Chapter 23: The Skin-Painting Spirit? - Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

Chapter 23: The Skin-Painting Spirit? "I was just worried that during class... it might seem a bit... inappropriate, so I just..." Song Qingyi mumbled awkwardly, suddenly frowning, "Why am I even explaining this to you? If you don’t have anything related to the case to discuss, you should just go back!" "Sorry, I was just curious," Chu Liang chuckled, then moved onto the main topic, "You must have examined the bodies of those two students. Is it definitely the work of vengeful spirits?" "The state of their deaths was horrifying, and the heavy presence of dark energy confirms it was a ghost," Song Qingyi replied. "However... it didn’t quite feel like vengeful spirits, rather something higher-tier..." Vengeful spirits lack high intelligence and clarity of thought, usually appearing repeatedly in the same place. Their obsessions are deep but don't involve complex actions. Luring the two students from their homes to the lakeside to kill them doesn’t seem like something vengeful spirits could do—unless it was a coincidence. "But Situ Yan was just an ordinary girl without cultivation," Chu Liang reasoned. For someone without cultivation, the strength of their soul is very limited. Even if they die with deep resentment, they at most become a strong vengeful spirit. If anyone could turn into a powerful ghost with no limits, then death would lead to instant ascension. Higher-tier ghost entities typically augment their power after becoming a ghost through opportunity and cultivation, or they have had strong cultivation and spiritual aptitude in life, which doesn't apply to the recently deceased Situ Yan. "So it's possible another ghost was the culprit," Song Qingyi concluded. "Or perhaps... a dark cultivator was behind this." Chu Liang nodded in agreement. Some dark cultivators specifically refine heavily resentful spirits into tools or weapons for cultivation, using cruel methods that go against humanity. Take the Underworld Sect, currently prevalent in dark arts; they have numerous techniques for cultivating with lost souls. Chu Liang shared with Song Qingyi what Li Jue had told him, mentioning those in their class who might face Situ Yan's vengeance but omitting Li Jue's story with Situ Yan. "Chen Da, Yan Xiaohu..." Song Qingyi nodded, "I'll go see those two tomorrow." After their conversation, Chu Liang left the back mountain and returned to the Li household in Yanjiao City. "So, Instructor Song is from the Gentleman's Hall," Lin Bei expressed surprise upon learning the news. In the Ten Earthly Realms of the Nine Heavens, there are only two Confucian sects: the Dragon Rising Academy, supported by the imperial court, catering to the entire Yu Dynasty, and the more independent Gentleman's Hall. Originating in Jiangnan, the Gentleman's Hall was established by several renowned scholars. At the time, these scholars would gather at the Jiangnan Misty Rain Tower to discuss philosophy, gaining fame as a place for intellectual exchange. Eventually, it became known that any scholar recognized by these founders could join, making it a prestigious hub for scholarly discourse. Later, someone proposed naming it the Gentleman's Hall, a place where a Confucian gentleman’s name could be immortalized, providing they were recognized for their virtue, scholarship, and cultivation. Thus, the Gentleman's Hall became an honorific institution within Confucianism, with many students aspiring to have their names inscribed there for eternity. Over time, the Gentleman's Hall also developed its own heritage, becoming one of the Ten Earthly Realms' sects. "If the academy is managed by the Confucian sect, we probably don’t need to worry as much," Chu Liang commented. "The Confucian sect is admirable," Lin Bei chuckled with an odd grin, "I really admire the Confucian sect." ... "Chen Da is dead?" The next afternoon, Song Qingyi suddenly found Chu Liang and Lin Bei with troubling news. After her morning class, she visited student Chen Da’s home as an instructor. There, a scene of grief awaited at the Chen household. "This matter is rather strange," Instructor Song noted with a serious expression. Chu Liang and Lin Bei listened intently to her account. "According to the Chen family, ever since Zhang Cong and Wu Shaoan's deaths, Chen Da locked himself in his room, afraid to go outside. Only when his parents brought meals could they see him." "Last night, when Chen Da's father went to deliver a meal, he saw Chen Da's mother carrying a tray walking in. Father Chen was puzzled, as it was Mother Chen who asked him to deliver the meal, and now she was doing it herself?" "But upon returning to his room, he found Mother Chen asleep on the bed." "Feeling something was wrong, Father Chen rushed to Chen Da's room, only to find him charred and lifeless on the floor, seemingly burned in a fire." "Yet, there was no smell of smoke or sign of fire in the room. Chen Da didn't make any cries for help... he was incinerated suddenly and inexplicably." "I've checked—it was done by a ghost, the strong presence of dark energy confirms this." Song Qingyi recounted the incident without any reservation. To her, the sooner the matter was resolved, the better; any help was welcome. "The one Father Chen saw entering Chen Da's room—taking on his mother’s form—was a ghost disguising itself," Chu Liang speculated. "Ghosts that can freely alter their appearance are rare." Creating a human-like illusion isn't difficult for many malevolent entities, but transforming into any individual’s likeness is challenging. Aside from possessing powerful transformative abilities, only specific innate talents of unique species, such as the fox clans of monsters or certain ghosts known as... "Skin-Painting Spirits!" Lin Bei exclaimed. "Indeed, only a Skin-Painting Spirit can transform at will. Those two students earlier were likely tricked to the lakeside by such a spirit," Song Qingyi affirmed. But how had the recently deceased Situ Yan become a powerful Skin-Painting Spirit? If the perpetrator wasn't Situ Yan, why were her targeted ones the victims? Skin-Painting Spirits are elusive and unpredictable, far more difficult to deal with than vengeful spirits. One could see the furrow in Song Qingyi's brow, clearly troubled by the matter. "Instructor Song, fret not. We disciples of Mount Shu consider eliminating evil as our duty, and we won't allow this malevolent entity to continue its crimes. We’ll definitely assist you!" Lin Bei proclaimed with his chest puffed confidently. Back at the Li residence, Lin Bei then stared at Chu Liang. "Think of something, genius," he urged, "I chose you to join this mission because of your clever mind." "You made the promise to Instructor Song; why involve me?" Chu Liang laughed, "Our task is simply to look after Li Jue, isn’t it?" "Aren’t you interested in seeing Instructor Song’s sweet smile?" Lin Bei replied intensely. "I’m just here to fight evil," Chu Liang retorted simply. Of course, he wouldn’t shirk responsibility; the Skin-Painting Spirit posed a significant threat and had to be eliminated promptly. After pondering, he spoke, "Regardless of this Skin-Painting Spirit’s identity, it’s following Situ Yan’s vengeful path. In that case, as long as we guard its targets, we’ll eventually catch it." With that, he stood up, "You keep an eye on Li Jue, I’ll find Yan Xiaohu." "Why do you get to go out again? Last night you went out and encountered Instructor Song! Today I want to go out!" Lin Bei protested, standing up. Chu Liang replied, "I have a way to discern Skin-Painting Spirits. Do you?" "..." Lin Bei sat back down lightly, "Bring me some supper when you return." Chu Liang made his way to Yan Xiaohu’s home, claiming to be a friend concerned about his well-being. To his surprise, the Yan family's attendants said that the young master had already gone out to play. Just yesterday, he suffered a severe beating, and it was assumed he was resting at home when, in fact, he’d gone out to have fun. Seems like he has a decent constitution. Chu Liang inquired further, "Could you tell me where Yan Xiaohu went to play?" The attendant laughed and replied, "You must not know our young master well; of course, he’s gone to the Caiyue Pavilion."