After a good deal of intimidation and bribery from Nanzhi, the Grey Rat Spirit reluctantly recounted the whole story.
It turned out that the Painted Skin Ghost had only snuck into Dingyuan County about six months ago.
The Painted Skin Ghost was exceptionally fierce and cultivated by eating human hearts. For a time, the air over Dingyuan County was thick with ghostly energy and surging yin auras.
Small spirits and monsters had fled the city overnight to avoid it.
However, local spirits like the Grey Rat Spirit, who were born in the city and had families to look after, had nowhere to run.
“That Painted Skin Ghost loves to eat human hearts, especially those of men in their prime. Eating one heart increases its cultivation by a year.”
The Grey Rat Spirit lay on the ground, dejectedly saying:
“Qiao Dalang is sturdy and full of yang energy, so he was naturally targeted by the Painted Skin Ghost early on.
Poor Lady Qiao—she is so beautiful. The Painted Skin Ghost already loves collecting the skins of beauties, so how could it let her go?
Lately, the Painted Skin Ghost has been coming to the tofu workshop every day. While Qiao Dalang is grinding tofu, it transforms into a glamorous woman to seduce him.
The tofu becomes tainted with ghostly energy, which is why it smells so foul and fishy.
I have lived in the Qiao house for many years and consider myself indebted to them. I really couldn't bear to see the Painted Skin Ghost succeed.
So, every time Qiao Dalang was dazed by the ghost, I would crouch under the window and blow air inside to alert Lady Qiao.”
Nanzhi finally understood.
Not only was the Grey Rat Spirit not the cause of the trouble, but it was actually the savior of the Qiao couple!
No wonder Qiao Dalang had been so evasive and refused to explain what happened at night.
As it turned out, he had been infatuated by the Painted Skin Ghost’s beautiful skin.
If not for the Grey Rat Spirit’s secret warnings, Qiao Dalang would have had his heart and liver gouged out long ago, and Lady Qiao would have been skinned alive.
So, the Painted Skin Ghost felt its chosen prey was being watched by someone else, and that's why it attacked the Nan family?
Feeling that its life was at stake, the Grey Rat Spirit gave Nanzhi another warning:
“That Painted Skin Ghost has profound magic. Nothing that happens in this city escapes its eyes. I fear it will know about our conversation today almost immediately.
I see that your younger sister is also as beautiful as a flower. I’m afraid... you should quickly inform your parents and relatives and flee for your lives!”
“What about you?”
Although she knew it was a game, Nanzhi still didn't want to see this loyal and righteous Grey Rat Spirit die.
The Grey Rat Spirit’s snout twitched, its rat face showing a very human-like dejection:
“That Painted Skin Ghost will certainly not let my family go. Now, I can only go and seek refuge with my Seventeenth Uncle.
He took a Mud Ghost in the City God Temple as his godfather, so he must have some ability. That Painted Skin Ghost isn't like us rats; it can't dig holes. As long as it can't find me, I'll be fine.”
...
...
“Squeak squeak squeak! Squeak squeak! Squeak squeak!”
“Don't... fooled... tofu... skin... ghost...”
“Squeak squeak squeak! Squeak squeak squeak squeak!”
“Want... ghost...”
“Squeak squeak! Squeak!”
None of the people present could understand the conversation between Nanzhi and the Grey Rat Spirit.
They only saw a person and a rat interacting back and forth as if in dialogue. Especially the eldest daughter of the Nan family—she would nod from time to time, looking as if she could actually understand the rat’s speech!
“This... how can there be such a large rat in my woodpile? Could it have become a spirit?”
Qiao Dalang was furious and raised his foot to stomp on it:
“Could it be that this big rat was the one causing trouble in my house in the middle of the night! This beast!
It caused me to ruin so much good tofu and lose so much money. It truly deserves to die!”
Unexpectedly, just as he was about to strike, the eldest daughter of the Nan family released her foot, allowing the large grey rat to dive into the woodpile and vanish in the blink of an eye.
“What are you doing, girl?!”
Seeing Nanzhi blocking him, Qiao Dalang said harshly:
“This beast made it so my family's tofu couldn't be sold and even pretended to be a ghost to harm people. Why did you let it go?!
If it runs away and comes back to haunt my family later, are you, the Nan family, going to compensate me for all the silver I've lost?!”
He seemed extremely agitated, his face flushed red and the skin on his face tightening slightly:
“They all say the Nan family’s eldest daughter was possessed by something evil and suddenly stopped being a fool these past few days.
In my opinion, you must be possessed by a rat spirit! You must compensate for my family's tofu!”
Nanzhi let out a cold laugh.
No wonder his reaction was so intense. He clearly resented the Grey Rat Spirit for ruining his “good time”!
“Qiao Dalang, what nonsense are you talking!”
Nan Ye blocked Nanzhi like a hen protecting its chick, her small face straining to maintain a serious expression:
“My Big Sister was blessed by the Bodhisattva, which is why she got better. What do you mean, possessed by something evil!
If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll scream right now!
I’ll let all the neighbors come and see that your tofu workshop has such a big rat hole—
I’d like to see who would dare buy your tofu then!”
“Have you lost your mind from work?!”
Lady Qiao’s expression was troubled as she tugged at Qiao Dalang’s sleeve and gave him a look:
“The Nan family’s eldest daughter has the protection of the gods. What talk of demons and spirits is this?
Their Nan Yi works at the magistrate’s office; he carries the aura of officialdom. How could their family have demons!”
After saying that, she smiled at Nanzhi and said:
“It was just a slightly larger rat, that’s all. It’s no spirit.
Tomorrow, I’ll go outside the city and hire a cat to come back and catch rats.”
Nanzhi stared at Lady Qiao for a moment before nodding in understanding.
Lady Qiao had a gentle temperament and was very beautiful. Her eyes were particularly striking—beneath her slender brows, those eyes looked as if they held a clear mountain spring.
Lady Qiao’s character model was truly beautiful.
With almond eyes and vermilion lips, she was a standard classical beauty.
Add to that her fair skin, which was rare in a small county, and it was no wonder she was being targeted.
She nodded to Lady Qiao and pulled the still-confused Nan Ye back to the Nan house.
On the way home, Nanzhi’s mind was racing with thoughts, while Nan Ye chattered away, sharing her own guesses:
“I heard from Big Brother before that animals that live a long time grow a bone in their throats. Once that bone dissolves, the animal can speak human words.
I suppose the one causing trouble in the tofu workshop lately was that rat.
Rat urine is also poisonous. Tofu touched by rat urine smells fishy and foul... Big Sister, is that it? Is it?”
“Mhm... yeah...”
Nanzhi responded absentmindedly, her gaze falling on Nan Ye’s exceptionally pretty face.
Could it be that Nan Ye was actually one of the Painted Skin Ghost’s targets, and killing her was just a side task?
But regardless, according to how things unfolded yesterday, the Painted Skin Ghost would surely come to their door tonight.
Since an unwelcome guest was coming, she naturally had to prepare a proper reception.
Today, she would make the Painted Skin Ghost understand what the wrath of a player felt like!
...
...
The middle of the third watch.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
The city watchman struck his clapper three times. Dingyuan County was pitch black, so dark one couldn't see their own hand in front of them.
A night owl flew through the air, letting out a strange cry that sounded like a mix of crying and laughing.
Outside the Nan family’s courtyard gate, a very light set of footsteps suddenly echoed.
Inside the gate, Nanzhi, who should have long since entered her idling state, was sitting on the long bench Nan Dazhuang usually used for butchering pigs. Her eyes were bright as she stared at the door.
No joke. Yesterday, the Painted Skin Ghost had launched a sneak attack. Today, even if she had to stay up all night, she was going to fight it!
The footsteps circled the courtyard again and again, as if the person outside was looking for a way in.
After a long time, a hand as flat as paper quietly reached through the crack in the door and lifted slightly—
“Creak...”
The wooden door groaned softly, and a pair of tiny feet wearing embroidered shoes stepped inside.
Rate on N.U.
