I stood alone on the stone bridge, feeling the chill in the air and constantly observing my surroundings for any movement.
But it was dark all around, and there was nothing but me.
Yet, the feeling of being watched arose from the depths of my heart.
I knew the foul spirit that had been pestering me had surely arrived.
It was probably hiding in some corner, peeking at me.
I dared not be careless for a moment, gripping the ancestral incense ash tightly in my right hand, vigilant of everything.
Gradually, however, the surroundings grew quieter, and the sound of the water beneath the stone bridge diminished further.
In no time, it had eerily vanished.
It was as if I were standing in a soundproof room.
This sudden silence made me instinctively tense up.
My breathing quickened.
I widened my eyes, scanning back and forth.
I kept telling myself: don't be nervous, don't be nervous...
After about ten more minutes.
I heard strange sounds emanating from beneath the bridge.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."
The sound was peculiar, like someone gently scratching stone slabs with their fingernails.
I could hear each scrape with perfect clarity, making me extremely uneasy.
This sudden noise made my nerves even tighter.
Swallowing, I nervously watched the edge of the bridge, not daring to move for a moment.
It felt like someone was there.
But the sound continued, making me uncomfortable.
I stood there for several minutes, and finally, with a gritted resolve, decided to go closer and look.
After all, I had come this far, waiting for that foul spirit.
Instead of letting it torment me endlessly, it would be better to confront it and end it.
I clenched the incense ash and cautiously moved forward, inching closer to the edge of the stone bridge.
I wanted to see what this spirit was up to.
With the ancestral incense ash in hand, my courage grew.
Holding my breath, I approached step by step...
Feeling the eerie chill, I finally reached the bridge's edge.
Slightly sideways, I slowly peered over.
When I stuck my head out half-way and gazed down, I was surprised to find.
It wasn't someone scratching the stones, but a dead tree branch lying across the stream.
As the water flowed, the branches of the deadwood swayed, rubbing against the stones beneath the bridge, producing the "squeaking" sound.
Seeing this, I let out a sigh of relief.
The tension in my nerves immediately relaxed. It seemed I had been too anxious.
The sound of the deadwood branch rubbing against the stones had been mistaken for fingernails...
I chuckled inwardly and was about to turn back to continue waiting for the foul spirit to appear.
But as I withdrew my gaze, I saw the reflection in the stream.
Besides my own reflection, there was a figure in white behind me.
The figure's pale face trembled with the churning water.
Vaguely, it seemed to be smiling.
Upon seeing this, my face changed drastically.
My heart sank, and I quickly turned my head to look.
As I turned, I saw a woman in white, her face as pale as paper, who had appeared behind me at some unknown time.
Her pitch-black eyes were staring intently at me.
The moment our eyes met, she flashed a sinister smile.
That smile sent shivers down my spine.
I let out a cry of "Ah!" and instinctively tried to dodge to the side.
But I was a step too late.
The woman grabbed me by the neck.
Her grip was incredibly strong, not only icy cold but also instantly making it difficult for me to breathe.
At the same time, she excitedly spoke to me:
"Your life belongs to me now, hehehe..."
After saying that, she slowly opened her mouth, extending a thin, long red tongue, intending to push it into my mouth.
This sudden turn of events truly startled me, and at this moment, it filled me with dread.
However, I wasn't so terrified as to be stunned.
Seeing that red tongue swaying and slowly approaching, I fiercely drew out my right hand, still holding the incense ash.
I hurled the incense ash towards her head.
Instantly, it covered her face and body.
"Ah!"
The foul spirit suddenly let out a pained cry, and its blood-red tongue retracted immediately.
The hand that was choking me also loosened its grip at that moment.
Clutching its face, it fell to the ground and writhed.
It emitted miserable screams of "Ah, ah," appearing to be in great agony.
Freed, I felt as if I had been granted a great reprieve.
Scrambling, I stumbled a few steps to the side, clutching my neck and letting out a series of dry coughs.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Looking at the female ghost rolling on the ground.
Although fear still lingered in my heart, a relieved smile appeared on my face.
My dry coughs turned into intermittent laughter:
"Haha, you wanted my life? Serves you right..."
This damned foul spirit had plagued me for so long.
Today, it had finally fallen into my hands.
The long-suppressed tension was finally released.
The female ghost's pained appearance continued, her face covered as she rolled and let out continuous miserable cries of "Ah, ah, ah."
I, on the other hand, had recovered, breathing heavily and standing about three meters away.
My eyes constantly scanned the direction of my return path.
Because my master had said that as soon as I sprinkled the incense ash on the foul spirit, he would appear to help me.
But now, even though the female ghost had fallen, why hadn't he appeared yet?
As I was wondering, unsure of what to do next or how to borrow Yin life,
The female ghost, who had been screaming in pain, suddenly stopped her wails.
Covering her face, she swayed and stood up.
I could clearly feel the air around me becoming even colder.
Seeing that the female ghost could still stand, I panicked slightly.
I involuntarily took two steps back, calling out:
"Master, Master..."
However, there was no one in the dark surroundings to answer me.
Nor did I see my master, Gu Hui.
Instead, the female ghost raised her head menacingly...