Chapter 9: The Dream Eater
In the world of graves and burials, it's not uncommon for the uninvited to take up residence—a phenomenon like birds occupying another's nest. It can happen that a person's remains incorrectly displace the resting place of a fox, which sometimes leads to dire consequences.
Foxes are considered to be among wild immortals, particularly devious creatures, especially the white foxes.
When a corpse encroaches upon the territory of a fox, it could invite revenge. This scenario might manifest as a "White Fox Covering the Face," altering the fate of the graveyard and the deceased's descendants, potentially putting them in grave danger.
Su Qing's master had said that seeing a coffin with a corpse in dreams often signals satisfying successes in various endeavors. However, the presence of the white fox face over the corpse transforms an auspicious dream into a harbinger of misfortune, especially when the coffin is made of black charcoal, a sign of a malevolent presence.
Having this dream for over a decade, Su Qing was foretold to be bound for a major disaster, possibly leading to a tragic end. However, her waking at the moment of being pulled into the coffin suggested an unpredictable fate, hinting there might be a slim chance for life.
"Ah, the curse of beauty," I sighed after hearing Su Qing's tale.
"Hey, are you cursing me to die? Could you not say something nice for once?" Su Qing snapped, suddenly kicking me in my dismay.
Her complaint was unjust; it was her master who'd made the interpretation, and I was only lamenting the situation. What did it have to do with me?
Su Qing shot me a disdainful look, declaring that her master might say such things, but I shouldn't. She insisted she was very much alive and didn't appreciate any talk of ill-fated destinies.
Temperamental she may be, but I refrained from further comment and turned back to the task at hand—the ghost tattoo.
The dream was too sinister for me to solve, but I could tattoo a Baku, a mystical creature that feeds on people's nightmares, to suppress her evil dreams and give her peaceful slumber.
The "Classic of Mountains and Seas" described the Baku with the body of a horse, the trunk of an elephant, the face of a lion, the brow of a rhinocerous, the tail of an ox, and the limbs of a tiger—a creature made from the leftover attributes when gods created the animal kingdom.
On the nights of a full moon, the Baku would emerge from the dark forest, lulling people to sleep with its hypnotic sounds before entering their dreams to consume nightmares, taking them back to its shadowy abode.
With a Baku tattoo, Su Qing should no longer suffer her reoccurring nightmare, though I couldn't guarantee that it would spare her from future calamities.
Su Qing agreed, desperate for release from over a decade of tormenting dreams that had plagued her every night.
After discussing the details, I stated my price forthrightly. Tattooing a Baku was intricate, requiring time and skill to depict each animalistic aspect properly; I asked for thirty thousand yuan.
"Whoa, thirty grand for a tattoo? Are you robbing me?" Su Qing exclaimed.
I had to explain that a ghost tattoo was not the same as an ordinary tattoo, thus the price was naturally higher.
Although initially hesitant, after rolling her eyes in thought, Su Qing consented, her mind seemingly preoccupied with some cunning plan.
I had her lie down on the freshly purchased tattooing bed and prepared her for the procedure.
Dreams arise from the heart, and so the Baku could only be tattooed over the heart. Understanding my implication, Su Qing accused me of indecency.
I smiled wryly—like a doctor, a tattoo artist must remain professionally detached from the bodies before them. If she felt uncomfortable, I wouldn't proceed.
Despite her initial reluctance, Su Qing acquiesced, tired of her relentless nightmares and deeming the potential loss of modesty a worthy trade-off. Nonetheless, she remained protectively covered.
Her figure was indeed remarkable, and despite her cover, her skin was visible—a translucent and smooth canvas.
However, considering her conservative nature, I faced difficulties tattooing. Her guarding hands were particularly inhibitive, and the process was agonizingly slow.
After two hours, perhaps out of boredom, Su Qing fell asleep.
Silent and still, she resembled a serene beauty, fairy-like in repose. Her sharp tongue set aside, I could almost forget the impulse to rebuke her that her words so often provoked.
In the world of graves and burials, it's not uncommon for the uninvited to take up residence—a phenomenon like birds occupying another's nest. It can happen that a person's remains incorrectly displace the resting place of a fox, which sometimes leads to dire consequences.
Foxes are considered to be among wild immortals, particularly devious creatures, especially the white foxes.
When a corpse encroaches upon the territory of a fox, it could invite revenge. This scenario might manifest as a "White Fox Covering the Face," altering the fate of the graveyard and the deceased's descendants, potentially putting them in grave danger.
Su Qing's master had said that seeing a coffin with a corpse in dreams often signals satisfying successes in various endeavors. However, the presence of the white fox face over the corpse transforms an auspicious dream into a harbinger of misfortune, especially when the coffin is made of black charcoal, a sign of a malevolent presence.
Having this dream for over a decade, Su Qing was foretold to be bound for a major disaster, possibly leading to a tragic end. However, her waking at the moment of being pulled into the coffin suggested an unpredictable fate, hinting there might be a slim chance for life.
"Ah, the curse of beauty," I sighed after hearing Su Qing's tale.
"Hey, are you cursing me to die? Could you not say something nice for once?" Su Qing snapped, suddenly kicking me in my dismay.
Her complaint was unjust; it was her master who'd made the interpretation, and I was only lamenting the situation. What did it have to do with me?
Su Qing shot me a disdainful look, declaring that her master might say such things, but I shouldn't. She insisted she was very much alive and didn't appreciate any talk of ill-fated destinies.
Temperamental she may be, but I refrained from further comment and turned back to the task at hand—the ghost tattoo.
The dream was too sinister for me to solve, but I could tattoo a Baku, a mystical creature that feeds on people's nightmares, to suppress her evil dreams and give her peaceful slumber.
The "Classic of Mountains and Seas" described the Baku with the body of a horse, the trunk of an elephant, the face of a lion, the brow of a rhinocerous, the tail of an ox, and the limbs of a tiger—a creature made from the leftover attributes when gods created the animal kingdom.
On the nights of a full moon, the Baku would emerge from the dark forest, lulling people to sleep with its hypnotic sounds before entering their dreams to consume nightmares, taking them back to its shadowy abode.
With a Baku tattoo, Su Qing should no longer suffer her reoccurring nightmare, though I couldn't guarantee that it would spare her from future calamities.
Su Qing agreed, desperate for release from over a decade of tormenting dreams that had plagued her every night.
After discussing the details, I stated my price forthrightly. Tattooing a Baku was intricate, requiring time and skill to depict each animalistic aspect properly; I asked for thirty thousand yuan.
"Whoa, thirty grand for a tattoo? Are you robbing me?" Su Qing exclaimed.
I had to explain that a ghost tattoo was not the same as an ordinary tattoo, thus the price was naturally higher.
Although initially hesitant, after rolling her eyes in thought, Su Qing consented, her mind seemingly preoccupied with some cunning plan.
I had her lie down on the freshly purchased tattooing bed and prepared her for the procedure.
Dreams arise from the heart, and so the Baku could only be tattooed over the heart. Understanding my implication, Su Qing accused me of indecency.
I smiled wryly—like a doctor, a tattoo artist must remain professionally detached from the bodies before them. If she felt uncomfortable, I wouldn't proceed.
Despite her initial reluctance, Su Qing acquiesced, tired of her relentless nightmares and deeming the potential loss of modesty a worthy trade-off. Nonetheless, she remained protectively covered.
Her figure was indeed remarkable, and despite her cover, her skin was visible—a translucent and smooth canvas.
However, considering her conservative nature, I faced difficulties tattooing. Her guarding hands were particularly inhibitive, and the process was agonizingly slow.
After two hours, perhaps out of boredom, Su Qing fell asleep.
Silent and still, she resembled a serene beauty, fairy-like in repose. Her sharp tongue set aside, I could almost forget the impulse to rebuke her that her words so often provoked.
Just when Su Qing, who had fallen asleep, suddenly relaxed her hands, it left me in a...
Being a tattoo artist really has its moments, witnessing such a slice of heaven—but wait, let me first wipe my nosebleed. Professional ethics only go so far in theory.
With the obstruction removed, I was able to tattoo much faster. However, due to the distractions, the shape of the Baku didn't come out in perfect detail—though for a ghost tattoo, it's the effect that counts, not just the visual aspect.
Soon enough, Su Qing woke up and promptly covered herself again before examining the tattoo.
"How cute!" she exclaimed.
Although the Baku is a mythical beast, its composite body makes it look fierce in larger forms. I minimized the design to make it cuter—a mini version considering Su Qing is a lady.
After she dressed, I asked her if she was satisfied with the tattoo and requested payment if she was pleased.
Su Qing said she was fairly satisfied and transferred the money, but she only sent ten thousand yuan.
Confused, I pointed out the possible mistake, reminding her the price was thirty thousand.
Su Qing, looking sly as a fox, claimed there was no mistake. It was ten thousand, and she'd pay the remaining twenty thousand once the tattoo showed its effects.
Where did that rule come from? I didn't know her, nor where she lived—how would I claim the rest once she left? My studio was a different story—I wasn't going anywhere, so any issues, and she could easily find me.
By the time I thought to discuss this further, she had already slipped away, faster than a rabbit, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Alright then, I thought, she's played her trump card.
Originally, I had thought to seek compensation from her senior brother, Zhang Qing. Although we had only met once, we shared a significant encounter. But after reflection, I decided to let it be—the twenty thousand yuan lost was just part of life's ebbs and flows, and there had been minor perks along the way that made the loss somewhat palatable.
After Su Qing's departure, it was already three in the afternoon. Out of boredom, I began to advertise my ghost tattoos in various social media groups, hoping to drum up some business among acquaintances.
Being new to the city and with my shop's secluded location, my lack of reputation and poor visibility meant I could only rely on referrals.
I posted the following message in the group chat: "Millennia-old ghost tattoos, promising safety, warding off evil, changing luck, attracting love interests, and inviting wealth. Many benefits, guaranteed effectiveness! Don't miss out as you pass by!"
The advertisement sank like a stone—no response. By five o'clock, I had given up hope.
But just then, my WeChat pinged. It was a high school classmate named Wang Xin.
Wang Xin was average-looking back in the day and had once professed her feelings to me, which I had rejected. I wasn't interested in her type—a seductiveness deep in her bones—as I preferred the purely innocent kind.
After high school, I stopped my education, but Wang Xin went on to university. I had heard that she'd gotten plastic surgery and was now in the entertainment industry, albeit not a prominent star.
I'd heard about her current situation too—despite not being a big celebrity, she'd made good money accompanying bosses and directors, filling her coffers substantially.
There had been no contact between us for many years, so when she started chatting, it became clear she was getting straight to the point. She asked if ghost tattoos could ward off evil spirits.
I confidently affirmed they could, assuring a full refund if there were no effects.
Wang Xin was interested and asked for my address, saying she could make it soon as she was only an hour's drive away in a neighboring city.
By around six-thirty, just after I finished my dinner, I saw a BMW park at the end of the alley, and out stepped a glamorously dressed woman—Wang Xin herself.
Honestly, I almost didn't recognize her. The surgery had certainly made her more beautiful, and she seemed to have been modeled after some celebrity. No wonder she was favored by those wealthy men.
Not just her face had changed—her physique had developed into a fuller form compared to the past.
Like everyone else, she complained about the location of my studio as soon as she arrived. I could only smile wryly in response before getting down to business, asking her what had driven her to seek a ghost tattoo.
Wang Xin said the circumstances were extremely bizarre and that I might not even believe her if she told me.