Chapter 7 - Exorcism

The Gu family's villa was large, winding and intricate. It was difficult to find the rooms on the first visit, but obviously, Yao Yao had no such problem—she didn't even need to calculate the path.

Chen Hui's bedroom was filled with an intense, ominous atmosphere. In her eyes, it was like a giant lightbulb, too obvious to miss.

"Does the little benefactor know the way?"

Watching the person smoothly find the room, Gu Yu was a little stunned. He was sure she had never been to their house before.

The more impossible her actions seemed, the more uneasy he felt. It only confirmed that she was not ordinary.

That made the earlier conversation in the car feel even more valid.

The moment they entered the room, Yao Yao's gaze landed on Chen Hui, who was sitting on the bed. Her face was deathly pale, her eyes full of panic.

She glanced towards the door from time to time, clearly waiting for something. As for the book in her hands? She couldn't make sense of a single word.

She had looked up out of habit, only to meet a pair of round, grape-like eyes. She froze for a moment, then immediately recognized the person.

"Little benefactor, you've finally come."

Chen Hui's entire demeanor became excited. If her legs weren't in plaster, she would have jumped out of bed by now.

It looked like she had grabbed onto a lifeline, and on the side, Gan Xiaoying was completely stunned. It seemed she hadn't expected Madam's attitude to change so drastically.

This couldn't really be blamed on Chen Hui. The events she had just experienced had completely shattered her previous worldview.

When people are on the brink of danger, their emotions are most volatile.

At this point, Gu's father and son entered the room as well, coming up to the bed.

"What's with the scarf all of a sudden?"

Gu Xuesong immediately noticed the oddity around his wife's neck and frowned.

Chen Hui's gaze shifted uncomfortably. She knew that her husband was an atheist, and this was something he might find hard to accept.

"Did you see that thing?"

Yao Yao suddenly interrupted their conversation. Chen Hui immediately nodded at the question.

"Yes, I saw it, little benefactor. What exactly is that thing…?"

She actually wanted to ask why it was clinging to her, but she understood that things had to be addressed one step at a time. Asking too many questions at once would only leave everyone unsure of which one to answer first.

"Mom, what are you talking about?"

Gu Yu was speechless. It was clear that riddles were the most annoying thing in the world, even if it was his own mother.

Gu Xuesong, however, remained calm, furrowing his brow as he listened seriously.

Yao Yao: "It's an evil spirit."

She had given Chen Hui a protective talisman, one that primarily dealt with ghosts and evil spirits.

The latter were usually animals that had transformed, often feeding on blood and the essence of life, and they didn't carry the same kind of negative energy.

Ghosts, however, were different. They had no physical form, existing purely as spirits.

The yin energy and malice in the world could nourish them, even strengthen their souls. So, ghosts with a certain amount of power could gauge their own strength based on the amount of yin energy they could absorb.

From the amount of negative energy in the room, it was clear that this thing had consumed humans.

Yao Yao actually felt relieved.

Because if it had consumed humans, it had karma attached to it.

In Taoist teachings, there was an unwritten rule: ghosts without karma could not be killed!

Once killed, one would incur the wrath of fate.

Fate was invisible and intangible, but it was very real. If one crossed the line set by the heavens, they might not even know how they died.

Yao Yao didn't understand all of this. Her own understanding was simple: ghosts who killed people could be eaten.

And the one next to Chen Hui clearly fit the bill.

Yao Yao smiled brightly, her small face beaming. She cheerfully said, "Don't worry, I can handle it!"

"Then thank you, little benefactor!"

Chen Hui had been afraid at first. After all, this was an evil spirit!

But hearing the little benefactor speak with such confidence, she immediately relaxed.

As for why she didn't doubt the other's abilities?

The power of that talisman was more than enough to prove it.

"I know you have questions, but after you see this, you won't doubt anymore."

Chen Hui glanced at the puzzled father and son, forced a smile, and then reached up to remove the scarf around her neck.

The dark purple-black bruises and strangulation marks immediately became visible!

Under the warm white light, they were especially horrifying.

Both Gu Xuesong and Gu Yu jumped to their feet, their faces turning ashen.

"Damn!"

Gu Yu's face immediately filled with anger. The marks were so shocking, he couldn't even bear to think about how much pain they must have caused.

The Gu family usually couldn't bear to see someone hurt, let alone something this severe. He was so angry that his eyes were bloodshot.

"Did it do this?"

Gu Xuesong had already started to waver on the way over.

To think his wife had been hurt so badly at home without anyone noticing, he was now even more convinced of his suspicions. After all, the Gu family's security was top-notch, and not a single person had noticed anything unusual.

Anyone capable of doing this was certainly no ordinary person.

Seeing that his wife was accepting the truth, Chen Hui nodded without hesitation. "Yes, it was the little benefactor's talisman that helped me escape, saving my life again."

Saying this, she couldn't help but feel a bit wistful. After all, anyone who was saved twice in one day would feel awkward about it.

Upon hearing his wife's admission, Gu Xuesong's calm demeanor faltered slightly, and his gaze turned to the little one in front of him.

"Thank you, little benefactor. Since you have the ability to deal with it, please help our Gu family."

"If there is anything I can do, I will never say no."

He understood that, although he was wealthy, he was still an ordinary person. When it came to dealing with ghosts and spirits, he was completely helpless.

No wonder his wife insisted on having him find someone. It seemed that the important matters were here. He couldn't help but feel relieved that he had listened to her and acted quickly. Otherwise, he would have no idea how to handle things now. He absolutely couldn't accept anyone being harmed.

"Yes, yes, if you can save my mother, I'll give you all my snacks from now on."

Gu Yu, seeing how much the little benefactor seemed to like to eat, immediately promised with a promise he thought would appeal.

And sure enough, compared to Gu Xuesong's promise, this one seemed to strike a chord.

Yao Yao patted her small chest with her chubby hand and assured them, "Leave it to me!"

Seeing her so confident, Qingyun couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.

Though he knew his young disciple was capable, they were still about to face an evil spirit. She was so young, what if something went wrong? Who would he turn to for an explanation?

But the words had already been spoken, and he didn't want to go back on them. He could only ask in a low voice, "Little girl, be honest with me. How sure are you?"

The survival of their sect depended on her, so they couldn't afford to take a rash step.

Yao Yao extended a hand and slowly opened it.

"Fifty percent?" Qingyun was so shocked, his voice faltered.

Yao Yao smiled sweetly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "No, no, don't worry! I'm actually about 70% sure. It's just a small one, nothing to be afraid of."

Her confidence was infectious, though Qing Yun still had his reservations. He watched as she stepped toward Chen Hui, who was still seated on the bed, her face showing a mixture of fear and hope.

"I can do it, don't worry." Yao Yao's voice was soft yet firm as she addressed the Gu family. "I'll have this taken care of in no time."

Qing Yun couldn't help but shake his head slightly. Her boldness and her carefree attitude made him both anxious and impressed. He understood that she was a talented practitioner, but this situation was different—it was dangerous to face evil spirits, even if they weren't particularly powerful.

Chen Hui, who had been nervously watching, seemed to trust Yao Yao's words. She took a deep breath and nodded. "Please, little benefactor. We've been through so much already, and I'm truly scared."

Yao Yao nodded back, her face serious for a moment. Then, without further warning, she raised her hands in front of her chest, forming a series of intricate gestures with her fingers.

The room grew cold again, and a faint hum filled the air. The temperature seemed to drop even further, and the very atmosphere in the room seemed to shift, as if something was stirring beneath the surface.

Gu Yu and Gu Xuesong stood by, watching with wide eyes, as Yao Yao continued her chanting in a low, rhythmic tone. The energy in the room began to crackle as if charged with electricity, and a dark, oppressive presence seemed to press in from all sides. It was subtle at first, just a cold draft in the air, but soon, the shadowy figure of the vengeful spirit began to materialize in the corner of the room.

The misty form was like a swirling cloud of darkness, its shape constantly shifting, sometimes taking the form of twisted, gnarled limbs, and other times flickering as though it was barely holding onto its shape. It oozed malevolent energy, its presence alone enough to make the air feel thick and suffocating.

Yao Yao did not flinch, even as the mist thickened around her. Her hands continued to move in swift, precise motions, drawing symbols in the air. Her chant grew louder, more insistent. With each passing second, the spirit seemed to struggle, trying to push against her will.

But Yao Yao was resolute. She raised her hands higher, and with a final powerful motion, she slammed her palms together.

The room went silent for a split second, and then, with a sharp crack, the spirit screeched in rage as it was forced back, dissolving into a swirl of black smoke.

Chen Hui gasped as the oppressive weight that had been pressing on her chest lifted. The coldness in the room dissipated, and the atmosphere lightened. The ghost was gone.

The entire Gu family stood in stunned silence, processing what had just happened.

Chen Hui's eyes were wide with disbelief. "It's... gone?" she whispered, reaching up to touch her neck where the marks had been. The bruises and strangulation marks were no longer there, as if they had never existed.

Yao Yao grinned. "See? Nothing to worry about."

The Gu family exhaled in unison, relief flooding over them.

"You really did it!" Gu Yu exclaimed, his voice filled with awe. "You actually got rid of it!"

Gu Xuesong stepped forward, his face still pale but filled with gratitude. He bowed deeply to Yao Yao. "Little benefactor, you have saved my family. We are in your debt."

Yao Yao, however, waved it off casually. "No need to thank me. I'm just doing what I promised."

Chen Hui, still in shock, placed a hand over her heart. "You have no idea what this means to me. I don't think I could ever repay you."

"It's no trouble at all," Yao Yao said with a bright smile. "I'm just happy I could help."

As she turned to leave, Qing Yun, still observing from the side, spoke up quietly, his voice filled with admiration. "You truly are incredible. I can't believe you handled that so easily."

Yao Yao gave him a playful smile. "It's all in a day's work! Just make sure to always keep your talismans ready, and you won't have to deal with any more trouble like that."

The Gu family watched as she made her way out of the room, leaving behind only a sense of calm and an aura of mystery.

As soon as she was gone, Gu Yu turned to his father, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Dad, I told you she was amazing!"

Gu Xuesong chuckled, shaking his head. "I have to admit, I was skeptical at first, but I'll never doubt her again."

Looking at the empty doorway, Gu Xuesong sighed, feeling a sense of profound gratitude. "She's not just a little benefactor... she's a miracle worker."

Outside, Yao Yao walked alongside Qing Yun, who still seemed to be processing the entire event. She could feel his gaze on her, curious but cautious.

"Are you truly not afraid of ghosts?" Qing Yun asked after a long pause, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Yao Yao glanced up at him, her eyes full of mischief. "Afraid? What's there to be afraid of? They're just weak spirits that haven't crossed over yet."

Qing Yun was quiet for a moment, then sighed. "I wonder if the world of ghosts and spirits is as simple as you make it seem."

Yao Yao chuckled. "Of course not. But you'll learn to deal with them once you understand how they work. It's all about balance."

With that, the two of them walked off into the distance, leaving behind the Gu family in peace.

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