Chapter Nineteen: Descent into Madness

As dusk settled over the sky, Feng Yuan and his companions soon arrived at the entrance of the second courtyard, passing through the chaotic yard. Compared to yesterday, when a sudden cold wind made the place uncomfortable, today the second courtyard was much calmer, with nothing out of the ordinary—perhaps because night had not fully fallen yet.

Leading the way were Feng Fugui and his two cronies, with Feng Yuan and his group trailing behind. Feng Yuan dared not get too close; the place felt unnervingly strange, and he thought it safer for Feng Fugui to take the lead—better someone else face danger first than himself.

"Brother Fugui, it's inside," Feng Yuan pointed toward the house, addressing Feng Fugui.

Feng Fugui glanced at him, scoffing, "Look at you, so frightened—what's there to be afraid of?" With that, he lifted his foot and kicked the door open, striding inside, followed by Skinny Monkey and Ma San.

Feng Yuan frowned at the door; he remembered that last night, he and Hu Xiao had left in a hurry and hadn’t closed it. Yet today, the door was tightly shut—far too snug to have been closed by the wind, almost as if someone had locked it from inside.

But no one lived here. If the door had truly been locked from within, it certainly wasn’t by any human hand. The thought sent a chill down his spine, and he hurriedly shook off his imaginings before stepping inside.

"Brother Feng, bring a lantern over—can’t see a thing!" called Fugui from ahead.

"Just a moment, Brother Fugui, I'll get one right away!" Feng Yuan replied with a cheerful smile, taking the lantern from Hu Xiao and heading over to the trio.

He handed the lantern to Fugui, who raised it and shone it against the wall of the main hall. Feng Yuan quickly turned away, unwilling to look—a painting there had terrified him yesterday.

"No painting, Brother Feng," Fugui called out.

"No painting? Impossible! Brother Fugui, look carefully!"

Fugui nodded, lantern in hand, checking the chairs in the main hall and inspecting the walls on either side, but found nothing.

"There's nothing here, Brother Feng, you must be mistaken," Fugui said.

Feng Yuan frowned in disbelief. He took the lantern and searched personally, but after a thorough inspection, found nothing.

"How strange… why is it gone?"

He scanned the wall and noticed something unusual—a white mark, precisely the size of the painting he remembered. Clearly, a painting had hung here before, otherwise there would be no trace. He hadn’t misremembered. But why had it vanished? It couldn’t have walked away on its own.

He turned to Hu Xiao, "Xiaoxiao, did you come here during the day?"

"No, young master, I did not."

At that, Feng Yuan felt a coldness in his heart. Only he and Hu Xiao stayed here, and she hadn’t come; he was certain he hadn’t either. Zhang Pangzi was out of the question. Yet the painting had disappeared, as though it had grown legs and run off.

That could only mean there was something truly wrong here—perhaps some evil spirit was at work. Otherwise, how could the painting vanish so mysteriously?

Of course, a thief was possible, but unlikely; the painting wasn’t valuable, not an antique, and stealing it made no sense.

"Brother Feng, maybe you’re mistaken and it’s in another room. Give me the lantern, I’ll check the other rooms," Fugui said, taking the lantern and heading with his cronies toward the study. Feng Yuan, however, did not follow, instead pulling Zhang Pangzi and Hu Xiao back toward the doorway, feeling increasingly that something was amiss—the painting’s disappearance was definitely a sign.

The nightmare from last night lingered in his mind. If evil spirits had invaded, it would explain the dream. Best to keep his distance, lest something happen.

"Feng Yuan, what’s going on? You seem strange—could this place be haunted?" Zhang Pangzi whispered.

"Shh!"

Feng Yuan motioned for silence.

"Brother Feng, come look—could this be the painting?" Fugui’s voice called from the study.

Feng Yuan’s heart leapt. Could the painting have moved to the study? Impossible.

He hurried inside and found Fugui and his two cronies gathered around the long table, eyes shining as they stared at a painting laid out before them, their faces enraptured.

"How beautiful! This woman is stunning—she looks alive!"

"Yes, so beautiful! If only I could marry her!"

The three admired the painting with praise. Feng Yuan glanced at it and felt his blood run cold—it was the very painting he and Hu Xiao had seen last night, the woman’s face still vivid in his memory, haunting and terrifying. Now, the woman’s image seemed even more vibrant, as if freshly colored, her smile brighter, and Feng Yuan felt more frightened than ever, unwilling to approach.

On the table lay freshly ground ink, brushes, and pigments—recently used, it seemed. Someone had added color to the painting, making the woman’s figure more lifelike.

The painting had mysteriously moved from the main hall to the study, and someone had retouched it—surely the work of evil spirits, beyond doubt.

"Don’t go near it!" Feng Yuan quickly stopped Zhang Pangzi and Hu Xiao from approaching.

"Why? Let me see—she’s so pretty!" Zhang Pangzi’s eyes gleamed, his expression lecherous, as he pushed past Feng Yuan to admire the painting.

The four men looked as though a real woman stood before them, nearly drooling.

Only Hu Xiao and Feng Yuan felt nothing.

To be fair, the painting was skillfully rendered; the woman seemed almost alive. Yet it was only a painting—how could it provoke such a reaction?

Fugui’s group and Zhang Pangzi were behaving strangely.

Feng Yuan hurried forward and seized one end of the painting, folding it over to keep the others from staring, worried for their safety.

"Brother Fugui, this is the painting—let’s take it outside and burn it!" As he spoke, Feng Yuan quickly rolled up the painting and handed it to Fugui.

Fugui took it reluctantly, saying, "Brother Feng, I see nothing wrong with it. The woman is so beautifully painted—burning it would be a waste. Since you don’t want it, I’ll take it home and hang it as decoration!"

"I want it too! I like it!" Zhang Pangzi cried, reaching to snatch it.

"I want it!"

"I want it!"

Ma San and Skinny Monkey joined the struggle.

Fugui hid the painting behind his back, shouting fiercely, "Stop fighting! The painting is mine! Anyone who tries to take it, I’ll kill!"

With these words, Fugui drew a gleaming knife from behind him. The others shrank back, but their eyes remained fixed on the painting, as if their souls were drawn to it.

Feng Yuan realized something was terribly wrong—their behavior was unnatural. Fugui wouldn’t threaten his friends with a knife over a painting unless something was amiss.

He had to destroy the painting, or the four would soon be in real trouble.

"Brother Fugui, this painting is cursed—we should burn it. Let’s take it outside and do so," Feng Yuan said, smiling.

"Shut up! You dare suggest burning it? Are you looking for death?"

Fugui immediately turned the knife on Feng Yuan, who quickly stepped back.

The other three glared angrily at him, clearly upset. Feng Yuan dared not say another word—if he provoked them, he might not survive.

Fugui fell silent, clutching the painting tightly as he strode outside, the other three hurriedly following. Feng Yuan and Hu Xiao quickly trailed after.

They soon left the second courtyard and returned to the first, where Fugui headed straight out, pursued by the others.

Sensing danger, Feng Yuan grabbed Zhang Pangzi’s arm, "Come back! Don’t go!"

"Let go of me! Let go!" Zhang Pangzi struggled desperately, but Feng Yuan refused to release him. If Zhang Pangzi followed them and something happened, he would never be able to answer to his parents.

"Feng Yuan, let go or I’ll kill you!" Zhang Pangzi roared, wild-eyed and gaping as if ready to devour him.

"Step aside, young master, let me handle this!" Hu Xiao called from behind, carrying a large basin of well water. She splashed it over Zhang Pangzi’s face.

With a loud splash, Zhang Pangzi was soaked from head to toe, shivering, then peering at them in confusion, "Huh? What happened? Why am I all wet? Did you splash me?"

Feng Yuan saw Zhang Pangzi’s eyes return to normal, and breathed a sigh of relief, then explained what had happened.

Zhang Pangzi frowned, "What are you saying? I don’t remember any of that! Are you two conspiring to trick me? You douse me with water, then make up some story?"

"Come on! Why would I splash you for no reason? Do I look like I’m bored?"

"Who knows? Maybe you wanted to see me soaked."

Feng Yuan nearly choked in disgust, glaring at Zhang Pangzi, "Get out of here!"