Twisted Dreams-Chapter 209 - 179: An Old Ghost

Imperial Capital, Celestial Thunder Mountain Hospital.

It seems the hospital’s electrical system is having issues tonight.

The corridor lights flicker dimly, casting twisted shadows on the walls, as if they might extinguish at any moment.

Silence surrounds, the nurses and doctors nowhere to be found.

Suddenly, the chaotic sound of footsteps arises.

A dozen burly men, tattooed with dragons and tigers, stride through this floor with an intimidating aura.

Leading them is a woman in her thirties.

She wears a white shirt, black pants, and her hair is braided to her waist.

Her name is Ah Huan, a loyal follower of Zhou Enqiao, often dealing with the Liu Family’s unsavory issues.

They arrive outside a patient room, and Ah Huan gestures:

"Move in."

The dozen men prepare to enter the room.

Ah Huan suddenly calls out:

"Wait!"

The men turn to look at Ah Huan in confusion.

Ah Huan reflects for a moment before saying:

"Be clean and quick, don’t let Old Master suffer."

The men nod in unison, exuding deadly intent as they enter the room.

Ah Huan sighs, remaining outside to wait.

...

The dozen men tiptoe into the room.

The room is large, unlit, shrouded in darkness, and somewhat chilling.

The men stop abruptly upon entering.

The window is open, with a strong wind blowing, making the white curtains flutter like burial shrouds.

An emaciated elderly man in patient garb stands by the window, showing them his back.

The cold wind ruffles his sparse white hair, making his clothing rustle.

The elderly man turns around, his ghastly pale face resembling an aged ghost.

Liu Changgen speaks in a hoarse voice:

"Why are you here?"

A bald man crosses his arms, tilting his neck, and teases:

"To send you on your way, Old Master. The brothers are quick; you won’t suffer."

Liu Changgen looks at the men and murmurs:

"So many of you for an old geezer like me?"

The bald man replies:

"That’s not it; it’s just that cleaning up might be troublesome, so we brought more brothers."

Liu Changgen’s eyes gradually become greedy.

The yang energy from these dozen men is strong, just enough for him to absorb.

He licks his lips:

"Then, I must trouble you."

The bald man grins wickedly:

"Sure thing."

With that, he approaches Liu Changgen.

In that moment, Liu Changgen’s eyes turn crimson, emitting a spiteful glow in the darkness.

.....

Ah Huan stands at the door with a complex expression, lost in thought.

She was once a leader of the underworld in Port City, hunted by her enemies, fleeing to the Imperial Capital.

The Liu Family took her in.

Although she follows Zhou Enqiao, Liu Changgen has been genuinely kind to her.

Zhou Enqiao told Ah Huan that Liu Changgen has no heart; his kindness is just a facade to manipulate.

This charade has lasted eight years.

If someone pretends to be kind for a lifetime, doesn’t that mean they are truly kind?

Ah Huan sighs:

"I’m sorry, Old Master, the lady saved my life, I can’t refuse her."

Ah Huan glances at her watch, frowning.

Why are they taking so long?

Moreover... it’s too quiet inside, eerily quiet.

Suddenly, the door to the room opens.

"Help me! Help me!"

A bald man, covered in blood and panic, crawls out, leaving a trail of blood on the floor.

Ah Huan’s eyes widen in shock.

What is happening?!

"Ah!"

The bald man struggles to crawl out, but the dark room behind him seems to contain a beast dragging him back in, snatching him away instantly.

From inside comes the man’s cry of despair.

Then, all goes quiet, eerily serene as if nothing ever happened.

Cold sweat trickles down Ah Huan’s temple as she slowly retrieves a gun from her waistband, along with a dagger from her bosom.

Gun in one hand, dagger in the other, she cautiously stands outside the room.

The door is ajar, revealing deep darkness within.

As if concealing countless secrets and fears, sending chills down one’s spine.

"Ah Huan, is it? Come in."

An elderly, deep voice emanates from within.

Ah Huan swallows hard, cautiously pushing the door open to enter the room.

The room is dark, wind howling through the window, emitting a ’woo woo’ sound like wailing ghosts.

Moonlight streams through the window lattice, shining on Liu Changgen.

His patient gown is stained with blood, his old face pale, and his bloodthirsty eyes like those of a beast hunting its prey.

This is nothing like the usually kind-hearted Master Liu, but a ghostly apparition!

On the floor lay the bodies of a dozen men.

Some had their limbs severed, others had their guts torn open.

A bald head rolled to Ah Huan’s feet.

Ah Huan had witnessed many bloody scenes, but this hellish spectacle was a first for her.

Her heart raced, and for the first time since coming to the Imperial Capital, she felt fear.

Ah Huan asked:

"Is it, Mr. Liu?"

Ah Huan tried to steady her breathing, but her voice still trembled.

Liu Changgen turned his head to look at the Mingyue outside the window and asked: 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Was it the Madame who sent you?"

Ah Huan nodded:

"Yes."

Liu Changgen asked again:

"Do you want to follow the Madame to death, or stay with this old man and continue on?"

Ah Huan pondered for a moment and knelt on one knee.

"I am loyal to the Liu Family!"

Her attitude said it all.

Liu Changgen said:

"Then accompany me as I leave the hospital."

...

In the Imperial Capital, at the Liu Family Mansion.

In the Buddha Hall, Zhou Enqiao, with her hands in a prayer position, knelt on a mat, devoutly reciting Buddhist scriptures.

The door was pushed open, and Ah Huan walked in.

With her eyes closed, Zhou Enqiao asked:

"Is it resolved?"

Ah Huan’s lips moved for a while before she finally spoke:

"Madame, the Master has returned."

Zhou Enqiao frowned and abruptly turned her head to look behind her.

There stood Liu Changgen at the door, dressed in a brand-new patient gown, draped in an overcoat.

Zhou Enqiao understood something, her face pale, her fierce triangular eyes staring intensely at Ah Huan:

"You’ve hidden well."

She thought Zhou Enqiao hadn’t gone to kill Liu Changgen but had instead defected directly.

Ah Huan did not explain.

Liu Changgen said:

"Ah Huan, please leave."

Ah Huan took a deep look at Zhou Enqiao before stepping out of the room.

It seemed like she wanted to imprint the old Madame’s appearance in her mind.

Liu Changgen walked up to Zhou Enqiao, attempting to drape the overcoat over her shoulders:

"Qiaoqiao, it’s cold, you’re wearing too little."

Zhou Enqiao struggled against the coat, mocking:

"Don’t pretend anymore, how long are you going to keep up the act?!

I know, by your nature, I won’t last through tonight."

Liu Changgen, with his strength, forcibly put the coat on Zhou Enqiao.

Zhou Enqiao stood up, angrily threw the coat to the ground, and pointed at Liu Changgen, shouting hoarsely:

"You hypocrite! Pretending all your life, aren’t you tired?!

You’ve ruined my life!

Why did you marry me in the first place?!"

Liu Changgen replied sullenly:

"It was your father who arranged for me to marry you."

Zhou Enqiao took three steps forward, grabbed Liu Changgen’s collar, and roared:

"Then why did you kill him?!

Isn’t all you wanted power?!

I’ve already married you, my father supported you, why on earth?!"

Tonight was her last night, so she said everything she wanted to.

Liu Changgen lowered his head:

"Because I feared you might one day leave me with our son to find that man, so I had to kill him."

The man Liu Changgen referred to was Zhou Enqiao’s university professor, Liu Xian’s biological father.

Unfortunately, Zhou Enqiao’s father disapproved of that teacher, as teacher-student relationships were taboo back then.

Zhou Enqiao slowly knelt, sobbing:

"You never truly loved me, why act like you’d go to any length just to keep me?! Aren’t you really tired?!"

Liu Changgen looked at Zhou Enqiao, crouched down, wiped her tears, and said:

"I indeed don’t love you, but I love myself.

I have to keep you by my side to climb higher and higher.

Without the support of the Zhou Family Conglomerate, I wouldn’t have reached today.

Actually, I’ve been aware of everything that has happened over the years.

For instance, Xiaoxue’s death was your doing.

I loved my ex-wife deeply, but I chose not to see it, and I still treated you well.

Because I feared that you might leave me if displeased.

In fact, I despise you, but I love myself, so I will love you well, and I’ll also love your son."

Zhou Enqiao looked at Liu Changgen in disbelief.

This man, with whom she’d shared a bed for decades, had always regarded her as an enemy, yet continually opposed his own heart to be kind to her and Liu Xian?

How terrifying, even more so than she imagined.

Liu Changgen clamped his hand around Zhou Enqiao’s neck and said:

"I’ve found a new power to support me, a force... far stronger than the Zhou Family.

Finally, I can kill you and your son too."

Liu Changgen’s hand gradually tightened.

’Crack.’

Zhou Enqiao’s neck snapped with the sound.