Chapter Fifty: Another Encounter with the Ghost Tent

I quietly fastened the bra and slipped on the dress, which felt even tighter. Though I found it incredibly awkward, there was something oddly novel about the sensation. Wei Qi's gaze kept drifting over me, as if he too couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.

The neckline wasn't a deep V, so the padded bra managed to give a convincing lift, lending the impression of a young girl just beginning to mature. "Uncle Qi, Sister Yun, does this look alright?" I turned to face the makeup mirror, and for a moment, I hardly recognized myself.

"Of course it does! We're both rather taken with you," Shan Xiaoyun giggled.

That wasn't my real concern—I meant it might be good enough to fool people, but surely not ghosts; makeup alone couldn't trick them. Wei Qi insisted it would work, as I was wearing Shan Xiaoyun's clothes and carried her scent, so the ghost would likely mistake me for her.

If he said so, I couldn't argue. We'd soon find out tonight.

Time slipped by until darkness settled. The three of us drove out for dinner, wandered through Shan Xiaoyun's jewelry store, and finally returned home. To my surprise, no one seemed startled by my appearance; perhaps they truly took me for a woman.

As it grew late, we parked at the lot Shan Xiaoyun had chosen. Everything had been planned, so I simply followed the script. Once the car was parked, Shan Xiaoyun and Wei Qi quietly slipped away. Wei Qi had a heavy task: he had to keep Shan Xiaoyun safe and help me catch the ghost. With my limited skills, capturing a ghost would be no easy feat.

I emerged from the underground parking lot and glanced around; the area was silent, part of an upscale community with few residents. The night wind rustled the trees, casting patchy shadows with the streetlights, adding a spectral air. I knew Wei Qi was following, so I wasn't afraid; not just because of him, but mainly because I held the three-foot Longyuan sword. My blood was of extreme yin, giving me a certain deterrence against evil spirits.

As I walked, I listened intently—my eyes remained straight ahead, but in truth, I was scanning my surroundings. I reached Shan Xiaoyun's door without spotting the male ghost.

Though I hadn't seen him, the show had to go on. I rattled the keys and opened the door. Heart pounding, I feared the ghost might leap out from the flowerbed. But nothing happened, even as I unlocked Shan Xiaoyun's apartment.

Inside, aside from some chills, nothing seemed amiss. I'd spent the day here, so it felt familiar. As I shut the door, instinctively I glanced outside—damn, Wei Qi and Shan Xiaoyun hadn't followed. What the hell? Did they think I was that capable?

Just then, the sharp click of high heels sounded from outside. I froze, puzzled. Had Shan Xiaoyun circled back? To my astonishment, she appeared at the foot of the stairs, smiling mischievously.

"Sister Yun, I didn't see you two—so you came around after all! The plan failed; I never saw the ghost," I said, relieved, stepping forward.

"We came in through the back door. Come upstairs," she beckoned.

I followed, thinking since the plan had failed to lure the male ghost, I should wipe off the makeup and hurry to the hospital to steal the body. The sooner, the better.

Upstairs in Shan Xiaoyun's room, I didn't see Wei Qi, but noticed the big mirror on the vanity was shattered. "Sister Yun, where's Uncle Qi?"

"He'll be here soon. Sit for a bit," Shan Xiaoyun said, her gaze strangely intense.

"Sister Yun, could you help me take off the makeup? I feel so awkward," I said, sitting by the vanity instead of the bed. Though Shan Xiaoyun and I were close, I couldn't sit on her bed, especially with Wei Qi absent—if he suddenly barged in and saw us side by side on the bed, it would give the wrong impression.

"Alright, I'll help you," she replied, moving closer. As she approached, I felt a cold draft behind me, like an air conditioner blast, making me uneasy. I glanced back instinctively; Shan Xiaoyun was reaching to remove my wig.

As she helped with the wig, the unease grew. I couldn't pinpoint why, just a chill. When I bowed my head, I suddenly shrieked in fright. In the shattered mirror fragments, I saw a shadow behind me—not Shan Xiaoyun, but a young man, pale and sinister, blood trickling from his mouth, his gaze vacant. He was clearly a ghost, waving his scissor-like hands behind me, the nails sharp and long as blades. My heart seized; I leapt up, grabbing the three-foot Longyuan sword.

"Hey, what's with the theatrics?" Turning around, I found Shan Xiaoyun still there.

Was I seeing things? I couldn't make sense of it. Had the ghost possessed Shan Xiaoyun? Unlikely, since Wei Qi was with her. Something was wrong.

"Sister Yun, where's Third Master?" I decided to test her. If she were really Shan Xiaoyun, she'd know there was no Third Master. If not, she'd slip up.

"Third Master? He's busy, lots to do—I didn't see him," she replied, approaching.

That confirmed it: she was an imposter. I stepped back, swiftly unsheathing the Longyuan sword. "Who are you? Why pretend to be Shan Xiaoyun?"

She froze. "What do you mean? Pretend? I am Shan Xiaoyun!"

"Sister Yun, do you know who Shan Xiaoyun loves?" I already knew she was a ghost; I held back, waiting for Wei Qi and the real Shan Xiaoyun to arrive, though those two lovers seemed to have disappeared.

"I... I love you," she replied, her eyes darting.

"Show yourself! Reveal your true form; maybe I'll spare you. Otherwise, you'll vanish forever," I declared, emboldened by my blood and sword.

The woman sneered, extending her hands. Her once fair fingers grew thinner, bones protruding, nails stretching into sharp blades. I shuddered—what kind of ghost was this? I instinctively retreated.

With another eerie laugh, she plunged her hands into her scalp, tearing it open. With a sound like silk splitting, her true face emerged: not a female ghost, but the young male ghost I'd seen in the mirror, handsome but deathly pale, shrouded in gloom.

With his true form revealed, he lunged at me, scissors for hands. I felt confident—my blood could subdue such evil spirits. As he ripped open his scalp, I bit my tongue, gathering a mouthful of blood. As he rushed at me, I spat it in his face.

A mist of blood enveloped him. Before he reached me, he clutched his face, collapsed, and writhed on the floor, howling like a wounded animal.

I was relieved; Wei Qi was right—my blood was extraordinary, capable of healing good spirits and destroying evil ones. Yet, as I watched the little ghost writhing in pain, I felt a twinge of pity. Humans have their ways, ghosts their own; all struggle to survive. If I struck now, he'd be gone forever.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps clattered up the stairs; Wei Qi and Shan Xiaoyun rushed in. "Da Chuan, are you alright?" Wei Qi asked anxiously.

"I'm fine, subdued him. Why did you two take so long?" Having caught the ghost myself, I felt a surge of pride and all past grievances vanished.

"Ghost barrier—we got trapped again. Spent ages at the door, couldn't find the way home," Wei Qi panted. No wonder the ghost was so bold; he'd set a barrier. But at least I managed to subdue him alone.

Wei Qi looked at the powerless ghost on the floor. "What now?"

I shook my head; I didn't know. But I remembered Second Uncle's words: spare where you can, even with ghosts.

"Get up. Why are you haunting Shan Xiaoyun? What's your purpose?" Wei Qi asked the ghost.

"I... I mean no harm. I'm a ghost, she's human. I was ordered to haunt her, to gradually increase the yin energy in her home, eventually causing her death," the little ghost whimpered, curled up on the floor.

His words sent chills down my spine. Who could be so vicious as to hire ghosts to torment Shan Xiaoyun?

"What's your name? Are you one of the two ghosts from her husband's coffin?" Wei Qi pressed.

He nodded. "Yes, I was ordered to possess the paper figure in the double ghost coffin. The aim was to destroy the Feng Shui of her home, ruin her family. We failed, so I was told to keep following her, corrupt her with yin energy, and kill her."

Wei Qi's face reddened with anger, his chest heaving. He snatched the Longyuan sword from my hand and pointed it at the ghost's head. "Tell us who ordered you, and I'll spare you. Otherwise, you will vanish forever."

Unexpectedly, the ghost lifted his face, sorrowful. "Let me perish. I won't reveal the mastermind."

I was surprised—a ghost with such integrity was rare. "Why not cherish your soul? Protect it. You might be reborn crossing the Bridge of Helplessness."

He shook his head. "Though I'm dead, my family lives. If I betray the mastermind, they'll suffer. So I won't tell."

His words struck a chord. He was a pitiful ghost, but his loyalty to his family and his way of handling things deserved respect. I took the Longyuan sword back from Wei Qi, exchanged a glance with him. "Go."

The ghost lifted his head again, uncertain. His face was scarred, my blood having burned him.

My blood was deadly poison to evil ghosts with malice. To good-hearted spirits, it's extreme yin, nourishing and beautifying. Clearly, he had evil intent when he attacked me.

I nodded. "Go now. Just don't haunt Sister Yun again. If we see you again, you won't be so lucky."

The little ghost did something astonishing—he knelt before me. "Please, let me stay as your ghost servant. I can do anything for you, just don't send me back. If I return, I'll die horribly, worse than being cast into the deepest hell."