Chapter 11: Did You Bring Anything Back?

Yan Hao retorted sheepishly, “I’ve never heard it in real life, but in movies, ghost cries sound exactly like this—though maybe not this tragic.”

Standing outside Shen Zhiyin’s room, Yan Qiao kicked the door open.

Inside, Shen Zhiyin—startled—glared at them with unsettling fury. “How dare you disturb me? You’re dead!” Her face twisted grotesquely.

Yan Qiao narrowed her eyes, radiating danger. “You’re the one who’ll die tonight, evil spirit.”

The group behind her paled. Yan Jue’s face tightened with worry, while Yan Hao clamped a hand over his mouth to stifle a gasp.

Yan Qiao pulled out a talisman, muttered an incantation, and hurled it like a dart at Shen Zhiyin. The talisman stuck to her forehead, eliciting a sharp scream. A faint sizzling sound echoed as a plume of black smoke erupted from Shen Zhiyin’s body.

The smoke writhed in the air before lunging toward Li Xun, drawn to the dark aura around him. But it recoiled violently, wailing in pain.

Yan Qiao yanked Li Xun behind her and flicked a copper coin at the fleeing smoke. A flash of light erupted in the hallway, dispersing the entity. Outside, the wind howled louder, mimicking the earlier cries.

Yan Hao shivered. “Is it over? Why does it still feel so cold?”

“The vengeful spirit possessing her is gone, but it summoned others. They’re outside now,” Yan Qiao explained.

Li Xun stared at the petite girl shielding him, an unfamiliar warmth flickering in his chest.

Yan Hao fretted, “How do we deal with the rest? Will it hurt you?”

Yan Chen elbowed him. “Let her answer one question at a time!”

Yan Qiao ignored the brothers. “I’ve placed house-protection talismans. The spirits can’t enter. They’ll vanish at dawn and never return.”

“Why?” Yan Hao pressed.

“The talismans repel them. Without the summoner’s presence, they’ll scatter.”

Mrs. Shen, trembling, asked, “Is Zhiyin safe now?”

“For now. The possession drained her. She needs rest and sunlight.”

Yan Qiao strode back to the room where Yan Jue cradled his unconscious fiancée. She handed him a talisman. “Keep this on her.”

She then fed Shen Zhiyin two pills from a small vial.

Mrs. Shen shrieked, “What did you give her?!”

Yan Hao snapped, “Poison? Seriously? She just saved your daughter!”

Yan Qiao remained unfazed. “Payment settles everything.”

Yan Jue murmured, “When will she wake?”

“By tomorrow. Full recovery in a week. The talisman stabilizes her soul.”

Yan Qiao scanned the trashed room—clothes strewn, cosmetics scattered.

Li Xun noticed her scrutiny. “What are you looking for?”

Yan Hao and Yan Chen perked up. “We’ll help!”

Yan Qiao turned to Yan Jue. “Did you bring anything back from your trip?”