Chapter Fifty-Five: Postwar Settlement

After Lu Chenyuan recovered from his half-human, half-ghost state, his eyes closed, and he slumped backward, unconscious and oblivious to everything. Shangguan Chuci, too, was at the end of her strength; after the bloody battle just now, her true energy was utterly depleted. Her mind relaxed for a moment, and she saw golden stars swirling before her eyes, her body swaying precariously.

Han Lin and Shen Guizhou were quick and alert, rushing forward to steady them, each supporting one.

Shen Guizhou saw the princess’s face pale as death, her breath weak, blood still seeping from the wound on her shoulder. He spoke in a low voice, “Your Highness is precious and noble, how can you suffer such grievous injury? This old servant begs your pardon; allow me to soothe your breath and heal your wounds first.”

Shangguan Chuci felt the blood and energy in her chest surging wildly but forced herself to stand firm, slowly shaking her head. Her bright eyes turned to the unconscious youth, and she said, “Uncle Shen, please first carry Brother Lu back to the woodshed for treatment. His injuries are far more severe than mine; I... am not so urgent.”

Shen Guizhou’s gaze swept over Lu Chenyuan’s chest, landing on the dreadful bloody hole, and he could not help but feel a chill in his heart. Though the youth had recovered from his transformation, within the wound, countless flesh buds were growing and intertwining, healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Such a sight—not only had he never seen it before, he had never even heard of such a thing. He marveled inwardly: “This young man’s master is unfathomable, and the disciple even more mysterious. Such self-healing ability is surely more miraculous than the legendary elixirs.”

“No wonder Qian Dahai coveted this youth; perhaps from the very first glance, he sensed his extraordinary nature.”

Despite his amazement and doubt, Shen Guizhou knew the princess spoke truth: Lu Chenyuan’s injuries were perilous. He nodded, handed Shangguan Chuci to Han Lin for support, then slung Lu Chenyuan’s arm over his own shoulder to carry him toward the rear courtyard.

After only a few steps, there came a soft clatter—a small object had slipped from the youth’s chest and fallen onto the flagstones.

One of the guards was quick-eyed, snatching it up and presenting it, “Your Highness, it’s the Calamity Offering doll.”

Shangguan Chuci took it, gazing intently. The wooden doll’s face still wore an innocent, carefree expression.

But then her eyes sharpened. The crescent-shaped corners of its mouth had split further—two barely visible cracks widened, making its smile ever more uncanny and chilling.

“Was the doll always like this? Or was it damaged in the recent battle, or perhaps for some other reason unknown to me?”

Shangguan Chuci narrowed her eyes slightly.

For reasons she could not name, she recalled the sinister glow that had erupted from Lu Chenyuan’s chest when he slew and devoured the monster born from Wei Zhuodao’s death.

Could it be that after absorbing Lu Chenyuan’s vital blood, this evil object had changed in some unforeseen way?

Han Lin’s brow furrowed, and he said gravely, “Your Highness, this object is ill-omened, a crucial tool for the cult to summon their fallen god. In my opinion, it should be destroyed as soon as possible.”

Shangguan Chuci pondered a moment and shook her head. “No. This was entrusted to us by Qian Dahai with his dying breath. Brother Lu has not yet awakened; for us to dispose of it without his consent would not be honorable.”

“Moreover, if not for this object’s help, Brother Lu and I would already be lost souls within that painting. Both in principle and in sentiment, it has saved our lives; we cannot treat it so lightly. Besides…”

She paused, then continued, “Such an evil thing is not easily destroyed. I fear it may only breed further trouble.”

As she spoke, she felt as if the doll’s carved wooden eyes shifted, staring at her with a wicked smile.

That smile was so eerie, it made her scalp tingle.

She could not help but recall some horror films she had seen in another world—dolls so uncanny that even if burned to ashes, they would restore themselves and return to their master, endlessly troublesome.

Though such things seemed absurd in that world, in this mad and twisted one, they appeared almost reasonable.

Shen Guizhou nodded, “Your Highness speaks wisely. We must deliberate carefully on how to deal with it.”

Han Lin, seeing Shen Guizhou agree, said no more.

When Shen Guizhou had carried Lu Chenyuan back to the woodshed, he asked, “Your Highness, now that the matter here is settled, what should be done with Young Master Lu?”

Shangguan Chuci first ordered the three surviving guards to clean up the battlefield, washing the blood from the rear courtyard.

Her gaze shifted to the old locust tree standing nearly unscathed amidst the ruins, a glint of light flashing in her eyes. She said, “There are too many eyes in the inn. Brother Lu’s condition is unusual; if the Demon Suppression Bureau learns of it, it will only make things more difficult. Besides… all of his attachments are tied to his master.”

“Though Brother Lu and his master haven’t stayed long in Zhenhai River, every blade of grass and leaf in this rear courtyard is a part of their shared life. For him, this humble woodshed may bring more peace than any grand chamber.”

Han Lin silently praised her: “The princess truly has a meticulous mind; even gravely wounded, her insight remains undiminished.”

He immediately cupped his fists, “As you say, Your Highness. I shall obey.”

Shangguan Chuci then asked, “In your opinion, Chief Han, is it possible the Demon Suppression Bureau has caught that Daoist Li?”

Han Lin shook his head, “That fiend’s powers are strange and unpredictable. Even Lord Shen could only wound him; to capture him would be difficult.”

Shangguan Chuci nodded, unsurprised, and said slowly, “Daoist Li came for two things: the doll and Brother Lu. Now he has neither. I doubt he will give up so easily.”

She paused, worry flickering in her eyes. “But what I fear most is not his return, but the Calamity Offering doll itself.”

Han Lin’s heart tightened. “Your Highness, do you mean—?”

Shangguan Chuci stared at the doll’s face, so innocent yet so uncanny, murmuring, “If this thing truly serves to summon the fallen god, then where do they intend to perform the ritual? What kind of ceremony is required? How far have they prepared? And how is all this connected to the once-in-a-decade Tide Watching Festival here in Zhenhai River?”

Han Lin said, “Your Highness’s foresight is admirable. But the cult has suffered heavy losses, and Daoist Li is gravely wounded. No matter what their plot, surely their strength is insufficient now.”

Shangguan Chuci sighed softly. “A lion uses all its strength even to hunt a rabbit. How much more so with someone like Daoist Li? The more desperate things seem, the less we can afford to be careless.”

Wei Zhuo was merely the fiend’s apprentice, yet brought them enormous trouble. How much more so with the unfathomable Daoist Li himself?

As she pondered, her already bloodless face grew even paler. Han Lin saw this and quickly said, “Your Highness, please take care of yourself. Perhaps you should return to your chamber and rest. We will guard here, and when the Demon Suppression Bureau returns, we can explain everything then.”

Shangguan Chuci shook her head, her gaze passing through the ravaged courtyard to the woodshed, and she whispered, “Brother Lu is not yet out of danger; how could I rest easy? I must see with my own eyes that his wounds are stabilized before I can be at peace.”