Zhao Yan chuckled, "Right? I think this method is pretty good too."
Wu Jiaxin worried, "Sister Zhao, is this Huapi Gui easy to control? If we can't control it, will we suffer a backlash?"
Zhao Yan had also considered this issue while in the car.
So she decided to create three formations.
"Then we'll need to be cautious."
"Tomorrow we'll go to the market to buy things for making formations."
It was too late now to go to the market.
Flipping through the formation manual left by the old man, Zhao Yan searched carefully and decided to use a Ghost-Trapping Formation in the inner circle.
Outside the Ghost-Trapping Formation, she would create a Thunder-Startling Formation, and outside that, a Ghost-Exterminating Formation.
If the Huapi Gui misbehaved, activating all three formations would guarantee it a "refreshing" experience.
After deciding on the formations, Zhao Yan took the bamboo slips and studied the Huapi Technique again.
She studied for several hours, reading the Huapi Technique until past three in the morning. Feeling tired, she lay down on the table to sleep.
At eight in the morning, Zhao Yan opened her eyes punctually, noticing a jacket draped over her shoulders.
She yawned, picked up the jacket, and looked out the window. "Xin Xin, still washing the car?"
"Yes, Sister Zhao. The car was dirty, so I washed it. Aren't we going to the market today?" Wu Jiaxin said, wiping the water droplets from her forehead.
"Mm, let's go after breakfast," Zhao Yan said softly.
After buying six bowls of noodles, Zhao Yan ate five, while Wu Jiaxin hadn't even finished one.
"Sister Zhao, my uncle's family is coming to visit me in a few days."
"Can I borrow your car to pick them up?" Wu Jiaxin asked softly.
Zhao Yan picked up her phone. "If you want to borrow it, go ahead. I'll give you another twenty thousand yuan."
Wu Jiaxin quickly waved her hands. "No need, Sister Zhao. You've already helped me so much. I haven't even repaid you for buying the cemetery plot for my sister before."
"It's nothing. I've earned some money these past few days. Twenty thousand yuan is very little for you."
As she spoke, Zhao Yan transferred twenty thousand yuan.
"Quick, take it. After you've taken it, we need to go to the market," Zhao Yan said, then walked towards the car door.
Before Wu Jiaxin could say more, Zhao Yan opened the car door and sat in the back seat.
They went to Jiangcheng's largest general merchandise market.
After browsing for over four hours, they finally bought what they needed.
Fortunately, Wu Jiaxin was there to help her haggle.
"Miss Zhao."
As Zhao Yan was about to put the items into the car, she heard someone call her from behind. She turned to look.
Seeing the distinctive bald head, Zhao Yan smiled. "It's you, Uncle Hu."
Hu Guangtou held two free-range chickens and chuckled. "I wasn't sure at first, but I didn't expect it to be you."
Then, Hu Guangtou looked at the car next to Zhao Yan and let out a sound of admiration, giving her a thumbs-up. "Miss Zhao, you bought a car this quickly!"
He glanced at the car's emblem and exclaimed in surprise, "Wow! It's a Mercedes!"
"Just earned a little. Where are you headed, Uncle Hu? I can give you a ride." Zhao Yan said softly.
He waved his hand. "No need, Miss Zhao. I'll just take the bus back."
Speaking of which, Hu Guangtou asked, "By the way, Miss Zhao, did Granny Zhang come to find you before?"
"She did, why?" Zhao Yan asked.
Hu Guangtou sighed. "It's nothing. Granny Zhang returned to her hometown from another province last week. She said her daughter was sick and possessed, and she asked me if I knew anyone with cultivation. I immediately recommended you."
"Unfortunately, there was a fire at her house, and both mother and daughter were burned to death."
"That's truly a pity," Zhao Yan said.
"Indeed. I heard them say that her daughter, Chen Hui, even won third place in a beauty pageant last month."
"When I saw her daughter as a child, she was dark and scrawny, like a little field mouse. I never expected her to win third place in a beauty pageant. People say that a girl changes a lot as she grows up, and it seems to be true."
Zhao Yan smiled. "Speaking of beauty, I have a project here."
"When you have time, Uncle Hu, come over to my place and help me with some publicity."
"No problem, no problem. I don't have much to do this year anyway," Uncle Hu said.
"Then if there's nothing else, we'll be going now," Zhao Yan said softly.
Uncle Hu nodded, then seemed to remember something. He handed one of the free-range chickens to Zhao Yan and said, "Miss Zhao, take this."
Zhao Yan waved her hand, but Uncle Hu directly placed the chicken inside the car.
He then sped off, as if afraid Zhao Yan wouldn't accept it.
Wu Jiaxin looked back at the chicken. "Sister Zhao, this free-range chicken is quite beautiful."
Zhao Yan hummed in agreement. She happened to need chicken blood, so this saved her the trouble of buying a chicken.
"Xin Xin, let's go back."
Back at the shop, Zhao Yan grabbed the chicken's wings, lifted its head, and positioned its neck over a bowl. With a swift movement, she drew blood.
Afterward, she set up three formations. Fearing that three formations might not be enough, she spent another two hours drawing two talismans.
Feeling that it was almost time, Zhao Yan entered the center of the formations and sat cross-legged, holding a small bell in her hand.
Two candles were placed on either side. Zhao Yan's lips moved, and she began to chant, "Six directions, divine envoys, summon their ghost names, Upper Night Ghost, Huapi Ghost, Dead Ghost, Old Ghost, Lust Ghost, all are summoned by me."
"Those who descend, in Zhao Yan's name, I summon those who come, and bid them farewell!"
"Hoo! Huapi Ghost! Hoo! Huapi Ghost!"
"Clang!"
The bell in Zhao Yan's hand shook gently, and the flames of the candles on both sides rose rapidly.
A gust of cold wind blew from behind her.
The chandelier overhead swayed back and forth.
Wu Jiaxin sat on a stool, feeling the temperature around her drop significantly. She couldn't help but hug her arms, watching Zhao Yan nervously.
Especially as the chandelier above swayed incessantly, she saw a wisp of black mist appear before Zhao Yan.
Zhao Yan opened her eyes and quickly reached forward.
A pale-faced male ghost looked surprised and tried to retreat, but found he couldn't move back an inch. The strength was too immense.
"Why have you summoned me?" the Huapi Ghost asked arrogantly, seeing that it couldn't pull its hand away.
"Sign a contract with me. I'll offer you incense, and you'll work for me," Zhao Yan said softly.
The Huapi Ghost's eyes fell on Zhao Yan's face, and it chuckled, "Alright, then use your blood to appease me."
"No, you're mistaken. The contract I want is a master-servant contract, not that you are master and I am servant. It's the opposite; you are my servant, and I am your master," Zhao Yan said.
The Huapi Ghost, which had been smiling, suddenly frowned and roared angrily, "You think you're worthy!"
"Not worthy?" Zhao Yan said coldly and quickly retreated.
She threw a talisman forward. The talisman rapidly approached the formation, and with a hum, the innermost Ghost-Trapping Formation was revealed.
"Ten thousand formations, a myriad of phenomena, talisman formations, five soldiers! Go!"
The formation hummed and formed a circle of light, instantly trapping the Huapi Ghost within.