Chapter Sixteen: Turbulence Rises Again (Fifth Update Complete, Promise Kept)

Chapter Sixteen: Stirring Up Trouble Again

In just over twenty minutes, the father and son unearthed a skeleton from beneath the willow tree. It was pitch black, barely retaining any recognizable form. The big man pressed a talisman onto the bones, then spoke to them: “Bury it somewhere, and you’ll finally have peace.”

The father and son were deeply grateful. Right there, they handed over three thousand yuan to Song Nianqiang. After collecting the payment, Song Nianqiang took his leave—the rest was no longer his concern; simply finding a place to inter the skeleton would settle everything.

Still, before departing, Song Nianqiang couldn’t help but offer a word of advice: “Have you offended anyone? This household ghost didn’t appear out of nowhere. That’s all I can say.” With that, he strode away. According to the rules of the ghost-catching world, Song Nianqiang had done all that could be asked of him.

Returning to their lodgings, the two enjoyed a proper nap and then went out for a good meal. Now that they had money, it would be a waste not to spend it. Thinking ahead to future ventures, they went to the bank and opened two bank cards—after all, it cost next to nothing.

“This three thousand will be our operating fund. Let’s head to the antique market and hunt for what we need,” Song Nianqiang said as they left the bank.

“Exactly! We need to get some powerful talismans, or I won’t sleep well at night,” the big man replied. He’d been suffering from insomnia lately and so was keen on the idea.

“I know why you don’t sleep well at night. Want to know?” Song Nianqiang teased as they walked.

“What?” The big man was straightforward, responding with a single syllable.

“Spring longing! Ha ha—” As soon as he uttered those words, Song Nianqiang darted ahead, fearing the big man might chase after him for a beating.

Soon enough, amid their playful banter, they arrived at the antique market. The place was a chaotic mix of genuine and fake, with only seasoned experts able to tell the difference. Many came hoping for luck, since not all stallholders knew their wares, and much was simply brought in because it looked old.

Song Nianqiang was dazzled by the variety, even spotting several ghost-catching implements. Whether they were genuine or not was beyond him; he was still a rookie, unable to distinguish real artifacts.

“Golden talisman!” The big man’s eyes caught a talisman about the size of a textbook. But after approaching and examining it, he shook his head in disappointment. Though golden in appearance, it was useless—perhaps only good for decoration. Beneath the golden talisman, however, they found a silver one and a purple one.

Below gold lies silver, below silver is purple, and beneath purple come blue and yellow. The big man could barely craft a few yellow talismans, with an alarming failure rate.

“Boss, how much for these two talismans?”

He picked them up casually, as if only slightly interested, indifferent as to whether he would buy them—a classic bargaining tactic. “Five thousand for the pair! These are heirlooms, not like that golden thing—” The stall owner waved the golden talisman at them.

“We only have three thousand.”

Five thousand was steep for the two at present, but the talismans were certainly worth it. In the hands of an expert, they could fetch half a million; golden talismans were all but extinct now, and silver was the highest grade. With a silver ghost-repelling talisman at home, not even a hundred ghosts could invade.

“All right, deal! And I’ll throw in the golden one for free.” The stall owner was courteous, knowing the golden talisman was worthless—its surface wasn’t really gold, just coated with copper.

“Done!” Song Nianqiang handed over two thousand nine hundred. Since they’d spent a hundred on food, he turned to the big man.

“Want money from me again?” Though he complained, the big man deftly produced the remaining hundred.

“That’s all!” With three thousand handed over, the transaction was complete. The big man was quite excited; he couldn’t study the silver talisman yet, but the purple one was fair game. As the dividing line between low and high-grade talismans, the purple held great research value.

Lately, their schedules were in disarray—sleeping by day, practicing by night. A week quickly passed, with only modest progress but some gains nonetheless.

One afternoon, as they slept, urgent knocking sounded at the door. Song Nianqiang rose and opened it, surprised to find the woman who had previously sought their help.

“What’s happened?” Seeing the anxious look on her face, Song Nianqiang knew trouble had come. As soon as he spoke, the woman dropped to her knees before him. “Please, save my daughter-in-law!”

A pregnant daughter-in-law—by rights, any expectant woman should have a natural aura that repels spirits, unless someone inadvertently damages it.

“Don’t worry, what’s wrong with her?” From the woman’s expression, Song Nianqiang could tell it was serious.

“She keeps talking nonsense, her face is vacant, she refuses food, and sometimes gets up in the night wanting to find a knife and end herself! We’re at our wits’ end!” She began to cry. After comforting her for a while, Song Nianqiang went inside and woke the big man, telling him they had work.

Following the woman to her son’s home, Song Nianqiang glanced at the daughter-in-law and felt a chill rush toward him. He silently recited the Purification of Heaven and Earth Incantation—taught to him by the old man, and the most powerful spell in his arsenal. It could not only ward off the Yin energy brought by spirits, but also subdue and destroy them.

“Ah!” The daughter-in-law screamed and fainted. Though Song Nianqiang had only recited the spell inwardly, its effect was undiminished, driving the ghost hidden within her womb back.

“It seems to be a womb ghost, but I can’t be certain. Womb ghosts are among the most mysterious in China. If it really is one, we’re in for a challenge.” He said this to the big man. “Let’s use a talisman to pin it down for now, then figure out a solution.” The big man pulled out a ghost-suppressing talisman and pressed it to the daughter-in-law’s forehead.

“Go find some red beans—quick!” With furrowed brows, Song Nianqiang and the big man realized they had met a formidable opponent. If they couldn’t force the womb ghost out, even the most powerful skills would be useless.

Soon, the woman and her husband brought a bowl of green beans. Song Nianqiang nearly lost his temper. “These aren’t green beans, they’re red beans!” He looked half amused, half exasperated.

They hurried off again, taking longer this time. Meanwhile, the daughter-in-law’s house was crowded with onlookers, all guessing at Song Nianqiang and the big man’s identity—so young, yet able to catch ghosts; no one would believe it.

“Make her porridge, quickly!” Song Nianqiang had no choice as dusk approached. If midnight came and the womb ghost emerged, even he and the big man might not be able to subdue it. Moreover, the daughter-in-law’s condition suggested more than one spirit—perhaps a child ghost as well.

The porridge’s edibility didn’t matter; half-cooked was fine. Song Nianqiang spooned it into the daughter-in-law, while the big man stood ready with a talisman. If the womb ghost appeared, he would strike instantly, using the newly acquired silver talisman from the antique market.

But the daughter-in-law kept her mouth tightly shut, refusing to eat. Song Nianqiang grew anxious and called to her husband, “Come here and open her mouth! If you’re late, she’ll die!” Hearing this, her husband trembled—after all, it would be a double tragedy—so he rushed forward and pried her mouth open. In the struggle, his blood dripped into her mouth, and seeing it, Song Nianqiang calmed.

“True blood, born of love, can dispel all evil.” He set the bowl aside, stepped back two paces, and began forming seals with his hands—the womb ghost was about to emerge.