DUAR!The door to the former stable was shattered into countless splinters, flung into the room by a powerful kick that could crack mountain stone. Dust flew everywhere like a sandstorm, filling the already stuffy air with particles that caught the afternoon light streaming through broken window frames.From behind the swirling dust cloud, Rong Tian emerged boldly, his dark robes fluttering around him like the wings of an avenging spirit. Uncle Wu followed close behind, his weathered face filled with worry and his hands trembling as he gripped his wooden walking staff.Inside the cramped room that reeked of human suffering and neglect, Han Zhi and Fen Hua stood over their victim. These two servants, who were supposed to guard the residence with honor, were instead torturing Rong Ma, Rong Tian's beloved father.The leather whip in Han Zhi's calloused hand sliced through the stagnant air before landing on Rong Ma's weakened body. Each cruel blow left a red mark contrasting sharply with

"Do we have a chance to ask Daozhun to pray for the secluded room in the back?" asked the woman as she walked down the quiet corridor, her cotton servant's robe rustling against the stone floor. Her voice was a whisper, as if afraid of being heard by something invisible lurking in the shadows between the flickering oil lamps."Of course," replied the male servant beside her, his voice just as low while his weathered hands gripped his wooden walking stick. "I'm certain the Rong Tian who appeared earlier today was a vengeful ghost seeking retribution for past wrongs.""He must be a restless spirit wandering between the realms of life and death. He's clearly been dead for years, yet somehow returned to torment us." The man's eyes darted nervously as cold night air swept through the corridor."I heard it myself from the cultivators when they were talking in the Deputy Minister's chamber two years ago!" His voice carried the weight of someone who had witnessed terrible secrets that should

Fen Hua ran frantically through the moonlit corridors, her silk robes billowing behind her like clouds chased by storm winds. She gasped for breath that burned in her lungs, falling several times on the polished stone floors but getting up immediately and continuing her desperate flight.She wanted to scream, but only a faint mooing sound came out like the cry of a wounded animal. It felt as if her throat was being choked by indescribable fear that wrapped around her neck like invisible chains."I'm dead. I'm dead. Please, save me!" she screamed in her heart, but no one heard her silent pleas echoing through the empty halls. The ancient walls seemed to absorb her terror, offering no comfort to her tortured soul.Strangely, despite feeling like she was running as fast as her trembling legs could carry her, the end of the corridor at the back of the house seemed never to be reached. It felt like running through a winding maze designed by cruel gods, only to end up back where she started

Rong Tian cursed in his heart, his voice rumbling like thunder echoing through mountain valleys. "You wicked woman! If it weren't for the mercy I have left in my corrupted soul, I would have taken your miserable life long ago!"His sharp gaze pierced Fen Hua's heart like a dagger forged from concentrated hatred and otherworldly power. However, instead of fear, the middle-aged woman screamed even louder, her voice shattering the silence of the night like a banshee's wail in a forgotten graveyard.Instantly, Rong Tian's eyes began to darken as malevolent qi surged through his meridians. A malevolent aura of restless spirits began to creep into his mind like poison seeping through cracks in his mental defenses, but Rong Tian quickly reached for the carved pendant with five bats hidden beneath his black silk sleeve.He held his breath for a few crucial seconds, then exhaled slowly, looking relieved as the dark energy receded. The pendant's ancient power flowed through his fingertips like

When it came time to hire servants, Rong Tian remembered Uncle Wu and Aunt Lan, two people he had known and trusted throughout his childhood. Their loyalty had been proven during the darkest moments of his family's suffering."Uncle Wu, Aunt Lan," he said upon meeting them in the bustling marketplace where vendors called out their wares. "Would you be willing to work for me in my new household?""I can offer you double the salary you received at the Vice Minister's residence," he continued, his voice carrying the authority of someone who had gained both wealth and power. His dark robes rustled softly in the morning breeze as he spoke.His eyes sparkled with sincerity that reminded them of the boy they had helped raise. "In this city, you two are the only ones I can trust to take care of my father with the devotion he deserves. Are you willing to accept this position?"Uncle Wu and Aunt Lan immediately agreed to the generous offer without hesitation. The workload wouldn't be heavy comp