It was already 11 p.m., but the street here was still bustling, especially with all the food stalls doing roaring business. I walked up behind Rufina Howard and looked at her.
"Little girl, are you buying or not?"
At a barbecue stall, Rufina Howard stood in the middle, drawing odd looks from several customers.
"Alright, alright, I'll give you half off. What do you want to eat?" The boss finally lost patience and spoke up. Rufina Howard brightened instantly, but after a moment, her expression fell again. She shook her head and turned away.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Huh? Ethan Zhang."
I kept smiling. Turns out this little girl was torn over whether to get some grilled skewers, since she was almost out of money. If she ate this meal, she'd have to go hungry tomorrow.
"Go ahead, eat as much as you want."
I ordered a bunch of skewers, and Rufina Howard devoured them ravenously. Judging by how she ate, it seemed she hadn't had a proper meal in days.
Later, I learned she worked at a small workshop nearby, earning twenty yuan a day. Luckily, they provided her lodging. But since she had to pass by here every night, tonight she finally couldn't resist and mustered the courage to step up to the food stall.
I sighed and shook my head helplessly.
Which workshop do you work at? Such low pay. Also, aren't you underage?
Hey, it doesn't matter. As long as I have enough to eat. But tonight, I was really hungry. Thanks, Ethan Zhang.
By the way, why don't you go catch ghosts for people? That pays much better.
Rufina Howard shot me a glare.
Spiritual arts aren't meant for making money. If I do, my cultivation will all be for nothing. I refuse.
I let out a sound of surprise. Just thinking about Father Mason, who is quite skilled in the Mount Mason Order, but his family is destitute. Then I recall the other Mount Mason Taoists I've met before, whose skills are mediocre, especially Miles Mao. It makes sense—they're always obsessed with material things.
After midnight, I looked at the table covered in bamboo skewers. Rufina Howard was finally full, looking happy. She grabbed my hand and placed her other hand on my forehead.
Ethan Zhang, your luck isn't good lately. Be careful. Especially avoid Wisteria Estates in the next few days.
I let out a sound of surprise and looked at her.
Rufina Howard looked at me with a cheerful smile.
Alright, alright, Ethan Zhang. You treated me to food, so tell me—if I can help, I will.
Suddenly, something occurred to me.
You Yin-Yang Masters know a lot about formations, right?
Yes, what's up, Ethan Zhang?
I hesitated for a moment, looking at Rufina Howard's sincere eyes. I felt bad about lying—after all, I'm an adult, and it's hard to lie to a girl barely in her teens.
I have a friend—a ghost—who's trapped in a powerful formation and can't get out.
I thought of the red-haired ghost, who's helped me more than once. But when I asked Ji Yuner, she firmly refused to help bring the red-haired ghost out.
Oh? Who set up the formation? Someone from Mount Mason? Naraku? Ghost Mound? Or Brahma Sound?
Suddenly, Rufina Howard asked seriously.
I think it was Zhong Kui!
Where? Where? Tell me quickly! Rufina Howard suddenly got so excited she jumped up like a child, as if she'd discovered something fascinating.
You're that interested?
Rufina Howard nodded her head like a pecking chicken, banging on the table and bench in excitement.
You don't know? Zhong Kui's formations are incredibly powerful—even ancient texts don't record them. They're Taoist, but way stronger than anything the Mount Mason Order can do!
I made a sound of acknowledgment, looking at her in confusion.
Formations usually fall into two categories: defensive and offensive. They have a core, a head, and a tail. That's the general structure. But the ones from Mount Mason, Brahma Sound, Ghost Mound, Naraku—they're too crude. They're not real formations at all.
As Rufina Howard explained, I nodded. She was young, but right now she seemed like the teacher and I was the student.
Actually, formations are endlessly varied. In our Yin-Yang arts, passed down for over two thousand years, a complete formation needs not just a core, head, and tail, but also a soul and a body. Most sects have lost this knowledge. Only I, the last Yin-Yang Master, know it. Hehe, impressive, right?
I was left dumbfounded, clapping my hands and responding absentmindedly.
Wow, impressive.
I told Rufina Howard where Exile Town was, and warned her that my ghost friend was fierce. If he tried anything, threaten him with the chance to leave, and run if things go wrong.
After giving Rufina Howard three thousand yuan for travel expenses, I said goodbye.
Wait, Ethan Zhang, you're heading to Wisteria Estates, right? Take this and come with me. I'll teach you something. It's simple but practical.
I nodded. After 1 a.m., I returned home. As soon as I entered, the lights were on. My dad was half-asleep, still waiting for me.
Dad, go to bed now.
Qingyuan, you're back. I just had a dream. I'm a little scared.
I smiled, grabbed a tissue, and handed it to my dad. He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
I'm fine, aren't I? What did you dream about?
Hey, believe it or not, I just dreamed that when you were a kid, you suddenly disappeared in that yard. I kept searching, but couldn't find you. Haha.
I forced a smile.
Lying back in bed, my mind was full of Wisteria Estates. Rufina Howard had just taught me a formation, supposedly effective against ghosts.
I began to think about how to quietly get rid of that ghost. Once Father Mason's night patrol leaves in a few days, I plan to act and deal with the ghost.
Thinking about my childhood made me so angry I couldn't sleep. I got up.
I have to destroy you.
I clenched my fists and glared fiercely out the window. It was in this very room that the ghost came for me, and I mysteriously fell ill. Luckily, my father's old friend, an elderly Taoist, saved me.
Thinking back, that night, the ghost outside the window had a look of utter contempt, as if playing with me. My anger kept rising.
All day yesterday, I kept imagining that ghost being torn to pieces. Now that I'm back, I can't calm down at all.
Just then, something strange happened in my throat. I coughed, and a ball of black flame burst out.
Oh, Ethan Zhang, with that scary look—are you planning to eat someone?
How did you get out?' I asked in surprise. In the flames, the red-haired ghost's figure gradually appeared.
Your evil intent—I felt it. Right now, you're radiating malice all over. I can sense it clearly. Hehe, so what is it? Are you planning to kill someone? Or a ghost?
A ghost.
I answered bluntly.
Well, set your own issues aside for now. Did you tell that bitch Ji Yuner?
I smiled and nodded.
She said bringing you out is impossible.
The red-haired ghost looked at me angrily.
I'll be honest, Ethan Zhang. The Doom Star is coming. If you don't let me out soon, something terrible will happen. Don't blame me for not warning you. You'd better persuade Ji Yuner to let me out.
I smiled faintly.
I've found someone to help you—a girl in her teens. She might have a way to get you out.
Damn, what use is a snot-nosed kid? I've helped you several times, you...
She's a Yin-Yang Master, and knows formations...
Suddenly, I saw the anger fade from the red-haired ghost's face. He smiled and brushed his red hair.
A Yin-Yang Master, huh? Not bad. Sounds interesting.
She's helping you, you know...
Hehe, who do you think I am? I wouldn't harm a little girl. Don't worry—if I get out, I'll thank her.
I looked quietly at the red-haired ghost, then spoke.
She's my friend. If...
Enough, Ethan Zhang. Mind your own business. Be careful these days—I sense heavy malice in you. I almost don't recognize you. Ghosts love people with strong evil intent.
Then the flame shrank into a small ball and darted back into my mouth.
I sat down and looked at my hands. Including tonight, every time I went to Wisteria Estates and saw a ghost, I couldn't think of anything else—my mind was filled with one thought: kill.