The scorching sun blazed.
The sun roasted the earth like a fireball.
Lu Fei had Hu Zi watch the shop while he bought two watermelons to visit Jia Banxian.
Upon entering, he got a fright.
The courtyard was crammed with all kinds of paper offerings.
There were paper houses, cars, golden boy and jade girl figurines, various clothes and toys, and even numerous children's storybooks.
Jia Banxian sat amidst these paper offerings, sweating profusely as he organized them.
The little parrot perched on his shoulder, tilting its head to observe him with curious, bean-sized eyes.
"Banxian, why are you preparing so many paper offerings?"
Lu Fei entered the courtyard, barely finding space to step.
"In two days, it'll be the Ghost Festival. I'm preparing early for the little one so he won't lack anything over there." Jia Banxian looked up at Lu Fei. "You'll need to come help when we send the little fellow off."
"I know. We settled this long ago,"
Lu Fei placed the watermelon on the table and helped Jia Banxian tidy up.
"But isn't this excessive? Could he possibly need so much?"
"He's still young and not too clever. I fear he'll be bullied down there..." Jia Banxian set down the paper offering and stroked the parrot.
Oblivious to everything, the little creature fluttered cheerfully among the paper offerings.
"I contacted an old friend who works as a ghost official. He'll help escort the little one down. Having connections makes things easier."
"Ghost official?"
Lu Fei's interest was piqued.
There are two types of ghost officials: Yin ghost officials from the underworld and Yang ghost officials from the mortal realm.
Yin ghost officials include the Black and White Impermanence, Ox-Head and Horse-Face. Yang ghost officials are underworld-recognized Yin travelers who help collect souls.
"Banxian, you're a Yin traveler too. Why didn't you become a ghost official?"
"That requires fate's alignment—not just anyone can become one. Besides, being under the underworld's jurisdiction means working whenever they command. How could that compare to my current freedom?"
Jia Banxian snorted and resumed organizing the paper offerings.
"I heard ghost officials use a command token to work for the underworld. With that token, all spirits must obey—must be impressive!" Lu Fei's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Such tokens do exist..." Jia Banxian glared at Lu Fei. "It's a ghost official's most vital treasure. Don't get any ideas."
"Hey, I was just curious. We've worked long enough—let's rest and eat some watermelon."
Lu Fei chuckled, fetching a kitchen knife and plates to cut the watermelon.
Unexpectedly, the melon was rotten.
As the blade pierced it, foul-smelling red liquid gushed out, spilling across the floor.
"Be careful! What kind of melon did you buy? Don't get the paper offerings dirty."
Jia Banxian hurriedly moved the paper offerings aside.
"I bought it from Brother Gua's fruit shop on our street! The guy swore these were fresh melons delivered just this morning!"
Lu Fei cut open the second watermelon, only to find it rotten again.
There wasn't a shred of flesh inside, just foul red liquid as putrid as blood.
Some droplets splashed onto their trousers, leaving both men reeking.
"There's something wrong with these melons."
They exchanged glances, sensing something amiss.
Lu Fei crouched down, poking at the red liquid with a bamboo skewer. Examining the melon rind, he detected faint traces of yin energy.
The dark aura dissipated when sunlight touched it, leaving behind only a nauseating stench.
"Don't touch that, Lu boy! These are yin melons!"
Jia Banxian's face suddenly paled.
"Yin melons?!" Lu Fei startled.
Yin melons are formed from condensed resentment, growing only where many people died violent deaths.
"Disaster! Where this yin melon juice splashes, festering sores will form - itchy, painful sores that shed skin when scratched!"
Jia Banxian pulled up his trouser leg, revealing multiple droplets on his instep.
Lu Fei found himself similarly marked.
Who could have predicted the melons would gush liquid when cut?
"Banxian, we're in trouble. This stinking liquid won't wash off!" Lu Fei shook his foot futilely, the red droplets clinging stubbornly.
The icy droplets rapidly seeped through their skin, leaving angry red dots in their wake.
"Ordinary clean water won't work. There's some mugwort leaves left in my house. Go boil water with them immediately - it can temporarily control the situation," Jia Banxian urgently shouted.
"Okay!"
Lu Fei didn't dare delay and promptly boiled a pot of mugwort water.
While the water was boiling, the red dots on their feet began to itch.
"Don't scratch them at all! Once you start, you won't be able to stop—you'll end up tearing your flesh off!" Jia Banxian loudly warned.
Both men endured the intense itching. When the mugwort water was ready, they immediately soaked their feet in it.
Within less than a minute, both basins of water turned crimson red, emitting a foul stench.
The redness on their feet slightly faded, and the itching temporarily subsided.
"This thing is truly sinister!"
Lu Fei poured out the foot-washing water, then found a mop to clean up the stinking red liquid that had spilled on the floor.
He rinsed the mop under the faucet multiple times, but couldn't wash away the foul smell clinging to it.
"Just leave it there to dry. We can only burn it once it's dry,"
Master Jia waved his hand.
Although the courtyard had been cleaned, the lingering stench refused to dissipate.
"Master, I'm truly sorry. I never expected buying a watermelon would cause such trouble! Why don't you stay at my place for a few days?" Lu Fei said apologetically.
"That's not the main concern. Mugwort water only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. Only the vines of the Yin melon can completely eradicate these red spots! You must find out where these melons grew from. Find the source within two days, and the curse can be lifted!"
Master Jia urged anxiously.
How outrageous that such sinister and malevolent produce was being sold as ordinary fruit!
"These melons were bought from Brother Gua's shop. Finding him should lead us to the melon's origin. That old man... after all the business we've given him, he actually sold us these cursed things!"
Fuming with anger, Lu Fei summoned Hu Zi for help, and together they moved all the paper offerings into the house for safekeeping.
Then, take Jia Banxian to rest at Sinisterium Pawnshop.
He then went to find Brother Gua.
Brother Gua's fruit shop was located in the middle of Antique Street.
He originally had a stall on this street. Because his fruits were fresh, delicious, and never weighed dishonestly, everyone loved buying from him. His business flourished until he eventually opened a store.
When Lu Fei entered the shop, someone was still buying watermelons.
"This watermelon looks fresh and juicy at first glance!"
"Buy a couple more, I guarantee you'll want more after tasting them."
Brother Gua was cheerfully weighing fruits for customers.
"These melons are problematic! Don't buy them!"
Lu Fei darkly tossed two foul-smelling melon rinds onto the counter.
"What the hell is this? It stinks so bad!"
The customer leaped three feet back in fright, covering his nose.
"The watermelon in his shop has gone sour. Don't buy it, or you'll get sick," Lu Fei said coldly.
Hearing this, the customer abandoned the weighed melon and hurried away.
"I say, young Lu, have I ever wronged you? Why are you sabotaging my business?"
Brother Gua glared furiously at Lu Fei, his face thunderous.