The mere thought of facing that place again erupted and became unstoppable; I found myself increasingly unable to suppress the idea, and one noon, I went directly there.

I had planned things out perfectly before arriving—just rush in and see how the evil spirits inside could possibly kill me. But unexpectedly, just as I reached the main gate of the courtyard, my legs began to tremble, and I completely lost the will to charge in.

The entire place exuded a chilling, terrifying aura—indescribable, just a feeling.

As if paralyzed, I stood right there at the main gate, unsure how long I remained.

Suddenly, two strangely ethereal voices drifted into my ears.

“What is this one looking at?”

“I don’t know. Seems like he’s staring at the empty building inside. So spooky.”

“I’m getting cold. Let’s go quickly. This person looks completely zoned out…”

The voices drifted past and then faded away.

It suddenly hit me: I truly was acting foolishly. I had rushed here on impulse, but the truth was, I absolutely did not want to die.

Once again, I chose to flee, yet I felt no shame in it.

From that moment on, I began searching everywhere for something that could protect me. I visited almost every temple, Taoist abbey, and nunnery in the city and the surrounding areas.

Tragically, all the precious trinkets I acquired by paying money failed to suppress the occurrences of seeing ghosts.

However, at the temple in Heqing County, not too far from the city limits, I was fortunate enough to meet an old abbot. I sensed he was extraordinarily capable because, in a single glance, he discerned that I hadn't just experienced unusual events, but that my vital yang energy was almost completely depleted, which is why I saw ghosts as soon as night fell.

Even without him elaborating, I understood that I likely didn't have much time left. At the time, I wasn't entirely convinced, but since he said so, I naturally had to inquire if he had any method of resolution.

I recall thinking then that if he demanded a large donation before revealing a solution, I wouldn't just refuse to pay; I would likely explode in anger. I had been swindled too many times during that period.

Unexpectedly, the old abbot merely shook his head. He explained that due to reasons he couldn't possibly fathom, I had provoked something tremendously troublesome, something beyond his ability to resolve.

However, after learning everything that had happened to me, he still offered a piece of advice.

I could stay at the temple where he currently resided, chanting sutras and worshipping the Buddha daily, though this method wasn't guaranteed to save me.

I noticed a flicker of hesitation cross his face for a split second. A thought stirred within me, and I immediately understood his implication: if I truly stayed, and something happened, it would likely endanger the other monks in the monastery.

In that instant, I became certain that regardless of his ultimate power, the old abbot before me was a true Dáodé Gāosēng (accomplished high monk).

It was precisely because of this realization that I could not choose the path he suggested.

The old abbot perceived my thought before I voiced it. He didn't press further, simply extending his hand and offering me a string of prayer beads he had been holding all along.

I remember him telling me that these beads had been with him for many years, and he hoped they could protect me for as long as possible.

Though I offered verbal resistance, I was truly moved deep down. Under the abbot's persistence, I accepted the string of beads.

Upon returning, I followed the abbot’s counsel. As soon as darkness fell, I sat down, grasping the beads he gifted me, and ceaselessly recited the Heart Sutra.

To be honest, I had chanted it before, but it had yielded virtually no effect; sometimes, it seemed to draw the attention of the ghosts I saw. But now, holding the beads while reciting the Heart Sutra, my mind became utterly clear, the surroundings immediately quieted, and even my agitation subsided. Afterwards, sleeping while holding the beads felt entirely peaceful.

For a considerable time following that, I genuinely believed the situation would slowly improve. I even began planning to move back into my own house, calculating that the lease for the tenants was nearing its end. So, I chose a day to go back and discuss matters with the family renting my place. Unexpectedly, that family wished to extend their tenancy.

Firstly, the price was genuinely tempting; currently unemployed, the rent would save me a great deal of worry. Secondly, I still wanted to organize my materials. After some thought, I readily agreed.

I had hoped that life would remain peaceful thereafter, but it seems I could not escape my fate.

I don't recall the exact date, only that one night I intended to continue chanting sutras, but no matter how hard I tried, my heart refused to settle. I had a constant premonition that something was about to happen, and it felt as if something else was present in the room, though several secret glances revealed nothing amiss.

I managed to pass the night fitfully. At dawn, I got up to wash my face in the kitchen only to find a bright red handprint on the inside of the front door. This startled me immensely.

The handprint wasn't large; it looked like one left by a child, but obviously, it wasn't human.

From that day forward, strange things began appearing inside the house daily. Sometimes it was a handprint, sometimes a footprint, sometimes a crisscrossed 'X'—always the color of fresh blood.

What chilled me even more was that these markings were steadily approaching the bedroom where I stayed.

While I was at a loss, the more terrifying events finally occurred.

One night, it began raining outside without any warning. As the rain intensified, violent gusts of wind swept in, the sound of the downpour unable to mask the mournful howl of the wind. I remained unable to calm down. During that period, I dared not leave my bed once darkness fell, and I went to the toilet with trembling steps, holding back entirely at night if possible.

The sudden storm battered the windows with loud clangs, sounds that pierced the room like ghostly wails. I nervously swallowed repeatedly, reciting the Heart Sutra over and over.

Suddenly, I heard a strange sound. At first, it was muffled, but gradually, I felt the sound entering my mind directly, as if spoken right next to my ear.

This truly shocked me; my recitation of the sutra immediately broke apart. At that moment, I perceived the sound as profoundly desolate, like a woman howling at the top of her lungs. This piercing cry made it even harder to continue the scripture; I could only grip the string of beads tighter and tighter, hoping it could offer some mental assistance.

Just then, the light inside the room flickered a few times, then abruptly extinguished with a sharp hiss.

“Ugh…” I couldn't help but suck in a cold breath. Before I could even prepare to investigate, as my gaze swept across the window, I surprisingly saw a figure clad in red standing right by the pane. Using the ambient light from outside, I could only make out the silhouette of a woman, but I clearly felt her cold, fixed stare upon me.

The desolate cries hadn't stopped. I noticed the woman’s posture was exceedingly unnatural; she seemed poised to climb in through the window.

I stared as the woman slowly crawled into the room, momentarily lost in a daze. But after only a second, I violently realized that if I didn't do something immediately, I could only wait to die.

Mustering almost all my strength, I forcibly suppressed my heart, which felt ready to leap out of my chest, and loudly began reciting the Heart Sutra.

At that moment, I noticed the woman’s body seemed to stiffen. Simultaneously, a near-frantic roar echoed in my mind. I could even distinguish that it was a woman screaming, her voice imbued with the despair and unwillingness of someone facing death.