The Young Girl's Chronicles of Demon-Slaying

Chapter 41: Nighttime Reconnaissance

He held the talisman between his fingers, then murmured a few indistinct, strange syllables. The talisman burst into flames of its own accord. Before it had fully burned out, he slapped it against the wall, and the talisman, still ablaze, melted into the masonry. Immediately, centered on the spot where it had been struck, a small section of the wall began to writhe, giving off a faint sensation of melting. As soon as the wall began to change, Wang Yiting wasted no time and charged straight toward the courtyard wall—or rather, walked right through it. Miraculously, just as he charged headfirst into it, the once-solid wall—like jelly or mud—simply parted, allowing him to pass right through. He slipped in from the outside and emerged from the other side, standing right in the middle of the courtyard—just like the legendary ability to walk through walls. This method was far more sophisticated than anything a thief who scaled walls or picked locks could ever hope to achieve! Wang Yiting had used this method to enter other people’s homes countless times before, so he didn’t think twice about his successful entry. As soon as he found his footing in the courtyard, he immediately headed toward the living room door. However, just then, the osmanthus tree in the corner of the courtyard—as if possessed of a spirit—seemed to sense Wang Yiting’s unconventional intrusion. The entire tree began to shake violently, causing the leaves to rustle loudly. Although the sound wasn’t loud—and certainly wouldn’t have reached the house—it seemed particularly sudden and loud in the stillness of the night. This sudden commotion startled Wang Yiting. When he realized it was the osmanthus tree—the very one from which he’d sensed a faintly familiar aura earlier that day—he snorted coldly. He drew another talisman from the pouch at his waist and muttered something indistinct, his voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. The only word he could make out was: “Pardon!” As soon as the word left his lips, he hurled the talisman straight toward the tree. Upon striking the osmanthus tree, the incantation on its surface emitted a blood-red glow, and the spells transformed into countless red cords that, in the blink of an eye, bound the entire tree. The osmanthus tree was immobilized, and the rustling sound ceased; the courtyard fell silent once more. Seeing this, Wang Yiting nodded with satisfaction. This binding spell was just a minor magical technique—he’d only recently learned it, but it worked quite well in this situation. Having dealt with the osmanthus tree that had been causing the commotion, he continued walking toward the living room entrance. He soon reached the doorway, where he pulled a small yellow paper figure from his pocket, pressed it to his forehead, murmured a spell for a moment, then removed it and tossed it to the ground. The yellow paper figure landed lightly on the ground. As soon as it touched the floor, it actually stood up and then slipped right through the crack under the door with remarkable agility. After the yellow paper figure went inside, he stood outside the door and waited patiently. Before long, he heard a crisp click coming from the lock, and immediately afterward, the tightly locked door swung open. It was the little yellow paper figure that had opened the door. After opening it, it leaped into the air—jumping to a height of more than half a person’s height—and landed back in Wang Yiting’s hand, where it lay down and transformed back into a paper figure. Such a miraculous sight—even if someone witnessed it with their own eyes, they would likely think they were seeing things, wouldn’t they? The little yellow paper figure, having been used once, had noticeably faded in color, as if it had lost its vibrancy, and had taken on a somewhat pale appearance. Wang Yiting tucked the yellow paper figure away with a pang of regret and slipped it into his pocket. Although this kind of prop was simple and convenient to use, it was quite expensive and had a limited number of uses. If he hadn’t been worried about a trap set by the Song family, he wouldn’t have used it at all. However, for the sake of his own safety, he was willing to make the sacrifice. Thanks to the yellow paper figurine’s reconnaissance, he was now certain there were no abnormalities or dangers inside the Song family’s house; everything was quiet. Only then did he feel confident enough to push open the door and step inside. The room was pitch-black with no lights. Wang Yiting pulled out a talisman; without making a move, he simply held it up, and it ignited on its own. The faint glow dispelled the darkness. By its light, he made his way through the living room with practiced ease and climbed the stairs to the second floor. During this time, though it was clearly just a thin talisman, it burned for a long time without going out. Evidently, nothing related to Taoist magic could be explained by ordinary logic—just like those walls that had melted away. Holding the talisman, which was still burning fiercely, Wang Yiting glanced around and immediately decided to deal with that brat named Song Jianqiu first, to avenge the injustice he’d suffered that afternoon. Just thinking about it now made his blood boil with rage! Aside from that brat, he had no intention of letting that policewoman next door—Li Qingshu—off the hook either. Once he’d dealt with the Song family, he’d swing by and snatch that girl as well. By then, he’d have three women—a married woman, a mature woman, and a young girl—covering all three age groups—all serving him. Wouldn’t that be absolutely delightful! Wang Yiting was also a frequent internet user, though he didn’t play games; he didn’t have time for them anyway. He mostly read the news, hung out on antique forums, and scoured the web for wealthy people. He’d found Song Wencheng, for example, on a local antiques forum, so he was well-versed in some of the slang terms circulating online. While fantasizing about the wonderful life that lay ahead, he arrived at Song Jianqiu’s door, reached out to grab the doorknob, gave it a gentle twist, and the door swung open. The door slid open silently. Wang Yiting was convinced that he hadn’t made a sound—neither climbing the stairs nor opening the door—that could have woken anyone. Yet, the moment he pushed open Song Jianqiu’s door, he suddenly realized that, bathed in the glow of burning talismans, the girl named Song Jianqiu was standing at the foot of the bed, facing the door, staring right at him. Judging by how neatly she was dressed, it was clear she hadn’t just noticed the commotion at the last moment—she had been standing there, waiting for him to appear, long before. The look of surprise was still etched on Wang Yiting’s face when Song Jianqiu raised her right hand. In an instant, her Buddhist prayer beads burst forth with a blinding radiance—a light so intense it overshadowed even the flames of the burning talismans. Wang Yiting’s look of surprise faded, replaced by utter astonishment. He couldn’t help but be stunned. This girl, whom he had always thought of as just an ordinary girl, was actually a Buddhist nun! Judging by the dazzling, radiant light—with its surging flames and shooting beams—even a highly enlightened monk wouldn’t be much different, would they? Yet here was this spectacle, manifesting in a young girl no older than thirteen or fourteen! What is happening to this world? For a moment, Wang Yiting felt a bit dazed, but he quickly snapped back to his senses and let out a pained groan. Bathed in the tangible Buddhist light, black smoke began to rise from every part of his body—this was actually the怨气 he had absorbed from years of contact with malevolent ghosts and vengeful spirits. As this resentment was purified by the Buddha’s light, he realized with horror that his power was gradually fading, and the connection he had just established with the Ghost Altar was also growing weaker. They’re going to completely cripple him! As this thought flashed through his mind, his expression instantly turned ferocious. (End of Chapter)