Chapter 24: Malevolent Ghost
Li Hanyan held her and said to Xiao Xu, “Ke Yan says she wants to pass the shop on to you. Are you willing to accept?”
“Ke Yan? Who’s that?” Xiao Xu looked up at her in confusion.
Ke Yan patted her on the head from the side and said, “Hehe, it’s me.”
Xiao Xu disgustedly pushed her hand away. “Oh, it’s you. Why are you giving me the shop? I don’t know how to run it.”
“Because you like blue dresses just like me. I think you’ll love them just as much as I do!” Ke Yan’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at her.
“Is that all you saw when you went into my room?” Xiao Xu squinted at her.
Ke Yan looked at her in confusion and said, “What else was I supposed to look at? That’s the only thing in your room worth looking at.”
“Ptooey! Although dresses are indeed my favorite, aren’t the paintings on the walls beautiful?” Xiao Xu poked her arm in anger.
“There were paintings? Forget it, it’s not important. So, are you willing or not?”
Xiao Xu thought for a moment and decided to accept. After all, this female ghost had specifically named her. She couldn’t interfere with her sisters’ mission. So, Xiao Xu nodded in acceptance.
Meanwhile, Li Hanyan and Liu Chuxia were overly quiet and peaceful.
“Hanyan, am I too useless?” Liu Chuxia looked up at her with moist eyes.
“Nonsense. Don’t listen to Xiao Xu’s nonsense. How many ghosts and monsters have you encountered so far? And don’t you remember how talented you were during the assessment? You’re just not used to it yet. A few more practical battles will be fine,” Li Hanyan said, holding her hand reassuringly.
“Big Sister Hanyan, we’ve agreed. I’m willing,” Xiao Xu suddenly flashed over and said.
Liu Chuxia was on the verge of tears, but she held back her fear and gave Xiao Xu a hard knock on the head. Then she self-ignited an Itching Talisman. Li Hanyan had just given this to her, saying she should use it on Xiao Xu at night. But she couldn’t stand it anymore. Again and again, did she really think she was easy to bully? Since she was her little sister, she had to be taught a good lesson.
Then she turned, her eyes red, and held up her already red hand to Li Hanyan. “It hurts~”
Li Hanyan quickly blew on her hand, as if coaxing a child. “Blow on it and it won’t hurt anymore. It doesn’t hurt, don’t cry.”
Then she held the person and said to Xiao Xu, who was rolling on the ground, “Do you think you deserve this or not? Even a cornered rabbit will bite. Let’s see if you dare to bully your sister again. This is countless times stronger than the Itching Talisman I release.”
Xiao Xu was rolling on the ground in agony, shouting, unable to reply. Ke Yan said with some reluctance, “Isn’t this a bit too much? I’m really afraid she won’t be able to take it and her soul will just scatter.”
Li Hanyan glanced at her and said, “She’s not as weak as you think. If you were to take this talisman, it would probably be as you said. But she won’t. Alright, since you’ve both agreed, you can deal with her for the follow-up. Give her the ghost essence blood too. We’ll be leaving now.”
As long as the shop opened and the female ghost Ke Yan was satisfied, her obsession would automatically be resolved. All they had to do was get the ghost essence blood from Xiao Xu later.
When the two returned to the bookstore, they only saw Xiao Nian sitting at the front counter with a cold face.
“Xiao Nian, where’s Xiaojia?” Li Hanyan asked, looking at her.
Xiao Nian glanced at her and said, “She went on an urgent mission. The Information Group called and said there are four malevolent ghosts in Fenglin Wan Community.”
“I want A Xia to get some practical experience. Tell Xiaojia to leave one for her,” Li Hanyan said hurriedly. She was just worrying about Liu Chuxia not having a chance to practice. A malevolent ghost was perfect for her. Compared to the crying female ghost in that other case, this one was clearly more to Li Hanyan’s liking.
Xiao Nian nodded, made a phone call, and after a few seconds, looked at Li Hanyan and said, “Okay.”
“Thanks!” Li Hanyan quickly pulled Liu Chuxia into the elevator to go back to their room to change clothes.
“A Xia, change into something simpler. Don’t wear a dress.”
“Got it. But I want to ask, what’s a malevolent ghost?”
Li Hanyan glanced at her and explained, “A malevolent ghost is actually similar to an obsession ghost like Ke Yan. It’s just that they are formed through a different path. One only has obsession, while the other has resentment plus obsession. Malevolent ghosts have no thoughts and can only act on their own instincts, so it’s impossible to resolve their resentment and obsession through communication.”
“And malevolent ghosts usually appear in groups, much like some animals, right? So sometimes, in an emergency, but with ordinary people around, we’ll say there are animals on the loose. People in the circle will generally understand. We can first beat them until they’re severely injured, then deliver them to the afterlife. We can also kill them directly, but except in extreme cases, it’s generally not recommended because delivering them can enhance a Spirit Master’s strength, while killing them has no effect.”
Liu Chuxia nodded, her gaze towards Li Hanyan full of admiration.
Li Hanyan felt uncomfortable under her gaze and could only say dryly, “Go change your clothes.”
Liu Chuxia chuckled softly and said, “Okay~” and then went into her room.
Li Hanyan also went into her room, quickly changed her clothes, and came out, waiting for Liu Chuxia at her door.
After waiting for a short while, the door opened. Liu Chuxia was wearing a pure white t-shirt, black sweatpants, and a pair of white sneakers. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and she was carrying a black crossbody bag. She looked simple yet sharp, cool and handsome.
Li Hanyan was stunned. She had rarely seen Liu Chuxia dressed like this. The feeling of her heart fluttering like a deer came back again. Li Hanyan quickly averted her eyes. “Ahem, let’s go.”
Liu Chuxia watched as Li Hanyan walked quickly ahead after speaking and smiled faintly. She ran a few steps, linked her arm with hers, and said with a smile, “Why are you walking so fast?”
“It’s nothing. I just don’t want to keep Xiaojia waiting. I’ll give you a few evil-dispelling talismans and tracking talismans later. I’ll teach you how to use them when we get there,” Li Hanyan said, feigning composure.
Liu Chuxia looked at her with a beaming smile and said, “Okay.”
In preparation for practical combat, Liu Chuxia had actually already custom-ordered a crossbody bag, which she was wearing now. It had four small pockets in the front for commonly used talismans, and larger pockets on the sides for small peach wood swords. The inside could hold some less commonly used items, as well as some daily necessities she needed to bring out. This bag was made with Li Hanyan’s advice; otherwise, if Liu Chuxia had just fumbled around on her own, who knows what it would have turned out like.
The two arrived at the address, went up to the floor indicated in the message from Jiang Jiajia. The incident was on the fifth floor. They couldn’t find the elevator, so they took the stairs.
Liu Chuxia, panting, leaned on Li Hanyan for a short rest before walking towards the room.
Li Hanyan frowned and said, “It seems I forgot the most important thing.”
“What?” Liu Chuxia asked, slightly out of breath and looking at her in confusion.
Li Hanyan glanced at her and said, “Your stamina is too poor. Starting tomorrow, we’ll practice swordsmanship together, and then go for a run after.”
“Ah? No way, right? Hanyan~” Liu Chuxia said, acting spoiled and tugging on the corner of her clothes.
Li Hanyan was now like a strict teacher, completely unmoved by her beauty. “Acting spoiled is useless. You must practice!”
Liu Chuxia had no choice but to accept. “Alright~”
The two entered the room and saw Jiang Jiajia cracking sunflower seeds, with three malevolent ghosts lying neatly at her feet. When she saw them, she pointed to the bedroom, indicating that the remaining malevolent ghost was inside.
“Xiaojia, what’s the situation with them? Why did the malevolent ghosts suddenly appear? It usually takes some time to find them,” Li Hanyan asked in confusion.
Jiang Jiajia sighed and said, “These malevolent ghosts were all formed from people who died recently. The reason is still unknown.”
Li Hanyan frowned slightly. “The Information Group doesn’t know the reason either?”
Jiang Jiajia shook her head, then looked at Liu Chuxia and said, “Patriarch Liu probably knows.”
Li Hanyan blocked her line of sight. “Don’t look at her. She doesn’t know anything.”
Jiang Jiajia chuckled softly. “Look at you, so protective. Fine, I won’t ask her. Go on. I’ve already sealed that bedroom with a small formation. It’s enough for you guys to play for a long time.”
Li Hanyan felt that something was not right with her words, but she didn’t pay it much mind.
Li Hanyan brought Liu Chuxia to the bedroom door and instructed her, “Burn an evil-dispelling talisman as soon as you enter, then wave the small peach wood sword in front of you. Create some distance and then use the tracking talisman, understand?”
Liu Chuxia nodded, her left hand tightly gripping an evil-dispelling talisman, her right hand already on the small peach wood sword.
“I won’t be by your side this time. Improvise. Remember, if you really can’t handle it, don’t force yourself. Call out to me loudly, understand?”
“Got it~” Liu Chuxia gave her a reassuring smile.
