Across from the Four Seas Family on Panyu Avenue in Guangzhou, there is a private club called Four G Castle, known for its Cantonese cuisine.
The castle's architectural style is particularly grand, and the interior decor is unique. I'm not here to advertise; this is simply where the recent events took place. It all started last night when I went to handle a matter.
The incident actually occurred a few days ago, but there was an unexpected twist. The client was a childhood friend of mine, whose surname I cannot disclose. Let's call him A. He recently got married. After holding the wedding banquet back in his hometown, he returned to Guangzhou to host a small dinner for colleagues and friends.
A wasn't exactly a client since we grew up together, so it was only natural for me to attend this joyous occasion. Although it was a dinner, I arrived early at the venue to see if there was anything I could help with. Like all wedding banquets, the afternoon was spent with the host, bride, groom, and helpers discussing the wedding process, decorations, and rehearsals. Naturally, this didn't concern me much; the bride was quite capable and had everything arranged flawlessly. Even the groom's tasks were limited to following instructions and reciting lines. So there wasn't much for me to do. That afternoon, I stood on the outdoor terrace, encouraging those drinking to have a toast while introducing A as my best friend from childhood. I greeted them but didn't drink myself. Then I pulled him aside to the terrace near the men's restroom.
Outside, a few people were chatting here and there. I led him up to a pavilion and asked him, "Do you have an ex-girlfriend who has passed away?"
He looked surprised and said, "How did you know? I never told you."
I replied, "Just answer the question."
His expression suddenly darkened, and his eyes glistened with tears as he seemed overwhelmed with sadness. He nodded slowly, on the verge of sobbing.
As he opened his mouth to speak, I interrupted him gently. "Alright, I understand now. I was just asking casually; don't take it to heart. Death cannot be reversed. Today is your happy day; let me handle this."
He knew my profession and clearly understood what had happened; he nodded in agreement as we walked back down together. I realized it was inappropriate to bring this up at that moment, but I needed confirmation for my upcoming work and hoped he would understand my predicament.
When I returned him to his seat, I said, "I'm leaving now; drink a few more glasses and enjoy yourself." He smiled and nodded in response before I headed downstairs to my car and drove home.
Coincidentally, when I arrived at my apartment complex that night, my car broke down. It was already late, and it took considerable effort to push it to the side of the road. On my way back home, I had already decided to confine her for ten days; she wouldn't suffer during that time and could reflect on herself properly. So that night when I returned home, I didn't deal with it immediately.
When ten days passed, thoughts of this matter lingered in my mind. Although the Female Spirit God was trapped in my rarely used compass and I'd switched to an authentic Soul Binding Spell upon returning—ensuring she wouldn't escape—I still wasn't accustomed to having a Spirit God in my home, especially not a Female Spirit God. The ten-day confinement aimed to help her eliminate her Obsession in a closed space willingly remove her from the Ghost Path. She had remained attached because her Obsession was too strong when she transitioned from life to spirit; instead of moving on into the Ghost Path, she stayed close to A.
I couldn't quite understand why she had such a strong Obsession; there must have been some external influence involved. After pondering for a long time, I decided to summon her forth and ask directly. If she could come to terms with it herself, that would be ideal—I could guide her away then. If she still clung tightly due to her Obsession and wanted to remain by A's side, at least I'd know what was going on before attempting to resolve her Obsession.
Regardless of the circumstances, she couldn't continue existing among the living; since fate had brought us together, it was meant to be. Everything happens for a reason; since she encountered me, the outcome was already determined. I must guide her into Reincarnation—whether by helping her willingly release her Obsession or by taking a more forceful approach depended entirely on how I chose to proceed.
Most of my peers have good intentions, as resolving an Obsession brings merit. Opening a grudge can help eliminate karmic obstacles. However, some of my colleagues are unstable and eager for quick results. They care little about the process as long as they achieve their goals. I have noticed that some of those who have been doing this for a long time are lonely, unable to find a mentor, or lacking in support. Perhaps this is what everyone refers to as the Five Deficiencies and Three Shortcomings.
I have a study at home, which has no windows, only two doors and an exhaust fan. The doors are sealed with magical arrays and talismans, and the exhaust fan has been specially treated. For Spirit Gods, it is like a secret chamber. Even if I let it out to play, I am not afraid it will escape. I usually handle matters that are inconvenient outside in the study.
I first burned Incense and Paper Money for it, then called it out. As soon as she appeared, her face was twisted in anger, clearly displeased.
Although she had the physique of a girl and we shared the cutest height difference, the sorrowful gaze hidden beneath her long hair and her pale skin made her somewhat unsettling.
I recited the Soul Requiem once, and after finishing, I realized she hadn't forgotten those matters. Perhaps I was too naive; with such a strong Obsession, how could she possibly forget?
I began to attempt communication with her. First, I expressed my position: I told her that I was very close to A and had been friends since childhood. I understood that her Obsession stemmed from an unforgettable love story, but I did not know what vows were spoken between them. I didn't know who wronged whom or if fate had turned against them. However, I had no intention of forcibly sending her away; when she heard that A and I were good friends, she remained silent, perhaps waiting for me to ask questions.
I glanced at her and continued, "Haven't you forgotten him?"
Without hesitation, she nodded. She did not speak; it seemed she was a shy spirit.
I went on, "I know there is a story between you two, and I understand your Obsession cannot be resolved easily. I could choose to force you away or even break you apart against your will. But I do not intend to do so because both your feelings and your Obsession deserve my respect. Even so, that cannot be your reason for staying; it certainly does not benefit you and is also a kind of harm to him. Regardless of how you feel about it, before dawn tomorrow, I must send you to where you belong. You can take this as a threat or as advice; I understand A. If you love him this much, he must love you too. As for why you are separated by realms, he has never mentioned it to me, so I do not know either. But business is business. If you have any requests, feel free to tell me; I'll do my best to help you."
It was hard to imagine that the usually shy me could speak so much during my first communication with a Spirit God; in fact, I said even more than this but only remembered the general meaning.
After finishing my words, I waited for her response. She still kept her head down without speaking, swaying slightly as if unsure of what she wanted to do. Just when I was about to persuade her again, she lifted her head and looked at me with hollow eyes saying, "Let us meet one last time. Is that okay?" Her voice was soft yet filled with a special anticipation.
I knew she would make this request; it was within my expectations. "Alright," I said. "I'll call him." As I spoke, I opened the door to get my phone; however, something troublesome happened. Just as I pulled open the door without stepping out yet, she suddenly dashed out. The sudden movement caught me off guard as the door hit my head.
Ignoring the pain in my head, I chased after her. She darted past the central door into the living room and headed straight for the balcony while her figure gradually became transparent. Feeling anxious, I initially thought about using Five Spirits to catch her but then reconsidered—firstly because time was tight and secondly because I already knew where she was headed.
I quickly grabbed my phone and called A, telling him that no matter what he was doing right now, he needed to rush over to Four Guai Fortress immediately to wait for me. After hanging up the phone—he naturally understood what I meant—I took my bag and rushed out the door towards Four Guai Fortress.
Since it was still early, the place hadn’t closed yet; it seemed like there was still a banquet wrapping up on the fifth floor. Fortunately, when I arrived, A was already waiting for me. He asked what had happened; I told him to come upstairs with me while we walked and talked.
As we entered the elevator, I told him that his deceased ex-girlfriend wanted to see him. His expression showed a moment of panic, but he quickly regained his composure, only to become sorrowful again. The speed at which his emotions shifted could have made him a great actor. I understood his mental state; he had accepted this situation.
He asked me what to do next, and I suggested we go upstairs first.
Upon entering the banquet hall, I acted nonchalantly as I headed straight for the rooftop. My determined expression made the hosts believe we were staff members while convincing the actual staff that we were guests.
Life is like a play, entirely reliant on acting, so no one questioned us as we successfully reached the top floor—the place where I had sealed it in the compass. However, it was nowhere to be found. Perhaps it chose not to reveal itself, fearing it might scare someone. With such a strong obsession, it still considered so much; I had to admit it was a kind soul compared to many selfish people in society. Which is truly more frightening: ghosts or humans?
Just as I was about to take out the compass to search for it, a sudden sound came from the storage room on the top floor, as if something had knocked against it. There was no one around; it could only be it. I walked over and pushed the door, which surprisingly opened. Inside was dark, but I knew it was there.
I stepped into the storage room, and A followed me in. Yet we did not see its physical form. I glanced at the compass—it was indeed nearby. Perhaps it was afraid of scaring its beloved, which I understood. When I asked A for her birth date and surname, A readily recited them; clearly, he loved her deeply.
I turned off the flashlight and took advantage of the darkness to slip a protective talisman into A's pocket—better safe than sorry. I instructed A to turn on the flashlight and then began chanting a spell to summon it using the Call of Souls method. As the Spirit God slowly materialized before us, A showed no signs of fear. In the dim light, I saw compassion in A's eyes and caught a glimpse of a smile beneath its long hair that concealed its face. I knew I had to give them time and space to be alone together.
I clapped my hands and said, "You have five minutes; say what you need to say." Then I stepped out of the storage room to keep watch for them. During this time, a beautiful woman attempted to enter but was stopped by me. I told her someone was having an important conversation inside. Initially skeptical, she chose to believe upon seeing my face.
Sitting on the stairs smoking a cigarette, my heart was filled with mixed emotions. This was all fate; we cannot control it. If they were not separated by life and death, would they have been happy together? What about A's current wife? One connection ends while another begins. If this bond cannot be severed forcibly, would it ruin another?
Ah, fate is indeed a complex thing; perhaps this is what Fate Sometimes Must Be There means—Fate Is Sometimes Inevitable, But Not Always To Be Forced.
When five minutes had passed, I pushed open the door and walked back in to find A's face streaked with tears—this was the first time I'd seen him cry so earnestly. He had fallen silent, and his body was gradually becoming transparent. It seemed that the obsession had been released; it was time for him to go where he belonged.
I asked A to step outside first before sending away what wished for reincarnation. After completing this task, an emptiness washed over me; at times, I wondered if I had been cruel. But this was my mission and their destiny. After comforting myself for a while, I gathered my things and stepped outside.
Seeing A waiting outside with a dazed expression, I said, "Let's go get some late-night snacks. Tell me your story." He nodded...
He and she had dated throughout college for three years. They once made promises of eternal love and hoped to grow old together. After graduation, their affection remained strong without any breakup despite their circumstances. Coming from a less fortunate family background, he worked tirelessly to provide her with a good life. Since he studied programming, he got a job at a game company as an IT guy and took on extra shifts at a company known for its crazy overtime hours in order to save more money. They lived in an urban village close to his workplace.
For some time, due to frequent thefts in that urban village, she felt scared being home alone. One night he learned he would have to work late until midnight to meet a game launch deadline. So around ten o'clock, she offered to accompany him at work since it wasn't too late yet; he agreed. However, on her way there, she was struck by a speeding car and thrown quite far away. When he received a call from the driver responsible for the accident, his world collapsed. He frantically ran down with the driver to take her to the hospital. After several days of treatment that drained most of their savings, she still passed away.
Before she passed away, she made him swear to find a good girl to replace her and to live well; otherwise, she would haunt him, never finding peace in the afterlife. To comfort her, he swore three times in front of her.
Some ideals are worth a lifetime of struggle.
Some obsessions are worth a lifetime of waiting.
Some vows can become beautiful wishes and transform into a lovely wait.
For some people, their attitude towards love surpasses their regard for life, while for others, their attitude towards love is as thin as paper.
What kind of attitude determines what kind of experiences?
What kind of experiences determine what kind of life?
What kind of life determines what kind of attitude?
This cycle of cause and effect, the balance of heaven and earth, good and evil in a single thought.
Love is truly difficult to understand.
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