"Skin Weaver?"
Lin Qingyu's brows drew together slightly when she heard Li Shen's words.
Her hand slowly moved toward the hilt of the massive saber resting beside her.
Her sharp gaze locked onto Madam Huang.
---
Records of the Spirit Warden Office
Among the strange cases preserved in the archives of the Spirit Warden Office, there was a particularly disturbing account.
Many years ago, a traveling scholar encountered a beautiful young woman while walking through a forest path.
She claimed to have been abandoned by bandits and had nowhere to go.
Moved by her delicate appearance and pitiful story, the scholar brought her home and allowed her to stay with him.
Not long afterward, however, a wandering priest visited the scholar's home and warned him:
"Dark energy clings to your dwelling. Something wicked has taken root beside you."
At first the scholar dismissed the warning.
But suspicion lingered in his mind.
One night, he quietly approached the woman's chamber and peeked through the window.
What he saw nearly made his heart stop.
Inside the room sat a grotesque creature.
Its body was twisted and pale, its limbs thin and corpse-like.
Spread across the bed before it was a piece of freshly removed human skin.
With a thin brush dipped in pigments, the monster carefully painted delicate features onto the skin.
Eyebrows.
Lips.
Blush.
When it finished, the creature lifted the skin and draped it over its body.
In an instant—
The monster became the same beautiful woman the scholar adored.
Creatures like this became known as Skin Weavers.
According to the record, the scholar later died with his chest ripped open and his heart missing.
---
Huang Estate Courtyard
"I don't quite understand what you mean, Lord Xiao," Madam Huang said calmly.
Her expression remained gentle and composed.
Li Shen smiled faintly.
Her acting was flawless.
If he had not already pieced together the clues, even he might have been deceived.
As expected of a spirit worthy of such a high bounty.
Very different from the minor ghosts he usually encountered.
"An old investigator once said that abnormalities reveal hidden truths," Li Shen said lightly.
"When something appears perfect, it usually means someone worked very hard to hide the flaws."
Lin Qingyu tilted her head.
Abnormalities?
She hadn't noticed anything unusual at all.
Still, she nodded confidently.
"Exactly," she said seriously.
"No demon can hide from the Spirit Warden Office."
Li Shen raised three fingers.
"There are three problems here."
"First," he said, "the spirit we destroyed earlier was a Mirror Spirit."
"Those creatures consume souls."
"But your husband did not die from losing his soul."
He looked directly at Madam Huang.
"He died because his heart was physically removed."
Lin Qingyu's eyes widened slightly.
Right.
That didn't match.
"Second," Li Shen continued, gesturing toward the courtyard, "this estate itself."
"The location, the structure, the decorations."
"All of them violate basic Feng Shui principles."
He pointed calmly as he spoke.
"The northeast corner aligns with the spirit gate."
"The estate borders a burial hill."
"A bronze mirror was placed opposite a doorway."
"Vines were deliberately grown along the walls."
"All these elements attract Yin energy."
"For normal people, it brings misfortune and sickness."
"But for ghosts…"
His smile widened slightly.
"It's a comfortable nest."
Li Shen then glanced at Huang Guangli.
"If I'm not mistaken, this estate was purchased after your father married your stepmother?"
The boy nodded nervously.
"Yes… she didn't like our old house and asked Father to move here."
Li Shen sighed quietly.
"It seems both humans and spirits enjoy comfortable homes."
Unfortunately, the previous owner had paid the ultimate price.
Thinking he was pleasing a beautiful wife, he had unknowingly built her a feeding ground.
Lin Qingyu crossed her arms.
"And the third problem?"
Li Shen looked directly at Madam Huang.
"The third problem…"
"…is you."
"I will admit that I am reasonably handsome," he continued with a casual shrug.
"But not handsome enough that a grieving widow would stare at me like prey."
Lin Qingyu rolled her eyes.
"What does your face have to do with anything?"
She hadn't expected Li Shen to be this shameless.
Li Shen chuckled softly.
"I happen to possess a constitution that attracts spirits."
What was once a curse had become unexpectedly useful.
The way Madam Huang had looked at him earlier—
It was identical to the gaze of hungry ghosts he had encountered before.
Predatory.
Obsessed.
Hungry.
---
Silence filled the courtyard.
The air felt heavier.
Huang Guangli trembled as he hid behind Li Shen.
"My… stepmother… is a demon?" he whispered.
The realization made his legs feel weak.
Lin Qingyu, meanwhile, looked at Li Shen thoughtfully.
So ghosts are drawn to him automatically…
Her eyes slowly brightened.
If that were true…
Bringing him along on missions would attract ghosts everywhere.
She would never have trouble finding targets again.
Brilliant.
---
At last, Madam Huang spoke.
"You are correct."
Her smile was charming.
"Yes… I am a Skin Weaver."
She tilted her head slightly.
"But does it matter?"
Her fingers slowly touched her cheek.
Then—
Her nails suddenly dug into the flesh.
With a slow tearing sound, a deep crack split across her face.
She grabbed the edges of the wound.
And pulled.
Like peeling off a mask, she removed the entire layer of human skin.
"Don't look," Li Shen said quickly, covering the boy's eyes.
"This isn't suitable for children."
The transformation was horrifying.
The beautiful woman's skin fell away like discarded clothing.
Beneath it stood a monstrous figure.
Its flesh was gray-green and partially decayed.
Jagged teeth lined its mouth.
Ribs were faintly visible beneath rotting skin.
Its eyes glowed with eerie light.
"Spirit Wardens," the creature hissed with a twisted grin.
"After seeing my true form…"
"…do you really think you can leave alive?"
Lin Qingyu immediately reached for her saber.
"You arrogant monster—"
But before she could draw it—
"Lin Qingyu."
The Skin Weaver suddenly spoke her name.
Her body froze instantly.
She couldn't move.
She couldn't even lift her arm.
Shock flooded her mind.
What is this?
Even her breathing felt difficult.
"Xiao Yue."
The creature spoke again.
Li Shen's body also became motionless.
The Skin Weaver laughed softly.
"So obedient."
"I have lived for decades," she said slowly, licking her lips.
"But I have never tasted the heart of a Spirit Warden before."
"That must be… exquisite."
She walked toward Li Shen step by step.
Her eyes gleamed with fascination as she leaned closer, inhaling the faint spiritual aura surrounding him.
The scent made her expression almost intoxicated.
Such powerful vitality.
Such rare energy.
A meal like this…
Would make her far stronger.
---