Niu Shisan didn't bat an eye when I barged back in, cool as a cucumber. His eyes, deep and knowing, just asked, "What's eating you?" I spilled everything in one breath—the stranger's crazy million-yuan offer and the creepy note, my words tumbling out like a runaway train.
"What'd it say?" he pressed, calm but with a hint of urgency.
"'The coffers are empty, and by dawn, I'm coming for you,'" I stammered, my voice shaking like a leaf in a storm.
Niu Shisan went quiet, his brow furrowing like he was cracking a tough code. Then, with a heavy sigh, he said, "Thought you'd have one more day. Looks like our guy's speeding things up, probably cause he's onto us. That's why I held back earlier—didn't wanna tip him off."
"What do we do?" I whispered, desperation clawing at me.
"No time to waste. We're heading to the villa now. If we find his trail, we might break the curse," he said, firm and steady.
"Now?" I asked, my heart pounding like crazy.
He nodded, dead serious. "Your birth date and time—give 'em to me. I'll whip up a charm."
I knew the date, but the exact hour? No clue. Frantic calls to my mom went unanswered. "Just the date. Will that work?"
"It'll weaken the charm. You really can't get the hour?"
"Her phone's off," I groaned, frustration bubbling up.
"Alright," he gave in, sounding a bit defeated. After jotting down my birthdate, he pricked my middle finger, collecting a drop of blood—a yang-rich shield against evil.
He disappeared into his inner room and came back with a jade pendant streaked with red, like frozen blood. Creepy, but I trusted him. I clutched it to my chest, its cool weight oddly comforting.
As dusk fell, we set off, the world cloaked in shadows. The taxi took us to the villa, its dark windows glaring under the pale moon. At seven, my nerves were shot. "Do we go in?"
"You first," Niu Shisan murmured, his voice low. "I'll stay hidden. If things get dicey, shut your eyes. Spirits see through your gaze. Don't listen to any whispers, no matter how sweet."
We scaled the wall, my clothes covered in chalky dust, the air thick with decay. Inside, the vibe was heavy, like the past was pressing down on me. Old talismans clung to the walls, their edges fluttering like ghostly moths. A flickering lightswitch buzzed, its intermittent glow worse than darkness.
Blindly, I moved forward, senses on high alert. A rhythmic 'thud-thud-thud' echoed above—stiletto heels? Knuckles rapping wood? My eyes snapped shut, heart racing.
Silence. Then—a voice, smooth and venomous, called my name. 'Her' voice.
"Why are you avoiding me?" it sighed, each word dripping with poison. "Didn't you used to love me?"
I bit my tongue, pulse roaring. 'Love a corpse? Never.
The voice faded, leaving a silence more chilling than sound. Step by step, I climbed the stairs, my fingers brushing something slick and foul. A gooey 'splat' hit my scalp. My hand closed on something—cold, fibrous, 'human'.
My eyes flew open. A face, rotten and grinning, was inches from mine.
I stumbled back, tumbling down the stairs as shrill laughter filled the air.
"'Finally, gotcha!'"
[
Glossary (Sorted by logical importance in the text)
1. Charm and Birth Date and Time
- Charm: This charm is like a supercharged amulet straight out of Taoist lore. It's all about keeping the bad vibes at bay. To make this bad boy, you gotta mix the wearer's exact birth date and time (year, month, day, and hour) with some yang-rich blood from the middle finger. Sounds intense, right? But hey, it's supposed to be a top-notch shield against evil spirits, giving the wearer some serious spiritual armor.
- Birth Date and Time: In Chinese命理(fate-reading), the exact hour you're born is a big deal. It's like the secret sauce that makes the charm work better. If the protagonist doesn't have this crucial info, the charm's power takes a hit, and it's a sign that they're in for a rough ride against the curse.
- Yang-rich Blood: In Taoist beliefs, blood from the middle finger is the yang MVP. It's packed with yang energy and is the go-to for rituals to kick evil to the curb. It's all about that eternal yin-yang battle.
2. Jade Pendant with Red Streaks
- Function: This jade pendant, whipped up by the talented Niu Shisan, is no ordinary piece of jewelry. Jade's all about purity and protection, and those red streaks? They could be cinnabar or some magical mojo, making this pendant a must-have for fighting off evil spirits.
- Imagery: The pendant's got this "cold touch" and "blood-like streaks" vibe, which is pretty eerie. It's like a double-edged sword—keeping you safe while reminding you that danger's always lurking. It's all about that fine line between keeping yin energy in check and the constant threat it brings.
3. Villa
- Scene Setting: This villa is ground zero for all things spooky. It's got this "rotten atmosphere" and is decked out with "old talismans." It's like the past just won't let go, and the place is dripping with cursed history.
- Metaphorical Details:
- Old Talismans: These are leftovers from past exorcism attempts that didn't quite cut it. They're a reminder that this curse is no joke and has been hanging around for ages.
- Flickering Light Bulb: The light's all over the place, messing with your head and making it hard to tell what's real and what's not. It's a total mind game.
- Slime and Corpse on the Stairs: These gross details are straight-up signs that yin energy is taking over, making the villa's cursed vibe even stronger.
4. Curse and Medium of Communication with Spirits
- Curse Mechanism:
- Time Pressure: The curse is on a tight schedule—it's gotta claim a life before dawn. That's because yin energy peaks at midnight, so it's a race against time for the protagonist.
- Accelerated Trigger: The bad guy knows Niu Shisan's onto them, so the curse kicks into high gear early, making things way more complicated for the protagonist.
- Medium of Communication with Spirits: Ghosts are sneaky—they use eye contact and whispers to mess with your head. It's all about how vulnerable our senses are when it comes to supernatural stuff.
- Counter-strategy: The protagonist's got a plan: keep your eyes shut to block the visuals and stay quiet to avoid the whispers. It's all about shutting down your senses to stay safe from spiritual attacks.
5. Corpse and "Her"
- Appearance of the Corpse: This corpse is straight-up nightmare fuel—decayed and laughing like a maniac. It's a big question mark: is it the source of the curse or just another victim caught up in it?
- Implication of the Dialogue: When it says, "You used to love me," it's a gut punch. It's all about some deep-seated emotional betrayal, adding layers to the antagonist's story and showing that this curse is tied up with some serious emotional baggage.
]