Chapter 42: Yinwood

　　Yinwood, also known as ebony, is a rare type of wood formed from trees that have been buried underground for thousands or even millions of years without decaying. It is jet black with delicate wood grain.

　　Because it spends millennia deep underground, away from sunlight, it naturally carries a yin energy, making it an ideal material for dark practices.

　　It can be used to make coffins, ward off evil, or even, in some cases, to raise spirits.

　　As Lu Fei looked at the urn in front of him, he felt a sense of disbelief.

　　"Miss Lulu, how much did you pay for this Lucky Sister Brand?"

　　"Sixty-six thousand yuan. Why do you ask?" Lulu responded, visibly nervous.

　　"That's impossible!" Lu Fei's astonishment grew. "Yinwood is extremely expensive. Even a piece of average quality would cost at least a hundred thousand. Selling it to you for sixty-six thousand… that seller would be taking a huge loss."

　　"What is Yinwood?" Lulu asked, puzzled.

　　"It's a very rare type of wood," Tiger explained, jumping in. "It's dug up from deep underground, where it's been buried for tens of thousands of years. Expensive stuff! Some people have found entire logs worth millions!"

　　"There's an old saying: 'Half a piece of Yinwood is worth more than a chest of gold.'"

　　"But what does that have to do with the Lucky Sister Brand?" Lulu still seemed confused.

　　"Yinwood carries strong yin energy, which allows it to interact with spirits," Lu Fei explained. "That means it can 'nurture' ghost spirits. The ghost spirit from a Yinwood vessel is stronger than most. Using it to make a Lucky Sister Brand amulet is quite an investment."

　　"Does that mean the seller was telling the truth? Does the Lucky Sister Brand really have those powers?" Lulu asked, stunned.

　　"You're not still thinking of keeping it, are you?" Tiger shot her a look. "My boss already said—the stronger the effect, the harsher the backlash."

　　"Of course not! I'm practically on the verge of death. How could I not wake up after all this?" Lulu shook her head quickly. "I don't care what kind of wood it's made of or how much it's worth—I just want to get rid of it! Shopkeeper Lu, please take it off my hands!"

　　Lu Fei considered her request seriously.

　　If it were an ordinary altar piece, he might not be inclined to take it. But this was a rare Yinwood item, and its quality looked quite good.

　　It was a truly rare find, and he couldn't help but feel tempted.

　　"Shopkeeper Lu, please take it! I don't want any money for it—I'll even pay you if you need!" Lulu looked at him desperately, clearly seeing him as her last hope.

　　Lu Fei looked into her eyes. Her pupils hadn't fully dilated yet—there was still a glimmer of life.

　　If her pupils had become like those in the photo on the amulet, there would be no saving her.

　　After all, this was a living, breathing person.

　　His grandfather had said that Evil Pawnshop's purpose wasn't just to make money—could it be to save lives?

　　"Alright, I'll take it!" Lu Fei agreed firmly.

　　"Really? You'll really help me?" Lulu's whole body shook, and she began to cry again.

　　She had sought help from many people over the past few days, but all those who once flattered her had now abandoned her, as if she were cursed. No one was willing to lend a hand.

　　"Don't worry. My boss never goes back on his word. If he says he'll save you, then you're definitely not beyond hope," Tiger reassured her.

　　"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Lulu managed a tearful smile. "After this is over, I'll be sure to repay you both properly!"

　　"Let's not talk about gratitude just yet. First, tell me—how long have you been worshipping this Lucky Sister Brand?" Lu Fei asked seriously.

　　Lulu wiped her eyes and said, "Only about a week."

　　"Just a week and it's this intense? Be honest—have you been using your own blood to worship it?" Lu Fei's heart sank, suspecting that the Yinwood's potency was indeed extraordinary.

　　Lulu touched the scars on her wrist, a bitter look on her face. "Yes. The person who sold it to me said that using blood would make the effects faster and stronger."

　　Lu Fei understood now. This was likely why her backlash had come so quickly.

　　Blood offerings naturally accelerate a spirit's growth, and with the added potency of Yinwood, it was a double catalyst. The Sister Spirit quickly spiraled out of control and turned the tables on her.

　　"Resolving this kind of backlash isn't easy. I'll need to prepare a few things."

　　"Alright, I'll come with you," Lulu offered, not wanting to be alone with the amulet any longer.

　　"You're too weak to be running around. Go somewhere public and wait for me to contact you," Lu Fei advised as he headed toward the door.

　　"Somewhere public?" Lulu trailed after him, sounding fearful.

　　"Yes, a place with lots of people—there's more yang energy, which is beneficial for you. Whatever you do, don't stay alone."

　　"There's a mall nearby, but I'm scared to go alone. What if I faint again and do something terrible?" Lulu replied, looking pitiful.

　　Lu Fei thought for a moment, then handed his fang dagger to Tiger. "Tiger, go with her to the mall and keep an eye on her. Let me know if anything happens."

　　"Boss, leave it to me!" Tiger pounded his chest confidently. After all the good food and rest he'd had at Evil Pawnshop, he was back in top shape and ready to prove himself.

　　The three of them headed downstairs and separated at the street corner.

　　Tiger escorted Lulu to the mall, while Lu Fei hailed a taxi back to the antique street.

　　Since Lulu had used her blood to worship the Lucky Sister Brand, her spirit had connected to the Sister Spirit inside. There was no shortcut to resolve the backlash—only one solution would work.

　　A forced exorcism.

　　Upon reaching the pawnshop, Lu Fei went straight to the storeroom.

　　He needed to choose a reliable tool from the "dead pawn" section.

　　This time, he would be dealing with a formidable ghost spirit head-on, so he had to be fully prepared.

　　The best tool for banishing ghosts was a ritual sword.

　　There were two ritual swords on the shelf: one made of peach wood and another antique sword that hadn't been opened yet.

　　However, Lu Fei wasn't trained in spiritual arts, so he wouldn't be able to use a ritual sword to its full potential. It wasn't the ideal choice.

　　He needed an object with inherent ghost-repelling properties.

　　After scanning the items, his gaze settled on a willow whip.

　　In folklore, it was said that "willow whips make ghosts shrink by three inches," and this whip was made from aged willow, enhancing its effectiveness.

　　"This will do!"

　　Lu Fei stowed the willow whip in his bag, but that wasn't enough.

　　Next, he selected a bagua mirror.

　　The bagua mirror could deter spirits and would serve as a defensive tool.

　　Finally, he packed a bag of incense ash and other small items he might need, along with two of the protective talismans his grandfather had left him.

　　"Grandpa only left me seven talismans, and I've been burning through them too quickly. I need to find a way to get more talismans after this job."

　　After finishing his preparations, Lu Fei called a cab and sent a message to Tiger, asking him to meet him at the apartment building in twenty minutes.

　　"Got it!"

　　Tiger put down his phone, noticing Lulu's anxious look. He tried to reassure her, "Don't worry. My boss is very capable, and he'll definitely be able to help you. He'll be here soon. Let's head over."

　　"Alright, but let me use the restroom first."

　　Lulu gave a faint smile through her sunglasses and quickly headed into the women's restroom.

　　But time passed, and after half an hour, she still hadn't come out.