Chapter 13: Soul Strainer, Wrathful Soul

My mouth hung open, unable to produce any sound as I was gripped by extreme terror. Suddenly, she leaned close to my ear and whispered something.

She said: “Mommy and Daddy abandoned me. Big sister, come play with me and be my toy.”

“No, no!”

Her hand pierced through my left chest cavity, my heart seemingly clenched tightly in her grasp suffocating pain… yet I could only stare wide-eyed, utterly powerless.

At the brink of death, that person’s figure flashed through my mind.

Chu Pei, I had already decided even though I’m not particularly fond of children, if it were a child with you, I would be willing.

Perhaps there won’t be such an opportunity anymore. My heart suddenly tightened, as if being forcibly dragged out. That helpless feeling of death approaching step by step without even the strength to struggle could drive a person mad.

Just as consciousness gradually faded from my mind, I suddenly saw a white figure flash before my eyes. A powerful force knocked the red-clothed ghost child away.

“Chu… Chu Pei… is that you?”

Chu Pei was locked in confrontation with the red-clothed ghost child and couldn’t break away, but he turned to comfort me: “Rest assured, my wife. Your husband will teach her a proper lesson.”

The ghost child seemed quite fearful of Chu Pei, retreating several steps consecutively.

Chu Pei said: “Considering your tragic circumstances dying unjustly at such a young age I initially had no intention of making things difficult for you. But you harmed her, so don’t blame me for being merciless.”

The ghost child seemed to realize survival was nearly impossible today, making one final desperate lunge toward Chu Pei.

Chu Pei summoned the Soul Strainer Bead. The bead rapidly spun in midair, creating a massive golden vortex that gradually devoured the ghost child’s soul.

Just as the ghost child’s soul was about to be destroyed, Chu Pei suddenly lessened his power. Seizing this opportunity, the ghost child fled in panic.

Chu Pei sighed deeply, retrieved the Soul Strainer Bead, and turned to cradle me in his arms.

“How are you feeling, my wife?”

Tears welling in my eyes, I stared intently at him: “Chu Pei, Chu Pei… I want to have a child with you.”

His stern, handsome face softened like melting frost, revealing a slight smile: “After we return, your husband will redouble his efforts.”

Closing my eyes, tears rolled down as I curled up in his embrace, feeling utterly exhausted: “I’m so tired.”

“Let’s go back.” He stood up holding me, but as he turned to leave, the stacked firewood behind us collapsed.

Still holding me, Chu Pei turned to look. Inside a rusty iron cage was a child, with an uneaten cornbread bun discarded near his feet.

This child was none other than the missing Little Stone!

I don’t remember much of what happened afterward everything was hazy. When I woke up, I was lying in bed with complete darkness outside the window.

I struggled to get up, worried about Little Stone’s condition.

“Your vital energy has been severely damaged. Lie back and rest.”

I turned my head to see Chu Pei keeping watch by the bedside. Utterly exhausted, I obediently lay back down.

“Chu Pei, how is Little Stone?”

Chu Pei said: “Fortunately, he’s safe and sound. There’s no need to worry, my wife.”

I truly couldn’t understand: “Why would they lock a child in an iron cage and leave him to fend for himself? It’s too cruel.”

Through Chu Pei’s explanation, I came to understand that their actions were a form of human sacrifice using living people.

The red-clothed ghost girl had died with deep resentment, her baleful energy extremely intense. Unwilling to depart, she would emerge every Ghost Festival to harm people. Only when a living person died could her vengeful thoughts be pacified.

I thought for a moment and asked him: “Back then, you clearly had the chance to eliminate her. Why didn’t you ultimately act?”

Chu Pei looked somewhat helpless as he asked me: “Does my lady blame me for being momentarily soft-hearted and allowing others to lose their lives?”

I shook my head: “No, I believe you must have had your reasons for acting this way. If I don’t understand those reasons, how could I casually blame you?”

He said: “All things in this world follow the cycle of cause and effect. Whatever cause is shown, corresponding fruit must be reaped. If I had intervened and ended her existence, thereby altering someone else’s fate, who do you think should bear the karmic debt created?”

I said: “But we can’t just stand by and watch innocent people lose their lives.”

Chu Pei’s expression steadied as he countered: “Do you truly believe they’re innocent? Every grievance has its source, every debt its creditor. Since Little Stone didn’t commit murder, does that necessarily mean his elders are blameless?!”

“This…” I was momentarily at a loss for words. After thinking, I said: “But if the sin was committed by their parents or elders, then it should be those parents or elders who repay it.”

Chu Pei snorted coldly: “This is precisely how karma works the retribution hasn’t come only because the time isn’t ripe. Even if it doesn’t befall the perpetrators themselves, it will fall upon their relatives and children.”
Chu Pei looked somewhat frightened at that moment. His eyes, usually clear and dark like ink, flashed with a dark red baleful energy. Only then did I realize with shock that Chu Pei was like that red-clothed ghost girl.

He isn’t harming me now, but what about in the future? Every grievance has its source, every debt its creditor does this have something to do with me too. Our previous lives have already passed through one reincarnation. I don’t know what I owe him in our past life. If he demands repayment in this life, must I unconditionally comply?

I took his hand, and only then did he gradually calm down.

“Chu Pei, no matter what happens in the future, I will always stay by your side. Unless you no longer want me and drive me away. Chu Pei, I love you.”

His eyes regained their clarity as he embraced me: “Why would my lady say such things? From the moment we met, we were destined to become part of each other’s flesh and blood, never to be separated again.”

“Chu Pei, how exactly did that red-clothed ghost girl die?”

He said: “When I used the Soul Strainer Bead back then, I only glimpsed fragments and didn’t fully understand either. I only know she was killed by people from this village. She’s been dead for over sixty years. Every five years during the Ghost Festival, she emerges to claim lives.”

“Why five years?”

“She was exactly five years old when she died. Every five years, she must take one life to temporarily pacify the resentment in her heart.”

I instinctively asked Chu Pei: “Is there any way to resolve this?”

Chu Pei said: “If her inner turmoil is resolved and her long-cherished wish fulfilled, then it can be resolved. Otherwise, the resentment will cycle endlessly.”

I still remember her whispering in my ear. Thinking back carefully, her tone carried despair. A child who has been abandoned must deeply yearn to be loved.

My head still felt somewhat heavy. Seeing my poor spirits, Chu Pei tucked me in and said: “Get some proper sleep, don’t think too much.”

Seeing he was about to leave, I took his hand: “Chu Pei, could you… just stay by my side like this?”

He gently stroked my face and agreed: “Alright.”

I said: “The painting you made I really like.”

He smiled and said, “Consider it a small token of appreciation for my lady.”

It took me a moment to realize he was referring to the ink wash painting I had made for him. Could this be considered our love token? The thought made my heart swell with sweetness.

When I woke the next day, I felt refreshed, as if everything that had happened the day before was an unreal dream.

Grandma Zhao was in the courtyard, murmuring prayers while burning incense and joss paper.
“Grandma Zhao?”