IDWBE -Chapter 455 The Haunted House

Guan Xiaoqi walked up to Guan Sheng, looped her arm through his, and giggled. “Father, have you forgotten? I know martial arts. If I run into ordinary people, they definitely won’t be a match for me.”

Guan Sheng snorted. “Have you forgotten that arrogance leads to defeat? Ankang City is a place where crouching tigers and hidden dragons gather. There are countless experts above the Fifth Rank alone. If you happen to meet just one of them, your half-baked skills won’t stand a chance.”

Tan Fei suddenly interjected, “You’re exaggerating. Ankang City is the finest and most well-governed place in the realm. How could petty villains be allowed to run rampant here?”

To question Prince He’s public security policies to his face? Wasn’t that the same as slapping him publicly?

It had to be addressed.

Guan Sheng needed to understand: you can eat recklessly, but you cannot speak recklessly.

What if Prince He took offense?

They were well known for being petty!

Tan Fei had come out specifically to earn merit—he had no intention of being dragged down because of someone else’s loose tongue.

As for whether Guan Sheng was pleased or not—what did that matter to him?

Just a commoner.

If not for Prince He’s inexplicable fondness for this girl called Guan Xiaoqi, Guan Sheng would never have been worthy of appearing before him.

He was a Ninth-Rank official of Great Liang.

A sword-bearing guard of the Prince’s residence.

He could enter and exit Emperor Delong’s bedchamber as if it were unguarded.

As for whether Guan Xiaoqi might rise in status one day and seek trouble with him—that was not something he needed to worry about now.

A shallow wine cup cannot toast to a long future;
short incense cannot burn away the sorrows of the mortal world.

What mattered most at present was whether Prince He was pleased or not.

“This gentleman is right,” Guan Sheng said quickly.

He immediately felt the pressure emanating from Tan Fei. This man was an expert. Though he couldn’t discern his exact rank, he knew he was not someone he could afford to offend.

More cautiously, he continued, “Sir, one tael of silver for this house per month—is that a joke? I may not live in the city, but I was born and raised outside Ankang. I have never heard of or seen a residence in Ankang renting for only one tael.”

Even the great painting sage Xian Youdao once lamented: “To live in Ankang City is no easy task!”

Xian Youdao possessed immense wealth and still felt that way—how much more so for ordinary people?

As the most prosperous city in Great Liang, Ankang had nothing cheap about it.

A simple box of rouge cost one tael of silver.

As for houses—even in the poorest South District, dozens of taels were required.

Their thatched hut outside the city, remote as it was, could fetch one tael with his eyes closed.

And here—three tiled rooms—for one tael?

He absolutely did not believe it.

They must be trying to swindle him and his daughter.

Even Lin Yi, who had seemed so amiable, now appeared somewhat less trustworthy in his eyes.

“What you haven’t seen or heard doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,” Tan Fei said with a smile. “Since you claim to be a local, do you know who the original owner of this residence was?”

Guan Sheng hesitated before cupping his fists. “Forgive my ignorance. Please enlighten me.”

He knew Ankang’s streets and alleys well, but aside from the mansions of high officials and nobles, he rarely bothered remembering other places.

Tan Fei smiled. “This residence is known as the Jin House. Does that ring a bell?”

“Jin House…”

Guan Sheng’s expression changed instantly. His voice trembled. “The haunted house…”

“So you do know something,” Tan Fei said teasingly. “Well? It’s not too late to change your mind.”

Although only a few hours had passed, he and Jiao Zhong had carefully considered every detail.

The house needed to be comfortable—and affordable.

One tael was likely the Guan family’s limit.

“Father,” Guan Xiaoqi said in confusion, “you taught me since I was young not to believe in ghosts and spirits. It’s all people scaring themselves.”

She truly liked this house. If it were too expensive, they certainly couldn’t afford it.

But if it were cheap enough, she and her father could at least take the gamble.

Tan Fei smiled. “This house has already had five owners. Every single one died tragically. It’s now a notorious haunted house in Ankang City. Aren’t you afraid?”

“I’m not!” Guan Xiaoqi lifted her chin stubbornly. “I don’t believe there are real ghosts in this world!”

“Enough,” Guan Sheng sighed. “I’m afraid no one would take this house even as a gift.”

His thinking had shifted again.

A house no one would accept even for free—and they dared to sell it for one tael? That was equally baffling.

“Brother, buy it or don’t,” Tan Fei said with a smile. “I never force anyone.”

Only people like them understood the truth behind haunted houses.

So-called haunted houses were merely the result of human mischief.

This residence had originally belonged to the Jin merchant family. During the Yongguang era, the Jin family somehow offended an official and was ultimately sentenced to extermination.

The government later auctioned the house off. It changed hands five times.

Each new owner, unwilling to believe in superstition and tempted by the low price, insisted on buying it.

Each one ended up dead.

Gradually, it became a notorious haunted house.

The most recent murder had occurred five months ago. The male head of household’s head was thrown into the well. When his family rose early to fetch water, they were terrified out of their wits and fled the city.

Rumors about the house grew increasingly bizarre.

But Cao Xiaohuan, Zhou Xun, and Chen Xinluo—educated in “science”—could not tolerate such nonsense.

The Three Judicial Offices personally supervised the case.

It was solved in only three days.

The culprits were city bandits who had used the house as a base.

Thinking that being Fifth Rank and possessing exceptional lightness skills made them invincible, they had run wild—until Cao Xiaohuan personally executed them on the spot.

The mystery of the haunted house was thus resolved.

Before the authorities even had time to publicize the truth, Prince He happened to be helping the Guan family look for housing.

There was no residence more suitable than this one.

“Father,” Guan Xiaoqi urged, seeing his hesitation, “we’ve never done anything shameful. Why should we fear ghosts knocking at the door?

“I don’t care—I have some personal savings too. It’s settled!”

If they missed this opportunity, where would they find another one-tael house?

Guan Sheng looked at his anxious daughter and sighed. “Then it’s settled.”

According to past patterns, this haunted house usually claimed only the male head of household.

It did not harm women, children, or the elderly.

As long as his daughter remained safe, what did it matter if he died?