My master mentioned two things when he appeared to me in a dream before.
First, that Black Water Mountain held the key to solving my life-bound curse.
Second, that the ghost’s lifespan money must not be lost, a reminder he stressed.
As it turned out, my curse was indeed lifted, but that tall demoness of a woman tore apart my ghost’s lifespan money.
Upon hearing this, my master’s expression changed drastically.
“What ghost’s lifespan money was lost?”
I nodded seriously.
“Yes, it’s all gone.
Right now, I’m only being sustained by the fox qi bestowed by Hu San Tai Nai.
I can hold out for about another eighteen hours.”
My master frowned, not speaking immediately.
Instead, he raised his right hand and began to calculate, his fingers moving incessantly.
After a moment, he spoke.
“When you first became my disciple, your own lamp oil was already running low.
At most, it could only sustain you for about a day.
By my calculations, it should be around four in the morning in the living world now.
This means the effect can only last until about midnight tonight.
Time is tight, but we can make it.
For the ghost’s lifespan money, have your junior uncle take you to the old temple on Long Gang Mountain to seize it.
After you get the ghost’s lifespan money, have your junior uncle quickly inscribe the Life Gathering Incantation.
As for the lifespan in the underworld, your master knows a place where a ghost is sealed.
Remember the location…”
Hearing my master’s words, I instantly felt more energetic.
On the way back, I had been worried about this very matter.
Thinking that things would naturally resolve themselves, it now seemed they really would.
I didn’t even have time to tell him that I planned to use the Purple Bone Vine and wouldn’t need the ghost’s lifespan money.
I hurriedly asked,
“Master, what is the location? And what kind of ghost is sealed there?”
My eyes widened.
Knowing that my master’s dream-visitation time was limited, I had to be quick.
My master looked at me with a very serious expression.
“The Second Hospital in our city. Years ago, I sealed a ghost there…”
Before my master could finish speaking, my heart leaped.
The Second Hospital? A ghost sealed there?
Could it be the ghost child?
I was utterly stunned.
“Master, are you perhaps talking about the ghost child in the old morgue beneath the radiology department of the Second Hospital?”
My master jolted, looking somewhat surprised.
“Eh? You know?”
Seeing my master’s expression, I managed a wry smile.
How could I not know?
It was there, together with my junior uncle, that we had killed the Yellow-skinned Old Hag and Shu San Shi Er.
We obtained the Nine-Section Whip of the Bottomless Mother, which led to the Bottomless Mother returning the favor and dispatching the Grey Family wild immortals to assist us later…
At first, we wondered which expert had sealed the ghost child in the basement.
It turned out to be my master.
“Master, last time you visited in a dream, you came and left quickly.
I didn’t get to explain properly.
My junior uncle and I were at the old morgue of the Second Hospital, where we killed the Yellow-skinned Old Hag and Shu San Shi Er.
The ghost child you mentioned.
Before we arrived, he had already been bitten half to death by those two monsters.”
“Ah? There was such a thing?”
My master exclaimed in surprise.
“Alas, man proposes, but heaven disposes.
Years ago, the director of the Second Hospital sought me out.
At the time, I was unwell and could only use an sealing technique to confine the ghost child below.
I intended to deal with him after I recovered.
But, I never got the chance before I died.
I thought leaving this potential threat behind could help you this time.
Who would have thought that you would handle it some days ago?
Alas, it is all fate!”
My master sighed.
Standing before my master, I also let out a sigh.
It seemed I would have to find a way myself.
“Never mind, Master. I’ll figure it out when I get back…”
I said with regret.
My master, however, frowned.
“Your master knows another place.
But the ghost there is not simple…”
Hearing my master mention another location, I became energetic again.
“Master, what place, and what ghost?”
My master looked at me earnestly.
“It’s in the old well outside the boiler room of the old Second Factory, not far from our shop. There is a Red-skinned Fire Ghost there.”
Seeing my master’s expression and the ghost’s name,
I sensed it was not simple.
“Master, what kind of ghost is this? And how do I deal with it?”
Just as my master was about to speak, his body suddenly flickered.
As if losing signal, his figure wavered, appearing and disappearing.
“Master…”
I spoke with a trace of nervousness.
My master, however, knitted his brows and spoke rapidly.
“My time is short, I can’t explain much to you.
But this Red-skinned Fire Ghost is extraordinarily powerful.
It took me considerable effort to seal him back then.
For ten years, I dared not make a move to eliminate him easily.
When you return, ask your junior uncle properly. He should know something.
Of course, this is a last resort…”
As he spoke, my master’s figure flickered again, becoming more ethereal.
My master’s voice quickened further.
“Xiao Qin.
Although you have a rough fate, marked by hardship,
You possess the Ten-Peck Imperial Finger.
Though all endeavors are difficult, never give up on yourself.
Persevere with effort, and you will eventually be rewarded.
Your master believes in you. You will surely overcome your difficulties and forge a new path.
But you must remember this: always maintain your original intention, do not harbor evil thoughts or harm the innocent.
The karmic debt you carry is a hundred, even a thousand times more severe than you imagine. Remember…”
My master’s words were cut short.
But his tone of admonishment was grave, lest I strayed from the path in his absence.
His body flickered twice with a 'kaka' sound, and then he vanished.
“Master! Master!”
I called out twice, knowing my master had left.
He had mentioned before that the 'Returning Light Realm' he used for dream visitations was very costly.
It seemed that once things stabilized, I would have to burn more money for him.
So that he wouldn’t be cut off mid-sentence…
In the dark room, I soon lost my vision as well.
In a daze, I don’t know how long passed.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself leaning in the car.
My junior uncle and the others were still asleep.
Through the window, I saw the passing streetscape.
Discovering that we had already returned to the city, and were less than a few kilometers from our shop…