Зал астрологии с плотью и кровью

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"Of course, right now, the sooner the better!" Li Yang replied.

"Let's go then! Let's go together!" I waved to Fang Lei and Li Hai, and the four of us hurriedly headed towards the photo printing shop.

**********

Although it was expedited photo developing, it still took some time, so we decided to sit and wait at a nearby coffee shop. We chatted casually for a while, but the atmosphere was very tense because of the case and Cao Ying's unexplained disappearance, and everyone tried to avoid talking about this sensitive topic. Finally, the appointed time with the photo developing company arrived, and I immediately volunteered to go get the prints while they waited for me.

Upon entering the photo printing shop, the receptionist gave me a strange look, clearly remembering my earlier request for expedited printing. She then pulled a paper bag from a drawer and tossed it to me like it was trash. I immediately frowned. How could the service here be so awful?

"Your photos!" The receptionist's voice trembled slightly. I didn't say much, just gave her the money and took the photos out of the bag while she was giving me change.

When the photos fully came into view, I began to understand the receptionist's strange behavior. The portrait in the photo displayed a bizarre expression; it wasn't the original portrait I had created. The slight upturn of the corners of the mouth carried a cruel meaning, and the eyes flashed with a fierce light. Perhaps because Li Yang's hand trembled slightly when taking the photo, the outline of the portrait in the photo was a bit blurry, as if covered by a layer of fog, but fortunately, the face was still discernible. What surprised me was that the following photos were completely exposed, making the portrait completely illegible. Only the outline of a white head was visible, and the surface of the head resembled a white vortex.

I blinked, unable to tear my gaze from the photos behind me. The white vortex seemed to be moving, like a white black hole swallowing something. I shook my head, feeling a little dizzy.

"Sir, here's your change!" the receptionist called out to me.

"Huh? What?" I stared at her blankly. She handed me the money, and only then did I realize what was happening. I quickly took it. I forced a smile at the still suspicious-looking young lady and hurried out of the photo printing shop.

Book One: Three Ghosts of the City, Chapter Fifty-Nine: Genius A Bao

Book One: Three Ghosts of the City, Chapter Fifty-Nine: Genius A Bao

"Excuse me, sir, do you remember seeing this person before?" I stopped an elderly man with white hair and asked.

The old man glanced at the photo in my hand, then gave me the look of someone watching a monkey in a zoo, shook his head, and walked away. Sigh! This is the 869th old man I've asked today. I feel like an idiot! How could I have agreed to Li Yang's suggestion that we each take a photo and ask an old man if he recognizes the face in it?! I shook my legs and stretched my neck. Wandering around the streets for over five hours has left me feeling completely exhausted, but the results were the same: no one recognized the face.

"Damn it!" I sighed and leaned against a telephone pole. I wondered if Fang Lei and the others had made any progress; it was definitely not going to happen to me. I let out a sigh and continued walking, keeping an eye out for any elderly people so I could ask them something. Looking up, I realized I had unknowingly walked to the entrance of the Black Forest Bar. Since it wasn't open yet, the door was still closed.

"Would you like to come in and rest for a bit?" A familiar female voice sounded behind me. I turned around and saw it was Tian Niang! She was wearing tight jeans and a white shirt without buttons, tied only in a bow with a thin string. Through the open shirt, I could see a black lace bralette underneath. I had to admit, this woman was not only beautiful but also knew how to dress. She looked both youthful and vibrant, yet undeniably alluring and sexy.

After staring at her chest for a while, I tried to look away and said, "Do you have any wine?"

"Of course." Tian Niang smiled at me and then gently pushed open the bar door. I, blinded by lust, obediently followed behind her, leaving the task Li Yang had entrusted to me in Siberia.

Entering the basement from last time, Tian Niang took out a jar of wine from the cabinet. As soon as the seal was broken, a subtle yet refreshing aroma wafted out, instantly filling the room with fragrance. The wine's color shimmered with iridescent colors in the glass—could it be a cocktail?

"What kind of wine is this?" I picked up the glass, and the seven-colored light shone in my eyes like the aurora borealis, as if a seven-colored gem had been embedded in my eyes. The subtle fragrance was like a gentle hand caressing my sense of smell, taste buds, and then my heart, and a familiar feeling welled up in my heart.

"Illusions are only in the mind!" Tian Niang replied after taking a small sip.

"What?" This name is so strange. Are there wines with such a name? I looked at it again and said, "Is the color artificially created?"

"Of course not, this wine is made from a very magical flower through a series of processes. It's authentic flower wine!" Tian Niang gave me a knowing smile.

"A flower? What flower?" Although my biology isn't great, I honestly didn't know there was such a magical flower that could make seven-colored wine! Maybe if Aunt Tian told me, I could apply for a patent or something, wouldn't that be amazing? I've already started dreaming of getting rich!

"It's a pity that this flower is extinct," Aunt Tian said regretfully, nipping my get-rich-quick dreams in the bud.

"But it must have a name! What does it look like?" I persisted.

“It’s been extinct for too long. All I know is that it looks like a lily, but it has more petals—seven in total—and it can emit a seven-colored glow in the dark. As for its name, I don’t know either,” Tian Niang replied.

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, but my heart skipped a beat. I glanced down at the ring on my finger, the one I still couldn't get off. The flower on the ring did indeed have seven petals, but the whole flower was black. It couldn't be such a coincidence, could it? I looked up at Aunt Tian, who gave me an ambiguous expression, which immediately made me feel incredibly frustrated!

I took a sip of the liquor. It wasn't the mellow sweetness I'd imagined; instead, it was unusually strong, even more potent than Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor). I immediately frowned. Holding the liquor in my mouth felt like holding a ball of fire. My features contorted in pain, but with such a beautiful woman in front of me, I couldn't bring myself to spit it out—it would be incredibly embarrassing. So, I forced myself to swallow it. But the moment the liquor slid down my esophagus, the intense sensation vanished, replaced by a delicate fragrance and a comforting feeling, like a lover's first kiss gently touching my skin. Then came the warmth in my stomach. I thought this liquor would taste even better in winter. My whole body gradually relaxed, like the languid comfort of basking in the sunlight.

"How are you feeling?" Tian Niang asked from the side.

"It's great! I feel like a cat dozing in the sun!" I replied with a laugh, feeling slightly dizzy. Was I drunk? I'd only taken a sip!

“There’s a story behind how this wine was made!” said Tian Niang.

"Oh? What story?" I asked curiously. It seems that I not only feel like a cat now, but my curiosity is almost as strong as itss.

"I'll tell you the story later! Now I want to ask you, how are your children doing?" Tian Niang's smile was still calm, but I could vaguely sense a conspiracy behind her greeting.

Straightening up, I answered seriously, "Oh no, Cao Ying has gone missing."

"Really?" Tian Niang put down her wine cup and said, "Do you need some advice?"

A suggestion? I raised an eyebrow. Sure enough, this wine wasn't good. The fox's tail was showing, wasn't it?

"What are your conditions?" I knew she definitely wasn't offering a free medical consultation; she must have her demands. As for why I thought her advice would be useful, I could only explain it with two words: intuition!

"Hehe..." The way the beautiful woman covered her mouth and chuckled was not to be underestimated; its destructive power could reach level A. After Tian Niang finished laughing, she looked at me with her big, peach-blossom eyes and said, word by word, "Be my—disciple!"

"What?" I jumped up from my seat. Although I had expected that she would have some kind of request, I never thought that it would be such an absurd condition. Do I look like something that crawled out of an ancient tomb?

Tian Niang looked at my reaction with a smile and said, "You can take your time to think about it. There's no need to rush to reply to me."

"No need to consider it." I shook my head vigorously, saying, "I have no interest in being your disciple. I have no interest in cultivation."

"Whatever," Tian Niang shrugged and said, "Then I'll tell you something first, it's free!"

Free? You think you're some kind of expert in traditional Chinese medicine?! I glanced at Aunt Tian indifferently; there was absolutely no way I'd become her apprentice!

“That Soul Locking Array actually has another function.” Tian Niang ignored my gaze, but her words successfully piqued my interest, and I immediately focused my attention.

“Generally speaking, ghosts have to go through the Yama King’s Palace and the Six Paths of Reincarnation before they can be reincarnated, but in doing so, their original memories and magical powers will also disappear.” Tian Niang’s expression began to turn serious, and I thought she wasn’t lying.

“There is a kind of formation in this world that allows ghosts to reincarnate according to their own will, and their memories will not be lost. Their magical power can even be doubled,” said Tian Niang.

I immediately understood what she meant. In other words, the Ten Thousand Souls Locking Spirit Array did not only have the function of locking spirits. But if we follow what Tian Niang said, why didn't this ghost reincarnate when the array was first built, but instead waited for decades? What was he waiting for?

"To activate this formation, we not only need to gather a certain number of souls, but also require the help of the Yin Maiden," Tian Niang explained, noticing my confusion.

"The Yin Woman?" I thought of Lin Yuyan.

“That’s right, a Yin woman is a woman born on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar,” Tian Niang explained.

"And then what?" I pressed.

"That's all my free advice. If you want to know what happens next, just agree to my request, okay?" Tian Niang leaned towards me, and her stunningly beautiful face immediately magnified before my eyes. Her smooth, jade-like skin seemed to drip with moisture.

"No!" I quickly took a step back. The woman was beautiful, but she was also a dangerous object; it was best not to touch her.

"Oh dear, it seems my charm is no match for that little girl from the Emei Sect! What a failure!" Tian Niang casually played with a small tuft of her hair, looking just like the little girl next door.

"Thank you for the drink, I'm leaving!" I didn't want to be seduced by her beauty and impulsively agree to some unreasonable demands, so the best option was to make a quick getaway. With that, I practically turned and rushed out of the bar, Tian Niang's strange request still echoing in my ears.

After fleeing the Black Forest bar, I wandered aimlessly through the streets. I didn't really believe in the suggestion that you could get a clue from an old man on the street—it required an incredible stroke of luck.

The pedestrians hurried by, and I stared at them, somewhat lost in thought. What is it that people in this world truly pursue? Perhaps it's money, perhaps power, or perhaps even the elixir of immortality like Yang Yi's? Then what is it that I want? Besides Fang Lei, what else do I desire? Thinking this, I grew even more listless and slowly strolled into a small park. The flowers and plants were still the same vibrant reds and greens, just as they had been ten thousand years ago; what had changed was the humanity that ruled this world. I sighed and sat down on a long bench. The afternoon sun felt warm and comforting on my skin, and I stretched lazily.

"Hey, you took my seat!" Just as I was about to doze off for a bit, a girl's voice rang out behind me. I looked up as high as I could, and in the backlight, a girl with snow-white skin, rosy cheeks, and jet-black hair tied in a high ponytail, large, mischievous eyes, and a small, delicate nose stood gracefully behind the bench. Looking further down, I saw a tall, slender, and well-built figure, especially her slim waist, full hips, and high breasts, creating a striking visual effect. She seemed to have a figure comparable to Tian Niang's, but her youthful face was a bit immature. However, given time, she would definitely grow into a stunningly beautiful woman!

"Is this seat marked as yours?" Even though my eyes were glued to the ice cream, I couldn't resist teasing her with my words.

"Why are you, a grown man, fighting with a girl like me?" the girl pouted, looking unhappy.

"Heh!" Are men destined to be subservient to women? Although I was a little unwilling, adhering to one of the basic principles of being a man—never arguing with a beautiful woman—I stood up and gestured for the girl to sit down. The girl raised her proud neck and sat down gracefully.

"Fine, since you're quite a gentleman, I'll let you sit next to me!" The girl patted the empty space next to her and waved to me.

I sat down without ceremony and asked, "What are you doing hogging this seat, little girl?"

"Hmph!" The girl snorted, "Can't I just rest and soak up some sun after working so hard? Besides, I've had my eye on this spot for a long time. You're just a little taller and faster than me!"

"Yes, yes!" I nodded vigorously like a chicken pecking at rice. Being able to joke around with a pretty girl at this time is a kind of relaxing activity!

"And you? Are you free? Shouldn't adults be very busy? Don't you have a job?" The girl looked at me with disdain, which made me both laugh and cry. Did sitting down for a moment mean I was considered unemployed?

"It's Sunday today, I don't have to go to work!" I kindly reminded her.

"Oh, it's Sunday! Look at me online!" The girl scratched her head sheepishly.

Surfing the internet? I frowned. I'd heard that students these days spend so much time online they forget about studying and lose track of time. Judging by her appearance, she's probably a college student at most, and definitely a total internet addict. She doesn't even know what day it is! Looks like I need to talk to her. A promising young person shouldn't be ruined by the internet!

Clearing my throat, I prepared to teach my daughter, oh no, my husband: "Little sister..."

"Don't call me little sister! You don't look much older than me!" The girl immediately interrupted me, saying, "I have a name, it's Abao!"

Abao? That's his name? I stared at Abao blankly for a moment, then asked awkwardly, "Are you a student? If you are, spending so much time online isn't good!"

"A student? I guess so!" Abao tilted his head and thought for a moment before saying, "My way of using the internet is different from others!"

"Different? How are they different?" I asked curiously.

"Ha! I'm a computer genius!" Abao waved her little fist at me, full of confidence, and said, "There's no information in the world that I can't find!"

Oh? I immediately perked up. Regardless of whether what she said was true or false, her boast that she could find all the information was very tempting. If possible, wouldn't we be able to avoid the embarrassment of asking around everywhere?

"Really?" I pressed.

"Of course!" Abao put his hands on his hips, patted his chest, and looked as if he had the world in his hands.

"Okay, I just happen to want to look up some information but I don't know where to look it up. Can you help me?" I asked.

“Great!” Abao immediately jumped up from the stool, pulled me up as well, and said excitedly, “Come on, let’s go to my place, I’ll help you investigate!”

"To your house?" I hesitated. Didn't this little girl know that you shouldn't bring strangers home?

"What's wrong? Let's go!" Abao asked, pulling me along tightly.

"Oh, let's go!" Never mind, even if I'm going to suffer a loss, it won't be me. Let's try our luck!

"Oh! Great! Finally found something fun!" Abao immediately shouted with joy, almost ready to set off firecrackers to celebrate! But I immediately shrank back, feeling like I was being used.

*******

Author's note: Li Yang's bickering love interest has finally made his dazzling debut!!!

Because these chapters will introduce several key characters, there's no way to be scary. If you don't like that, you can skip them!

Volume One: Tales of Three Ghosts in the City, Chapter Sixty: A Bolt from the Blue

Volume One: Tales of Three Ghosts in the City, Chapter Sixty: A Bolt from the Blue

If someone told me that I was in a girl's room, I would definitely think they were lying. But in fact, this room, with all sorts of trash on the floor, clothes spread all over the bed, and instant noodle boxes piled up on the table so that you couldn't even see the tabletop, is indeed the room of the beautiful girl Abao. It's really an eye-opener for me!

I carefully followed behind Abao, struggling to walk over all sorts of garbage, and every now and then I was worried that I would step on a cockroach on the ground.

"Miss, you should tidy up your room!" I watched as Abao lightly leaped over the trash and hopped to a computer. The computer case was huge, about three times the size of a regular computer case.

"Oh, isn't this great? Why do we need to clean it up?" Abao turned on the computer without even looking up, ignoring my suggestion.

"Can you find him online?" I asked, placing the photo next to Abao.

"Just you wait!" Abao glanced at the photo, but her fingers flew across the keyboard. She then put the photo into the scanner, and soon the strange image appeared on the computer screen.