Chapter Fifteen: The Beginning and the End

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Along the way, Elder Hai carefully recounted the entire sequence of events to us. It turned out that the primary target of blame was not my grandmother herself, but Zhou Xuan.

The origin traced back two or three years ago, when Zhou Xuan, the cherished jewel of the Zhou family and a fledgling in the spiritual arts, had once extracted the soul of a key disciple from the Maoshan sect to save a pitiable child, effectively extinguishing that disciple. Although the deed was done covertly, the disciple was too significant to overlook. The orthodox factions were outraged and investigated relentlessly, eventually tracing the incident back to Zhou Xuan.

Even though the disciple was the one who maliciously harmed the child, the outcome favored Zhou Xuan. Consequently, the prominent orthodox spiritual families spread rumors accusing Zhou Xuan of wanton slaughter and targeted her mercilessly in various magical confrontations.

Despite her youth, Zhou Xuan had mastered the intricate art of summoning spirits unique to the Zhou family and was fiercely opposed to injustice. She held the orthodox sects in contempt and openly criticized their methods.

In the days that followed, to save lives and protect herself, she retaliated against anyone from the orthodox sect who dared to obstruct or sabotage her, exacting ruthless revenge. This caused many descendants and disciples of the orthodox families to suffer great losses under her spells, some even dying mysteriously.

This escalated the conflict severely. Several powerful elders from the orthodox sects went to the Zhou family, exerting pressure and even threatening the family head, warning that if Zhou Xuan was not handed over, no one in the Zhou family would be safe.

Unable to contend with the combined orthodox sects, the Zhou family head relented and planned to surrender Zhou Xuan. Zhou Xuan’s parents, being from a collateral branch, clashed with the family head and informed Zhou Xuan, urging her to disappear from the world and avoid the orthodox sect’s attention.

Where Zhou Xuan fled afterward, Elder Hai couldn’t say for certain—only that she vanished for a long time.

At this point, I connected Zhou Xuan’s story to her arranged marriage to Zhang Yidan. The wedding had taken place around the same time as these events, suggesting Zhou Xuan sought refuge with my grandmother while also hoping for a peaceful life.

According to Zhang Yidan, he had no idea Zhou Xuan belonged to the Zhou family or possessed such formidable magical abilities.

Yet even if she concealed her identity in a remote village like Xiaoyi Tun, the orthodox sect still found a way to reach her. They cursed Zhou Xuan’s exiled parents with a peculiar spell, said to be very potent. Though it wouldn’t kill them immediately, it caused constant mental disturbances and ghostly screams at midnight.

Somehow Zhou Xuan learned of this and, to save her parents, decided to return home. That visit ensnared her in a trap set by the orthodox families. Like her parents, she suffered a terrible fate—killed and turned into a puppet corpse, used and tormented by others.

Hearing this, my face turned pale, and though I tried to maintain composure, shock and fury surged within me like a rising spring.

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“W-were the police not involved at all?” Yu Xiaoxue cried, tears streaming down her face as she walked, wiping them away constantly.

“The orthodox sects claim to be righteous, but their methods are utterly ruthless and underhanded. They never act openly. Such matters are only known to a few old-timers like us through secret channels. To outsiders, anyone suffering from their schemes is dismissed as mentally ill or sent to a psychiatric hospital.

Besides, Zhou Xuan is nowhere to be found—no body, no trace. How could anyone investigate? This isn’t a straightforward stabbing where the police can arrest and try someone. This is a living death by spiritual torment.” Elder Hai sighed as Yu Xiaoxue’s sobbing intensified.

He glanced at me, sensing my barely restrained anger, and continued, “If the orthodox sect had simply killed Zhou Xuan outright, the matter might have ended there.

But several disciples who died at Zhou Xuan’s hands included some with close family ties. They refused to let it go, insisting on tormenting Zhou Xuan beyond human limits. This backfired—Zhou Xuan’s soul remained intact, and the prolonged abuse drew out the Zhou family matriarch, who had long been missing.

You know who she is? Zhou Laotai—the infamous, vengeful Zhou Old Demon.”

“Ha, this is karma. If the matriarch had remained in the family, those orthodox sects might have dared not act so brazenly or even come to claim her. But during the Cultural Revolution, she disappeared without a trace. For decades, no news. The orthodox sects assumed she was dead and acted arrogantly.”

“Upon discovering her granddaughter’s death, Zhou Laotai erupted in fury and struck at the Yang family, one of the orthodox lineages. That battle was so fierce that the Yang patriarch fled in panic, and over half their souls vanished mysteriously. Zhou Laotai even vowed to sacrifice her own life if necessary to destroy the orthodox sect’s lineage. That single battle almost scattered their entire power.”

“Yet it didn’t end there. The orthodox sect, unwilling to accept defeat, summoned Zhou Laotai to a trap outside the old town, gathering over a hundred allied fighters, openly inviting the ‘Old Demon’ for a duel.

My old buddy told me that battle was apocalyptic, with Zhou Laotai donning her ghostly mask and even summoning the Ghost King. The orthodox sect and their allies suffered countless casualties. When they nearly collapsed, a reclusive master from the Maoshan sect appeared unexpectedly—perhaps an old enemy of Zhou Laotai—offering a secret technique called the Blood Cloud Coffin, obtained at the cost of half his lifespan. It trapped part of Zhou Laotai’s soul, but she remained formidable, surviving unscathed and managing to rescue her granddaughter’s puppet corpse, escaping the trap.”

Elder Hai recounted these extraordinary events like a storyteller. Zhao He listened, flushed with anger, cursing the orthodox sect’s treachery.

Zhao Qian, eyes brimming with tears, mourned Zhou Xuan’s death and admired Zhou Laotai’s heroic spirit.

Yu Xiaoxue, closest to my grandmother and Zhou Xuan’s sister-in-law, was equally heartbroken, her tears unceasing. I saw how deeply she cared.

“I know what you all think, but we common mystics like us are nothing but scattered sand against these orthodox families. Even with a reputation, our influence is limited to small towns and villages. Facing a united orthodox front is nearly impossible. Only someone like Old Immortal Zhou Laotai, inheriting the forbidden art of ghost summoning, could dare to challenge their authority alone.”

“What happened next? What became of Zhou Laotai? And the Blood Cloud Coffin?” Zhao He asked eagerly, seemingly disillusioned with orthodox magic.

“They sealed the Blood Cloud Coffin in the most yin-infested dead town, and Zhou Laotai’s body was likely entombed with it,” Elder Hai shook his head, a trace of regret in his eyes.

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“What exactly is the Blood Cloud Coffin? If it’s broken, will my grandmother be safe?” I clung to a sliver of hope.

“Heh, impossible. A friend of mine who specializes in coffins told me about this ancient relic. The Blood Cloud Coffin is formidable. Once a soul is trapped inside, even if the person dies far away, their spirit will return to the coffin. Rumor says the coffin itself is alive, though no one understands how.

When the coffin is opened, the best advice is to flee as far as possible. Even standing before it, you’re helpless. The coffin not only contains the powers of those trapped within but commands surrounding vengeful spirits to attack anyone who approaches.

When we first heard about Old Demon Zhou’s plight, we foolishly thought she was a model for small sects like ours and tried to help before the coffin’s power fully took effect. But instead of rescuing anyone, we lost several men and only I escaped along a deserted path from the dead town.

Now the coffin is firmly sealed, and no one can break it. Do you really think you alone could defeat Zhou Laotai and the countless vengeful ghosts of the dead town?”

Elder Hai sighed deeply, patting my shoulder. “That’s why they confidently left the Blood Cloud Coffin in the dead town—it’s unbreakable.”

His words finally revealed the full truth. Elder Hai was not the one who harmed my grandmother; he had sought to save her. The misunderstanding was grave.

Embarrassed, I said, “Elder Hai, if you hadn’t explained, I almost thought you were the cause of my grandmother’s death. I’m truly sorry.”

“Concern clouds judgment, especially at your age. These things are complicated and oddly arranged. Misunderstandings are normal; don’t dwell on it,” he said kindly, like a caring elder.

Remembering that my grandmother’s remains were sealed in the Blood Cloud Coffin in the dead town, I felt overwhelming rage. Our long separation had become a final farewell—her death unresolved, trapped in that cursed place.

From the day I was born, my survival was thanks to her. No matter what, I will break the Blood Cloud Coffin, no matter how difficult.

As for those responsible for her death, I will hunt them down, one by one, household by household, and send them to hell—even if it means bearing unshakeable karma.

This grudge—I have truly made it great!