Chapter 22: Yin Pai, a specialty of a Southeast Asian country
October has arrived.
Thanks to Shi Can's unremitting efforts, Lin Zhuyue has been able to get a high score of 53, which is three points higher than the average score of Class 9, which ranks last in the grade.
Although she hasn't passed yet, she has made great progress. At least in the eyes of those sharp-tongued classmates, the class she should transfer to has changed from first grade to third grade, and from Class 9 to Class 8.
Worth celebrating.
"So, the way you thought of celebrating was to go to the beach?"
Shi Can walked across the beach, beside Lin Zhuyue.
"You're really quite boring. You already sound like someone from Yuancheng who has rarely seen the sea."
Lin Zhuyue retorted:
"So how is it boring? Like you southerners seeing snow for the first time? Actually, I don't find it boring. I think it's quite fun when you see snow. You don't even collect snowballs when you have a snowball fight, you just throw a handful of snow."
Shi Can: “…”
What a vicious mouth.
Shi Can took out his phone, found a palm-sized snowman piled on the hood of the car, and said:
"It actually snows in Tiancheng. Look, you can even make snowmen."
Lin Zhuyue looked at the photos, took out his mobile phone, and flipped to the photos taken at the end of November last year.
It snowed that day, and the snow, which fell in the afternoon, was ankle-deep by the evening. She and her classmates skipped evening study and built a giant snowman together, taking a group photo next to it. Funny enough, the photo was taken with the help of their homeroom teacher, who had come to catch them skipping class.
Whenever it snowed in Yuancheng, the school would not give students a holiday unless the roads were officially closed. Lin Zhuyue had seen many snowfalls since childhood, but she had never experienced a holiday due to snow.
Lin Zhuyue said, "Classmate Shican, this is what we call building a snowman."
Shi Can's pupils trembled slightly, and his eyes were dazed. His gaze wandered, finally landing on the rising sea water, and said:
"It's grouper—"
The fish was moving very fast, and he subconsciously moved his middle finger. The next second, the fish was floating on the waves with its belly up.
Lin Zhuyue was silent for a moment:
"Ye Yangjia said that when you were little, you went fishing at the beach and kept using the Little Five Thunder Mantra to shock the fish. After chanting the mantra for so many years, the number of ghosts you shocked is less than a fraction of the number of fish you caught."
Shi Can picked up the fish, threw it into the plastic bucket that Lin Zhuyue was holding, and said:
"People born here are usually not allowed to leave Tiancheng until they are promoted to the higher departments. Where did the ghost in Tiancheng come from to give me electricity?"
It was said that the ghosts of Tiancheng either lived in demon-suppressing wells and ancestral halls, or had owners. Fighting ghosts in Tiancheng was like fighting dogs in the village—an unwritten rule that had to be obeyed.
Lin Zhuyue pondered for a while and said:
"That's pretty uncomfortable."
Shi Chan asked thoughtfully, "Are you uncomfortable?"
Lin Zhuyue nodded and said affirmatively:
"Well, very uncomfortable."
But you were supposed to be born and raised in this place.
Shi Can swallowed the words back into his throat.
Lin Zhuyue's "Informed Permit" has been processed secretly, but it has not been approved yet. This matter is still at a stage where it cannot be disclosed.
Wen Miyan's voice came from behind: "Hey!"
Lin Zhuyue looked in the direction of the sound.
Wen Miyan and Ye Yangjia were standing on the asphalt road by the coast, waving at her. Wen Miyan said loudly:
"Come up quickly! Something's happening!"
Lin Zhuyue was about to walk to the shore, but was caught by Shi Can.
"Go wash your feet over there, there's fresh water."
Shi Chan pointed to the water pipe on the coast and said,
"If I don't rinse, I'll get itchy, red bumps around my ankles within a few hours."
So, Lin Zhuyue changed her route and headed towards the water pipe, with Shi Can following her leisurely. The two people waiting on the roadside above were getting a little impatient, so they simply walked down on the relatively dry sand.
Ye Yangjia was holding a brown file bag in his hand.
Wen Miyan took the water pipe: "I'll help you."
"Ah, thank you."
Lin Zhuyue thanked him and asked,
"What is this? A mission?"
"Master gave it to us. He said it was originally a fourth-year assignment, but the two seniors were injured, so they gave it to us."
Ye Yangjia shook the file bag in his hand and said,
"But the condition for us to go is that the execution team must be two teams or more, which means at least four people."
Shi Chan asked, "Can't you two get anyone else?"
"It's to take care of the newcomers—"
Wen Miyan said righteously,
"Sometimes we have to swallow our pride and endure the humiliation of being a new player, even having to endure the other team's annoying teammates."
Lin Zhuyue quickly washed off the skin that was contaminated by sea water. Shi Can took the water pipe from Wen Miyan and washed his ankles himself.
"You want me to say thank you?"
Shi Chan almost rolled his eyes and asked,
"What mission?"
Ye Yangjia replied, "Raising a ghost will backfire."
Shi Can pulled the corner of his mouth, threw away the water pipe, and said:
"...Old Fu and the two of you are really bold in giving and then accepting. You two lunatics, are you going to risk your lives for a few points in the practical class? Just do this task on your own."
"Are you afraid of this?"
Ye Yangjia asked doubtfully,
"I thought you were fearless."
"Who's afraid? I can go on this kind of mission alone, but I'm bringing new people with me."
Shi Can handed over the bucket that Lin Zhuyue had been carrying.
"Either you two be kind and release the fish, or go back and stew the fish to nourish your brain and stop acting crazy all day long. Let's go, I'll take you back to the dormitory."
Shi Chan walked towards the shore.
There are two cars parked on the side of the road.
One is Shican’s new car, the Audi A8, the flagship model released this year.
The other was a red women's bicycle. This was Lin Zhuyue's bicycle before she transferred to another school. After Wen Miyan and Ye Yangjia kidnapped her and her bicycle and brought them back to Tiancheng, Lin Zhuyue had hardly touched it. The seat of the bicycle had been raised, and Wen Miyan's height was not enough. It must have been Ye Yangjia who rode it to bring Wen Miyan here.
"You two are really crazy..."
Shi Can couldn't figure out what was so good about riding this thing, so he turned around and said to the two people who followed him,
"I'm taking you back to the main city. Do you want to get in? If not, you two will have to go back the same way you came here."
Ye Yangjia came up with interest:
"Let me see this car."
He began to touch the car, sometimes touching the hood, sometimes touching the rearview mirror. When Shi Can wasn't paying attention, Ye Yangjia shook the car keys in his hand, opened the driver's door, and got in.
"Would you like to get in the car?"
Ye Yangjia turned on the double flash,
"If you don't want to go up, just ride that thing back to the main city."
Shi Can: “…”
Wen Miyan whistled and proudly opened the backseat door: "If you're used to sitting in this thing, who wants to sit in that thing? Zhuyue, get in."
Lin Zhuyue walked towards his old car:
"It's not that I can't ride. I can just ride back to the main city and head north. I'll find a place I know the way to, right?"
She looked at Shi Chan very kindly and asked:
"Do you want me to take you?"
Shi Can took a deep breath, walked over to Lin Zhuyue, folded the red bicycle, and stuffed it into the trunk that Ye Yangjia had opened. After closing the trunk lid, he walked directly to the driver's seat.
"Get down, I'll drive."
Ye Yangjia has fastened his seat belt:
"No, let me try."
He is really interested in the new car.
Shi Can didn't say anything and went around to the passenger seat.
Things had come to this, and Lin Zhuyue had no choice but to get in the car.
Wen Miyan sat in the back seat and handed Lin Zhuyue some beautifully packaged snacks.
Shi Can opened the file bag he had just received and said to the back seat:
"What is it? Give me one."
Lin Zhuyue handed one to Shi Can.
Shi Chan took it, opened it and put it in his mouth, only to realize something was wrong.
"Drunk."
Wen Miyan opened the novel software,
"The degree is quite high, so don't even think about getting in the driver's seat today. I didn't give it to you, so don't hold me responsible."
Lin Zhuyue: "..."
What a smooth combo, how can it be so smooth?
Shi Can: "...Wen Miyan, Ye Yangjia. When I used electrocution on fish back then, I should have used electrocution on you both. If you two plot against me again, I'll jump out of the car."
After all, he was a bully in the Spiritual Master Academy. How could he have been plotted into such a situation?
They returned to the main city.
I have to put down the bicycle and take my luggage with me, as well as the fish in the plastic bucket. I have to put it in the fish tank at Shican's house.
Ye Yangjia asked: "Can this car race?"
Lin Zhuyue thought to herself, "Oh no!" and her hand had already touched the seat belt in the back seat.
Shi Chan had already started looking at the files and said:
"If you have good skills, you can even drive a taxi."
As soon as Shi Can finished speaking, the racing hit song "Da Xia Hu" started playing in the car. He had just read the part in the file where the victim had a car accident and had four stitches on his head hitting the glass, when his car almost flew up in the air to the melody.
However, there are not many places where Ye Yangjia can drive as fast as he wants. Once he enters the main urban area, he has to slow down his speed, otherwise he will be reported to the whole school.
Shi Can finished reading the file and handed it to Lin Zhuyue.
Lin Zhuyue took it and read it carefully.
The victim of this mission was named Wei Chenggong. On the surface, he was a successful middle-class man in his thirties. However, according to the records, he was much more miserable than he appeared.
Five years ago, he and his wife, who was then his lover, went on a trip to a Southeast Asian country. They were tricked into bringing back local specialties - figurines of little ghosts and Yin amulets.
His original intention in hiring the little ghost was very kind.
He and his wife heard that the little ghost was a child who had died in infancy, who had been rescued by a local master, blessed with the Dharma, and devoted himself to practicing goodness, striving to attain Buddhahood as soon as possible. Feeling compassion, they invited the "child" into their home, chanting sutras and offering sacrifices to him, hoping to help the "child" on his path to Buddhahood.
Lin Zhuyue asked: "Is this possible?"
"They say children are like blank slates. If their minds remain pure, they're taught earnestly, and there's no desire to exploit them, then it's possible. But, people..."
Wen Miyan leaned on the back seat and said,
"Who can guarantee that they will never harbor evil thoughts or greed? Sooner or later, these things will become food for ghosts, fueling their journey to becoming evil spirits."
"And he didn't just invite the little ghost."
After encountering the little ghost for the first time, Wei Chenggong and his wife were no longer so afraid of ghosts and began to explore them boldly.
The little ghost does have a "resemblance". Although it is made of corpses and grave soil and soaked in corpse oil, it looks very cute, just like a little baby.
After they returned home, they contacted a master from that country and asked for a ghost statue of a "sister" who could promote relationships. Because it was a neck-hanging style, it looked like a badge, so it was also called a "sister" badge. The master said that this "sister" was a Buddha badge.
But the real Buddha amulet must be blessed by the Dharma.
A card like "Sister" that does not have the blessing of the Dharma can only be called a Yin card.
Yin amulets are much more sinister than Buddha amulets. And just like in novels, people who take the wrong path are often more powerful than those who practice seriously. The effect and induction of Yin amulets are much stronger than those of Buddha amulets.
This "sister" has the effect of attracting romance and promoting love. After inviting her home, the relationship between Wei Chenggong and Wang Zimei became sweeter than before. They got married successfully at the beginning of the second year and their married life was very happy.
After they got married, they saw ghosts being sold online and bought a few more, raising them like their own children. They called themselves mom and dad, and called the ghosts son and daughter, giving them names. Later, they saw a "Buddha amulet" that was said to protect the home and bring home another one...
In short, for various reasons, their house was filled with ghost images and Yin plaques. But because they were kind-hearted people and had never been greedy, the past few years had been relatively peaceful. The only problem was that the bird at home seemed to be startled by invisible objects and would run around in its cage.
Until the end of last year, the brother who started a business with Wei Chenggong ran away with the money, and the couple became haggard overnight.
Just when he thought life was going to be difficult, the brother who had run away suddenly returned, paid back most of the money, and kowtowed to Wei Chenggong to beg him to forgive him.
That night, Wei Chenggong dreamed of a child standing under a Bodhi tree asking for praise from him. He had dreamed of this child before, and he knew that this was his eldest son Xiaomian.
Although he never asked for anything from his children, Wei Chenggong eventually realized that they could benefit him. He nurtured them, and they protected him in their own way. He felt that this was a mutually beneficial relationship, so he asked for more and more amulets.
The changes began at the beginning of this year.
Wei Chenggong and his wife kept getting unexplained bruises on their bodies. Initially, they thought they were just the result of their children being naughty, but the bruises became more and more numerous, and they began having nightmares and couldn't sleep well.
It wasn't until one night that Wei Chenggong felt his ankle being pulled and half of his body being dragged off the bed. He woke up with a start and realized something was wrong.
My wife's condition is getting worse and worse.
They consulted the master who made the amulets.
As soon as the master opened his mouth, he said that it would cost one million to pack up all the little ghosts and Yin cards in their family and send them away.
Wei Chenggong was shocked. He and his wife had hired a room full of little ghosts and Yin cards. Because they had no selfish motives and didn't seek "efficacy" or "induction," they had kept them very cheap, totaling just over 70,000 yuan. They'd paid over 70,000 yuan for something, only to send it away for a million yuan. How could that be justified?
Moreover, when they hired the master, he never reminded them that they would need to "send away" the children in the future.
Wei Chenggong felt that the master was thinking that he could make easy money, so he planned to bargain with the master.
During this time, his wife Wang Zimei inexplicably peeled off the plastic shell of a newly hired "sister" and gave it to Xiaomian. She didn't know why, but she just felt that she really wanted the plastic shell. When she came to her senses, it was already done.
Things got out of control from then on.
That night, Wei Chenggong and Wang Zimei felt as if their throats were being strangled, unable to breathe. In their dreams, they were constantly being dragged into the water, only waking up when they were about to drown.
Wei Chenggong felt scared and contacted his master again.
Even if it's one million, as long as his own safety can be guaranteed, let alone one million, even if it's five million, he will grit his teeth and give it to his master.
But when the master answered the phone that day, he didn't mention the price, but just said sinisterly:
"It's too late."
After saying this, the master hung up the phone.
After that, Wei Chenggong could no longer contact this master.
As expected, their situation was getting worse and worse. They sought help from temples and martial arts masters. Some of them entered their homes, took a look, and then ran away. Others begged for mercy after just a few days of being approached.
Just a week ago, Wang Zimei was in a car accident, hitting her head on the windshield and needing four stitches. Despite the doctor's objections, Wei Chenggong took Wang Zimei out of the hospital and sent her to volunteer at a temple so she could live there.
The monks in the temple asked them to leave, but they were unwilling to give up and knelt down to beg the monks.
They really have nowhere else to go.
Perhaps because he saw that they were having such a hard time and that they themselves were not bad people, the monk relaxed and said:
"Donors, forming a bond is difficult, and breaking it is even harder. What you two have experienced is the result of your own karma. It is something you must endure, and we cannot relieve your predicament. However, the spiritual masters are strong-willed and may be able to provide you with a desired outcome."
Wei Chenggong contacted the Spiritual Master's Mansion in this way.
Dealing with evil spirits and engaging in head-on confrontations is the Spiritual Master House's specialty. While Wei Chenggong's case was complex and difficult to resolve, it wasn't a major issue for the Spiritual Master House, which had seen enough. After discussion, the Spiritual Master House's leaders, adhering to the principle of "human rights first," decided to provide assistance to Wei Chenggong.
After returning to the main urban area, Shi Can, Wen Miyan and Ye Yangjia each went home to pack their luggage. Lin Zhuyue rode his bicycle back to the dormitory, hastily packed a suitcase, and took with him a travel bag containing the metaphysical items that he had to carry when carrying out the mission.
Half an hour later, the four people gathered in front of the Spiritual Master's Mansion and drove straight to the pier.
Wen Miyan had already contacted Wu Ye and his cruise ship in advance, waiting at the dock, ready to set sail at any time. So, upon arriving at the dock, there was no need to wait at all. The four apprentice spiritualists and their car were taken aboard the cruise ship, bound for the dock on the outskirts of Linhai City.
While at sea, Lin Zhuyue called the victim to inform him and to determine his current condition.
"Hello, Mr. Wei. I'm Lin Zhuyue, an apprentice spiritualist from the National Security Special Branch's Spiritualist Mansion. We're on our way to your city now. It'll take about four hours to get there. Are you home?"
This argument should be okay, right?
Lin Zhuyue looked towards Wen Miyan.
Wen Miyan made an OK gesture.
There came a cry of collapse:
"Home? How can I dare go home? I'm staying at a friend's house now, but even if I move out, they won't let me go..."
Lin Zhuyue frowned and said:
"Please calm down and tell me what happened."
"I was unconscious for a while this morning."
Wei Chenggong used a tearful voice to tell his story as clearly as possible about the life-saving straw he had finally grasped.
"Before I lost consciousness, I was eating breakfast in the restaurant. When I regained consciousness, I was suddenly on the B1 floor of the fire escape. My body seemed to be dragged down the stairs, but I grabbed the railing with my hands, so I didn't fall."
"Those things really want to kill me and my wife. Please, save us..."
Lin Zhuyue suddenly heard a soft, childish voice in the microphone——
"Dad, come and stay with us."
Lin Zhuyue felt creepy for a moment.
But this is not the most terrifying thing.
"Sister, you are so powerful and so delicious. If we eat you, we can do whatever we want, right?"
Although they were speaking through a microphone, it was obvious that these words were directed at Lin Zhuyue on the other end of the microphone.
What kind of evil ghost is this?
How can you raise something like this as a child?
Wei Chenggong was terrified and cried breathlessly:
"Help! Help! I hear their voices again, help me!"
Wen Miyan took Lin Zhuyue's phone and asked:
"Are there any supplies for moxibustion where you live now?"
"A friend placed moxa sticks in this house."
Wen Miyan nodded and said:
"Light it up and don't leave the moxa stick. When it's about to go out, light another one. The smoke may be a bit heavy. If you have a smoke alarm at home, find a plastic bag to cover it."
Mugwort is yang in nature and can drive away evil spirits. After being burned, it can replenish yang energy and temporarily avoid harassment from ghosts.
On the other end of the phone, Wei Chenggong responded:
"Okay, I'll order it right away, right away..."
But Wen Miyan did not receive the message that Wei Chenggong had already lit the moxa stick.
Wen Miyan asked, "Mr. Wei?"
The next moment, a heart-wrenching scream came from the phone receiver, almost piercing the eardrum.
Lin Zhuyue's expression changed, and he quickly called out:
"Mr. Wei? Mr. Wei?!"
Communication was still maintained, but there was no sound on the other end of the phone.
Only the laughter of children could be heard.
"whee."
"Hahaha……"
“Dad, Dad, Dad…”
"You and mom don't want us anymore? You clearly agreed that you would accompany us until we grow up."
It was clearly a tender and cute child's voice, but Lin Zhuyue's hair stood on end when he heard it.
They asked Lin Zhuyue again:
"Sister, can we eat you?"
"Can't."
Wen Miyan directly scolded Lin Zhuyue,
"Just wait, little rascal."
Wen Miyan hung up the phone.
She returned the phone to Lin Zhuyue, and used her own phone to call the Spiritual Master's Mansion:
"I'm Wen Miyan from Class 1, Grade 3, Advanced Studies Department. My student number is 220102. I'm currently on mission A2-C17."
"We just spoke with the person involved in the mission. He is suspected of being harmed by a ghost. Based on the complexity of his condition, I believe he is at risk of death. I need the Spiritual Master's Mansion to contact the Cangyang City police to immediately rescue him."
Ye Yangjia went to urge Feng Kangsheng:
"Fifth Master, can the boat go faster? We can wait, but the people involved can't."
"Okay, okay, I'll try to drive faster."
Feng Kangsheng drove Ye Yangjia out.
"Hurry up and find a place to sit. If we drive too fast and knock you guys over, I can't afford to pay for it even if I give up everything I have."
Lin Zhuyue was a little annoyed:
"I shouldn't have packed my luggage."
“Whether you clean up or not, you can’t catch up.”
Shi Can pondered for a moment and said,
"Our phone call seemed to have irritated the ghosts around Mr. Wei. Teaching him to light moxa sticks angered them even more."
They soon arrived in Linhai City. Ye Yangjia drove towards the highway, wanting to reach Cangyang City where Mr. Wei was as quickly as possible.
Twenty-three minutes had passed since the Spiritual Master's Mansion was asked to contact the police, and Wen Miyan's cell phone finally rang.
Wen Miyan turned on the hands-free mode and answered the call: "Hello."
"Student Wen Miyan, the Cangyang City police have reported back. The victim was dragged indoors by something unknown and then all the way to the terrace. Three officers broke into the room, but even with their combined strength, they were unable to pull the victim down. He has already fallen from the building. Fortunately, he survived and the police officers were not injured. They are currently transporting him to the hospital for emergency treatment."
"Ms. Wang Zimei is still in Zhengsong Temple in Cangyang City. She is under the protection of the Buddhist temple and is relatively safe. She is completely unaware of Mr. Wei Chenggong contacting the Spiritual Master's Mansion or jumping off the building. To avoid further complications, please refrain from contacting her for the time being."
Wen Miyan frowned instantly and said:
"Okay, we'll be there as soon as possible."
After saying that, the person from the Spiritual Master's Mansion hung up the phone.
Wen Miyan covered her eyes with one hand, and Lin Zhuyue was also very depressed.
Shi Chan, who was sitting in the front row, said:
"Don't blame yourself. Whether it was calling to inquire or lighting the moxa sticks, it was the right decision under the circumstances. It's just that you didn't anticipate that this ghost that turned against its master would go so crazy."
"I've said before that this kind of mission is difficult to carry out, so it's best not to accept it."
Lin Zhuyue was in a bad mood and asked:
"Shican, are you going to back out?"
"Back off?"
Shi Can sneered and said,
"Lin Zhuyue, I am a spiritualist with professional ethics. No matter how difficult a task is, once I accept it, I will never back down as long as I am still alive.
"Human lives are the bottom line for spiritual masters. Once that line is crossed, our mission changes from saving lives to revenge. As spiritual masters and guardians, no matter what means we use, we cannot be defeated by the dark and evil ghosts."
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