Chapter 14: Exploring the East Courtyard

Candles, sculptures, corpses, and antique lattice doors—the courtyard outside was overgrown with wild grass. A toppled bronze incense burner lay on the ground, accompanied by a stone-paved path bathed in the clear moonlight.

A deathly silence shrouded the scene, exuding an eerie and desolate atmosphere.

"This place seems to be trapped in an eternal night."

Zhang Yuanqing raised his hand to his mouth and spat out the small blue pill he had been holding under his tongue.

"The method worked! Damn, I'm a genius…" He delightedly tucked the pill into his pocket, gaining a bit more confidence in his "future."

With this in hand, he had a fighting chance against the Red Dancing Shoes.

He then walked straight to the offering table, pondered for a moment, and reached out to grasp the candle holder.

Suddenly, a line of text appeared before his eyes:

[Name: Everlasting Candle]

[Type: Fuel]

[Function: Exorcism, Purification]

[Description: A tool left behind by the Goddess of Three Mountains, said to be refined from the fat of an Eternal Beast. It possesses the power to ward off evil and purify filth.]

[Note: Sometimes, purification of fear is not necessarily a good thing. Additionally, the candle cannot be moved.]

Sure enough, only by physically touching an item could he obtain its information. He hadn't dared to touch the candle before, so he had remained unaware of its properties until he read the records.

"Purifying fear may not be a good thing… According to Guan Ya's classification, this candle belongs to the 'cost category'—its price being the loss of fear. But right now, I'm terrified and have no intention of courting death. Better to stay put in the main hall for now."

Sitting cross-legged before the offering table, Zhang Yuanqing contemplated his next move.

"My next goal is to explore the eastern courtyard, uncover any lurking dangers, and identify ways to counter or overcome them. I must not exceed fifteen minutes—any longer, and the vengeful spirit will cling to my shoulders, sealing my fate."

"The blue pill is my trump card against the Red Dancing Shoes, but there's no guarantee it will work. Once I face them, it will be a matter of life or death… I should first get a preliminary understanding of the eastern courtyard and then plan my countermeasures."

Despite his resolve, a lingering fear held him back. He had survived the last encounter by sheer luck, and this time, survival remained uncertain.

The eastern courtyard was a complete mystery, its dangers unknown, making it all too easy to step into a death trap.

However, in life, avoidance was rarely an option.

Although there was no time limit for exploring the ancient temple, meaning he could theoretically stay in the main hall indefinitely, the lack of a deadline implied that without completing his task, he might never escape.

If he stalled for too long, hunger, exhaustion, and thirst would gradually wear him down.

By then, venturing outside would be a guaranteed death sentence.

"Whether I face it now or later, the risk remains the same. I have no choice but to go for it!"

Gritting his teeth, Zhang Yuanqing took a bold step toward the door.

Wait… Maybe I should reconsider. It's dangerous out there…

Just as one foot crossed the threshold, hesitation struck. He glanced back at the hall, reluctant to leave its warm glow behind.

The candlelight was comforting, dispelling the gloom, cleansing impurities, and filling his heart with an unparalleled sense of courage and confidence.

It should be fine…

With newfound determination, Zhang Yuanqing stepped outside.

---

The moonlight shone like frost, casting its silvery glow as Zhang Yuanqing followed the pebbled path along the left side of the main hall, making his way back to the desolate, dilapidated courtyard.

The night was eerily silent—no chirping insects, no rustling birds.

But the silence, in a way, was reassuring. The last thing he wanted to hear was the sound of footsteps echoing in the dark.

"Fifteen minutes. I only have fifteen minutes to explore the eastern courtyard before the vengeful spirit latches onto me…"

He entered the easternmost room of the courtyard and retrieved the bronze mirror from the skeleton beneath the window, tucking it into his pocket once more.

Then, cautiously, he passed through the arched doorway into the eastern courtyard.

The eastern courtyard was much larger than the four-sided courtyard he had just left. In his line of sight was an abandoned garden—rockeries, a pavilion, a small pond, and a massive banyan tree with gnarled branches and lush green leaves that gleamed under the moonlight.

Beneath the banyan tree sat an ancient well.

Beyond the rockery and pavilion, the roof of a long building peeked out from the depths of the courtyard.

Zhang Yuanqing didn't head straight for the building. Instead, he circled the banyan tree cautiously. The records indicated that this tree was dangerous, but after completing his loop, nothing unusual happened.

"Examining the banyan tree should contribute to my exploration progress, right…?"

With this thought in mind, his gaze drifted to the pitch-black well. After hesitating for a moment, he decided against approaching it.

He had a deep-rooted fear of old wells, especially in horror stories.

Zhang Yuanqing carefully bypassed the well, making his way through the overgrown grass toward the distant building.

Crack!

A sharp sound came from beneath his foot, startling him into a jump.

Looking down, he found a corpse partially buried in the grass, clad in a tattered, oxidized work uniform.

Bending down to inspect it, he noticed the skeleton remained intact.

The corpse had fallen forward, yet its head faced backward—a clear sign that someone, or something, had twisted it 180 degrees before death.

What could have done this?

Zhang Yuanqing tensed, his guard up. Just as he was about to resume his exploration, a gust of wind swept through the garden, rustling the wild grass.

The massive banyan tree behind him seemed to stir unnaturally, its branches twisting as though it were alive.

"Zhang Yuanqing… Zhang Yuanqing…"

A shrill voice called out from behind him.

The wind carried the eerie whisper, as though someone was murmuring right beside his ear. A chill ran down his spine.

Instinctively, he wanted to turn around—but then, a crucial detail from the records flashed through his mind:

Do not turn back!

"Zhang Yuanqing… Zhang Yuanqing…"

The voice grew urgent, as if desperate for him to turn and look.

Zhang Yuanqing refused to comply. Instead, he slowly unzipped his jacket pocket, retrieved the bronze mirror, and cautiously lifted it above his shoulder.

In the reflection, the scene behind him came into view—

A white-clad woman with long, disheveled hair was emerging from the well. Her face was blank, devoid of features, and she was about to turn her ghastly visage toward Zhang Yuanqing.

Holy shit…

His face went pale. Without hesitation, he bolted.

"Zhang Yuanqing! Zhang Yuanqing!"

The voice repeated, urgent and insistent. But she could only watch helplessly as he sprinted away.

Soon, Zhang Yuanqing rounded the rockery and reached the depths of the garden, where a large building stood.

Its roof was lined in a straight row, its foundation built from stone, and its walls composed of yellowed clay.

According to the records, a Night Wanderer had once explored this area. He had only warned against turning back but had not said anything about retracing one's steps. This suggested that the well-dwelling ghost only preyed on those who turned around.

If that was the case, his return journey should be safe…

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yuanqing calmed his nerves and focused on the present.

"Time to explore this building."