Chapter 1810: The Secret in the Underground Passage
The official depicted in the painting, who had his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, revealing a sinister glint.
"Fox Demon, how dare you cause trouble here!"
Feng Qi sneered, "Fox Demon? It seems you lack insight."
Feng Qi spun around, transforming into human form, maintaining a smile, "Looking at you, you’re certainly not a virtuous official; you must have engaged in numerous corrupt acts during your lifetime."
"Nonsense! I possess integrity and am beloved by the citizens!"
"Well, it’s true you have some merit, but you used your merit in the wrong places, sheltering those who should not be sheltered."
"I protect my descendants, how is that the wrong kind of shelter? Little Fox Demon, daring to cause trouble here, the village’s great formation is short one formation eye, we can use you as the formation eye to suppress those restless spirits."
"The restless spirits you speak of are those resentful souls persecuted by the villagers? Tsk tsk tsk, it seems you know everything but still choose to protect them. In that case, your merit has no right to remain in this world."
Originally, Feng Qi hoped that if he were truly a good official, merely deluded by his descendants into doing foolish acts, she might let him off. Now it seems there’s no need at all.
Three figures had already stealthily entered the underground passage beneath the shrine; they were the most cunning among the Ghost Servants, and while Feng Qi was conversing with the Ghost in the painting, they used the opportunity to locate the passage entrance.
They heard screams and sobbing echoing from the depths of the passage.
There are people!
Living people!
Not only living people, but there seem to be many resentful souls as well.
The three Ghosts cautiously approached the depths of the passage, seeing several doors, only one of which was open; inside was a laboratory filled with strange chairs.
One Ghost recognized them as chairs used to bind people for electrotherapy, commonly seen in psychiatric hospitals; he had the "fortune" of experiencing it in life and knew the suffering involved.
They floated into the other sealed doors, seeing people trapped in cages—men, women, the old, and the young.
Among these people, those awake were covered in wounds, while the unconscious ones likely had substances injected into them.
Inside the leftmost blood-stained door lay many corpses, lacking internal organs or marked with numerous diseased spots, covered in dense needle marks.
The soul bodies guarded the corpses, some in a daze, evidently even spiritual bodies had become dull-witted and confused.
The three Ghosts were horrified by the devastation here, where experimentation seemed to be occurring, involving people of all ages.
What sins has this village committed!
The three Ghosts wanted to return the way they came but found they couldn’t go back!
This passage seemed to allow entry but no exit; the passage’s exit was guarded against Ghosts leaving, yet now even the three Ghosts who entered can’t escape!
As the three Ghosts floundered helplessly like headless chickens, they heard Feng Qi’s summoning.
Unable to leave, they could only relay messages via the Ghost Servant contract.
Upon learning they were trapped in the underground passage and couldn’t escape, Feng Qi told them to wait, and after dealing with the painting, she would rescue them.
Feng Qi stopped exchanging words with the painting, her large tail sweeping fiercely, directly flipping the painting onto the ground.
The official in the painting flew out, hurling the Official Seal at Feng Qi.
This Official Seal was imbued with the faith of thousands and a lifetime of merit, which weaker demons and ghosts couldn’t withstand, typically being crushed to death by the seal.