The Mystical Feng Shui Files

Master said in a deep voice, “Don’t panic! Prepare the talisman, red thread, and bring me the cinnabar!”

I hurriedly followed his orders. Master took the box containing the cinnabar, opened it, grabbed a handful, and ran a few steps before leaping forward, scattering the cinnabar in an instant.

“Ah…” The piercing scream of the malevolent ghost was unbearable, sending shivers of agony deep into our bones.

I clenched my teeth, took the red thread, and started running around the female ghost. Soon, I had circled her twice, trapping her within.

“Talisman!” Master shouted, and I quickly handed it to him.

Master formed a finger seal and, as the female ghost turned around, he struck her with it.

With a loud “bang”, the female ghost was flung out, hitting the boundary marked by the red thread and then harshly knocked back to the ground, trembling in a heap.

I turned to look.

Shi Zhu had bled too much and lay dead on the ground, his death gruesomely apparent.

It was the same with the others; blood pooled everywhere beneath them.

I felt a vindictive satisfaction, presuming the female ghost recognized these people who had tormented her and had slashed them in revenge.

But the scene was too gruesome. The few who were still able to move, like the village head and two other older villagers, also had blood streaming from their eyes and were limp on the ground, struggling to crawl forward.

Thinking of escaping?

I jumped in front of them, “Village head, surprised, aren’t you?”

The village head shuddered, looking up at me, “You…” He turned back to my master, “Master! Little master! If you spare me, I will reward you handsomely…”

My master, holding a piece of red cloth, covered the female ghost with it on the ground, grabbed it, quickly balled up the cloth, and stuffed it into a bag made from red cloth.

The bag, marked with a talisman, was specifically used to contain malevolent ghosts that couldn’t be destroyed.

This needed to be taken back to the temple for a proper sending-off.

After dealing with this, Master came over and coldly snorted at the village head, “Hmm! Those who live in sin will ultimately destroy themselves! This is your retribution; take heed. Ziwu, let’s go!”

“Coming!” I responded and, without another glance at the village head and his companions, turned and followed my master down the mountain.

These people, who committed so many evils, even though they hadn’t all perished, we wouldn’t bother further; letting them fend for themselves was enough.

As we passed Shi Dan’s house, my master paused and said, “You have a few minutes, go quickly and come back!”

I was immediately delighted, as I had been regretting leaving without seeing Shi Dan again.

It turned out my master had noticed this.

I knocked on the door, “Shi Dan! It’s me!”

“Brother? I’m coming!” Almost simultaneously, Shi Dan’s voice came through, followed by the sound of the door opening, and soon Shi Dan’s head peeked out.

“We’ve finished our business, and my master and I are leaving! Just wanted to let you know!”

“You’re leaving now?” Shi Dan seemed surprised and soon looked sad, lowering his head, “Thanks, brother, and master for saving my life…” He glanced back inside the house where a woman stood by the door looking at us, “I’ll take good care of my mom!”

I also felt a pang of sympathy, considering that in Stone Village, there were conscientious people like Shi Dan.

Moreover, during my soul separation, I had seen Shi Dan’s mother persuading people to treat that woman well.

“If you ever get a chance to visit Jiang City, remember to find me on old street!” That was all I could say to him.

Shi Dan nodded, then suddenly looked up, his eyes sparkling in the dark night, “Brother, I will definitely leave here one day!”

I nodded, glanced at the woman inside the house, and left with my master.

I walked quite a distance before turning back, still able to see Shi Dan and his mother standing there. One stood at the house door, the other at the courtyard gate. This scene reminded me of when I left home with my master, the woman who claimed to be my mother waving at me with a smile from the doorway.

“Go ask them if they’d like to come back to Jiang City with us. If they agree, let them pack up and follow,” my master suddenly said.

I looked up in surprise at my master. “Master…”

“Didn’t hear me?” he said, gazing into the distance. “You’re the only one at the shop. If I have to travel far one day, there’ll be no one to look after you or the shop! Their faces show purity and kindness; they could help.”

“Alright!” I replied, excitement bubbling up as I turned and ran back.

Shi Dan was thrilled to see me return. “Brother, you’re back again?”

“My master asked if you two would like to come with us to Jiang City. The shop needs help!” I blurted out, equally excited.

Shi Dan’s joy was palpable, and he turned to shout, “Mom, did you hear that? The master asked if we want to go to Jiang City with them. They need help at the shop!”

I looked up at Shi Dan’s mother. She was thin, but I could see tears in her eyes.

“Auntie, if you don’t want to…”

“No, no!” Shi Dan’s mother quickly said. “As long as Shi Dan and I have food to eat, we’d be willing to work hard!”

“Well…” I was about to say it wasn’t necessary, but Shi Dan dashed into the house.

“Brother, wait a moment. We’ll pack up and go with you!”

Honestly, they were the fastest packers I’ve ever seen. They didn’t have much, just a few clothes, and a bundle was ready.

Shi Dan’s mother carefully strapped the bundle onto Shi Dan’s back, closed the house door, took one last look, and then turned to me. “Little master, let’s go!”

I was used to being called “little master” by now and happily led them to catch up with my master.

Shi Dan’s mother bowed deeply to my master, and Shi Dan even tried to kneel, but my master stopped him.

“No need for that. Just do your best working with Ziwu.”

“Okay! I will!” Shi Dan said loudly.

“Let’s go. We can catch the bus in the county by dawn.”

Shi Dan was so excited, he kept bouncing and chatting with me non-stop.

As for what would happen next in Stone Village, we wouldn’t interfere. My master said there would be a resolution in a few days.

Our line of work is a bit of a rogue business; we avoid dealing with authorities whenever possible. So, we wouldn’t report it, but rest assured, this matter would be resolved soon.

Once I calmed down, a question popped into my mind. Why would my master suddenly take in two people like this?

Besides, I’ve been with my master for years, and it’s always been just the two of us at the shop. When we went out, sometimes he took me along, and we’d just close the shop.

Why say we need more help now?

Still, having company and someone to cook and do laundry made me happy, and I soon forgot the question.

I glanced back one last time at the receding Stone Village and thought I saw the village head’s wife standing at the village entrance, seeing us off.

I quickened my pace to catch up with my master and continued forward.

By dawn, we reached the county, found a stall for breakfast, and caught the first bus back to Jiang City.

Once at the shop, my master asked me to help the mother and son settle into two empty rooms, then left it at that.

The three of us began cleaning. I dusted the ritual instruments, Shi Dan’s mother cleaned the rooms, and Shi Dan fetched water and mopped the floors.

I didn’t expect that as soon as we returned, someone would come knocking.

The bell at the door jingled, and a voice called out, “Excuse me, is Master Wu here?”