Chapter 3: Are There Really Ghosts?

Within the vast expanse of the villa, the mournful, winding voice seemed especially ethereal, as though it enveloped everyone from all directions.

As the sound echoed, Zhou Xiaowan could not hold back; she clung tightly to Yan Yu beside her, her budding chest pressing against him and setting his heart aflutter.

The others fared no better—Xu Jin, in fact, was so terrified that he dove underneath the sofa.

“Oh my god!”

Master Cao collapsed to the ground, utterly petrified, his soul fleeing in terror. The wooden comb he’d tossed aside now floated up in midair, swaying gently as it drifted before him.

“There’s... there’s really a ghost?!” Master Cao’s voice was hoarse and barely louder than a mosquito, as though afraid to disturb the eerie comb.

Realizing things were going awry, Yan Yu grabbed Zhou Xiaowan and told her, “Master Cao wants us to go upstairs!”

“Huh? I didn’t—”

Master Cao’s expression changed, cursing Yan Yu’s lack of loyalty. But before he could retort, Yan Yu had already torn off the black blindfold, shooting Master Cao a fierce glare that silenced him immediately.

Zhou Xiaowan and the others were already scared out of their wits, moving only as Yan Yu directed. He herded all four of them upstairs in one go before immediately returning to the first-floor living room.

At that moment, Master Cao was paralyzed with fear, for there on the ceiling fan sat a ghostly woman dressed in white, her long hair loose and wild!

“Is that Zhao Qingqing?” Yan Yu frowned. The aura of death around her was only a step away from turning her into a vengeful spirit.

The ghostly woman sat on the fan, her pale feet swinging gently. It was hard to tell if her face or the back of her head was turned toward Master Cao below. Her ethereal voice rang out, “Are you... the Taoist priest they brought to capture me?”

“I—I—I’m just a wandering fortune-teller, I know nothing of ghost-hunting arts. Please, dear ghost lady, spare me. One day, I promise to light incense and chant a hundred sutras for you!” Master Cao stammered, trembling.

Yan Yu was speechless. Wasn’t this man a Taoist priest? Why was he promising to pray like a Buddhist, chanting sutras a hundred times?

The ghost snorted coldly, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop. “None of you are good people. Today marks the seventh day since my death. Now that I am here, none of you shall leave!”

No sooner had she spoken than the ghost dropped from the fan, her body snaking across the floor like a python!

Master Cao shuddered at the sight, a foul odor instantly emanating from his trousers.

Yan Yu couldn’t just stand by and watch the ghost harm someone. He lunged forward, bit his tongue, and spat a mouthful of blood onto the ghost’s back!

Blood from the tip of the tongue is the purest yang energy in the human body—ordinary spirits cannot withstand it. The moment the blood touched the ghost’s back, she shrieked in agony.

Without hesitation, the ghost swept up the wooden comb, passed through the window, and disappeared from the villa in an instant.

Even the big black dog in the yard fell silent.

Yan Yu looked at the tightly closed window and sighed softly: His wife’s resentment ran deep indeed. Failing to fulfill her wish on the seventh day of her death, she might remain in the mortal realm and become a vengeful spirit.

Suddenly, a pair of icy hands grabbed Yan Yu’s ankle. His expression changed and he immediately kicked out. A wail rang out as Master Cao rolled several times across the floor.

“Do you know people can scare each other to death?!” Yan Yu scolded.

Master Cao opened his mouth and spat out two front teeth. With a bitter face, he said, “Master, you are the real deal. After witnessing your skill just now, I am in utter awe and couldn’t help but want to cling to your leg for dear life...”

“Get lost.”

“Right away!” Master Cao rolled away obediently.

Yan Yu was at a loss for words.

After rolling away, Master Cao sidled up to Yan Yu, bending low and whispering, “Master, did you see everything that happened just now?”

“What do you think?” Yan Yu snorted.

“Ahem... Master, I’m getting on in years, with family to support. Could you do me a favor and pretend none of what happened just now ever occurred?”

Yan Yu was about to refuse, but on second thought, he smiled. “I could, but you’ll have to do something for me in return.”

“Of course, no problem!” Master Cao grinned, his missing teeth giving him a rather comical air, gone was the mystical aura he had on arrival.

“First, return everything you stole. I’ll go upstairs and call everyone down.”

Yan Yu’s willingness to let him off filled Master Cao with gratitude; he dared not covet the stolen goods any longer and immediately complied.

Meanwhile, Yan Yu went upstairs, opened the bathroom door on the second floor, and found the four of them still huddled beside the toilet, shivering. He chuckled, “It’s alright now. Master Cao has driven the ghost away. He’s asked you to come downstairs.”

“It’s all an illusion, just an illusion!” Xu Jin shouted, trying to stop the others from removing their blindfolds.

Yan Yu could only roll his eyes and personally pull off everyone’s blindfolds. Only then did Xu Jin believe the danger had passed.

Li Kang coughed and stood up, now composed and no longer frantic. He eyed Yan Yu suspiciously. “Why did you take off your blindfold?”

“Master Cao said I have strong yang energy, so he asked me to help out,” Yan Yu replied offhandedly.

No one questioned him further, and they followed Yan Yu downstairs with great caution.

Master Cao had already tidied up the scene, his mystical air restored as he sat on the sofa making tea.

“Master Cao!” Li Kang blurted, “Where’s the ghost?”

“I’ve already driven her away,” Master Cao stroked his goatee, “Don’t be fooled by how brief our battle seemed—inside, we exchanged over a hundred moves. In the end, it was only with my family’s secret lightning palm that I managed to defeat her. Don’t worry, she’s badly wounded and won’t trouble you again for some time.”

Yang Xuefei couldn’t help but ask, “Master, why are your pants wet?”

“Ahem!” Master Cao coughed. “It must have been from knocking over some tea during the fierce battle.”

“And your front teeth...” Zhou Xiaowan whispered.

“That injury also came from the fight,” Master Cao replied.

Li Kang, feeling guilty, pulled ten thousand yuan from his pocket, shoved it into Master Cao’s hand, and said sincerely, “Master Cao, it’s thanks to you that we’ve escaped the ghost’s torment. Here’s your promised reward—eight thousand for your services, two thousand for compensation.”

“Thank you,” Master Cao accepted the money with a straight face, as if wealth meant nothing to him.

“Is there anything else you need?” Li Kang inquired.

Master Cao was about to ask for more money, but Yan Yu interjected, “Master Cao just mentioned that he’s very fond of your big black dog in the yard.”

“The black dog?” Li Kang was surprised. “That thing doesn’t recognize anyone as its master. If you like it, it’s yours!”

Master Cao nodded eagerly.

With the ghost that had haunted them driven away, Li Kang and the others were deeply grateful to Master Cao. Sensing the good atmosphere, Master Cao pulled out a stack of talismans from his pocket and said, “These are exorcism charms I drew over forty-nine days. Carry them and even vengeful spirits won’t come near. They also improve alertness and memory...”

Li Kang and Xu Jin’s eyes gleamed. “How much?”

“Ah, my talismans aren’t something money can buy,” Master Cao shook his head. “But since fate has brought us together, let’s say five thousand each as an offering, and I’ll give you the talismans for free!”

“We’ll take them!” Li Kang and Xu Jin eagerly handed over the money, treasuring the scratchy talismans—worth less than toilet paper in Yan Yu’s eyes—as if they were priceless.

He Qing and the others, lacking enough cash, could only look on with deep regret.

Yan Yu cleared his throat, and Master Cao’s face stiffened. “Alright, the matter’s dealt with. I should take my leave.”

“Shall we see you off?” Li Kang offered.

Master Cao’s eyes flickered as he shook his head. “No need. Let this young man here see me out.”

The group exchanged knowing glances, recalling how Yan Yu had helped Master Cao earlier; some even looked on with envy.

After all, Master Cao now seemed no less than a heavenly immortal in their eyes.

Yan Yu followed Master Cao outside, bringing the big black dog along. Normally fierce, the dog was as docile as a puppy with Yan Yu.

“Yan Yu, you...” Zhou Xiaowan started as she saw him leaving with Master Cao.

Yan Yu waved her off. “It’s nothing. I’ll catch a cab back later. Don’t worry about me.”

“Who’s worried about you!” Zhou Xiaowan huffed, turning away.

Yan Yu chuckled and left the villa with Master Cao.

As soon as the front gate closed, Master Cao, previously so dignified, deflated like a punctured ball, grinning obsequiously at Yan Yu. “Master, how did I do just now?”

“Average. Where’s the money Li Kang gave you?” Yan Yu asked.

“Here, why…” Master Cao slowly pulled out the stack of bills.

Yan Yu snatched it, counted out eight thousand, and stuffed it in his pocket. Master Cao protested, “But that’s my hard-earned money!”

“If I hadn’t stepped in, you’d be burning that money as an offering now,” Yan Yu replied. “I just arrived in the city and I’m broke. I haven’t even touched your fake talisman earnings yet.”

Hearing that, Master Cao hurriedly clutched his pocket, afraid Yan Yu might rob him further.

“What’s your name?” Yan Yu asked.

“Cao Youqian.”

“Hm?”

“Cao Youqian!” Master Cao repeated.

Yan Yu nodded thoughtfully. “Master was right—whatever fate withholds, you should name yourself after it.”