Chapter 14: Is Wu Jiu Not Human?

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Xue Yanling’s body was often covered in bruises, blue and purple blotches marking her skin. Xue Huaiyuan could no longer bear to see her suffer and thus issued a decree for Wu Jiu to leave the estate. He intended to keep Xue Yanling and Tuan Tuan within the household for their protection.

However, to everyone’s shock, Wu Jiu refused to go. More disturbingly, he slaughtered the servants who were sent to escort him out. Enraged, Xue Huaiyuan sought to report the matter to the authorities, only to discover that Wu Jiu was no ordinary man.

Wu Jiu transformed into a monstrous creature, standing two meters tall with the body of a goat, but possessing two goat heads and ten legs. In his fury, he sought to annihilate everyone in the Xue family.

At that critical moment, a master happened to pass by the Xue estate. He aided the family by temporarily subduing Wu Jiu and warned Xue Huaiyuan that Wu Jiu must be burned alive, or he would awaken once more.

Following the master’s instruction, Xue Huaiyuan warned Xue Yanling and Tuan Tuan to escape before the day the fire was set; otherwise, they risked being burned alive inside. Yet, unknown to them, Wu Jiu had already awakened and overheard their plans.

Rather than sounding an alarm or retaliating immediately, Wu Jiu waited until the day of the fire. At that moment, he seized control over everyone in the courtyard, including Xue Yanling and Tuan Tuan. None managed to escape; all perished in the blaze.

Whenever Xue Huaiyuan recalled these events, his hatred for Wu Jiu burned fiercely. But he consoled himself with the belief that the massive fire must have consumed Wu Jiu as well. Indeed, Wu Jiu had not appeared again over the years, though the family’s health deteriorated and strange occurrences became frequent.

After hearing Xue Huaiyuan’s account, Li Yan grew even angrier. He sought to confront Wu Jiu but found that he had vanished. Frustrated, Li Yan began his search.

Unexpectedly, he found Wu Jiu on the back mountain, standing alongside Xue Yanling and Tuan Tuan, as well as other spirits—all still under Wu Jiu’s control.

Fury surged within Li Yan. Wu Jiu had not only caused their deaths but continued to dominate their souls. Hastily, Li Yan erected a protective barrier around the estate to safeguard them, then rescued Xue Yanling, Tuan Tuan, and the others, sheltering them within the barrier.

Alone, Li Yan prepared to face Wu Jiu in battle.

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Wu Jiu calmly regarded Li Yan with a sinister smile. “Congratulations, you’ve walked right into my trap.”

Li Yan did not yet grasp the meaning of Wu Jiu’s words. As he pondered, a massive magical array suddenly appeared on the ground, its surface covered with numerous thorns that continuously extended and retracted. These thorns were venomous.

More thorns sprouted beneath Li Yan’s feet, threatening to pierce him. He used his internal energy to levitate, hoping to avoid the spikes. Yet, even airborne, he fell into the trap.

An iron cage suddenly descended, imprisoning Li Yan within. He tried to touch the bars but was scorched by a powerful electric shock that left him dazed.

Despite the pain, Li Yan refused to give up. He attempted to shatter the cage with his energy, but each blast was reflected back, inflicting harm upon himself.

Wu Jiu, delighted to see Li Yan trapped, laughed heartily. “You’re so arrogant. Everything you know is what I’ve allowed you to know. Soon, you will die. I might as well tell you everything so you understand your fate.”

Li Yan was furious but powerless to resist.

Wu Jiu revealed the truth: He had died during that fateful outing, but his spirit merged with a malevolent entity. This entity then returned home in Wu Jiu’s place, explaining his drastic change in temperament and cruel behavior.

The cursed doll and the nightly harm inflicted upon Tuan Tuan were due to this entity’s need to absorb others’ life force and fortune to survive. Wu Jiu used the doll inscribed with the birth dates of Tuan Tuan and Xue Yanling, dripping their blood onto it to siphon their vitality.

As their life force diminished, Xue Yanling and Tuan Tuan’s health deteriorated. Wu Jiu did not expect Xue Yanling to bring Tuan Tuan back to the Xue estate, so to ensure his survival, he followed them.

Back at the estate, Wu Jiu set up devices to continue draining their life energy. After being ordered to divorce and expelled, he revealed his true form and sought to kill them all. A master’s intervention prevented his success and forced him into slumber—but he soon awoke.

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Upon awakening, Wu Jiu overheard Xue Huaiyuan, Xue Yanling, and Tuan Tuan labeling him a monster who must be burned. This ignited his murderous intent.

On the day they set the fire, he seized control of everyone in the courtyard, ensuring no one escaped. All perished.

Yet Wu Jiu was not consumed by the flames. He remained hidden within the estate, continuing to drain the life force of the remaining family members. This explained the gradual decline in the family’s health over the years.

He only needed a little more time to completely absorb their vitality and doom them to death—until Li Yan arrived.

Li Yan repeatedly thwarted his plans. In retaliation, Wu Jiu used the spirits of Xue Yanling and Tuan Tuan to lure Li Yan to the back mountain, gradually revealing his secret and preparing to kill him.

Hearing this, Li Yan trembled with rage.

Wu Jiu laughed louder, and suddenly, golden light filled the cage, accompanied by myriad silver needles of varying sizes.

The needles pierced Li Yan’s body, turning him into a living porcupine. He tried to remove them but found new needles continuously appearing and embedding themselves anew.

Worse still, the needles seemed poisoned. The punctured areas swelled, reddened, and darkened.

Drowsiness overcame Li Yan; his vision blurred, stars dancing before his eyes.

He forced himself to endure.

Wu Jiu’s laughter grew more unrestrained. Before Li Yan’s eyes, he devoured the souls of Xue Yanling and Tuan Tuan.

Clenching his fists, Li Yan vowed that if he survived this ordeal, he would kill Wu Jiu.

Yet, the environment within the cage worsened, and Li Yan’s condition deteriorated.

He had resigned himself to death—until unexpectedly, a glimmer of hope appeared.