Taboo Mage - Chapter 169 - Dream

Suzhen glanced up at me and smiled, “In the city, you guys use washing machines for everything, right? In our village, that’s too wasteful. Generally, we wash our clothes by hand. Only when it comes to heavy winter coats, which are almost impossible to wash by hand, do we use a washing machine.”

I listened, finding it all a bit strange. Suzhen’s response seemed like she was changing the subject, yet not entirely. But if she wasn’t trying to redirect the conversation, it seemed she slightly was.

Overall, it just felt odd.

“Suzhen, have you had any strange dreams lately?” I decided to cut to the chase and asked directly.

Suzhen paused her hand-washing for a moment, then suddenly looked up at me, “You’re asking about Zhiqiang, right? I get what you mean. Did my dad tell you he dreamt that Zhiqiang had died?”

I nodded. The woman in front of me, who had seemed a bit timid, suddenly became unusually straightforward, and there was even a barely noticeable hint of sarcasm in her expression. I couldn’t help but take a sharp breath.

Could there be some secret here that I wasn’t aware of?

Suzhen suddenly threw the half-washed clothes into the basin, speaking with resentment, “That scumbag deserves it even if he’s dead. You want to know if I’ve dreamt about him? Of course, I have. He was just lying on the ground, complaining about being in pain. Serves him right!”

I was taken aback, partly by the hatred in Suzhen’s eyes, and partly because she had indeed dreamed the exact scene the Village Chief described.

It seemed it truly was a message from the dead… meaning the Village Chief’s son was really gone.

“I… I’m not sure if I should ask, but there’s something I feel needs to be said. About the issue between you and Zhiqiang, I don’t know much and won’t comment. But no matter how deep the resentment, the man seems to have passed away. If he’s appearing in your dreams, it shows he still considers you his wife. He’s dead, but his body hasn’t been found yet. Remember, even with your grievances, you shared a life together for so many years. You wouldn’t want him to remain lost after death, would you? How would you explain to your child that there isn’t even a grave for their father?”

Speaking softly, I was careful not to upset Suzhen, for fear that any potential clues might be lost.

Suzhen pursed her lips, lost in thought, but it seemed she had taken my words to heart.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, “I don’t know what kind of dream he showed my Father, but he told me it was completely dark around him, and he couldn’t see anything. He felt something crawling into his body, causing unbearable pain.”

I nodded. It seemed that the dreams varied for different people. To his Father, Li Zhiqiang only mentioned the intense pain, while to his wife, he added more details.

Just as we spoke, we heard the chugging sound of a tricycle coming from outside the courtyard. I looked up and saw the Village Chief returning on his tricycle, with a pile of paper effigies and wreaths in the back.

Seeing this gave me a headache. I had already told him not to buy anything except for what I had specified. It seemed the Village Chief was worried his son wouldn’t have money or clothes in the afterlife, so he bought more joss paper.

I sighed softly and went over to help unload everything. Suzhen returned to doing laundry, as if nothing had been said earlier.

After unloading the joss paper and wreaths, the Village Chief pulled me aside and handed me a black plastic bag, asking me to check its contents.

I peeked inside and saw the items: peachwood, red string, yellow talisman paper, copper coins, and white candles. Everything was in place, so I nodded and took the items into the house.

The Village Chief followed me in and asked when we could start the soul summoning. I glanced at the clock on the wall; it was just past three. The ritual was best performed at night.

So, we spent the entire afternoon sitting in the courtyard. Although we chatted about various other topics, everyone was silently anticipating the night.

After nine, Suzhen prepared dinner. We ate quickly, and I asked if she would stay the night.

The Village Chief initially wanted her to stay, but Suzhen seemed quite unwilling.

I suggested she might be scared; women tend to be more timid. The Village Chief relented and allowed her to go back to her parents’ house.

It was just past 11:30, and the Ghost Gate was about to open. I instructed the Village Chief to bring out a mirror that Li Zhiqiang had used and place it opposite the wardrobe. Then, I lit a white candle and set it inside the wardrobe.

Next, I took out a red string, tying one end to the candle and the other to my wrist. Once everything was ready, I turned and reminded the Village Chief, “Remember, no matter what happens, as soon as the candle is about to burn out, you must pull the red string to bring me back to consciousness.”

The Village Chief nodded and sat down on a stool by the wardrobe. I took a deep breath and silently recited “Amitabha” in my heart. Jue Chi, you must protect me.

This soul summoning method was taught to me by Zhou Qifang. It’s simpler and safer than the usual methods, but it requires a partner. If something goes wrong, there’s a risk of being trapped in the mirror forever.

Opening my eyes, I took out a sheet of yellow talisman paper, lit it using the candle flame, and tossed it into the fire basin in front of me. Then, I tightly grasped the knife-shaped coin and copper coin in my right hand.

The not-so-sharp knife-shaped coin dug into my palm. Resolutely, I pressed down harder, and blood began to flow slowly along the coin.

Taking a deep breath, I gently placed my bloodied palm on the mirror and silently chanted an incantation.

A mirror at midnight is often the source of fear, yet now I needed it to find Li Zhiqiang. I stared unblinkingly at the mirror, watching as the blood trickled down its surface.

My reflection stared back at me, unkempt after over a week without a bath, my hair resembling a bird’s nest. Even so, I couldn’t help but curl my lips slightly.

In the next moment, the mirror surface swirled like a vortex.

I released my hand and stepped back quickly. As my reflection faded, the outline of another figure appeared.

First, a pair of bare, filthy feet emerged, followed by a body clad in a tattered suit, and then a neck soaked in blood.

“Zhiqiang!”

Upon seeing the full figure in the mirror, the Village Chief shouted and fainted.

I cursed silently. I should have insisted Suzhen stayed. Now with the Village Chief unconscious, if I followed Li Zhiqiang’s ghost, who would watch the candle…