Yin Shou Shu

Chapter 365 Stepmother
Many techniques in "The Art of Witchcraft and Spirits" have strict requirements on the Yin power of the person who performs the ritual.

It involves many complex rituals, which not only require setting up an altar and performing rituals, but also require the preparation of various related items in advance, and even the assistance of others.

However, there are also some extremely simple spells that can produce effects simply by chanting incantations and performing the spell.

Previously, Ran Qing mainly learned about those powerful and equally risky evil spells by reading, and having a general impression was enough.

At that time, he did not have enough Yin power to perform these evil spells.

But now, his Yin energy has surged, allowing him to study the dangerous content of the second half.

He frowned as he flipped through the book, occasionally taking out paper and pen to write and draw on his knees.

Although Mo Li would not peek at his secret manual, Ran Qing would always cover up all the contents of the paper after finishing the drawing to prevent it from being leaked.

Around noon, Long Zongshu, who had been sleeping for a long time, also woke up.

The three of them went out and had a simple meal of hot pot noodles before leaving Park Road and heading towards the overpass.

The urban area of ​​Yue Zhao is small, and the largest overpass in the urban area is now only one, which is a long, steep, sloping bridge that spans and connects the higher-lying Huangtupo area and the lower-lying Development Zone area.

Ran Jianfei's house is in a residential area next to the overpass.

The buildings are old and the exterior walls are mottled, but it is one of the few walled communities in Yue Zhao City in the 1990s.

There is no greenery in the community; between the buildings is a flat wasteland with a few cars parked sparsely.

The main gate facing the main road was sealed off with a large iron gate, with a smaller gate on top of it for pedestrians to enter and exit.

An old man in a white shirt sat leisurely in the small pavilion next to the gate.

When the old man saw Ran Qing and the other two about to enter the residential area, he immediately stopped them.

"Hey? Where are you three little kids going?"

The population density in the neighborhood is not high, and everyone there is a familiar face.

When Ran Qing and the other two unfamiliar faces appeared, the sharp-eyed old man immediately recognized them and stopped them.

The three exchanged glances, and Ran Qing said, "My name is Ran Qing, and I'm the son of Ran Jianfei, who lives inside. I have to come back for something... Sir, do you know my father?"

Everyone in this staff housing complex knows each other.

The old man was immediately surprised: "Your kid is Ran Jianfei's son? Tsk..."

He looked Ran Qing up and down with surprise, clearly familiar with Ran Jianfei's family affairs and knew Ran Jianfei.

This is the first time in ten years that Ran Jianfei, the legendary son, has appeared near the neighborhood.

The old man grinned and said, "Your dad and I are quite familiar with each other. Last time my little nephew was possessed by an evil spirit, it was your dad who exorcised the ghost and cured him."

"Come in quickly, but you need to register first."

The old man stopped stopping them, smiled and waved for the three to come in, and took out a visitor registration form for them to fill out.

He looked the three of them over and asked them all sorts of questions out of curiosity.

"...Are the three of you classmates?"

“Your dad has been on leave for many days. What has he been doing? Your stepmother came back yesterday, and your dad wasn’t with her either.”

The old man kept rambling on and on, trying to get information out of me in a familiar way.

Ran Qing smiled and brushed it off. After the three of them finished registering, they fled in a panic, not daring to stay any longer.

This kind of gossipy old man is terrifying.

After entering the flat area of ​​the residential area, the three of them walked towards the old buildings scattered in front of them.

Ran Qing didn't know the exact address of the house where Ran Jianfei lived before.

But when he met his stepmother Luo Xuefang on the road to the head, Luo Xuefang left her home address.

At the time, Ran Qing was told to move back whenever she had time.

Now, however, it has become convenient for Ran Qing to visit.

Following the address given by Luoxue, the three arrived downstairs and looked up at the old building in front of them.

It's an ordinary residential building, seven stories high, and unremarkable.

In the muddy ground beneath the building, three little boys were squatting and playing marbles. When they saw the stranger appear, they all looked over curiously.

Ran Qing and Mo Lizongshu exchanged a glance and said, "I'll go up first." Ran Jianfei's house was on the third floor. If there was any commotion, Ran Qing only needed to shout, and the two downstairs could rush up to rescue him in time.

Mo Li and Long Zongshu both sighed at the same time.

Mo Li said, "Be careful."

He gave a brief instruction, but there was no further communication.

The three parted ways, and Ran Qing walked upstairs alone.

He had a canvas bag slung across his body, and the cane wrapped in cloth was entrusted to Zong Shu downstairs for safekeeping.

Little Cotton also stayed downstairs, seemingly oblivious to the potential dangers.

At this moment, Little Cotton, looking silly and clearly in a daze, was staring blankly at the children playing with glass beads.

Ran Qing went up to the third floor and knocked on the metal door on the left.

Tuk-tuk-tuk——

A dull knock sounded on the door; it was Ran Qing's first time visiting her father's house.

But this time, he was calm and unmoved.

Even if the one living in this dream is a ghost.

But that man is no longer there.

Perhaps to him in the past, the man he called father was more terrifying than a ghost...

As the thought flashed through her mind, the iron gate in front of Ran Qing opened, and her stepmother Luo Xuefang's face came into view.

The middle-aged woman, who already had some wrinkles but didn't look old and still had some beauty, looked at the boy at the door in surprise.

"Ran Qing? Come in quickly."

Luo Xuefang wore a friendly, polite smile, typical of an adult.

She quickly stepped aside and let Ran Qing into the room.

The sun shines brightly outside, and the room is well-lit inside.

The apartment has good natural light, with open balcony windows and no curtains inside, so there's no sense of gloom or death.

By any measure, it doesn't look like a place inhabited by evil spirits.

A middle-aged woman with a smile led Ran Qing into the room, firmly declining his offer to change his shoes, and instead had him step directly onto the clean floor inside.

"No need to change your shoes. I'm going to be cleaning tomorrow, so please come in and have a seat."

A smiling, middle-aged woman; friendly and hospitable.

Ran Qing didn't say anything, calmly and naturally followed her into the house, and did as she asked.

Finally, Ran Qing sat down on the soft sofa in the living room.

A friendly middle-aged woman smiled and brought over a cup of hot tea, saying, "Have some fruit."

She smiled and pointed to the fruit basket on the coffee table: "Don't be shy, this is your home."

After a brief opening meeting, both parties took their seats.

The woman looked at Ran Qing curiously and asked, "Is your father doing well with you?"

Ran Qing's gaze lingered on the house, observing the place where Ran Jianfei had lived for many years.

Only after hearing the woman's question did he turn around and look at his stepmother.

In the bright light, the stepmother was gentle and friendly, polite and considerate, without a trace of evil.

But Ran Qing's gaze held a hint of complexity.

He remained silent for a few seconds, but did not answer the woman's question.

Instead, he asked slowly.

"...Where's my sister?"

(End of this chapter)