Encounter by the Lake at Night

Li Jue told Chu Liang a story.

The protagonist was a girl named Si Tu Yan. She was neither beautiful nor remarkable, yet her family was prosperous and her life comfortable. It seemed she had every reason to live a happy and fulfilled life.

But two years ago, tragedy struck: a fire ravaged her home. Though she was pulled from the flames and survived, half her face was burned away, leaving scars that would never fade.

They had all once been classmates in the Gengzi Class of Nanshan Academy. After Si Tu Yan’s disfigurement, her peers became frightened of her appearance. She tried to hide her face behind veils, let her hair fall thick over the left side, but it could never fully conceal the damage.

A few unruly students began to torment her, hoping to drive her from the academy. Zhang Cong would shout “monster” at her every day; Wu Shaoan pelted her with paper balls; Chen Da, knowing she now feared fire, would wave burning straw before her eyes; Yan Xiaohu demanded five taels of silver from her every month.

Si Tu Yan considered giving up. She no longer wished to attend the academy. At that moment, it was Li Jue who encouraged her.

Yes.

While others avoided her or bullied her, only Li Jue treated her sincerely. Always quiet and reserved himself, Li Jue seemed to share an unspoken kinship with the increasingly withdrawn Si Tu Yan.

He urged her to return to the academy, tutored her in missed lessons, and stood up for her when others bullied her—even though it meant he, too, became a target.

Before her injury, they were barely acquainted; after, they became close friends.

Li Jue thought his kindness would help Si Tu Yan recover, little by little.

But he never expected that, one day, as they sat reading by the lakeside, he would doze off—and awaken to find himself bound.

Si Tu Yan had tied his hands and drawn a small knife, her eyes shining with a disturbing light.

She confessed she had fallen in love with him. If she scarred his face, made him a “monster” like herself, then they could be together forever.

Li Jue tried to reason with her, but she was hysterical, unwilling to listen, intent only on making him as “ugly” and “monstrous” as herself.

He struggled desperately, finally breaking free just as the knife neared his face. He pushed Si Tu Yan away, called her a madwoman, and fled without looking back.

The next day, news spread that Si Tu Yan had drowned herself in the lake.

Li Jue was lost.

He wondered if he had done right or wrong, why his heartfelt kindness had led to such a tragic end, and whether his cruel words had been the final straw for her.

Seven days later, the bodies of Wu Shaoan and Zhang Cong were found in the lake as well.

Everyone at the academy speculated that Si Tu Yan’s vengeful spirit had returned to exact revenge. Li Jue thought so too.

It must be her! Surely she had come back, and all who had tormented her would face retribution.

But he did not know… would he become her next target?

Li Jue was afraid.

...

When Chu Liang left the room, his thoughts were troubled. It was a heavy tale, but cultivators always had duties to fulfill.

Lin Bei waited outside; seeing him emerge, he asked, “How did it go?”

“Since Zhang Cong and Wu Shaoan died, Chen Da hasn’t returned to the academy, hiding at home… Yan Xiaohu carries on as usual, but I doubt he’s dared leave his house these last two days…”

“If Si Tu Yan has become a vengeful spirit, she’d likely appear by the lakeside behind the academy…”

“I’ll go check there. You stay and keep an eye on Li Jue.”

Chu Liang briefly explained his findings to Lin Bei and then prepared to investigate the academy’s rear mountain.

“Alright, I’ll handle things here,” Lin Bei said. “But be careful dealing with that vengeful soul alone.”

“Don’t worry. Si Tu Yan had no cultivation in life. Even as a ghost, she shouldn’t be difficult to handle,” Chu Liang replied.

His sword’s brilliance was dazzling, so he opted for the slower but more discreet wind-flight technique.

Night had already fallen, and the city gates were closed, but for cultivators, that was easier—no need to worry about disturbing the townsfolk as one would during the day.

When he arrived at the rear mountain, the night was deep and deserted. Tree shadows stretched crookedly, the wind moaned, and it seemed as if many people were rustling unseen within the darkness.

It was the perfect night for a haunting.

Chu Liang concealed himself among the trees, suppressing his aura to avoid alerting anyone, and waited for midnight.

He hadn’t waited long when a rush of wind sounded.

Someone?

Chu Liang extended his spiritual sense, catching a fleeting shadow not far away—a woman’s silhouette.

So early.

He carefully drew nearer, sword in hand.

But when he reached the spot where the woman’s figure had flashed by, there was no sign of anyone.

Strange.

Even a ghost could not vanish without a trace…

There was no hint of yin energy in the area.

As he puzzled over this, his feet touched the ground—and a slicing sound shattered the air above.

A streak of jade-green light descended, like sword energy or fierce qi!

“Who’s there?” Chu Liang raised his sword to meet it.

The clash resounded, energy and wind scattering leaves in every direction.

He saw then that the weapon was not a sword, but a jade ruler—clearly far superior to his own flying sword. Though their cultivation was equal, his blade trembled under the impact.

Just one blow.

The wielder of the jade ruler flipped through the air, landing a dozen feet away.

Chu Liang did not pursue, for the attacker’s righteous aura proved she was no ghost.

She was a tall woman, clad in black, her figure graceful and her chest notably pronounced. Her skin was pale and flawless, shining in the moonlight.

“Teacher Song?”

“Chu Liang?”

Both exclaimed in surprise.

The sudden assailant was none other than the female instructor from earlier that day, Song Qingyi.

However…

Her chest hadn’t been so prominent in the daylight. In just a few hours, it had grown remarkably… odd.

After exchanging glances, they spoke in unison: “You’re a cultivator too?”

Then, together: “What are you doing here?”

Song Qingyi flushed, then composed herself. “Stop copying me!”

Chu Liang smiled and gestured politely.

“I suspected something about you earlier. Where are you from?” Song Qingyi asked.

“I’m a disciple of the Shu Mountain Sect, here at Nanshan Academy… Actually, I was invited to protect a student,” Chu Liang replied honestly. “And you, Teacher Song?”

“I’m from the Gentleman’s Hall of the Southlands…” Song Qingyi said. “With strange cases at Nanshan Academy, it’s only right that us Confucian cultivators handle them. To avoid suspicion, I joined as an instructor.”

So that was it.

No wonder the teacher was so young.

Chu Liang said, “This matter isn’t truly for a Shu Mountain disciple to meddle in, but having accepted the task, I must see it through. I learned something new just now, so I came to investigate the lakeside. Since you’re here, Teacher Song, you must also know about Si Tu Yan.”

Song Qingyi nodded, “Yes. I’ve kept watch here these past two nights, but nothing happened… until tonight, when I saw a suspicious figure—so I attacked you. I hope you won’t mind.”

“No harm done,” Chu Liang shook his head. “Since we’re both seeking to resolve this strange case, shall we share what we know?”

He thought Song Qingyi might know secrets about Li Jue that even he did not.

Song Qingyi was amenable, nodding lightly. “What do you wish to know?”

“I’d like to know…” Chu Liang glanced curiously at her chest, gesturing with both hands, “Teacher Song, were you wearing a chest binder earlier…? Why is there such a difference between day and night?”