Chapter 21: Perilous Exploration of the Hidden Secrets

Qu Wanqing’s gaze sharpened, an aura of "I’m about to blow this place up" radiating from her. She didn't care about demons, monsters, or ghouls; in her eyes, they were all paper tigers.

"Hiding in the shadows and playing god—is that all you’ve got?" she sneered, her tone dripping with disdain, as she marched straight toward the source of the most intense, icy chill.

Jiang Yu followed closely behind, his expression resolute, as if to say, "Fear not, my lady, I am here!"

The others tried to dissuade them. "My lady, you mustn't! That place is sinister!" Old Mother Ma’s face turned deathly pale, and she clutched her broom, trembling. Secretary Qin also shook his head repeatedly, deeming Qu Wanqing’s actions far too reckless.

However, Qu Wanqing turned a deaf ear. She wasn't raised on fear! Kidding aside, she hadn't gone through the trouble of transmigrating into this book just to be scared off by these cheap tricks. She wasn't some fragile, delicate flower; she was Niohuru Wanqing!

Passing through layers of mist, they arrived at a dilapidated ancestral hall. It was eerie and terrifying, the air thick with a suffocating sense of oppression.

No sooner had they stepped into the hall than several menacing servants blocked their path.

"Who goes there? How dare you trespass into the He family’s ancestral hall!" the lead servant barked, gripping his club tightly.

"Bold! Do you know who I am?" Qu Wanqing’s phoenix eyes flared, her presence overwhelming.

She produced the evidence she had gathered at the funeral hall and displayed it before them one by one. "These proofs show that the incident at the funeral hall was not my doing, but a deliberate frame-up! I am here today to uncover the truth and clear my name!"

The servants exchanged glances, clearly caught off guard by her preparedness. While loyal to Master He, they were not incapable of distinguishing right from wrong. Faced with concrete evidence, they hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. The atmosphere grew tense, ready to snap at any moment.

Just then, a sinister voice echoed from the depths of the hall…

"Heh, what a marvelous performance..." The figure of Daoist Liu slowly emerged. He smiled creepily, his eyes darting about as if concealing something.

"Lady Qu is indeed exceptionally clever to have found this place." He paused, his tone turning cryptic. "But do you truly wish to know the truth? Some truths are a burden once known..."

Qu Wanqing arched an eyebrow, staring him down without a hint of fear. "Stop the theatrics! Enough nonsense—out with it!" Her bluntness left everyone present stunned. Even Jiang Yu, who had been grave throughout, couldn't help but twitch his lips.

Choked by her retort, the Daoist coughed twice before continuing. "Very well, since you are so persistent, I shall speak plainly. This hall is indeed peculiar, but it is not the work of spirits or demons, rather..." He paused deliberately to gauge her reaction.

"Rather, it is someone playing tricks to frame me, correct?" Qu Wanqing interrupted sharply, her piercing gaze sweeping across the room.

The Daoist’s expression shifted; he hadn't expected her to be so sharp. His eyes rolled as a scheme formed. "The Lady is correct; someone is indeed pulling the strings from behind the scenes. And this person has inextricable ties to the He household..."

A commotion broke out. Everyone turned toward Master He, their eyes filled with suspicion and speculation. Master He’s face turned leaden, his silence seemingly confirming the Daoist’s words.

"Oh? So, Daoist, you know who is behind this?" Qu Wanqing pressed, giving him no room to breathe. Beads of sweat broke out on the Daoist’s forehead; he hadn't expected things to spiral this way. He had intended to smear Qu Wanqing, only to find himself backed into a corner.

"I... I don't know..." he stammered, eyes darting away.

"You don't know?" Qu Wanqing sneered. "It seems you are playing dumb while knowing the truth." Her gaze was like a torch as she locked onto him. "Since you refuse to speak, don't blame me for being impolite!"

With that, she lunged, grabbing the Daoist by the collar and slamming him against the wall. "Speak! Who ordered you?"

Terrified, the Daoist begged for mercy. "Spare me, my lady! I'll talk! I'll talk!" He pointed a trembling finger toward a wall at the back of the hall. "The secret... it's behind that wall..."

Qu Wanqing followed his gesture and noticed an abnormal protrusion. She stepped forward to inspect it and realized it was a hidden door!

"So that’s how it is..." A cold smile curled her lips. She shoved the door, and it creaked open, revealing a dark, subterranean passage.

"My lady, be careful!" Jiang Yu warned.

Qu Wanqing gave him a look of reassurance before stepping into the passage without hesitation. "I will go first; you wait here." An icy draft blew from the depths, extinguishing the candles on the walls and plunging the hall into darkness.

"My lady..." Jiang Yu whispered. He followed her into the dark passage. In the gloom, he held his sword in one hand and steadied Qu Wanqing with the other, watching for any sign of movement. His presence was like an anchor, giving her immense peace of mind. She looked back at him with eyes full of trust and reliance; they shared a smile, everything understood without a word.

What a cursed, sweet, yet dangerous atmosphere! The passage was cold and damp, filled with bone-chilling sounds.

Suddenly, a foul stench of decay filled the air, and several ferocious ghouls lunged from the darkness!

"My lady, watch out!" Jiang Yu roared, drawing his sword. A flash of cold light severed a ghoul in two. The creatures snapped their rotting jaws, their razor-sharp claws whistling through the air. Jiang Yu’s sword danced like a dragon, each stroke painting the air with mist and blood.

Qu Wanqing was no less capable. Sensing the direction of their attacks, she dodged nimbly, her dagger flickering like moonlight. She moved through the horde like a ghost, each strike to a vital point met with a shrill scream. Her eyes held no fear, only a resolute killing intent, as if declaring her dominance over these vile creatures.

Their silhouettes intertwined in the dark passage, their coordination seamless. As the ghouls grew more frenzied, the pair only fought harder. Outside, the Daoist and the others listened to the sounds of battle, their faces drained of color, wishing they could bury their heads in the dirt.

"Oh, mother! What is in there? It’s so terrifying!" Old Mother Ma whimpered. Secretary Qin’s face was ashen; he regretted not stopping them and prayed for their safety.

The passage was winding and seemingly endless. After clearing their path, Jiang Yu and Qu Wanqing finally reached the end. Exhausted and splattered with ghoul blood, they stood back-to-back, panting.

Qu Wanqing looked at Jiang Yu and suddenly laughed. "You’re not half bad, you know."

Jiang Yu smiled back. "You, my lady, are no less impressive."

The space suddenly opened up, revealing a desolate courtyard. Moonlight filtered through broken walls, illuminating the overgrown weeds. A mysterious air hung heavy, sending shivers down their spines. Qu Wanqing sensed a great secret hidden here, alongside unknown dangers.

"Something... feels wrong," she murmured, her expression grave.

Jiang Yu gripped his sword, scanning the surroundings. "My lady, take care. This place may be more dangerous than we imagined."

"Whatever comes, I’ll take it on. I want to see exactly what kind of monsters are hiding behind this!" Qu Wanqing sneered and stepped into the courtyard.

Suddenly, a gust of wind extinguished the moonlight, plunging the yard back into darkness. The darkness felt tangible, and the weeds seemed like countless black hands swaying in the wind, trying to grab them. A chilling sensation crawled from their feet to their hearts. A faint, eerie voice echoed in their ears, each word like a drop of freezing rain hitting their souls.

"Welcome," the voice whispered in the dark, "to... my world."