Chapter 3 Mental Loss Fees

  For five consecutive days, the sound of knocking on the door would ring out at Wu Zhong's house every night, but when the door was opened, there was no one in sight. Once or twice could be ignored, but after many days and multiple occurrences, people couldn't help but feel suspicious. This was a typical case of a ghost knocking on the door at midnight, clearly indicating that someone had done something wrong. Some even secretly accused Wu's family of bringing disaster to Xiangxi Town, and if it weren't for his position as the head of the pavilion, they would have been driven out long ago.

  Wu Youcai and his family were not only unable to sleep at night, but also frightened by the ghost knocking on the door. Moreover, the rumors and accusations in the town added to their mental pressure. At this time, the county magistrate entrusted them with the matter, and Wu's father and son could only hold on to their tired bodies. Mrs. Ma was frightened, and her already disheveled appearance became even more unbearable. As a result, for a long time, Wu's father and son did not want to get close to her, and this deep house hunger was really hard to bear!

  Yin Xu threw down the last fish bone, laughed and shook his head, muttering to himself: "Superstition is really harmful!" Immediately he shook his head again, saying: "No, it should be said that the power of science is infinite, haha!"

  At this moment, Wu Youcai, who was listless and yawning continuously, came to the door. Yin Xu was very surprised and thought: Could it be that I've been discovered? Shouldn't you be busy finding fault with me at this time?

  As expected, Wu Youcai came in and didn't even bother to greet Yin Xu. To be more precise, he wanted to but couldn't. He walked straight to the statue of the goddess, ordered someone to sweep it clean, and had servants bring over meat dishes and fruits.

  Oh! Yin Xu finally understands now, Wu Youcai is asking for divine intervention!

  The Wu family has been exhausted and terrified by the recent "midnight ghostly knocking on the door" incident, but they have no solution. The rumor of the ghost spread far and wide, and as the saying goes, "three people make a tiger", even the Wu family members themselves can't help but believe it. Someone came up with the idea to invite the gods to exorcise the ghost, so naturally everyone thought of the dilapidated Temple of the Goddess, where the only god in Xiangxi Town resides.

  Yin Xu shook his head secretly, thinking to himself: This time the Wu family has been harmed quite a bit! However, this is the retribution they deserve. As the saying goes, if you don't do anything shameful, you won't be afraid of ghosts knocking on your door in the middle of the night. If the Wu family had acted righteously and walked the straight path, what would they have to fear? Now that they are so frightened, it's clear that they have done something shameful. Moreover, Dong Lai has indeed seen everything with his own eyes, heaven's justice is clear, and retribution will not be evaded!

  Wu Youcai was seen nodding his head and kneeling down to kowtow, but Yin Xu shook her head again, sighing: "Even when seeking divine intervention, you're not sincere. Can't you at least pretend? How can the goddess agree to this? Besides, you don't usually come to worship, what's the use of coming now and clinging to the gods' feet?"

  He suddenly had an idea and thought of a trick. Looking at Wu Youcai, he revealed a sly smile. You deserved it, who let you offend me?

  Yin Xu walked out of the side hall and smiled: Isn't this Brother Youcai? What brings you to worship the Goddess, is there something you want to ask for?

  Wu Youcai raised his head, glanced at Yin Xu with his lackluster eyes, and muttered: "Looking for a fight? Scram, don't bother me!"

  "Hey, Brother Chai, don't be in such a hurry!" Yin Xu said with a smile: "I also know, Brother Chai, what you're doing is just futile labor like this!"

  Huh? Seeing Yin Xu's calm and composed expression, Wu Youcai wanted to erupt in anger, but due to the exhaustion of the past few days, he stumbled and almost fell over.

  "Hey brother, calm down, let's talk it out!"

  Wu Youcai took a deep breath and asked irritably: "What do you want to say?"

  Yin Xuyou said with a smile, "I want to say something, I think you're too late in coming to worship the goddess now. What were you doing before? You only remember to offer sacrifices when you have something to ask for, and when there's nothing going on, you don't even care. Devotion! Do you understand what devotion means?"

  Wu Youcai's expression was shocked, and Yin Xu smiled: "You come back to worship for the first time, wanting to ask for the protection of the goddess is definitely not possible, but there is a compromise that can be tried."

  "What's the solution?" Wu Youcai was also at his wit's end and would try any remedy.

  Yin Xu mysteriously said, "Actually, there is someone in our town who has always believed in the goddess and was fortunate enough to receive guidance, learning some magic. This person you can seek out, and they will definitely respond."

  "Oh? Who?"

  "Distant as the sky, near at hand!"

  "Huh?" Wu Youcai was stunned for a moment before asking: "You're not talking about yourself, are you?"

  Yin Xu bowed his head and smiled lightly: "It's just me, a humble person, who has the ability to do this. I've been living here, worshiping the goddess every day. Although you injured me a few days ago, we all live in the town, and it's inevitable that we'll run into each other. I'm still willing to help."

  "Do you really have a way?" Wu Youcai was also tortured enough and hastily asked.

  Yin Xu smiled and said: "There is, but you also know that daily worshiping the goddess and thanking the gods are indispensable."

  Wu Youcai recalled his embarrassing encounter with Donglai and the injury he had inflicted on someone a few days ago, feeling somewhat anxious and uncertain. However, he couldn't bear the annoyance of being haunted by ghosts. Summoning his courage, he said: "If you can handle this matter well, I will naturally reward you generously; but if you try to deceive me or fail to resolve it, you'll be in trouble."

  "Don't worry, I'm coming... With me, Yīn, arriving from the east, it's naturally a success, just wait and see!"

  When Yin Xu appeared at the gate of Wu's house that afternoon, it was unknown who had spread the news. The entrance of Wu's house was surrounded by villagers, with three layers inside and three layers outside.

  Wu Zhong was quite embarrassed, but also had no choice. Hearing that his son had said so, he let Yin Xu try it out, which was like using a dead horse as if it were alive.

  Under the gaze of everyone, Yin Xu made Wu's servant bring a basin of clear water. Donglai was seen making various movements on the wooden basin. Yin Xu thought to himself: If only I had learned how to perform magic earlier, now I can only imitate the moves from TV shows and movies, blindly following suit.

  Soon, Yin Xue ordered: "This is divine water, mix it with several buckets of clear water and scrub the door thoroughly!"

  "Is that all?" Mr. Ma asked in surprise.

  "Well, we'll see the result tonight. If it's effective, I'd like Mr. Wu to pay two gold coins as a fee for the divine service."

  "Two gold?" That's quite a bit of money!

  "But it's just two golds, if we can resolve this matter and ensure the safety and health of my whole family, I think Wu Ting Chang won't mind."

  Wu Zhong had had enough in the past few days, and with a heroic gesture of cutting off his wrist, he said in a low voice: "If it's true, then gratitude is only natural."

  That night, Yin Xu and several brave young men in the town stayed behind with Wu's father and son to guard the living room. Indeed, no ghostly knocking sounds were heard that night, and the miraculous divine water, as well as various rumors about Yin Xu's magical skills, spread throughout Xiangxi Town. People again recalled the incident of Yin Xu's resurrection a few days ago, and became even more convinced that Donglai had been blessed by the goddess. The most direct result was that the incense at the Temple of the Goddess flourished once more.

  Rumors heard in the ear, Yin Xu smiled slightly at the time. In his previous life, he had seen on a certain forum that the blood of eels has a strong bloody smell, which people can't detect, but it can attract bats at night. The blood of eels is applied to the door, and the bats will keep hitting the door. When the door opens, the bats are frightened and fly away, and there's nothing left. In the ignorant ancient times, encountering this scene at night would naturally be considered as a ghost knocking on the door, and the fear it brings can be imagined. As for that bowl of holy water, there was nothing special about it, just washing off the eel blood on the door with clear water, and the bats wouldn't come anymore, so there wouldn't be any "ghost knocking on the door" either.

  Not understanding science is really scary! Yin Xue thought to himself, holding the two gold bars in his hands: Last time's jade pendant was considered medical expenses, this time he had been troubled for so long, it could be considered spiritual loss compensation!