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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 5: The Seven Evil Nails
I asked Chi Xinrong, "Do you believe in ghosts and gods?"
Chi Xinrong smiled slightly. "I didn't really believe before, but after what happened to my mom, I think there might be something to it."
"Why is that?"
"You see, my mother died, and I believe someone caused her death. But my dad stubbornly insists it was an accident. He says she was carrying a fish tank, slipped, and the tank shattered. A piece of glass cut her trachea, leading to her death. This explanation is very logical, and I have no reason to refute it. All I can do is pray that evil deeds are punished and good deeds rewarded."
Facing Chi Xinrong, I found it hard to discern the truth behind her mother's death.
If it wasn't an accident, then where was the real culprit?
Surely I couldn't accuse the long-deceased Wu Shengxiu of being the murderer? Was she somehow manipulating events to make it look like an accidental death by positioning that shard of glass above Ji Xiaoying's neck?
With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I could only remain silent.
This silence was terrifying; it felt suffocating, leaving no room for even a breath.
Eventually, I broke the stillness by quietly pinching my nose and clearing my throat. "Your mom's seventh day has passed."
It was a pointless question, met with her somber acknowledgment.
Silence fell again.
The sound of the tires scraping against the road was distinctly audible. In the shadows by the roadside, a dark mass loomed; the trees appeared eerie under the dim glow of the streetlights. Occasionally, there were roadside stalls selling cold drinks, where patrons indulged in ice-cold beer, guzzling it down and belching loudly as they scrambled to pay their bills.
Not wanting to engage in conversation with someone I barely knew like Chi Xinrong, and not wanting to stare at her frozen expression, I closed my eyes and dozed off.
After a short while, the car came to a stop, and I heard Chi Xinrong call out, "We're here! Open your eyes, we really have arrived."
This was my first time visiting Chi Zhi Ping's home.
When it comes to funerals, we usually just wander around the Spirit Pavilion. Many families in our line of work don't appreciate uninvited guests. Unless the household is unsettled or someone is seriously ill, we can only enter with the Host Family's permission.
However, I could consider this my second visit. The last time I came, I merely passed through the living room during a Mediumship session. Now, with Chi Xinrong guiding me, my gaze was drawn to a thriving potted plant at the entrance.
It was a Seven-Leaf Lotus.
Placing a Seven-Leaf Lotus in the living room made me guess that Chi Zhi Ping's zodiac sign was Tiger.
My grandfather's fortune-telling emphasized that one’s wealth prospects could be determined by their zodiac sign and which type of potted plant could enhance their fortune.
There was also a Money Tree on the balcony. Both plants symbolize auspiciousness and prosperity.
It was surprising to see that Chi Zhi Ping not only believed in spirits but also paid attention to feng shui and zodiac fortunes.
Having such a potted plant here was quite nice, but strangely enough, there seemed to be something inside it.
I had an instinct that most people wouldn't possess. Ignoring Chi Xinrong's warning, I walked straight up to the potted plant and reached in.
"Don't! That's my dad's most treasured plant!" she exclaimed.
I continued to dig, and she rushed over, visibly upset.
I withdrew my fingers and clenched my fist, giving her an apologetic smile. "I just wanted to see what kind of fertilizer is used at the bottom."
Seven iron nails were placed under the Fortune Tree. This was what they called the Seven Evil Nails. I couldn't understand why someone would want to target Chi Zhi Ping, placing the Seven Evil Nails beneath his most cherished Fortune Tree.
It was clearly meant to bring him bad luck, lead him downhill, and ultimately ruin him.
Chi Xinrong was obviously very angry about my earlier actions. She said nothing more, tightly pursing her lips as she led me to her parents' bedroom.
More accurately, the woman in this room had no relation to her at all.
That woman was Zuna.
As the door opened, I was quite surprised.
Inside, there was only Chi Zhi Ping. He was half-sitting on a recliner, a fluffy blanket draped over him.
"You've come."
In just a moment, Chi Zhi Ping seemed like a different person.
He looked haggard, his Yintang darkened, his spirit low, and his complexion was poor.
I acknowledged him with a nod and sat down on the chair that had already been placed opposite him.
"Do you... see anything wrong in this room?"
"If there's something wrong, then it's that there are ghosts in your room." I spread my fingers wide, revealing the seven iron nails I had been holding.
"What is this?"
I smiled faintly. "Given the way your home is decorated, I believe you understand this matter. This is the Seven Kill Nails."
"Seven Kill Nails?"
Chi Zhi Ping's expression changed dramatically. He suddenly stood up, then swayed before weakly sitting back down.
"Who is it? Who wants to harm me?"
"Well, it's definitely not Ji Xiaoying."
"And you are?"
"Don't rush. I'm not a deity; everything has its priorities. We'll investigate slowly."
"You investigate for me, and if you find something, I will reward you handsomely." Chi Zhi Ping gritted his teeth, his emotions running high, his pale face devoid of color.
"We must investigate. However, I heard your daughter... Zuna seems to be in trouble?"
"Yes, she's in the west room. I'll take you to see her." Chi Zhi Ping stood up and led me forward. From behind, he seemed older than before. The image of a mature, charming man had vanished.
Chi Xinrong was waiting outside the door.
Seeing us come out, she moved closer to her father. Her delicate hand grasped his, and she whispered with concern, "The fever has broken."
Chi Zhi Ping nodded slightly and gently held his daughter's hand in return. It was evident that their bond was deep. However, with Zuna in between them, it was clear that Chi Xinrong wasn't a narrow-minded person; she had even come to seek my help for Zuna.
In front of me was Zuna's temporary room, which was also the guest room of Chi Zhi Ping. A faint aura of malice wafted towards me. I focused my mind, suppressed my presence, and activated Demon Eyes.
Demon Eyes was truly remarkable; it penetrated the door and revealed a shadow lurking within the wall.
"There is an Intermediate Body here."
Chi Zhi Ping and his daughter froze in place, their expressions tense as they repeated my words, "What is an Intermediate Body?"
An Intermediate Body is the image that forms within seven days after a person’s death.
The Intermediate Body signifies a life and death cycle.
If the person had done many good deeds in life and accumulated enough Yin De, they would be reborn after the seven sevens, or forty-nine days.
My grandfather had a book that mentioned Intermediate Bodies.
The Intermediate Body relates to another unknown realm, known as the Desire Realm.
In fact, everything in the world has a fundamental source. For instance, insects, livestock, and plants must combine male and female to bear fruit; this is the essence of the Desire Realm. Whether or not Chi Zhi Ping and his daughter could comprehend this was another matter, so I kept it brief.
"Intermediate Body refers to the form that appears on the seventh day after a person's death. It lingers because of unfulfilled wishes, seeking help from others or directly looking for revenge against enemies."
"Is it Xiaoying at home?"
"No, it’s not her." I attempted to activate Demon Eyes again when a chilling ghostly face appeared in my ear. I quickly shut off Demon Eyes and returned to normal. "Let’s go! We need to check on Zuna."
Zuna lay on the bed, her complexion pale—no, it was more like she had no color at all—as if she were in a deep sleep.
If it weren't for the rise and fall of her chest, I would have truly thought she was dead.
"Nana."
Zuna shivered all over, her brows twitching as she opened her eyes. Her pale purple lips moved weakly, asking, "Is it bright yet?"
"Not yet." Chi Zhi Ping didn't look at Zuna but at me. "Look at her..."
I understood Chi Zhi Ping's intention; he wanted me to see if Zuna was on the brink of death.
With a serious expression, I approached Zuna and reached out to grab her arm. A particularly strange sensation surged through me. Suddenly, flames erupted, dancing wildly and emitting a piercing scream. I quickly let go and stared at Zuna in shock.
"What happened?"
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