The terrified, pained expression of the groom stood in stark contrast to the other figures.
His gaze met Lu Fei's, carrying an almost palpable plea for help.
Could this be the painting's way of confusing and controlling one's mind?
However, with spiritual energy coursing through his eyes and the ghost-slaying blade in hand, Lu Fei was certain he was entirely lucid, untainted by any illusions.
Then what was the deal with this groom?
"Something's off!"
With a slight furrow of his brow, Lu Fei shifted his blade, choosing to strike the other figures instead of the groom.
Thwack.
The emotionless figures carrying the bridal sedan vanished in a puff of dark smoke.
The heavy blade cut through them effortlessly, leaving only the solitary groom behind.
The oppressive clamor in Lu Fei's ears ceased, and he gripped the blade tightly, panting heavily.
This blade was no ordinary weight; it was at least thirty jin.
He studied the groom's face, remembering the blank, dazed state of the guard in the hospital ward. An idea flashed in his mind.
"Could it be...?"
Just as he pondered, a shrill scream erupted from outside the room.
"Ah!!!"
"My eyes!!!"
Lu Fei's heart sank. He turned to see what was happening.
Outside, a guard was stumbling towards the storeroom, blood streaming from his hands as he clutched his eyes.
"Don't let him in!" Lu Fei shouted urgently. If the painting absorbed any human blood, it would become even more uncontrollable.
Wan Chunhui and the other guards were momentarily frozen with fear, hesitating to take action.
Lu Fei was too far back in the room, weighed down by the heavy ghost-slaying blade, unable to intervene in time.
"Stay out!"
Thankfully, Tiger reacted swiftly. He rushed forward, grabbing the doorframe and kicking the guard with all his might.
The force sent the guard flying, crashing into the wall across the hall.
"My eyes, my eyes..."
The guard's face was covered in blood, with only two gaping, bloodied holes where his eyes had been. His hands held the freshly gouged eyeballs.
The sight left the other guards pale with fear, backing away without a single one daring to help him.
Lu Fei let out a small breath of relief. At least no blood had splattered onto the painting.
The room returned to a tense calm. The bride in the painting remained still, and the walls no longer wept blood.
The storeroom appeared pristine, as if nothing had happened moments before.
"I told you not to look. What was this guy doing?" Lu Fei demanded, frowning at Wan Chunhui. "If the painting gets contaminated with blood again, we're all done for."
Wan Chunhui's heart pounded as he recognized the guard as the one who had asked to use the restroom earlier. He turned to the other guards, face flushed with anger. "What were you doing? When did he come back? Why didn't you notice?"
"Manager, the master said not to look, so we closed our eyes and didn't see him return," explained the lead guard meekly.
"We were just trying to follow the master's orders..." the others chimed in agreement.
"You idiots!" Wan Chunhui was about to reprimand them further.
"Enough, just get him to the hospital! The rest of you, get out. You're only causing more trouble here," Lu Fei said, his head throbbing.
Wan Chunhui waved the guards to carry the injured man out and called for an ambulance.
He remained just outside the storeroom.
"Manager Wan, you're staying?"
Wan Chunhui forced a wry smile. "I have to. The boss instructed me to cooperate with Shopkeeper Lu fully."
He was just an employee after all, so Lu Fei didn't press him to leave.
The ghost-slaying blade had damaged the painting's power significantly. Tonight, it shouldn't act up again.
Lu Fei set down the blade and rested for a few minutes.
The blade was exhausting to wield continuously.
"Tiger, you did well!" Lu Fei gave him a thumbs-up.
Being a trained martial artist, Tiger's quick reaction had prevented a worse outcome.
"That was nothing, boss!" Tiger beamed, pleased to finally be useful rather than just standing around.
Once rested, Lu Fei approached the painting again.
"Boss?" Tiger's voice was nervous.
"It's fine," Lu Fei reassured him.
The painting had been greatly weakened by the ghost-slaying blade, making this the perfect moment for close examination.
The painting's yellowed surface depicted the bridal procession, the bearers expressionless, the bride silently weeping.
Despite the wedding scene, there was no joy—only a suffocating melancholy.
Lu Fei squinted at the painting. Seeing no movement, he relaxed and looked more closely. His expression shifted into confusion.
"Why are there two grooms?"
In front of the stately mansion depicted in the painting, there stood two grooms waiting to receive the bride.
One of them bore an uncanny resemblance to the guard from the hospital room.
The other, however... looked exactly like the guard who had just gouged out his eyes.
Lu Fei's eyes widened in realization.
"Yes, it's him!"
Why were these guards appearing in the painting?
"Could it be that those affected by the painting are drawn into it?"
"No, that's not quite right," Lu Fei thought, piecing together his understanding.
"Their bodies remain in the real world; it's their souls that are trapped in the painting."
"They become the grooms in the painting..."
An idea took hold of him. He opened the glass case, donned gloves, and carefully ran his fingers over the painting.
Finally, he found a faint impression in the bottom right corner.
"There should have been a seal here, but it's faded."
Lu Fei's eyes brightened.
"I think I know what kind of painting this is..."
"Boss, are you okay?"
Tiger, worried about Lu Fei being affected by the painting, hesitated to look directly at it and instead patted his boss on the back.
"I'm fine."
Lu Fei rolled up the painting, covered it with a black cloth, and removed his gloves, exhaling deeply.
"The painting is subdued for tonight. Tomorrow, we'll deal with it for good."
"Boss, did you figure it out?" Tiger's voice was tinged with both surprise and excitement.
"More or less."
Lu Fei stepped out of the storeroom, and Wan Chunhui rushed over.
"Shopkeeper Lu, how is it? Can you resolve the evil within the painting?"
With another guard injured, he was clearly anxious.
"I'm about fifty percent sure."
"Only fifty percent?" Wan Chunhui was stunned. He'd pinned all his hopes on Lu Fei, and now Lu Fei said it was only a fifty-fifty chance.
"But if Manager Wan is willing to assist, that chance rises to one hundred percent," Lu Fei said with a small smile.
"Oh?" Wan Chunhui's brow lifted with curiosity. "How can I help, Shopkeeper Lu? Please, tell me!"