Chapter 49

After sending Hanshan to the police station, we went straight back to Longyuan Community.

Yuxiao took the white rabbit milk candy, knowing I had something to do, and contentedly went to watch TV. Zhao Qian, who hadn't been able to shower during the mourning period and often broke out in cold sweats, quickly grabbed some clean clothes and went to the bathroom to wash up.

I took out the soul jar of Shangu from the car and turned on the electric stove in the yard. I then took out three well-formed soul jars and returned to the study.

The three soul jars were all a bit dark red. After Yuxiao's shaping, they presented a delicate shape like a teapot. The carvings made by Zhao Qian became very exquisite after firing, with a captivating charm, fine and extraordinary.

I took out the soul jar that Xijun had been using for a long time and compared it for a while. Now, compared to the past, the delicacy of these three soul jars was incomparable. I guessed that at the time, my grandmother hadn't intended to use them to raise such powerful ghosts.

However, when I took out my grandmother's box and compared the soul jars inside, I started to feel anxious. It was such a pity, such powerful soul jars, such powerful ghosts! They were clearly the work of a master!

I wonder if I will ever be as strong as my grandmother.

Come out, choose your preferred residence. I pointed at the three soul jars. Although their shapes were similar, to distinguish them, I made some unique distinctions to ensure effective selection in critical moments.

Xijun and Shangu both emerged from their soul jars at the same time. Xijun, who had been my earliest and most loyal companion, saving my life multiple times, immediately pouted and glared at the new arrival, Shangu, with her black eyes.

Shangu felt she was much more powerful than Xijun. In the ghost world, rank was everything. She couldn't let a little female ghost look down on her, so she showed a completely relaxed demeanor.

She was quite beautiful, wearing a light-colored Ming Dynasty scholar's robe, elegant and dignified. She must have been a well-bred lady in her lifetime. Her skin was as pale as Xijun's, but her eyes had a red ring around the black.

From this, it was clear that she was indeed more powerful than Xijun.

Xijun chose the one with plum blossom carvings on the lid. Shangu, not in a hurry, picked the remaining green bamboo and peach blossom designs, calmly choosing the peach blossom-shaped soul jar. She then knelt to one side, waiting for my orders.

You are new here, so introduce yourself. I felt a bit intimidated by this Ming Dynasty lady, but as her current master, I couldn't be too polite.

The lady looked at the cup of tea I had prepared and elegantly picked it up, using her finger to write "Song Wanyi" on the floor. The handwriting was graceful, more refined than many people's calligraphy today.

Wanyi, that's a good name. I nodded. Xijun, seeing me praise Wanyi, immediately became unhappy, running over to hug my neck and rubbing her cheek against mine affectionately.

I smiled helplessly. Children often express their affection and closeness in such a way. I said to Wanyi, "We haven't established a contract yet. Let's do that now. I will try to meet your needs, but in return, if I am in danger, you must do everything to help me overcome difficulties."

Song Wanyi nodded. Her every move was composed, clearly not the work of a common household. However, if you had seen her commanding ghost beasts on the back mountain, you might think otherwise.

Of course, Wanyi's wealthy background was undeniable, and some manners are hard to fake.

Generally, ghost-driving techniques involve controlling ghosts without spirits, such as those easily controlled by children, or those with heavy grudges. These are easier to control. Even if they find a powerful ghost with a spirit, they will first use magic to erase its spirit and then control it with secret techniques.

However, my grandmother's ghost-raising method required establishing a contract and preserving the ghost's spirit and nature. While controlling a ghost with a spirit is more difficult and requires building a certain emotional foundation, once a true connection is established, the ghost will repay with greater strength and even some innate skills.

Shangu agreed to follow me out of fear of Xijun's dominance. In ancient terms, this was like selling one's body but not one's skills. If I really forced her, Song Wanyi wouldn't comply.

So, I needed to communicate well with Song Wanyi, speak softly, and ensure smooth future interactions. Otherwise, if she shirks her duties at a critical moment, it would be problematic.

Don't think this Ming Dynasty lady is so proper and dignified; she might be secretly despising me. I didn't dare say much, as forcing communication would only make her resentful.

Wanyi, this is your soul jar. I plan to take a piece of your finger bone and place it in the current soul jar. The rest I will bury under the peach tree in the yard. What do you think? I said as calmly as possible.

Wanyi nodded and looked out the window at the peach tree I mentioned, a faint smile on her face. It seemed she was very willing.

I opened her soul jar and selected a small piece of bone that looked like a finger from a pile of scattered bones, placing it in the soul jar.

Xijun, go into your soul jar first. I'm going to the second-floor dojo. The second floor, specially modified by Zhao Qian, had half the area converted into her dojo.

Although I hadn't been up there, I had heard about it from Zhao Qian and had permission to use it.

Xijun was unhappy. Why should she be the last to move into the new house?

What's wrong? I saw Xijun unwilling to enter her original soul jar and pointing at Song Wanyi, muttering something.

Song Wanyi understood and covered her mouth to laugh, then wrote some traditional characters on the ground.

Xijun stopped in front of me, tugging at the collar of her red robe, pointing at Song Wanyi's clothes, and pouting.

After reading Song Wanyi's words, I realized Xijun was envious of Song Wanyi's new house and clothes. She wanted a new house and a set of clothes, and they had to be prettier than Song Wanyi's.

I was a bit at a loss. Xijun's clothes were indeed simple, and when she tugged at the collar, her insides were clearly visible, very thin. However, I had never changed a ghost's clothes before. What could I do?

After thinking for a while, I remembered that during Qingming tomb sweeping, family members usually burn clothes for the deceased. This seemed to be the only solution.

I agreed, "Alright, after I make a contract with your sister Wanyi, I'll have Zhao Qian perform a ritual to burn a beautiful set of clothes for you. How does that sound?"

Xijun finally looked satisfied, hugged my neck, kissed my cheek, and then returned to her old soul jar.

Song Wanyi did not enter her soul jar this time. When I opened the door, she followed me out. I couldn't make her hide, and since we weren't familiar, I couldn't order her to do things she disliked.

Yuxiao was watching TV and turned to look when I opened the door. She had consumed a spirit-seeing talisman, which, although it no longer drove away ghosts, still allowed her to see them. She immediately saw Song Wanyi.

Yuxiao was a bit scared but, seeing that Song Wanyi didn't seem aggressive, quickly told me, "Brother Tian! Didn't you see? There's a female ghost behind you!"

I was speechless. Yuxiao was always a step behind. I decided it was time to explain some things to her. "How much do you know about my grandmother?"

"Just what Uncle Hai said," Yuxiao replied, curious about the connection to my grandmother.

"Good, then. I'm now like my grandmother. Do you understand?" I said straightforwardly.

"Oh." Yuxiao fell silent but kept looking at Song Wanyi.

Song Wanyi completely ignored Yuxiao, following me with a cold demeanor, which was quite frightening.

"Alright, while the spirit-seeing talisman is still effective, just pretend you don't see anything unclean. Got it? I won't let them harm you," I told her, knowing the talisman would remain effective for some time and not wanting curiosity to get the better of Yuxiao.

Yuxiao nodded obediently but was so scared that she hugged her legs and sat on the sofa, staring at Song Wanyi.

I took Song Wanyi upstairs and saw the dojo connected to the balcony from a distance.

Just as I was about to walk down the corridor to the dojo, the bathroom door suddenly opened. Inside, Zhao Qian was naked, covered in foam, and reached out her hand to me.

Her white, smooth skin and youthful figure made my head rush with blood, my face turning as red as a red date.

"Xiao Xue, can you help me get a towel? I think shampoo got in my eyes, and I can't see," Zhao Qian said, reaching out for a towel.

Instantly, a surge of yin energy rose behind me. My "sister" was about to explode! Even Song Wanyi, the reserved ghost, was taken aback.

Zhao Qian, Zhao Qian! How can you be so careless!

Although the steam from the shower obscured my view, Zhao Qian's appearance was enough to make my nose bleed.

I quickly turned away, "Qian! It's me!"

Zhao Qian was stunned and, after a moment, screamed and closed the door!

The bathroom was on the opposite side of the living room. She had heard footsteps upstairs and assumed it was Yuxiao. With her eyes covered while washing her hair, she wanted Yuxiao to help her get a towel. She didn't expect to run into me, who had never been upstairs before!

Now, everything was exposed, and Zhao Qian was so embarrassed she didn't know what to do.

"Cough, Qian, the bathroom is too steamy, I didn't see anything. Don't worry, I was just passing by to go to the dojo," I quickly explained, knowing Zhao Qian would be too embarrassed to speak to me otherwise.

"Oh, it's Brother Tian. Then, you can use the dojo," Zhao Qian replied, embarrassed, from behind the door.