People worship their ancestors: I'm just burning some paper money, how did I become a Taoist ma

A person suffering from laziness says: Read this book!

When Li Mu was a Taoist priest in his previous life, he had heard many stories about "ghosts".

But those were all stories; he had never seen what a real ghost looked like.

Speaking of ghosts, they are simply evolved from the spirits of the dead!

Upon arriving in this world, although he had already encountered the spirits of the dead—when he was guiding Xu Baoguo's soul, he had seen the figure lost in the mist.

But those are all wandering souls, those who have not yet entered the underworld or who refuse to enter the underworld.

In folk legends, the concept of "ghost" often refers to a malevolent being that can harm people.

Li Mu didn't know what the dark figure that Lin Wanqing's mother saw was.

But he knew he would know for sure when he went to see for himself tomorrow.

……

The next morning, Li Mu rode his electric bike to the old town.

The old town and the new town of Tianhai City are completely different worlds. The new town is filled with high-rise buildings, wide roads, and bustling traffic. The old town, on the other hand, is characterized by narrow alleys, old houses, and power lines that tangle overhead like a spider web.

Jianshe Road is an old street in the old city. Most of the houses on both sides were built in the 1990s. They are six stories high, without elevators, and the paint on the exterior walls has peeled off, exposing the cement underneath.

Li Mu found the building according to the address.

Unit 3, third floor.

He went upstairs and knocked on the door.

The door opened quickly, and a woman in her forties appeared behind it. She was wearing a gray cardigan, her hair was simply tied up, and she had dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept well.

"Are you Ms. Lin Wanqing?" Li Mu asked.

"It's me. Are you Mr. Li Mu?" Lin Wanqing looked him up and down, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She clearly hadn't expected Wang Qingyu to introduce someone so young.

"right."

"Please come in, please come in." Lin Wanqing stepped aside and let Li Mu into the house.

The house isn't big, just two bedrooms and a living room, and it's kept fairly clean.

But there was an indescribable smell in the air, not musty, not foul, but rather... an old, stale smell, as if it hadn't been ventilated for a long time.

An elderly woman, around seventy years old, was sitting on the sofa in the living room. Her hair was completely white, and she was very thin. She was huddled in the corner of the sofa, covered with a blanket.

The old lady's gaze was somewhat vacant as she watched Li Mu enter, showing little reaction.

"Mom, this is the Mr. Li I told you about." Lin Wanqing walked to the old lady's side, squatted down, and held her hand.

The old lady then raised her head, glanced at Li Mu, and then lowered her head again.

Lin Wanqing glanced at Li Mu somewhat awkwardly and said in a low voice, "Ever since my mother saw that thing, her mental state hasn't been very good. She used to be very talkative, but now... she doesn't say much."

Li Mu nodded without saying anything.

He walked to the living room window and looked outside.

On the third floor, outside the window was a small balcony with a few potted plants, some of which were already wilting. Beyond the balcony was the street, nothing particularly special.

Li Mu turned around and asked Lin Wanqing, "When does your mother usually see that dark figure?"

"It's always after dark!"

"Are they all outside the window?"

"Yes, she said that person was standing outside the window watching her."

Li Mu looked out the window again.

The windows were the old-fashioned sliding windows, which were closed very tightly.

He took out three incense sticks from his bag, lit them, and placed them on the windowsill.

Three incense sticks were lit, and the smoke drifted out of the window.

Li Mu stared at the smoke for a few seconds.

The smoke wasn't moving correctly—it swirled around after going out before slowly dissipating. It was as if something was blocking its path.

It's not wind. The air outside the window is very stable, with hardly any airflow.

Li Mu made no sound, put away the incense, and turned around.

"Ms. Lin, I'll take a quick look at the situation today. We'll need to wait until dark to determine the specifics."

Lin Wanqing nodded quickly, "Okay, okay. So... will you come again tonight?"

"Come on," Li Mu said. "I'll handle it after dark."

……

At nine o'clock in the evening, Li Mu came to the residential building in the old city again.

This time he brought more things than during the day: a stack of talismans, cinnabar, a writing brush, a small bottle of realgar wine, and a peach wood sword.

Because he had already prepared all the things that might be needed in the future, Li Mu had already started preparing them in advance!

Li Mu went upstairs and knocked on the door, but Lin Wanqing opened it.

She changed her clothes and wore a dark turtleneck sweater, looking much more nervous than during the day.

"Mr. Li, you've arrived."

"Hmm." Li Mu walked into the room and glanced around.

The old lady was still sitting on the sofa in the living room, in the same spot, with the same blanket. But now, a small table lamp was on the coffee table next to her, illuminating that small area brightly.

"Have you eaten yet?" Lin Wanqing asked.

"I've already eaten." Li Mu placed his bag on the coffee table, took out incense and candles, and said, "I'll set things up first."

He lit a candle in each of the four corners of the living room and pasted a talisman on the window.

Then he returned to the center of the living room, closed his eyes, and recited the Purification Mantra once.

After reading it aloud, he opened his eyes and asked Lin Wanqing, "Tonight, neither you nor your mother should sleep in the living room. Go to the bedroom. Close the bedroom door, and don't come out no matter what noise you hear."

Lin Wanqing's face was a little pale, but she still nodded.

Li Mu's entourage didn't seem like he was joking around, so she naturally didn't need to join in the fun!

Li Mu moved a chair and sat in the center of the living room, facing the window.

Then he started to wait.

Time passed by, second by second.

The only sounds in the living room were the ticking of the wall clock and the occasional car noise from outside the window.

Li Mu kept his eyes closed, but he wasn't asleep.

He tried to feel the "qi" around him.

At first, he couldn't feel anything. The room was clean and tidy, just like after he finished reciting the Purification Mantra.

But as time went on, things gradually changed.

The change was subtle—like being in a quiet room and suddenly sensing something entering.

You didn't see it, you didn't hear it, but you just knew it was coming.

Li Mu opened his eyes.

There was a shadow outside the window.

It wasn't the shadow of a tree, nor a passerby, but a vaguely human-shaped dark figure standing on the balcony outside the window.

The balcony was enclosed with security bars. The shadow stood outside the security bars, suspended in mid-air, staring motionlessly into the room.

Li Mu did not move.

He looked at the shadow, and the shadow looked at him.

The human and the ghost stared at each other for about ten seconds.

Then, Li Mu stood up from his chair and walked to the window.

He didn't open the window, but stood inside, looking at the dark figure through the glass.

As they got closer, Li Mu could see more clearly.

The author, a self-proclaimed lazy person, highly recommends: I hope you enjoy the story of "Everyone Worships Ancestors: I Burned Some Paper Money and Became a Celestial Master" on Cola Novels.

Lin Wanqing's face was a little pale, but she still nodded.

Li Mu's entourage didn't seem like he was joking around, so she naturally didn't need to join in the fun!

Li Mu moved a chair and sat in the center of the living room, facing the window.

Then he started to wait.

Time passed by, second by second.

The only sounds in the living room were the ticking of the wall clock and the occasional car noise from outside the window.

Li Mu kept his eyes closed, but he wasn't asleep.

He tried to feel the "qi" around him.

At first, he couldn't feel anything. The room was clean and tidy, just like after he finished reciting the Purification Mantra.

But as time went on, things gradually changed.

The change was subtle—like being in a quiet room and suddenly sensing something entering.

You didn't see it, you didn't hear it, but you just knew it was coming.

Li Mu opened his eyes.

There was a shadow outside the window.

It wasn't the shadow of a tree, nor a passerby, but a vaguely human-shaped dark figure standing on the balcony outside the window.

The balcony was enclosed with security bars. The shadow stood outside the security bars, suspended in mid-air, staring motionlessly into the room.

Li Mu did not move.

He looked at the shadow, and the shadow looked at him.

The human and the ghost stared at each other for about ten seconds.

Then, Li Mu stood up from his chair and walked to the window.

He didn't open the window, but stood inside, looking at the dark figure through the glass.

As they got closer, Li Mu could see more clearly.