Chapter 42: Chen Hongyi

Taking advantage of the scorching midday sun, Uncle Hu and I returned to the graveyard. Just as before, we passed through the Yin-Yang Gate, located the nine large mounds, and finally arrived at the side of the water well. Before moving the well cover, however, I set up a simple Four Symbols formation nearby. This way, if there was any disturbance, I would be the first to know.

"Uncle Hu, keep an eye on me from the bank. I'm going down to take a look."

Without waiting for his response, I tied a rope around my waist and descended into the well. The moment I hit the water, the extreme chill sent a shudder through me. The water was bone-chilling, unsettling my very soul. The resentment here was deeper than I had imagined; Chen Hongyi must have nearly finished nourishing the corpse within this coffin. Strangely, however, the coffin I had seen in the well last night was nowhere to be found.

This complicated things. Ignoring the biting cold, I took a deep breath and dove under. I needed to find that coffin. Surely, Chen Hongyi hadn't taken it away? Following my intuition, I searched the depths and finally discovered the coffin hidden in a hole at the bottom of the well. I reached out to tie the rope to it, but the coffin seemed to possess a life of its own, darting away with sudden speed.

Damn it, this was getting interesting. Gripping the rope, I lunged at the coffin again. In such a confined space, I didn't believe it could fly away. Once I had it securely bound, I surfaced to catch my breath. Now, I could finally examine the coffin properly. Last night, the dim light and my intense anxiety had prevented me from seeing it clearly.

The shape of the coffin was bizarre—not the typical rectangular box, but an irregular shape, wider at the head and narrower at the feet. Just looking at its form, I knew the spirit inside must be incredibly uncomfortable. I wondered if Chen Hongyi had designed it this way intentionally; it was my first time witnessing many of her mystical methods.

However, as I pushed the coffin to bring it closer, a sight appeared that made my nerves tighten once more. On both the head and foot of the coffin were pasted "Double Happiness" characters—the kind used for weddings! This discovery left me deeply uneasy. I felt I had overlooked something, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

***

Despite the circumstances, there was no turning back.

"I am here to grant you salvation today. If you cooperate, I will send you to eternal bliss! Otherwise, I will scatter your soul and ensure you never reincarnate!"

I patted the surface of the coffin and signaled for Uncle Hu to pull me up.

"Qiyue, what’s happening down there? I heard you muttering—who were you talking to?" Uncle Hu asked, his voice tense. In such an evil place, his only goal was to protect me with all his might. Being new to the world of Feng Shui, I wasn't yet familiar with all the taboos, and I didn't want to make a mistake that would cost us dearly.

"Don't worry, Uncle Hu. I have it under control," I replied with a nod.

After a short rest, we pulled on the rope to hoist the coffin. It was surprisingly lighter than it had been the previous night. With little effort, we dragged it onto the bank.

"Qiyue, you did this?" Uncle Hu looked at me in disbelief, clearly shocked that I had managed to retrieve the malevolent coffin so easily.

"Uncle Hu, even ghosts fear those who are ruthless, let alone spirits that have been soaking in water for who knows how long," I said, grabbing an iron bar to pry it open.

*Crack!* The coffin groaned as I pried a gap open. I stole a glance inside: a flash of red. A wedding coffin, a red-clad corpse. This didn't seem right. Regardless, I had to open it. Whatever monster was inside, I, Chen Qiyue, would face it.

With a surge of effort, I pried the lid off. The sight inside stunned both Uncle Hu and me. Lying in the coffin was a male corpse that looked almost lifelike, close to my age and bearing an uncanny resemblance to me. He lay there as if merely asleep, and one couldn't bear to disturb him. But I knew he was no longer among the living. Chen Hongyi must have used some special preservative measures on him.

***

Filled with doubt, I turned my attention back to the body. His right hand was clenched tightly, as if clutching something vital. I reached out to take it, but Uncle Hu grabbed my sleeve.

"Qiyue, have you lost your mind? This coffin is so wicked—how can you just grab things from inside?" Uncle Hu said, his eyes full of worry. "If you really want to see it, I'll get it for you."

He thrust his large blade into the coffin toward the corpse's right hand. "Little one in the coffin, show us what you're holding. Your Uncle Hu doesn't talk; he only uses steel!"

At his words, the corpse's hand slowly relaxed. A gold plaque engraved with characters clattered onto the blade. Uncle Hu withdrew the knife, and we finally saw the inscription.

Damn it. It was my name and my birth date.

I gasped and stumbled back several steps. Chen Hongyi was truly formidable; she hadn't just discovered my name, but had managed to obtain my birth date as well. She was a difficult opponent indeed.

I recited a Heart-Cleansing Mantra to steady my racing pulse. The spell worked, and my shock and anger began to cool. Thankfully, having studied physiognomy under my grandfather for years, my cultivation was not shallow; otherwise, Chen Hongyi would have surely claimed my life by now.

I paced before the coffin, carefully weighing my options. Chen Hongyi was cunning, and I had to be cautious to avoid her traps. This gold plaque was likely the medium connecting me to the corpse; if I destroyed it, the bond should be severed. But I didn't act immediately. I knew that if Chen Hongyi had left the coffin here so brazenly, she must have had a contingency. If I destroyed the plaque, the corpse would likely transform into a malevolent spirit and attempt to seize my body.

This was its home turf; fighting it here would be my undoing. If I could resolve this peacefully, that was the path I would choose. If I could bring it to my side, that would be even better—then I could free my hands to deal with Chen Hongyi once and for all.