Summoning Master Jiu

I didn't let Dong Shanshan notice anything unusual. After I sent her back to her dorm, I told her I was going on holiday and would come back tomorrow to visit her. She happily said, "Okay, take it easy. The past is behind us. See you tomorrow."

After watching her head upstairs, I didn't go straight to my dorm but walked to the campus store. I bought a bag of salt and a bottle of Red Star Erguotou liquor. Then, I made my way toward the old building. In my mind, the "Three Pure Books" had a clear record about certain things that ordinary people can't see—things that can only be seen by opening the third eye, temporarily, with the help of external methods. I was sure something was going on here, something beyond normal.

Yes, I suspected that a ghost might be involved. You might ask, why do I think that? Well, it's all based on instinct. It's pure intuition. The building gave me an unsettling feeling, and it had something that bothered me deep down.

This was the first time since high school that I'd encountered something like this, so of course, I felt a little nervous, but oddly enough, also excited. After all, it was time to put my knowledge to the test. I felt even more excited than when I first lit a talisman in high school. This was going to be the real deal.

As I walked, I noticed a few willow trees, their dry, dead leaves still hanging on despite the winter chill. I picked up a handful, heading toward the building. Since the accident had happened earlier, the construction workers had stopped working, and the unfortunate migrant worker had been taken away. It was around 4 PM, and the light was fading as the temperature dropped. Because of the recent death, the area felt emptier than usual.

I didn't approach the building but instead found a secluded spot. There, I dug a small hole in the ground and poured half a bottle of liquor into it. Then, I tossed the willow leaves into the pit.

There are many ways to see a ghost, and today, I was going to use the "Yin Liquor, Weak Water, and Willow Leaf Method." The "Three Pure Books" had clearly stated that willows have great Yin properties, with a theory of "five ghosts" associated with them, and liquor is Yang. When these two elements interact, it's like balancing Yin and Yang. If the Yin energy outweighs the Yang, the liquor will turn into Yin liquor, which can attract spirits. To open the third eye, though, the Yin and Yang need to resist each other, not blend. That's where salt comes in. Salt has many uses in traditional methods. Here, its role is to keep the liquor and willow leaves from merging, and with the help of the earth's energy, it would open my third eye temporarily.

I didn't know if this would work, but I followed the instructions in the book. I took a leaf soaked in the liquor and placed it on my forehead. According to the teachings, everyone's chest contains a bagua, and there's a light on the forehead and shoulders. When luck is bad, the light dims, and that's when evil spirits can take advantage and enter. It's like the reason why people often get sick when things aren't going well in life.

The willow leaf was supposed to help block the light from my forehead and reduce my internal heat. I quickly wiped the other two leaves across my eyes, closed them, and silently recited: "Yin Female Six Ding, guard my body. Yang Male Six Jia, protect my soul. Open my true eye. Quickly, as the law commands!"

I opened my eyes abruptly. At first, everything seemed normal. But as I turned my gaze toward the old building, something unexpected happened.

From the seventh floor, there was indeed a figure—a woman in yellow clothes, standing straight. The yellow was that sharp lemon hue, making her stand out like a sore thumb. What was even creepier was that she was staring directly at me.

Shit! Despite being somewhat prepared, this was my first time seeing a ghost clearly. I couldn't help but feel a shiver run down my spine. Goosebumps covered my skin.

Some people ask me what I felt when I first saw a crab or a spider. For the crab, I thought about eating it, but for the spider, I felt like I wanted to die. The meaning behind these reactions might be something we can discuss later, but right now, the ghost was what mattered.

She had probably been watching me for a while. Maybe since I had walked over with the liquor and salt, or perhaps even when I had dug the hole.

Luckily, I wasn't a complete newbie to this. My master was a ghost himself, so I calmed myself down. She probably didn't know I could see her, so I decided not to provoke her. I glanced up at the sky, seeing a full moon climbing high among the trees. It just so happened that tonight was the fifteenth of the month.

I decided it was best to leave for now. I would think more about it tomorrow, after getting back to school. I grabbed the remaining half-bottle of liquor and left for the bus, returning to my dorm.

Initially, I didn't want to get involved with this. If that ghost wasn't harming anyone, it was none of my business. But I thought about Dong Shanshan still being at that school. Even if the chance of her being harmed was small, I couldn't ignore even the slightest risk.

I had to act. I couldn't let anything bad happen to her. No matter what it was, I wasn't going to lose anything else that was important to me.

Once back in my dorm, it was already 6 PM. I rummaged through my luggage and pulled out a steel water bottle and a small mirror. When I packed, I had put some well water in the bottle, intending to use it if I needed to contact Master Jiu. I placed these items next to my bed and lay down to rest.

By 9 PM, the lights in the dorm went out, and a few hours later, the hour of the Pig arrived. I quietly grabbed the items and slipped out of bed, heading to the restroom.

It had been almost half a year since I'd last seen Master Jiu. I didn't know how he was or if he'd be mad at me for calling him again. But no matter what, I needed to see him.

In one of the restroom stalls, I set up the mirror and poured a little water on it. Focusing my mind, I soon saw the vapor rise on the surface of the mirror. After calling Master Jiu's name three times, his figure clearly appeared, glowing in the reflection.

"Master!" I exclaimed with excitement. It felt like seeing a relative after a long time.

Master Jiu looked at me, wearing strange clothes that resembled those worn by officials in ancient times, but with a tie that didn't quite match. I couldn't help but think, this guy really can't decide what era he belongs to.

Master Jiu spoke, "Xiao Fei, long time no see. What brings you to find me this time?"

This old man, after helping me once, must have thought I would only call him when I needed something. It was probably true, but this time, I was genuinely in trouble.

I quickly told him about the ghost I saw at Dong Shanshan's school and asked what kind of spirit it was and whether it was dangerous. I even used the term "harm index," which I thought Master Jiu would understand, given his role as someone who dealt with spirits.

After hearing my story, Master Jiu was clearly shocked. "Are you sure it's a woman in yellow?"

Normally, I would have given him a confident "definitely," but this time, I simply nodded, my mind racing.

Master Jiu's expression turned serious. He said, "We must act quickly. Prepare the talismans immediately to avoid further harm from this spirit!"

What the hell? I had no idea what he was talking about. Confused, I asked him, "But Master, I can't get out of my dorm now. What kind of ghost is this, really? Is it that dangerous?"

Master Jiu's face grew darker as he spoke. "This might be a spirit on the verge of becoming an extremely dangerous entity. Luckily, she's still wearing yellow clothes, which means she hasn't fully formed yet."

"Extremely dangerous?" I asked. "What kind of ghost is that?"

Master Jiu sighed deeply. "There are many types of spirits. In Buddhist texts, there are thirty-six kinds, but in reality, there are many more. Some ghosts are extremely hard to deal with. This kind of ghost, formed by extreme Yin energy, is one of the rarest. It is born under extreme Yin conditions, and if it dies under the same conditions, it can transform into an incredibly lethal being."

I felt a chill down my spine. "Is it that powerful? Can I deal with it?"

Master Jiu then recounted a story about a spirit in Hebei during the Republic of China era—a woman whose family was murdered, and after her death, she became a powerful vengeful spirit that took many lives before finally being subdued by eighteen monks, three of whom died in the process.

I was horrified. Eighteen monks couldn't defeat her without casualties? Was I really going to go after this thing?

Master Jiu saw my fear and reassured me, "Don't worry. Since she's still wearing yellow clothes, she hasn't fully formed. At this stage, the ghost is not yet a major threat. But you need to stop it before it kills again, or her malevolent energy will increase threefold. Once her clothes turn blue, it will be too late. Anyone within five miles will be at risk."

Five miles?! That woman was like a ticking time bomb. If I didn't stop her now, the entire campus could be in danger.

I couldn't let Dong Shanshan die. I refused to lose anything more important. Determined, I told Master Jiu, "Master, what do I need to do to get rid of it?"

Master Jiu asked, "Which talisman do you know best?"

I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. Truth be told, the only talismans I'd ever made were for fun, or to pass exams. I barely knew anything that could help in this situation.

I had to confess, and Master Jiu sighed deeply, clearly disappointed. "You foolish disciple! I warned you to practice diligently, but you ignored me. Now, we must rely on luck."