Chapter 89: Corpse Water

Granny Wan was silent for a long time. Seeing her expression, I realized she did know something. Yet for reasons unknown, she was unwilling to share it with me.

"That female ghost is Bai Xiaoli, isn't she?" I asked, deciding to take the initiative since she seemed reluctant, while observing her face closely.

Granny Wan's features remained unchanged; she simply shook her head and replied, "No, she isn't."

"Then who is she?" Hearing Granny Wan say the ghost was not Bai Xiaoli herself instantly made the weight on my chest feel much lighter.

She sighed, saying, "Child, it's not that I refuse to tell you, but some things, if you knew, would do harm to you and to Bai Xiaoli as well."

Since she was unwilling to speak, I didn't press further. Just then, Granny Wan continued, "This marriage was arranged by your grandfather. By rights, that female ghost shouldn’t want to harm you. Why, then, is she so intent on seeing you dead?"

The more she said, the more curious I grew about the ghost's identity. Who was she, truly? Why did she look exactly like Bai Xiaoli, and why, by all logic, shouldn't she want to harm me?

As I was lost in these questions, Granny Wan, seeing my confusion, sighed again and said, "If you really wish to know the truth about the thousand-year-old ghost and Bai Xiaoli, wait until after you are married. Then I can tell you." At this, she added worriedly, "But for now, there is something far more pressing that you must be concerned about."

I had felt a flicker of joy at the prospect of learning the truth, but her next words quickly dispelled it.

She said, "Right now, that ancient ghost is doing everything in her power to keep you and Bai Xiaoli apart. If she learns you are still alive, she will not let it go—she will come for you again."

"What should I do, then?" This wedding with Bai Xiaoli had already been through so many twists and turns. At this rate, if Xu Yingying didn’t kill me first, I would fall victim to this thousand-year-old ghost before our marriage.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Granny Wan pulled a gourd from her waistband and handed it to me. "Xiao Xi, drink this first."

"What is it?" Memories of the corpse-water bath at her house flashed through my mind. Now, I really didn’t dare drink anything she gave me unless I knew exactly what it was.

Granny Wan frowned slightly, as if she’d read my thoughts. "It’s herbal medicine. If you drink it, it will mask the signs of your life. The ghost will think you’re dead and leave you alone."

Hearing that the ghost might come for me again, I didn’t hesitate further. I uncorked the gourd, and a cool, bitter scent drifted out, unmistakably the smell of medicinal herbs. I downed it all in one gulp. At once, a coldness bloomed in my stomach, making me shiver uncontrollably.

"Yah, Yangxi, did you just drink the fetal water?" Before I could react, Bai Xiaoli and Lu Jiu walked in. Bai Xiaoli stared at me in shock.

My heart gave a lurch. I knew then that whatever Granny Wan had made me drink, it couldn’t be anything good. Still, I couldn’t help but ask Bai Xiaoli what fetal water was.

Her expression was odd as she explained, "When we receive a stillborn infant for a yin ritual, the body must be enshrined in the ancestral hall for three years. After three years, the soul is able to reincarnate, and the body dissolves into what you just drank—fetal water..."

"Ugh..." This time, I couldn’t hold it back and vomited all over Lu Jiu, who turned green and hurriedly stepped away.

Seeing me throw up, Bai Xiaoli panicked, wet a cloth, and quickly wiped my face, apologizing for telling me about the fetal water in the first place.

I turned to Granny Wan, an unspeakable taste in my mouth, and asked, "Granny, didn’t you say it was herbal medicine?"

She coughed a few times and replied, "Anything can be used as medicine. Don’t overthink it. It’s getting late—we still need to make offerings to the yin fetus Xu Yingying gave birth to. I’ll come by tomorrow. Until we’ve deceived that ghost, don’t go wandering around."

With that, she left, taking Bai Xiaoli with her. Bai Xiaoli looked back at me with obvious reluctance. Once they were gone, only Lu Jiu and I remained. He cleaned himself up and prepared to leave as well.

I hurriedly grabbed his arm. "Daoist Lu, don’t go! Stay with me tonight. I’m afraid that ghost might come back..."

Lu Jiu’s face was etched with fear. "Brother, that’s a thousand-year-old ghost. I’m scared too!" With that, he packed his things and dashed out the door. When he reached the entrance, he paused and called back, "I rented a room next door. If anything happens, call me and I’ll come." Then he disappeared in a flash. It was clear he was truly terrified, and equally clear that if the ghost showed up, he’d never answer my call.

After they left, the house fell silent again. My thoughts drifted back to my brother, who had appeared in my dream—or perhaps it wasn’t a dream at all. He had warned me to be wary of Grandfather. If it was just a dream, why would I have dreamt such a thing?