Chapter 32: The Ghost Master (Part 5)
Auntie Zhang hugged her grandson, coaxing him while awkwardly greeting Jiang Si: “Xiao Jiang.”
“Auntie Zhang, your grandson’s toy.” Jiang Si placed the rubber ball at the door, squatted on one knee, and asked the child from a distance, “Little friend, what was the monster you mentioned just now? Was it a tree shadow?”
The child wiped a tear, shook his head, and pointed with a small hand: “Right on top of the house, there’s a big monster…”
Auntie Zhang looked uncomfortable, having an impulse to pick up the child and leave, but as neighbors, she couldn’t embarrass him like that…
Jiang Si looked in the direction pointed; it was the direction of his paper effigy shop. But in his eyes, he couldn’t see anything.
His eyes darkened instantly. He continued to coax, “Do you remember what the monster looked like? Is it still there?”
“It’s gone… it was black, very black.”
Jiang Si comforted him, “Then it was a tree shadow. Look, it’s so late now, many shadows come out. Don’t be afraid.”
The child nodded, seemingly understanding but not really. Jiang Si greeted Auntie Zhang, got up, and left.
He searched around the paper effigy shop and confirmed there were no anomalies before relaxing slightly.
Four or five-year-old children were most prone to seeing unclean things. Plus, at this time of day, it might just be some wild ghost trying to leech some incense. It couldn’t be that coincidental.
After reassuring himself, seeing that it was about time, Jiang Si closed the shop and went home.
He had notified Xiao Fengxian and the others in advance. Upon arriving home, Jiang Si found that apart from Hai Di, everyone was sitting obediently, looking at him with expectant eyes.
“…Cough.” Jiang Si drank a sip of water, cleared his throat, and formally announced his next plan.
“I think what you said last time was very correct. We need to leverage our strengths and make it big and strong!”
Xiao Fengxian looked puzzled: “What strengths?”
“You aren’t human.” Jiang Si analyzed seriously, “Do you know why supernatural-themed works aren’t easily popular now?”
The knowledgeable Bai Qi-niang raised her hand: “Because censorship is strict. Didn’t they say animals can’t become spirits after the founding of the PRC? Just like in novels, you can’t write anything below the neck…”
“…” Jiang Si, “That’s one aspect. But our direction is different; censorship isn’t as strict as for TV dramas and movies. It’s because the audience lacks immersion. Why no immersion? Because it’s humans acting for humans to watch.”
“You guys are different. You exude yin energy even through the screen; of course, you can give the audience immersion. In this regard, we win.”
“So you mean letting ghosts act in ghost movies for people to watch?” Xu Lanyue, possessing the highest education among the group, summarized in one sentence.
” pretty much… Of course, it’s not purely horror; we want to express stories. The most important thing in film and television is the script; telling a good story is the core.” Jiang Si spoke based on his years of experience in the industry. “So I plan to film a series of supernatural stories. The source can be your own experiences, which I will adapt.”
“Sounds doable.” Xu Lanyue was dead anyway and didn’t care about copyright. She nodded, “But just the few of us, isn’t that not enough?”
Jiang Si had long thought about this. “I’ll get Wang Zhao and another friend to join as screenwriters. As for actors… there are plenty of ready-made ghosts nearby. I have plenty of paper money; consider it work-for-relief, increasing employment opportunities.”
Xiao Fengxian didn’t care; as long as she could satisfy her craving for acting, she was fine. Bai Qi-niang, on the other hand, was excited to act personally for the first time, constantly pulling Xiao Fengxian to ask for advice.
Calling her “Sister” affectionately with every breath, she learned the ways of human social interaction thoroughly. Seeing them happy, Jiang Si shook his head helplessly and turned to find Hai Di.
He thought the other party was secretly reading novels again, but didn’t expect to see Hai Di standing in the corner motionless, looking dazed.
“Reflecting on your mistakes here?” Jiang Si found it strange, but felt something wrong as he got closer.
It seemed… Hai Di’s figure was a bit transparent.
Standing against the white wall in a black suit should have been a very stark color contrast, but in Jiang Si’s eyes, he seemed somewhat assimilated into one.
“Are you okay?” Jiang Si froze for a few seconds before reaching out to touch him.
His finger was immediately repelled as soon as it touched the shoulder.
Now, his face finally changed color. “When did you become like this?”
Hai Di turned slowly to look him in the eyes. He looked the same as before, but his face was obviously paler, and his pupils were a black that reflected no light.
He said, “I’m okay.”
“Okay my ass! Do you know how cold you are? Why didn’t you tell me if you felt unwell?” Jiang Si wanted to scold him harshly, but the words wouldn’t come out.
How was it Hai Di’s fault? It was his own negligence.
He had been too busy recently. He kept delaying the promise to send Hai Di home and didn’t have time to check his body properly, only discovering it now that Hai Di had become so weak.
Hai Di curled the corners of his lips: “Really fine, I can’t feel it myself.”
“Stop talking.” Jiang Si turned to get incense and light it.
The white smoke of the soul-guiding incense blended into Hai Di’s body. The incense, worth a thousand gold per gram, only improved his condition slightly.
Seeing this, Jiang Si’s expression became even uglier. His lips pressed into a straight line, the rosy color fading circle by circle into white.
Soul-guiding incense only worked on humans. If it had little effect on Hai Di, it meant Hai Di was about to become a ghost in the true sense.
When did he start getting weak?
Jiang Si frantically scoured his memories and suddenly realized that everything had traces even before the Teng sorcery incident.
Hai Di was a living soul and originally couldn’t be too far from him…
At this moment, Hai Di even had the mood to observe Jiang Si’s expression, his whole body carrying an eerie calmness: “Don’t worry. Who isn’t a pre-made ghost anyway? If I die, I die; it’s no big deal.”
“What nonsense are you talking?” Jiang Si frowned fiercely and scolded, “What do you mean ‘if I die, I die’? You have to live well. You still have your own friends and family waiting for you to wake up!”
“…” Hai Di forced a faint smile. “But I only know you now. The others have nothing to do with me.”
Jiang Si looked at him in a daze. After absorbing the incense, Hai Di’s face had some vitality. His dark eyes were full of stubbornness as he repeated his words: “I only know you; nothing else matters.”
“Mhm.” Jiang Si felt his thoughts were a bit chaotic. His fingers hanging by his side curled unconsciously, loosening and tightening, tightening and loosening.
After a long while, silently exhaling twice, Jiang Si looked up and said seriously, “Hai Di, you have to know that in this world, no one entrusts their life and death to another just because they know them. I’m very happy you consider me your best friend, but currently, we are not in an equal relationship.”
“You have no memory, no ability to live independently, and no social experience. To me, your current state is similar to a minor with no capacity for conduct. I cannot rely on having more social experience to hint at you or demand you make important decisions.”
“Do you understand what I mean?” Jiang Si said.
He was rarely serious, but these weren’t the words Hai Di wanted to hear.
That layer of window paper was right in front of his eyes, so close that Hai Di almost felt he could poke through it with a slight movement.
But Jiang Si added a layer of glass right then, and it was bulletproof.
The meaning was very clear: as long as Hai Di was in a state of amnesia, no matter what he said or did, Jiang Si would not take it seriously.
“I just don’t have my original memories. I’m not a fool.” Hai Di was helpless. Seeing Jiang Si still looking indifferent, he felt it was funny but also gritted his teeth in anger. Impulsively, he blurted out, “You really don’t understand what I mean—”
“I’ll go ask Shen Hu for help.” Jiang Si interrupted him, took out his phone, and warned with a look, “Behave yourself, don’t cause trouble. I will finish handling your matters as soon as possible. You must live on well, hear me?”
“I don’t want to see that person.” Hai Di said stubbornly. “Don’t call.”
“This is serious business; don’t make a fuss.” As Jiang Si spoke, he dialed Shen Hu’s number.
Hai Di got up and snatched it away, pinning down Jiang Si’s struggling hand with a backhand grip. Mindful of his cold body temperature, he deliberately grabbed Jiang Si’s wrist through the jacket.
A slender, fair hand poked out from his palm, shockingly thin.
Jiang Si frowned at him, the two beeps from the phone becoming the only sound at this moment.
“Hello? Jiang Si?” Shen Hu had already answered the call on the other end.
Here, Hai Di and Jiang Si were in a close standoff, extremely close to each other—Hai Di’s arm pressed on Jiang Si’s shoulder, gripping his hand, placed between them.
Hai Di could hear Jiang Si’s shallow breathing, and Jiang Si could feel that layer of biting chill through the fabric.
“Don’t answer,” Hai Di mouthed silently.
Jiang Si’s gaze was attracted by his long, fluttering eyelashes for a moment before snapping back to reality. He sneered internally but didn’t show it on his face.
“It’s me, Master Shen,” Jiang Si spoke.
The moment he made a sound, Hai Di’s grip on his wrist tightened, an uncontrollable urge to hang up rising within him.
But upon meeting Jiang Si’s eyes, he didn’t dare.
What could he do?
He couldn’t hit him, couldn’t scold him, and couldn’t win in a fight or an argument. Besides, Jiang Si didn’t owe him anything.
It was all Hai Di’s possessiveness at work.
He didn’t like Shen Hu because once Shen Hu appeared, Jiang Si wouldn’t need his help.
“Do you need something?” Shen Hu asked.
“A little bit,” Jiang Si continued. Because they were too close, he could capture even the slightest change on Hai Di’s face.
For example, the silent pleading and stubbornness in those eyes.
“Let go of me,” Jiang Si warned Hai Di in a low voice, then raised his voice to ask, “Last time you said you’d invite someone to Rong City to look at my friend, roughly when can he come?”
“Oh, that. Should be soon; he’ll have time in two days—”
As soon as Jiang Si’s expression relaxed slightly, Hai Di hung up without hesitation. Shen Hu’s voice stopped abruptly.
“Are you crazy? I was talking about serious business, serious business about you!” Jiang Si was dizzy with anger. “Can’t you tell good from bad?”
“He already said it, in two days,” Hai Di said.
“Let go.” Jiang Si couldn’t be bothered with him.
With warm skin right in his palm, Hai Di was momentarily distracted, suddenly remembering Bai Qi-niang’s words.
“Can’t you tell Jiang Si is soft-hearted but hard-headed? Dealing with this kind of person, you have to soften up, act a bit spoiled, and won’t everything be solved?”
…
“I’m sorry.” Hai Di let go, lowering his head. “I was a bit agitated just now.”
Jiang Si watched him for a while, took back the phone, and walked out. Before he took two steps, Hai Di’s voice rang out again, “I wasn’t targeting Shen Hu… I was just a bit scared. In this world, I only know you. Even if I go back, those family members are strangers to me.”
Jiang Si paused in turning the doorknob. Hearing such aggrieved words, he wanted to laugh a little. A 1.9-meter-tall man saying he was scared?
Coaxing a ghost?
“Scared of what? You make it sound like once you go back, we’ll be separated by life and death.” Jiang Si said, “Don’t you have legs? Can’t you come find me yourself?”
To Hai Di’s ears, this sounded like: Jiang Si will always be waiting here for him.
Hai Di felt like he had eaten a candy invisibly, sweet from the tip of his tongue to his stomach, and couldn’t help but smile.
“Like an idiot.” Jiang Si snorted a laugh and instructed him, “Wait here.”
He went out and called Shen Hu back.
The other party’s answer was still the same as before. “My senior brother needs two days to free himself. Since you say the living soul has started to weaken and dissipate, why not send him to the Taoist temple to be nurtured warmly?”
“Okay, I’ll discuss it with him.” Jiang Si sighed. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. Contact me if you need anything.” After the pleasantries, they ended the call.
Hai Di reluctantly agreed, with the condition that Jiang Si must visit him every day.
Jiang Si had to contact Shen Hu anyway and didn’t find it inappropriate, so he agreed.
The next day, Jiang Si drove to the paper effigy shop as usual to take a look around. There were many incense candles in the innermost storage room. He intended to take some to bring to Hai Di, but the moment he opened the door, an icy cold thing suddenly pressed against his shoulder blade.
“I’ve been watching you for a long time.”
Slimy fingers rubbed from behind Jiang Si’s ear to his white neck, like a sticky snail crawling in the rainy season of the south, leaving a trail of water on Jiang Si’s skin.
“This body of yours, I like it very much.” It whispered in Jiang Si’s ear, its voice low and light, without airflow fluctuation, carrying a dense, sinister toxicity.
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