The Master said with a grave expression.
I listened, catching only fragments of his words.
Frowning, I asked in a deep voice,
"Master, what does 'snatching lifespan' mean? Does it mean stealing other people's lifespans?"
The Master nodded, answering without hesitation,
"That's right, snatching from others."
My face paled in surprise. We were truly going to snatch from others.
If I took from others, wouldn't they become like me, losing their great fortune?
I frowned, feeling a sense of resistance, but remained silent.
If this was the only way, I didn't want to pretend to be a saint.
However, the Master continued,
"Everything in the world that is alive has a lifespan.
Of course, others won't give it to you for nothing.
So, to survive, you must snatch, you must seize.
Snatching from plants and trees, or seizing from snakes, insects, rats, and ants, is too trivial.
Even if you snatch it, it's not enough to sustain a person's life.
As for fish, birds, beasts, and other animals, the karmic consequences are too great; you cannot bear them!
Even if you snatch them, your life cannot hold them.
Thus, only one thing remains: ghosts."
My heart trembled, and a look of astonishment crossed my face as I gazed at the Master,
"Snatching lifespan from ghosts?"
The Master continued to nod,
"That's right, snatching lifespan from ghosts.
Because you have an Yin destiny, ghosts see you as an offering.
By consuming a bit of your essence, spirit, and vitality, they can increase their cultivation.
Conversely, someone with your special destiny can also snatch lifespan from ghosts.
A ghost's lifespan is not its true lifespan.
Rather, it is a kind of fortune, luck, or you can understand it as energy, cultivation.
The more you snatch, the more lamp oil you gain.
But it only increases the lamp oil, it does not extend the wick.
The great fortune that was taken from you will be gradually recovered..."
My expression was one of shock as I looked at the Master in amazement.
I never imagined that to survive, I would have to resort to such bizarre methods.
To contend for lifespan with ghosts.
Though my heart was shocked, and the method was terrifying.
It seemed to be the only way forward.
I did not want to die; I only wished to live.
Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, I spoke again,
"Master, can it be any ghost? And how should I contend for it?"
The Master exhaled a puff of smoke,
"Although your destiny is special, allowing you to snatch ghost lifespans.
The lamp oil from ordinary ghosts is too little, and it's easy to incur karmic debts. If you're not careful, you'll meet a terrible end.
Therefore, only fierce and malevolent ghosts remain..."
Hearing this, my heart sank again.
Contending for lifespan with ghosts was already beyond my imagination.
But who knew the Master would say that the ones I needed to snatch from were precisely fierce and malevolent ghosts.
The Master smiled faintly, patted my shoulder, and continued to explain in detail.
He said that among fierce and malevolent ghosts, those with extreme Yin and extreme malevolence were the best, and the most ferocious and wicked were ideal.
These corrupted beings often harbored deep resentment and killing intent, wreaking havoc.
Snatching their ghostly lifespans to replenish my lamp oil would be best.
Furthermore, since I had now become his disciple.
Tonight, he would burn yellow paper for me, establish my name, and pay homage to the patriarch.
From this day forward, I would be considered officially "licensed" to enter this profession.
With this guise, I could legitimately snatch lifespans and avoid karmic retribution.
The ghost lifespan money I wore would not only suppress my own essence, spirit, and vitality but also serve as a container for the lamp oil.
The more corrupted beings I eliminated, the more lamp oil would accumulate, and the deeper its color would become.
Therefore, from now on, the ghost lifespan money I wore would not be ghost money or Yin virtue.
It would be my life, the great fortune and lamp oil that sustained my unextinguished lamp.
I could not take it off, even when bathing!
At the same time, he told me that there was a corrupted being who was currently delivering lamp oil.
That female ghost who had been haunting me, repeatedly trying to harm me and wanting me to be her scapegoat.
The Master instructed me to rest well at Wanfu Hall today.
When the night came, he would help me add the first wisp of lamp oil.
As for the future, it would depend on myself alone.
How long I could live would also depend on myself...
The amount of information was overwhelming, and I tried my best to process it in my mind.
From an ordinary person, I had suddenly crossed into this bizarre and fantastical world.
And starting today, I would have to contend for lifespan with ghosts.
Surprise and dread were insufficient to describe my state of mind at this moment.
Seeing my rapid breathing and shocked expression, the Master,
Holding his pipe, stood up and said,
"Little Qin, I've told you the method. Take your time to digest it.
On the counter are the steamed buns I didn't finish.
I'm tired and going in for a nap. You're free to do as you please."
With that, Master Gu Hui pressed his temples.
Looking a bit dazed and with a pale complexion, he walked directly into the inner room.
It was likely that preparing the medicine for me had affected his health...
After the Master left, I took several deep breaths to calm my agitated emotions.
Finally, I gritted my teeth and thought to myself,
"Damn it all, as long as I can live, I'll snatch ghost lifespans.
Snatching from them is better than them snatching from me."
After the experiences of these past few days, I had come to deeply detest corrupted beings.
With this thought and determination, I no longer worried excessively.
Seeing the steamed buns and soy milk on the counter, I was already ravenously hungry.
When I saw that the plastic bag for the steamed buns was still unopened, a faint smile curved my lips.
It seemed that old Gu Hui was also all talk and no action.
He said he had eaten the leftovers, but in reality, he hadn't touched them at all.
Putting aside that debt repayment contract, he was actually a pretty good person.
My feelings towards this Master had improved considerably.
After eating and drinking my fill, my hunger subsided, and I leaned back on the sofa, intending to sleep for a while.
After all, the Master had said that tonight he would lead me to directly confront the female ghost who had been haunting me.
Not only to avenge me but also to use her ghostly life to add to my lamp oil...