The female ghost seemed enraged by the talismans just now. A red mist seeped from her body, filling the entire room in moments with a bloody haze.
“Courting death!” she roared, lunging directly at the two of them.
“We’re finished, we’re finished!” The old man panicked even more, slapping frantically at the door. “Why won’t this door open?!”
Yun Jiao glanced down and said, “The bolt!” With the bolt still in place, how could it open?
The old man froze, then turned to draw the bolt, but it was too late—the ghost had already leapt forward, her bloody claws reaching for their throats.
Yun Jiao raised her hand and pressed the purple talisman he had given her straight onto the ghost’s forehead.
“Ahhhhhh!!!!”
The ghost froze, shrieking ten times more piercingly than before. Purple flames burst forth from the talisman, spreading instantly across her whole body, dispelling the red mist in the room. Screaming in agony, the ghost writhed on the floor, her terrifying figure flickering faintly.
Just as she was about to vanish completely, she suddenly glared back at the two of them with venomous eyes. In a flash, she transformed into a cloud of red vapor and hurled herself out the left window, shattering it as she disappeared.
But her voice lingered in the air, filled with hatred and resentment:“On the fifteenth of the seventh month, when yin energy peaks, I will return for vengeance!”
When the voice faded, silence returned. The purple flames vanished, and the once frigid room grew warm again as sunlight streamed through the broken window, filling the space with brightness.
The old man felt his whole body lighten. With a plop, he dropped to the ground, gasping loudly. “We’re saved!”
That was terrifying. Who would have thought such a small village could harbor such a fierce ghost? Thank the ancestors’ blessing—otherwise his little life would’ve ended here today.
He turned to look at Yun Jiao, who had stood straight the whole time, her expression unchanged. Admiration filled his eyes. “Well done, girl! To stay calm in such a situation, unshaken even as a mountain collapses, not retreating even before a vengeful ghost—such composure truly befits a disciple of the mystic path.”
Yun Jiao: “…”
Composure, my ass! She was scared stiff! Her poker face was just natural—how was that her fault?
And her legs had simply gone numb; she couldn’t move even if she wanted to.
Damn it, so the things she’d seen before really were ghosts! Why hadn’t anyone told her they’d be this terrifying?!
“Great Immortal… is my son all right?” The noise inside had clearly been too loud. Li Mother’s worried voice came from outside the door.
Almost instantly, the old man—who just a moment ago had been a heap of jelly on the floor—sprang to his feet. He shook out his robes, smoothed his hair, and wiped the fear from his face. In the blink of an eye, he was back to his lofty, dignified demeanor, not a trace left of his earlier panic. The transformation was truly professional.
Yun Jiao: “…” Enough with the mystic airs. This was con artist style through and through.
“Come in!” The old man opened the door, speaking in a deep, mysterious tone. “The evil spirit has been expelled. Your son is safe.”
Li Mother and Li Da exchanged a look of wild joy, then hurried in, rushing straight to the bed.
Without the ghost’s oppression, Li Er’s face had already improved, the corpse spots gone, his breathing steady. He had even just regained consciousness.
“Er Lang, how are you?” Li Mother called urgently. “It’s me, your mother!”
“Mother?” Li Er rasped weakly, his voice hoarse, still half in a daze. Then something seemed to click. His eyes flew wide with terror, and he clutched her hand. “Mother… it was Su Niang! I saw Su Niang! She’s back—she wants to kill me!”
Li Mother’s face changed, a flash of hatred in her eyes. She spat, “That wretched slut! She actually dares to come back and harm you!” She bit back her fury, mindful of others being present. Instead, she soothed her son. “Don’t be afraid, my child. We have a Great Immortal here now. With him around, that slut won’t hurt you.”
“Yes, Second Brother!” Li Da chimed in. “We went up the mountain to invite the Great Immortal of Qingyang Temple. It was he who saved you just now.”
Li Er turned his gaze toward the door, toward Bai Yu in his lofty pose. The terror on his face eased slightly.
Li Mother quickly added her thanks. “Thank you, Great Immortal. Your powers are indeed profound—to save my son so quickly.”
Bai Yu’s mind, however, went straight to the purple talisman that had just been used. His heart bled at the thought. That had been the only one in the temple! These forty taels had turned into a complete loss—a blood loss.
And remembering the ghost’s final words, his worry deepened. The spirit hadn’t been destroyed—only repelled. Worse, it had clearly marked him and the girl, and surely wouldn’t spare this family either. Being targeted by such a ghost was no trivial matter.
“You must not relax your guard just yet,” he warned. “What possessed your son was a vengeful ghost. We have only driven her off for now. Once she regains her strength, she may well return.”
“What?!” All three faces paled. Li Mother cried, “Then… then what should we do, Great Immortal? Please, you must save us!”
“Yes, Great Immortal!” Li Da added, stepping forward. “With your great powers, there must be a way!”
“This…” He wanted to say he had no way. That was a vengeful ghost! Normally, it would take four or five mystic disciples of decent cultivation working together to subdue such a thing. Without that purple talisman from his grandmaster, both he and the girl would already be dead.
The old man’s heart clenched with regret. Why had he mentioned it at all? Still, he forced his face into an air of calm profundity, though his eyes flicked sideways at Yun Jiao, who looked thoughtful.
Girl, what do we do?
Yun Jiao: “…” Why are you looking at me? You played the master, now deal with it.
“I think…” Girl, don’t abandon me! Bai Yu was almost in tears. Wasn’t there supposed to be camaraderie between fellow disciples? “I think you should…”
“You should tell us what relationship you have with that ghost,” Yun Jiao interrupted with a sigh.
The three of them froze, their faces changing all at once—especially Li Mother, whose eyes darted evasively. “Wh-what relationship?”
“You called her Su Niang just now,” Yun Jiao said bluntly. “We’re not deaf. If you don’t tell us the truth, it will be hard for us to help you.”
At that, the old man finally caught on too. “The girl is right. Everything has a cause. Ghosts don’t harm people without reason. If you don’t speak the truth, even with the will to help, we’ll be powerless.”
(End of this chapter)