Chapter 14:Ghost

"Morning."

Meng Xian greeted the day from the comfort of her sofa, her attention split between the Shandong multi-grain pancake in one hand and her mobile phone in the other.

She was scrolling through the latest news, her eyes narrowing at the headlines that seemed to grow increasingly alarming:

people vanishing without a trace. The articles were a grim reminder of the unsettling events surrounding Sefirah Castle, something she had been following closely.

The news had become a constant background noise over the past few months, a disturbing trend that seemed to have no end in sight.

The name Huang Tao, also known as Roselle Gustav, floated through her mind..

Her eyes lingered on the screen for a moment, the grim news sinking in before she shook her head and put her phone down.

Taking a bite of her pancake, Meng Xian glanced down at Starlight, who was curled up peacefully on the sofa. The cat's gentle breathing and relaxed posture brought a smile to her face. She appreciated these moments of calm in the midst of the chaotic news cycle.

The sound of the door opening pulled Meng Xian's attention. Zhou Mingrui, still catching his breath from his morning run, stepped in.

"There are multi-grain pancakes in the pot," Meng Xian called out, her voice carrying a hint of warmth. "You can heat them up in the air fryer and then…"

Her voice trailed off as she noticed the peculiar sight in Zhou Mingrui's hands. He was holding a tiny, frail crow cub. Meng Xian's eyebrows shot up in surprise, her gaze fixed on the delicate creature.

"What's this?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

Zhou Mingrui, still panting slightly from his run, managed a sheepish smile. He carefully spread a clean towel on the coffee table and gently placed the crow cub on it.

The little bird was barely more than a ball of downy fluff, its tiny body trembling with weakness. It could barely lift its head, its feeble cries almost inaudible.

"I found this little guy this morning," Zhou Mingrui began, his voice tinged with frustration and worry. "I was jogging near a big tree when I heard something falling.

I reached out instinctively and caught this crow. It wasn't actually falling from the sky, though—there was an old bird's nest in the tree."

He took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the tiny crow. "When I climbed up to check, I saw the nest had been abandoned a long time.

There were five eggs, but four of them had already started to rot in the summer heat. Only one had a hole pecked out, and the chick inside was… well, it was barely alive."

Meng Xian listened intently, her expression thoughtful.

Zhou Mingrui continued, his voice heavy with concern. "I had to bring it home. I wasn't sure what else to do. I was hoping to find some way to save it."

"...I see."

Meng Xian studied the crow cub.She had always had a gentle spot for animals,but seeing the crow reminded him of a naughty kid…

"It's actually fine," Meng Xian said, her voice steady. "But if it doesn't get its first meal soon, it might not survive. If you want to help it, you'll need to get a feeding syringe, some mealworms, and probiotics from the pet store next door. I can mix an egg yolk with some water and feed it when you get back."

Zhou Mingrui's eyes brightened with renewed hope. "Got it! I'll go get everything right away."

He jumped up and dashed out the door, his urgency clear. Meng Xian watched him leave,

The living room fell into a tranquil hush once more, the only sounds being the soft whir of the air conditioner and the faint rustling of Starlight's paws as the cat shifted in her sleep.

Meng Xian's gaze remained fixed on the tiny crow nestled on the coffee table. Starlight, recently awake, eyed the little creature with a mix of curiosity and wariness, his brown eyes reflecting a cautious vigilance.

Meng Xian's dark eyes, usually so expressive, were now cold and distant as she observed the crow. The tiny bird, so fragile and innocent, seemed almost out of place on the coffee table amidst the soft, elegant surroundings.

Meng Xian's fingers reached out with a gentle touch, caressing the delicate neck of the crow. Her voice was soft, but there was an undertone of introspection in her question.

"Where did you come from?"

The crow, weak and unable to stand, only responded with a faint, quivering sound.

Meng Xian's heart ached slightly at the sight, but her thoughts were scattered, unable to focus on anything beyond the immediate care the creature required.

Leaning back on the sofa, Meng Xian let her gaze drift to the blank ceiling. The room's serenity allowed her mind to wander, drifting into a state of peaceful emptiness.

For a brief moment, she felt liberated from the complexities and burdens of her daily life. It was a rare and precious space of nothingness, where she could momentarily escape the pressing concerns and heavy thoughts that often clouded her mind.

The silence was abruptly interrupted by the sound of Zhou Mingrui pushing open the door and calling out her name.

"Meng Xian?" His voice cut through the stillness, pulling her out of her introspective trance.

Meng Xian blinked, her gaze slowly shifting back to reality. The multi-grain pancakes on the coffee table had cooled, their warmth replaced by the chill of neglect.

She frowned slightly, her thoughts momentarily scattered as she contemplated whether she should reheat them.

Zhou Mingrui's concerned expression as he waved a hand in front of her eyes.

"Meng? Meng?" he called, his tone laced with worry.

Meng Xian raised her hand to her forehead, brushing aside the disoriented haze that lingered from her momentary distraction.

With a gentle push, she nudged Zhou Mingrui's hand away, offering him a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. I might not have slept well last night. Just need to catch up on some rest this afternoon," she said, her voice steady despite the underlying fatigue.

Zhou Mingrui's concern did not wane, but he nodded in acceptance.

"I bought everything you mentioned. I even looked up a recipe for the crow on Google and got some fresh beef."

Meng Xian nodded, reaching out to take the bags. "Thank you. I'll go prepare the food for the crow."

She moved to the kitchen, her mind still preoccupied with the mysterious nature of the crow's arrival.

As she walked past the coffee table, she caught a glimpse of the little bird, now curled up and sleeping soundly.

She glanced at Starlight, who was watching the crow with a mix of curiosity and caution.

Meng Xian sighed and gently petted the cat. "Don't worry, Starlight. Don't do anything to it."

In the kitchen, Meng Xian began her preparations. She retrieved an egg from the refrigerator and cracked it open, separating the yolk from the white with practiced ease.

The rich, golden yolk was placed into a bowl, and she methodically cut up the mealworms and beef, mixing them into a fine blend.

Adding a touch of probiotics, she stirred the mixture thoroughly.

Zhou Mingrui stood by, observing her every move with keen interest. He took note of her precise actions and the care she took in preparing the food.

When Meng Xian finished, she filled the feeding syringe with the mixture, ready to care for the tiny crow.

Returning to the living room, Meng Xian gently woke the sleepy chick, demonstrating the feeding process to Zhou Mingrui.

Her voice was calm and instructional as she explained, "If it were winter, keeping a newborn bird alive without an incubator would require constant warmth, like leaving the air conditioning on. But since it's late summer, the temperature should be just right for now."

Zhou Mingrui, who had been lost in his own thoughts, nodded solemnly. "The adult bird must have had an accident… If it weren't for the summer heat, none of the eggs would have hatched. In a way, this little crow is lucky."

Meng Xian's gaze grew distant, her mind momentarily distracted by the thought of the "lucky little crow." Her voice was almost a whisper as she said, "Be careful of the crows."

Zhou Mingrui looked at her, puzzled. "What?"

Meng Xian shook her head, her face a mask of uncertainty. "Nothing. Just a random thought," she said, trying to dismiss the odd feeling.

She felt a moment of disorientation, as if the words had slipped out of her without full comprehension. Clenching her fists, she gently tapped her forehead, trying to clear her mind. "I need to heat up the pancakes before they get cold," she muttered, her confusion lingering.

After placing the half-eaten pancakes on the coffee table and reheating the forgotten ones in the air fryer, Meng Xian and Zhou Mingrui finally sat down to enjoy their breakfast.

The moment was bittersweet, the warmth of the food contrasting with the worries that lingered beneath the surface.

Zhou Mingrui couldn't shake the unease from Meng Xian's earlier comment about crows. He watched her intently as she tried to focus on the meal. What could she have meant by that?

His mind couldn't help but revisit the ancient associations with these dark-feathered creatures. Crows were traditionally viewed with suspicion, their presence often interpreted as an omen of death and misfortune. Ancient alchemical texts and folklore depicted them as symbols of bad luck, their cries believed to drain the vitality of the living and foretell grim fates.

Meng Xian's aloof attitude towards such supernatural lore had always intrigued him.

He knew that she avoided discussing ghosts and the occult, but her reaction to the crow seemed to hint at something deeper.

With renewed determination, Zhou Mingrui decided that this was an opportunity to delve into the mystery of Meng Xian's aversion to crows.

Zhou Mingrui's eyes remained fixed on Meng Xian as he asked, "Meng, what did you mean by 'be careful of crows?'"

Meng Xian's response was thoughtful, almost playful. "What do you think it means?"

Zhou Mingrui took a deep breath and carefully laid out the associations he had recalled. "Well, crows are often linked to death, fear, and bad luck. They're seen as symbols of misfortune in many cultures.

Their cries are believed to foretell a person's end or drain their soul."

Meng Xian's lips curled into a faint smile, but it was more contemplative than amused.

She mulled over his words before shaking her head. "Actually, before the Tang Dynasty, crows were viewed quite differently. They were seen as mythical birds that symbolized good omens and prophecies."

Zhou Mingrui raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Really? How so?"

Meng Xian leaned back, her gaze drifting to the cooling pancakes as she gathered her thoughts. "There's an old legend that says, 'Crows announce good news, and the Zhou Dynasty will rise.' Before the Zhou Dynasty was established, large red crows carrying seeds gathered on the roof of King Wu of Zhou.

This was considered an auspicious sign, predicting the rise of the Zhou Dynasty to greatness. King Wu and his ministers rejoiced at this omen."

Zhou Mingrui listened intently, his surprise evident. "So, the idea that crows bring bad luck isn't actually the original belief?"

Meng Xian nodded slowly. "Yes, it wasn't until the Tang Dynasty that the notion of crows as harbingers of bad luck started to take hold. Over time, this interpretation has become more dominant, overshadowing their earlier symbolic significance."

Zhou Mingrui furrowed his brow, trying to reconcile this new perspective. "So, are you saying that the belief in crows as bad omens is a more recent development?"

Meng Xian's expression grew more serious. "In a way, yes. The idea of crows as carriers of bad luck has become widely accepted, but the truth is more nuanced. Crows are often seen as intermediaries between the living and the spiritual world. They embody a balance between good and bad fortune."

Zhou Mingrui's curiosity was undeterred. "What kind of carrier are they?"

Meng Xian hesitated for a moment, as if weighing how much to reveal. "A carrier for the soul," she said finally.

Zhou Mingrui's eyes widened slightly. The term "carrier for the soul" seemed to hint at something beyond mere superstition.

His mind raced with questions. "Are you suggesting that this has something to do with ghosts?"

Meng Xian sighed, her gaze meeting Zhou Mingrui's with a mixture of resignation and understanding. "You could interpret it that way. Crows, in certain beliefs, are seen as conduits for the spiritual world. They might symbolize the presence of souls or spiritual entities."

Zhou Mingrui's heart pounded with a mix of apprehension and intrigue. "So, are there really ghosts in this world?"

Meng Xian's expression was inscrutable as she regarded Zhou Mingrui.

With an air of practiced nonchalance, she extended her fingers and made a series of exaggerated hand gestures, as if weaving an invisible thread between them.

Her movements became increasingly dramatic as she dramatically combined her index and middle fingers, then wiped her eyebrows with a theatrical flourish. Her voice took on a mock-serious tone as she declared, "Hey! Heaven, eyes, open!"

Zhou Mingrui's amusement faded as Meng Xian's gaze locked onto him with a chilling clarity. "There is a female ghost behind you," she intoned, her voice unwavering.

A cold shiver ran down Zhou Mingrui's spine, making him stiffen involuntarily.

The sudden, eerie statement was enough to make him question whether Meng Xian was being entirely truthful or just playing an elaborate prank. He glanced over his shoulder, but the room remained unchanged, nothing more than the mundane clutter of a cozy living room.

Meng Xian, seemingly unbothered by his reaction, continued with a chilling precision. "Oh, she's a foreign female ghost. She has long, light blonde hair tied in a bun, her eyes are azure blue, as pale as Sadako's, and she looks like a doll. She's dressed in a complicated black long dress, a typical Gothic style, with a matching black soft hat—just like an exquisite doll displayed in a window."

As Meng Xian's description grew more elaborate, Zhou Mingrui felt an unsettling realization take hold. The vividness of her depiction began to conjure a haunting image in his mind—a ghostly figure with light golden hair, blue eyes, and an intricate Gothic dress. The more detailed Meng Xian's description became, the more real the ghost seemed to him, and the more his skepticism wavered.

Meng Xian's eyes sparkled with mischief, and she broke into a wide grin. "I mean, Sharon, were you watching this?" she taunted.

"Sharon..??…" Zhou Mingrui's voice trembled as he attempted to grasp the reality of the situation. He was torn between astonishment and disbelief. "What you said, could it be true?"

Meng Xian's cold smile widened, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and disdain. "Of course it is—" she began, but then her expression shifted abruptly. "—I was kidding you!" Her laughter rang out, sharp and mocking. "Hahahahahaha!"

Zhou Mingrui, caught between relief and embarrassment, stood frozen, his face flushed with a mix of surprise and exasperation. Meng Xian's mocking laughter filled the room, adding to the surreal atmosphere.

"Still dreaming of a love story between a human and a ghost?" Meng Xian teased, her voice tinged with disdain. "Is that what you were hoping for?"

Zhou Mingrui shook his head vigorously, his cheeks burning. "No! I wasn't—"

Meng Xian's laughter subsided, and she leaned back against the sofa, her amusement fading into a more reflective expression.

She covered her eyes with her forearm, the gesture suggesting a desire to retreat from the unsettling topic.

"People become ghosts after death, but real ghosts haunting the human world are not as common as you might think," she said, her voice taking on a more serious tone.

"For an earthbound spirit to remain, several conditions must be met. Besides an untimely or violent death, there must be deep-seated resentment or unfinished business.

And importantly, there needs to be a feng shui cave or a place that holds spiritual significance nearby.

All these conditions must align for an ordinary ghost to manifest."

Zhou Mingrui's curiosity was piqued again, his earlier discomfort replaced by a thirst for understanding. "Earthbound spirits," he mused, "I've heard that they are souls trapped in a location after a violent or traumatic death, needing a new victim to manifest before they can move on. Is that true?"

Meng Xian's voice took on a colder edge as she nodded. "Yes, it's true. Earthbound spirits, or what people often refer to as restless souls, are bound to their place of death if they harbor strong attachments or grievances.

However, even if a spirit escapes, it usually doesn't cause harm unless it is particularly malevolent or driven by strong negative emotions."

Zhou Mingrui listened intently, absorbing Meng Xian's insights. The idea of ghosts and their intricate conditions was both fascinating and unsettling.

Zhou Mingrui's curiosity persisted, and he ventured further into the subject. "Then… what about abnormal situations?"

Meng Xian didn't respond directly. Instead, she posed a question of her own. "Do you know how ghosts eat?"

Zhou Mingrui thought for a moment, recalling what he had heard. "I remember it's called 'touch eating.' They just touch the food and absorb its essence directly."

"Exactly," Meng Xian affirmed calmly. "That's the normal way for ghosts to consume. But when a ghost breaks through this restriction, it becomes an abnormal situation."

Zhou Mingrui's eyes widened as the implications of her words sank in. "You mean… they actually eat the food physically?"

Meng Xian nodded, her gaze steady. "Yes, but not ordinary food. It's a serious problem when a ghost moves beyond its usual method of consumption."

Zhou Mingrui's mind raced with questions. "Why does this happen?"

Meng Xian raised her hand to her forehead as if to ease the weight of her thoughts, then let it drop with a sigh. "Let me explain with an example. Even among earthbound spirits, their fates can vary greatly depending on where they are trapped."

She paused, her expression thoughtful. "Consider places like fish shops or live poultry markets, where inedible offal is often discarded haphazardly. If a little ghost tastes meat, it can become addicted. And if it encounters human blood, it may transform into an uncontrollable evil spirit, growing into a true disaster."

Zhou Mingrui's face turned pale as he processed her words. "Is there any way to prevent this from happening?"

Meng Xian shook her head slowly. "It's difficult. The conditions for the creation of ghosts are complex and not fully understood. The origins of ghosts are still largely speculative."

Zhou Mingrui's expression grew troubled. "So if these spirits are inevitable, how do we deal with them? There must be a method for restraining them, right? Is that why the art of ghost-exorcism was developed?"

Meng Xian's voice grew more serious. "You must have heard the saying, 'Don't look back when you walk at night.' There are three lights on a person: two on the shoulders and one on the top of the head.

Each time you turn your head, you blow out one of these lights, giving unclean things the chance to slip in."

She looked at Zhou Mingrui with a grave expression. "These three lights represent the Yang energy in a person. The principle behind ghost-exorcism techniques is to mobilize and utilize this Yang energy to consume the essence of ghosts."

Zhou Mingrui listened intently, absorbing the gravity of Meng Xian's words. "And when a ghost sees blood, it breaks through its limits and turns into a fierce ghost. Those that kill their own kin and consume their hearts and livers are the most vicious. Killing such a powerful ghost comes with a tremendous cost."

Meng Xian continued, her tone somber.

"Under normal circumstances, the Yang energy a sorcerer loses while dealing with ghosts can be replenished over time. But if too much is lost at once, it can severely affect physical health."

Her voice trailed off, leaving a heavy silence in the room. Zhou Mingrui's mind raced as he pieced together the details. He tentatively proposed, "So, if the physical condition deteriorates, drinking hot water or maintaining health can help?"

Meng Xian's eyes flashed with annoyance. "You're not wrong, but that's not all. Maintaining health and exercising are important, but this isn't the full picture."

Zhou Mingrui's brow furrowed in confusion. "How do you know so much about this?"

Meng Xian's expression softened slightly, and she gave a wry smile. "I've read many books on the subject. It's all about studying and understanding the details."