At the same time, I smelled a pungent odor - like something that had been soaked in water for a long time, damp and decaying.

A chill ran down my spine, as if something sharp was coming down on me - was she going to bite my head off?

But the Seven-Star Dragon Spring was still tightly wrapped, and I couldn't pull it out at all!

Just then, Cheng Xinghe suddenly lunged forward and stuffed a handful of reddish objects behind me.

I smelled a pungent odor of chili peppers!

That's right... Chili peppers have strong yang energy and can also ward off evil spirits! In the old tradition, people would place red chili peppers in front of their doors, not only for convenience but also to symbolize warding off unclean spirits and keeping them out of the house.

"Ahh..."

There was a scream behind me, and the cold hand instantly left my shoulder. Meanwhile, Cheng Xinghe in front of me fell flat on his back, and sweat beaded on his smooth forehead as if he was enduring some pain.

I saw with my own eyes that blood beads had appeared on his well-defined hand, as if bitten by something unseen. When I looked closely, my heart jumped - there were six rows of teeth marks on his hand.

Did that thing have three sets of teeth?

This thing came to cause trouble and even dared to bite people. It must have been asking for it.

A surge of hostility welled up inside me, and I was about to draw the Seven-Star Dragon Spring. But those hair strands were stronger than iron wires, and I couldn't pull them apart. The smell of something soaked and rotten suddenly approached, and I knew that thing was coming at me!

I suddenly remembered Ma Yuanqiu's words. Could it be that I was really going to have some disaster this time?

Unexpectedly, just when I was at a dead end, I heard a "swish" sound behind me, and the scabbard of the Seven-Star Dragon Spring suddenly loosened - it seemed like the hair strands had been cut off by something very sharp!

The Seven-Star Dragon Spring slid out of its scabbard with a "clang," and I identified the cluster of crimson evil energy and swung it down.

"Clang!" The Seven-Star Dragon Spring seemed to have hit something hard, and that thing, startled, dodged quickly.

"Xiao Ge, you hit her arm!" Cheng Xinghe exclaimed, "Be careful of your head!"

That decaying aura suddenly came rushing down at me from above. I made a split-second decision, forced out a small amount of qi that was barely bigger than a crucian carp, and channeled it into the palm of my hand. I swung it up towards my head.

With this smooth feeling and the suddenly expanding rotten smell, I knew from my previous experience that I had hit it!

"Xiao Ge, be careful!"

Cheng Xinghe shouted again, but this time he was looking at my feet.

I couldn't help but exclaim, "Huh?" and looked down. I saw a layer of greasy dirt appearing around my ankle.

It was like a greasy hand had grabbed my foot!

That red-clothed little girl had brought accomplices with her!

I bent down and swung the Seven-Star Dragon Spring towards my feet. As soon as it landed, that decaying and fishy smell instantly disappeared from near to far.

I was seething with anger and attacked those corpse oil ghosts under my feet - judging by the feeling, I had dealt with them all, and the red-clothed little girl should have run far away.

But just then, I heard a very fierce female voice: "I'll wait for you to come begging to me."

Begging to you? Wow, why should I?

At this moment, the atmosphere of the shopping street changed instantly - it had been filled with foul qi and felt very stuffy, but now it was suddenly clear and bright, like the sun coming out after the rainy season.

Although ordinary people couldn't see it, they all have a sixth sense and could somewhat sense the change. The antique shop owner immediately came out of the store and cautiously asked me if the problem had been solved.

Ghosts tend to hold grudges fiercely, so I wasn't sure if they would come back again. But it seemed like they had left for now.

I helped Cheng Xinghe stand up, and XiuLian, seeing the injury on Cheng Xinghe's hand, felt extremely distressed. She turned around and went back to the general store to get bandages and medicine for him, and also asked me how he got hurt so badly.

I felt guilty when XiuLian asked me this question. Cheng Xinghe started laughing maliciously and pretended to be in pain, asking me to compensate him for his medical expenses and mental losses.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

As XiuLian was bandaging his hand, I suddenly remembered that someone had helped me break the hair threads when I couldn't pull out the Qiuxiang泉. It couldn't be Cheng Xinghe because he was in front of me.

Then I looked down and saw that Wuyungai was licking her paws, and there were a few strands of broken hair stuck between her claws.

Damn, had the cat done that?

I quickly patted her on the head, and she purred contentedly.

My third great-uncle lay in the deck chair and added, "A harmonious relationship between cats and dogs is auspicious. I think this dog is pretty good."

This is a cat, not a dog.

At that moment, I realized that the cat had indeed become enchanted. Thinking about it, it was really thanks to the cat. Since it was considered a member of the family, it needed a name. Cheng Xinghe suggested, "I think 'Zhao Cai' (招财) is a good name."

The cat let out a few threatening meows and raised its hackles, seeming dissatisfied with the name.

The cat thought it was too common.

I said, "This cat has all white paws, so let's call her 'Xiao Bai Jiao' (小白脚)."

This time, she didn't object. She just stretched out all four paws in a regal and haughty manner, as if to say that would be fine.

It was quite interesting.

At this moment, Gao LaoShi looked at Cheng Xinghe's wound and exclaimed, "Wait a minute."

I turned around and asked what was wrong.

Gao LaoShi pointed at the color of the blood: "Look at the color of the blood."

I turned around and saw that the blood that had been bright red before was now dark black!

I had saved my last breath for tonight in case that thing came back. I had been holding on to it all day for fear of using it up, but seeing Cheng Xinghe like this, I immediately used it up. At this sight, my heart tightened.

The yellow glow on Cheng Xinghe's forehead representing his meritorious deeds had completely disappeared, replaced by a dark blackness. This was called 'black pressure on the head', indicating sudden death!

Cheng Xinghe hadn't taken his injury seriously before, but he had sharp eyes and immediately noticed my expression. He also became anxious: "What's wrong?"

At that moment, I noticed a red mottling on his neck-the same as the footprint on the eaves-a small red mark shaped like a finger that extended from the back of his neck towards his throat, like a half-necklace. It was the mark left by the little ghost that had choked him.

This mark represented that the little ghost had planted its malice on Cheng Xinghe. Generally, within twelve hours, the "necklace" would close around his throat. If it did, then his life would be taken by that little ghost, and even the greatest immortal couldn't save him.

Gao LaoShi also saw it and gasped in horror.

Even Cheng Xinghe, as foolish as he was, knew that this was serious. He jumped up and went to look in the mirror.

When he saw his reflection, he sat back down on the chair, silent.

No wonder that voice had said to wait for me to go to her. This was what she had been waiting for!

The wound on Cheng Xinghe's hand was visibly festering, and he was clearly in a lot of pain, grinding his molars together. At the same time, the half-necklace on his neck was also extending closer and closer to closing.

I immediately went to get some yellow paper - I had to follow the malevolent energy of the little ghost's chokehold and find that red-clothed little girl.

The only way to remove the little ghost's chokehold was to destroy the little ghost that had left the mark.

Gao LaoShi saw what I was about to do and immediately grabbed my hand, whispering, "Beidou, what are you doing?"

I said, "It's obvious, isn't it? I have to find that ghostly thing within twelve hours."

Gao LaoShi pulled me out of the doorway and whispered, "You can't afford to provoke the Yin-side master who can control such a little ghost. Don't you think that thing did this just to lure you in? There's probably a trap waiting for you. If you risk your life, what will happen to your third great-uncle?"

Gao LaoShi meant well. A Yin-side master who could use such a little ghost was probably beyond my abilities as a Huang-level practitioner. But Cheng Xinghe had taken on this malice to save me - he was more afraid of death than anyone, always leaving a gap when he rode in cars in case something happened and he got suffocated. But this man who valued his life so much had used his own hand to block the little ghost's teeth for me. If I didn't help him, what kind of person would I be?

Gao LaoShi saw that I was determined and let go of my hand, sighing, "I know you've always been a kind person, but it's a shame we can't find a Ghost Doctor now..."

"Ghost Doctor?"

Gao LaoShi nodded, his expression nostalgic. "They're itinerant doctors who specialize in treating these kinds of Yin-Yang illnesses. They move around a lot and have three rules they never break...but nevermind that, it's useless to talk about it now. Just go, and remember to be careful...take this with you as a backup."

He took a small gourd out of his pocket and gave it to me.

The gourd was only about the size of a fingertip, similar to the ones used to hold antidotes in TV shows. I asked Gao LaoShi what it was for. Was it a miracle pill?

Gao LaoShi gave me a mysterious smile and said, "If you get into trouble, just throw it on the ground as hard as you can. It usually sells for 18,000 yuan."

"Wow, that's expensive..."

"Hey, it's free for you." Gao LaoShi smiled with his eyes narrowed and looked at the old man sunning himself. "You just promise me you'll come back alive. The old man is waiting for you!"

I was deeply moved and thanked Gao LaoShi.

It was already dark now, so I went back to the shop. Cheng Xinghe was in so much pain that he couldn't even sit up, but he was still gritting his teeth and not making a sound, letting the sweat pour down his face.

XiuLian was crying beside him, begging me to find a way to help.

I took a piece of yellow paper and wiped some of Cheng Xinghe's blood from his festering wound.

When Cheng Xinghe saw what I was doing, he tensed up and said breathlessly, "Are you really going to find that little girl? Judging by what happened today, she's even more powerful than the one in the hospital. With your limited skills, going there is basically suicide."

"Nonsense." I said, folding the yellow paper into a path-seeking charm as I spoke. "If I don't go, you'll die. And if you die, who will help me find Jiang Quezhe?"

"The other party is clearly aiming for you," Cheng Xinghe said, his clear eyes fixed on me. "Brother, promise me, don't die."

I was moved, and though it was a bit sentimental, it was at least a sign of concern from him.

Just as I was about to nod, he added, "Otherwise who will repay the money you owe me?"

Go screw yourself, I thought.

Cheng Xinghe suddenly smiled, his clear eyes narrowing slightly. He raised the uninjured fist and tapped my fist with it. "I'll wait for you," he said.

Yeah, I thought, don't die before I get back.

The path-seeking charm was folded—it was actually a paper crane. I infused qi into it, and it slowly flew up into the air. I followed it and left.

Though it was hot during the day, the night was cool and refreshing. I followed the paper crane for what felt like a long time before it finally stopped and landed on the ground.

I arrived and looked around—I had been here before.