Sure enough, Fan Jie believed I still had a senior instructor.
It's only natural; after all, I'm not very old, and I can't hide my youthfulness on the outside.
Earlier, the alarm bell had rung a few times, causing significant damage. However, during the time when Mao San gave me my yang sheng life, it seemed to have been somewhat compensated, and I looked like I was in my twenties.
Even if I train from birth, how strong can my power become?
Women of Yú Xiù's level are not ones I can subdue, and talismans at the Sì Guī Míng Jìng level are similarly out of my reach.
And though Fan Jie has seen Old Gong before, I haven't called him Old Gong in front of him.
He doesn't know that the person he thinks is a fortune-teller is actually the ghost head of a Yin-Yang master.
"Departure tonight. You have ample time to prepare."
"I won't worry about the rest." I said.
"Ai... Alright." Fan Jie nodded.
He left the Huājia family.
Huāyíng whispered softly, "The things I've made for you should be ready as well. I'll go call someone to bring them over first. You should go rest well."
I took Yú Xiù back to the room.
Because Yú Xiù's reactions were becoming increasingly dull, she no longer recognized Huāyíng and couldn't follow her.
My spirit was indeed slightly exhausted. I tried using the breathing method from the Sì Guī Zhēn Xīn to refresh myself, and meditating on the bed for a while, and it indeed made me feel much more awake.
However, this clarity did not significantly reduce the inherent fatigue of my body. I then understood that this method is mainly to nourish the spirit and replenish qi.
I fell asleep immediately and only woke up naturally in the afternoon.
Huāyíng didn't come looking for me, so I began studying the Sì Guī Zhēn Fa. These past few days have been somewhat chaotic, and the time I've spent learning the methods hasn't been as much as when I was traveling.
As soon as I mastered the Ghost Sealing Form, I turned my attention to the second form.
This talisman needs to be used in conjunction with incantations.
Seventeen-word incantation: Divine protection at the door, no taboos, peace and safety in the home, imperial decree from Duke Jiǎng.
The incantation is simple, but the talisman is extremely complex: two slanted strokes at the top, a diagonal stroke in the middle, two concentric circles below, with a smaller circle in the center, resembling an eye.
Below that, the talisman becomes even more complex.
In an abstract sense, it resembles a person's features—eyebrows, eyes, nose, and mouth—but there is no face shape.
This talisman is not used directly against ghosts and zombies. My intuition tells me it's not very effective.
However, I still suppress this feeling and don't rashly change the order, instead, I carefully start to deconstruct and analyze it, and my hand is also drawing in the air.
As the sky grew darker, Huāyíng finally came to find me.
She carried a crossbody bag that fit snugly against her back.
After placing the two books down, I took out other items from my body and put them into the bag.
"Just now, Fan Jie returned, bringing a car. However, he seems to be in a strange state. His eyes are a little red, and he seems to be afraid."
"Huāyíng awkwardly tells me that he asked if he could go alone?"
I looked slightly puzzled and, with Yú Xiù, went to the front yard with Huāyíng.
When I saw Fan Jie, indeed, his eyes were full of red veins, and his gaze at me was particularly restless. It was completely different from the excitement before, as if he were a different person.
I asked directly, "What's wrong with Fan Jie? What other thoughts do you have? As I've said before, I don't like haggling."
Fan Jie, however, pouted and said, "Dislike or not, after the matter is done, the person will be killed. It's better not to go at all. Master Luo, what do you think? Is this the reason?"
My pupils immediately contracted, and my eyebrows furrowed together.
"What do you mean, kill someone? I've never killed anyone before. What do you mean?" I asked again.
Fan Jie's face twisted, and he said, "The Zhōu family said that as soon as we left, the ghost head jumped down immediately……"
Pointing to the night pot on my waist, sweat droplets the size of beans appeared on Fan Jie's forehead.
"He asked the Zhōu family to give him several young women. There was massage, headrubbing, incense candles, and wax blocks of offerings. At first, I thought it was just the evil ghost enjoying itself, but when it was almost dawn, he sucked out Zhōu Yàn's soul with a mouthful, just like eating grapes. Zhōu Yàn was left with nothing but an empty and smelly husk…"
"If you, Master Luo, want to kill the donkey after using it, then do it quickly and thoroughly…"
Fan Jie's words caused my face to change again.
I finally understood why I had felt something was off with Old Gong earlier.
That was so deliberate, Huāyíng mentioned it and he finally appeared…
Did he go and kill Zhōu Yàn?
Even Huāyíng slightly covered her mouth, looking confused and uneasy.
"I see." I took a deep breath and let out a sigh.
"You won't die. I will tell Old Gong not to touch you." I said in a low voice.
Fan Jie was stunned again, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and muttered, "Old Gong? Old Gong the fortune-teller? The ghost master?"
I didn't explain further, only looking somewhat displeased.
As for Old Gong, I have the utmost trust in him. However, trust does not mean that Old Gong can act arbitrarily.
Zhōu Yàn's death would make it difficult for the Huā family to keep a low profile.
Not only did they plunder the entire Zhōu family, but even the head of the family is gone.
It will likely not be long before Dà Xiāng is in a state of turmoil.
In this situation, I cannot stay without leaving.
Then we can only hope that nothing happens……
"I will tell Grandpa that they should be careful for the next few days, and it shouldn't be a big problem……"
"After all, we are all from side-line families," Huāyíng said seriously.
I nodded, and that was as far as the matter could be taken for now.
Fan Jie seemed to realize something, but he didn't say anything or refused to follow me.
I turned around and walked out. Huāyíng and Yú Xiù followed, while Fan Jie walked on the other side.
Two cars were parked outside the Huā family's front gate.
In front was Huāyíng's car, followed by a Jinbei van, which was black with the words "Funeral Parlor Send-Off" written on it.
The black paint and white writing looked terrifying.
Fan Jie stepped forward and explained to me in two sentences. He rarely moves around, but if he really has to leave, he needs to bring along the dead bodies he keeps on hand. This type of vehicle won't be inspected, and even if it is, he has his own way of handling it.
Therefore, he doesn't need to ride in the same car as us. He can follow from a distance.
I nodded, indicating that I understood.
We all climbed into our respective vehicles. Yú Xiù was in the back seat, while I was in the passenger seat.
Huāyíng set the navigation, and then we drove off.
I didn't read the book; I just silently watched out the window.
Huāyíng knew that I wasn't in a good mood, but he didn't speak to me.
After the city, we passed through a service area and then the sky was dark.
The night pot was quiet, and Old Gong did not appear.
I glanced at my waist and said, "Don't act innocent. Do you want to take a look in the mirror?"
My tone was not good, because Old Gong's behavior was too despicable, and I was even a bit afraid. Was it because Wū Zhòng Kuān had some residual consciousness?
In the next second, Old Gong's head emerged. He had a smirking expression and a fawning look.
Before I could ask anything, Old Gong said dejectedly, "Your honor has eyes and ears everywhere; you can't be deceived, nothing can be concealed from you... But, you study Taoism, seeing ghosts and zombies, while I observe faces, seeing the hearts of people. That kid has a bad heart; he deserves to die!"
