Peeling the Skin 14: Digging Out the Heart

“Big brother, I must warn you, don’t be frightened by what I’m about to say—she isn’t human, she’s a ghost.” Wang Chongwu, seeing Wang Chongwen’s disbelief, spoke with unwavering conviction: “She’s a ghost who wants to rip out your heart and drink your blood.”

“A ghost? Impossible, impossible. I don’t believe in superstitions or strange tales.” Wang Chongwen insisted, “She is the dignified daughter of the Taiyuan academic commissioner. She wants to help me achieve fame and success; she is the one I love most dearly—how could she possibly be a ghost?”

“Fine. I expected you wouldn’t believe me. I’ve already wounded her. Let me take you to see her for yourself.” Wang Chongwu grabbed Wang Chongwen’s hand and led him toward the garden.

Wang Chongwu moved quietly, placing a finger to his lips to signal Wang Chongwen to stay silent. Wang Chongwen had no choice but to follow, tiptoeing along.

As soon as they entered the garden, they saw a figure moving inside the house. Wang Chongwen was about to speak, but Wang Chongwu stopped him, again signaling for silence. Wang Chongwen, forced to trust his brother, crept along. They crouched beneath the window of the house.

Wang Chongwu peered inside first, and was immediately disgusted by what he saw, a sight so vile he’d never forget it. He quickly ducked his head and urged Wang Chongwen to look. Wang Chongwen hesitated, but Wang Chongwu tugged him forward.

The scene that Wang Chongwen saw would haunt him for life—a ghost with hideous zombie fangs, its face mottled with black death spots, and fingernails nearly a centimeter long, held a brush and was painting a patch of skin. The skin belonged to Wu Suniang, the woman with whom he had spent countless nights in revelry. The horror made him cry out and faint.

Wang Chongwu caught him swiftly and hurried him away.

Inside, the ghost painting the skin heard Wang Chongwen’s cry and glanced toward the direction they’d fled. Dropping its brush, it moved behind the skin and transformed into Wu Suniang. The wound on her left cheek healed, and she wore a smile signaling her satisfaction.

Meanwhile, in Wang Chongwu’s room.

Wang Chongwu splashed a basin of water on the unconscious Wang Chongwen.

Wang Chongwen awoke in terror, pleading, “Brother, help me, save me, please!”

“Big brother, didn’t you say she was the daughter of the academic commissioner? That she would help you achieve fame? That she was your beloved?” Wang Chongwu teased, repeating Wang Chongwen’s earlier words.

“No, no, she isn’t.” Wang Chongwen, panic-stricken, continued, “She’s a ghost, a ghost wearing human skin.”

Wang Chongwu nodded. “Yes, she’s a vicious ghost. Not only does she want to kill you, she nearly destroyed our whole family. Brother, don’t you see? The affair between sister-in-law and the servant—did you really believe it was true?”

Wang Chongwen reflected. “So she was behind it all, deceiving us.”

Wang Chongwu nodded. “Exactly.”

“Damn it, damn it, I’ve been so foolish,” Wang Chongwen berated himself.

“Brother, you must bring sister-in-law back,” he pleaded.

“That’s not difficult, but I’m more worried about you,” Wang Chongwu said, patting his brother’s shoulder.

“Me?” Wang Chongwen asked, bewildered.

Wang Chongwu nodded gravely. “Brother, do you realize your vitality has been drained? She’s nearly sucked your blood dry. Soon, she’ll come for your heart.” He pointed to Wang Chongwen’s chest.

“Aah!” Wang Chongwen’s face twisted in terror, fear overwhelming him. He jumped up, begging, “Brother, save me, please, kill her quickly!” He was ready to kill the ghost now that her monstrous face had been revealed.

“I’m no match for her,” Wang Chongwu shook his head, preparing to leave.

Wang Chongwen blocked his way. “Brother, we’re family—how can you leave me to die?”

“Unless we call for Master,” Wang Chongwu, unwilling to let his brother perish, suggested.

“Good, go quickly.” Wang Chongwen agreed, but suddenly recalled Wu Suniang was about to come for his heart and stopped Wang Chongwu. “Wait, if you leave and the ghost comes, what will I do?” He didn’t realize that the protective character Li Xintian had given him could ward off evil; had he known, he wouldn’t have had to risk his life.

“It’ll be fine.” Wang Chongwu handed his treasured sword to Wang Chongwen. “This sword is said to ward off evil. Hang it on the door, and the ghost won’t dare act rashly.”

Once Wang Chongwen took the sword, Wang Chongwu declared, “I’m off.”

“Alright,” Wang Chongwen replied.

Wang Chongwu leapt out of the house, mounted his horse, and was immediately confronted by a suspicious figure who shouted, “Who goes there? Who’s outside?”

“Prince Wang, I came to invite Wang Chongwen. Tomorrow morning, you must come to Scholar Li’s residence. Lady Wang is visiting and wishes to mediate your marital dispute.” The servant had overheard Li Xintian mention there were evil spirits in Wang Chongwen’s house, and was trembling in fear. If Wang Chongwu hadn’t appeared, he might not have dared deliver the message.

“So sister-in-law is at Scholar Li’s residence. Take me there at once.” Upon hearing Chen’s whereabouts, Wang Chongwu grabbed the servant, placed him behind him on the horse, and they set off.

Soon, Wang Chongwu arrived at Li’s residence.

“Brother Chongwu, I didn’t expect your return,” Li Xintian greeted him.

“Brother!” Chen saw Wang Chongwu and wept.

“Sister-in-law, no need to say more. I already know what happened. Seeing you safe puts me at ease. Now I must invite Master to exorcise the ghost,” Wang Chongwu interrupted her.

“Brother Chongwu, do you know what kind of ghost it is?” Li Xintian asked, unaware that Wang Chongwen had kept the protective character he’d given him. He wondered if his own righteous aura was somehow flawed, causing all this trouble.

“It’s a ghost wearing human skin.” Wang Chongwu, still shaken by what he’d witnessed, said, “Farewell.”

“Brother Chongwu, wait!” Li Xintian quickly stopped him, surprising Wang Chongwu with his agility.

“Why don’t we join forces to exorcise the ghost? You know, distant help can’t quench immediate danger,” Li Xintian suggested.

“I’ve already fought the ghost and lost. Unless I fetch my master, Scholar Li, if you’re confident in your abilities, you can try. But my brother is nearly drained of blood—she’s about to take his heart. I’ve already delayed too long; I cannot linger.” Wang Chongwu mounted his horse and galloped away.

Li Xintian realized Wang Chongwen was in grave danger. Chen knelt beside him, pleading, “Scholar Li, I beg you, please save my husband.” Having learned the truth, she harbored no blame for Wang Chongwen.

“Sister Wang, why kneel? I never said I wouldn’t save Brother Wang.” Li Xintian sighed, wondering if ancient women were all as virtuous as Chen. He was impressed with Wang Chongwen’s luck in marrying such a wise and moral woman. He hurriedly helped her up and released her hand.

“Thank you, Scholar Li. I can only repay your kindness in my next life,” Chen said gratefully.

“Sister Wang, don’t be so formal. I’ll prepare and head out to save him.” Li Xintian dared not delay further, knowing time was of the essence. Chen nodded knowingly.

Li Xintian returned to his room, pondered a moment, then picked up the finest brush from his desk—a porcelain-handled brush with tiger bristles, which he’d chosen as a child during the traditional ceremony. He believed that, having used it since childhood, it was imbued with his own righteous aura. He regarded it as the “righteous brush,” and, taking it, rode swiftly toward Wang Chongwen’s residence, suppressing his righteous energy.

Meanwhile, back at the Wang household.

Wu Suniang, seeing Wang Chongwu leave, began to act. She floated to Wang Chongwen’s hiding place—his and Chen’s bedroom. The sword hanging over the door gleamed, stabbing at Wu Suniang’s eyes.

Had it been Li Xintian’s protective character, Wu Suniang might have fled at its sight.

“Hmph, trying to scare me?” Wu Suniang scoffed. Wang Chongwen, hiding inside, leapt onto his bed, pulled the covers over himself, and trembled in fear.

Wu Suniang reverted to her true form, spitting a thick, viscous blood onto the sword. The sword’s glow faded, its power to ward off evil lost, and it fell from the door.

Wu Suniang, in her ghastly form, floated to the door and pushed it open.

She approached Wang Chongwen’s bed and yanked the blanket away.

Wang Chongwen stared in terror at the hideous, fang-bearing ghost.

With a swift motion, the ghost’s right hand plunged into Wang Chongwen’s chest. He screamed in agony, eyes wide with horror, awakening the old Madam Wang in the adjacent room. In the darkness, she glimpsed a cold, shadowy figure.

Wang Chongwen saw his own heart; his head lolled to the side, dead. The ghost pulled out a bloody, still-beating heart and devoured it, laughing maniacally.

Sensing someone approaching on horseback, she grabbed the newly awakened Wang Lin and fled.

Madam Wang, too late to intervene, rushed to her son’s bedside. She found a gaping hole in his chest and shrieked in terror, “Ah…! A ghost!”

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