My master was a heavy smoker, always with a cigarette in hand, morning and night.
He was smoking now, looking relaxed and content.
But the moment I spoke, his expression froze, and he suddenly turned his head.
Frowning, he asked in utter shock:
"What? You were almost hanged by a fierce ghost last night? What happened?"
I pulled at my collar with a bitter smile.
A deep bruise was visible on my neck.
Upon seeing the bruise on my neck, my master's face immediately darkened, a look of gravity appearing.
Holding his pipe, he leaned in and touched it with his hand.
Then he asked in great surprise:
"So serious? What exactly happened to Xiao Qin last night?
Where did you run into these foul spirits?
Were the Eight Trigram mirror and the wild immortal claws in your hand unable to suppress them?"
Without hesitation, I recounted how, after escorting Brother Li away, I encountered the disfigured little female ghost on my way back to my rented room.
Then I was ambushed from behind by her mother, my neck caught by her tongue, and I was dragged into a dilapidated building and almost hanged.
Finally, I told him everything about being rescued by the masked woman, Qing Dai.
Throughout my story, my master's brow remained furrowed.
He stood beside me, smoking, his expression growing increasingly grim.
When I finished speaking, my master exhaled a puff of smoke:
"Damn it all, daring to touch my newly accepted disciple.
This mother and son pair truly have a death wish!
I'll handle this for you, and it'll be like adding more lamp oil..."
Hearing my master say this, my face lit up with joy:
"Thank you, Master!"
My master waved his hand:
"These are minor issues. If we don't eliminate such foul spirits, they'll continue to be a menace!
Sooner or later, they'll harm others.
That young lady named Qing Dai.
Since she could save you from the illusory ghost building and the fierce mother-son spirits, she's definitely not ordinary.
Xiao Qin, do you know her background?"
Hearing my master's question, I shook my head:
"I really don't know.
But Qing Dai and I have met before, not for the first time.
We met once when we took the冥车 (ming che) to Mount Longgang."
"Oh? You rode the冥车 together?"
I grunted, not elaborating.
But my master's expression turned even more peculiar:
"This woman, if she could save you from the ghost building, it's impossible she wouldn't know about the冥车.
Only the dead and those on the verge of death can see the冥车.
Once a living person boards it, their lifespan is shortened.
Why would she risk shortening her lifespan to travel to Mount Longgang with you?
Or perhaps, she herself is..."
My master held his pipe, his brow slightly furrowed.
He stroked the stem with his finger, lost in thought.
His words made me realize something too.
Indeed! If Qing Dai is so powerful, how could she not know it was the冥车?
The key point was that Brother Li mentioned when he left that she was the one who called for the car.
He also said she was my girlfriend and thought we were together, and he'd met her downstairs.
But shortly after, she saved me ten kilometers away.
Was it a coincidence, or has this Qing Dai been following me?
Could it be.
Qing Dai is that benefactor I can't see, but who has been secretly helping me all along?
Thinking of this, I quickly spoke:
"Master, could Qing Dai be the benefactor who has protected me for twenty years?
However, when I looked into her eyes last night.
I realized there was no difference between her eyes and those of a living person!
Instead, they were full of spirit and very beautiful.
Only her hands were a bit cold!"
My master continued smoking:
"I can't say for sure, as I haven't seen her myself.
I've only caught a glimpse of the spirit protecting you, and I didn't see clearly.
But foul spirits can change in myriad ways. If she is indeed a ghost,
She's a very powerful one.
It's not surprising that she can disguise her eyes.
Of course, this isn't the most important thing. She likely has no ill intentions towards you.
Whether she's human, a ghost, or the spirit protecting you, it's your good fortune.
At least, she wouldn't harm you.
If you meet her again in the future, express your gratitude properly!
If she's a ghost, offer her incense.
If she's human, host a feast."
I replied earnestly:
"Understood, Master."
My master let out a long sigh:
"Your fate is indeed an陰命 (yin ming, meaning a life tied to the supernatural or ill fortune), but your luck is good.
You always manage to turn danger into safety. In the future, do not commit evil deeds, and do more good.
That's all for today! Go do what you need to do!
Tonight, I will accompany you to face them.
Let's see how illusory that ghost building is, and how arrogant those fierce mother-son spirits can be!"
I must say, my master's words were very imposing.
He spoke with an air of casual confidence.
I had never seen my master in action before.
But just by guiding me with a single move using the ancestral master's incense ash, I managed to kill an evil spirit.
And with a casually acquired Eight Trigram mirror, bought wholesale from a factory, after he "dabbled" on it a few times.
It could awe the disfigured little female ghost into trembling and emitting black energy, showcasing his cultivation and strength.
I also felt a lot of anticipation for tonight's operation.
It wasn't just about adding lamp oil, but also about seeking revenge.
Last night, I was disoriented and almost hanged in that dilapidated building, becoming a substitute for the ghost mother and son.
If I don't kill this ghost woman, I feel a stifled rage in my heart...
Throughout the day, I felt restless and couldn't stay still in the shop.
I paced back and forth, frequently checking the time.
I wished for the sky to darken quickly so we could go and settle the score with the ghost mother and daughter sooner.
My master, however, remained calm, engrossed in playing Snake. I attended to any customers who came in.
We waited like this for the entire day.
It wasn't until 9:30 PM that my master finally turned off his computer, stretched, and said:
"The time is about right. Xiao Qin, let's call a car and head over now!"