Chapter Twenty-Seven: The One Possessed by Evil Spirits

As I was heading upstairs, a heated argument erupted from a room on the east side. I glanced over just as a man in red stormed out, ignoring a weak plea from behind the door to stay.

Passing by, I peeked inside and saw a woman in green with skin as fair as snow. She bowed slightly, looking somewhat guilty. "My brother and I had a disagreement. We were careless. If we disturbed you, I apologize," she said, taking out a lotus-embroidered purse and handing it to me. "Please accept this money as an apology."

How polite of her.

I quickly waved my hands. "That's not what I meant."

"Could it be that you find this amount too little?" She produced a few more pieces of silver from her pocket.

"Really, that's not what I meant. You're too kind. Please, put the silver away. I'm not here to make a fuss over such matters." Realizing I might have spoken too harshly, I quickly added, "I wasn't upset about anything big. I was just curious."

Seeing I was sincere, she relaxed and smiled at me, albeit a bit awkwardly, as she put the purse away. "I thought my brother had caused some trouble and offended you."

"Again? Sister Lüyin, your brother seems to get into trouble a lot."

"I originally had four brothers. The other two passed away young. Now, he's the only one left to inherit the family business. Our parents doted on him, which made him headstrong and impulsive." Lüyin sighed deeply, then her eyes lit up as she took my hand. "I see from your attire that you must be from a sect. Could you possibly hear me out on a strange matter?"

She was perceptive, recognizing my background immediately. Her discernment pleased me.

I confidently patted my chest and assured her, "Sister Lüyin, feel free to speak. To be honest, I'm Qingyue from Qiong Yun. I'm here to solve the disturbances in Luoyang. If there's anything troubling you, don't hesitate to tell me."

"You're a great help, Qingyue. Please come in, have some refreshments, and let's talk."

Refreshments?

I hadn't had breakfast yet. Helping Sister Lüyin while enjoying some snacks would be a perfect combination.

Scanning the room, I spotted plates of delicate osmanthus cakes, sweet potato pancakes, sesame candies, and dried peaches. My eyes lit up. I sat down, rubbed my hands together, and reached for a sweet potato pancake.

"Soft, fragrant, and delicious," I praised.

Perhaps I was too hungry, but even these simple treats tasted like a feast.

Seeing me enjoy the food, Lüyin relaxed and began her story. "My brother used to be kind and gentle. However, he fell gravely ill at thirteen and was bedridden for three years. A traveling healer claimed our house was cursed and performed a ritual to exorcise the evil spirits. Miraculously, it worked, and my brother recovered. But ever since, his personality changed drastically. Initially, we thought it was residual evil energy, so we indulged him. But after my other two brothers died unexpectedly, he became increasingly violent. He no longer listens to our parents or me."

"Why did you come to Luoyang?"

She sighed deeply, her eyes glistening with tears. "His condition is worsening. The evil energy is overwhelming him. I fear he will lose his mind. I felt obligated to my parents, so we came to seek help from the renowned Daoist Master Lingyun. But my brother fought with me and ran away when he heard."

She began to cry, and no matter how I tried to console her, she wouldn't stop. I reluctantly stopped eating and patted her back gently.

"Sister Lüyin, there's no need to worry. From what you've described, it sounds like he's still afflicted by evil spirits. I'll help persuade him, and if needed, we'll tie him up and bring him to Master Lingyun. You can count on me." I handed her a cup of tea as her sobs subsided. "Do we have a deal?"

"Thank you, Qingyue. I'll bring more snacks tonight. You're welcome to come by anytime." She wiped her tears with a handkerchief, her delicate beauty evoking a sense of pity.

With our agreement made, I returned to my room to devise a plan. Later, as I was considering my approach, I encountered Senior Brother Luo Xi descending the stairs.