I closed my phone, looking at Nannan playing with Bai Ling'er, my heart burning with a fervent hope. This time, I've struck it rich. Just having a little ghost wander into my house is worth a million. This money feels like it fell from the sky.
After two minutes of happiness, I couldn't stay cheerful. People have hearts, and my lively, cheerful daughter had suddenly turned into a corpse. If I told Nannan's parents that she was no longer in this world, wouldn't they be heartbroken?
As I hesitated whether to call Nannan's parents tomorrow, she dropped Bai Ling'er and ran to me, saying, "Big brother, I'm sleepy. Can you tell me a story to lull me to sleep?"
I glanced at the sky, feeling a flock of crows flying overhead. God, you've given me a real challenge! But no matter what, Nannan is my lucky charm now, so I have to face the difficulties head-on.
After lulling Nannan to sleep, it was almost dawn. The main reason was that this little one wanted to hear stories, and not just fairy tales, but ghost stories.
This made me suspect she was deliberately trying to make things difficult for me. I don't know how to tell stories. I've barely watched a few episodes of cartoons since I was a child. Telling stories like this would be the death of me!
After thinking for a while, I ended up telling her about some strange and eerie things I encountered when I went south. To my surprise, the little one got more and more excited, constantly asking what happened next.
By the time I finally got her to sleep, it was already broad daylight. Yang energy rises and yin energy sinks, so a ghost's body naturally weakens. I whispered "sweet dreams" to her, sealed her soul with yellow paper talismans, and placed her in the mourning hall. This would allow her to sleep peacefully and also increase her ghostly aura.
Coming out of the mourning hall, I took down the lantern at the door and put it away. I saw Bai Ling'er coiled on the lounge chair, her anthropomorphic eyes staring at me intently.
"Awake?" I yawned widely. I had been busy all day and then up all night; even with my young and healthy body, I was starting to feel the strain. I then told Bai Ling'er, "Watch the house, I'm going to sleep for a bit. Oh, and if Huang San comes, tell him to wait, I need to talk to him about something."
"What do you plan to do?"
I stopped my foot, which was already moving, and looked at Bai Ling'er in confusion. "Do what? Are you talking about Nannan?"
Bai Ling'er didn't speak but nodded slightly.
"I haven't figured that out yet. I have her parents' contact information now, but I don't know how to tell them. Should I just tell her parents that their daughter is gone? Wouldn't they call me crazy? Besides, there's no greater sorrow than parents outliving their children. I'll tell them in a few days!"
I yawned again and walked inside, ready to get a good night's sleep. I was exhausted from yesterday and stayed up half the night, resulting in dark circles under my eyes. Looking in the mirror, I realized I looked years older. Indeed, staying up late is like slow suicide.
It seems I can't keep the lanterns lit every day. Otherwise, before I even make money, I'll be worn out.
"Stop."
After only a few steps, I felt a sharp pain in my chest, as if I had bumped into an ice block. I rubbed my chest and looked at Bai Ling'er, who was blocking my path, with annoyance. "What do you want? Just say it directly. If you have something to say, spit it out, don't play riddles with me."
"If... if Nannan isn't dead?"
Nannan isn't dead? What are you kidding me? Her soul has already appeared, how could she not be...
What did you say?
Not dead?
Bai Ling'er's words made me lose half of my sleepiness, but then I frowned again. This was simply impossible. Humans have three souls: the heavenly soul, the earthly soul, and the human soul. The heavenly soul is bestowed by the Dao of Heaven; upon death, it naturally returns to the Dao of Heaven. The earthly soul returns to the underworld, commonly known as a ghost. The human soul is attached to the physical body. When the human soul dissipates, the person dies. The human soul and the physical body are interdependent.
Nannan is the earthly soul, that is, a ghost. She cannot possibly be alive, because a living person's earthly soul cannot leave their body. As for the common saying of losing one's soul, it usually refers to the heavenly soul leaving the body.
"I've said what I needed to say. Whether you believe it or not is your problem. I'm going into the mountains to cultivate. You should honestly go back to your room and sleep." Bai Ling'er didn't give me a chance to ask further. As soon as she finished speaking, she vanished before my eyes with a swish, so fast that I didn't even see how she disappeared.
"Bai Ling'er, you're too much of a tease. You... you're really making me angry."
Did I see wrong? That can't be! If I can't even distinguish between the earthly soul and the heavenly soul, how can I be an Yin Gua Master? But then again, Bai Ling'er, although mischievous, has never lied.
I stood there, my raised foot neither moving forward nor backward. Finally, I stomped my foot hard. It was useless to say anything; I had to confirm it quickly, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully.
I returned to the mourning hall and carefully opened the yellow paper talisman. Nannan's small, emaciated body appeared before me. To be safe, I opened my Heavenly Eye, and upon seeing her, I gasped.
Damn it, Bai Ling'er was right. Nannan might not be dead. If she were truly dead, her body should be filled with death energy. But at the location of her chest, there was still a faint white mass of energy – a vital energy.
This means Nannan is not dead yet. Something must be sustaining her life. However, judging by the size of the white energy mass, I estimate it can only last until dark. If I can't find Nannan's physical body before dark, she'll be in real trouble.
"What a sin!"
What sleep? I immediately took out my phone and dialed the number I found online. The phone rang once and was answered.
"Hello, I'm Su Jiandong. Who is this?" His voice was calm, but with an undeniable coldness.
I cleared my throat and said, "Hello, I have news about your daughter."
Suddenly, I heard a commotion on the other end of the phone. A woman's voice, filled with tears, suddenly spoke.
"Where is my daughter? How much do you want? We have the money ready. Just tell us the location, and we'll send the money immediately. Please don't hurt my daughter..."
I frowned. What did she mean by that? Did she think I was a kidnapper?
Before I could explain, Su Jiandong's voice came through again.
"Take your wife away, don't let her cause trouble here." Then Su Jiandong continued, "Who are you? How do you know my daughter is missing?"
Su Jiandong's voice was steady, but I could sense a hidden anger in his words, like a volcano ready to erupt at any moment.
I understood his reaction. After all, his beloved daughter was missing; what father wouldn't be anxious?
"Ahem... I think Mr. Su has misunderstood. I saw your missing person notice online and found out about your daughter's disappearance. I am not a kidnapper; I am a good person..."
"A good person?" The person on the other end of the line was clearly taken aback, then continued, "Tell me, where did you see my daughter? As long as the clue is confirmed, I'll pay immediately."
I felt speechless. How should I explain this? Should I tell Su Jiandong that his daughter was about to die, and I only found out the clue after seeing her soul?
If I said that, he would definitely think I was crazy and call the police to have me arrested and sent to a mental hospital.
"Hello... hello? Are you listening to me?" Seeing my long silence, Su Jiandong on the other end urged me on.
"I'm listening, but the clue about your daughter is rather unusual. Perhaps we should meet and talk?" I hesitated before saying.
"Okay, tell me your location."
"I'm at..." After I told Su Jiandong my location, he replied, "I'll be right there," and hung up the phone.
Looking at the sleeping Nannan, I prayed that her physical body was nearby.