"I am Squad Leader Xu's nephew."
Bai Ziyue replied bluntly.
In the same village, there were inevitably some distant relatives, and strictly speaking, they indeed had an uncle-nephew relationship.
"Nephew?"
He was somewhat puzzled. The nephew who came last time didn't seem to look like this.
However, he didn't pay much attention and simply said, "Squad Leader Xu isn't here, he went to escort a shipment for the gang."
"When will he be back?"
Bai Ziyue felt a sinking in his heart. He had worried about this situation on the way here.
He knew that around Qinghe Town, there were many mountain bandits, with the most notorious being the Ghost Head Stronghold, which had committed a major crime in the town not long ago. But the most troublesome ones were actually the water bandits.
The water bandits were entrenched in the area around the Wu River, said to be as powerful as the Sunburst Gang. If they were transporting some relatively valuable goods for the gang, it indeed required Squad Leader Xu's personal escort.
But, since Uncle Ming wasn't here, then what about Auntie's side...
"If all goes well, he'll be back in three to five days, or at the latest, in about ten days."
The big man said casually.
"It seems I'll have to think of another way."
On the way back, Bai Ziyue's brow was furrowed.
Throughout Qinghe Town, he didn't know many people. Uncle Ming was already the strongest among them, and besides him, there was only Uncle Sunx Neng from the Sunx family.
Although Sunx Neng never mentioned his past, he had escaped from the Ghost Head Stronghold mountain bandits before, so his strength shouldn't be weak either.
However, when Bai Ziyue explained the situation to Sunx Neng, he shook his head vigorously and said, "I can't help you with this."
Then, as if thinking his refusal was too blunt, he added, "Ghosts are unpredictable creatures. Their strength is unknown. The Tang family had to invite Daoist Wutong last time to resolve their issue. My strength is limited, and I really can't help you."
"I know it's a bit much to ask."
Bai Ziyue pursed his lips and said.
*In fact, he had somewhat anticipated this before even asking. The person had left him without hesitation back then, so naturally, he wasn't the type to be enthusiastic about helping.*
*But when he was outright rejected, it still made him feel a bit uncomfortable.*
"In that case, Uncle Sun, could you please let Shopkeeper Li know that I'm taking leave today and will be back tomorrow?"
Bai Ziyue said, and without saying much else, he went back to his room and then directly left the Ming Pearl Restaurant.
"It seems I can only rely on myself now."
After unsuccessful pleas for help, Bai Ziyue finally made up his mind.
He planned to take action himself!
In fact, he wasn't entirely without confidence in dealing with the current situation.
The Purple Qi Divine Observation Technique also recorded some methods to prevent and combat ghosts, some of which even ordinary people could use.
Moreover, when he had perceived the hidden aura on his cousin earlier, with his far superior spiritual perception, he could vaguely sense that the ghost's strength wasn't too formidable.
*Perhaps this intuitive perception wasn't entirely accurate, but he still wanted to try.*
...
The night fell without notice.
Bai Ziyue, dressed in black, held a lidded wooden bucket in his left hand while his right hand carried several bamboo tubes. On his back, he bore a half-meter-long pack wrapped in coarse cloth, and he directly stepped into Southeast Street.
Along the path leading to his aunt's house, as he remembered it, Bai Ziyue quickly walked down a small path, counting to the seventh house on the left, and knocked on the door.
With a creak, the door opened, and his aunt Bai Erniu immediately peeked her head out.
"You're alone? Where's Xu Ming?"
Seeing that Bai Ziyue had come by himself, Bai Erniu's expression immediately changed, and she asked with some panic.
"Uncle Ming went to escort something and will be back in three to five days."
Bai Ziyue said with an unchanged expression.
"Then what are we going to do? I went to the clinic today and found out that not only is my Yuu Mei haunted, but many children are also facing the same situation.
The doctor said there's nothing he can do, and someone has already been killed. Without Xu Ming's help, what will happen to my Yuu Mei..."
As she spoke, tears began to stream down Bai Erniu's face.
Upon hearing this, Bai Ziyue frowned and asked, "You're saying many children have encountered ghosts too?"
"Yes, in the Hong Family just ten meters away from us, their child, who's about the same age as Yuu Mei, is facing the same situation.
They say the little ghost is looking for a substitute to linger in the human world... It's a pity my Yuu Mei is only five years old..."
Bai Erniu was full of sorrow and terrified, even recounting the absurd rumors she'd heard.
"Don't worry, I have a way."
Seeing his aunt about to burst into tears again, Bai Ziyue quickly said.
"You? What can you do?"
Bai Erniu was taken aback and inquired with surprise.
It was only then that she noticed that her nephew had grown quite a bit taller in such a short time, almost reaching her height, and even the expression on his face appeared serious and earnest, unlike an ordinary child.
"During this month with the Sunburst Gang, I didn't learn nothing. A mere little ghost is nothing I can't handle."
To comfort his aunt, Bai Ziyue pretended to be relaxed and said.
"You really have a way?"
Bai Erniu was still somewhat skeptical, as Bai Ziyue was still very young, making it hard for her to trust.
"Of course."
Bai Ziyue nodded, pointing to the items he had brought, and said confidently, "I've prepared everything. As long as the ghost dares to come, it won't leave."
Although she was still hesitant, at this point, she was utterly clueless and had no choice but to choose to believe him.
Bai Ziyue and his aunt went to his cousin's room. Seeing that she was already asleep, he said directly to Bai Erniu, "Aunt, you should go to sleep, too. I'll stand guard here."
"Better not, I... I can't sleep."
After hesitating for a moment, Bai Erniu, who didn't dare admit she was scared, insisted on staying in the room.
Upon hearing this, Bai Ziyue didn't say anything further and directly sat on a chair, waiting silently.
In the room, with the candle already extinguished, Bai Ziyue closed his eyes to rest, and before he knew it, it was midnight.
Suddenly, Bai Ziyue's eyes snapped open, and he whispered, "It's here."
Bai Erniu jolted, wanting to scream, but then remembered they were facing a ghost, and quickly covered her mouth, whispering like a mosquito, "Where?"
She widened her eyes, yet failed to perceive the ghost.
The only thing she felt was a sense of strangeness, as the surroundings had become significantly colder, as if currents of cold air were continuously assaulting her, causing her to shiver.
"Use pomelo leaves to wipe your eyes."
Bai Ziyue took out a small bamboo tube and handed it to Bai Erniu.
He had specifically obtained ox tears from the slaughterhouse for this action.
Aside from the ox tears, the wooden bucket contained a basin of black dog blood, a bamboo tube of rooster blood, and a bamboo tube of virgin boy urine.
These were all yang-type items, which all had some restraining effect on ghosts.
Upon hearing this, Bai Erniu quickly took the bamboo tube, pulled out the pomelo leaves inside, and wiped them over her eyes.
When she opened her eyes again, she suddenly shouted, "Oh my God..."
Then her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed, fainting!