Chapter 62: Death’s Door
After changing into a more presentable outer robe, Wang Gege quietly left the room together with Xie Rong.
Neither of them spoke as they walked through the residence. The servants they encountered along the way all lowered their heads respectfully before stepping aside, yet Wang Gege barely noticed any of them.
Her thoughts remained occupied by Qing’er’s words.
"There is an unclean presence within the Xie Residence."
The more she repeated the sentence in her mind, the more unsettled she became.
Unclean presence...
In her previous world, people usually associated such words with ghosts, evil spirits or something supernatural. Although she had never truly believed in those things, she had watched enough horror movies and supernatural dramas to know what they usually implied.
’Could such things... really exist in this world?’
Just as the entrance to the main courtyard came into view, Wang Gege suddenly stopped walking.
"Husband."
Xie Rong immediately halted his footsteps as well before turning slightly toward her, "What is it, Furen?"
She hesitated for a brief moment before lowering her voice.
"When Qing’er mentioned an unclean presence..." She unconsciously pursed her lips. "Does that... mean a ghost?"
The question caused Xie Rong to remain silent for several breaths, "I do not know."
His answer was as calm and straightforward as ever.
"The Taoist Master merely requested Father to gather everyone in the main courtyard. As for what he discovered, I have yet to hear."
Wang Gege blinked, "So... it might not necessarily be a ghost?"
"It might... It might not." Xie Rong answered honestly.
"’Unclean presence’ is merely a broad term. Some use it to describe lingering resentment, some believe it refers to wandering spirits, while others simply regard it as an ominous sign."
He paused briefly before adding, "Whatever the case may be... we will know soon enough."
Wang Gege slowly nodded, "I see."
She took a quiet breath before following Xie Rong once again, yet for some reason, the closer they drew to the main courtyard, the more uneasy she felt.
The two of them resumed walking.
Before long, the familiar main courtyard came into view.
Unlike the quietness that usually accompanied the residence at this hour, the courtyard was brightly illuminated. Almost every member of the Xie family had already gathered, while servants stood neatly along both sides with lowered heads, not daring to utter a single word.
The moment Xie Rong and Wang Gege appeared, countless pairs of eyes instinctively shifted toward them.
"Young Master has arrived."
"Young Madam has arrived."
The servants bowed one after another before respectfully making their way.
Wang Gege quietly followed beside Xie Rong, her gaze unconsciously sweeping across the courtyard.
At the very center stood a long wooden altar.
Several yellow talismans had been neatly placed upon it, their edges fluttering gently in the night air. A bronze incense burner rested in the middle, wisps of white smoke slowly curling upward, while two tall candles burned steadily on either side.
Standing behind the altar was an elderly Taoist Master dressed in a plain ash-colored robe. His long beard reached almost to his chest, and in one hand he held a horsetail whisk. Although his expression remained calm, there was an indescribable sharpness in his eyes, as though very little could escape his notice.
The moment Wang Gege looked at him, the old Taoist slowly lifted his head and their eyes met.
For reasons she could not explain, Wang Gege’s heart skipped a beat. It lasted only an instant.
The old Taoist calmly shifted his gaze away from her, turning instead toward Master Xie, Xie Zheng.
"The Young Master and Young Madam have arrived."
Master Xie gave a slight nod before looking toward the old Taoist.
"Master Qingxu..." he said respectfully. "Now that everyone is here, may I ask... what exactly did you discover?"
The entire courtyard fell into complete silence. Even the servants unconsciously held their breath, waiting for the old Taoist’s answer.
The old Taoist gently stroked his beard before speaking in an unhurried voice.
"Several days ago, this humble one happened to pass through the capital before Master Xie invited this humble one to examine the residence."
His gaze slowly swept across everyone present.
"At first, this humble one believed it to be nothing more than an ordinary request."
He paused briefly, "However, the moment this humble one stepped through the gates of the Xie Residence... I sensed an unusual disturbance."
The atmosphere instantly became heavy.
Liu Yuxin, who had been standing quietly behind Master Xie, subconsciously tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hands.
Xie Zheng frowned, "What kind of disturbance?"
The Taoist slowly closed his eyes.
"For many years... The fortune of the Xie family has remained prosperous. But recently... that fortune has been disrupted."
His words immediately caused the surrounding servants to exchange uneasy glances.
"The Young Master was poisoned. The residence has experienced one incident after another. Such consecutive misfortunes rarely occur without a cause."
Master Xie’s expression gradually darkened. "You mean... Is there indeed something unclean within my residence?"
The old Taoist slowly opened his eyes. "I cannot say for certain. This humble one merely sensed that the flow of fortune within this residence has changed."
The courtyard fell into complete silence and Wang Gege unconsciously held her breath.
Changed... That single word made her heart pound faster.
The old Taoist remained silent for a long while before slowly raising the horsetail whisk in his hand.
"There is one thing..." His aged voice echoed calmly throughout the courtyard, "That this humble one cannot understand."
Everyone instinctively held their breath.
The Taoist slowly swept his gaze across the gathered members of the Xie family. "For many years, the destiny of this residence has followed the natural order but recently..."
He paused, "Something that was never meant to be here... has found its way into the Xie Residence."
The moment those words fell, Wang Gege’s heart nearly stopped. Her fingers unconsciously clenched the sleeves beneath her hands.
A cold sensation crept up her spine. She could almost feel the old Taoist’s gaze moving across the crowd.
Closer and closer.
She instinctively lowered her head. ’Please...Don’t look at me...’
The courtyard fell into complete silence.
The old Taoist’s gaze continued moving calmly across the courtyard.
It passed Madam Liu, Master Xie, Old Madam Xie and also Wang Gege.
Without lingering for even a moment.
Wang Gege blinked, "Eh?"
Before she could react, she noticed the old Taoist’s eyes had quietly come to a stop.
He was looking past her and almost instinctively, Wang Gege turned her head.
Standing beside her was Xie Rong.
The old Taoist remained silent. He neither frowned nor spoke another word. He simply continued looking at Xie Rong with an unreadable expression.
Several moments passed before he finally spoke.
"This humble one heard... that the Young Master once stood at death’s door."