There, standing before him, was an old woman clad in tattered, threadbare clothes. Her eyes, glowing with a faint, eerie green light, were fixed on him with undisguised resentment. Young Master Liu scrambled to his feet, bit his tongue until it bled, and spat a mist of crimson toward the old woman. She recoiled as if struck by fear, and Liu seized the opportunity, scrambling and crawling his way back toward his home.

As he neared his own doorstep, Young Master Liu glanced back to see the old woman standing far down the main road, beneath the shade of an acacia tree, still watching him with that same sorrowful gaze.

He flung himself inside, shouting for Zhang Enpu. Seeing Liu’s utter panic, Zhang Enpu hurried over to ask what was wrong.

“There… there’s a ghost chasing me!” Young Master Liu was breathless from exertion. He then recounted everything to Zhang Enpu: how he and Goudan had encountered that group outside the village, and how the two ghosts and the old woman had pursued him all the way home.

After listening, Zhang Enpu said, “Take me to see that young man. Do not be afraid!”

Liu and Zhang Enpu went outside. When they reached the acacia tree, Liu activated his Yin-Yang eyes, but the old woman was nowhere to be seen. Zhang Enpu simply walked beneath the tree, murmured, “Stop making trouble,” and led Liu away. On the path, Zhang Enpu explained that the deceased old woman meant no real harm; she seemed merely burdened by deep resentment.

When Liu and Zhang Enpu reached the crowd, they saw the villagers draping a white cloth over Yan Xiaoliu—had Yan Xiaoliu truly died? Village Chief Tian was also there, and Liu rushed over to drive the onlookers away. But he was pushed aside by several burly, dark-complexioned men. It turned out Yan Xiaoliu had indeed collapsed and died. Several other people were gambling with the dark, thin middle-aged man, and no matter the wager, they lost; it was unnervingly strange.

Zhang Enpu glanced at the dark, thin middle-aged man and frowned slightly. At that moment, the man spoke, “My apologies to all you villagers. We only stay in each village for three days. If no one can defeat me after three days, we move on to the next village. I will be waiting here for everyone tomorrow!”

With that, he stuffed the pile of ration tickets into a sack, and the group went off to find lodging in the village.

After watching them depart, Zhang Enpu spoke to Village Chief Tian. “First, carry Yan Xiaoliu back to his home. I see a red light of fortune around the young man’s head, but within that brilliant glow are wisps of black energy. I suspect some evil influence is at work. I will devise a plan before we lay Yan Xiaoliu to rest properly.”

Village Chief Tian nodded and called upon some strong young villagers to carry Yan Xiaoliu away.

Liu and Zhang Enpu returned home, and Liu followed Zhang Enpu to the study. Zhang Enpu took out paper and a brush and wrote for a long time before folding the note and handing it to Liu’s father. “Brother Liu, take this letter and deliver it to Village Chief Tian at the Residents' Committee. He will understand everything.”

Old Man Liu asked with slight concern, “Daoist Zhang, has something happened?”

“You worry too much. Depart immediately; do not delay the auspicious time. Travel safely.” After Zhang Enpu’s instructions, Old Man Liu put on another layer of clothing, tucked the letter inside, and left.

Old Mrs. Liu also asked with concern, “I just heard Goudan’s mother say Goudan stumbled at home. His parents have taken him to the clinic. Alas, what strange things are happening!”

Zhang Enpu comforted Old Mrs. Liu, “Madam, there is no need for worry. It was merely an accident due to the clumsiness of the young ones.”

Young Master Liu, unable to sit still, went to the doorway and looked out. He felt a chill and shivered, remembering the ghostly old woman he had just seen. He shut the door and retreated into the courtyard.

Zhang Enpu sat in the courtyard, deep in thought. Liu approached him and said, “Old Daoist, what did that old woman want? She was so frightening!”

Zhang Enpu replied, “She was standing right at the doorway just now!”

Liu jumped, realizing why he had felt so cold moments before. Zhang Enpu led Liu into the inner room and said, “I believe that deceased old woman has some grievance to air. I will invite her spirit up shortly to question her. You must not be afraid then; just ask her what she came for and what injustice she suffers. Then we will know her purpose. I suspect it is highly connected to that dark, thin young man!”

Saying this, Zhang Enpu lit an incense stick and placed it in the censer. He took a piece of black cloth and covered his own head, reminding Liu not to be frightened, and then began to shake his leg. After a moment, his arm began to shake as well, and a strange gasping sound emerged from beneath the black covering. Soon, Zhang Enpu’s whole body was trembling violently. As Liu was about to go check on him, Zhang Enpu abruptly stopped shaking, falling completely still.

Liu did not know what to do. Just then, a series of high-pitched giggles—“Hee-hee-hee-hee…”—echoed from inside the room, the kind that raises goosebumps, the laughter of an old woman.

As Liu looked closely toward the sound, he realized it was emanating directly from under the black cloth covering Zhang Enpu’s head. But it was unmistakably the sharp laughter of an old woman. Liu was so terrified he didn't know how to react, and then the sinister laughter sounded again.

“Hee-hee-hee-hee… Little ghost, come here! Old Mother wants a good look! Hee-hee-hee…”

Liu froze in place, paralyzed, having completely forgotten the instructions Zhang Enpu had given him beforehand.

Then, the voice of the deceased old woman turned into a soft sob. Liu could only see the outline of Zhang Enpu’s shoulders moving slightly beneath the cloth, a sight strangely bizarre and chilling.

Gathering his courage, Liu managed to say, “You…”

“Old woman, I am from Mangshan in Hebei.”

Before Liu could finish his question, the ghostly old woman began speaking on her own.

“I was once the lady of a wealthy household in Mangshan. My old man died early, so I, a mere woman, managed all the family affairs. I had one son, the gambler who came here today. His name is Ke Jiang. From childhood, he was addicted to gambling. He didn't just gamble money; he’d bet on anything he could argue about. He gambled away all the family fortune, and then he started stealing the gold and silver jewelry my husband left behind to sell. The money would be gone the instant he won it, straight back to the gambling dens. Thank heavens the fates were kind enough that his destiny was to be a broken man, doomed to lose every wager.”

Liu sighed inwardly, listening to her continue.

“Later, the Ke family fell on hard times, and the servants left. Our circumstances became grim, but that beast still gambled even without money—betting on whether it would rain that day, or whether neighbors would quarrel. Then one night, he took a shovel and headed up the mountain. I happened to be awake and, seeing his strange behavior, I quietly followed him.”

“I never imagined that beast intended to dig up his own father’s grave! I went up and cursed him, calling him a filial nightmare, shaking with rage, threatening to report him to the authorities. That beast, fearing I would report him to the government, clamped his hands around my neck and strangled his own mother to death, alive!”

Liu was inwardly horrified. Such a beast, to harm his own mother! Liu ground his teeth listening to the tale.

“Seeing that I was dead, that beast grew afraid. He threw my body into his father’s coffin and ran back home. I died with deep regret, so I followed that beast day after day, though he could never see me. Then one day, I don’t know where that beast learned it, but he actually paid homage to a ghost!”

“Paid homage to a ghost? What… what is that?” Liu’s eyes were full of curiosity.

Hearing the full story from the deceased old woman, Liu felt an overwhelming sympathy and was no longer quite so afraid of her. But at that moment, Zhang Enpu began to shake violently again.

The old woman’s voice grew increasingly indistinct: “Daoist Master, you must help this unfortunate old woman! That day, seeing my son possessed of some minor Daoist techniques, I knew you were the one who could help me get revenge! Great Immortal! The beast’s luck in gambling resides in the large gold ring on his left hand! Remember that!”

As she finished, the black cloth covering Zhang Enpu’s head fell away.

He slowly opened his eyes, looking slightly fatigued. Liu quickly poured Zhang Enpu a cup of tea.

Zhang Enpu took a sip and said blandly, “Did you get the details?”

“Yes, the old lady explained everything to me!” Liu then repeated everything the deceased old woman had told him, word for word, to Zhang Enpu. Zhang Enpu nodded repeatedly as he listened.

“Master, what is ‘paying homage to a ghost’?”

Zhang Enpu sighed and explained, “Paying homage to a ghost is a method of changing destiny for those born with ruined fates—those with extremely bad luck. I once read in a book that at night, the person with the ruined fate must take offerings like fruit, incense, and candles to a graveyard, find an unmarked grave mound, place the offerings, and light the incense before it. Then, they pull up the incense stick from the ground and carry it home along a path where countless minor spirits will cause trouble. As long as one does not lose their nerve and the flame does not go out, and the incense is brought home and placed in the censer before dawn, their luck is turned, and they will win every bet. However, from that moment on, they forfeit years of their lifespan to feed the ghost they summoned. If a person invites a ghost, not only will their descendants suffer karmic retribution, but if that ghost ever leaves, the summoner’s soul will be utterly extinguished. Usually, the summoned ghost does not leave, because they are often lonely spirits with no one to worship them; their resentment after death is naturally very strong, leading to greater spiritual power. If someone offers them tribute, they naturally will not depart.”

After Zhang Enpu finished, Liu realized: could the long-haired monster with its tongue sticking out that he saw on Yan Xiaoliu’s shoulder right before he died be the ghost Ke Jiang paid homage to? But that appearance was utterly repulsive.

Zhang Enpu looked up at the sky, stretched out his left hand, and checked the time. “We shall rest well today. Tomorrow, we will break Ke Jiang’s luck!” Hearing Zhang Enpu say this, Liu knew he must have devised a plan.

The next morning, Liu’s grandmother was tidying the courtyard while Zhang Enpu sat outside reading the Celestial Master’s Records. Old Man Liu had not yet returned from tending the crops. After they ate breakfast, Zhang Enpu spoke with Mrs. Liu for a moment, then asked Liu to accompany him into the study.

Zhang Enpu sat down at the writing desk.

He took out a piece of red cloth used for drawing talismans, dipped his brush, and painted a symbol. Liu saw the word “” (Chì – Decree/Command) written at the top, followed by two sweeping strokes on either side, and then several characters for ‘Thunder’ written underneath. Liu recognized it as the Five Thunders Household-Protecting Talisman from Zhang Enpu’s book on talismans. Zhang Enpu drew several of these and set them aside, then told Liu, “The old lady said the gambling luck is on Ke Jiang’s large gold ring on his left hand—that means the ghost Ke Jiang paid homage to resides within that ring. Later, we will do this and this…”

After explaining their plan to Liu, Zhang Enpu offered incense to the household deities before returning to the courtyard.

As soon as he sat down, there was a loud knock at the door. Liu went to open it. “Father is back, and Village Chief Tian is here too!” Liu said cheerfully, turning back to Zhang Enpu.