Spring Winds

"Here is the entrance of the inner courtyard."

The inner courtyard looked bare and cold, not the usual sight that one would see during summer. The moon was almost a full moon which provided ample lighting to the surrounded are even without the help of a lantern.

"Thank you for guiding me here." Zhu Na Ran thanked the older woman. "It would be best if you stood at the entrance; whatever is inside this courtyard is not friendly." The senior mama nodded remained outside to guard the entrance.

Walking through the entrance was, the Spirit Bell began to ring anxiously once more. It swung towards the residences furthest away. From she could tell, this must be the madam's residence since it was the largest.

Cautiously walking across the courtyard, she arrived at the madam's door and opened them. The moonlight spilled into the dimly lit room displayed a strange scene. The furniture looked to be expensive but surprisingly in a rugged condition, with strange scratch marks left on some pieces. Almost like an animal rummaged the furniture. The decorations also laid on the ground in one corner, as if madam were trying to throw the objected to hit something.

Crouching by the pile of broken porcelain, Zhu Na Ran used the bell to see if there were any presence of the malicious energy from before. However, the bell just retained its red glow without making a single noise.

"Hmm," standing up, Zhu Na Ran walked around the room, trying to sense any malicious energy, runes, or hidden talismans whatsoever. Ahh, it's hard to be a priest she lamented, first day on the job and I'm already stuck on what to do next, there's just nothing here. If only Senior sister were here.

Unbeknownst to Zhu Na Ran, a wisp of malicious energy rose up from the pile of broken pottery. Just before the bell could signal a warning, the wisp lashed out towards her.

—-

Glancing down on the main streets, Ye Lian Hua narrowed down on a gossiping pair of people. Two civilians were casually gossiping on an unusual topic.

"…ahh, did you hear about that Qiu boy?"

"… ah yes, what a tragedy. To be killed while trying to gather herbs for his sick mother…"

"Well, apparently, there is more than meets the eye in this story. Meaning his death may have had some ill intent behind it."

"You mean, someone must have done something on purpose?"

"yes, yes, I went up the mountains the other day and passed by the Qiu Family graves. The freshly buried casket seemed to have been dug up and opened."

"ahh, how suspicious. What would motivate someone to do something like that?"

"For there to be someone with deep hate for the family or the person... "

"But who would hate on that young man? He was so kind and helpful. You know, their neighbor is my cousin's family. When they needed help getting something, that boy would help to his best ability."

"Ahh, that's true. But that family has struck rich these past few months. From going to a small middle-class family to the bourgeois is surprising."

"Ehh, perhaps they made a deal with some demon."

"haha, if that were the case, I wouldn't mind trading my life for one of luxury."

"Haha, my friend you joke.."

The pair laughed a bit more before continuing to chat.

"I'm going down there to check something out. Call me if the bell starts ringing," Ye Lian Hua said before she jumped down to the crowded streets below. Walking up the pair of gossips she showed them her disciple badge.

"Excuse me, gentleman, could you tell me more about this Qiu Family?" She asked. The pair was surprised to see the young veiled maiden in grey asking about a morbid topic.

"Ehh, sure little lady," one of them said. "but I seemed to have forgotten some details with age…" Taking out a few coppers and dropping into his hand, the man smiled before continuing. "The Qiu family is a small but essential family in these parts. See they original were just some local merchants. However, it all changed around last summer.

Around that time, the Qiu family started producing some cosmetics that gained traction around here. Now did you notice some ladies walking around with perfume pouches with a red spider lily embodied on them? Or the jars of rouge that some were selling?"

"Yes. Those cosmetics seem to be very popular around here."

"Yes, that all had to do with the Qiu Family. More specifically, Madam Qiu. She was the mastermind behind all of the products. She claims that they were recipes from her dowry given to her by her mother."

"Hmm. And you mentioned their son?"

"Ah, yes. Eldest Young Master Qiu, Qiu Wu Han had passed away a few months ago."

"Oh?" Suddenly the communication talisman activated. "Senior Sister, the bells started ringing."

Zhu Na Ran's voice rang through her head. "Em. Follow it. I'll come to join you soon," she responded before continuing to listen about the Qiu Family.

"But the strangest part is after his death. It was the way his grave was found.

"Continue, please."

"Well, like I was saying to my friend here earlier, his grave was dug up, and his coffin was opened. I don't know much more after that."

Hmm, what sort of ghoul are we dealing with, she wondered. "Thank you, gentlemen, and may I inquire where the Qiu Family grave is?"

"Oh yeah, it's on the foot of Mount Ji Mo, towards the east side of town, near the suburbs." the man pointed towards the end of the street, where a lonely mountain stood. Compared to the rest of the surrounded mountains and hills, Mount Ji Mo was the furthest away and was completely separate from its counterparts.

"Many thanks, gentlemen for your time," handing them a few silvers, Ye Lian Hua went off to find her junior sister.

—-

Surrounded by darkness, Zhu Na Ran sat up dazedly and looked around her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was some dark energy heading towards her, but what happened next was a blur. Now she was on the ground of the madame's room.

"…Wu Han… Wu Han," a whimpering voice called out from behind her. Turning around, Zhu Na Ran saw a small figure hunched over form the cover where the broken porcelain laid. It appeared to be a young and frail girl with a messy appearance. Almost as if she were a beggar on the street.

"Wu Han... where are you? A-Ji is scared…" the small figure rocked back and further. Slowly approaching the figure, Zhu Na Ran crouched in front of it. The rocking figure didn't seem to notice her presence.

"Are you ok?" Reaching out to touch the figure's head, it suddenly looked up at her.

Then everything went white before fading to black.

Like a blink of an eye, the surrounding scene faded back to normal, except it wasn't quite right.

It was day time.

Last Zhu Na Ran recalled, she knew that it was nightfall when entering the residence. Did she sleep through the entire night?

"Big Brother Wu Han." A small voice called out.

Looking towards the source of the sound, she saw the same ragged figure, but this time it looked out to the courtyard.

"What are you looking at?" Zhu Na Ran asked carefully, after all, she didn't know if this spirit was friend or foe.

The figure didn't respond, but it pointed its small bony finger at a pair of children playing together in the inner courtyard.

One was an adorable young girl around the age of seven with bright eyes and a set of little buns atop her head. The other was a young ten-is-year-old boy who had a tranquil and mature aura far beyond his years.

She couldn't make out what the children were saying, but from the body language alone, she could tell they had a mutual affection for each other.

"Time to go home A-Ji!" A gentle-looking middle-aged man called out to the girl and was followed by what appears to be a younger version of Old Master Qiu. Could she be looking through the spirit's past?

"Daddy, I want to play with Big Brother Han some more," the girl pouted adorably and puffed out her cheeks.

" A-Ji, you can play with him next week when we visit." the man appearing to be the young girl's father, picked up his daughter and bade Old Master Qiu farewell.

The father-daughter pair walked away happily, as the father tried to coax his with the promise of snacks.

"Father…" The figure beside her began to tear up, and along with it, more malicious energy began to spread around the air, shattering the happy illusions.

"Who hurt you?" Zhu Na Ran called out. The fog of malicious energy clouded the air, making it difficult to see. "Who did this to you?" she called once more.

"They did."