When Man He and Aunt Ruifang heard what I said, joy immediately lit up their faces.
"Taiping, how do we treat Ruifang's illness? What medicine does she need? Hurry and write a prescription—I'll go get the herbs right away. Do we need something like a hundred-year-old ginseng?" Man He chimed in eagerly.
I couldn't help but laugh at what he said. Using century-old ginseng to save someone—this guy clearly picked that up from watching too much TV.
"Dahe, not every illness is treated with ginseng," I said, rolling my eyes at him.
Man He scratched his head sheepishly. "I thought Chinese medicine always uses ginseng."
Yep, definitely from watching too much television. I didn't bother correcting him anymore. Instead, I asked Aunt Ruifang to bring me some paper and a brush. I did plan to write a prescription.
Soon enough, Aunt Ruifang brought them over. I wrote down a few Chinese medicinal herbs on the paper. While Hui Long Temple didn't specialize in medicine, the temple's library did have a good number of classical texts on Chinese medicine. Sometimes, when I got bored reading Daoist scriptures, I'd flip through them, and over time I ended up memorizing some herb names and their uses.
The herbs I prescribed were mostly for replenishing qi and blood—things like astragalus. They're harmless to take. To be honest, the main reason for writing this prescription was to get Man He out of the way and to put on a show.
I handed him the prescription. "Dahe, take your motorbike to the town pharmacy and have this filled."
Man He left with the prescription right away. I could hear the motorcycle engine roaring outside, then fading into the distance.
Once I was sure he was gone, I turned to Aunt Ruifang. "Auntie, now can you tell me the truth about your daughter's condition? She wasn't like this all along, was she?"
She avoided my gaze, clearly flustered. "What do you mean? My daughter's been seriously ill—she's been unconscious this whole time."
I smirked inwardly. I knew she was hiding the true nature of her daughter's condition, probably afraid that Man He would back out of the engagement if he knew.
"Auntie, don't worry. I won't tell Man He. If I were going to tell him, I wouldn't have gone to the trouble of sending him away. But if you don't tell me the full story, I can't treat her properly."
"Whatever's latched onto your daughter has been with her for quite a while. If we don't drive it out soon, she won't survive much longer. And there's a dark aura on your face too—if she dies, that thing will come for you next. When that happens, your whole family could be doomed."
That got her attention immediately. But she still hesitated. "Aren't you a doctor?"
"I can treat your daughter's illness. Now tell me how it started."
Realizing how serious things were, Aunt Ruifang didn't hold back anymore.
"She was working at a restaurant in town as a waitress. About half a month ago, she came home late one night and told me her back felt really heavy, like she was carrying someone on it.
"I didn't think much of it at first. Figured she was just tired from work and told her to take a couple days off to rest. But then, two days later, she started sleeping during the day and walking around the house at night.
"A week ago, I woke up in the middle of the night and saw her sitting at the foot of my bed, just staring at me. Her expression was terrifying. There was something in her eyes, like invisible hooks. I asked her what she was doing, but she didn't answer—just stared and grinned. I thought she had gone crazy.
"The next day, her father and I took her to the hospital, but they couldn't find anything wrong. Gave us some meds and sent us home.
"Since then, she's been like that—sleeping in the day and watching me at night. I started thinking she must've caught something unnatural.
"I was scared that if Man He found out, he'd call off the engagement, so I kept quiet."
After she finished, she looked at me hopefully. "Young man, do you really have a way to cure my daughter?"
I told her that her daughter was being haunted. When she stares at you in the night, that's the ghost watching you. I could treat her, but she mustn't tell Man He. I didn't want him thinking I was some quack spirit medium—I still wanted to maintain my image as a decent Chinese medicine doctor.
Aunt Ruifang readily agreed and promised not to say a word.
I asked if there were any men in the household. Women naturally carry heavier yin energy, so certain ritual tasks must be done by men.
She said Ruifang's father worked in town but would be home that night. I nodded and told her to borrow a pig-slaughtering knife and prepare a basin of black dog's blood.
She said there was a butcher in the village she could borrow from, and that she'd ask her husband to bring back the dog's blood from a dog meat shop in town.
Just as we finished discussing, Man He burst in, panting, carrying the herbs.
"Auntie, I got the medicine! Hurry up and brew it for Ruifang!" he said as he handed her the bag.
Aunt Ruifang glanced at me, and I gave her a small nod. Then I turned to Man He. "Dahe, let's go. We'll come back tomorrow."
He looked reluctant. "How about we wait until she drinks the medicine first?"
"Traditional medicine takes time. She won't wake up right away. We'll come back first thing tomorrow—she'll probably be awake by then," I said.
"Yes, Dahe, go home for now. Come back tomorrow—I'll make you both something good to eat," Aunt Ruifang added.
Only then did he leave, somewhat unwillingly.
By the time we returned to the village, the sky was already getting dark. Grandma had dinner ready and called me over to wash my hands and eat.
After dinner, I went back to my room, took out a brush and talisman paper, and drew two talismans. The thing possessing Ruifang wasn't an ordinary ghost—it wouldn't have such a persistent presence otherwise. I had to prepare thoroughly.
To avoid worrying my grandparents, I didn't tell them anything. Once they were asleep, I quietly slipped out of the house, pushing a bicycle out the door.
I pedaled to Ruifang's home and knocked once. The door creaked open, and a man in his forties looked out. It must've been her father—he had a square, honest face and welcomed me in politely.
"You're finally here, young man. Ruifang should be waking up soon," said Aunt Ruifang as she emerged from inside.
I nodded and entered the house.
It was already past eleven. Midnight was near—the ghost gate would soon open, the time when spirits roamed.
"When you hear me call out, pour the dog's blood on the window and stand by the door with the knife," I instructed Ruifang's father.
He looked tense but nodded seriously.
"Will this hurt my daughter?" Aunt Ruifang asked nervously.
I waved my hand to reassure her, then pulled a talisman from my pocket and handed it to her. I told her to keep it on her, and no matter what she heard, she must not leave her room.
Having been watched by her daughter for so long, she already carried a dark aura—one bump from a ghost could be fatal.
She promised not to come out and tucked the talisman into her pocket.
Everything was ready, and midnight was approaching.
I entered Ruifang's room. She was still lying there, unmoving.
A chill wind blew through the room. Suddenly, Ruifang sat bolt upright in bed. Her eyes snapped open, blood seeping from the corners, and stared straight at me.
The room turned bone-chillingly cold, the kind that seeps into your bones.
I narrowed my eyes. This thing was stronger than I expected.
I shouted, "Throw the dog's blood!"
Her father reacted quickly. As the blood's scent wafted in, Ruifang let out a chilling, raspy laugh. She whipped her hair back, revealing her face.
Her gaze shifted—gone was the blankness. Her entire sclera turned blood-red, and she looked completely demonic.
"I suggest you don't force my hand. I can help you move on," I said to her calmly.
She didn't respond. Instead, she stepped off the bed and started advancing toward me.
"Seeking death…" she rasped. Her voice was dry and hollow, like it pierced straight into my skull.
I instantly hardened my expression. This wasn't just any ghost—it was vicious and dangerous. If I didn't get rid of it now, it would harm others.
"If that's your choice, then I'll send you on your way," I said coldly, locking eyes with her.
"Send me? That depends on whether you have the skill," she sneered, her voice sharp and grating.
She suddenly lunged forward, arms raised, claws glowing dark red. Her gaping mouth reeked of rot and blood.
Disgusted, I clicked my tongue, frowned, and pulled out a talisman. At the same time, I raised my right foot and kicked her in the stomach.
I held back my strength—Ruifang was still a living person. I didn't want to hurt her.
Thud! She barely staggered, but my foot went numb like I had kicked a stone.
Though the kick didn't do much, it gave me an opening. I quickly slapped the talisman on her forehead.
"Three souls eternal, seven spirits depart—by divine order, begone!"
White smoke curled from her forehead. She froze in place, a dark mist rising faintly from her body.
Her eyes cleared slightly, and pain showed on her face.
My heart lifted—she was coming back!
But it only lasted a moment. She soon reverted to her possessed state.
I narrowed my eyes. Normally the talisman should've worked. It didn't fully suppress the spirit.
Looks like I had to get serious.
I reached behind me and drew the peachwood sword my master had given me.
Peachwood, living, gathers yin. But once dead, it dispels evil. All malevolent spirits fear its touch.