Chapter 12: The Yin-Yang Shop

I lay in the back of the Land Cruiser, my hands now bound. Night had fallen, and through the windows, I could see no lights - we'd left the city far behind, likely in the mountains by now.

 Cursing my own stupidity, I ground out, "Is this really necessary? Why drag me into your mirror hunt?"

 Old Wu apologized. "If we had the skill ourselves, we wouldn't need to offend your funeral shop. We have no choice. Sorry about this."

 "Brother Zhang, I'll say it again - we only want the mirror. Help us, and the hundred and fifty thousand is yours. What do you say?"

 "And if I refuse?"

 Old Wu fell silent before answering. "Brother, we're not saints in this line of work. We're used to death. If you won't help... well, leaving you in the mass grave site would at least test if it's safe, wouldn't it?"

 They were serious. The choice was clear: cooperate and share the reward, or become ghost bait.

 After a moment, I agreed.

 "Don't worry," Old Wu smiled. "If we actually got you killed, Master He would hunt us down. But if you help us willingly, even if he's angry, at least it won't be a blood feud."

 He untied my hands while casually displaying the gun at his waist. These bastards had come prepared - they weren't about to let me run.

 Seeing my expression change, Old Wu smiled and pulled out food - canned beef, crackers, water. "Even emperors feed their soldiers. Eat up, then tell us what to do."

 My stomach was growling, so I didn't stand on ceremony. After eating my fill, I sighed. "Brothers, it's not that I don't want to help. But this mirror - it's deadly dangerous. This mission is practically suicide."

 "These days," Old Wu said flatly, "supernatural creatures can only take your life."

 "But some things take more - your dignity, your face, everything. That thing is poverty! We're not afraid of death, or we wouldn't be in this business. But we fear poverty! Five million might be one night's entertainment for the rich, but it's our nephew's foundation in the capital!"

 I fell silent. He had a point. Sometimes poverty was scarier than ghosts. In this society, lacking money was the worst curse of all. For five million, maybe it was worth the risk.

 Seeing my silence, Old Wu smiled. "You're young - you don't know how terrifying poverty can be. Now, well-fed, what can you tell us?"

 I wiped my mouth. "There are countless mass graves in the Taihang Mountains. Have you pinpointed the location?"

 Old Wu pulled out a map, shining a flashlight. "We've narrowed it down to the border between Shanxi and Hebei provinces. Right here. But we'll need to scout the exact spot."

 I studied it carefully. "You're joking, right? This is very close to Mount Wutai."

 Mount Wutai was sacred Buddhist ground, Manjusri Bodhisattva's domain. Countless monks in red robes walked its paths, carrying bronze bowls. Their morning and evening bells alone drove away evil spirits - either purifying them or forcing them to flee.

 How could a mass grave exist near such holy ground? Surely the monks would have performed rites for any wandering souls?

 "Theoretically, it shouldn't," Old Wu said. "But sometimes darkness hides best under light."

 I sighed. "If you're determined to go, we'll look. But I doubt something so evil exists near Mount Wutai. Did you prepare a replacement for the mirror's containment power?"

 Old Wu gestured, and his brother opened the trunk, revealing a blood-red banner, still wet with fresh blood.

 "A soul-gathering flag made with human blood from hospitals. If spirits chase us after we take the mirror, this will draw them away."

 My face darkened. "Human blood? What if consuming it makes them stronger?"

 "What's to fear?" Old Wu shrugged. "Mount Wutai's right there. The monks can clean up the mess."

 I gave them a long look. Classic short-sighted thinking - who cares about the flood after I've escaped?

 Second Wu closed the trunk. "Brother, we've got the blood flag. What else do we need?"

 "Cinnabar for paths, yellow talismans for sealing spirits," I said reluctantly. "And plenty of paper effigies - they're useful for both escape and acquisition."

 After thinking, I added, "The mirror is incredibly dangerous - it contains countless fierce spirits. After you get it, never look directly at its face, or there'll be consequences."

 The Wu brothers noted everything carefully. As Mount Wu Mourners, they weren't skilled in these matters - their expertise was limited to funeral rites for violent deaths, wailing to appease restless spirits. They'd only taken Tang's job for the money.

 Regardless, despite my youth, they recognized I knew more than them.

 After finishing their notes, Old Wu said, "We have cinnabar and yellow talismans - authentic demon-banishing ones from Mount Wudang. But we can't find proper paper effigies - the ones with spirit power."

 I thought for a moment. "Is there a Yin-Yang Shop nearby? We can buy some!" We couldn't skip the paper effigies - they were for substituting lives. When hunting the Ghost-Devouring Mirror, we needed every precaution possible.

 Third Uncle's shop would have them, but the Wu brothers wouldn't dare return there. Our only option was a Yin-Yang Shop in the wilderness.

 These shops served a unique clientele - their proprietors dealt in death, trading with wandering spirits and monsters. Fellow practitioners could buy supplies too, though at steep prices.