In the video, I couldn't tell if Zhang ChuYue was possessed by something unclean, nor could I discern if she was tainted by ghostly energy. The only thing I could be sure of was that Zhang ChuYue's current condition was dire. She herself claimed that over the past week, her average sleep time had been less than three hours. I, on the other hand, hadn't slept for two days and two nights. It wasn't that she didn't want to sleep, but she dared not. When she slept, she experienced unprecedented fear and torment. No medicine seemed to help. The hospital's proposed treatment was direct anesthesia. If this continued, Zhang ChuYue would be at risk of sudden death. I also wanted to help her, to use my profession and methods to determine if she was being disturbed by something unclean.
After hearing my words, Zhang ChuYue hesitated for a moment before replying, "I can. But do such things really exist in this world?" Zhang ChuYue's voice was weak, but she asked me seriously and earnestly. If it were before, I wouldn't have believed it either, because I hadn't experienced it. But now, not only do I believe, I even fight with those things. I nodded, "Yes, they live around us. We just can't see them. But don't worry, if it's really those things causing trouble, we can just send them away. After all, this is my profession."
Zhang ChuYue might not have believed me, or perhaps she was half-convinced. But she was truly at her wit's end, tormented by her current state. My words might have become her lifeline. She agreed and gave me an address, asking me to find her tomorrow afternoon. She mentioned that she still had to go to the hospital in the morning for treatment and other things. After that, we chatted for a while longer before ending the video call. It was already past eleven, and I hadn't realized that I had been chatting with a girl for over an hour, which was unprecedented. Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, I thought about Zhang ChuYue's situation and then fell asleep.
The next morning, I went to the shop early. After meeting my master, I told him about Zhang ChuYue's encounter from last night. After all, my master had been in this line of work for decades. Many phantom illnesses didn't require examination; he could usually figure out the treatment just by listening. After listening carefully to my account, my master didn't reply immediately. Instead, he took a few puffs of his cigarette and then said, "Little Qin, when you go there this afternoon, first check if your friend is tainted by any ghostly energy, or if there are any unclean things in the house. If none of that is present, then in her room, especially the ceiling, under the bed, and in closets and other places, search inside and out. Look for any carvings of animals like horses or snakes. If you find any, send me a picture..." I was stunned and didn't quite understand, "Master, why are you looking for these patterns?" My master explained, "If I'm not mistaken, your friend might have been cursed."
"Cursed?" I exclaimed in surprise. My master nodded and began to explain. My master said that in our profession, there are thousands of ways to harm people. Some directly raise ghosts to kill people, some control fierce ghosts to harm people, and others use curses to cause harm. Because Zhang ChuYue had distinct feelings of a horse stepping on her chest and a snake strangling her neck after falling asleep, my master speculated that Zhang ChuYue might have been cursed by someone knowledgeable, which was why she found it difficult to sleep. Over time, this could endanger her life. After receiving my master's guidance, I memorized it carefully. As for Zhang ChuYue's specific situation, I would only be able to draw conclusions after arriving at the scene.
The morning passed quickly. After lunch, I took some demon-repelling and evil-warding tools and took a taxi directly to the address Zhang ChuYue had given me. However, when I arrived at the location, I could hardly believe my eyes. I was even very surprised and taken aback. This was because I found myself at a high-end Chinese-style villa complex, Yipin Mansion. The area and the villas, each one costing at least tens of millions, meant that the residents here were all ultra-wealthy business magnates. I double-checked the address and found that it was indeed the correct location. But if Zhang ChuYue lived in such a place, why was she handing out flyers in the traditional Chinese medicine market? I called Zhang ChuYue. When the call connected, I confirmed the address again. It was correct, and she said she had already informed the security guards, and I could just announce my name when I entered. I was quite surprised that my elementary school classmate had such excellent family conditions.
Upon arriving at the entrance, after explaining my purpose to the security guard, I was allowed in after a brief registration. They even gave me a ride in a tour vehicle directly to Zhang ChuYue's house. The environment of this complex was truly superb, surrounding a small lake. There were cameras everywhere, and many young, tall security guards patrolled in neat formations. In this place, I felt out of place. When I reached Zhang ChuYue's house, I was completely awestruck. It was a three-story Chinese courtyard house with a large footprint. It was also the best viewing location in the complex, arguably the flagship property of Yipin Mansion. On the double gates, a large plaque read "Zhang Residence." Beside it, two stone lions and coiled stones squatted, one in front of the other. I stood at the entrance, stunned, sensing an aura of opulence. After calming myself, I picked up the door knocker and knocked. *Dong, dong, dong...* Soon, the large door opened. The one who opened the door was an old man in his sixties. He was dressed formally and had his hair slicked back. Before I could speak, I heard him say, "You are Qin Ze, Mr. Qin, aren't you?" "Yes, I am. I'm here to see Zhang ChuYue," I replied directly. The old man nodded slightly, "Yes, good. I am the butler here. Please, Mr. Qin, come in!" With that, he pulled open the large door and gestured for me to follow him inside...