Just as I thought the spell had failed and I was about to search for Granny Wang’s Yin soul again, a gust of chilling wind blew in from outside the door.
The tightly shut door creaked open with a bang.
Ghostly energy, like smoke, drifted in, causing the surrounding temperature to drop several degrees instantly.
“Such dense resentment.”
I knew Mrs. Wang harbored resentment, but I hadn’t expected it to be so potent, so visible to the naked eye.
Zhang Dabiao, standing beside me, lifted his jacket, his cleaver already in hand, ready to act.
“Little master, are you looking for me?”
I was clearly taken aback. Why was it a male ghost?
Could Granny Wang have been a cross-dresser? Sudancn.com
As he spoke, an old man drifted in from outside, accompanied by the smell of burning, so foul it almost made me vomit my dinner.
The old man’s body was charred, his lips burned away, and his eyeballs dangled unnervingly.
Zhang Dabiao nudged me, his voice laced with suspicion, “What are you doing? This is clearly not Granny Wang.”
“I don’t know. He wasn’t summoned by me. Look, the talisman isn’t reacting.”
Following my gaze, Zhang Dabiao frowned. “Be careful, this one looks dangerous.”
It’s said that inviting a spirit is easy, but sending one away is difficult, and ghosts are no different.
I prayed silently, hoping he was just passing by and not here to cause trouble.
“I didn’t summon you, so leave quickly, or don’t blame me for being…”
Before I could finish the phrase “ruthless and cruel,” the old ghost interrupted me.
“Otherwise, what can you do to me?”
His words made my face turn ashen, as if I’d swallowed a fly.
Indeed, what I feared had come to pass.
Normally, I would have fought this old ghost, but not now, because I didn’t have the time.
The person who had detained Sun Chuang’s Ying soul had given me only three days. One day had already passed. If Sun Chuang’s Ying soul wasn’t rescued within three days, he might be killed by that person. Although losing one’s Ying soul wouldn’t kill them instantly, I dared not gamble. What if that person was telling the truth?
“Then I’ll show you my skills, young man.”
As soon as I finished speaking, I held a whip woven from willow branches and mugwort. I had found the willow branches on my way back from the village head’s place, just in case of accidents when summoning Yin entities.
I hadn’t expected them to be used so soon.
It is said that willow branches can strike ghosts, making them shorter by an inch with each blow. This doesn’t literally shorten them, but temporarily seals their cultivation, preventing them from recovering for a short period. The duration depends on their cultivation level. With the addition of mugwort, even if Sui Wan’er were to appear, I could contend with her. Not just any willow branch can strike ghosts; it must be from a willow tree that has grown for over ten years, and specifically the highest branch at the treetop, as it absorbs the most Yang energy, making it effective against Yin entities. However, it can only be used once unless it’s from a hundred-year-old willow tree that has been refined for repeated use.
Facing my threat, the old ghost glanced at the willow branch in my hand, then at Zhang Dabiao standing beside me. A hint of hesitation flickered across his face, but he didn’t leave immediately, seeming unwilling.
Zhang Dabiao thrust his cleaver into the ground, then flicked his sleeves back, revealing two bone-piercing nails in his hands.
Upon seeing the bone-piercing nails in Zhang Dabiao’s hands, the old ghost actually took a step back.
“Old ghost, coming uninvited, do you think we can’t deal with you?” Zhang Dabiao’s voice was cold and sharp.
Although the old ghost had come uninvited, I couldn’t sense any lingering malice or killing intent from him. He might have been passing by, seen me performing a ritual, and come to ask for a favor.
I had encountered such situations before.
To avoid a confrontation with the old ghost, I spoke, “I don’t know if you were sent by someone else or if you have something you need. If you were sent, then we fight. If you have an unfulfilled wish, you can wait until I’m done with my business.”
Judging by the Yin energy emanating from the old ghost, his cultivation was not low, and the outcome of a fight would be uncertain. Moreover, my current priority was to find Granny Wang’s Yin soul to understand what was happening at the old house west of the village, and then rescue Sun Chuang.
I had offered the old ghost a way out. If he was not sensible, I would have to deal with him first, and then find Granny Wang.
The old ghost frowned upon hearing this. Then, he retracted his Yin energy, and an old man with white hair, a face etched with wrinkles, and wearing a Tang suit reappeared before us.
Seeing him restored to his appearance in life, I knew he had a request for me, which eased my mind.
“Little master, I know you are a person of great ability. If possible, after you finish your work, could you do me a small favor?”
I didn’t agree immediately, but asked him to stand aside and wait until I was finished.
The old ghost didn’t press the issue and stood in a corner. It seemed he wouldn’t leave until his matter was resolved.
I righted the table and re-examined the soul-seeking talisman. Finding no issues, I attributed the failure of the spell to the presence of the old ghost.
Granny Wang had died earlier that day. Even if she had become a ghost, it hadn’t been a full day. With the old ghost present, she certainly wouldn’t dare to come.
“Wandering souls, where do you hide? Three souls descend, seven spirits arrive! Wang Cuifen, come forth and see me…敕!”
At the police station, I had learned Granny Wang’s name from the police. To avoid summoning another Yin entity, I directly included her name this time – Wang Cuifen.
As I finished the incantation, the soul-seeking talisman containing Granny Wang’s hair ignited in mid-air and flew out the door. Simultaneously, a figure of Granny Wang, appearing as if she could be blown over by a gust of wind, materialized outside the door.
She still maintained her appearance from before death, her single eye filled with a hint of fear as she looked at the old ghost in the courtyard.
I thought to myself, “The previous attempt failed, it was indeed related to this old ghost.”
Seeing me staring at him, the old ghost offered me an apologetic smile and then his figure began to fade in the courtyard, seemingly retreating for the moment.
After the old ghost left, Granny Wang’s Yin soul finally entered the courtyard.
Before I could speak, Granny Wang suddenly knelt before me with a thud.
This startled me greatly, and I quickly dodged aside.
Whether it was due to Granny Wang’s age or the karmic implications, I could not accept her bow.
If I accepted her bow, I would be obligated to fulfill her request, and failure to do so would shorten my lifespan.
“Granny Wang, what are you doing?”