Chapter 125: Master Kongwu

Maybe because she finally relieved a burden from her heart, the Old Woman let out a sigh of relief and spoke much more smoothly.

As she explained, Mu Feng slowly understood what had happened.

It turned out that decades ago, this was the estate of a wealthy local man named Squire He. The family was prosperous and ranked first in Puyang Town. Squire He had no sons and only had a daughter when he was almost sixty. Under the guidance of a wandering Taoist named Taoist Ruoxu, she was named Liushuang. After leaving a line of hidden poetry, “Puyang’s flowery moonlit night, where is without Liushuang,” Taoist Ruoxu left quietly.

Having a daughter in his old age, Squire He, who thought he would have no heir, naturally doted on her greatly. He hired a private tutor to teach her to read and write from a young age. As she grew up, the young lady of the He family not only became as beautiful as a lotus flower but also excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. However, she remained unmarried until she was sixteen. Matchmakers almost wore out the doorstep, but she did not fancy any of the suitors until one night over forty years ago.

That night, the wind was strong and the rain heavy. A scholar on his way to the capital for the imperial exams came to seek lodging. Coincidentally, the young lady’s private tutor was away on business at the time. Squire He, seeing that the scholar was talented and knowledgeable, invited him to stay at the estate for a while, gave him a generous travel allowance, and asked him to temporarily replace the tutor. Unexpectedly, the young lady fell in love with the scholar at first sight. After spending some time together, she insisted on marrying him and no one else.

Squire He, on one hand, was getting old, and on the other hand, hoped his daughter would marry early so he could soon have a grandchild. Under his daughter’s threat of suicide, he foolishly agreed to the marriage. However, on the wedding night, just as they were about to consummate the marriage, the scholar suddenly left without saying goodbye, leaving a note saying he was going to the capital for the exams. From then on, there was no news of him.

Heartbroken, the young lady of the He family drowned herself in a well on a windy and rainy night. The elderly parents had to bury their young daughter, and within a year, both Squire He and his wife passed away from excessive grief. Thus, a wealthy and prosperous family fell apart and was destroyed.

After Squire He’s death, some old servants with nowhere else to go continued to live in the mansion. Slowly, they began to notice strange occurrences.

Sometimes, waking in the middle of the night, they would hear faint music or mournful, ethereal singing, as if a woman was singing in the backyard. Those who lived in the mansion for a long time, whether elderly or young and strong, all fell ill, developed dark shadows on their foreheads, or even died mysteriously. Gradually, rumors spread that the He mansion was haunted, and the surrounding families moved away one by one.

“Alas, what a tragedy. The young lady of the He family was a pitiable person, but this haunting cannot go on. If we weren’t truly homeless, my husband and I wouldn’t have lived here. My poor husband, who worked hard all his life, couldn’t even walk after living here for less than half a year… Thankfully, we met you today, young master, or I wouldn’t know what to do! Thank you, young master, thank you, my benefactor.” The Old Woman wiped the tears from her face and was about to kowtow to Mu Feng in gratitude.

“Old madam, please rise quickly. This is not necessary!”

Mu Feng helped the frail Old Woman to her feet and asked in a deep voice, “Was that ungrateful scholar named He Xuangao? And what about the old monk you mentioned earlier?”

“That scholar, I heard he was also surnamed He, but I really can’t remember his full name!”

The Old Woman concentrated hard, but being old, she couldn’t recall many things from long ago. “As for the old monk, I accidentally met him a few days ago when I went to Puyang Temple on Puyang Mountain to make a wish. I heard he was called Master Kongwu. Many people were asking him for divination sticks and making wishes, saying he was very accurate. I also asked him for a reading. He told me not to worry about anything and that within three days, a noble person would come to help solve my troubles. Hey, who would have thought it would actually come true!”

Master Kongwu?

Mu Feng was secretly amazed. He didn’t expect to find such an extraordinary person in this remote wilderness.

“Young master, your book attendant is so weak. It’s not good for her to keep traveling on the road. In my opinion, why not go up the mountain tomorrow morning to make a wish? Maybe she’ll recover completely in a few days!” the Old Woman kindly suggested. In the countryside, many believed that making a wish on the mountain was more effective than seeking a doctor when seriously ill.

“Brother Mu Feng, I want… to go up the mountain with you tomorrow morning for a walk! Do you think… that would be alright?”

Before Mu Feng could speak, Shuang’er spoke up first, looking softly at Mu Feng as she spoke.

She looked weak and pale, so fragile that it evoked pity, making it hard to refuse.

“Alright, let’s go back. We shouldn’t disturb the old madam’s rest any longer!”

Mu Feng nodded, bid the Old Woman goodnight, and helping Jing Wushuang, turned to leave.

In the Great Thousand World, there were many extraordinary people, but most did not reside in courts but lived in seclusion in the mountains. Hearing about such an efficacious old monk, he wanted to meet him in person.

To travel and study, as the name implied, was to journey abroad, experience local customs, and learn what one lacked or had never imagined or achieved. This was the true meaning of traveling to study and the fundamental reason why ancient sages advocated it.

Some truths could not be learned from books; one had to savor them in life and quietly comprehend them during travels.

“Thank you, Brother Mu Feng!”

Jing Wushuang glanced affectionately at Mu Feng beside her, a sweet smile on her face.

Staying here for a day and going up the mountain to make a wish was only one aspect. The more important reason, unknown to Mu Feng, was that she wanted to spend more days on the road and more time with him. Every day she woke up, she felt time was not enough, and the day passed in a flash. Especially during this period when she was seriously injured and under Mu Feng’s careful care, each day went by so quickly.

If only time could stand still at this moment, how wonderful that would be!

Jing Wushuang walked very, very slowly. With Mu Feng’s support, she wished the gravel path from the backyard to the side room would never end.

After helping Jing Wushuang lie down, pulling up the covers for her, and confirming she was asleep, Mu Feng leaped through the window and, with a few bounds, returned to the backyard. He stretched out his right hand, and eighteen command flags appeared in his grasp. With a thud, they were planted firmly in the ground. The next moment, a Yin Wind blew towards him, and a white mist seeped out from one of the flags, slowly forming the figure of a woman in white.

Woo…

As soon as she was released, the female ghost let out a fierce cry and prepared to pounce.

“Miss Liushuang, I am the Jianning Scholar Mu Feng, not your enemy. Look carefully!” Mu Feng’s blood surged within him, but he remained calm and composed. Looking at the fierce female ghost, he continued lightly, “Tell me, what did the He Xuangao you mentioned earlier look like? Where was he from?”

“Hahaha, Jianning Scholar?”

The injured female ghost laughed grimly, her face twisted. “Forty-two years ago, you said you were a Jianshui scholar, surnamed He, named Xuangao, styled Yueye, and that you were going to the capital for the exams. You spoke so convincingly, but in the end, you destroyed my family. Now, you’ve transformed into another appearance, claiming to be a Jianning Scholar with a different name. Do you think you can fool me?”

He Xuangao’s incarnation?

Mu Feng couldn’t help but laugh silently. Looking at the sinister female ghost grinding her teeth before him, he felt a twinge of pity.

A well-educated young lady from a noble family, once cherished by her parents, had fallen to such a state. How tragic!

“I, Mu Feng, may not be a great figure, but I have never done anything dishonorable in my life. I am who I am. Why would I need to deceive even a female ghost like you?”

Mu Feng paused, then continued calmly, “Humans and ghosts belong to different paths. Originally, I shouldn’t let you remain in this world. The only reason I haven’t killed you is because I happen to know an old acquaintance named He Xuangao and wish to understand the truth. Believe it or not, it’s up to you. Think carefully, and when you’ve figured it out, tell me.”

Seeing that the female ghost was blinded by hatred, Mu Feng shook his head. As soon as he finished speaking, he formed a hand seal, withdrew her, and turned to leave.

One was a heartless and ungrateful scoundrel; the other was a virtuous and respected Scholar-Official, unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, and who had been kind to him. He truly did not wish for them to be the same person.