Chapter Fifty: To You, a Thousand Years Ago

While Liu Heng was deep in thought, Yan Ye spoke up beside him, “Elder brother, don’t scold Liu Ji anymore. Those Sun brothers truly went too far, they were unbearable!” He snorted coldly. “Since Liu Ji took action today, let it serve as a lesson to them—so they learn a little about respect and know their place!”

“Very well, very well,” Liu Heng said, waving his hand. “Ji’er, always remember this: when dealing with an enemy, either don’t act at all, or if you do, don’t give them a chance to retaliate. Make sure your first strike is lethal.”

“Understood,” Liu Ji nodded. He was well aware of this straightforward principle, and he had executed it well in the earlier fight with Sun Hao.

Xiao Junyi and Xiao Mei both looked at Liu Ji in surprise. The rumors outside portrayed Liu Ji as a violent, uneducated tyrant, notorious for abducting young women and oppressing the people—a little demon king of chaos. Now that they saw him for themselves, he was nothing like the stories, but they didn’t question it further.

“Report—!” At that moment, a servant hurried into the main hall, cupped his fists, and bowed. “Your Highness, Chief Constable of the Southern City reports another... another brutal case of cannibalism has been discovered in the Southern City!”

A heavy silence instantly fell over the hall.

Liu Heng’s expression remained calm as he waved the servant away. Xiao Junyi, face full of indignation, exclaimed, “How could such a thing happen in the illustrious Southern King’s City? What kind of villain dares commit such an atrocity?”

“Cannibalism...” Xiao Mei’s face went pale. For some reason, she suddenly recalled the dark shadow in the mirror that night, and the eyeball peering from the crack in the door.

Yan Ye sighed. “To be honest, Brother Xiao, this is already the second such incident. But nowadays, no one in Southern King’s City should be starving. Who would commit such cruel and disgusting acts?”

Liu Ji suddenly spoke, “Uncle Yan, I fear this is not simply a matter of people eating people. No matter what, who would have the will to bear eating a living human? How is this any different from the beasts outside the city?”

He had a nagging feeling that this was connected to vengeful spirits—and perhaps related to the recent mass disappearance of the villagers from Yongfu Village. But if this truly involved vengeful spirits, how did they enter Southern King’s City in the first place?

The city walls of Southern King’s City were inlaid with ghost crystals to block vengeful spirits from entering. Moreover, Liu Ming had already reported that the ghost crystals in the walls were perfectly intact.

Everything was in good order!

So, how did the vengeful spirits get inside?

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat. He recalled Wang Mazi’s concubine, who had recently become possessed by a vengeful spirit. According to Wang Mazi, after a brief trip outside the city with his concubine, she returned and, within days, suddenly went mad and attacked people.

Could it be...

At this thought, a chill ran down his spine and his hair stood on end.

Yan Ye stroked his bald head. “That’s true.”

Liu Heng said gravely, “Yan Ye, pass my orders. Deploy a hundred Southern Tiger Cavalry to each of the four city sectors: east, south, west, and north. If any suspicious person is found, apprehend them immediately!”

“Understood.” Yan Ye turned to go.

“Wait,” Liu Ji suddenly called. “Uncle Yan, also have each man carry a ghost crystal with him. And if... if you find anyone who emanates an obvious, bone-chilling cold, an unnatural chill that makes your hair stand on end...”

He drew a deep breath, then said solemnly, “Take them into custody as well!”

Yan Ye looked at Liu Heng.

Liu Heng nodded. “Very well.”

Yan Ye left.

After Yan Ye had gone, Liu Heng asked, “Ji’er, have you discovered something?”

Liu Ji replied gravely, “Father, I’m afraid... vengeful spirits have already infiltrated the Southern Prince’s Residence. And there may be more than a few!”

Liu Heng’s eyes narrowed at these words.

“I understand,” he said. “If you don’t have urgent matters these days, don’t leave the residence. Just stay inside.”

...

“Hey, Liu Ji, how can you be so sure those who give off a cold aura are vengeful spirits?” Xiao Mei asked curiously in the corridor.

“Because vengeful spirits have a distinct trait—they emanate a chilling, bone-deep cold. Even if they possess a human body and use its blood and flesh to mask their presence, some—especially the weaker ones—still can’t perfectly conceal their aura,” Liu Ji explained.

“Oh, I see.” Xiao Mei nodded, not entirely convinced.

“Oh, right,” Liu Ji added, “I should warn you: you... may very well have been targeted by a vengeful spirit.”

Xiao Mei turned to glare at him, and after a long pause, burst out laughing. “Trying to frighten me again? Do you think I’ll fall for your tricks? Using the same scare tactic twice on me?”

“That night, after I returned from the arsenal, I passed near your room and met a servant in the corridor. He was surrounded by a chilling aura—so cold and eerie...” Liu Ji continued, ignoring her skepticism.

“I—I—I’m going to find my father!” Xiao Mei’s face turned even paler. She whirled around and dashed away at full speed.

“Why are you looking for Uncle Xiao?” Liu Ji called after her.

“I’m having him take me away from your house! There’s something wrong with this place! If I stay here, I’ll die sooner or later!”

She didn’t look back.

Liu Ji chuckled softly to himself, thinking, Isn’t this girl a little too afraid of death?

Well, he was afraid of dying, too...

Afterward, he went to Xiaoya’s room. Ever since she lost her parents, her mental state had been fragile. Even if her relationship with them wasn’t particularly close, the loss was still a heavy blow.

Liu Ji comforted her for a while, then left her room. After some hesitation, he turned left and right through the corridors until he stopped at another door.

Creak—

He slowly pushed open the door, only to hear a crash and hurried footsteps inside, like someone running barefoot across the floor.

Entering, he saw a plate spinning wildly on the table opposite the door, then fall and shatter on the ground.

Turning his head, he saw a beautiful woman curled up at the head of the bed, hugging her knees. This was the woman called Xiaolan, whom he had ransomed from the Spring Night House.

Her lovely, vivid eyes, blue as sapphires, watched him warily like a frightened kitten, as if he were some kind of villain.

“You... you’ve locked me in here and ignored me. What do you want from me?!”

“Is that how you speak to the one who saved your life?” Liu Ji sat down and poured a cup of tea. “Besides, am I not here now to see you?”

Xiaolan stared at him in fear.

Liu Ji crossed his legs, propping his elbow on the table as he swirled the tea in his hand. He smiled, “I must say, you’re quite beautiful. Are all women from the Northern Territory as lovely as you?”

Still, Xiaolan said nothing, her bright eyes fixed on him warily, clearly terrified.

“Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you,” Liu Ji said with a faint smile, thinking, Am I really that scary? I’m fairly good-looking myself, aren’t I?

He stood, picked up a plate of steaming, fragrant roast chicken from the table, and approached her.

Xiaolan shrank back in terror, but the wall was at her back—there was nowhere else to go. She curled up, trembling.

Liu Ji stopped by the bed and offered her the roast chicken. “You haven’t eaten, have you? Eat up, so you’ll have strength for the road.”

“You’re going to kill me?” Xiaolan asked in fear.

“Who said that?” Liu Ji replied.

“You’re not?”

“Why would I kill you?”

Xiaolan hesitated, but just then her stomach growled loudly. After a moment’s thought, she snatched the roast chicken and devoured it ravenously.

If she was going to die, she’d at least die with a full belly.

She must have been very hungry—even the chicken bones were chewed up and swallowed. Liu Ji said, “Now that you’ve eaten, it’s time to go.”

Xiaolan glanced at him, got off the bed, and walked toward the door.

“Wait,” he said.

She paused. Liu Ji draped his fur coat over her shoulders. “It’s cold. Don’t catch a chill. I’ll have the Southern Tiger Cavalry escort you out of the city. After that, you’re on your own.”

Xiaolan nodded, gave him one last look, and left.

“Take care, Nuolan,” Liu Ji suddenly called out.

Xiaolan froze. She turned, her face filled with shock. “How... how do you know my name?”

When Liu Ji remained silent, she turned and left, disappearing from his sight. For a long time, Liu Ji’s eyes remained distant, then gradually cleared.

He murmured,

“Nuolan...

Who are you?”

...