egnancy." I explained softly, lowering my head.Jiang Qiyun let out a barely audible sigh: "Let's go. If you're not feeling well, don't go out. You don't have to go to school either. I'll tell the Judg...I'm so confused, what should I do Is this related to that evil cult again

Song Wei pulled me out, her voice still trembling with a mix of shock and excitement: "I never expected that so introverted Zhao Xiaoru would be so bold!"

I secretly shook my head. That voice definitely wasn't Zhao Xiaoru!

"Song Wei, go to the cafeteria first, I'm going to the library. Can you get me some takeout" I ran away in a hurry, went around to the other side of Lover's Hill, which was the must-pass route for leaving, and I just squatted here.

After about twenty minutes, I saw the man walk out. I let out a sigh of relief—he was alive.

However, looking at his unsteady gait and the way he looked like a man drained of his vital energy by a fairy, plus that strange foolish smile on his face — just twenty minutes It couldn't be this bad.

Next, I saw Zhao Xiaoru walking over with her head down.

I pretended to rush to the dining hall, running up and bumping into her —

"Sorry, sorry! Oh, Zhao Xiaoru, is that you" My acting was a bit stiff, but I didn't have time to worry about that.

Zhao Xiaoru's eyes were a little red, and her voice was a bit hoarse—had she done too much

"Oh... it's nothing." Her eyes flickered when she saw me.

Her tone of voice was normal, completely different from before!

"Xiao Ru, what's wrong I see that you seem to have cried..." I pressed on relentlessly.

She looked at me in slight surprise, shaking her head. "No, nothing... I just, uh, my throat feels a little scratchy, itchy, and I'm coughing up tears."

I nodded, and just then Song Wei's phone call came in. I took this as an excuse to slip away.

Her mind seemed clear and normal, not like she was possessed.

And there was no trace of gloom between her brows, only a pale complexion and reddened eyes.

I went home and told my brother about this. My brother immediately became nervous as soon as he heard the word "evil sorcerer".

"Hey, this evil cult is said to have come from Tibet. It's almost extinct in Tibet, but it's been revived in mainland China... Their magic is divided into two parts: one is absorbing yang energy, and the other is possessing people with Chinese ghosts. This kind of possession doesn't control the mind, it just makes the person be used by them, like brainwashing. They keep offering sacrifices to them!"

My brother rubbed his hands together, holding his notebook to review the information left by my father.

"Then what shall we do If these evil people come seeking revenge, with just the two of us... I estimate our ability to resist would be non-existent."

"Where's your ghost of a husband Has he shown up"

I shook my head. "I don't know where he is, he wasn't in front of me anyway."

My brother smacked his lips and reluctantly said, "Looks like we're going to the Ghost Market. We need to buy some protection. I remember there's a shop specializing in talismans there."

I was speechless for a while, how many specialty shops are there on the ghost market

"But everything's so expensive, these colleagues are being way too ruthless...Why don't we go take a look ourselves" He asked for my opinion, after all the money at home was in my hands.

I nodded, curious to see what this Ghost Market was like.

My older brother went out with my dad several times before. He drove me out once.

"Shall we drive Can we drive to Yinshan"

"Of course not! It's only the entrance to the Ghost Market!" My brother glared at me.

The entrance to the ghost market is in a place of extreme yin. My brother drove me to a nearby cemetery. Nowadays, cemeteries are well-constructed and have dedicated management teams, so they aren't scary at all.

My brother walked to the edge of the cemetery, where a large willow tree grew by the pond.

The willow tree was already one of the ghost trees, and the pond was stagnant water. This kind of place would feel a chill in the daytime, sending shivers down your spine.

Besides, my brother came here in the middle of the night... to burn paper money!

"Here's the toll, Lord of the Crossroads, open the gate..." My brother muttered a few words. I felt a chill in the air and shivered, pulling my shoulders tighter.

There weren't any major changes around, but the willows had already become slightly different. My brother pulled me straight towards the trunk of the tree. I squeezed my eyes shut and when I opened them again, the scene before me was completely different!

A stone path, a towering stone archway, on both sides are ancient shops, some with stalls set up, and many pedestrians in the street wearing turbans and cloaks.

The archway read "East Market," this must be one of the ghost markets!

"This is a special area drawn under the Yin Mountain. On the street, it's forbidden to make loud noises, and it's best not to open your mouth. Opening your mouth will be sucked up your yang energy by the Yin Mountain." My brother wrote in my palm as a reminder.

I nodded in understanding. No wonder there were so many people on the road, yet it was as silent as a mime performance, haggling being done entirely through gestures.

My brother took out the prepared masks and sunglasses and gave them to me. We, wearing masks and sunglasses on this pitch-black black market, looked like a breath of fresh air compared to the others who were shrouded in dark cloaks.

First time here, I was overwhelmed by everything. They sell all kinds of things! I even saw a shadowy figure sitting on the curb with a cardboard sign hanging from his chest that read: "Selling myself, seeking spiritual treasure transmission scriptures, consider me your son!"

I almost laughed out loud.

My older brother brought me to a shop hanging with yin-yang mirrors and peach wood swords. As soon as we entered, he closed the door and said, "I'm dying of boredom! Closing the door lets me speak freely, Xiao Qiao."

I nodded, watching the shopkeeper walk out with a sly grin: "Isn't this the famous Master Mu, who has been in the news lately What brings you to take care of my business"

"Cut the crap, I'll take two sets of ghost-taming talismans."

The shopkeeper quickly picked up two sets of talismans, carefully rolled them in cowhide paper, tied them with red string and handed them over: "One set is 100,000 yuan, two sets are 200,000 yuan."

"Damn it!" My brother jumped up. "Twenty thousand for a few pieces of paper Are you serious Is this even real money"

The shopkeeper chuckled, rubbing his hands together and saying, "I heard that Brother Mu has been doing well recently. Why don't you treat us to some meat soup This is the most powerful talisman I have."

"Don't waste time talking, the power depends on the user! Who are you trying to fool Two sets for 50,000, if I don't sell it, go look somewhere else!" My brother got up and was about to leave.

"Hey hey, how about two sets for 80,000"

"Forty thousand!" My brother slashed down with his sword.

“…You’re ruthless.”

Forty thousand is expensive too, I thought as I looked at the two sheets of parchment. This circle makes money fast but spends it just as quickly.

Later I understood that in this circle, spending money is also a way to dispel bad luck, so it's hard to see wealthy people in this circle.

There was a shop with a huge, dark piece of wood propped up outside. I stared at it curiously—what on earth did they sell What could you possibly do with this much wood Ghosts don't need to buy coffins, do they

My brother saw that I was distracted and, with a chuckle, pushed me in. He didn't come in himself.

The shop door slammed shut, and behind the dim oil lamp, a hunchbacked old woman grinned at me: "Welcome... beautiful little girl..."

My heart pounded, I stole a glance to confirm, she had a shadow.

"It's a human... I let out a small sigh of relief and asked, "Sir, what do you sell here"

The old woman was taken aback for a moment, then cackled, "Don't you know what they sell here"

I shook my head.

She let out a chuckle and said, “First time here, huh Have a seat. I’ll get something to show you…”

I saw her tremble as she brought out a tray from behind the counter. The tray was filled with many pieces of black wood that had been smoothed to a shine, shaped in a way that was incredibly unsettling.

"Come, look at these tools. Examine them carefully and see which ones you like in terms of length and thickness..."

Phew!

>ly only Zhao Jie was caught off guard.She never expected there to be anything hiding in this long-abandoned house.“Xi Lingzhou.” Mu Wanchen suddenly spoke."Yes!" the woman exclaimed, looking at us exc...