"The Li Family's wife was a famous beauty in these parts. It's just a shame she married a good-for-nothing husband. To pay off his gambling debts, he actually sold her to a brothel…"
"The Li Family's wife was a strong-willed woman. That very night, she hanged herself in the brothel."
"But the thug who ran the brothel wasn't one to let things go. The next day, he took the wife's body right to the Li Family's doorstep."
"It was quite a scene. The entire Li Family home was emptied out, and the husband was beaten half to death…"
"But even after all that, the man's habits didn't change one bit. He ran off to the casino again that very night. His wife's body was just left there. It was the kind neighbors who took pity, collected her remains, and buried her outside the city."
"Everyone thought that would be the end of it—that the Li Family was ruined, and that was that."
"But what happened next… I doubt any of you could guess…"
At this point, the storyteller suddenly paused, leaving his audience in suspense. This immediately drew a flurry of urgent calls from the crowd, and those who knew the routine began stuffing coins into the money jar in front of him.
Even Chu Mu found his curiosity piqued.
'Based on the storyteller's tale, what happened next didn't seem too hard to guess. With a man of his character, the Li Family's downfall was inevitable. He'd probably end up dead in a ditch somewhere sooner or later.'
'But seeing the storyteller draw it out like this, the matter was clearly not that simple.'
Chu Mu took a sip of his tea, his gaze once again fixed on the storyteller.
"You might not believe me when I say it, but this is exactly how it happened."
"On the eighth day after the wife's death, the husband woke up and had suddenly gone mad. He begged for forgiveness from everyone he saw, repeating his wife's name over and over…"
"The thug who ran the brothel was also found hanged in his establishment. And the most terrifying part? The room where he died was the very same room where the wife had killed herself. He was even hanging from the exact same spot…"
The storyteller was truly skilled. As he spoke, the noisy restaurant fell silent, becoming nearly pin-drop quiet. Even Chu Mu felt a profound chill creep over his entire body.
"For real? …Could it be the wife's Resentful Soul?"
After a long moment, someone finally managed to stammer out the question.
"This old one doesn't know for sure, but the Inspection Office sent men, and even the County Captain was alarmed. They couldn't find any explanation, so it eventually became a cold case…"
"But in my opinion, the wheel of karma turns, and retribution is certain. Even if the Li Family's wife did become a Resentful Soul to exact her revenge, it would only be natural…"
The storyteller took a sip of tea, shook his head, and spoke with calm composure.
'Hearing the words "Inspection Office,"' Chu Mu couldn't help but freeze for a moment. 'He had thought the storyteller was just spinning a yarn, but was he actually talking about a real incident?'
"Something that spooky, and I've never heard of it? Old Li, you didn't just make this up, did you?"
Another person voiced their doubt. But before the storyteller could even respond, someone in the audience spoke up to defend him.
"It's a true story! I was just a boy when it happened, but it caused a huge panic in the city back then. The Inspection Department investigated for a long time but never found anything…"
"That's right, my grandpa told me about it too. Everyone said it was the wife's Resentful Soul claiming lives. Oh, and the husband, I think he's still alive. You know that madman by the south gate of the county town? I think that's him…"
It was as if a floodgate had opened, and one knowledgeable person after another in the audience started chiming in.
"Sir, your food and wine."
Before Chu Mu could think any further, the waiter's voice broke his train of thought.
"Sir, your order is complete. If you need anything else, just give me a shout."
Chu Mu nodded. He glanced at the dishes on the table, but his eyes quickly returned to the scene downstairs.
The floodgates were open, and the discussion surrounding the storyteller's tale grew more and more lively.
'Putting together what the others had said, he could basically confirm the truth of the storyteller's account. The only remaining question was whether it was the work of man or, as they said, the work of gods and ghosts.'
'After a moment's thought, Chu Mu decided not to dwell on it. According to the people downstairs, the incident had happened decades ago. The specifics had long since been worn away by time.'
'Besides, a lie told often enough becomes the truth. With all the rumors spreading, probably very few people knew the actual details.'
Chu Mu shook his head. He didn't much believe in stories about gods and ghosts.
'Though something as bizarre as transmigration had happened to him, if Resentful Souls truly existed…'
'...then the Nanshan Iron Ore mine would have become a nest of ghosts long ago.'
'After all, in the short time since I've joined the Inspection Office, dozens of lives have been lost in that mine!'
'And from what I know, this wasn't some special circumstance or a one-time accident. It was practically the norm in the mines.'
'The mine has been in operation for too long, and the facilities in many areas are in disrepair. On top of that, the mining techniques are far too primitive.'
'Of course, the most important factor is the inaction of the mine's management.'
'You could say that every single piece of iron smelted at the Iron Refinery is stained with blood.'
'If Resentful Souls were real, it would be an insult to all the lives lost in the mine if they didn't kill an Inspector every now and then for entertainment.'
But in the nearly one month he'd been at the mine, Chu Mu hadn't heard of a single Inspector losing their life.
Facts, it seemed, spoke louder than words.
He did, however, make a mental note about the madman at the south gate. The next time he went to the county town, he would make time to check it out. It wouldn't be much of a detour.
As he mulled it over, he swapped his teacup for a wine cup. A single cup of wine went down, and a wave of heat rose within him. The chill from standing in the snow and wind all morning seemed to dissipate instantly.
The Ten-Flavor Chili had a fiery kick, and the roast goose was rich but not greasy. The two paired together made for an exquisite flavor.
A sip of strong liquor, a bite of roast goose dipped in the Ten-Flavor Chili, followed by a mouthful of the complimentary rice provided by the inn.
Chu Mu sipped and savored, his ears open to the sounds all around him. He thoroughly enjoyed this leisurely meal.
With a full stomach, he was content. This body, it seemed, had never touched alcohol before. After a pot of potent liquor, the alcohol was starting to go to his head.
He felt a bit dizzy, but his whole body was pleasantly warm, as if he were sitting by a blazing stove.
Chu Mu didn't rush to leave the restaurant. He leaned against the railing, listening to the hubbub of the establishment, and rested for a good while before calling the waiter over to settle the bill.
'One roast goose, one pot of strong liquor: thirty copper coins. It could just about be considered a good deal…'
After paying the bill and leaving the restaurant, he found the snowstorm had finally stopped completely. The warmth from the alcohol still coursed through his body, and he felt none of the cold.
Though the snow had stopped, the streets were still cold, and the pedestrians all hurried along. The wealthy had carriages or sedan chairs to clear the way. Warmed by the liquor, Chu Mu, in contrast, seemed rather leisurely.
He walked along slowly. He wasn't sure when, but the sound of feminine chatter and laughter reached his ears, along with the faint scent of powder and perfume.
"Fengyue Tower…"
Before him was a bevy of enchanting women, each more alluring than the last.
The harsh winter did nothing to dampen their professional spirit. Skirts fluttered and thin veils offered tantalizing glimpses as one particularly charming figure stepped out into the snow to welcome Chu Mu.
Chu Mu smacked his lips. 'Wasn't I going home? How did I end up here?'
…