Chapter Eighty-Six: Meeting Lady Meng Once Again

Chapter Eighty-Six

Zhao Fusheng, on a sudden impulse, decided to make a trip to Beggar Alley. Beggar Alley was of great importance; within its confines still slumbered two fierce ghosts, locked in mutual suppression, yet to awaken—and the one-armed beggar ghost, whose missing limb she had taken, would eventually need to be dealt with as well.

It would be best to wait until she had resolved another ghost case, accumulated a thousand merit points, and unlocked the second layer of Hell. Once the beggar ghost was subdued, only two major ghosts would remain at the Temple of the Learned, restraining each other. In this way, even Zhang the Paper Man, lurking in the shadows, would not dare to break the fragile balance for now.

This would buy a brief respite for Wan’an County, allowing her to focus on solving ghost cases and strengthening her abilities. Though her mind was occupied with these matters, her expression betrayed nothing.

The servant, hearing her instructions, responded promptly and hurried out to prepare the carriage and horses. Other servants in the office brought her a chair to wait; less than fifteen minutes later, someone arrived to report that the carriage was ready.

Zhao Fusheng rose and stepped outside. Today, the sun shone over Wan’an County, but she wondered if it was merely her illusion—the sunlight, though it was August, lacked its usual brilliance and heat, casting a grayish haze across the town.

The long street outside the Demon Suppression Bureau had already been swept of fallen leaves, but many shops on either side remained unrepaired, their doors tightly shut, the facades worn and neglected.

She glanced at these closed storefronts. The coachman, noticing her gaze and perhaps guessing her thoughts, spoke with a hint of flattery, “Don’t mind how deserted it looks now, madam. Last night, Master Fan gave orders—today someone will come to repair these shops.”

Once Zhao Fusheng was seated, the coachman flicked the reins eagerly. “When the shops are fixed and your reputation spreads, these storefronts will be worth a fortune! People will be crowding into this place!”

Zhao Fusheng leaned out to look, “Have you seen it bustling before?”

“I have,” the coachman nodded. “When I was young, I came here with my father. It was lively then—everyone wanted to be here, even peddlers wandering the streets had to pay to enter.”

He seemed lost in memories of those prosperous days.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and asked, “Are you a local here in Wan’an County?”

“Yes, our family has lived for generations in the Zhang family alley in the east of town. My grandfather once served as a menial in the county office.”

From his words, Zhao Fusheng realized that Fan had chosen his people with care—not just randomly to appease her, but likely with Magistrate Pang’s help, all chosen for their clean backgrounds and ease of control.

She nodded and chatted idly with the coachman. His grandfather had served at the county office, giving him some experience; he was neither timid nor dull, and, being a local, knew much about Wan’an County.

He sought to please her, and the ride was not dull.

Soon the carriage reached the southern part of the city. Before entering the mouth of Beggar Alley, Zhao Fusheng found herself inexplicably peering toward a distant crossroad.

The Lady Meng’s soup stall still stood there.

Since the ghost case in Beggar Alley had been resolved, there were now a few customers at her stall—a pair of people sipping soup.

Perhaps hearing the carriage, those at the stall turned to look her way.

Zhao Fusheng’s heart stirred.

“Would you like to say hello?” the coachman asked, keenly noticing her lingering gaze.

After resolving the ghost case in Beggar Alley, she had drunk two bowls of soup at Lady Meng’s stall, and word of this had spread throughout Wan’an County. Now, everyone knew that the elderly woman had ties to the new Demon Suppression Bureau Director. As the county grew more stable, many came to sit at her stall during leisure hours.

“No need for now,” Zhao Fusheng replied, shaking her head. “Just take me straight into Beggar Alley, and drop me at the Temple of the Learned.”

“Very well,” the coachman answered, and without stopping, drove the carriage into Beggar Alley.

This was Zhao Fusheng’s second visit to Beggar Alley.

Without the shroud of ghostly mist, the place appeared much brighter. Magistrate Pang knew she valued this site, and had sent people to clean and tidy it. But many collapsed houses remained unrepaired, bearing lingering traces of the havoc wreaked by fierce ghosts.

There were officers patrolling the street; seeing the carriage arrive and recognizing the Demon Suppression Bureau insignia, they hurried forward to greet her.

The carriage stopped in front of the Temple of the Learned. No sooner had Zhao Fusheng alighted than she saw Liu Yizhen standing at the temple gate.

She paused, then turned to the coachman, “You can go back now, come for me again after sunset.”

The coachman agreed and departed.

Zhao Fusheng watched the carriage leave, then turned to scrutinize Liu Yizhen for a moment before smiling, “It seems you knew I was coming.”

Her words carried a deeper meaning.

Liu Yizhen understood, shaking his head, “The one who tipped me off was not human.”

Zhao Fusheng’s heart stirred, “A ghost?”

Liu Yizhen nodded slightly.

His gesture startled Zhao Fusheng, “Is the beggar ghost showing signs of awakening?”

“Not yet,” Liu Yizhen replied, shaking his head. His years spent with ghosts had made him somewhat cold, “But since you disassembled it and took its arm,” he gestured to his own right arm, “your proximity triggers the strongest reaction from it.”

His task at the temple was to guard the three fierce ghosts, temporarily dormant, so he was acutely aware of any change in them.

When he first sensed a change in the ghostly aura inside the temple, Liu Yizhen was alarmed, but soon guessed it was Zhao Fusheng’s arrival causing the disturbance.

“Came out to check—and sure enough, it was you,” he said, then added, “But after all, it wasn’t a complete expulsion, nor a thorough sealing. It’s only docile for now because it’s been disassembled. Moreover, there are others watching, hungry for any chance—” He glanced up at Zhao Fusheng.

Both understood that Zhang the Paper Man was a looming threat. He coveted the ghost coffin and would eventually make another move; unless he was eliminated, Wan’an County would face disaster once more.

Zhao Fusheng nodded, “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

Her extraordinary methods during the Beggar Alley ghost disaster lent weight to her words, and Liu Yizhen’s tense expression eased, a smile appearing.

He was about to speak, but Zhao Fusheng continued, “In a while, I’ll take the beggar ghost away.”

This truly relieved Liu Yizhen.

Though he appeared calm, living with three ghosts under one roof—especially one unstable, with Zhang the Paper Man threatening from outside—was inherently perilous.

If Zhao Fusheng could remove one ghost, so much the better.

“Where will you take the ghost?”

With his mind at ease, he asked, even suggesting, “Why not send it to Bao County?”

Liu Yizhen’s face was sincere, “Bao County’s Demon Suppression Bureau is strong. Vice Commander Zheng, who commands a fiend-level ghost, is probably near death; when he dies, the fiend-level ghost will be out of control—no laughing matter. If you send a fiend-level ghost there now, and Vice Commander Zheng dies and his ghost awakens, the two ghosts will restrain each other and achieve balance. The court may reward you, and the people will be grateful.”

His words left Zhao Fusheng speechless.

“I’ll consider it in the future,” she said after a pause, shaking her head, “But not with the beggar ghost.”

Her refusal surprised Liu Yizhen, “If not Bao County, then where do you intend to take the ghost?”

Wan’an County was in crisis, and the surrounding counties were weak; if fierce ghosts were to spread, countless innocents would die.

When she resolved the Beggar Alley ghost disaster, Zhao Fusheng’s temperament had seemed different from the usual ghost controllers; Liu Yizhen had thought she disliked needless death and would avoid ghost disasters if possible.

“I plan to take the ghost into the Demon Suppression Bureau.”

Now it was Liu Yizhen’s turn to gape in astonishment.

After a long moment, he blurted, “You mean to take the ghost away?”

“Yes,” she nodded, not wishing to dwell further on the matter, “Has there been any unusual activity in the temple lately?”

Liu Yizhen was full of doubts. The beggar ghost’s body was incomplete, its arm in Zhao Fusheng’s possession; once it awakened, it would seek her out to reclaim it.

Most people wanted to send ghosts away, yet she intended to bring trouble home. What was her plan, wanting to take the ghost herself?

The disassembled ghost’s corpse was nearby, and its awakening was inevitable.

Liu Yizhen guessed she had her reasons, but their acquaintance was shallow; whatever secrets she had, she would not share.

Zhao Fusheng did not wish to elaborate, so Liu Yizhen suppressed his curiosity and said, “For now, all is well.”

Despite his words, his brows were tightly knit, clearly hiding something.

Zhao Fusheng sensed this and asked, “For now? Is there some trouble unresolved?”

Liu Yizhen hesitated, then shook his head, “There is some trouble, but it’s not a big issue.”

To live with three ghosts showed his remarkable composure. Anything he called ‘trouble’ was certainly no small matter.

But since he chose not to speak, Zhao Fusheng did not press further.

She herself had enough difficulties and sometimes had to turn a blind eye to certain matters, leaving them for later.

Still, she feared that delay would only breed more trouble, so she resolved to handle another ghost case soon and remove the beggar ghost’s body.

“By the way, I heard you took on another ghost case recently—”

Liu Yizhen steered the conversation elsewhere, and Zhao Fusheng followed, nodding, “I did—this case has some connection to your Liu family as well.”

Both tacitly avoided topics touching on their own secrets and instead discussed ghost cases, finding the conversation pleasant enough.

Zhao Fusheng spoke about the case in Doghead Village, staying in Beggar Alley for most of the day, then, as evening approached, took leave.

Liu Yizhen offered to escort her, but Zhao Fusheng laughed, “Now in Wan’an County, I doubt any fool would dare provoke me.”

Even among criminals, her power had grown since controlling fierce ghosts; ordinary ruffians were no match for her. Even against strong men, the ghost arm she possessed would suffice.

“I’ve arranged for people from the Demon Suppression Bureau to pick me up this evening. Meanwhile, I plan to sit outside for a bit.”

“Outside?” Liu Yizhen asked curiously.

“Just outside Beggar Alley there’s a soup stall run by an elderly woman named Meng,” she explained.

Liu Yizhen understood, “Lady Meng.”

“Yes,” she nodded, then asked, “You know her too?”

“My grandfather spoke of her,” Liu Yizhen replied. “She came here ten years ago, initially saying she was searching for family. Later, there was no news—perhaps her family couldn’t be found, so she started selling soup.”

Zhao Fusheng pondered, “So that’s how it is.”

Liu Yizhen looked at her, “Do you find her odd?”

Though he had not spent much time with Zhao Fusheng, clever people often shared a certain intuition.

Zhao Fusheng was sharp and suspicious; she would not befriend an elderly stranger without reason.

“No,” Zhao Fusheng replied with a smile. “I just think Lady Meng is very lucky.”

When the ghost disaster struck Beggar Alley, the ghost domain enveloped the entire alley, stopping precisely at Lady Meng’s stall. Even after the incident, she continued selling soup there daily without mishap, which was peculiar.

“You suspect something about her?” Liu Yizhen caught the nuance in her words and frowned.

“She’s not a ghost.”

“I know she’s not a ghost.”

Ghosts lacked reason and memory, acting only on instinct to harm. She had spoken with Lady Meng, and knew she was not a ghost.

“I’m just going to sit for a while.”

Liu Yizhen nodded, “As you wish. But you’ve handled two ghost cases. Though you didn’t use the power of fierce ghosts in the Doghead Village case, still be wary of ghost awakening.”

He pointed to Zhao Fusheng’s shadow, reminding her.

Zhao Fusheng laughed, “I know. I’m off.”

Leaving Beggar Alley, she headed to Lady Meng’s stall.

At this hour, there were still a few patrons. As she approached alone, the men holding bowls of soup glanced at her, but before they could speak, Lady Meng rose and came forward.

“Mad—”

Zhao Fusheng waved her hand, “I haven’t been here in a while. I happen to have some time today, so I thought I’d sit for a bit.”

Lady Meng understood her intent to avoid drawing attention, nervously wiped her hands on her apron, and nodded.

“I’ll treat you to some soup,” Lady Meng said, then hurried to fetch some. Zhao Fusheng replied, “No need, I brought money.”

She drew out a string of copper coins and jingled them.

The crisp sound caught the ears of the men drinking soup; they looked up, eyes greedy.

But with the strict control in Beggar Alley lately, Magistrate Pang had apparently gone mad, adding many officers to patrol the area. So even if the men were tempted, they dared not act, sipping their soup quietly, sitting where they were.

Zhao Fusheng saw their behavior and coldly sneered inwardly.

Their gaze was shifty, faces turning vicious at the sight of money. With so many officers around, they still dared harbor evil thoughts; such men, if not committing crimes today, would surely do so another day. Rather than let others suffer, it was better they fall into her hands, where she could deal with them all at once.

A murderous intent stirred within her.

Just then, Lady Meng brought a bowl of soup and set it before her.

As the soup arrived, steam rose, touching her face, and her killing intent was momentarily subdued.

The aroma made Zhao Fusheng realize she had almost lost control of her emotions.

She was not a true native of Great Han; moral imprinting had long been etched in her heart. Yet just now, when thoughts of killing arose, she felt no hesitation.

Clearly, being possessed by a fierce ghost still affected her. The Divine Register could only mitigate some of the emotional interference from the ghosts; other changes to her mindset were subtle, unwittingly altering her, so she was unaware.

She inhaled deeply, “Smells wonderful.”

She slapped the coins onto the table, lifted the bowl, and asked, “How’s business lately? Has anyone caused trouble at your stall?”

Lady Meng had been uneasy when Zhao Fusheng brought out money, fearing disaster at her stall.

Now, hearing her words, Lady Meng wondered if the Demon Suppression Bureau chief was intentionally revealing her status to drive away unrelated customers.

She steadied herself and replied cautiously, “Thanks to you, since you resolved the Beggar Alley ghost case and sat here for a while, it’s been peaceful these past few weeks…”

Lady Meng spoke carefully, watching Zhao Fusheng’s expression; seeing no objection, she relaxed.

Her words caused the other customers’ faces to change.

Even the dullest among them now realized who Zhao Fusheng was.