Chapter 123 - Extra—Iron Hook (Part One) (1/2)

Translated by K of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

TN: There are some horror elements to this chapter. Please read at your own discretion.

The Bai* residence was so well-known around the area largely due to the White Room.

It was called the White Room, first of all, of course because it was white. When it was built, white paint was spread all over its walls before the owner prepared for decorations. Everything went smoothly in all the other parts of the residence. Only when it came to the room at the western courtyard did strange things begin to occur. The process could only be set aside for the time. Up until today, the White Room still created stark contrast against the rich ornamentation of the rest of the Bai residence, so white that it seemed ghastly.

“The one room is closed off by three locks and three door bolts. No matter how hot the summer is, cold air always surrounds it, almost as if it were made entirely of ice. According to the owner of the Bai residence, when his father was playing with a ball once, the ball rolled before it finally stopped at the entrance to the room. When he went to pick it up, he couldn’t control his curiosity, and took a single peek through the door slit.”

Straight-faced, Jin Ling continued, until he saw Wei WuXian over at the side stick his hand into the coffin, as though he was opening the corpse’s eyelids. He immediately choked.

Hearing his pause, Wei WuXian turned around, “And took a single peek through the door slit?”

The group of Lan juniors behind him also turned their eyes toward him in unison. Jin Ling hesitated before he went on, “… and took a single peek through the door slit, before he froze there like he was struck dumb, unable to walk away even after a long while. When his family found out, they dragged him away and he passed out with a high fever that left almost no memories behind. After this, he never dared approach the place again.

“Past midnight, nobody is allowed to leave their room and walk around, especially not near the White Room. This is a firm rule of the house. However, a few hours after midnight, even though nobody is inside, people can still hear the old, wooden floor creak with footsteps. There’s also this.”

Jin Ling lightly clenched his fists and made a gesture full of killing intent.

“A noise that sounds like a hemp rope slowly being tightened, to strangle something.”

A few days ago, one of the Bai residence’s servants passed the White Room on his morning cleaning duty. He discovered that a hole the size of a fingertip was poked through the thin, paper windows on the White Room’s wooden door. And on the ground before the door lay a man.

It was a stranger that none of the Bai residence had seen before. He was around forty, his face dark and lined with veins. Fingers digging into his chest, he had long since gone.

The servants were scared to death. The owner was also scared to death. After some struggle, the local officers came to a conclusion—this was an unfortunate thief who just so happened to have barged into the Bai residence’s forbidden area. He saw something that triggered a heart disease, and was literally scared to death right then and right there. As for what exactly that ‘something’ was, they tore down all of the seals and locks on the White Room, yet remained confused about it even after extensive searching.

But now that a life had been lost, the head of the Bai clan knew that he couldn’t keep making do, pretending as though nothing at all was inside of the White Room.

If this matter persisted, there would be endless repercussions. Clenching his teeth, he bravened up and climbed Koi Tower, pleading the LanlingJin Sect to conduct a night-hunt.

This was the backstory.

Holding the coffin lid, Lan JingYi complained in despair, “Senior Wei, are you ready yet… He has been dead for so many days already… Even the smell of a walking corpse would not be so…”

Lan SiZhui helped him hold it up, unsure if he should laugh, “The coffin is made of crude wood, and the coffin home is prone to erosion with nobody caring for it. It is only a matter of course, with how long it has been here. Hold out for just a little longer. We still have to take notes.”

Jin Ling snorted, “The presence of a coffin is more than good enough for a thief who steals from others. If not, should they worship him like a Buddha, then?”

After having poked at the corpse for a long while, Wei WuXian finally lifted his face from inside the coffin, taking his gloves off and tossing them to the side, “Has everyone finished looking?”

“Yes, we have!”

Wei WuXian asked, “Good. Now that you’ve finished, start talking about what the next step should be.”

Lan JingYi, “Summoning!”

Jin Ling scoffed, “No duh. I already tried that.”

Wei WuXian, “How was it?”

Jin Ling, “His desires weren’t strong, his soul was too weak, and on top of that he was scared to death. It’s already been past the first seven days of his death. His soul has dissipated entirely and there’s no way to summon him.”

Lan JingYi, “So there is not much difference between you trying it and you not trying it, is there…”

Lan SiZhui hurried, “Then let us check out the White Room, come on. Young Master Jin, we would really appreciate it if you could lead the way.” As he spoke, he pushed Lan JingYi out the door, successfully ending a new round of meaningless conversation before it even began. The boys walked across the threshold. Quite a couple of them leaped over, their footwork nimble. Even though Jin Ling was leading the way, he ended up behind the group.

Lan SiZhui asked Jin Ling, “Has there been any unnatural deaths or unsolved incidents in the Bai residence?”

Jin Ling, “Their head swore that there definitely wasn’t any. The elderly ones who passed away here all died from old age, and there isn’t any conflicts amongst the members of the household either.”

Lan JingYi, “Oh no. I have a bad feeling about this. Usually, the more they say this, the more likely that there are indeed conflicts, except that they are trying their hardest to hide them.”

Jin Ling, “In any case, I’ve confirmed quite a few times and couldn’t get anything out of them. I didn’t find anything unusual either. You guys can try again.”

Because he did all of the preparatory research he could beforehand and inspected the White Room a couple of times as well, he didn’t go in the Bai residence this time and instead sat down at a nearby tea shop. Soon, a dark shadow swept inside.

Wei WuXian sat down in front of him, “Jin Ling.”

With two such delicate figures sitting in the small tea shop, it was a striking scene indeed. Many of the waitresses turned their heads to look.

After their parting at Guanyin Temple, this was the first time Wei WuXian met Jin Ling, not to mention that only now did he get the chance to talk to Jin Ling alone. Jin Ling paused for a second, his expression unreadable, “What is it?”

Wei WuXian, “How are you doing at Koi Tower right now?”

Jin Ling, “Just the usual.”

Speaking of it, it was quite a rough journey that the head of the Bai Clan made to Koi Tower.

If this were a few years ago, when the LanlingJin Sect was nothing short of the sun in the sky, it wouldn’t be guaranteed that he’d successfully invite a clan member of the LanlingJin Sect’s, even if he multiplied the reward tenfold. In truth, let alone pleading for a night-hunt, an ordinary merchant clan like the Bai clan, with neither money nor power, could never even think about visiting. But right now, the cultivation world wasn’t the same as it used to be. Even though the common folk didn’t know about any details, they were able to catch a few earfuls of hearsay. This was the reason why the head of the Bai clan went for a try, with the spirit of ‘what if?’

Nervously, he approached the main gate and presented a name card, introducing his intentions. The guard accepted his bribe and unwillingly went to report his arrival, yet when he came back, his attitude changed completely, stating that the sect leader declined the invitation as he got ready to chase him away. The head of the Bai clan never expected to successfully invite them in the first place, but he was irritated that the guard had such an attitude even after he accepted the bribe, and thus he asked for the money back. A few sentences into the argument, a young, handsome man dressed in the robe of Sparks Amidst Snow walked through the vermillion doors carrying an arrow in his arm. Seeing the situation, he immediately frowned and asked for the details.

This time, the guard lost most of his previous arrogance. Noticing that even though the young man was still somewhat of a child, his status was likely the opposite of low, the head of the Bai Clan immediately explained the situation. Yet, when the young man heard it, he was immediately enraged, scolding, “The sect leader told you to chase him away? How come I don’t know?!”

At once, he spun toward him, “You’re from the Bai Clan six miles west of the city? I’ll bear it in mind. Go back as of the moment. You’ll be visited in just a few days!”

The head of the Bai Clan went home just like that, somewhat befuddled. A few days later, a group of cultivators visited him indeed, although he didn’t know that one of those who came was the leader of the LanlingJin Sect.

Of course, he even more so wouldn’t know that right now, the LanlingJin Sect was in a state of absolute pandemonium.

The guard didn’t report to the real sect leader at all, but instead to another senior of the LanlingJin Sect’s. When the senior heard, he was infuriated by the fact that such an ordinary merchant would dare step on the golden stairs of the LanlingJin Sect’s, ordering him to chase the visitor out. Yet, it was interrupted by Jin Ling, who was just about to head to the hunting grounds.

Jin Ling knew that these seniors of the sect were all quite full of pride, believing that they were a sect hundreds of years old. No matter what, they definitely couldn’t lower their prestige, refusing to welcome anyone who wasn’t of eminent personage. First of all, he’d always abhorred such a way of doing things; second of all, he was mad that the guard reported to somebody else directly, ignoring him completely; and third of all, he remembered that when Jin GuangYao was still here, no disciples of even guest cultivators dared to take bribery so easily. The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became. Conveniently, he arranged to night-hunt with Lan SiZhui, Lan JingYi, and the rest of them this month, which was why they paid a visit to the Bai residence.

In all honesty, he couldn’t say that he didn’t at all expect Wei WuXian to come along as well.

Even though Jin Ling wouldn’t tell anyone else his struggles, there were countless eyes staring at Koi Tower and countless mouths restless. The rumors had long since reached Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi. Wei WuXian knew that he wouldn’t be willing to display any sign of weakness, “If there’s anything you’re having trouble with, ask your uncle about it.”

Jin Ling replied coldly, “It’s not like his surname is Jin.”

Hearing this, Wei WuXian stopped before he understood what the other meant. Not knowing whether to laugh or frown at his behavior, he raised his hand to land a solid slap on the back of his side, “Watch your words!”

With a yelp, Jin Ling’s forced, rigid expression finally cracked.

Although the slap didn’t hurt at all, it was as if Jin Ling was subjected to some great shame, especially when he heard the sweet giggles of the waitresses nearby. He covered his head and roared, “Why did you hit me?!”

Wei WuXian, “I hit you so that you can think about your uncle. He’s not someone who likes to poke his nose into other people’s business. For your sake, he went around flaunting his strength in front of all those other sects, receiving so many jabbing remarks. And now you’re saying his surname isn’t Jin. If he heard this, wouldn’t he feel disappointed?”

Jin Ling paused in surprise before he fumed, “That’s not what I meant! I…”

Wei WuXian asked instead, “Then what did you mean?”

Jin Ling, “I! I…”

The first ‘I’ was full of confidence, while the second ‘I’ began to lose air. Wei WuXian, “I, I, I—I’ll say it for you. This is what you mean. Even though Jiang Cheng is your uncle, after all, he’s still an outsider to the LanlingJin Sect. In the past, he’s already helped you a couple of times, but if he messed about too much with someone else’s domain, it’d be hard for him not to be a target of attack in the future, for you not to bring him any trouble, am I right?”

Jin Ling raged, “What do you think?! So you understand, don’t you?! Then why did you hit me?!”

Wei WuXian landed another slap, “That was exactly what I meant to do! Can’t you say anything properly? Such wholesome words, and out of your mouth they sound especially gross!”

Jin Ling yelled, covering his head, “You can’t hit me like this just because Lan WangJi isn’t here!”

Wei WuXian, “If he were here, he’d help me beat you up with just a single word of mine, you believe me?”

Jin Ling didn’t believe him, “But I’m a sect leader!!!”

Wei WuXian smirked, “I’ve beaten up well over eighty sect leaders, possibly even a hundred.”

Jin Ling leaped up, ready to rush outside the tea shop, “If you hit me again, I’ll leave!”

“Come back!” Wei WuXian grabbed the back of his collar and pulled him back as if he was holding a small chick, slamming him flat on the stool, “I won’t hit you anymore. Sit properly.”

Jin Ling was still on guard. Seeing that Wei WuXian really didn’t seem like he was going to do anything else, Jin Ling finally managed to stay seated. When one of the waitresses saw that the chaos here finally ended, she came to add more water with a smile on her face. Wei WuXian took up the cup and took a sip, before he suddenly called, “A-Ling.”

Jin Ling had on a haughty tone, “What?”

Wei WuXian, however, only grinned, “This time, you seem to have grown up quite a bit.”

Jin Ling stopped.

Wei WuXian felt his own chin, “Right now, you appear to be, hm, a lot more reliable. I’m really happy, but I’m also a bit… How should I say it? Honestly, how much of an idiot you used to be was quite adorable as well.”

Jin Ling, again, found it hard to stay seated.

Out of the blue, Wei WuXian reached out and gave his shoulders a tight hug, ruffling his hair, “But no matter what, I’m more than happy that I get to see you little brat again, haha!”

Ignoring the mess that his hair was in, Jin Ling hopped up from the bench and rushed outside. Wei WuXian dragged him back with another strike, “Where are you going?”

Even Jin Ling’s neck had reddened. He spoke in a rough voice, “I’m going to check out the White Room!”

Wei WuXian, “Haven’t you already checked it out?”

Jin Ling, “I’ll! Go! Check! It! Out! Once! More!”

Wei WuXian, “Since you’ve already checked it out a couple of times, I doubt you’d make any new progress with a few more times. Why not help me investigate something else instead?”

Jin Ling was absolutely terrified that he’d continue to spout those things that made him cringe. He’d rather be slapped on the face than be bombarded with nice words accompanied by physical touch. Recalling that this person right here could go as far as to yell in front of a crowd that he wanted to sleep with HanGuang-Jun, Jin Ling realized that he was truly unable to expect what other things would come out of his mouth. He hurried, “Sure! What do you want to investigate?”

Wei WuXian, “See if such an odd figure exists around the area. Their face was sliced apart with a dozen-or-so knife incisions, and both their eyelids and lips were cut off.”

Jin Ling felt that he didn’t seem like he was feigning, “Of course I can, but why would you want me to investigate such a…”

All of a sudden, the waitress who was adding water for their tea replied, “You’re talking about the Hook Hand, aren’t you?”

Wei WuXian turned around, “The Hook Hand?”

“Yeah.” Likely because she’d been eavesdropping for fun, she interjected at the first possible opportunity, “Without lips or eyelids, he’s the only one, isn’t he? You don’t sound like you’re from around here, Young Master. How come you know such a person?”

Jin Ling, “I’m from around here. I haven’t heard of this person either.”

The waitress, “Now, you’re young, aren’t you? It’s not strange that you’ve never heard of him. But this person used to be quite famous.”

Wei WuXian, “Famous? What kind of famous?”

The waitress, “Not the good kind. I heard the story when I was young from my great aunt’s mom, which really shows what a long time ago it happened. Now onto the Hook Hand… I don’t know what he was called, but he was a young blacksmith. He was poor, but he had both the looks and the skills, as well as quite a diligent personality. He had a wife who was just the prettiest person ever. He was very kind to his wife, but his wife to him not so much. She found another man outside and didn’t want her husband anymore, so she… killed him!”

Clearly, the waitress had been scared to death by the legend while she was growing up, which was why she also did a fine job scaring others, both her tone and expression to the point. Jin Ling was quite hooked to the story, thinking to himself, The scariest is the woman’s heart! But Wei WuXian, on the other hand, had long since begun to deal with spirits and corpses. He’d heard so many of these stories that everything seemed cliche. Right now, he listened with a hand on his chin, expressionless. The waitress continued, “Worried that someone would recognize it was her husband’s corpse, she slit his eyelids off and made dozens of cuts on his face. And because she was scared he’d tell on her to the Judge* of the Underworld, when she saw the an iron hook that had just been forged lying on the counter, she used it to pull his tongue out…”

Suddenly, someone spoke up, “How could his wife be like this? How could she hurt her own husband in such a cruel way?!”

Jin Ling was right in the middle of the story when he felt tingles explode on his scalp due to the startle. When he turned around, he finally realized that Lan SiZhui, Lan JingYi, and the rest had already left the Bai residence. They were all huddled up behind him, listening with all ears. The previous question came from Lan SiZhui as an exclamation. The waitress continued, “Ugh, the tales of men and women all have the same root, don’t they? Whether they want money or a change of taste—others can’t possibly fathom. In any case, the blacksmith turned into that monster of a human, only half-alive, and the cruel woman secretly tossed him to the mass graves west of the city. Crows love to eat dead people and rotten meat, yet upon seeing his face, even they didn’t dare take a single piece of flesh from him…”

Lan JingYi was the type of person who easily became absorbed in a story—the perfect audience. He ranted, “… That is unacceptable… That is unacceptable! Did the person who killed him not receive any sort of retribution?”

Waitress, “She did! Of course she did. Even though such a thing happened to the blacksmith, he somehow survived, and that night he crawled out from the graves, went home, and he slit the throat of his wife who was pretending that nothing had happened,” she made a gesture, “Using the iron hook.”