Purple Old Manor

Bai Xueyan looked at the computer screen and frowned when he saw the eerie glow of the candles that illuminated the space where Su Yu and Duan Yuan are. Only the orange color turning green that is missing and this would be a perfect scene for a supernatural horror movie.

Thinking this, Bai Xueyan sighed.

"Leader, say something!" Cen Haorong tugged the hem of Bai Xueyan's shirt after he saw him silent. "We have to save Duan-ge, right? We have to help him, right?" he said, looking very worried.

He has met Duan Yuan when they were both recruited in the Feixue Guild. Duan Yuan was recruited because of his potential and skills. Meanwhile, he was recruited because he came from a Taoist family. At first, he looked down on Duan Yuan for being an ordinary person. Though he didn't mock Duan Yuan of his blindness of course. It was just normal for them two to have a friction because he believed himself to be an 'authentic' exorcist. Meanwhile, Duan Yuan is 'not authentic'.

But, when he saw Duan Yuan skills, he shut up. Even though Duan Yuan didn't ask for his apology for always butting heads with him (one-sidedly on CHR's part), to which saved Cen Haorong's face (pride), Cen Haorong decided to be sworn brothers with Duan Yuan.

And so, he would hang out with Duan Yuan like visiting the other in his university or inviting him to eat outside. So, they became closer to the point that they treat each other as siblings. That is why he feels very worried about Duan Yuan. He is very concerned of him.

Bai Xueyan sighed as he looked at Cen Haorong's expression. He watched these two became enemies to friends, so he knows the bond between Duan Yuan and Cen Haorong. And he is like an elder brother to them, so he also feels worried for Duan Yuan.

But – "Even if we go there, what could we do?" he spoke. "Based on what we have seen in Mo Yu's livestream, the evil ghost of the Purple Old Manor should have not only the Purple Old Manor, but also the surrounding areas of the Purple Old Manor under its domain. Look at it deceiving even the technology." He pointed to the computer screen where the interior of the Purple Old Manor was shown, looking good as new.

Cen Haorong frowned. In fact, for supernatural beings like the yao, interfering with the technology is possible. And the stronger their powers, the more impeccable their interference with the technology. So, looking at the scene shown on the screen, one can just imagine how strong the evil ghost of the Purple Old Manor.

"This evil ghost is in another level from the other ghosts that we have dealt with so far." Bai Xueyan continued. "This evil ghost should be stronger than those other yao." He told Cen Haorong. "Duan Yuan finding his way through in the evil ghost's domain shows his strength. But what about us if we go there?" he asked.

Cen Haorong fell silent. He knows that Duan Yuan is stronger than them. But obviously, he is still unwilling to give up. Duan Yuan is his sworn brother, so how can he just give up like this?

Bai Xueyan shook his head when he saw Cen Haorong's unreconciled expression. "I know that you want to help xiao Duan, since I also want to help him, too." He looked at the computer screen. "But, our investigation so far is not enough for us to go there. Xiao Duan also knows this, thus he didn't tell us. He went there himself." He explained.

Cen Haorong bit his lip, feeling uncomfortable.

"Xiao Rong." Bai Xueyan called. "Don't blame yourself that you lacked strength." He patted Cen Haorong's head. "Being incompetent was never a sin. It is just a disadvantage, and right now we are at a disadvantage against the evil ghost. So, all we have to do is to gather more information that we could about the ghost to help xiao Duan." He told Cen Haorong.

Cen Haorong took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay." He answered.

Bai Xueyan replied. "First, we have to know its identity." He said. Know your friends and enemies, as they say.

Cen Haorong picked up the folder which was named 'Purple Old Manor', containing the information that they have gathered so far about the Purple Old Manor.

The Purple Old Manor is owned by the Lei family. It was once their ancestral home. But, as the descendants find their own families, the ancestral home was slowly being vacated, until only the Lei couple had one child left with them, which is their daughter. As for their other children, they all bought their own houses, but was far from their parents.

"After the Lei couple died, the property was left to their daughter, who was unmarried at the time." Cen Haorong spoke as he read the report. "When she got married, she didn't leave the Purple Old Manor and had her husband and children stay in there." He said. "Later, her own children had their families and she was left in the Purple Old Manor, just like her parents did. But, unlike her parents who had each other, she only had herself since her husband died before her." He read. "In other words, most of her life was spent in the Purple Old Manor… could it be her who is haunting the Purple Old Manor?" he asked.

Bai Xueyan thought about it. "It depends on how she takes the Purple Old Manor as." He answered.

"What do you mean?" Cen Haorong asked.

"If she takes it as her home, then she won't ruin the Purple Old Manor's name like this." Bai Xueyan said. "But, if she has hatred towards it, like she felt that it was like a cage, then she must really resent it." He explained.

"I see…" Cen Haorong nodded in understanding. "But… I just want to ask. Why was this called 'Purple Old Manor' when the manor is not even purple?" he asked as he looked at the once beautiful home.