False evidence

Chapter 276 Illusory Image (3)

The three words coming from the radio were: Sichuan restaurant.

Thinking of the ghostly figure I saw in the hospital room, I hurriedly asked, "Who are you?"

I didn't get an answer because at that moment, the radio suddenly returned to normal.

I turned around and drove straight to the entrance of the funeral parlor.

"Why are you here again?" Xiao Shen put down his chopsticks and, observing the situation, asked, "You didn't accept ghost money again this morning, did you?"

I slapped the paper money I collected this morning onto the counter.

Xiao Shen frowned: "I already told you not to accept it."

"He insisted on giving it to me!"

I went to the back and got a bowl and chopsticks, then ate my fill of food before asking, "How do you summon the soul of someone who has drowned?"

Xiao Shen, who had no inhibitions, paused for a moment before asking directly, "Was the one who got in your car a water ghost?"

"It can't be considered a complete ghost."

"Tsk, how could I not know that?" Xiao Shensan also put down his chopsticks. "Without a substitute, a water ghost cannot go ashore. But under certain special circumstances, a water ghost can separate its soul from the human soul and go ashore."

However, the water ghost separates from the human soul by using water from the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Unless it has a suitable body to attach itself to, it will quickly dissipate once separated from the water. Without the human soul, the soul in the water cannot be reincarnated.

I nodded: "I know most of what you've said. Now I'm asking you, what method do you have to summon the rest of the souls together?"

Xiao Shen said, "That's not difficult. As long as you know where the person drowned, go to the river where they drowned, and without using a substitute, perform a grand ritual to summon their soul back from the Dragon King."

My mind raced, and I asked, "What if we can't find where they drowned?"

Xiao Shen looked outside the three doors and said, "It's sunny now. Once the snow melts and dries, people's souls will be gone. So, wait for me for a while."

He first went to the backyard and brought over a clay jar, then called Lu Zelin to come out, rode on Lu Zelin's shoulders, broke off all the icicles that had begun to melt from under the eaves, and put them into the jar.

Once inside the shop, he put down the jar, beckoned to me with his finger, and said, "Now listen to me, go and buy these things..."

Finally, he said, "Remember, the fish must be alive, the fresher the better!"

I hesitated for a moment, "What if the person drowned in the sea?"

Xiao Shen rolled his eyes: "Haven't you heard that all aquatic creatures are one family? Carp are close relatives of the Dragon King. If we don't use carp, are we supposed to use lobsters?"

"Wouldn't a sea turtle be better? It seems the Dragon King always has a turtle prime minister by his side?"

Xiao Shen and I were just joking.

Although it was the first time I had encountered such a strange 'customer,' I was in a very cheerful and happy mood.

Because this "customer" who came to my door seemed to be one of the two scumbags who drugged women at the Sichuan restaurant where I worked, causing me to be unable to go to school.

Meeting Pidan was my good fortune, but I'm not a magnanimous person after all. My 'enemy' is dead, and I wouldn't believe myself if I said I wasn't relieved.

Following Xiao Shen's advice, I picked out two of the freshest carp at the market, deliberately asking the fishmonger to put water in the bag. After paying, I took them directly to the car, which had been running with the air conditioning on the whole way. Only then did I buy other things.

Back at the shop, the icicles in the jar had melted into water by the stove. Xiao Shen selected a carp, wiped the water off the fish with a few pieces of yellow paper, and put the still relatively fresh fish into the jar.

Xiao Shen clapped his hands. "Alright, mission accomplished!"

"Is that all?" I looked at the huge pile of things I'd bought on the counter. "These sheep's heads, pork, beef, and white rice...don't we need to set them up as offerings?"

Xiao Shen chuckled wickedly: "It's not a sacrifice, so what's the point of setting up an offering? Those monks and Taoists who usually act all high and mighty and set up altars to exorcise evil spirits are just fooling people. To truly exorcise evil spirits, you need to invite the Three Pure Ones and borrow Buddhist teachings. Dealing with ordinary 'cats and dogs' can be done in no time."

"these things……"

"It's cold, and I'm too lazy to go to the market. You've bought us a week's worth of food this time," Xiao Shen said, winking. "Hey, let me tell you, when it comes to rice, our Northeast rice is the best..."

"Oh my god..." Lu Zelin, who had been staring at the jar, suddenly said, "Third Master, the fish looks like it's dead!"

Xiao Shen and I went closer. I looked into the jar and said, "It's not just a glimpse, it's really turned belly up."

Xiao Shen San took a deep breath: "This shouldn't be the case. I've already added talisman ash to it. Logically, once a carp enters the magical water, if there are water ghosts or human souls nearby, they should attach themselves to the fish."

As he spoke, he scooped out the dead fish and put another one in.

This time, the three of them watched helplessly as the carp flipped belly up in less than three minutes.

Xiao Shen scratched his head: "It can't be like this... how could he have died?"

"If you ask me, at this rate, even buying another hundred fish won't save us any money."

I've figured it out. This guy might have some expertise in funeral-related matters, but he's not an expert in everything.

Judging from his current crude and simplistic approach, I suspect he's just pretending to know what he doesn't.

Xiao Shen San stroked his chin and said, "That shouldn't be the case, otherwise..."

Before he could finish speaking, a thought flashed through my mind.

To be precise, it is the transmission of consciousness.

The one who delivered the message was Lü Xin.

In this situation, compared to Xiao Shen San's two failed attempts, I trust Lü Xin's method more.

He immediately scooped out the dead fish, took the white fish jade pendant from his neck, hesitated for a moment, and then dropped it into the jar.

As soon as the jade pendant entered the water, I felt the red string being pulled by an unusually strong force.

I was overjoyed. Lü Xin had told me to use the jade pendant instead of the live carp, and it actually worked!

"The fish is alive!" Lu Zelin exclaimed in surprise as he watched the white fish, which had sunk deep to the bottom of the jar, swimming around as fast as a live fish.

Lu Xin only taught me the method, but didn't explain why it would work that way.

Just as I was about to ask him a question, I suddenly saw a faint wisp of steam rising from the jar.

The same misty, ethereal image appeared pale blue in the hospital, but this time it was almost colorless.

Xiao Shen San didn't seem to notice this scene and continued to peek into the jar.

I tried to pull him away, but the steam was coming out so fast that it entered his mouth and nose before I could move.

Xiao Shen trembled violently as if he had been electrocuted, straightened up, and exclaimed with a change in expression, "Oh no!"

"What's going on?" I was at a loss.

Xiao Shen quickly said, "The water ghost's soul has entered my body, I can't control it! Your ghost hand might not work either! Remember, it only has a human soul, so it only cares about its closest person. Do whatever it wants, or I'm finished!"

After she finished speaking, her body trembled again, and the expression on her little face suddenly became blank and unfamiliar.

He looked at me, his bluish lips moved slightly, and he said, "I recognize you."

"and who are you?"

All I could do was watch helplessly.

Because what Lü Xin said seemed to be almost exactly the same as what Xiao Shen San said—that a person's soul enters the orifice of a living person and is difficult to expel.

He also gave a very vivid analogy—Xiao Shen San's current situation is like his consciousness entering my brain. Unlike ghosts, it is impossible to separate from him unless one is willing.

(End of this chapter)