I have a ghost diary

Therefore, this ghost realm may very well be a cage, a cage where an old man imprisons his family and descendants to prevent them from escaping and causing harm to the world.

However, this speculation raised another question for Chu Jiang:

Since the old man has come up with a solution and successfully used the continuation of his lineage to maintain the humanity of his family, then logically they shouldn't kill people indiscriminately, right?

At least Chu Jiang hasn't been killed yet, even though he feels that his family is in great danger.

Since they won't kill people like real ghosts, there seems to be no need to trap them here.

Or is it that there are limitations to maintaining humanity in this way, and that no one can leave the Lin Clan Ancestral Hall, otherwise things will get out of control?

Oh, and there's that old man in the coffin. He's become such a vengeful ghost that even years of offerings from his descendants can't preserve his sanity.

And then there's the elderly lady, seriously ill and bedridden, whom I've never met; she's even more mysterious...

In short, although a general direction of the guess has been reached, there are still many details that Chu Jiang cannot figure out.

In addition, Chu Jiang also realized one thing: he would probably have a hard time escaping from the Lin family on his own, so he would try not to directly break ties with them and wait until he saw the old master.

Otherwise, if a real fight broke out, Chu Jiang even doubted that this family, fighting side by side, could briefly contend with an S-level vengeful ghost.

Oh no, not just temporarily, because they are likely ghosts themselves, so without the threat of vengeful ghosts resurrecting, they can be even more unscrupulous than those ghost masters living in modern times.

Thinking of this, Chu Jiang shook his head repeatedly.

.......

It was late at night, and although Chu Jiang wasn't very sleepy, he still went to bed.

This room should be safe. No matter how many ghosts and monsters are outside, the Lin family shouldn't let anything happen to their guests.

But as soon as Chu Jiang turned over, he noticed something new under the covers! A round, plump lump...

Startled, he immediately landed and threw off the covers.

With this movement, the person who suddenly appeared on the bed put his index finger to his lips and gestured for Chu Jiang to be quiet.

Chu Jiang's expression changed several times. This was actually an "acquaintance," the Fifth Concubine whom he had just met at the banquet.

She was really bold, actually sneaking into my bed in the middle of the night. If Lin Mohua next door found out, then a big battle between "mother and daughter" would probably be inevitable.

Seeing that Chu Jiang remained silent, the slender and graceful Fifth Concubine relaxed and stretched out on the bed like a lazy cat.

She beckoned to Chu Jiang and said softly, "You can speak now, just don't speak loudly, the girl next door won't hear you."

Chu Jiang didn't go back to bed; he just threw the blanket back on and said rudely, "Aunt Lin, what are you doing sneaking into my room in the middle of the night? If this gets out, I'll be in deep trouble."

"Get out of here now before anyone notices."

The fifth concubine looked somewhat aggrieved, and she said with tears welling up in her eyes, "If I hadn't really been driven to desperation, how could a weak woman like me have been so shameless as to come to a stranger for help in the middle of the night?"

After saying that, she beckoned to him, "Mr. Chu, come here, I have a lot to say to you."

Chu Jiang's expression was cold. "Forget it. If you don't leave, I'm going to call for help."

"No." The fifth concubine sat up in bed. "I can help you, believe me. You must be full of questions right now, right?"

"I can answer any of your questions, as long as I know the answer."

It must be said that the fifth concubine's approach was very precise, hitting Chu Jiang's current needs right away. He desperately needed a member of the Lin family to tell him some "truths" in person.

Seeing Chu Jiang remain silent, the fifth concubine continued, "Don't worry, I won't blackmail you. It's just a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Take me out of here!" The fifth concubine suddenly became agitated, and even her tone involuntarily rose a beat.

Chu Jiang's expression changed slightly. Could it be that this woman had realized something?

The fifth concubine was still muttering to herself, "I can feel that we are trapped in a cycle, in a dream created by an old man."

“We do the same things over and over again every day.”

Spring goes and autumn comes, summer begins and winter ends, one year passes, two years pass, three years pass... But I suddenly realize, has everything started all over again? Just like those two children, they will never grow up.

"Moreover, I've noticed that the people in Luohe County are also a bit off. They lack vitality; they're all numb. Only my Lin family members are somewhat normal, but even they're mostly in a daze."

"I don't know why the old man did this, why he locked us in this endless cycle, but I want to escape!"

PS: Thanks to York Whiskey for the 190 blades, Zhiji Nanyan for the 5888 Happy Coins, and Gloria for the multiple donations. All together, I have 10,000 Happy Coins.

Chapter 173 Pleading and Begging

Chu Jiang fell silent again.

Seeing that he didn't speak, the fifth concubine composed herself, moved closer, sat down on the edge of the bed, and said, "You must be very curious, right?"

"Why do the Lin family members all seem so interested in you? Even though you come from that mysterious Chu family, it seems normal that they would pay attention to you."

"But what about Lin Mohua? How does she explain that?"

"To be honest with you, when I first heard that you were a guest at the Lin family, I didn't notice anything too amiss."

"But when I saw you in person, I felt that you were a stranger, as if I had never met you before."

"It's a wonderful feeling, like when you're going through the same routine every day, repeating the same monotonous life, and suddenly a new face jumps into your life."

"Moreover, this new face is energetic, thoughtful, and not apathetic."

"It is precisely because you are a variable that has never appeared in this cycle of reincarnation that we, this group of people, feel that you are very special."

"Only people like us would subconsciously want to have something to do with you."

"Lin Mohua probably had this feeling from the very first moment he saw you."

"Moreover, her mindset is a bit subtle; she seems to want to possess you. It's not about love or anything like that; Ghost Masters have always been very indifferent to such emotions."

"She seems to hope that you can stay by her side forever and bring some fun to her boring and repetitive life."

After hearing what the fifth concubine said, Chu Jiang finally understood that the Lin family was "coveting" him because he brought them a sense of novelty.

"What about the Fourth Young Master?" Chu Jiang asked.

"He's also paying attention to you, isn't he? But unlike others, he wonders why he's inexplicably developed such a great interest in a guest who's come from afar?"

"So Lin Xingshun became wary. He felt that you might have used the power of a ghost, which made everyone very concerned about you."

"After the banquet ended tonight, I saw him go to discuss it with the eldest young master." The fifth concubine said, while twirling a strand of hair that had fallen down her sideburns.

Chu Jiang pondered for a moment, then said, "To be honest, it's no use you coming to me. I just wandered into this place by mistake. I want to see the old master so that he can be lenient and let me out."

Fifth Concubine was not discouraged. "Then your identity as the successor of the Chu family can't be fake, right? Lin Mohua said she confirmed it, and one of our maids also witnessed your special status."

"Since you're leaving anyway, when you see the old man, please put in a good word for me and let me leave with you. It won't be difficult for you."

As she spoke, she stood up and walked step by step toward Chu Jiang, saying, "As long as you can let me leave this godforsaken place, I will do anything you ask. I will follow you wholeheartedly for the rest of my life."

"By the way," the fifth concubine whispered ambiguously in Chu Jiang's ear, "I married into the Lin family because their master was seriously ill and they wanted to find someone to bring them good luck."

"So you understand, right? That old man didn't have that ability back then. He died a few months after I married into the family."

Chu Jiang took a step back and said expressionlessly, "No, I'm afraid your master will come back to life."

The fifth concubine covered her mouth and laughed, "How can this be..."

"Knock knock~!"

She had only spoken halfway when two muffled, rapid knocking sounds came from the direction of the Lin family's main hall, as if something was hitting a coffin lid.

This caused the Fifth Concubine's expression to freeze instantly, and Chu Jiang also cautiously walked around her and returned to his own bed to sit down.

"You heard that, didn't you? Just leave, and I'll pretend this never happened."

Fifth Concubine bit her lip and clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh. "That damned devil, even in death he won't let me go!"

After venting her anger, the fifth concubine took a deep breath, turned around, and put on her charming expression again.

"When we're alone, please don't call me 'Auntie' anymore. My name is Xu Lan, Lan as in orchid."

"What else would you like to know? I can answer all your questions."

Chu Jiang waved his hand, "You can leave now. I can't afford what you want."

"I'm sure you know very well in your heart that the old master would never let you go for the sake of an outsider like me. Why are you doing this?"

"I'm not reconciled, I'm not reconciled..." Xu Lan sighed softly.

“I’ve forgotten how many years I’ve lived here. I only remember it was a long, long time… so long that when I think back to the time before I married into the Lin family, it feels like a lifetime ago.”

As she spoke, Xu Lan approached Chu Jiang. Instead of trying to seduce him with her beauty, she knelt down on both knees.

"Please help me, Mr. Chu."

"Even if you don't help me, I'm still willing to tell you what I know. You want to know about the Chu Jiang lineage, right? I don't know much either, I only know..."

"Stop." Chu Jiang reached out and covered Xu Lan's mouth, then pulled her up from the ground.

“I can’t bear it, I can’t stand it, I’m powerless.”

Seeing that Chu Jiang absolutely refused, the fifth concubine's face turned somewhat ugly. She first pleaded bitterly, and tears were almost falling from her eyes.

Later on, this sorrow gradually transformed into anger and resentment, as if blaming Chu Jiang for not saving her when she was dying.

With this emotional shift, low, guttural sobs began to emanate from Xu Lan.

The crying was very unusual; it didn't come from her mouth, but from inside her body.

Moreover, it seemed that there was more than one person crying; there were men and women, young and old, and even the cries of babies. The cries were sharp and piercing, similar to fingernails scratching a blackboard, making people's scalps tingle.

Chu Jiang remained calm even upon hearing the crying. At this moment, he had to be firm, and...

He pointed to the next room, "You can cry even louder."

After Chu Jiang pointed at her, the crying from the Fifth Concubine gradually subsided and eventually disappeared, indicating that she still retained some sense.

If she were to break ties with Chu Jiang here, she certainly wouldn't be able to kill him in a short time, since he was, after all, a descendant of that lineage.

Then the commotion here will attract the rest of the Lin family, and if things get out of hand, Xu Lan's chances of escaping will become even slimmer.

Because the old man couldn't possibly let everyone out...

Having figured this out, the fifth concubine resorted to her old tricks, saying with tears welling up in her eyes, "What do I have to do for you to help me?"

Chu Jiang thought for a moment, "You go first. When I see the old man, I'll ask him why he locked you up here."