Below is a literal translation of Chapter 23 of the Chinese novel, crafted to be smooth, professional, and polished while preserving the original meaning without adding unnecessary flair. I have reviewed the translation for clarity, flow, and naturalness, ensuring it reads like a professionally written narrative while adhering strictly to the literal content of the text.
Chapter 23: The Tale of the Vengeful Spirit?
"That Li family wife was a renowned beauty for miles around, but alas, she was cursed with a worthless husband. To pay off his gambling debts, he planned to sell her to a brothel…"
"The Li family wife was unyielding. That very night, she hanged herself in the brothel."
"But would the brothel's tyrant let it go so easily? The next day, he dragged her body back to the Li family."
"What a commotion that was. The entire Li household was stripped bare, and the Li family man was beaten half to death…"
"Yet even after all that, the Li man's vile nature didn't change. That same night, he went back to the gambling den. The wife's body was left abandoned there, and it was only thanks to kind-hearted neighbors that it was collected and buried outside the city."
"Everyone thought that was the end of it, that the Li family had simply fallen to ruin."
"But what happened next, you'd never guess…"
At this point, the storyteller suddenly paused, dangling the tale like bait. The audience below erupted in eager shouts, and those familiar with the routine began tossing coins into the money jar in front of the storyteller.
Even Chu Mu couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity.
Based on the storyteller's account, the next part seemed predictable enough. With the Li man's despicable character, the family's downfall was inevitable. It wouldn't be surprising if he ended up dead in some ditch someday.
But seeing the storyteller's dramatic pause, it was clear the story wasn't so simple.
Chu Mu took a sip from his teacup, his gaze settling back on the storyteller.
"You might not believe it, but it's true," the storyteller continued. "Eight days after the Li wife's death, the Li man woke up from a night's sleep and went mad. He begged for mercy from everyone he saw, crying out his wife's name over and over…"
"And that brothel tyrant? He was found hanged in the brothel. The most terrifying part? The room where he died was the very same one where the Li wife had taken her life, down to the exact spot where she'd hanged herself…"
The storyteller's eloquence was undeniable. As he spoke, the noisy din of the tavern fell silent, the air thick with tension. Even Chu Mu felt a sudden chill envelop him.
"Real or not… could it be the vengeful spirit of the Li wife?" someone stammered after a long pause.
"I don't know the truth of it," the storyteller replied. "The local patrol came, and even the county lieutenant was alerted, but they found no answers. In the end, it became an unsolved case…"
"But as I see it, the cycle of karma is unyielding. If the Li wife did return as a vengeful spirit to exact her revenge, it would only be just…"
The storyteller sipped his tea, shaking his head with calm composure.
At the mention of the patrol office, Chu Mu froze. He'd thought this was just a story—could it be an actual incident?
"Something that wild, and I've never heard of it? Old Li, you didn't make this up, did you?" someone challenged.
Before the storyteller could respond, voices from the crowd spoke up in defense.
"It's true! I was just a kid when it happened, but it caused a panic in the city. The patrol office investigated for ages and found nothing…"
"Right, my grandfather told me about it too. They said it was the Li wife's spirit claiming vengeance. Oh, and that Li man? He's still alive, isn't he? That madman by the south gate of the county town—that's him, isn't it?"
The floodgates opened, and those in the know began chiming in one after another.
"Sir, your food and wine."
Chu Mu's thoughts were interrupted by the waiter.
"Everything's served, sir. Just call if you need anything else," the waiter said.
Chu Mu nodded, glancing at the food and wine on his table before turning his attention back to the scene below.
The chatter had grown livelier, the crowd now buzzing around the storyteller's tale. From their words, it seemed the story's authenticity was all but confirmed. The only question left was whether it was human doing or some supernatural force.
Chu Mu pondered for a moment but ultimately set the thought aside. According to the crowd, this had happened decades ago. Whatever the truth, time had long since eroded the details.
Besides, rumors grow with retelling—few likely knew the full story.
Chu Mu shook his head. He didn't much believe in ghosts or spirits.
True, something as bizarre as transmigration had happened to him, but if vengeful spirits were real…
The Nanshan iron mine would've been a ghost nest by now.
In just the short time he'd been at the patrol office, dozens of lives had been lost in that mine. And from what he knew, that wasn't some rare accident—it was the norm.
The mine had been in operation for so long that much of its equipment was in disrepair. Add to that the primitive mining techniques and, most crucially, the negligence of the mine's overseers.
Every piece of iron smelted in that foundry was stained with blood.
If vengeful spirits existed, they'd be haunting the patrol officers every few days just to keep things lively. Yet in the nearly one month Chu Mu had been at the mine, he hadn't heard of a single patrol officer losing their life.
Facts spoke louder than tales.
Still, the mention of the madman at the south gate stuck with him. Next time he was in the county town, he'd make time to check it out. It wouldn't take much effort.
Lost in thought, Chu Mu swapped his teacup for a wine cup. A gulp of the fiery liquor warmed him, dispelling the morning's chill from standing in the snow.
The ten-spice chili sauce hit hard, and the roasted goose was rich but not greasy. Together, they were a perfect match, bursting with flavor.
A sip of fiery liquor, a bite of goose dipped in chili sauce, and a mouthful of the rice the tavern provided.
Chu Mu savored his meal slowly, ears tuned to the surrounding chatter, enjoying this rare moment of leisure.
The meal done, his body—unaccustomed to alcohol—felt the wine's effects. One jug of strong liquor left him slightly buzzed.
A pleasant warmth coursed through him, as if he were sitting by a roaring fire.
Chu Mu lingered in the tavern, leaning against the railing, listening to the lively clamor. Only after some time did he call the waiter to settle the bill.
One roasted goose, one jug of liquor—thirty coppers. Fairly priced for the quality.
Leaving the tavern, he found the snow had finally stopped. The warmth of the wine still surged through him, warding off the cold.
Though the snow had ceased, the chill kept the streets quiet, with passersby hurrying along. Wealthier folk rode in carriages or sedan chairs. Under the influence of the wine, Chu Mu felt unhurried, strolling leisurely.
At some point, amid the sound of soft laughter and delicate voices, the faint scent of perfume reached his nose.
"The Moonlit Pavilion…"
Before him stood women in all their allure, exuding charm.
The winter cold did nothing to dampen their dedication. Skirts fluttered, sheer fabrics teased, and graceful figures stepped into the snow, approaching Chu Mu.
Chu Mu smacked his lips. Wasn't he heading home? How did he end up here?
…
*(End of Chapter)*