Chapter 3: The Opening of the Yin-Yang Eyes

The lingering glow of the sunset draped over Zizhu Town like a lazy veil. Only with a hearty dinner could people gather their spirits again.

Changqing arrived outside the widow Wang's house, the door wide open as usual.

Auntie, who took care of the widow Wang, was just carrying a basin of water, splashing it around the yard.

"Xiaoqing, what brings you here?" Auntie hurried over to the door and whispered, "Before, it was an emergency. We had no choice but to ask you to take a look. Now, mother and child are doing fine, it's no longer appropriate for you to come. After all, this is a widow's home."

Changqing didn't know how to explain.

Now, more people thought Changqing was just lucky, and they preferred to believe what they could understand. After all, Changqing was very quick. After finishing his task, he even went back to slaughter a chicken.

"To be honest, several families in the town are interested in you. They don't mind your poverty, and I'll help you make connections later," Auntie persuaded, trying to get Changqing to leave quickly.

Widow Wang was graceful, with a gentle appearance, but her husband had died early. The town had heard many rumors about her.

In Auntie's eyes, a fine young man like Changqing could certainly do better.

"Has anything happened?" Changqing asked.

"Strangely enough, ever since you spoke to her, the child has been sleeping soundly. But…"

"But what?"

"Widow Wang isn't quite right." Auntie's face showed some doubt.

"What do you mean not quite right?" Changqing was about to inquire further.

Auntie interrupted, "Others may not know, but I do. I think Widow Wang knows too, especially after you helped her child. Honestly, you should have come later."

Changqing felt something was off as he listened to Auntie's words.

Feeling Auntie's "worldly" gaze, Changqing was speechless, his mind filled with black lines.

"Auntie, I didn't mean it like that."

"I know. Who hasn't been young? When you were talking in the room, Widow Wang wasn't wearing much, and was about to nurse. How could she handle that with all that youthful vigor? Don't worry, I'll arrange things for you later, just like the other families I mentioned…"

The atmosphere grew awkward. The sunset seemed to set faster than usual that day.

The sky darkened more quickly, especially in Widow Wang's yard.

"I can't leave." Changqing said.

"You're really determined? Fine, I'll go." Auntie handed the basin of water to Changqing.

"Auntie, you don't have to leave…"

"What are you saying? What's a young person like me doing staying here? I understand, don't worry. Widow Wang isn't bad, after all, you got a big, healthy son for free. You two could pair up and live together…"

Auntie wiped her hands and took off her apron.

Changqing looked at the basin of water in his hands, silently saying, "You said Widow Wang isn't normal. Is it because she looks like a corpse?"

As Auntie walked past Changqing, she staggered, almost falling to the ground.

"H-how could that be! I cleaned her body and she even thanked me!" Auntie said, her face turning visibly pale.

"Did you notice the livor mortis on her body? Those… should be livor mortis, right?" Changqing slowly turned his head.

Auntie's breathing became rapid, her eyes filled with fear. She stepped back and eventually collapsed to the ground.

"You… you knew all along? Why didn't you say anything before?"

Auntie recalled their interactions throughout the day, her stomach churning. She vomited uncontrollably, as if trying to expel her bile.

"I wasn't sure before, and she wouldn't harm us."

"What nonsense! She almost ripped off the big son of Old Li's family's arm!"

"That must have been because he tried something with her, and that angered her." Changqing helped Auntie up, who was trembling uncontrollably.

"Actually, I'm scared too." Changqing whispered.

Auntie looked at him, her hands gripping his arm tightly, "If you're scared, why don't we run? Let's run together!"

Changqing didn't answer.

Auntie continued, "Should I call more people?"

Changqing thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"If it's just Widow Wang, at most she's a zombie. I should be able to handle her."

"But if there are other evil spirits in this yard, then we're really seeing ghosts. No matter how many people come, it won't help, right?"

Changqing said.

Auntie released his arm and, stepping lightly, turned to leave. Without looking back, she said, "I'll go get help."

Changqing was speechless. Was she ignoring what he just said or just pretending not to hear?

"Auntie, we need to save the child first." Changqing said.

Auntie slowed her steps and finally stopped. Though still scared, she hesitated and walked back, trembling.

"Xiaoqing, tell me honestly, how confident are you?" Auntie asked, her face full of hope.

Her eyes seemed to reflect only one answer.

Changqing scratched his head and softly replied, "Five or six… seven or eight…"

"I knew you could do it! You're a Taoist, you're supposed to slay demons, catch ghosts, and make offerings to the heavens. I believe in you!" Auntie said firmly.

Her fear seemed to lessen slightly.

Auntie tightly held Changqing's sleeve, and Changqing didn't rush to enter. Instead, he started chanting at the door.

"Clear skies and earth, yin murky, yang pure, Earth's true energy, through the mysterious, into the underworld…"

"What are you chanting?"

"A spell."

"What spell?"

"The ghost-seeing spell."

Changqing shouted, "Yin-Yang Eye, open!"

"Does it work?"

Changqing blinked, but the yard still looked the same, and Auntie was still there. Everything seemed unchanged.

"Cough, cough, it works, of course it works." Changqing wasn't so sure inside.

"So, what did you see?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? How can that be called working?"

"If I saw something, wouldn't that mean I saw a ghost?"

Auntie froze for a moment, then finally realized, "Not seeing anything is better, better!"

The two carefully walked toward the main hall. Changqing's eyes scanned the surroundings, his heart racing uncontrollably.

Suddenly, from inside the house, the cry of a baby echoed.

Auntie jumped, stomping her feet. Changqing also jumped half a foot in the air.

The two quickly turned and ran, all the way to the yard gate.

"Auntie, it was just the baby crying. Why are you running?" Changqing said, annoyed.

"You ran too!" Auntie wiped her cold sweat from her forehead and said, "You're so capable, you stay. I'll go get people!"

Without waiting for Changqing's response, Auntie ran off, not looking back.

The sun had completely set, and the night sky unfolded.

Changqing waited for a long time, then finally saw a figure in white approach the door.

It was a young girl, around eighteen or twenty years old.

She had an elegant figure, her face as delicate as a porcelain doll, her lips red and her teeth white. Her skin was smooth and flawless, like jade.

Her eyes were clear and bright, though tinged with a hint of sadness.

Changqing glanced at her and immediately concluded, "She's not from Zizhu Town."