The Bewitching Sect

New novel, The Strange Tales Murder-Mystery Ranking. Please add it to your reading list.

[Blurb] The Bewitching Sect, branded an unorthodox cult by the martial world, is unexpectedly drawn into three bizarre cases. The mysteries seem unrelated, but are secretly connected.

A young female disciple of the Dunjia Sect is found hanged at the main gate. It looks like suicide, but the case is riddled with suspicious details. The more they investigate, the more mysterious it becomes.

The second young master of Prince Li's Manor dies strangely in a locked room, turning the manor against the martial world and spreading panic everywhere.

Although the first two mysteries are difficult to solve, people in the martial world love gossip. The story getting all the attention is a bit of scandal: Linghu Hu, the younger sister of the Bewitching Sect's leader, has been jilted by Yang Jian, the third young master of the Yang Clan. Onlookers eagerly wait for Linghu Hu, who is skilled in witchcraft and poison, to take her vicious revenge.

Sure enough, Yang Jian's reputation collapses overnight as one shocking revelation after another comes to light. It turns out the peerless gentleman he seems to be in public is, in private, all sorts of unspeakable things.

But then the whole martial world gets caught in the crossfire. One upright leader, escort chief, and manor lord after another is exposed as a fraud, their perfect reputations in tatters. There are so many scumbags that they're practically filling out a ranking list. Everyone is in a panic. If they don't go flatten the Bewitching Sect, none of them will be able to call themselves heroes anymore. So half the sects in the martial world surround the Bewitching Sect to settle the score with Linghu Hu.

Naturally, Yang Jian is at their head. The shameless scumbag clings to Linghu Hu, insisting she clear his name or he'll never let the matter rest!

Linghu Hu counts on her fingers. This time, the mess is a little big. She has to uncover the real mastermind behind the collapse of half the martial world's reputations, solve two murders, and clear the scumbag Yang Jian's name? And, while she's at it... steer the Bewitching Sect away from its unorthodox path!

In the end, Linghu Hu and Yang Jian team up to solve mysteries, tear down a haunted village, and break into the imperial palace. They turn the despised Bewitching Sect into the martial world's foremost sect, with imperial favor, and establish its dominance over the region.

[Little Scene One]

Someone mocks Yang Jian: "Third Young Master, you're the top swordsman of the Yang Clan. Linghu Hu can't even do the splits. Why are you afraid of her?"

Yang Jian gives a polite, forced smile. "I wouldn't dare. If you think you can, go ahead."

Someone curses Linghu Hu: "Witch! You're a real witch!"

Linghu Hu throws back her head and laughs. "I'll take that as a compliment on my looks."

[Little Scene Two]

Yang Jian: "Your brother's called Situ Tu, and you're called Linghu Hu. Why don't you share a surname?"

Linghu Hu: "Because my father and mother are both surnamed Sun. They thought the name wouldn't sound elegant enough."

Yang Jian: "So with your new name, is your surname Linghu and your given name Hu... or is your surname Ling and your given name Huhu... ?"

For another sweet romance with a grand conspiracy, see next door: That Night Must Not Be Mentioned.

Luo Enxue is to marry Helan Yan, the illustrious and powerful military governor of Youzhou. Before long, Luo Enxue hears that Helan Yan is not only cruel and sinister, but was also disfigured in a great battle against a foreign power. The Luo family intends to break off the engagement, but Helan Yan is furious and abducts Luo Enxue to his general's residence.

Yet the next morning, Luo Enxue doesn't emerge from the general's residence. Instead, she runs home from a local earth god shrine. Half the imperial city witnesses her stumbling along the road in a Taoist robe and Buddhist cassock, riding a mule. Rumors spread like wildfire.

Helan Yan throws a divorce agreement at her in the street. A little over a month later, Luo Enxue starts retching...

Soon, a strange murder is discovered at the earth god shrine, and every clue points to Luo Enxue. After clearing her name and saving the Luo family, why are the crown prince and the third prince both sending betrothal gifts to ask for her hand?

Helan Yan: "Get back here! I wasn't the one who threw the divorce agreement!"

(That night refers to a murder case, dear readers. Please don't read too much into it.)

Theme: Family background, gender, and money cannot limit your growth. Hard work is what matters!