantly nourishing the whole enterprise. But if business declines, the foundation will be shaken within three months. I just hope tonight’s events don’t get out, or we’ll lose all our clientele, and I can’t even imagine how much I’ll lose then.”

He rambled on, his every sentence tied to money.

Teng Yuyi smiled faintly: “I heard Ge Jin is the star courtesan here. Since she was injured by a malevolent spirit, why didn’t you hire someone to exorcise it? Aren’t you worried that more of your courtesans might fall victim?”

He Mingsheng grimaced: “Of course I tried to find help! Before, it was just minor disturbances, nothing too serious. But as soon as Ge Jin got hurt, I rushed to Luoyang to find the expert. I searched the whole city but couldn’t find a trace of him. He either turned out to be a fraud or had gone on a journey. I planned to visit Qingyun Temple for help, but then tonight’s incident happened.”

He was speaking animatedly when he suddenly realized something was wrong.

The moonlight outside, which had been bright as day, suddenly dimmed.

Turning to look, he was petrified to see a figure dripping wet, clinging to the window, and blocking out most of the light.

E Ji screamed in terror as Teng Yuyi swiftly drew her jade sword: “Who are you?”

The figure weakly lifted her head: “It’s me.”

He Mingsheng and E Ji glanced at each other in shock, recognizing the voice: “Ge Jin?!”

“Master… E Ji… help me in,” Ge Jin said feebly.

He Mingsheng shakily raised the lantern.

The woman’s hair was half undone, water dripping from it, and her features, though ravaged by scars, were still remarkably beautiful.

“It really is Ge Jin,” He Mingsheng stammered.

“How did you end up here? Weren’t you captured by a demon?”

Ge Jin clung to the windowsill: “I foolishly opened the door and fell under the demon’s spell. Luckily, the Taoist from Qingyun Temple saved me. But they were too busy chasing the demon and didn’t have time to bring me back inside.”

She coughed.

“Master, you’ve returned from Luoyang—did you manage to find the expert?”

He Mingsheng and E Ji, previously too frightened to move, were stunned by her words.

Only a few top courtesans knew about He Mingcheng’s trip to Luoyang, so it had to be Ge Jin.

“Master… E Ji… help me,” Ge Jin pleaded weakly.

The two were hesitating when Teng Yuyi suddenly spoke: “Lady Ge Jin, which Taoist left you here?”

“It wasn’t a Taoist. It was a young nobleman,” Ge Jin sighed.

“After rescuing me, he found me to be a burden and left without saying a word.”

Their doubts vanished—this was exactly something Lin Chengyou would do.

Still fearful, He Mingsheng didn’t move and urged E Ji to help: “E Ji, go assist Ge Jin.”

Ge Jin gave a bitter smile: “Master, you’re closer. Why not help yourself?”

Her tone and manner were exactly as they had been before, dispelling any suspicion E Ji might have had.

She rolled up her sleeves: “Fine, I’ll help.”

But as she took a step forward, Teng Yuyi blocked her path.

From her sleeve, she pulled out an object and approached the window: “Lady Ge Jin, the Taoist warned us not to open any doors tonight. I wonder what kind of trick that demon used to deceive you.”