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“I heard from the abbot that this woman died in the mountain, and her resentful spirit was formed because she felt abandoned by her husband,” Lu Wanqiu said.

She had collected quite a bit of information about the Lantern Woman and had her own understanding.

Zhao Huai shook his head: “That’s not the case. I spoke to her, and although she was lost in the mountains, she didn’t die there.”

“Please elaborate.” Lu Wanqiu said helplessly. Just in terms of defeating the Lantern Woman, Zhao Huai was already stronger than her and obviously knew more.

So Zhao Huai slowly recounted:

“The elegant young lady left the mountain and unexpectedly found her scholar lover in town. However, he had already achieved success and fame, changed his appearance, and become a popular figure.

But he didn’t come back to find her, so she was heartbroken and very sad. She felt that the scholar had forgotten his oath, so she went to confront him but got thrown out and couldn’t even enter the house.”

“So the scholar killed her to silence her?” Lu Wanqiu suddenly realized.

“I initially thought so too, but think about it, if she had been killed by the scholar, would she still go to such lengths to find him?”

Lu Wanqiu nodded, indeed feeling conflicted.

If the Lantern Woman was constantly looking for her husband, that meant her hatred was not directed at her husband.

“So there must be a twist, and the twist is that the scholar did not betray the Lantern Woman,” Zhao Huai said solemnly.

The scholar passed the imperial exam with the highest score and gained recognition. With numerous marriage proposals pouring in, he had his wife in his mind, but he didn’t accept or reject any offers.

He knew that once he rejected them, he could never make it in the officialdom in the future and his so-called fame would be nothing but a dream.

Under various constraints, the scholar naturally couldn’t find his wife immediately. If they discovered that he was already married, the outcome would be the same.

However, the woman was unaware of this. She firmly believed that she was betrayed by her husband, and her hatred grew stronger, turning love into hatred.

The deeper the love, the deeper the hatred.

She sneaked into the scholar’s mansion and killed him.

Upon hearing this, Lu Wanqiu raised a doubt: “Let alone how the woman entered the scholar’s residence, it’s a bit incredible that a weak woman with no strength managed to kill someone.”

Zhao Huai smiled faintly: “You underestimate the power of hatred. Even if she had to sell herself and enter as a servant, it would be extremely simple. As for whether she murdered or not, I think the coffin in the wooden house can prove it.”

“The coffin?”

“Yes, I saw a coffin under the bed in the Lantern Woman’s wooden house. It couldn’t be for her, it must be for the scholar’s body.” Lu Wanqiu was still puzzled: “Why prepare a coffin for a revenge killing?” Zhao Huai’s expression was extremely serious.

“Because she found out about everything the scholar did, perhaps through his diary or through inquiries.”

“She killed the wrong person.”

“Then she went mad.”

After the woman killed the scholar, she greatly regretted it. But with the man dead, what could she do? She could only leave the corpse in the wilderness.

In the state and county, the scholar’s story started spreading, about how he kept his door closed and remained low-profile after becoming an official. Many people found it puzzling.

Finally, the trusted housekeeper revealed the key: the scholar actually had a beloved wife, so he refused to marry, always delaying and never meeting with the noble families.

The woman learned this news, struck by a thunderbolt, countless regrets flashed through her mind. She searched all night for the abandoned corpse of her husband.

However, the scholar’s body was already gnawed by rats and riddled with holes.

Woman was devastated, loathing herself for not being able to accept the fact that she killed her beloved. Her hatred for herself reached the point of obsession.

So she lost her mind. She put the scholar’s body in the coffin and hid it under the bed.

In this way, she could always be with her beloved scholar.

She hated herself to the extreme and eventually committed suicide in front of the cottin.

This hatred turned her into an Evil Spirit.

After becoming an Evil Spirit, the mad woman chose to forget about her murderous crime and fell back into the grief of losing her husband.

This is why the Lantern Woman has two forms.

One is red, and the other is white.

Red represents painful memories, while white represents normal, beautiful memories.”

After hearing Zhao Huai’s explanation, Lu Wanqiu was stunned.

“So the Lantern Woman killed her husband and then killed herself. The person she hates is herself?” “Exactly.”

Zhao Huai nodded.

While there might be discrepancies in the details, the train of thought was undoubtedly correct.

“This poor woman.”

Lu Wanqiu’s eyes revealed sympathy.

Zhao Huai pondered, “Actually, I still have a doubt left unanswered.”

“What?”

Lu Wanqiu felt as if her scalp was tingling at this point, as the story sounded terrifying.

Of course, the man in front of her was even more terrifying, able to not only find a way to kill the Lantern Woman but also deduce the truth”Where has the Lantern Woman’s husband gone?”

“He must have already turned to ashes. It’s been hundreds of years.” Lu Wanqiu said as a matter of course.

Zhao Huai shook his head again.

He clenched the skull in his hand, knowing in his heart that this bone was definitely Liu Lang’s and not the Lantern Woman’s.

Rain chills the soul of scented flowers, and visitors are drawn to the grave.

The essence of the word “drawn” in this hexagram phrase was used very well.

Since the Lantern Woman was still seeking, that means Liu Lang still exists, whether it’s his remains or his grave. Lu Wanqiu was puzzled: “But she’s already dead, shouldn’t it be over?”

“It’s probably not that simple.”

“Come with me.”

Zhao Huai placed his long sword on the ground, stepping on it.

“Where to?”

“The Lantern Woman’s grave.”

The two walked side by side, arriving near the small stream in their dreams in no time.

“This is…”

Lu Wanqiu obviously recognized the place.

Zhao Huai’s footsteps were extremely fast, and he quickly found the location of the wooden house.

There was nothing here but dense vegetation. There was nothing else in sight.

He activated the True Vigor in his body, striking out with his palm.

With a “bang!”, a huge pit appeared in front of him.

Zhao Huai squinted his eyes, and the skull in his hand emitted a red light.

Slowly sinking into the pit.

“So that’s how it is,” Zhao Huai muttered, suddenly realizing.

“What, what?” Lu Wanqiu felt like a three-year-old child, following Zhao Huai’s lead.

“Do you know where Liu Lang is?” Zhao Huai smiled slightly.

“Where?”

“Liu Lang has always been by the Lantern Woman’s side, but she just didn’t know, and we have always overlooked it.”

Lu Wanqiu frowned and tilted her head: “That’s not possible. There’s nothing on her body.”

Zhao Huai pointed at the slowly rising red light and said:

“That lantern is her husband.”

ps: A new chapter for the new year, might be a bit slower, sorry about that..