Everyone, without exception, has their own shining points.
Master said, I was born to do this work in the underworld.
Tonight, my cultivation has increased by another point.
Reaching the mid-stage of the Spirit Spring realm.
The most noticeable change was the energy swirling in my dantian, which seemed to have broken through a layer of confinement, becoming more robust.
And this, I achieved in just over a month.
A happy smile bloomed on my face:
"Mid-stage Spirit Spring, one step closer to the Soul Palace realm."
I murmured to myself.
I truly looked forward to seeing Qingdai's face sooner, and also to becoming stronger myself.
With this thought, I glanced at my Ghostly Longevity Coin bracelet.
Its color had turned grayish-brown, and this color indicated a reserve of about thirty to forty days of lamp oil.
Not enough, clearly not enough.
Now that my cultivation had increased, I needed to find more unclean things to replenish the lamp oil.
But in the past week or so, apart from two or three overly suspicious wealthy patrons who came to Master for exorcisms and were extorted a fee.
There had been no real troubles or people seeking help.
Therefore, I had nowhere to find lamp oil for the Ghostly Longevity Lamp.
With this in mind, I lay back on my bed.
Contemplating whether I should take the initiative, instead of just waiting by the shop every day for unclean things to appear.
With this idea, I planned to discuss it thoroughly with Master tomorrow when I went to work.
As soon as this thought crossed my mind, I heard two beeps.
The WeChat notification sound.
It was already almost ten o'clock, and I thought it might be that kid Lao Mo messaging me.
After all, my social circle was quite small.
But, when I picked up my phone, I was surprised to find it wasn't him.
The message was from Zhang Chuyue.
I remembered that it had been over a week since I last added her.
I glanced at the message.
She had replied with a "handshake" emoji, the same as the one I had sent last time.
Seeing this message, I couldn't help but smile.
She was so slow.
After a week, she finally sent me a message.
But I still politely replied:
"It's so late, aren't you sleeping yet?"
Zhang Chuyue quickly sent me a reply:
"Can't sleep. I was undergoing treatment recently, so I didn't reply!"
I was stunned for a moment. Undergoing treatment? What was going on?
So I sent her a message, asking what was wrong.
And then I found out.
It seemed Zhang Chuyue had contracted a rare mental illness in the past half month.
She said that every time she fell asleep, she felt a tightness in her chest and difficulty breathing.
It felt as if horses were trampling across her chest, or as if a snake was constricting her neck.
Every time she felt like she was suffocating, she would wake up with a start.
At first, she thought she was just having nightmares.
But in the following days, it happened every time.
Occasionally, she could even hear the neighing of horses, and she clearly felt something writhing on her neck.
It even progressed to the point where, as long as she fell asleep, she would have these illusions.
She saw a doctor, and all her physical examinations were normal.
Everything was fine.
Finally, a psychologist diagnosed her with a mental disorder called "sleep phobia."
The doctor also asked her if she had been under a lot of work stress recently, or if she had been frightened by horses or snakes as a child, or something similar.
Zhang Chuyue said no.
She wasn't afraid of snakes, nor had she ever ridden a horse.
Her work was also easy and enjoyable.
Because the cause of the illness could not be found, she had been undergoing treatment for the past few days.
Cooperating with various examinations.
But there was no effect. The situation was getting worse, and she said she was afraid to sleep at all.
Perhaps Zhang Chuyue genuinely wanted someone to confide in.
And I happened to have the time to listen.
So we chatted more and more deeply.
But gradually, from the words Zhang Chuyue sent, I began to see clues.
Mental illness?
Neighing of horses, trampling?
Snakes, constricting her neck?
Happening only when she slept?
Because I am now engaged in the business of funerals and related services, I have encountered many strange things and heard many peculiar phenomena from Master.
I started to wonder if Zhang Chuyue's condition was caused by encountering an unclean entity?
Or perhaps, she was possessed?
Not a so-called mental illness or anything like that?
With this thought, I replied:
"Chuyue, have you ever suspected that you've offended something unclean?"
Zhang Chuyue replied with a string of ellipses.
After a moment, she asked back:
"Do unclean things really exist in this world?"
It seemed she didn't believe it.
And she probably hadn't considered it from this perspective at all.
Seeing this, I asked her if it was okay to talk on the phone, and I would video call her.
She said it was fine.
So I tidied myself up and sent Zhang Chuyue a video call.
When the video call connected, I found that Zhang Chuyue on the other end seemed like a different person.
Last week, although she had slight dark circles under her eyes and looked like she wasn't sleeping well, yawning.
She didn't appear tired or listless.
But now, Zhang Chuyue looked completely changed.
Her complexion was sallow, her lips pale, and the dark circles under her eyes were very heavy.
Her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked extremely worn out.
But she still tried to smile at me on camera:
"Hello Qin Ze!"
Seeing her haggard appearance, I smiled and nodded.
But I also got straight to the point:
"Chuyue, where are you living now?
If it's convenient, I can come over tomorrow to take a look.
It's best if it's nothing.
But if it is, perhaps I can help you..."