"No need to be so polite, let's get down to business," the old willow tree ghost changed the subject.
[Ding! The old willow tree ghost felt that if the topic wasn't changed, the tea would go bad.]
[Host has gained System Points +50]
"Alright," Zhang Wei sat down on a chair and took a sip of tea, "Good tea~"
The old willow tree ghost: "..."
With Zhang Wei's previous words, it felt a little unbearable to look at the words "good tea."
It coughed lightly.
After pouring Zhang Wei another cup of tea, the old willow tree ghost said, "Young man, you said you heard about me from a friend, a female Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, about your age."
"Yes." Zhang Wei nodded, somewhat surprised. "Old Master Willow, you remember the class monitor, oh, that is, my friend, Lu Lianxue."
The old willow tree ghost's eyes showed a smile. "I may not be good at other things, but my memory is excellent. I remember a Taoist priestess visiting me a few years ago."
"Moreover, I have met the sect leader of Longhu Mountain a few times, so I have a deeper impression of people from Longhu Mountain."
Saying this, the old willow tree ghost looked at Zhang Wei. "Young man, you wouldn't happen to be from Longhu Mountain yourself, and a member of the Zhang family from Tianshi Mansion?"
Zhang Wei's surname, coupled with his claim that he could help remove the shackles of his guardian spirit, made the ghost associate him with the Zhang family of Tianshi Mansion. Such a powerful Taoist lineage would have ways to help him break free.
"Old Master Willow, I am not from the Zhang family of Tianshi Mansion." Zhang Wei explained that his surname was coincidentally Zhang and that he was a latecomer to the field.
After a moment, the old willow tree ghost lightly nodded. "So that's how it is. It seems you have great fortune, young man. But then again, you do have a face full of good fortune."
"Oh, Old Master Willow, you can also read faces?"
"I know a little, I know a little. I once met a physiognomist and learned a bit." Knowing that Zhang Wei was a latecomer, the old willow tree ghost kindly explained what a physiognomist was, fearing Zhang Wei wouldn't understand.
Physiognomists, also known as fortune tellers, are people who can infer a person's lifespan, prosperity, misfortune, and blessings based on their facial features, complexion, bone structure, fingerprints, and so on. The charlatans who swindle people in the folk are those who exploit the profession of physiognomy to make money. One can imagine how powerful physiognomists are; their very title is enough to inspire awe and be used for profit.
Zhang Wei couldn't help but exclaim, "I didn't expect Old Master Willow to be so hidden in his abilities."
"You flatter me, young man." The old willow tree ghost waved its hand. "My meager knowledge is not worth mentioning and is not worth boasting about. Let's get back to business."
"Young man, you mentioned wanting to form a contract with me earlier. It's not impossible. To be honest, after staying here for over three hundred years, I yearn to go out and see the world."
"However, forming a contract is a serious matter that concerns both our destinies. A contract means I'm entrusting my life into your hands, and I must consider it carefully."
Zhang Wei expressed his understanding. This was his first meeting with the old willow tree ghost, and he knew its nature – it was a kind ghost, following the path of accumulating virtue through good deeds. However, the old willow tree ghost didn't know his character. From its perspective, its concern was precisely this: it was afraid of following the wrong master. What if he enjoyed killing? What if Zhang Wei was a wicked person?
At this moment, the old willow tree ghost continued, extending a finger. "If you can help me accomplish one thing, young man, I will consider forming a contract with you."
Zhang Wei was not surprised by this and readily agreed. "That's no problem, as long as you don't ask me to do anything against my morals."
"I wonder what you want me to do, Old Master Willow." It's not something that can be understood in a day or two to discern a person's character; it's usually understood through prolonged interaction. But they didn't have that much time to interact. The best way was for the old willow tree ghost to present a 'test' to judge his character. The old willow tree ghost wanted to see his disposition and observe him.
"Naturally, I won't ask you to do such a thing. After all, although I am a ghost, I follow the path of accumulating virtue." The old willow tree ghost said with a smile.
Then, it stood up and gestured. "Young man, please follow me."
Led by the old willow tree ghost, they arrived at the staff break room behind the haunted house. It was during working hours, and all the staff were at the front desk, so the break room was empty. The old willow tree ghost went to the window and pointed to the road in front of it.
"Young man, do you see this road?"
"I do. Isn't this Chunhua Road leading to the suburbs? Old Master Willow, you're not going to ask me to repair the road, are you?" Zhang Wei said.
The old willow tree ghost laughed heartily upon hearing this, then shook its head. "I'm not that immoral to ask you to spend money to form a contract with me. I want to ask you to help me exorcise a ghost. Aren't you a ghost exorcist? This shouldn't be difficult for you."
"Huh? Exorcise a ghost? That simple?" Zhang Wei looked over.
The old willow tree ghost nodded with a smile. "Yes, it's that simple."
"Not long ago, about a hundred meters straight down this road, there is a crossroad. As the saying goes, crossroads connect the yin and yang. Crossroads are where roads intersect in all directions, and they also contain the path of life and death, thus accumulating heavy yin energy, often frequented by ghosts and spirits."
"And the Qingming Festival has just passed not long ago. Although the gates of hell are closed, the yin energy still lingers. The crossroads have thus attracted ghosts. There was a car accident at the crossroads on this road a few days ago. I sensed ghostly energy appearing there. That car accident was not an accident or man-made; it was caused by a ghost harming people."
As it spoke, the old willow tree ghost looked at Zhang Wei. "I am just a deceased old willow tree, but people planted me. It was the care people gave me that allowed me to grow into a hundred-year-old tree. I am very grateful and fond of people. I don't want to see innocent people lose their lives due to a ghost's selfish desires."
"Now that I see a ghost harming people, I don't want to stand by and do nothing, but I cannot leave this place. Therefore, I hope you will help me exorcise the ghost and prevent more innocent people from being harmed."
Zhang Wei agreed to the old willow tree ghost's request. "Old Master Willow, this matter is on me."
"Good, thank you, young man." The old willow tree ghost responded with a smile.
Zhang Wei continued. "Old Master Willow, besides this matter, are you sure you don't need anything else?"
"No, just help me deal with the ghost on that road."
"Alright then."
...
Not long after, after chatting with the old willow tree ghost, Zhang Wei left the haunted house.
"Sir, wait, you forgot your organic fertilizer." A store clerk stopped Zhang Wei. Seeing Zhang Wei's empty hands, she thought he had forgotten to take the bag of organic fertilizer.
"That, no need, I don't want it anymore."
"Ah? Are you sure?" The clerk was bewildered. What was going on? You brought fertilizer to play in the haunted house, why aren't you taking it with you when you leave? Did you come to the haunted house to fertilize it?
"Yes, I don't want it anymore." Zhang Wei left with a smile and headed straight for the crossroads the old willow tree ghost had mentioned.
Although it was morning, ghosts wouldn't appear at this time. But that didn't stop him from checking it out. He planned to go and see the situation at the crossroads.
...