The spirit medium saw He Feng waiting downstairs. She paused for a moment, stepped back two paces, and nodded respectfully. “Master Patrol Envoy.”

“You recognize me.”

“I encountered a Patrol Envoy a few years ago. Seeing that you’re dressed the same as him, I assumed you must be one too.”

“How is that girl?”

“No major problems for now, but she’ll inevitably feel unwell for a couple of days.”

“It’s because of me.”

“Since Master Patrol Envoy knows the gravity of the situation, why would you overstep boundaries?”

He Feng didn’t answer.

“With all that malevolent energy around you, even I have to stay ten feet away. If you constantly accompany her, even if nothing major happens immediately, she won’t be able to withstand it long-term. At best, she’ll fall ill; at worst, she’ll lose her life. You should understand this better than an old woman like me.”

“Is it still possible to close her yin-yang eyes?”

The spirit medium smiled. “This girl has a special fate. I’m afraid even if we wanted to close them ten years ago, it wouldn’t have been possible.”

“Then what should be done?”

“If it can’t be smoothed, then avoid it. I just gave her three talismans. Ordinary spirits can’t get close. As long as the Master Patrol Envoy stays away from her, it should be fine.”

“Thank you.”

…

Ji Tong’s eyes were red and swollen from crying.

Zhou Xin knocked on the door. “Are you asleep?”

“No.”

Zhou Xin entered carrying a sewing box. Ji Tong lay facing her.

“How do you feel?”

“Much better, just a slight headache.”

“When did you lose your bracelet?”

“Last time when I called you.”

Zhou Xin didn’t remember this at all. She was so busy every day that even after being back for several days, she hadn’t noticed that the red string on Ji Tong’s wrist was gone. “Have you encountered anything during this time?”

“A few times.” Ji Tong was afraid she’d worry. “But nothing serious, just some good ghosts.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought you were busy and didn’t want to make you worry and afraid.”

Zhou Xin folded the talismans and put them in a small pouch, threading a needle. Suddenly, tears fell.

Ji Tong tugged at her sleeve. “I’m used to it.”

“Don’t worry. Mom will definitely cure you. If this person doesn’t work, we’ll find the next one. If the next one doesn’t work, there’s the one after that. Even a blind cat can catch a dead mouse. That red string last time worked well. Mom will make another trip to Jiangxi to get you another one—no, I’ll get ten, wear them on both hands, both feet, and your neck. I refuse to believe it won’t work.” Zhou Xin forcefully wiped away her tears and carefully sewed the pouch stitch by stitch.

Ji Tong felt very guilty, quietly watching her mother.

With elderly above and children below, Zhou Xin had to handle all the big and small matters inside and outside the house. On top of that, Ji Tong had this constitution, constantly causing her trouble. Ji Tong had always felt she was a burden to Zhou Xin. Over the years, relatives and friends had introduced several men to her, but none could accept her having such an abnormal daughter.

Frightening and inauspicious.

Zhou Xin tied the sewn pouch to Ji Tong’s school bag with a tight knot. “This way it won’t fall off.”

“You’ve worked so hard.”

“As long as you’re well, Mom doesn’t mind how hard it is.” Zhou Xin smiled and touched her face, then found her pencil case and stuffed talismans into the compartment. “I don’t know if they’ll work, but let’s try them first.”

“You don’t need to stuff so many.”

“More doesn’t hurt. It’s always better to be more careful.” Zhou Xin sat back down and stuffed another talisman into the new pouch. “I’ll still escort you to and from school every day. I should wear one too—double insurance.”

“It’s not necessary.”

“How is it not necessary? When I escorted you every day at the start of school, nothing happened. As soon as I stopped for a few days, this fell off and that fell off. I should keep you under my watch. If your father were here, it would be better.” She paused, bit off the white thread, and smiled at Ji Tong. “How about we get a dog? A fierce one—German Shepherd? Malinois? Doberman? I don’t know if they’re allowed. I’ll go ask around later.”

…

Ji Tong slept for a day, having several intermittent dreams.

In her dreams, she rode a black horse with a bow and arrows on her back, chasing a young man on a white horse ahead.

She raised her bow and arrow, about to shoot at him.

The young man suddenly looked back, and she tumbled off her horse.

The young man happily jumped down from his horse and walked to her.

“Let me see if you fell to death?”

In her dizziness, she finally saw his face clearly.

This young man looked exactly like He Feng.

Ji Tong’s eyes snapped open, staring blankly upward.

She moved her fingers, feeling that she had woken up, and casually called his name. “He Feng.”

“He Feng.”

“Are you there?”

“He Feng.”

…

He Feng didn’t appear for a week.

During this time, Zhou Xin escorted Ji Tong to and from school every day. They didn’t encounter anything strange, nor did they see any ghosts.

Soon it was the weekend again.

Zhou Xin drove from the studio to pick her up and go home together. Music played in the car. Zhou Xin looked very tired and didn’t seem to want to talk. Mother and daughter remained silent throughout the journey.

Suddenly, Ji Tong vaguely heard a voice:

“A’Zhi.”

She turned around—the back seat was empty with nothing there.

“A’Zhi.”

Ji Tong turned around again.

Zhou Xin looked at her suspiciously. “What’s wrong?”

Ji Tong turned back around without answering.

“Did you hear something?”

“No.”

“Don’t hide anything from me.”

“Really, nothing.”

Zhou Xin was half-convinced. “I’ve told you countless times—even if you hear someone calling you, don’t turn around, especially at night.”

“I know.”

Zhou Xin glanced at her again. “Really nothing?”

“Really.”

…

He Feng just disappeared like that.

Ji Tong often tentatively called his name a couple of times, but after more than two months passed, he never appeared.

Maybe he really found her somewhat boring, somewhat annoying. Maybe he just treated her as a passerby, helping a few times when he had nothing else to do.

Knowing she shouldn’t be so enchanted by a ghost, Ji Tong couldn’t help but think of him. She thought of him when she saw books, when passing the school clinic, when seeing water, lights, stars in the sky… Clearly they had only met a few times and said just a few words.

Ji Tong felt she would never see him again.

Until that day when she had a dream—a terrifying dream.

In the dream, she was crawling among a pile of charred corpses, crawling back and forth but unable to get out.

Upon waking, she found herself floating in midair above an unfamiliar land.

Ji Tong had experienced an out-of-body experience. As for how it happened, she wasn’t clear.

She felt somewhat unaccustomed but also found it exciting—she could walk without moving her legs and could float in midair, flying around.

But there was a problem: where was this?

Ji Tong couldn’t find her way home and wandered aimlessly on the streets.

A male ghost saw her looking around everywhere and came to chat with her, asking what she was looking for.

Ji Tong was somewhat wary and didn’t dare give her home address, instead mentioning a park near her residential complex.

The male ghost was named Huang Qingyun. He smiled and said, “I know that place. It’s quite far from here. I’ll take you there.”

Ji Tong felt he didn’t look like a good ghost and didn’t dare agree. “Forget it, I’ll find it myself. Thank you.”

“How long will it take you to find it yourself? I know the roads well. I’ll get you there in no time.” He grabbed Ji Tong and pulled her toward himself.

Ji Tong tried to break free, but Huang Qingyun gripped her even tighter.

“I’m taking you there. What are you afraid of?”

Ji Tong couldn’t break free and called for help from passing ghosts, but no ghost paid attention to her.

Huang Qingyun had small eyes and looked lecherous. “I’m not going to harm you. What are you shouting for?”

“Let go of me.” Ji Tong panicked and suddenly thought of He Feng. “I know Patrol Envoy He. We’re friends. If you don’t let me go, I’ll report you to him.”

“Which Patrol Envoy He?”

“His name is He Feng.”

“Patrol Envoy? The Patrol Envoy from the Eleventh Hall? You’re friends with him?” Huang Qingyun scoffed. “I’m brothers with him too.”

Ji Tong couldn’t pull away from him and was forcibly dragged up to float when she suddenly saw a female ghost blocking their path.

The female ghost mustered her courage and shouted, “Let her go!”

Ji Tong’s heart leaped with joy—it was Da Hua!

Without a word, Huang Qingyun kicked Da Hua away. “Get lost. Mind your own business.”

Da Hua crouched pitifully on the ground, made eye contact with Ji Tong, then slunk away dejectedly, abandoning her.

She had sworn that next time she encountered danger, she would never run again!

Sure enough, all ghost talk!

Though Da Hua had run away, she went to get help.

Last time, Patrol Envoy He had made a big fuss over this girl, so their relationship must be significant. She asked around but couldn’t find He Feng. Instead, she ran into Meng Yuan.

Da Hua spoke incoherently: “Ji Tong… was taken by Huang Qingyun… lecherous ghost… dangerous… just took her away.”

“What are you saying? What happened to Ji Tong?”

“Taken away by Huang Qingyun.”

“And who is Huang Qingyun?”

“A lecherous ghost!”

“Then what?” Meng Yuan was sleepy, closing her eyes and dozing while having this scattered conversation.

“Ji Tong is dead!”

Meng Yuan was resting in the tree branches, lazily glancing at Da Hua. “If He Feng hears those words, he’ll sew your mouth shut.”

“Really, I’m not lying! If not dead, then her soul left her body! Anyway, she came out!”

“I saw her this afternoon and she was fine.”

Da Hua became anxious. “It really is her. If I’m lying, I’ll go to hell tomorrow.”

Meng Yuan was half-convinced and jumped down from the tree. “Let me go check her house first.”

Da Hua pulled her back. “By the time you finish checking, it’ll be too late. Hurry and notify Master He. You just arrived and don’t know about Huang Qingyun. He’s famous in our area for being boldly lecherous. He was being chased recently and escaped. Don’t know how he came back.”

Meng Yuan thought this female ghost wouldn’t deceive her about such a matter, and she even mentioned He Feng. Could something really have happened?

“We can’t wait. Hurry! Where is Master He?”

“He Feng went to the Eleventh Hall for a meeting.”

Da Hua anxiously scratched her head. “Then what do we do?”

Meng Yuan grabbed her wrist. “Are you sure you’re not lying to me?”

“Why don’t you believe me!”

Meng Yuan let go. “I’ll go deal with Old Huang first. You go to the Eleventh Hall to find He Feng.”

Da Hua immediately deflated. “I don’t dare.”

Meng Yuan gave her a token. “This is what He Feng gave me before. With this, the Eleventh Hall won’t stop you.”

Da Hua didn’t dare take it. Meng Yuan stuffed it directly into her hands and pointed at her nose threateningly. “If you make me run for nothing, I’ll have He Feng take you to Little Hell.”

“Huang Qingyun should have taken her to his home—seventeen li east from here, by a patch of woods.”

Meng Yuan vanished in a whoosh.

“You ran the wrong way.”

…

Da Hua indeed hadn’t lied. Huang Qingyun had kidnapped Ji Tong and headed for his coffin.

Meng Yuan angrily pounced on him to fight, but unfortunately lost and was captured instead.

This delighted Huang Qingyun. “How is this buy-one-get-one-free!”

Meng Yuan threatened him: “Don’t you know who I am?”

“I don’t care who you are.”

“My brother is He Feng.” Meng Yuan gestured toward Ji Tong with her chin. “This one is his wife.”

Ji Tong: “…”

“Why is everyone using He Feng as their backing today?” Huang Qingyun had been away from this area for a long time. After returning, he had only heard that a powerful new Patrol Envoy had arrived but had never seen him personally. “I don’t believe it. How capable could he be?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Huang Qingyun’s neck was seized and he was dragged outside.

He Feng looked extremely angry—otherwise he wouldn’t have used his Soul Whip against such an insignificant lecherous ghost.

The white whip effortlessly bound Huang Qingyun twice and slowly absorbed his power. Huang Qingyun convulsed all over, rolling his eyes and opening his mouth, unable to scream or even groan.

He Feng didn’t want to punish him in front of Ji Tong, so he had the Soul Whip bind him and take him to the Eleventh Hall first.

Da Hua had been brought by He Feng. Upon landing, she was dazed for a long time—this He Feng was too fast! He nearly scattered her soul.

She gathered herself and saw Ji Tong sitting on a grave mound.

He Feng looked at her nervously. “Are you alright?”

Ji Tong shook her head.

Meng Yuan twisted her neck. “Ow, it hurts. No one cares about me.”

He Feng didn’t even glance at her. Meng Yuan sighed, knowing the two hadn’t seen each other for a long time and probably had much to say, so she tactfully pulled Da Hua away.

“How did you have an out-of-body experience?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Go back quickly.”

“I don’t recognize the way.”

“Go straight west for ten kilometers and you’ll reach the city.”

He Feng turned to leave. Ji Tong quickly grabbed his cloak. “Where have you been?”

The hand under the cloak trembled and curled slightly.

He didn’t answer.

“Why haven’t you come to find me anymore?”

“Busy with official duties.”

“Are you almost finished with your business?”

“No.”

“Then how much longer?”

“Don’t know.”

Ji Tong lowered her head. “Will you come find me again?”

“Don’t know.”

Ji Tong didn’t dare let go, afraid he would suddenly leave without saying goodbye again.

The words she had held back for over two months, too many questions, all burst out at once.

“These days I keep dreaming—dreaming of mountains, forests, horses, and a person.”

“I also saw you in my dreams… when you were young.”

He Feng lowered his head, facing her sideways, desperately restraining his surging emotions.

“There’s always a voice that seems to be calling me.”

“Do you know who A’Zhi is?”

…