Chapter 008

The malevolent spirit watched Mrs. Jiu's actions from the side, seemingly aware that she was powerless against it, and did not react much.

Madam Jiu tied the other end of the red thread to her middle finger. Once everything was ready, she pulled sharply on the thread. However, what she did not expect was that while everything had been normal when tying the red thread, the bride's hand felt as heavy as a stone when it was lifted by the thread. No matter how hard Madam Jiu tried, it would not budge at all.

Leveraging her innate ability of seeing both the living and the dead, she learned quickly, personally conducted several operations, and captured a few wandering spirits. Before long, she gained some local fame, and gradually, people began to pay her to perform rituals to exorcise evil. The elderly couple naturally welcomed this, and their lives gradually improved.

Ding Ding raised his head and slapped my head, instantly leaving me dazed. He said, "You really are something; at least wait for me to finish speaking."

I originally thought it would be like in the movies, quickly burning a few yellow talismans, and then using cinnabar and peach wood swords, among other things. I didn't expect it to be over just like that

Just two years after their marriage, Mrs. Jiu became pregnant. In anticipation of the soon-to-be-born Ding Ding, and in order to improve their living conditions, it was at that time that Mrs. Jiu began to study the practice of exorcism and warding off evil.

Madam Jiu was startled when the red thread suddenly snapped. Coupled with the excessive force she had just exerted, her body fell backward, knocking over everything on the cabinet behind her

However, just as I was planning this, I looked down and saw the report that Brother Wang had handed to me. Thinking that I would probably encounter him again at work tomorrow, I couldn't help but shiver.

The death of Ding Ding's father was due to an accident during a ghost-exorcising session conducted by Madame Jiu. At that time, although she had gained some fame, she had not been in this line of work for long. When faced with a particularly powerful ghost, she was still at a loss, even with the help of books.

Ding Ding's father, feeling somewhat inferior due to his own circumstances, and having had a child later in life, hoped for his son's safety and well-being. Therefore, he had no objections and acquiesced to Madam Jiu's wishes

Madam Jiu married at the age of forty-two, just as Lin Tian told me. Ding Ding's father is a cripple. At that time, it was shortly after a major revolution had ended. People like Madam Jiu, who had the ability to see ghosts since childhood due to their yin-yang eyes and would occasionally mention their experiences to others, were treated very harshly. In short, surviving was already a stroke of good fortune.

Yet I am quite fortunate that he rushed in without thinking; otherwise, I truly do not know what fate I would have met. ... Therefore, seeing him grinning like that, I find myself at a loss for words, unable to scold or praise him, which leaves me somewhat amused and exasperated.

As soon as she spoke, everyone from the groom's family was taken aback

I am busy saying that this is completely something that cannot be accustomed to

She took out a red thread soaked in dog blood from her bag and carefully tied one end around the bride's middle finger. The ghost kept staring at her, but Mrs. Jiu pretended not to see him, though her legs had already begun to tremble.

I asked Ding Ding, what is the purpose of this red line

After much difficulty, she finally got married, but Ding Ding's father is a cripple, and he can only do some simple odd jobs, earning very little. At that time, Mrs. Jiu and her husband were living a very miserable life. However, with the reform and opening up, social attitudes gradually changed, and the people around them no longer rejected them as they did before

Ding Ding said that such situations do exist, but encountering this little glutton is of too low a level, so there is no need for these

I spat at him and, after thinking for a long time, decided to discuss Wang Ge's matter with him. After all, it seems that Ding Ding still has some skills, unlike those charlatans by the overpass.

However, Dante said otherwise; if it could be explained using physical concepts, it would not be so complicated

Ding Ding placed the earthen jar on the table and began to explain to me, saying that it was actually quite simple. I have placed gold ingot candles in this jar, which are the favorite items of starving ghosts. Without me having to lift a finger, they would run into the jar by themselves. In the end, he added, however, I have tried them myself, and gold ingot candles are not tasty.

The family heard the commotion and hurriedly rushed in, startled to see Mrs. Jiu lying on the ground. They quickly helped her up and were about to inquire about the situation when they noticed her pale face as she cried out, "It's no use! The bride's soul is going to be taken away by this evil spirit!"

Ding Ding nodded slightly and said, "Yes, that's it."

I thought the same, so I refrained from asking further. Having just escaped danger, I still feel a lingering fear. It is best not to discuss such matters any further

Tintin rummaged through his large bag for a moment and pulled out a reddish-brown object

Ding Ding continued to eat the instant noodles in the bowl. Seeing me like this, he said to go to the bathroom if I wanted, and not to shake here.

At a glance, I recognized it as the small clay pot I had previously played with at Mrs. Jiu's doorstep. Could it be that this is used for ghost-catching?

I shouted, how could there be no impact! Seeing a dead person turning around next to you every day, aren't you afraid? I'm afraid!

Ding Ding said, that just now was a little starving ghost. As soon as I came in, I saw it, and it was quite easy to subdue it

I am well aware that this person acts without considering the consequences. If I had not just been saved by him, I would have directly swung my fist at him. But now, I can only hold my breath and listen to what he wants to say.

The red thread is tied around the middle finger, known as "soul lifting." There is an old saying that "the ten fingers are connected to the heart," indicating that the heart is the dwelling place of the soul. By doing this, Madame Jiu intends to lift the suppressed soul and then consider how to subdue that fierce ghost

It was later proven that these were merely Mrs. Jiu's one-sided thoughts; a name may influence a person's fortune, but it cannot guarantee lasting peace.

Madam Jiu initially hesitated, but the family was quite generous. After some discussion, the elderly couple inevitably felt tempted. That evening, they set off to visit the family.

Ding Ding listened to my words and said, I don't think there's anything to be afraid of, you go to your job, and he does his ghostly business, it doesn't affect you at all

This greatly distressed her family, and after seeking medical help in vain, they finally thought of the supernatural. It wasn't long before they found their way to Madame Jiu's home.

It was only then that I understood how my first bowl of instant noodles disappeared. However, when I heard Ding Ding mention "subduing," I immediately became interested and hurriedly asked him how it was done

Madam Jiu knew that they could not see this ghost, but in her moment of desperation, she could not recall it. She pointed at the bed and shouted, "It's lying right next to the bride! Covered in blood, with a mole next to its right eye!"

Madam Jiu did not believe in this evil, pulling hard on the red thread in her hand, causing her fingers to ache. Finally, with a "pop," the red thread broke.

But to my surprise, he did not mention how to face Wang Ge, but instead shared with me his experiences from childhood

Madam Jiu understood that this kind of ghost, which directly harms and kills, has reached the level of a vengeful spirit, and ordinary methods would likely be of little use. She stepped out and pondered for a long time in the living room, while the family sat beside her, incessantly urging her. With no other choice, Madam Jiu steeled herself and walked back in.

In my view, this is fundamentally a normal occurrence; everything has its critical point, and once exceeded, the red line will naturally break.

I gave him a glance and asked, "Is that it?"

As soon as Mrs. Jiu stepped into the house, she sensed something was amiss; the entire room was filled with a heavy aura. In the past, she would have steered clear of such places. However, having accepted the payment, she could not back out now. With no choice but to muster her courage, she reluctantly entered the bride's room.

I can only change the subject and tell Ding Ding about what I just saw regarding those feet. After I finished speaking, he put on a very serious expression, but it looked quite unnatural on his somewhat youthful face.

Everyone saw him speaking incoherently, yet they could not see the bloodied man. However, upon noticing the bride's weakened state, they became anxious, just as Mrs. Jiu had said. The groom rushed in with a knife, grabbing Mrs. Jiu and demanding to know where the evil spirit was, exclaiming that he would kill it.

Ding Ding said that his father originally did not have the surname Ding, and neither did Mrs. Jiu. However, after he was born, Mrs. Jiu recalled the hardships she had endured throughout her life and became increasingly worried that her child might see things he should not. She only hoped that her child could grow up safely and soundly, and never end up as destitute as she had been for most of her life. Therefore, she named him Ding Ding, after the sound of the ghost-repelling wind chime that hung at their door. She hoped that, just like the sound of that wind chime, when others called his name, the pronunciation would protect him from all evils.

After the Spring Festival, Ding Ding was born. This coincided with the third anniversary of Mrs. Jiu and his father's marriage. According to Lin Tian, his father died that year

He also said that at first glance, what is tied to the red thread are the fingers of the bride and my mother, but in reality, it binds the souls of the two individuals. This is akin to the legend where everyone has a red thread tied to their feet by the deity of love, which will never break no matter where you go. However, during the process of exorcism, this red thread was materialized. Once the thread breaks, it signifies that the soul has departed from the body

Ding Ding shook his head and said he did not know how to explain it. In any case, it is akin to the commonly mentioned vengeful spirits in folklore, which are quite difficult to subdue and may even bring misfortune upon oneself.

At this time, a family in the neighboring village had just married a new bride, but shortly after returning home, the woman began to experience a series of strange occurrences. First, she inexplicably fainted, and later she was unable to get out of bed, lying there for several days. She became so emaciated that she was almost nothing but bones.

I pondered, could it be that ghosts are also categorized into different ranks? It seems that those I encountered before were all of a lower tier.

Little did she know that as soon as she entered, she was startled. The bride was lying on the bed, and beside her was a man covered in blood. He stared at her with blood-red eyes, fixated on her.

He laughed innocently, and spoke very naturally, but I was completely defeated! I truly cannot understand how Mrs. Jiu raised such a son who, without a clue about his actions, can still smile shamelessly while telling you that he has done something wrong.

Ding Ding said that the ghost has suppressed the bride's soul. That is why she remains in a deep sleep, and over time, a person will eventually die.

He put down the bowl in his hand, licked his lips, and said, "Actually, I have experienced a situation like yours, and much earlier than you. You only started encountering ghosts in the past couple of days. Once you see more ghosts, you will gradually get used to it"