Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
When it comes to hotels, they are places where spirits frequently appear. This is especially true for the first and last rooms. It is common to find an extra presence there. Why are the first and last rooms in hotels so favored by the Spirit Gods?
Let me explain about the Spirit Gods of hotels. They can be roughly divided into three types.
The first type consists of spirits disturbed during the construction of the hotel. If the builders do not hire professionals to relocate graves or disturb the earth properly before construction, there will inevitably be great resentment. Sooner or later, trouble will arise, and the feng shui of the hotel will suffer severe damage. Business will decline, leading to inevitable closure.
The second type includes wandering spirits, commonly known as lonely souls or restless ghosts. These spirits usually settle down once they find a place to stay and do not leave easily. They may occasionally come out to scare guests but do not typically haunt or cause physical ailments. They usually express their presence through dreams and pose no significant harm.
The third type consists of spirits brought in by guests and left behind. These spirits generally do not linger for long; they may follow individuals with weak life forces for a period, bringing misfortune, illness, or disaster.
The incident I am about to recount involves the third type of Spirit God.
It was shortly after the National Day in 2013 when a college classmate from Wuhan called me.
His sister and brother-in-law took their five-year-old son to Guangzhou for a trip during the National Day holiday. After returning, their son seemed like a different person—talking to himself all day, sometimes speaking inexplicably to a corner, and at other times telling his parents he wanted to go back to Guangzhou to find his old companion. This left his parents bewildered. After consultations with doctors and psychologists, his brother-in-law concluded that the child was neither sick nor deliberately mischievous; he was likely possessed.
After much inquiry, my classmate learned about me and eagerly called.
My classmate's surname is Wang; we were in different majors but met during the Freshman Cup Football Tournament's team draw meeting at school. There were only two teams from our department, so we got along well. In our youthful exuberance, we vowed to fight fiercely in the finals on Luojia Mountain. In the end, however, we were both eliminated first without any clear winner. After that, we became good friends despite our differing lifestyles and interests.
His greatest achievement in college was dating countless girlfriends without even realizing how many there were. My greatest achievement was memorizing numerous scriptures, charms, hand spells, and methods of feng shui! After graduation, he opened an adult toy store and recently started a wedding planning company. As for me, I naturally became what he jokingly referred to as a fortune teller.
As for why we didn't pursue jobs in our respective fields, it’s because we didn’t graduate smoothly! He spent all his time chasing after girlfriends while I spent most of mine away from school practicing under my master at Baolian Temple and following him on business trips! The direct consequence was that I only made a few friends in college and failed to graduate properly; strictly speaking, I am still just a high school dropout.
Returning to the main topic: after listening to my classmate speak in his thick Wuhan dialect, I paused for a moment before calmly asking if he was joking. He shouted back at me in frustration before preparing to repeat himself in Mandarin. I quickly stopped him and told him I was just teasing him; just as he was about to curse again, I asked if his brother-in-law was nearby. He confirmed that he was.
From what I learned from his brother-in-law, it matched closely with what my classmate had said. Additionally, I found out they had visited Chimelong while staying at Chimelong Hotel in Guangzhou. Upon hearing this, I decided to take on this case because my friend was involved and Chimelong Hotel is not cheap.
Since his brother-in-law was quite anxious about the situation, I booked a high-speed train ticket from Guangzhou to Wuhan that very afternoon.
It was still light in Wuhan. I hadn't even had the chance to enjoy a long-awaited bowl of hot dry noodles when Pleasure Hound pulled me along to his brother-in-law's place, racing towards the neighborhood where his brother-in-law lived.
Seeing their serious expressions, I abandoned my thoughts of a hearty meal and decided to handle the situation first.
Their home was a 280-square-meter duplex, which reassured me even more because Reward had some guarantees.
When I saw the child, his mother was feeding him dinner. As I stared at him, I noticed he was staring back at me with vacant eyes. When I tried to approach him, he suddenly went into a frenzy, grabbing the bowl and utensils in front of him and smashing them against the door.
He had quite a bit of strength. His aim was off, but I also realized that this wasn't the kind of force a typical five-year-old should possess.
So, this child was possessed!!!
The child seemed to sense that I meant no good and tried to rush for the door. Pleasure Hound quickly scooped him up.
I hurriedly said, "Hold him and put him on the chair!" Then I skillfully pulled out a small bundle of Ink Fight Line from my bag.
At that moment, his sister spoke up.
"What are you going to do? Please don’t tie him up! Your rope is so thin. It’ll hurt!"
I paused for a moment, nodded in understanding, and then took out a Spirit Binding Symbol and a Spirit Awakening Talisman, placing one on each of the child's feet. The child struggled for a few moments before calming down, staring straight at me.
Then he asked in a hoarse yet perfectly standard Cantonese, "Who are you?"
The three of them were stunned, clearly overwhelmed by what was happening. I was taken aback too. Why did it sound like an old woman's voice!!!
Hearing a child's mouth produce what was clearly an old woman's raspy voice sent them into a slight panic. The first to react was his sister; she fell to her knees in front of the child.
She babbled incoherently, "Please let him go, don’t torment him anymore..." followed by a string of words in her native dialect that I couldn't make out.
The child continued to stare at me blankly, as if waiting for me to answer his question.
Seeing my sister's heart-wrenching pain, I felt at a loss. I could understand her deep maternal instinct, but this wouldn’t solve anything.
I waved my hand, signaling them to step aside. I needed to have a serious talk with him!
Once they had all exited the room and closed the door behind them, I moved a chair to sit directly across from the child. He still looked at me with that vacant expression. More accurately, he was staring at the air between us, and the atmosphere was incredibly oppressive. To relieve my mental pressure, I pulled out a cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and then crossed my legs while staring back at him.
To get straight to the point, I said, "I’m here to take you away."
He suddenly shouted, "Give me back my old partner! I want to go back to Guangzhou!"
He was still speaking in Cantonese, which was probably what he meant. He continued to shout that same line repeatedly, giving me no chance to ask any questions.
I pulled out a Soul Charm and cast it on him; this quieted him down. However, things couldn’t progress because the child fainted. I knew this was his way of protesting against me.
Once communication fails with a Spirit God, they will not engage with you again; this is something I need to work on improving.
Feeling helpless, I called them back in. My sister immediately saw the child slumped on the sofa and lost control again. I retrieved the charm from the child and pulled my brother-in-law aside.
I asked him, "Tell me about your time in Guangzhou. Did you bring anything back?" He pondered for a moment before replying,
"I just bought some dolls and masks for the baby at the tourist spots—nothing special."
I said, "Take everything you brought back from Guangzhou out so I can see."
He replied, "Wait a moment," then turned and went into the inner room to start searching.
I watched as my sister held the child and sobbed helplessly. I walked over and patted her shoulder, reassuring her that everything would be fine. "I’ll help you sort this out." She mechanically nodded in response. At that moment, my brother-in-law emerged with a pile of items—various toys like a white tiger hat, a koala backpack, a rhino pillow, bracelets, and so on.
I took out the compass and began searching for supernatural reactions. Sure enough, I detected a slight supernatural presence on a pocket watch, which I picked up.
I asked, "Did you buy this from Chimelong too?"
My brother-in-law took it and paused for a moment, saying he didn't remember having such an item.
Then my sister came over with the baby and said, "This is something the baby found under the bed in the hotel."
I thought for a moment and started to piece things together.
I immediately asked, "Was there an old man who checked out just before you moved in?"
My brother-in-law replied, "How did you know? That day, the hotel was fully booked. We were about to switch to another hotel when the front desk suddenly said a customer was checking out. After waiting for a while, we saw an old man with gray hair walk out, and then we moved into that room."
I said, "This pocket watch belongs to that old man, and the old lady attached to your son is connected to the watch. You brought her to Wuhan."
In unison, they asked, "What should we do?"
I replied with one word: "Wait."
They echoed back, "Wait for what?"
I said, "Wait for the wind to come."
They were taken aback for a moment. I added jokingly, "Just kidding. It's already dark; we'll wait until morning."
The Pleasure Hound looked like it was ready to fight me again.
I quickly said, "Tonight, keep the pocket watch with the child. Let him sleep alone in the children's room. I'll come back tomorrow morning."
"Brother-in-law, please have the hotel invoice ready for me. Also, help me book a ticket for the High-Speed Rail back to Guangzhou tomorrow morning."
My brother-in-law hurriedly replied, "What will we do if you leave? Can't you handle it?"
I flashed a confident smile and said, "I'll take the trouble with me." Then I grabbed Pleasure Hound and headed out the door, making my way to the food stalls by Donghu.
After a long absence, Wuchang Fish and Liangzi Lake Big White Catfish, here I come!
The next morning at dawn, I had Pleasure Hound take me to Brother-in-Law's House. When he opened the door to let me in, I found my sister sitting on the sofa looking haggard, which made my heart ache a little.
I took a talisman from my backpack and handed it to my brother-in-law, instructing him, "After I leave, put this talisman around the child's neck. It can only be removed after seven days."
He nodded. I walked toward their child's room.
At that moment, a beam of sunlight fell on the child's innocent and adorable face—what a beautiful sight!
I gently took out the pocket watch and tucked it into my bag. Feeling the compass spin, I zipped up my bag and exited the room! I told my sister that the baby was fine. When he wakes up, don't tell him what happened! She nodded and forced a smile, her tear-streaked face still looking lovely.
Seeing that smile and recalling the peaceful image of the sleeping child made me think this trip was worth it. I immediately told Pleasure Hound, "Take me to the High-Speed Rail Station." On the way, Pleasure Hound asked how I managed to resolve everything so quickly. I didn’t feel like explaining and casually said I had my tricks!
He questioned, "Then why didn't you use your tricks when you just arrived yesterday? You made me pay for supper!"
I shot back with something that left him speechless: "Do you just drop bombs when you start playing Landlord?"
Everyone knows how fast the High-Speed Rail is; by around one in the afternoon, I returned to Guangzhou South Station. After retrieving my car from the south parking lot and paying an exorbitant parking fee, I headed straight to Chimelong Hotel. At the front desk, I tried to inquire about the registration information of the previous occupant of my brother-in-law's room.
The receptionist immediately refused my request, which was understandable since I was prying into someone else's affairs. A bit displeased, I asked, "Is that room vacant?" The answer was affirmative. After paying a hefty room fee and deposit, I received my room key and rushed upstairs. Once inside my room, I closed the door securely and hung up the Do Not Disturb sign. Taking out the pocket watch, I placed it on the desk and began Call of Souls.
Sure enough, an elderly lady appeared in the place where she had once been with Obsession; her emotions were unusually stable. Tentatively, I asked her about her partner's information, but she remained silent—perhaps due to my failed communication last night.
Since you refuse to speak with me, I have no choice but to summon the Spirit of the Pen to make you tell me. However, if I summon her alone, I cannot guarantee that I will accurately call upon this old lady.
As I pondered whom to invite to help summon the Spirit of the Pen, the phone by the bedside rang. The gentle and charming voice of the Front Desk Attendant came through: "Hello!"
Just as I was about to say that I wasn't expecting anyone, the Front Desk Attendant continued, "An elderly gentleman said he lost something in his room and would like to look for it." Without hesitation, I agreed!
Before a song could finish playing, the white-haired old man appeared at my door. I opened it and let him in, getting straight to the point: "Are you looking for this?"
His eyes lit up as he reached for it, but I quickly grabbed it and put it in my pocket. "Do you know what's inside?"
To my surprise, he replied, "Yes, my late wife."
I said, "I can help her reincarnate sooner."
He seemed to guess what I was doing and calmly replied, "Young man, thank you for your kindness. But we are doing just fine now."
I said, "This could affect your lifespan."
He shook his head and said, "If you send her away, that would truly affect my lifespan."
Seeing the sincerity in his eyes moved me deeply, and I fell silent. The old man sat on the sofa and said to me, "If you have time, I can tell you our story."
Looking at his weathered face, I nodded quietly. The pocket watch in my hand suddenly felt restless.
I silently recited a mantra: Soul Requiem.
I sat on the bed opposite the old man. After a moment of silence, he began to tell their story (I can't recall his exact words; I can only convey the general meaning).
The old man, surnamed Jiang, was in his early seventies and a local from Guangzhou. Before retiring, he held a high-level management position in a state-owned enterprise. His family was relatively well-off, and he was remarried to the grandmother I had in my hands at that moment. His first wife had passed away during childbirth, so after their marriage, they chose not to have more children, wanting to devote themselves entirely to raising their son.
After graduating from high school, Xiao Jiang went to study in Canada. After graduation, he got married and settled there, which meant that the family could only meet once every long while. The last time they met was two years ago when his grandson turned one! At that time, the whole family took the grandson to a wildlife park in Hong Kong and stayed at Chimelong Hotel. That night, the grandmother took care of the grandson as she adored him deeply.
However, two years passed before they saw each other again. As time went on, longing turned into illness. Coupled with her age and declining health, a sudden case of Coronary Heart Disease took the grandmother's life. Until her last breath, she never got to see her son or grandson one last time.
As the old man spoke of this, his eyes grew moist. I understood that the grandmother's strong attachment kept her soul from departing.
I nodded and handed him a tissue, saying, "Then she came to find you, right?"
He nodded and replied, "Yes."
On the night of Seven Days After Death, she appeared in his dreams, expressing her longing for her son and grandson and lamenting that she couldn't find her way to them. Every night thereafter, she would visit him in dreams and tell him that she would hide within the pocket watch she had given him. The old man cherished his companion of several decades dearly; thus, he felt neither fear nor doubt. He carried the pocket watch with him everywhere and returned to Chimelong Hotel every year on that day to relive the memories of that one place where he had shared a night with his grandson.
This year marked the third anniversary. I was astonished and asked, "Hasn't your son or grandson ever come back?"
He said they were all busy with work and school and lived so far away that he told them not to return.
I was at a loss as to whether to admire the greatness of parental love or scold Xiao Jiang for his unfilial behavior.
With the story reaching this point, I felt there was no need to continue listening.
I told the old man that he couldn’t live like this anymore; even if she meant no harm, his lifespan was being consumed at an alarming rate, which would ultimately be counterproductive.
The old man replied that he didn’t care about such things; rather than living alone in solitude, he preferred to join her sooner.
Hearing this made my eyes well up. What has happened to society?
The elderly ask for so little—a bit of companionship, a word of concern, or even just a gentle call.
Is this difficult?
When we are out and about, we often say we are too busy to call, unaware that our parents at home are just as busy but never stop worrying about us. Sometimes, a single phone call or a few words of greeting can truly brighten their day.
Back to the point, looking at the old man’s unwavering expression, I told him that if I didn’t help her move on, not only would it shorten his life, but in a year she would no longer be able to reincarnate. Even if I ignored her, she would eventually be harmed and suffer from Soul Shattered. This would only bring harm to both of them.
Honestly, I didn’t want to say this, but I had to tell him the truth. After hearing my words, he began to worry, pondering for a long time. About ten minutes later, he asked if he could meet her. I knew they only communicated in dreams, and that kind of interaction was too virtual, lacking any substantial emotional expression.
I agreed but asked him to persuade her to return to where she belonged. The old man nodded.
I took out my pocket watch and felt a strong reaction. After chanting the incantation and calling forth the spirit, I stepped out of the room. I left them time and space for their final conversation, hoping they would enjoy it.
After waiting at the door for about half an hour, the old man called me back inside. I saw the old lady’s spirit standing there calmly.
I thought she must have been persuaded.
Since the old lady refused to communicate with me, I decided to consult the divination for confirmation. The reading indicated that she was indeed willing to move on, so in front of the old man, I helped her pass on. At that moment, I saw a smile appear on the old man’s face. Yet, I couldn’t tell whether that smile was sweet or bitter.
As I helped the old man into the car, I asked for his son’s phone number because I wanted to share this story with him.
After watching the old man leave, I took out my phone and called Pleasure Hound: "Tell your brother-in-law that the matter has been resolved, but Reward will need an additional thirty percent."
He simply replied with an "Oh" before hanging up, seemingly indicating that money was not an issue for them.
Comment 0 Comment Count