The old woman finished speaking with a wistful expression, appearing quite helpless.
This person was already dead, yet still got driven out.
Just how fierce was this person?
Was this a human? Or a ghost?
Out of curiosity, I asked,
“Auntie, what’s the background of that villain? Why is he so fierce?
And he drove you people out?”
Hearing my question, the old woman shook her head.
The old man chimed in from the side,
“We don’t know him.
We only know he’s very fierce and wants to eat children.
My wife and I are scared that one day, he might eat us too.
So, we had to hide far away.
Now that we have no offerings, we wanted to buy some warm clothes for the journey to my wife’s ancestral home.”
Upon hearing this, my face instantly darkened.
Frowning, I said,
“Wants to eat children? Is that villain, like you, also a Qing Feng?”
The old man and woman both nodded.
They seemed reluctant to elaborate, appearing fearful.
I, however, gasped and pondered.
According to this old couple.
The villain who took over their old house was not only fierce but also ate children. Wasn’t that an evil spirit?
If that were the case, then it would be good news for me.
These past few days, I’d been worried about where to get lamp oil to extend my lifespan.
Now, I had a target…
I thought to myself, making plans.
At the same time, the old man and woman had already picked out their clothes.
Pointing at two black funeral suits in the display case, they said,
“Young man, please sell us these two funeral suits!”
Hearing them speak, I snapped back to attention,
“Okay, okay!”
After speaking, I took out two funeral suits from the cabinet.
The old couple held them and examined them, appearing quite satisfied.
I, on the other hand, was more interested in the evil spirit that had taken over their old house.
I continued to inquire,
“Old uncle, auntie, how about this.
You lead the way, and I’ll find a way to deal with the villain who seized your old house?”
But as soon as I finished speaking.
The old couple’s faces turned ashen with fear, and they repeatedly waved their hands,
“No, no, no, young man.
We just want to live peacefully and return to our ancestral home in Eastern Sichuan.
We don’t want trouble, we don’t want trouble.”
“Yes! We bought the funeral clothes and we’re leaving.
That villain, we can’t afford to offend him, can’t afford to offend him…”
The old man echoed, quickly taking out two ghost’s fortune coins from his person and placing them on the counter.
“Young man, we won’t be picky anymore, it’s these two clothes.”
As he spoke, the old couple’s faces were filled with panic.
They were greatly afraid of the fierce villain who had taken over their old house.
Seeing how scared they were, I became even more certain that this ghost was no good.
But I didn’t force them; after all, they had the right to choose for themselves.
I simply nodded,
“Alright!”
After speaking, I took out the brazier from under the incense table and placed it in front of me.
Then, I picked up the two funeral suits, lit them with a lighter, and threw them directly into the brazier.
The funeral suits quickly ignited, emitting a dark green flame.
In a short while, they burned into ashes.
Seeing the funeral suits turn to ash, the old man and woman both reached out to grab from the brazier.
Where there were clearly only black ashes left.
But after reaching out to grab, they pulled out two brand new funeral suits.
And in front of me, they put on the funeral suits.
They even fastened each other’s buttons:
“Ah! Wearing new clothes, I feel much warmer.”
“Yes, old man, it’s been so many years since I wore a new outfit. Look, do I look good in it?”
Seeing the old couple satisfied with the new funeral suits, I asked another question,
“Old uncle, auntie, one last question.
At what location by the South Mountain is your old house?”
The old man, after fastening his buttons, looked at me with surprise:
“Young man, you, you really intend to go deal with that villain?”
The old woman also said with surprise, adding,
“Young man, forget it!
That villain is very fierce. If you lose your life, it won’t be worth it!”
I glanced at the ghost’s fortune coin bracelet on my left wrist.
Its color had already turned greyish-brown.
When the ghost’s fortune coins completely turn gray, it means the lamp oil I’ve accumulated now has been used up.
In my current state, without new lamp oil to extend my life.
I wouldn’t survive twenty days. I’m already on the verge of death. What am I afraid of him being fierce for?
Besides, even if I can’t deal with him, don’t I still have my master?
I just smiled,
“You don’t need to worry about that, I know what I’m doing.
But if you still wish to stay in the old house, you can choose to guide me.”
After hearing my words, the old couple exchanged grim looks.
Then they turned around and whispered a few words to each other.
Finally, they turned back, and the old man cautiously said to me,
“That young man, we’ve decided to return to Eastern Sichuan.
We, we don’t distrust you!
It’s just that!
We’ve been in this place for a long time and want to move elsewhere.
Our old house is in the mountain gully west of the South Mountain Cemetery.
If you really go, be careful!
That person is truly fierce…”
After speaking, without waiting for my reply, he cupped his hands towards me.
Said “Thank you,” and pulled the old woman beside him, intending to leave…
The old couple, perhaps still distrustful of me and fearful of the evil spirit, simply wanted to leave.
I didn’t want to force them.
But I felt that this old couple was good. Seeing them about to leave, I took out a stack of yellow paper from under the counter, lit it, and threw it into the brazier.
“Old uncle, auntie, take this money.
It might be useful for crossing bridges and paying tolls on the road…”
The old couple froze for a moment, then forced out a smile.
They reached out and took the paper money burning in the brazier.
“Thank you, young man, thank you, young man!”
“May good deeds bring you good fortune, young man.
If you truly go to our old house and meet that villain, be very careful of his stomach.
My wife and I bid you farewell, farewell…”
After speaking, the old couple hastily left the shop.
They walked along the road towards Old Huang Mountain.
In a short while, they disappeared from view.
After the old couple left, I closed the door.
I blew out the candle, turned on the electric light again, and tidied up the brazier.
But in my heart, I was already silently planning…