The Only Player in ‘Child of Stardust’
Chapter 326 - 223 Lover

Chapter 326: Chapter 223 Lover

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In the northern part of Chenzhou, there was a wealthy Liu family, engaged in the tea and silk business, considered prominent figures in town.

The young lady of the Liu family, named Liu Fengjiao, was exceptionally beautiful and proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She was a renowned beauty in Chenzhou, pursued by countless admirers since childhood. Several young masters were deeply infatuated with her and frequently expressed their affection.

But all suitors were explicitly rejected by her.

It wasn’t that Liu Fengjiao was arrogant, thinking these young talents were unworthy of her.

Rather, it was because, since her earliest memories, she had an ever-present "companion."

This companion had grown up with Liu Fengjiao, inseparable wherever they went. He became the most important person in her life, and over time, their bond grew ever stronger. Privately, they pledged to spend their lives together.

However, what worried and frightened the Liu family was that Liu Fengjiao’s so-called "companion" didn’t exist. No one other than Liu Fengjiao could see this "companion."

From childhood to adulthood, Liu Fengjiao would often talk to the air or laugh in an empty room. More than once, she introduced her companion to the elders, saying he was smiling at them right beside her, scaring the elders pale.

Such behavior undoubtedly made many in the Liu household feel eerie, thinking Liu Fengjiao was haunted by ghosts.

For over ten years, Mr Liu had invited countless doctors, exorcists, and wandering practitioners, attempting to treat Liu Fengjiao’s haunting, but to no avail. Several reputable experts declared that Liu Fengjiao had no ghostly aura and did not need exorcism.

Later, a wandering magician passed through Chenzhou, heard of this matter, and visited the Liu family. After some inspection, he said Liu Fengjiao’s condition was not due to ghosts but a psychological disorder. The "companion" was a hallucination, thus only she could see him.

Mr Liu then invited the magician to stay at their home, hoping he could help cure Liu Fengjiao. But she vehemently opposed, crying and making a scene until Mr Liu had no choice but to let it go.

And so, things remained stable for many years.

Until last night.

...

In the dead of night.

Liu Fengjiao had just fallen asleep when she was awakened by a rhythmic, sharp sound.

Though a lady of a wealthy family, Liu Fengjiao was not unfamiliar with household tasks, having often cooked. She immediately recognized the sound of a knife being sharpened.

And it was very close, right in her boudoir!

Liu Fengjiao was horrified, thinking a thief had broken in, and wanted to scream for help. However, opening her mouth, she was shocked to find she couldn’t make a sound. Her body felt immensely heavy, as if pinned by some great weight, unable to move at all.

Aside from her rolling eyes, her limbs, torso, and head felt like they were being forcefully held down, no matter how hard she struggled.

Liu Fengjiao lay helplessly on the bed, her strength seemingly drained completely.

The sound of the knife blade grinding on the whetstone echoed in her ears, the unending scraping chilling like a sinister, ghostly laugh.

Each collision of blade and stone seemed to foretell an impending doom.

A strong sense of terror welled up from deep within Liu Fengjiao’s heart, like dark vines ensnaring her, suffocating her.

"Erlang... Erlang... are you there? Erlang!" Liu Fengjiao, drenched in sweat, called out to her companion and lover in her mind.

In the past, simply thinking his name would make him appear immediately.

But this time, Erlang did not appear.

Suddenly, the sharpening sound stopped.

Footsteps approached the bed, stopping right beside it.

Afraid of the dark, Liu Fengjiao always liked to sleep with a lamp on. In the candlelight, she could vaguely see a figure standing by the bed.

Holding a sharp knife gleaming with a cold light.

And those clothes!!!

"Erlang???"

Liu Fengjiao was immensely frightened.

Having lived together for over a decade, even a vague glance could assure her it was Erlang!

Moreover, their clothes were identical...

Liu Fengjiao wanted desperately to ask what Erlang was doing, but it was like a nightmare had paralyzed her; she couldn’t utter a word.

Suddenly, Erlang moved, approaching the bed.

In the firelight, Liu Fengjiao could see an extremely excited, eager expression on his familiar face.

He raised the knife, the corners of his mouth turning up, seemingly ecstatic!

Why!!!

Confused, bewildered, terrified... Liu Fengjiao desperately wanted to question him, but her throat felt like it was being tightly gripped by invisible hands, unable to call out.

At that moment, she felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss, her body cold all over.

Just then, boom!!!

A deep rumble came from afar, the roaring thunder like a divine roar from the heavens, purging all demons and spirits from the earthly realm!

Erlang’s expression instantly twisted into a vicious snarl. He seemed to greatly fear the sound, not daring to continue, and disappeared in an instant.

Liu Fengjiao felt her body relax, regaining her freedom. Immediately, she cried out loudly, drawing the maid from the adjacent room.

Thus, the Liu household remained brightly lit throughout the night.

...

Morning.

Mr Liu comforted his daughter, then walked out of the boudoir with a grave expression.

"Master, this matter seems quite eerie. It would be best to invite some highly skilled exorcists to take a look." The housekeeper, Mr. Lin, spoke from behind.