Chapter 1: A Ghost Encounter?
At an old, rundown Daoist temple in Wei City of Beifeng Prefecture in Kingdom of Qian[1]…
The faded plaque above the entrance still faintly bore the words “Qingyun Temple.”
The eastern sky was just beginning to brighten.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
A burst of urgent knocking sounded while Li Yanchu[2] was still lying in bed.
“Daoist Master Li! Daoist Master Li! Help us!” an anxious voice called from outside the door.
As the only Daoist priest left in Qingyun Temple, Li Yanchu found such cries for help rather unfamiliar by now. Back when his old master was still alive, people would occasionally visit, usually because something strange or paranormal was happening in their home.
Li Yanchu swiftly turned over and got out of bed. He threw on his Daoist robe and headed toward the front door.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The knocking hadn’t let up. It was still frantic and carried a sense of urgency.
“I’m coming,” Li Yanchu called out.
He unlatched the door and opened it, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
Outside stood four or five young men dressed as household servants.
The one in the lead looked a bit more composed and reliable than the others, but his tone was just as urgent as his knocking. “Daoist Master Li, I’m from the Chen family. Something’s happened at home, so we’ve come to ask for your help.”
A job…
Li Yanchu’s eyes lit up. He asked, “What happened?”
The steady-looking youth glanced around, then said in a low voice, “Daoist Master Li, it’s best if you come with me. You’ll understand once you see for yourself.”
Keeping it mysterious, huh…
Li Yanchu gave a small nod. “Give me a moment.”
With that, he turned back into the room.
He only had thirteen copper coins left to his name; he was flat broke. There was no reason not to take a job when it came knocking. If he lost his life, he could still start again in the next one. But if he was broke… he wouldn’t even be able to die in peace.
Back in his room, he tidied up his Daoist robe properly, slung his peachwood sword over his back, and tucked a few Golden Light Talismans into his sash. These were all things his old master had left behind for him.
He paused and thought for a moment.
Then he reached under his pillow and pulled out two more items: a pair of wooden knuckle dusters, which he tucked into his inner robe, and a sharp butcher’s knife, which he tucked into the back of his waistband. Once fully geared up, he strode back to the entrance and hurried off toward the Chen residence with the household servants.
On the road, Li Yanchu asked in a hushed voice what exactly had happened.
The lead servant, Chen Yuan, glanced around. Seeing no one nearby, he began to speak softly.
As he listened, Li Yanchu’s expression shifted to one of shock, his gaze turning thoughtful.
The Chen family were wealthy local merchants with substantial assets. Old Master Chen was fifty this year and often away from home. He had two sons and a daughter, and it was the third young lady of the Chen family[3] who had encountered trouble.
No wonder this guy was so reluctant to speak just now… Li Yanchu thought to himself.
The Chen family’s third young lady had fallen under some kind of evil influence. Her speech had become erratic and frenzied, and she acted completely deranged. At night, laughter and the sounds of a man’s voice would often come from her room, but whenever someone entered, she would always be alone.
Sounds like she’s being haunted by a lustful ghost… Li Yanchu silently mused.
A year ago, he had transmigrated to this place called the Kingdom of Qian, a land resembling an ancient feudal society.
The third young lady of the Chen family seemed to be haunted by a lustful ghost. Her clothing was often disheveled, and her speech odd and incoherent. Naturally, the men of the household did not dare to approach her.
Thus, the Chen family immediately sought out Daoist priests and Buddhist monks to perform exorcisms.
What Li Yanchu couldn’t understand was why the Chen family hadn’t gone to the renowned temples and monasteries in the city, but instead came looking for him.
Could it be they didn’t want news of this spreading, for fear it would ruin the third young lady’s reputation? Li Yanchu wondered to himself.
It wasn’t until he met the Chen family’s steward and exchanged a few words with him that he finally understood.
He was already the fourth such helper to come here. The other so-called powerful monks and Daoists, who usually boasted of their great spiritual prowess, had all been driven out by whatever was inside the third young lady’s room.
They were sent fleeing in torn robes, scared out of their wits.
As it happened, the Chen family steward had once met Li Yanchu’s master long ago and knew he had been a capable Daoist. That was why he had hurriedly sent people to fetch the old master’s only disciple—Li Yanchu. It was a classic case of a dead horse being treated like a living one[4]; a desperate attempt to try anything.
Although the steward had little hope that Li Yanchu could truly solve the problem, he remained courteous and refrained from any melodramatic or contemptuous behavior.
“Daoist Master Li, your master was a true expert. I’ve witnessed his skills with my own eyes. Now that the young lady is being tormented by this evil presence, I beg you to lend your aid. If all goes well, we will be most generous in our gratitude.”
As the steward of a wealthy household, the man naturally knew how to deal with people. He started by elevating Li Yanchu’s status, treating him with full respect.
Li Yanchu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. As expected of a grand household, no one here was simple.
“Steward Chen, you flatter me. I will do my utmost,” Li Yanchu replied.
Before long, he was led by the steward to the rear courtyard.
The Chen family’s estate was opulent: pavilions, towers, gardens, and waterways, all exuding wealth and grandeur. But even so, Li Yanchu maintained his composure. After all, he’d seen towering skyscrapers in his previous life. He had at least that much self-control.
Steward Chen, on the other hand, was slightly impressed by Li Yanchu’s calm demeanor. His estimation of the young Daoist rose a bit.
The third young lady’s residence in the rear courtyard was surrounded by parasol trees and flowering crabapple[5]. The setting was serene and refined.
Madam Chen, the third young lady’s mother, was anxiously waiting inside the building at the moment, accompanied by a few handmaidens. She was a graceful and elegant beauty, dignified in bearing and radiating an enchanting charm, but right now, her expression was one of distress, with deep worry etched between her brows.
“Madam, this is the Daoist I mentioned earlier. He is Daoist Master Li, disciple of Daoist Master Xuancheng[6],” Steward Chen introduced him.
Xuancheng was the Daoist title[7] of Li Yanchu’s late master.
Madam Chen nodded slightly and said to Li Yanchu, “I’ll be counting on you to help my daughter, Daoist Master Li.”
As a mother, the anxiety in her heart at this moment was not something she could easily express to an outsider. When she saw how young this Daoist was, she was initially a little disappointed. But in a desperate situation like this, they had no choice but to try every possible solution.
The moment their eyes met, Li Yanchu could see it in her eyes that she thought he was too young and looked down on him a little. Still, he didn’t mind. It was perfectly natural for her to think so. More importantly, he wasn’t the kind of person to let his pride drive him into rash actions.
Nodding slightly in response, Li Yanchu turned and began to ascend to the second floor.
This was a standalone building. The maids stayed on the first floor, while the third young lady lived alone on the second. At the moment, all the servants were waiting outside; none of them dared to go up.
After all, nothing terrified ordinary people quite like matters involving ghosts and spirits.
Those other guys who came before him all got beaten up…
Li Yanchu took a deep breath and walked up the stairs with a resolute look in his eyes.
From the second-floor room came the sound of a woman’s laughter. It was clear and melodious, yet laced with a hint of wanton flirtation. The sound of this laughter stirred something in the heart; it was alluring, almost bewitching even.
Li Yanchu let out a deep breath, forcing out the stray thoughts clouding his mind. Steadying himself, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
This scoundrel had gone completely mad in his pursuit of money!
The moment he crossed the threshold, a pleasant and refreshing fragrance greeted him. The room’s furnishings were refined and elegant, exuding the delicate taste of a young lady.
On the large bed sat a young woman with disheveled clothing.
She had an oval-shaped face and long lashes, along with delicate features. On top of that, she had porcelain-fair skin.
This was the Chen family’s third young lady, Chen Luoxin[8].
By the time Li Yanchu entered, her condition seemed even more severe than what had been described to him. Her garments were in terrible disarray; her collar hung loosely open, drawing the eye almost against one’s will.
Her cheeks were flushed, her gaze dreamy, and she wore a foolish, dazed smile. Her eyes were filled with affection and longing as she gazed into empty space. It was as if, in that void, stood a man she deeply adored.
The entire scene was disturbingly strange, unsettling in a way that was hard to describe.
1. 乾 (qián) is one of the Eight Trigrams (八卦) in the I Ching, symbolizing Heaven, yang energy, creativity, strength, and authority. It represents pure masculine force and is associated with power, leadership, and the sky. ☜
2. To provide better context for you readers, I will comment on the meaning/overall feeling of the characters’ name, as perceived by me, a native Chinese speaker.
李 Li is a common Chinese surname. 言 Yan means “speech/word”, while 初 Chu means beginning.
The name 李言初 gives off a vibe of calm wisdom, thoughtful introspection, and a sense of new beginnings. It feels poetic and refined, like someone who speaks with purpose, possibly quiet but insightful, and is at the start of a meaningful journey. There’s a scholarly, almost Daoist air to it, fitting for a character who blends intellect with spiritual depth. ☜
3. “Third young lady” refers to the third daughter of a prominent family—usually noble, aristocratic, or wealthy. "Young Lady" (小姐, xiǎojiě) is a respectful title used for daughters of high-status families. In traditional Chinese naming conventions, especially in historical or noble/wealthy families, children were often referred to by their birth order within the family. Even if the Chen family only had one daughter, she might still be referred to as the “third young lady” if she was the third child or third in line among siblings, especially when including sons in the count. But in most traditional usage, it's specifically by birth order among daughters. ☜
4. This is a Chinese idiom that refers to making a desperate or last-ditch effort, trying something even when there's little hope. It's often used when a situation is already hopeless, but you still try anyway, because there's nothing to lose. ☜
5. The flowering crabapple is a species of crabapple that is endemic to China. It grows in many provinces like Hebei, Liaoning, Zhejiang and Sichuan. During April and May, Asiatic apple trees will bloom with white or pink flowers depending on the varieties, and produce apple-like fruits with sweet-and-sour taste during August and September. ☜
6. 玄 (xuán) means "mysterious," "profound," or "arcane." It's a word often found in Daoist contexts, symbolizing the unknown, the Dao, or the vastness of the universe. 诚 (chéng) means "sincerity," "honesty," or "genuine heart." It suggests a person who may pursue profound truths with a genuine and unwavering heart. To me, it evokes a sense of quiet strength, integrity, and inner clarity. ☜
7. A Daoist title 道号 is an honorific form of address for a Daoist priest. ☜
8. 陈 Chen is a common Chinese surname. 洛 Luo traditionally refers to the Luo River or ancient places like 洛阳 (Luoyang). It evokes elegance and a classical charm. 心 Xin means "heart" or "mind." Overall, it gives the impression of someone graceful yet emotionally profound. ☜
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