51

Capítulo 24

A thick mosquito net hung over her bed, covered with talismans. The yellow paper fluttered in the wind. Huang'e, who had been yawning, perked up at the sight. She immediately flew inside the net to investigate, marveling at its wonder.

Through Huang E's eyes, the mosquito net was filled with all sorts of things, including talismans, statues, and other items. Under the pillow was a book of white-robed mantras and a vajra.

What's even more ridiculous is that this young lady somehow got hold of a Thangka painting and hung it on the edge of the bed, where it hung down to cover the table and chairs.

I'm feeling down.

Of course, ghosts are everywhere, but Xiaoting and her friends' room is the only one that doesn't get haunted. They're truly natural-born parasites; the original inhabitants were defeated long ago and fled at the mere sight of them, all because of the tears they shed in their dorm room before.

What could possibly happen in such a blessed and secluded place?

“…Indeed, it’s quite unusual,” I said with reservation.

"Are there really ghosts?" Xiaoting asked worriedly.

"No." Realizing my answer was too decisive, I quickly added, "I didn't see anything."

“If you say there isn’t one, then there isn’t one.” She was extremely distressed. “But when I got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night and saw those things she had hung up… I think they’re scarier than ghosts.”

I couldn't help but laugh, and Xiaoting playfully slapped me.

Just then, the door opened, and I finally saw the lady who was afraid of ghosts.

Her surname is Wang, Wang Yuying.

Although my interpersonal relationships are extremely miserable, I've even heard of her, a classmate from another department. Apparently, she practices Tantric Buddhism and was previously a somewhat famous supernatural beauty (?), and even appeared on television programs.

She was naturally beautiful, but the dark, gloomy aura swirling around her forehead made her look extremely listless and irritable.

He glanced at me twice and said, "Oh, a heretical teacher of the end times who misappropriates sacred texts." His tone was quite disdainful.

I understand the saying "those in the same trade are often jealous of each other." But I don't plan to make a living in this industry, and she doesn't need to be so hostile. I wanted to settle things peacefully, but Xiaoting has never been one to back down.

"Hey, what nonsense are you talking about? It's our first time meeting, what did Xiaozhi do to offend you? Why are you insulting me like this?" She kept yelling and wouldn't let it go, no matter how I pulled her away.

“If you don’t want anyone to know, then don’t do it in the first place,” Wang Yuying retorted, turning to me. “Look how many evil spirits and demons are following you—at least fifteen! If you don’t repent and convert, you’ll regret it later. Don’t say I stood by and watched you die…”

I looked back at the empty space behind me, then at Huang E, who was making faces and winking at her face, completely oblivious...

This is the domain of psychiatrists, not my area of expertise.

Of course, I'm not saying she's definitely experiencing visual or auditory hallucinations; it might just be a habit of lying. It's best to see a doctor for this kind of problem… though it's not essential. Just turn on the TV and see how many seemingly respectable high-ranking officials blatantly lie without batting an eye; you can't blame a little girl for spouting such strange tales.

I raised my hands in surrender and pulled Xiaoting outside. "It's okay," I comforted her, "It's just talk, it's perfectly clean here."

With a bunch of idiots like you around, who would dare to cause trouble?

Xiaoting felt slightly relieved, but then her face fell again. "But she stays up all night muttering and crying, I can't stand it. Mo Niang, you need to think of something..."

…What could I do? Forcing myself to speak, I made up a story, “Go download the Great Compassion Mantra from the internet and listen to it before bed. I remember there are several versions, some of which are quite nice.”

She seemed a little more at ease, and her smile returned.

"What good is that?" Huang E looked at me suspiciously. "Why are you becoming more and more like a charlatan?"

I was speechless for a moment. If it really was a ghost, that would be fine; I could still talk to the ghost, and if not, I could even fight it out. If it was a monster, and I couldn't beat it, I could still rely on Huang'e. If Huang'e couldn't be relied on, I could still call for the old man to save me.

How can I exorcise a ghost if there is none? What can I do about this baseless accusation? I'm not a medical student, and I'm definitely not a psychiatrist.

"...If you wear headphones, you won't hear other people crying and yelling, so you won't be afraid, right?" I said sullenly.

"Pshaw, burying your head in the sand." This monster Huang'e actually tried to show off his idioms to me, and he used them very inappropriately.

I quickly forgot about it. Since Xiaoting didn't come to me to complain anymore, I figured everything was fine. But I never expected that the lady who called me a "doomsday evil master" would actually come to Shuo's place to find me.

Seeing her startled me. It had only been a little over a month since I last saw her. But she was thin and haggard; she was no longer a paper doll, but had stepped into the realm of the undead army.

"...I can't sleep." She knelt down before me, tears welling in her eyes. "Save me, Master! Save me!"

I was so scared that I stood pressed against the wall. Shuo was laughing behind the counter, covering his mouth, and didn't help me at all! Instead, Tang Chen abandoned his textbook and came over to help her up. "If you have something to say, just talk it out. You scared Hengzhi."

Huang E laughed until tears streamed down his face, "Oh my, Heng Zhi, when did you level up? Master!"

He shoved her away impatiently, telling her to go away, that she was just gloating.

"Uh," I said shakily, pouring her a glass of water. "What can I do for you?"

She wiped away tears, holding my hand tightly and refusing to let go, "They're harassing me so badly... Help me... Those ghosts, those ghosts..." She was extremely hysterical.

I tried my best to comfort her and asked her what she had seen. Her fear was probably not related to a lying habit. But when she said that ghosts were haunting her day and night, even coming to the coffee shop, I was dumbfounded.

Shuo may serve Chaos, believing in the balance of the Great Dao, and remain uninvolved in all matters. But in the place where she lives, no ghosts or monsters dare to cross the line. Even if Shuo doesn't take action, her Guan Haifa is no pushover. I personally witnessed Guan Haifa treat a demon like a mouse, playing with it until it was half-dead before letting it go.

The demon fled far away, and the strange occurrences of minor car accidents frequently happening at the entrance also ceased.

You'd be incredibly brave to have any ghosts or monsters following you to a witch's house like this... especially since I can't see anything.

I hesitated and pointed at the desolation. "Can you see... anything?"

She glanced at it and covered her face. "How terrifying! It's a hanged ghost! And its tongue is sticking out long..."

"Hey, who are you calling a hanged ghost?!" This enraged Huang'e, who lunged at Yu Ying, ready to give her a good beating. Tang Chen, seeing the situation escalating, quickly grabbed her. She struggled and screamed, "You insulted me? You bastard! I'll beat you so badly your own mother won't recognize you!"

I tried my best to explain that she had no ghost following her, but she didn't believe me and even threw a tantrum, accusing me of being heartless and refusing to help. "Is this how a psychic behaves? You'll go to hell if you just stand by and do nothing!"

To be honest, I suddenly felt disgusted. It's inexplicable; I have this terrible luck, I'm trying to escape it all, getting involved is just my own madness. Besides, I'm willing to risk my life because those people have a good relationship with me. Who are you to me? What good have you done for me? Have you ever said a kind word to me, or treated me well before?

When we first met, you called me a "wicked teacher of the end times." Now that I'm willing to listen to you, it's out of my Buddhist heart. I'm not a saint, and I'm repaying evil with good... So how can I repay good?

Neuropathy.

I frowned, really not wanting to talk to her, but she kept throwing a tantrum.

"Miss, if you keep making a scene here, how am I supposed to do business?" Shuo sighed. "You said you can't sleep, right? I'll give you something to hang by your bedside. If it doesn't work, then you can come and smash my shop again."

I stared at Shuo, completely baffled. She's always been reluctant to get involved, so what's wrong with her now...?

Then I saw her take out a dreamcatcher and give it to Yu Ying. I leaned closer to look, and I was stunned. It was Tang Chen's work, and it even had a high price tag on it.

She took it with some disbelief, cried a few more times, and then left.

Staring straight at Shuo, she shrugged. "I dislike unreasonable kids like this the most."

I suddenly had a bad feeling.

But after getting the dreamcatcher, Yu Ying really stopped bothering. I secretly asked Xiao Ting about it, and she said with a smile that although Yu Ying was still strange, the mosquito net and Thangka had been removed, and he slept very soundly at night, only occasionally talking in his sleep.

Although everything seems to have ended perfectly, there's an inexplicable knot in my heart.

A week later, when Tang Chen and I were having lunch together at the school cafeteria, Xiao Lian insisted on joining us and kept chattering to Tang Chen. I really admired her "as the saying goes, 'Heaven's movement is ever vigorous; so should a gentleman constantly strive for self-improvement'" spirit. Although Huang E was nagging in my left ear and Xiao Lian was nagging in my right, I could still barely tolerate it.

Unexpectedly, Miss Yu Ying also got involved.

She was still in her immortal army form, but her pale face had a faint blush, and she was meticulously made up. She awkwardly stood between me and Tang Chen, glancing at Tang Chen and biting her lip as she smiled.

Tang Chen was so startled that she moved her chair away a little. "...Wang, is something wrong?"

"You know my name." She gave Tang Chen's hand a charming pinch.

"Hey, what are you doing, touching me like that?" Xiao Lian scolded.

"What do you want to do to my Tang Chen? He's mine!" Huang E also got angry.

While they were bickering, Tang Chen gave me a wink, and we all fled in panic. "What happened?" he asked, still shaken.

"...Perhaps she discovered that you are exceptional." I replied tactfully.

He shivered.

"Xiao Lian does the same thing, so you're not necessarily scared." I tried to ease the tension.

“How can I talk to Xiao Lian? She’s a silly girl, and she treats me like she’s a fan of an idol.” Tang Chen replied sullenly, “Look at her, she’s so talkative, but she’s actually very shy and has never been unruly…” He shuddered again.

Actually, Yu Ying is prettier than Xiao Lian. But being righteous doesn't necessarily mean being good; sometimes it can make people think she's too good for them.

I didn't really think much of it when Xiao Lian chased Tang Chen all over the school. But when Yu Ying chased Tang Chen, I was worried for Tang Chen. Later, she stopped chasing him so closely because Miss Lioness came to the school once, and I guess she was scared too.

But she reluctantly came to me.

"Tang Chen has a girlfriend," she said to me arrogantly.

"I know, and I also know his girlfriend," I answered cautiously. If Miss Lioness ever comes to school, she'll definitely "greet" me, giving me a menacing glare. Rumors about her being a lesbian are spread because of that terrifyingly focused look in her eyes.

"Even if his girlfriend isn't at this school, it's none of your business." She looked him up from his feet with disdain.

"I don't want to wait in line." I quickly waved my hands frantically. "We're just good friends."

She clasped her hands together, her eyes full of coquettish charm. "He's great, isn't he? Brave, tenacious, and gentle... but he still loves me."

Huh? What are you saying?

Seeing my blank expression, she chuckled, "Stop pretending. Even if he's willing to let you into his bed, it's only out of pity. He still loves me the most."

Then she walked away with an air of arrogance and pride.

…The problem is actually quite serious.

I don't know who to discuss this with.

I told Huang'e, and she flew into a rage, "I knew all along that her mind was full of filth, only thinking about what she could do to Tang Chen! I'm going to kill her right now..."

"Come back here right now," I said coldly.

She was furious, plucking feathers and yelling. Luckily, I'm deaf in my left ear.

"Have you seen any cases like this before?" I asked. "I'm sure Tang Chen didn't sneak off to meet her... but why does she have these delusions? Or is there some ghost or demon I can't see violating her?"

"Go to hell with her!" Huang E refused to answer.

I thought for a moment and tried to persuade her gently. This old monster of ours might have already forgotten about eating Tang Chen, and instead treats him like a beloved toy that no one is allowed to touch. Things always need to be resolved… otherwise, if Tang Chen finds out, he'll be mortified. And if Yu Ying starts spreading rumors again… damaging Tang Chen's reputation is a minor issue, but if it gets back to Miss Lioness, that's a much bigger problem.

The matter is very serious for the young lady.

The day the lioness loses her temper, the old man's zero-death record will be impossible to maintain.

"Don't be so angry. We have to get to the bottom of this. Who knows where this blind little devil came from, using Tang Chen's name to seduce girls and ruin his reputation... Can you really let this go?"

I told her I knew Huang'e very well. She immediately patted her chest indignantly and promised to keep watch that night.

But after three days of surveillance, she returned bored. She said, "Don't mention ghosts or monsters; there wasn't even a fly or mosquito."

"You might as well send her straight to a mental hospital," Huang E said impatiently.

Since Huang E has said so, I think it really is a pathological problem, and there's really nothing I can do about it.

As the weather grew colder, some gossip reached Tang Chen. He was very unhappy, "That's completely untrue."

"...Did you have any erotic dreams?" I asked him, pretending to be nonchalant, but my ears were already red.