Travel through the heavens

Chapter 305 Suppressing Demons and Calming Hearts

Fu Qingfeng, Fu Yuechi, and Xu Wenyuan were all witnessing such a "ghost" appear before their own eyes for the first time in their lives, and their expressions and reactions were all different.

Although Fu Qingfeng was slightly startled, his family's extensive learning and broad knowledge, coupled with his calm temperament, allowed him to quickly regain his composure. He focused his gaze on the painting spirit's appearance, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

Fu Yuechi subconsciously took a half step back, her slender hand gently grasping Gu Yueqing's sleeve beside her, her fingertips tightening slightly.

She was, after all, a young girl at heart. Although she was usually bold and lively, she couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive when facing this extraordinary spirit. However, her strong curiosity quickly overcame her initial fear.

She opened her bright eyes wide, staring intently at Wan Niang's illusory figure, her eyes filled with inquiry and wonder.

As for Xu Wenyuan, although his body trembled slightly and he could not help but stare intently at Wan Niang's face, his expression complex and ever-changing.

There are memories of the past, the pain of losing a loved one too soon, and the joy of reunion after a long separation...

After Hua Ling Wan Niang appeared, her gaze fell on the begonia jade hairpin on the table.

She gazed for a long time, and with a soft sigh, the sorrow that had lingered in her eyes for countless days melted away like thin ice under the spring sun, leaving only a clear and serene sense of relief.

She landed on the ground, curtsied, and bowed gracefully to Gu Yueqing, Fang Muye, and the others. Her voice was ethereal and distant, carrying a sense of liberation.

"This humble woman, Wan Niang, greets all esteemed lords. I was born from a lingering obsession, and by chance, I became attached to a painting and gained sentience. I left the painting at midnight not to disturb the peace of the living, but because I cannot suppress my long-cherished wish to find the jade hairpin that my cousin promised me years ago."

"Now, thanks to the great help of you gentlemen, the token has been found and the old promise has been fulfilled. My obsession is over, and I shall leave."

As she spoke, her eyes flickered as she looked at Xu Wenyuan, who was standing to the side. Her ethereal eyes were instantly filled with tenderness, and her voice became even softer.

"But before that, I have one more request. May I speak a few words with my cousin alone and settle this last bit of worldly attachment?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yueqing's eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly. She looked at Xu Wenyuan and asked, "What does Mr. Xu think?"

Xu Wenyuan, on the contrary, calmed down at this moment, his expression revealing a sense of sorrow and determination. He bowed deeply to Gu Yueqing, his voice slightly hoarse from excitement, but clear and earnest: "I hope the general will grant my request."

"Alright, then I'll give you the time it takes to drink a cup of tea." Gu Yueqing nodded and turned to walk out of the hall.

Fang Muyi and the others also left, with the last one closing the door behind him.

The crowd stood quietly in the courtyard, waiting. Faint whispers could be heard from inside the hall, indistinct and broken, but the sorrow and tenderness in the voices drifted out intermittently, leaving one feeling melancholy.

Before the time it takes to drink a cup of tea is up, the door to the main hall is gently pushed open, and Xu Wenyuan appears in front of the door. His eyes are red and swollen, and tear stains are faintly visible on his face.

"General," Xu Wenyuan bowed to Gu Yueqing and said in a hoarse voice, "We've finished speaking."

Upon hearing this, Fang Muye and the others stepped back into the main hall.

Wan Niang bowed deeply to everyone again, a smile playing on her lips: "Thank you all for your kindness. I will be going now."

As she finished speaking, her already ethereal figure began to become even more transparent, like the thin mist gradually dissipating at dawn, until it finally disappeared completely.

When everyone looked at the painting on the table again, they saw that the image of Wan Niang leaning against the railing and gazing at the moon was still unchanged. However, the sorrow and lifelike quality in her eyes had quietly disappeared with the dissipation of her spirit.

Although this painting, "Lady Gazing at the Moon," is exquisitely crafted, it has now become quite ordinary.

Gu Yueqing stepped forward, rolled up the painting, put the begonia hairpin back into the brocade box, and handed it to Xu Wenyuan, saying in a meaningful and gentle voice.

“Mr. Xu, this matter is settled. The painting and the jade hairpin have been returned to their rightful owners. I hope that through this experience, you can let go of your old grudges and stop dwelling on the past. The dead are gone, and the living should cherish what they have. You may go back now.”

Wan Niang was obsessed with her own ideas, so she left the painting in the middle of the night to search for the Begonia Jade Hairpin. But when you trace the origins of this matter, isn't it also Xu Wenyuan's obsession?

If it weren't for the deep-seated regret and emotions that Xu Wenyuan hadn't forgotten for ten years, even with that spirited fox-hair brush, it would have been difficult to imbue the painting "Lady Gazing at the Moon" with a life of its own.

Xu Wenyuan accepted the painting and brocade box with trembling hands, as if holding a priceless treasure.

He bowed deeply to Gu Yueqing, Fang Muye, and the others, his voice choked with emotion: "General's great kindness, and the kindness of all of you, I, Xu Wenyuan, will never forget!"

After repeatedly expressing his gratitude, he left with the things in his arms.

After letting Zhao Kuo and Zhou Cheng go about their business, Gu Yueqing, Fang Muye, and the Fu sisters returned to the government office in the back courtyard.

Fu Yuechi rested her chin on her hand, her eyes somewhat vacant, as if savoring the events of the day. After a moment, she murmured to herself, "Is it over just like that? It feels... a bit... simpler than I thought."

She looked up at Gu Yueqing, her eyes filled with the straightforward confusion unique to a young girl: "Sister Yueqing, I thought that the Zhenfu Division's investigations must be thrilling and full of dangers."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yueqing sighed softly, a sigh that contained too many complex feelings that only those in that position could understand.

She looked out the window and said slowly, "The Zhenfu Division handles a wide variety of cases. It is quite rare that a case like this, which has gone through strange twists and turns, has been able to be resolved peacefully."

She paused, her voice carrying a worldly wisdom, and continued.

"In fact, the Zhenfu Division often encounters cases involving past grievances and people's obsessions."

"While there are certainly many fierce and terrifying evil spirits in the world that deserve to be killed, what is truly lamentable more often is the tangled and inextricable obsession deep in people's hearts. These obsessions may be intangible and formless, but they often trap and harm people and themselves."

"Therefore, it is easy to exorcise demons and eliminate evil, but difficult to resolve inner conflicts."

Fu Qingfeng had been listening quietly, but now his eyes flickered as if he were deep in thought, and he spoke softly.

“Sister is right. Today I saw that the painting spirit Wan Niang. Although she is an anomaly, she has no intention of harming people. All she seeks is the fulfillment of a single thought.”

"The fact that the Zhenfu Division went to such lengths and conducted such a thorough investigation to help her find the keepsake, fulfill her long-cherished wish, and allow her to return home peacefully, instead of simply treating her as an evil spirit and exterminating her, is the true way to protect the region."

Gu Yueqing nodded slightly, her eyes revealing a look of reminiscence.

“When my father was alive, he often taught me that the so-called Zhenfu Division is to suppress evil spirits and soothe people’s hearts. It is easy to eliminate demons and ghosts, but difficult to calm people’s hearts. As we hold such power and are in such a position, we must know our limits and know how to weigh things.”

"When to strike with thunderous force and when to gently soothe with spring breeze, the balance and degree of control are often more important and more difficult than cultivating techniques or improving martial arts skills."

Her voice was calm and powerful, each word clear, echoing in the communal room.

Fu Yuechi listened intently. The doubts she had had earlier were now answered in these profound words, and in the mutual confirmation with what she had seen today.

The way she looked at Gu Yueqing was not only the usual intimacy, but also a deeper, heartfelt admiration.

Fang Muye stood quietly to the side, his gentle gaze falling on Gu Yueqing's calm and resolute profile, his eyes filled with appreciation and support.

He naturally understood that Gu Yueqing's words were not only an answer to the Fu sisters who were new to this field, but also a belief and principle that she had always upheld as the garrison general.

Outside the window, the afternoon sun was shining brightly, casting warm patches of light on the floor of the room through the window frame.

In the courtyard of the Zhenfu Division, the shouts of the captains during their drills could be faintly heard. Each shout was steady and powerful, penetrating the courtyard walls as if telling a story.

In this chaotic world where demons and ghosts intertwine with human nature, there is a group of people who, in their own way, are protecting a hard-won order and peace.