Chapter 40 Seven Fiend Lock True Friends

Chu Ci: "..."

"Become a vengeful ghost?"

She had seen the idea of ​​tying iron weights to one's feet in some horror novels.

It is said that when someone hangs themselves, weights are tied to their feet to prevent their soul from entering the underworld.

What does it mean to wear a linen shroud inside out?

In the novels she knew, one usually had to wear red when committing suicide in order to become a vengeful ghost.

This is the first time I've heard of wearing linen shrouds for a funeral.

Chen Xinxin wiped away her tears. "I heard my mother say that when someone commits suicide, the burlap shroud is worn inside out, with the seams exposed. This signifies that the path in the mortal world has ended, and the spirit is going against the natural order. It will greatly increase the malevolent energy of the soul after death."

But she, a young girl, didn't know the specific customs. In the past, during festivals, her mother would always be busy in the kitchen by herself.

"Sister Aci..."

Chen Xinxin grabbed the hem of her clothes, her face still pale, her lips trembling slightly with fear.

"You think Granny Guo... she really will turn into a vengeful ghost?"

"..."

Looking at Chen Xinxin's pale face, and thinking of the deceased Granny Guo, Chu Ci felt a mix of emotions.

She didn't believe in ghosts and gods before, so she naturally felt that this kind of suicidal spiritual resistance was meaningless, ignorant, and feudal.

But now that she knows ghosts exist, she still feels no joy in this suicidal form of spiritual resistance.

They did not die peacefully in life, nor could they find peace in death.

...Can paying such a high price really bring those who harmed them and their grandchildren to justice?

She shook her head sincerely, "I don't know, maybe."

Chen Xinxin's face turned even uglier.

Although she had no grudge against Granny Guo and wasn't afraid of Granny Guo's revenge, it's still hard for a living person to feel uneasy when faced with such a situation.

Chu Ci stood up and helped her up as well.

I accidentally touched her hand and found it was icy cold. She gently squeezed it and softly comforted me.

“You’ve been helping Granny Guo and Tongtong all along. Even if Granny Guo really turns into a ghost, she won’t deliberately try to scare you.”

But the pale expression of safety did not make Chen Xinxin's face look any better.

Ultimately, she's just a 16-year-old girl. It's normal for her to be scared when she goes back to live in an empty house alone.

Chu Ci had originally planned to take her back and stay with her on the 8th floor for two days. But thinking about Jiang Caixia, who had been harassing her all day, she quickly gave up on the idea.

"Xin Xin, if you're scared, why don't you stay at my house for a couple of days?"

She stood at the bedroom door and pointed to the Bagua mirror hanging above the front door.

"That Bagua mirror is an heirloom, it's very effective at warding off evil spirits and suppressing ghosts."

"Until Grandma Guo's matter is resolved, come to my place after school, don't go home. If you go home, remember to call me along."

Since the Bai family can target Granny Guo, they are very likely to target Chen Xinxin as well.

She was a child still in school, and without the protection of her parents, so the Bai family could easily defeat her.

Chen Xinxin looked at her with gratitude, "Thank you, Sister Aci..."

She bit her lip and slowly lowered her head. "I'm sorry, I've caused you trouble again..."

“It’s not a problem,” Chu Ci patted her shoulder, “It’s all the Bai family’s fault, you’re a victim too.”

Seeing that Chen Xinxin wanted to say something, she shook her head, "I'll go downstairs with you to pack your things. You can also bring up your school supplies. We can go home in a couple of days."

Chen Xinxin nodded and took her hand as they entered the elevator.

After taking the elevator to the 8th floor, Chu Ci was surprised to find that Han Lang, who had been harassing Chen Xinxin, had come again.

He turned around when he heard the noise, and his eyes lit up the moment he saw Chen Xinxin.

"Chen Xinxin!"

He yelled and ran over.

When Chu Ci got closer, he realized that Chu Ci's face was abnormally pale.

She pulled Chen Xinxin behind her and frowned as she looked at Han Lang.

What do you want to do?

Han Lang's handsome face was covered in cold sweat, and his complexion was deathly pale. He had even forgotten Chu Ci's threatening words.

He reached out and tried to pull Chen Xinxin out from behind Chu Ci, saying, "This has nothing to do with you, mind your own business!"

However, before his hand could even touch Chen Xinxin, it was grabbed by a slender, pale hand.

"ah!"

With a scream, Han Lang was swiftly thrown to the ground with an over-the-shoulder throw.

Lying on his back, a sharp pain struck him, and only then did he notice that Chu Ci was standing in front of Chen Xinxin.

Thinking of how the other person had twisted the iron pipe into a pretzel last time, and looking at her arm that was hanging in a sling, the muscles on his face twitched, and his eyes were filled with terror.

This guy only has one hand left to use, how come he's still so good at fighting!

"You...I..."

He stammered for a while, then suddenly pointed at Chen Xinxin, "I'm not harassing her, I want to find a solution with her!"

"A solution? What solution?" Chu Ci stood beside him, looking down at him. "What is it about her that you need to help with?"

Han Lang, thinking they didn't know yet, widened his eyes and exclaimed in horror:

"Guo Miaotong's grandmother is dead! I heard from Bai Anna that when she died, there were weights hanging from her feet and a red silk ribbon tied around her waist with seven slipknots. This is the Seven Killings Lock!"

"Guo Miaotong's grandmother will definitely become a vengeful ghost! Once she becomes a ghost, she won't let anyone go!"

"What does that have to do with Chen Xinxin?" Chu Ci frowned.

"Of course they're related!"

Han Lang got up from the ground, his back pressed tightly against the wall, and pointed at Chen Xinxin.

"Bai Anna and the others have always been targeting you, it's all because you suddenly transferred schools! If you hadn't transferred, why would they have turned their attention to Guo Miaotong!"

"Chen Xinxin! You always said that Guo Miaotong was your best friend, but you secretly transferred schools, leaving her to face Bai Anna and the others alone."

"Is this how you treat her as a good friend?!"

"No!" Chen Xinxin retorted loudly.

At her age, she was at the height of her loyalty, and with the influence of Hong Kong's film culture, anyone who left behind their brothers and friends was considered a traitor, and no child wanted to be seen as a traitor.

Chen Xinxin's mental defenses almost collapsed, and tears streamed down her face. "I never expected Bai Anna and the others to target Tongtong, let alone that Tongtong would commit suicide!"

"If I had known sooner, I definitely wouldn't have left her alone!"

She was about to say something when Chu Ci stopped her.

Looking at Chen Xinxin's tearful, guilty eyes, she sighed.

"A true friend will never drag you down to hell with her. If she wants to keep you down to hell, then she is not your true friend."

“Chen Xinxin,” she patted Chen Xinxin’s shoulder, “you did nothing wrong. It’s not your fault that you want to escape an environment that makes you uncomfortable.”

"From beginning to end, the ones who were wrong were those who bullied you and Guo Miaotong."

"As for you..." She looked at Han Lang, whose face was covered in cold sweat.

Han Lang's expression changed, and he quickly retorted, "You're right. The fault has always been with Bai Anna and the others. Guo Miaotong and her grandmother's deaths have nothing to do with me! I'm a victim too!"

Chu Ci stared at him intently, and Han Lang, feeling guilty under her gaze, quickly turned his head away.

Seeing his guilty look, Chu Ci asked Chen Xinxin to open the door and pack her things. After she closed the door, Chu Ci smiled and asked Han Lang.

"Since it has nothing to do with you, what are you afraid of?"

"It has nothing to do with you, so why are you in such a hurry to come to Chen Xinxin for help?"

Han Lang's face suddenly darkened, but he still dared not look her in the eye.

Looking at his youthful profile, Chu Ci sighed softly, "Han Lang, if you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place. Some things, once done, have to come at a price."

Han Lang: "..."

He remained silent until Chen Xinxin finished packing and came out of the house. He simply kept his back pressed against the wall and didn't move at all.

Chen Xinxin followed Chu Ci into the elevator. Before going in, she couldn't help but turn her head and glance at Han Lang.

Han Lang remained in that position, motionless.

She suddenly felt a little uneasy.

"Sister Aci," she hugged the blankets tightly, looking at Chu Ci with concern, "He... he'll be alright, won't he?"

"If something happens, it's karma." Chu Ci had no liking for this kind of cunning and mischievous child.

After getting off the elevator, she took Chen Xinxin home, took her own bedding off the bed, carried it to the living room, and also took the soul-guiding bell with her.

She told Chen Xinxin to spread the bedding she had brought onto her bed, saying, "You'll sleep in my room for the next few days, I'll go outside."

Chen Xinxin said shyly, "No need, Sister Aci, I'll sleep in the living room!"

"You'd better not sleep in the living room," Chu Ci waved his hand. "I'll probably have things coming to see me a lot these next few nights, it's inconvenient for you to sleep outside."

East...east?

Chen Xinxin: "..."

She opened her mouth, but Chu Ci's words made her feel uneasy, so she gave up the idea of ​​sleeping outside.

That night, she slept in a strange bed, clutching the doll her mother had left her, but couldn't fall asleep.

Just as she was tossing and turning, she suddenly heard the sound of a bell, sometimes near and sometimes far.

A bell?

Thinking of the bell that Chu Ci had taken from the room, she instinctively hugged the doll in her arms tighter.

Soon, through the bedroom door, she heard Chu Ci's intermittent voice.

"Go away, it's no use clinging to me..."

"Even if you come every day, and I can't sleep well every night, I still won't send a letter of appeal!"

“If you do something wrong, you should be punished. Crying won’t help…”

...

Only Chu Ci's voice could be heard; the "thing" that was talking to her remained silent.

Chen Xinxin closed her eyes, hugged the doll, and shrank into the quilt, feeling suffocated.

Even so, she still didn't dare to show her face.

In a daze, she fell into a deep sleep while holding the doll.

The intermittent sound of bells seemed to have been ringing all night.

The next day, she woke up to find that she had slept very well and was full of energy.

"Sister Aci!"

She walked briskly out to find Chu Ci, only to find that Chu Ci's dark circles under his eyes were even deeper.

Thinking about the noise she heard last night, she felt a chill run down her spine.

"Sister Aci, did you... not sleep at all last night?"

Chu Ci sat at the dining table, one arm in a sling, eating breakfast with a blank expression.

Hearing her words, he nodded with the sluggishness typical of someone who hadn't slept all night, and yawned, "Yeah, I couldn't sleep at all last night..."

Grandma came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl, frowning. "Didn't the calming soup I bought yesterday work at all?"