After a fight, I killed the disfigured female ghost with a Bagua mirror.
As black smoke dispersed, a wisp of white energy seeped into the bracelet on my left wrist.
Strangely, as the disfigured female ghost was annihilated.
Pieces of broken straw scattered about…
I didn't quite understand what was happening.
It was a bit different from last time on the stone bridge when I assassinated the female ghost.
But at that moment, I didn't think too much about it.
The matter wasn't over; there was still a small disfigured female ghost in the room whose tongue I had cut.
My eyes red, I turned my head sharply.
Seeing me staring at her with bloodshot eyes, the little ghost flinched and retreated.
Only then did I truly feel that ghosts weren't as terrifying as imagined.
As long as you are fiercer and more ruthless than them, they too will be afraid, will feel fear.
The little ghost's originally ferocious appearance suddenly transformed into the look of a plump, pitiful little girl.
Trying to gain my sympathy:
"Big, big brother, big brother, don't, don't kill me…"
If it weren't for those pitch-black eyes, she would have looked quite cute.
But now, I didn't care if she was cute or not.
Mercy towards these malevolent spirits was the greatest cruelty to oneself.
If I wasn't fierce and ruthless, they would have devoured me long ago and made me a scapegoat.
I gripped the Bagua mirror and the fox claw, advancing menacingly, step by step:
"Tonight, you must die."
I spoke harshly, shining the Bagua mirror directly onto the little ghost's face.
The little ghost, terrified, tried to block with her hands. Her arms sizzled and continuously rotted, emitting wisps of black smoke.
"Big brother, big brother, please, please…"
As she spoke, the cute appearance she had transformed into kept changing.
One moment it was the plump, cute little girl, the next it was a face covered in rotten flesh with a mouth full of jagged teeth.
I didn't say another word, tightening my grip on the fox claw and thrusting it forward.
The little ghost wasn't strong to begin with, and after being wounded repeatedly, she lost any ability to resist.
The fox claw plunged down, piercing directly into her brow.
The little ghost's face was filled with terror, her whole body began to tremble.
Her pitch-black eyes stared at me, and she managed to utter five words with difficulty: Dad, come back quickly…
Before the words were even finished, her body exploded.
As black smoke dispersed, pieces of broken straw fell to the ground.
Looking at the little ghost who had turned into black smoke, and the scattered broken straw on the floor, I was somewhat bewildered.
What did those last few words she said mean?
Killed the mother, and there's a father too?
Because her voice was already hoarse, she said those five words very quietly.
I wasn't sure if I heard correctly, but it felt strange.
However, what filled me more was a sense of relief and relaxation.
It felt as if all my strength had been used up.
Breathing heavily, I sat down on the ground.
Looking at the ghost longevity coin on my left wrist, which had become even darker, I managed a faint smile.
After resting on the ground for a minute or two, I got up.
I glanced around. Besides the scattered debris and broken straw, there were also many bloodstains on my arm.
Not wanting to linger, I covered my wound and turned to leave the room.
When I reached the first floor, I found my master waiting for me by the door.
Seeing me holding my arm, he frowned slightly:
"Injured?"
I nodded:
"Yes, my arm got a cut, but it's nothing serious."
My master took a close look and sighed:
"Xiao Qin, don't blame your master for being heartless, making you deal with the mother and son malevolent spirits alone.
This path is inherently difficult.
Once you enter this line of work, you're putting your head on your belt.
Especially for someone like you, who needs to snatch ghost longevity to survive.
If you don't go through this, you'll never truly grow!"
Although fighting with the mother and son malevolent spirits was dangerous, I understood my master's intention:
"Master, I understand!
You've already helped me more than enough.
Cultivation is a personal journey; after all, you can't protect me forever."
Hearing me say that, my master let out a sigh:
"It's good that you understand. Judging by the color of the ghost longevity coins, those two foul spirits have replenished your lamp oil for about twenty days.
Adding to what you had before, you won't have to worry about the lamp going out for the next month or so."
I glanced at the ghost longevity coins on my wrist and also smiled happily.
Trading an injury for over twenty days of life was a pretty worthwhile deal.
After catching my breath, I brought up my confusion:
"By the way, Master, just now when I was killing the mother and son ghosts.
Besides turning into black smoke and dispersing, why did they drop so much broken straw?
Is there a reason for this?"
My master was about to turn away, but upon hearing my words, he suddenly turned back.
Then, he looked at me with a bewildered expression:
"Broken straw? What broken straw?"
Seeing my master's expression, I very seriously told him about the pieces of broken straw that appeared after I killed the mother and son ghosts.
After listening, my master's expression turned grim:
"Ghosts are just wisps of energy; once dead, they dissipate, turning into smoke and vanishing. How could broken straw appear?"
But I was quite earnest:
"Master, I really, I just found it a bit strange, so I asked you.
If you don't believe me, you can go upstairs and see for yourself."
My master, with a grim face, waved his hand:
"Let's go, let's go upstairs and take a look!"
With that, my master and I hurried back upstairs.
Upon arriving in the room where the mother and son ghosts were killed, and seeing the broken straw all over the floor, his expression visibly darkened.
He immediately squatted down, picked up some broken straw, and examined it in his hand.
Because the visibility was poor, he even asked me to turn on my phone's flashlight.
After my master's careful examination, he said with a hint of horror:
"This, this is an immortal straw doll…"