in from here”The old man puffed on his pipe, blowing rings of smoke as he spoke: “Go to Baku Ku That place is not a good place to go, you know. People have died recently in Baku Ku, outsiders will be...My scalp tingled. Watching the hunched old woman pick up a wooden object and gesture with it, she chuckled, "What are you shy about It's normal between couples, right"

"Are you alright" I whispered. "Is it normal to be entwined with a ghost...”

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "There are both male spirits and female spirits, but no matter which kind, the living person's side will be invaded by evil spirits. Mild cases result in fever, severe cases damage their yang energy, and very few remain unharmed. So it's perfectly normal to come here to buy them."

I was a little surprised. After that night when I turned sixteen, I did have a serious illness, but in recent times, after Jiang Qiyun reappeared, I didn't get a fever.

"You're so young and beautiful, your husband must love you very much, better get a few more boxes." The old woman enthusiastically promoted this: "These are all made of talisman paper, remember to burn them for him when you buy them."

I flushed red, stood up, and waved my hand. "No, no more..."

When I ran out like an escaped prisoner, my brother was actually squatting at a stall across the street bargaining with someone by gesturing.

I couldn't understand what their gestures meant. In the end, my brother happily packed up their entire stall and took it away.

——Is my dad also such a crafty businessman

Even after leaving the Ghost Market, I still didn't find a store specializing in phones for the dead.

When we were going back, my brother said maybe there was something for sale in Xishi Market. He suggested that next time we enter from the most Yin place in Xishi Market and have a look.

It's a pity that I couldn't find a phone to burn. The next day, I went out and bought several sets of men's clothes, then went home carrying the treasure chest to the crossroads.

I casually wrote "Beitadijun" on a yellow paper, then drew a circle around it, and placed the聚寶爐 inside. Then I secretly burned my clothes.

Burning paper at a crossroads is an art. You have to draw a circle, opening facing the direction of the deceased's former home, and then scatter some burning paper money outside the circle for the Yin messengers responsible for transportation.

When I was done burning, I looked up and there was really a ghost appearing in front of me.

He held the yellow paper I burned, looking at the words "Emperor" on it, a pained and conflicted expression on his face — were they so afraid of the Underworld King

I hurriedly burned the rest of the paper money in my hand and scattered it outside the circle as payment for his hard work. He shook his head and sighed as he disappeared.

I let out a small sigh of relief. These ghost messengers seem to be very afraid of Jiang Qiyun...

"Mu Xiaqiao." Someone called me from behind, and I turned around to see Zhao Xiaoru!

What is she doing here!

I quickly covered the lid of the treasure pot and desperately covered it up, saying, “Ah, I’m burning some paper for deceased relatives…”

Zhao Xiaoru smiled faintly and nodded. "Well, your movements are very professional... You truly live up to your family's heritage."

Our Mu family's legacy should be that of a cunning merchant, right I think my brother inherited it well.

She walked up to me and whispered, "I heard your family sells antique feng shui items... I have something I want to discuss with you, is it convenient"

I scrutinized her face carefully. Her eyes weren't problematic, just a little bloodshot, and her complexion was slightly pale, but there were no signs of an unhealthy pallor around her temples.

“It’s convenient, I guess…but what do you have in mind I need to get home and cook dinner. I don’t have much free time.” I replied cautiously.

"Then why don't we sit on the bench over there" she said, pointing to a nearby bench.

I nodded. I wasn't worried about her acting strange in a place like this.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

"I wanted to ask, does your family have anything... that can calm people down My dad's been really mean to me lately..." she whispered. "He even threatened me with a knife yesterday... I..."

Her eyes turned red, and she started to cry.

I was speechless. She was already so old, and she was being domestically abused

“You... you shouldn't come to our family for this kind of thing, you should report it to the police!” I said.

She lowered her voice, sobbing as she said, "He's my father! If you arrest him, what will happen to me And...he...he was abusive towards me..."

I thought I heard wrong, this is not just a simple domestic violence issue anymore, right

“I heard my downstairs neighbor say that her husband used to be violent, and a feng shui master helped by rearranging their home layout. But I don't have enough money to hire a feng shui master. My classmate told me you sell feng shui items at your house, so I hope you can help...” she lowered her head and fidgeted with the hem of her clothes.

I saw a small bruise on her neck. She said her dad threatened to strangle her yesterday.

"I… I only have a little over two thousand. I know it might not be enough, these things are all so expensive… Could you possibly be lenient, or could I pay you back gradually later" She was crying pitifully.

“Let me ask my family. I’m not too sure about the prices either. If there’s something suitable, I’ll save it for you.” I stood up, carrying the treasure chest and heading home. I glanced back at her; she sat there, crying for a while before leaving in a desolate manner.

My brother, hearing this, widened his eyes and said, "I think she needs Officer Lu's phone number."

I shook my head. “She was more subtle today, but I think her dad didn’t actually physically hurt her, just attempted to. That’s why she didn’t report it. If things got out of hand, she’d be finished. But I don’t want her money.”

The thought of that money being earned in such a way sends chills down my spine.

The next day, Zhao Xiaoru actually came to class with one ear bandaged! In the hallway, she cried and said that her father wanted to cut off her ear last night and ended up cutting a gash.

My goodness, this isn't normal anymore, is it

"I can't bear to see it like this," I whispered, "How about I come over and take a look Even just arranging things requires proper placement and orientation."

She gratefully covered her face and nodded.

I've learned my lesson and asked my brother to come with me.

She came from a poor family and rented a room on the second floor of a small shop. The entire second floor was made up of rental rooms, and you had to climb a rickety metal staircase to get there.

As soon as we stepped onto the second floor, a thick haze of foul smells filled the air. I immediately took out my compass, and without a word, my brother turned around and slapped a talisman on Zhao Xiaoru's forehead.

"Uh, this... what's going on" Zhao Xiaoru was stunned.

My brother was inwardly astonished. Was she really a normal person

"It's nothing, it's just Jingxin being cautious. She doesn't want you to be troubled." My brother made up an excuse and pulled the talisman off.

I looked at the compass, knowing in my heart that trouble was brewing again.

The compass needle pointed down, its tip trembling slightly before finally coming to rest.

Acupuncture.

A place where corpses are hidden.

Zhao Xiaoru's home is in a place like this, it would be strange if she wasn't affected by this atmosphere.

In a daze, I heard a meow. I looked up and saw a pair of emerald green eyes staring at me from the balcony across the way...et up.The branches of the great tree still hung down like beads, swaying gently in the wind.The various fluffy ones huddled together beside me, their soft, snowy fur keeping me warm and allowing me to...