Chapter 34

Ever since Gu Feiyin had been robbed twice in a row, she had come to deeply appreciate the hardships of human life. It seemed that one had to be constantly vigilant, or else face the agony of losing money-a pain she absolutely could not bear. So, whenever she carried a large sum of money while walking down the street, she was extra cautious, fearing another robbery.

Her heightened vigilance naturally led her to notice someone following her. She turned around and glanced back twice, spotting the same young man who had warned her to be careful on the bus earlier. Why was he following her?

She stopped and stared at him.

The sudden, eerie glare she shot his way sent a chill straight to his spine. Her pale complexion made her look as if she might take his life in the next moment.

Gao Cai froze for a moment before regaining his composure. “Hello, Miss Gu. I’m Gao Cai.”

Gu Feiyin replied with a simple “Hello. Do you need something?”

She thought for a moment. The name sounded familiar. Over the past few days, her coworkers had been gossiping about him, praising him endlessly-how he was good at this, great at that, and perfect in every way. They had even lamented how it was such a pity they couldn’t get an autograph or a photo with him due to the incident at the theater.

Gao Cai quickly explained, “I came here specifically to find you. Please don’t misunderstand-I’m not some stalker. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about what happened at the theater. It was a dangerous situation, and at the time, I didn’t know if you were friend or foe. After I woke up, I realized I had misunderstood you. Thank you for saving us. If it weren’t for you, all of us there might have died.”

More importantly, had they died, the truth behind their deaths would likely have been buried. Even if the authorities knew they were manipulated by ghosts into killing each other, they wouldn’t reveal the supernatural cause. Instead, it would either become a mysterious case or someone would be scapegoated, leaving the truth forever hidden. Their families would be left in unbearable grief.

The thought of this made him even more grateful. He said earnestly, “Thank you, Miss Gu. Truly, thank you.”

Gu Feiyin finally remembered why Gao Cai looked so familiar. He was the young man she had seen at the theater-the VIP guest that the higher-ups had been so keen on impressing! Her demeanor instantly warmed, and she grinned, “No need to thank me. I’m just glad you’re all okay. By the way, that troublemaking ghost snuck into our amusement park from outside; it has nothing to do with us. Please don’t misunderstand.”

Gao Cai was momentarily stunned by her smile before replying, “Don’t worry. I won’t hold the amusement park responsible for the ghost. If anything, we’re all victims.”

Gu Feiyin sighed in relief. “That’s great to hear. Our amusement park is really fun.” VIP guests were truly VIPs-so understanding and reasonable. Now the kind boss wouldn’t have to fret and sigh every day.

Gao Cai said, “I’ll come find you again tomorrow.”

Gu Feiyin was puzzled. “Tomorrow? Why?”

Gao Cai hesitated before explaining, “I prepared some gifts to thank you, but they’re in my car, which isn’t here right now. It’s getting late, so I’ll bring them to you tomorrow.”

Gu Feiyin’s eyes lit up. “Alright, see you tomorrow!”

Gao Cai stammered, “Uh, okay.”

For some reason, he felt a hint of eager excitement in her dark eyes, which made him uneasy.

After bidding farewell to Gu Feiyin and watching her limp away into the night, her swaying figure gradually disappeared into the darkness. A cold wind blew past, making him shiver and snap out of his thoughts. He turned and left the alley.

Though Gu Feiyin seemed eerie and hard to approach, she was actually a good person-better than most people he had met.

Suddenly, his phone rang. He looked at the screen; it was Zhang Daoist.

He had immediately contacted Zhang Daoist when the incident occurred, so it made sense that Zhang Daoist had arrived by now.

He answered the call. “Hello, Zhang Daoist. Yes, we’re fine now… Don’t worry, there were no casualties. Someone saved us. Alright, send someone over to check things out. We were lucky this time, but others might not be so fortunate.”

Zhang Daoist replied, “I’m tied up with something here, but I’ll send my colleagues over. They’re quite capable; dealing with a few ghosts won’t be a problem. By the way, why were you, a big celebrity, taking the bus in the middle of the night?”

Gao Cai said, “I just wanted to go for a walk. I didn’t expect to run into such trouble. Anyway, I’m heading home now.”

Zhang Daoist said, “Alright then. Be careful on your way.”

“Got it.”

After hanging up, Gao Cai glanced back one last time. All he saw was a gray haze; the street was completely deserted.

…

Gu Feiyin returned to the unfinished building, feeling elated. She couldn’t believe her luck-not only had she eaten hot pot, but she was also about to receive gifts! She didn’t need more bottles and jars, and though she’d have to donate most of any money she received, even a little was better than nothing.

With this, she might be able to move her hot pot plans for the year after next to next year. She could eat hot pot next year!

Being generous, she planned to share some of the benefits with the Neighbor Miss and the Old Lady. Once she received the gifts, she’d buy them some candles or something, ensuring their meals were covered for the next two or three years.

Life was truly getting better. She used to never dare dream of eating hot pot, but now it was part of her plans.

Gu Feiyin happily tucked the ten yuan she had saved from not buying a box lunch-thanks to the hot pot dinner-into her coffin. Then, she grabbed her flyers and glue and headed out. Before leaving, she asked the Neighbor Miss and the Old Lady, “Do you want to come with me for a walk?”

The Neighbor Miss and the Old Lady glanced at her. They had intended to turn away, but under the dark, piercing gaze of her Long Black Straight Hair, they lowered their heads and floated out after her.

The night was pitch black, with snow beginning to fall. It was bitterly cold. Her activity-posting small flyers-was technically illegal. If caught, she could face jail time or fines. She didn’t dare go out during the day, but the dark night was perfect for her “operation.”

She rubbed her icy hands together, applied glue to the back of a flyer, and stuck it onto a wall.

Her flyers were made by folding an A3 sheet several times and cutting it into pieces about half the size of her palm. They didn’t need to be large-just big enough to write on. She used a thick pen to write large, clear letters, ensuring passersby could easily read them.

However, the walls were already covered with various advertisements, making her flyers less noticeable. Most of the ads were for things like locksmith services or document processing. She couldn’t help but sigh, “I didn’t expect even small ads to face such fierce competition.”

The Neighbor Miss held a bag while Gu Feiyin pulled out a flyer, applied glue, and slapped it onto the wall, pressing it firmly.

Unlike the other ads, her flyers didn’t include a phone number for easy contact. She didn’t own a phone-it was simply too expensive. Although she had saved over ten thousand yuan, she couldn’t bring herself to spend a thousand on a phone. It was just too much.

She diligently posted about fifty flyers, covering the route she usually took after work. When she felt it was late enough, she grabbed her bag and headed home. She had work the next day and couldn’t afford to stay out too long; being tired and falling asleep on the job would be unacceptable, especially after the kind boss’s hot pot treat.

The Red-Dressed Ghost had also come to the unfinished building to avoid trouble. She had been showing up every night lately, enjoying herself by whipping her chains around on the rooftop and occasionally letting out a howl for reasons unknown.

From afar, she spotted the Long Black Straight Hair limping back with a small bag, followed by Jumpy and the Old Lady. Though the distance was great, the gloomy aura surrounding her was unmistakable, making her stand out in any crowd.

The ghost moved swiftly, appearing above Gu Feiyin’s head. Hovering in mid-air, she grinned and said, “How did your flyer posting go?”

Gu Feiyin looked up at her, her frozen face expressionless. “I posted fifty-five flyers. We should hear something soon. Let’s wait for good news.”

The Red-Dressed Ghost didn’t want to dampen her spirits, nor did she dare. “Good luck.”

“Thanks! I’ll have good luck!”

“…”

“Let’s hurry back. I’m freezing.”

After walking for most of the night, her hands and feet were nearly numb. All she wanted was to crawl into her coffin, warm up, and sleep soundly.

…

The next morning, Gu Feiyin was reluctant to get out of bed. Her blanket was so warm, and she could hear the howling wind outside her coffin. She couldn’t help but shout, “Is it still snowing?”

The Neighbor Miss: “…”

The Old Lady: “…”

No one responded. The Red-Dressed Ghost had disappeared somewhere. After rolling around in her blanket for a while, she finally pushed open the coffin board and got up. The cold had been so intense lately that she couldn’t even hold a pen to write flyers in the mornings. Thankfully, she had written extra ones earlier, so she still had enough for now.

As she got up, she noticed something unusual.

Gu Feiyin looked down at her leg, lightly patted it, and realized it wasn’t stiff anymore. She walked back and forth-it was perfectly normal, like a human’s leg. She could even climb five flights of stairs without breaking a sweat.

Was it healed?

She couldn’t believe it!

Gu Feiyin grinned. The heavens had finally smiled upon her.

As usual, she went to the neighboring bathroom to wash her face. The icy water splashed onto her skin, instantly waking her up and making her feel refreshed.

When she left, the Neighbor Miss and the Old Lady gave her leg a curious glance. Gu Feiyin patted her leg and said, “My leg’s healed. Hehe.”

The Neighbor Miss: “…”

The Old Lady: “…”

Passing by the steamed bun shop, Gu Feiyin couldn’t resist the urge to buy a steaming hot cup of Soy Milk. Freshly made, the aroma was irresistible, and a sip would warm her entire body. But it was expensive-costing as much as a Tea Egg.

Unable to resist the enticing smell, she splurged on a cup of Soy Milk. However, this meant she couldn’t afford the 1.5-yuan beef bun. Instead, she opted for a crispy Deep-fried Dough Stick, which only cost one yuan. Her breakfast budget remained within three yuan. Dipping the dough stick into the Soy Milk and taking a bite-it was so delicious, it almost brought her to tears!

But it wasn’t very filling. The dough stick was puffed up and hollow, disappearing in just a few bites. She was still hungry…

Oh well, she’d endure until lunch. Besides, Gao Cai was supposed to bring her a gift later. She wondered what it would be. As long as it wasn’t more bottles and jars, she’d be happy. She had enough of those to last a lifetime. Hopefully, he’d give her some money-even if she had to donate most of it, keeping a little was better than nothing.

She headed to work with anticipation, her thoughts consumed by the mystery of Gao Cai’s gift.

She waited and waited, and finally, around noon, her stomach growling loudly, the kind boss came to knock on her coffin. “Someone’s here to see you. Go check it out. Don’t put it off today. Be on your best behavior. If they offer you a job, agree to it first and have them bring the contract for me to review. There are too many scams in this industry; you can’t afford to be fooled.”

Gu Feiyin eagerly agreed and jumped out of her coffin, her eyes gleaming like a predator spotting its prey. The kind boss was startled. “Wait, Xiao Gu, your leg’s healed?”

Gu Feiyin chuckled. “Yep, my leg’s fine now.”

The kind boss said, “That’s good. Be careful and don’t get hurt again.”

“Don’t worry, boss. I’ll be careful. I’m heading out now.”

“Alright, go.”

The boss watched Gu Feiyin run off, rubbing his head in confusion. Yesterday, he had clearly seen her limping, her condition unchanged from when she first got injured. How had she recovered overnight, as if nothing had happened?

He pondered for a moment before shaking his head and walking away.

…

Gao Cai hadn’t really prepared any special gifts. He wasn’t particularly skilled at pleasing girls and didn’t know what would be appropriate to give. He was also worried that his choice might offend the master. He had heard that when Zhang Daoist took private jobs, he charged tens of thousands, or at least several thousand. So, he decided to prepare tens of thousands of yuan.

Both Gu Feiyin and Zhang Daoist were masters, and giving money seemed like a safe bet, at least foolproof.

To Gu Feiyin’s delight, it was exactly what she wanted. Seeing those thick envelopes, she was overjoyed. Truly, Gao Cai was a kind guest, not only understanding but also perceptive!

Gao Cai watched as she accepted the envelopes with a somber expression, unsure if it was a good or bad sign. Nervously, he handed her a piece of paper with his phone number on it. “Miss Gu, if you ever get a phone, give me a call. If you need any help, feel free to reach out.”

It was the first time Gu Feiyin had received someone’s phone number, and she found it quite novel. The thought of having a phone was thrilling. She took the card and said, “Alright, I’ll call you.” She was considering buying a phone to hang around her neck. Depending on how much money was left after donations, she might just bite the bullet and buy one. She had heard there were second-hand ones for a few hundred yuan, and she planned to check them out, even if it meant cutting back on food expenses.

Gu Feiyin returned to the haunted house with a bundle of cash. The kind boss asked if someone had come to offer her a job and how the discussion went.

Gu Feiyin replied, “Hmm? No job offer. Don’t worry, boss. I love working here. It’s a great job, and I’ll work even harder!”

The boss was speechless.

Carrying a large sum of money made Gu Feiyin quite anxious. On her way back, she was terrified that some thug might suddenly appear to rob her. For safety’s sake, she needed the Red-Dressed Ghost and others to protect her. This amount of money would take her two to three years to earn without eating or drinking, and losing it would be devastating.

“I think four ghosts aren’t enough. Last time, even with all four of you, I got robbed. This time, let’s have nine!” Without ten bodyguards, she wasn’t leaving the coffin today.

Red-Dressed Ghost replied, “No need for that. Didn’t we help you get it back last time?”

“You said there wouldn’t be any robbers last time.”

She was at a loss for words and couldn’t help but roll her eyes. How could she forget she was dealing with someone who hid ten yuan like it was a treasure before daring to step outside?

Of course, since Long Black Straight Hair had spoken, she couldn’t refuse. In the end, she summoned nine ghosts, making it ten with her, surrounding Gu Feiyin tightly. Not even a fly could get through. Only then did Gu Feiyin crawl out of the coffin. She walked in the middle, surrounded by ghosts, some missing limbs, others bleeding, emitting a terrifying Yin Energy. Red-Dressed Ghost led the way, occasionally glancing back, then turning away with a complicated expression.

Anyone else, even a Taoist skilled in ghost-catching, would be scared half to death by this formation. But Long Black Straight Hair was unfazed, as if nothing was amiss.

Moreover, as they walked, passersby seemed to sense something and kept their distance, not daring to come within five steps of Gu Feiyin.

Their destination was the Red Cross Donation Agency. Gu Feiyin had received a $50,000 reward and intended to donate at least half to accumulate some good karma.

“You really are generous. Last time you donated $30,000. How much are you planning to donate this time?”

Well, there’s no choice. Sigh.

Gu Feiyin held the money, contemplating secretly donating $10,000. Though it seemed little, it was still a donation… Before she could finish the thought, her stomach started to ache. Clutching her belly, she reluctantly handed over another $10,000. Yet, the pain persisted. Gritting her teeth, she took out another 10,000, totaling 30,000. Surely, that would be enough?

…Still painful.

She quietly added another 10,000.

Finally, the pain subsided, but her heart ached.

The staff were amazed and thanked her, saying, “Thank you. We’ll use your money to help those in need. Thank you.”

Red-Dressed Ghost exclaimed, “I can’t believe you’re so compassionate, donating another 40,000!”

Gu Feiyin hung her head, clutching the remaining 10,000. She didn’t even want to speak. Though 10,000 was a lot, she had once been a person with $50,000!

Oh well, time to go home.

She tucked the last $10,000 into the innermost pocket of her coat and bought a bag of candles from the nearby shop to distribute. “Thank you all for accompanying me again.”

Headless Ghost munched on a candle, saying, “No need for thanks. You’re doing good deeds, and helping you is just a small effort. Nowadays, thieves and robbers are too rampant, daring to rob in broad daylight. It’s outrageous.”

Red-Dressed Ghost added, “By the way, I’ve heard that buses have been having incidents lately, and people say it’s because of ghosts. Do you know who’s causing trouble?”

“No idea, probably some new ghost?”

“These ghosts are too bold, not fearing the consequences of attracting Taoists and Yin Messengers. If caught, they’ll suffer. I hardly dare to go out lately.”

“Me too. I used to accompany my son to study often, but now even schools have Special Unit personnel visiting, making me afraid to go.”

Gu Feiyin sighed, realizing she couldn’t buy a phone. “I can’t believe we’re all so pitiful. Life is really tough.”

The ghosts all looked at Gu Feiyin, rolling their eyes.

The nine ghosts escorted her to the alley entrance before leaving. Gu Feiyin first went to the hospital entrance for a box lunch. The Boss Lady, seeing a regular, added two extra pieces of meat, slightly soothing her pain from losing $40,000. Though the taxes were high, it was better than nothing. With this $10,000 and her savings, she had $20,000. In a few days, her monthly salary would be paid, adding another $1,000. Things were looking up.

After eating, she prepared to head home, waving to the Red-Dressed Ghost who was tormenting Zhao Xing. The ghost smiled as she lashed out, causing Zhao Xing to writhe in pain, staining the ground with blood.

Gu Feiyin didn’t linger, turning to leave, but noticed the Boss Lady suddenly fainting, collapsing to the ground. Her face was pale, and cold sweat dripped from her forehead. The boss quickly supported her, asking, “Did you catch a cold? Let’s go to the hospital for a check-up!”

The Boss Lady shook her head, saying, “No, it’s nothing. Just a bit dizzy, probably a cold. I’ll rest a bit and be fine. No need for a check-up, it’s a waste of money.”

Unable to persuade her, the boss said, “Then rest in the hospital for a while. I’ll finish selling the rest and come find you.”

The Boss Lady nodded, holding her head as she entered the hospital lobby.

Gu Feiyin followed her in. As soon as the Boss Lady sat down, she saw the eerie girl standing beside her. Startled, she said, “What’s wrong? I see your leg seems better. Be careful in the future.”

Gu Feiyin nodded, saying, “Yes, my leg is fine now. I’ll be careful.” She didn’t look at the Boss Lady but at the ghost tightly clinging to her.

It was a male ghost, appearing around fifty, with a fat head and ears, bald, and biting the Boss Lady’s neck with sharp teeth, eyes red with malice and cruelty.

Feeling Gu Feiyin’s gaze, the ghost looked up fiercely, shocked!

…Why was this Long-haired Woman looking at him as if she wanted to eat him? Wait, wasn’t she human? Could she see him?!

He thought she was just a woman with Yin-Yang Eyes, capable of seeing ghosts. He opened his mouth wide to scare her, “What are you looking at? Keep staring, and I’ll eat you!”

Gu Feiyin remained silent.

The Boss Lady felt uncomfortable, constantly touching her neck, sensing pain but finding no wounds. She didn’t understand what the eerie girl was looking at. It seemed like she was looking at her, yet not at her, but at something behind her. But there was no one behind her…

Feeling uneasy, she stammered, “Wha-what’s wrong? What are you looking at?”

Gu Feiyin glanced at the Boss Lady, then reached out to grab the ghost from her neck, shaking her head. “It’s fine now. Rest well.”

“Huh?”

“Rest well, take care of your health, and keep making those delicious box lunches.”

“…? O-okay.”

“Then I’ll be off, hehe.”

“…”

The Boss Lady was startled, seeing the girl’s hand wave near her ear, and the cold sensation on her neck vanished, along with the discomfort. Amazed, she wanted to ask more, but the girl had already turned and left.

With her leg healed, she walked faster, disappearing quickly.

The Boss Lady touched her neck, puzzled. What was going on today?

Soon, the box lunch boss finished selling and came in. Seeing his wife was alright, he said, “Are you too tired? How about resting tomorrow?”

The Boss Lady shook her head. “I’m fine now, no need to rest. I’ll rest at home tonight.”

“You rest, I’ll sell. If you wear yourself out, the money we earn won’t be for enjoyment but for hospital bills.”

“…”

 

 

The male ghost, held tightly in the Long-haired Woman’s grasp, struggled frantically. He stretched his limbs unnaturally long, trying to entangle her legs, but she effortlessly shook him off, unaffected in her stride. His mouth opened wide in a desperate attempt to bite her hand that was gripping his neck, but with her firm hold, his head could only rotate in a full circle, unable to even graze her fingers.

“Let me go! Let me go! Do you even know who I am? I’m Gui-Ge, a big deal! You better watch out, or I’ll make sure you regret this!”

“I said let me go! I’m warning you-I have connections. If you mess with me, you’ll never know peace for the rest of your life!”

Despite his loud threats, Gui-Ge was terrified. This Long-haired Woman was unlike any Taoist or monk he’d encountered before. She didn’t need any tools-no peachwood sword, no yellow paper talisman-to subdue him. She held him as easily as one would hold a chick. Gui-Ge hadn’t been a ghost for long; he had just started his revenge spree when he ran into this immovable force.

He had died in a car accident and had already taken revenge on the two survivors of the crash. Now, he was here to settle scores with his ex-wife. He couldn’t stand the thought of her living happily without him. She had ignored his pleas for reconciliation and remarried another man.

But just as he was about to strike, he was caught by this Long-haired Woman. Realizing he was outmatched, he switched tactics and began begging for mercy. “Please, spare me! I promise I won’t bother her again. I swear I won’t!”

“I wasn’t trying to hurt her-I was just playing around! Ah-help!”

Gu Feiyin acted as though she hadn’t heard a word. She carried him to a secluded alley outside the hospital, pinned him to the ground, and proceeded to pummel him until he was no longer recognizable. By the time she was done, he had been reduced to a small, round ball, like a marble. She popped him into her mouth and swallowed him.

She usually avoided eating such low-level ghosts-they were filthy and tasted like dirt. This one was no exception. She spat twice in disgust.

The Red-Dressed Ghost, who had followed her to watch the spectacle, asked hesitantly, “Not tasty?”

Gu Feiyin replied earnestly, “Terrible. I need hot pot to cleanse my stomach.”

The Red-Dressed Ghost blinked. “Hot pot does sound delicious.”

Gu Feiyin sighed, her thoughts drifting to the comforting warmth of a bubbling hot pot.

 

After finishing her box lunch and a ghost snack, Gu Feiyin felt stuffed. She decided to head home. Her flyers had been up for a day now, and she hoped for some good news. She quickened her pace, anticipation bubbling within her.

Unfortunately, when she arrived, all she saw were plastic bags hanging from the mulberry tree, swaying in the wind. Not a single flyer had been returned with a response.

Her shoulders slumped. “Looks like not enough people have seen my flyers.”

The Red-Dressed Ghost chimed in, “Well, that’s obvious. Only a hundred or so people have seen them, and anyone who might know about Mu Mountain is probably outside that group.”

Gu Feiyin nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right. I shouldn’t lose hope. Tonight, we’ll put up more flyers-let’s use all two hundred remaining!”

The Red-Dressed Ghost hesitated, then sighed inwardly. She wanted to say that these flyers were probably pointless, but she knew better than to argue.

In the end, she joined Gu Feiyin in the flyer-posting mission.

With the Red-Dressed Ghost’s help, the task went much faster. She could fly and float, covering ground at an impressive speed. While Gu Feiyin painstakingly finished one street, the ghost had already completed three.

Gu Feiyin was pleased with their progress. Determined to find Mu Mountain, she resolved to plaster flyers across all of City A.

“Tomorrow, we should see some results.”

 

The next day, as Gu Feiyin returned home from work, she noticed a crowd gathered in the alley. Stretching her neck to see what was happening, she spotted several Taoists clad in yellow robes, holding peachwood swords.

Her heart skipped a beat. Why were Taoists here? What was going on?

Not daring to linger, she took a detour back to the unfinished building where she lived. She crouched by the window with two small ghosts, watching the commotion from afar.

“What’s happening? Why are Taoists here? Did you two cause this? Did you go out and scare people again?”

Neighbor Miss and the Old Lady stared at her blankly, their expressions unreadable.

Gu Feiyin shrugged off their silence, accustomed to their lack of reaction. “Good thing they didn’t come here to perform rituals. Otherwise, you two would be in trouble. You should lay low for a while. Sigh, this world-there’s no peace anywhere.”

Neighbor Miss looked as though she might cry blood tears, while the Old Lady struggled to hold onto her broom.

 

Meanwhile, Old Man Wang was fervently praying, his grandson sitting nearby, munching on a lollipop. The boy’s father covered his eyes and said, “Your grandpa’s getting old. Sometimes we have to humor him. We need to be filial.”

The boy nodded. “I know. Grandpa likes to play, so we play along.”

“Good boy. Just remember, don’t believe everything he says.”

“I know, Dad.” The boy took another bite of his lollipop. “Dad, maybe you should buy some fish for Grandpa. It might help his brain.”

“…Alright.”

Old Man Wang paid no attention to their conversation. He had not only invited Taoists to perform rituals but had also bought peachwood swords and other items online. As one of the few who knew the truth, he felt it was his duty to take action.

 

Gu Feiyin was uneasy. That night, she didn’t dare go out to post flyers. She stayed in her coffin and tried to sleep, though the constant banging and scratching noises made it difficult. She turned over and managed to drift off.

The next morning, she went to buy breakfast. At the bun shop, the Boss Lady was chatting in hushed tones with a table of customers, her demeanor secretive. The shop owner handed Gu Feiyin two steaming beef buns. They were warm and comforting in her hands. She took a bite, savoring the soft, chewy dough and the generous, flavorful filling.

Soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks were delicious, but she was too hungry to wait for them. Beef buns were more filling.

As she walked away, the Boss Lady continued her whispered conversation. “You all need to be careful. There’s been ghost trouble again. Yesterday, Old Man Wang hired Taoists to perform rituals. Who knows if it worked?”

One of the customers asked nervously, “What’s going on? I haven’t heard anything.”

“You haven’t seen the white flyers posted everywhere? They’re all over the place in this area.”

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“Plenty!” the Boss Lady replied. “Look at what they say: ‘Do you know where Mu Mountain is? If you do, write the address on paper and hang it on the mulberry tree behind the unfinished building, and I’ll find it.’ Who writes something like that? And how would hanging it on a mulberry tree make them know? You know mulberry trees are associated with ghosts and the underworld. Our ancestors warned us-never plant mulberry trees in front of your house or willows behind it!”

“So Old Man Wang thinks there are ghosts living under those mulberry trees, and they’re the ones asking for directions!”

“Exactly,” the shop owner added. “We heard from a neighbor on the next street. She saw shadows flying in the sky at night and white flyers fluttering everywhere. She thought she was imagining things, but the next morning, she found a flyer stuck to her door! She was so scared she fell ill and hasn’t come back from the temple yet.”

“That’s terrifying!”

“If you have time, go get an amulet for peace. Better safe than sorry.”

“Alright, I’ll make sure to get one.”

“Don’t wait too long!”

 

Gu Feiyin was still planning to expand her flyer campaign to other neighborhoods. But she realized she couldn’t manage it alone-not even the writing part. Thanks to the Red-Dressed Ghost’s help, she had come to a crucial realization: more ghosts meant more power!

Winter nights were especially harsh for humans. The cold wind could practically blow her away, and her hands and feet were always freezing. If she got sick, all her money would go toward medical bills, which would be a waste.

Instead, she decided to enlist the help of the Red-Dressed Ghost to gather the Armless Ghost, Headless Ghost, and Middle-aged Female Ghost. They could help her post flyers, and she could pay them with candles. Candles were expensive, but the increased efficiency meant they could cover five, six, or even eight streets in a single night!

One candle per night was a significant expense, but she hoped the shop owner might give her a discount if she bought in bulk.