Then, the three of us started walking towards the desolate woods.
As Wu Jing had walked this path over twenty times this month, he wouldn't get lost.
With him leading the way, the journey was smooth.
However, the further we walked, the colder it became around us.
The surrounding Yin energy grew heavier.
Fortunately, we didn't feel any malevolent aura.
Lao Mo and I were fine; we were already accustomed to this cold, eerie feeling and paid it no mind.
But Wu Jing was trembling, clearly nervous and scared.
Previously, he used to come here with enthusiasm, hoping to win money.
But tonight, knowing that the entire first floor was filled with ghosts, he was trembling violently.
Seeing him shaky, I took out the Bagua mirror from my bag.
Then, I said to Wu Jing:
"Mr. Wu, take this Bagua mirror. It can protect you.
Just keep it in your pocket; you don't need to hold it.
And with us here, don't be so nervous and scared."
When Wu Jing heard that the Bagua mirror I held could protect him, he immediately took it, nodding repeatedly:
"Good, good, thank you, Daoist Qin.
My… my situation tonight, I'm entrusting it to you."
I nodded and said no more.
Afterward, we walked for another five or six minutes.
A faint white mist began to appear all around us.
The mist was thin, but it was all condensed Yin energy.
Seeing this white mist, Lao Mo and I knew we must be close to that Mahjong hall.
Wu Jing stood at the front, glancing left and right:
"This way, we're almost there!"
He pointed in a direction and led us into a patch of reeds as tall as a person.
We followed him in.
After walking about ten meters, we emerged from the reeds.
However, when we came out again, we could already see a faint light in the distance.
"It's there, that's it,"
Wu Jing said, pointing at the distant light.
Lao Mo and I both squinted, becoming more vigilant.
"Let's go!"
I signaled.
Wu Jing swallowed and led us closer.
The light grew brighter, and gradually, we could hear the "hissing and clattering" of Mahjong tiles.
Before long, we arrived at the source of the light.
Wu Jing looked terrified, his legs trembling.
He pointed ahead and said:
"It's… it's here."
Before us stood a three-story building, its exterior tiled with red, white, and green ceramic tiles.
It wasn't very new, but not old either.
It looked quite grand and stable.
At the entrance, a flag stood upright.
The flag was white, fluttering in the wind, with five bold black characters that read "Zhao Cai Mahjong Hall" (招财麻将馆 - Fortune-Inviting Mahjong Hall).
The layout, the more I looked, the more familiar it felt.
Lao Mo nudged me with his arm:
"Old Qin, have I seen this house somewhere before?"
I smiled:
"Of course, don't we have them in our shop?"
My words made Lao Mo suddenly realize.
His eyes widened, and he lowered his voice, saying:
"This… this is a paper-mâché mansion for the underworld?"
I nodded.
The layout and appearance of this building were identical to the paper houses sold in our shop.
The flag beside it was a magnified soul-summoning banner.
Those ghosts, using an illusion, had shrouded the appearance of this underworld mansion over the dilapidated building.
Thus, it appeared as this magnified version of an underworld mansion.
While we were observing the underworld mansion from outside.
Suddenly, a fair-skinned, plump, medium-built middle-aged man walked out of the Mahjong hall.
The man wore a full smile, his eyes narrowed into a line.
As soon as he stepped out, he said with a laugh:
"Little Wu!
I knew you'd be back tonight; your seat is still reserved for you.
Are these two your friends, Little Wu!
Please come in quickly…"
Although Lao Mo and I hadn't opened our heavenly eyes yet.
This person exuded a ghostly aura.
Moreover, his feet cast no shadow, clearly indicating he was a ghost.
But neither of us spoke.
We didn't know the opponent's strength yet.
Nor did we understand the internal situation.
It was better to go in first, explore, and gauge their capabilities.
Wu Jing appeared very frightened, instinctively stepping back.
"Boss…"
His voice stammered.
But I placed my hand on his shoulder, then said to the white-faced male ghost:
"Alright!"
The white-faced male ghost maintained his smile:
"Excellent, the three of you, please come in."
After speaking, he made a gesture of invitation.
Lao Mo and I didn't hesitate, and we stepped towards the underworld mansion.
Wu Jing was very flustered and terrified.
Cold sweat was now pouring out uncontrollably.
His feet felt as if they were filled with lead, unable to move, and trembling.
I put an arm around Wu Jing's shoulder and said in a deep voice:
"Don't panic, we're here!"
Although Wu Jing was scared, his life was on the line.
No matter how reluctant he was to enter, he had to take a step and walk into the underworld mansion.
The three of us walked in front, and the white-faced male ghost followed behind.
In a blink, we entered the underworld mansion.
As soon as we stepped through the main entrance, we were hit by a strong smell of smoke, but mixed with the scent of burning paper.
At the same time, a cacophony of noise rushed towards us.
"Huala la…"
"Two of spades."
"One of bamboo."
"Pong."
"Hahaha, self-drawn!"
"…"
We glanced around from the entrance. The first-floor hall was packed, with ten tables occupied.
There were men and women, all engrossed in playing cards.
At this moment, Wu Jing spoke in a very low voice:
"The rooms on the left and right are for playing Baccarat, Pai Gow, and Sic Bo, but the stakes are very high…"
I grunted.
I had no knowledge of or interest in gambling.
I merely took a few steps forward, observing each gambler here.
If judged purely by their appearance, there was no abnormality or difference.
But without exception, all these gamblers exuded a cold aura.
They were all wandering spirits and ghosts…