Chapter Eleven: The Spirit-Shaping Paper Artisan

"I am Fang You, the third and youngest disciple of Mount Mao," Fang You introduced himself with a low bow, then looked at the group before him. "May I ask where the deceased is?"

"Right here, right here, please!" The crowd, seeing the visitor was a Taoist priest from Mount Mao, greeted him with reverence and quickly parted, making way for him.

Fang You approached the coffin. Beside it, the parents of the deceased were wailing, their cries tearing through the air in anguish.

"Please accept my condolences," Fang You said gently, surveying the surroundings as he spoke.

The feng shui of the area was not exceptional, but with mountains and water nearby, it was a place where the deceased could rest peacefully beneath the earth.

Looking at the departed within the coffin, whose eyes were closed and face serene, Fang You noted a lack of vitality but no trace of resentment. It seemed there was nothing amiss.

He recited a simple scripture for the departed, and the funeral host began the proceedings. As the coffin was lowered and earth covered it, the burial was completed, and the tombstone was set.

"Did you notice anything unusual?" Lin Xue quietly approached Fang You and whispered.

Fang You simply shook his head. "There was no sign of resentment. It appears the death was peaceful."

"Then what should I do? They say I'm plagued by bad luck, but I can't find a solution." After the earlier incident with the paper effigies of the boy and girl, Lin Xue was convinced that this young Taoist truly possessed some skill.

"Let me give you my phone number," Fang You replied, taking out his phone. "If you encounter any danger, call me. I'll come to your aid as soon as I can."

Lin Xue quickly typed her own number into Fang You's phone. "I live at No. 32, Qingshui Street. Thank you, Master."

After the funeral, Fang You walked back to his uncle's paper shop.

His uncle was already waiting at the door. "You're back. Did you notice anything?"

Fang You replied slowly, "From what I can see, Lin Xue, the girl who bought the paper boy and girl, is indeed suffering from a streak of misfortune, but it shouldn't be related to her classmate's death. Her classmate's body bore no resentment; he should find his way into reincarnation soon."

His uncle laughed. "You rascal, you learned plenty of skills on Mount Mao, but your experience is still far too little! Did you ask about the cause of her classmate's death? Or their relationship in life? Someone so young dying unexpectedly is bound to have some resentment in their heart. They might not become a vengeful ghost, but how could there be no resentment at all? You missed something."

"Ah…!" With his uncle's guidance, Fang You suddenly understood. "After death, the soul lingers in the world for seven days. On the seventh day, it returns home to fulfill its wishes, then sinks underground and enters reincarnation. If there is resentment, it will surely show."

On that day, her classmate's body bore no resentment. Usually, only those who die peacefully of old age show no trace of resentment and enter reincarnation calmly. Her classmate, dying so young, must have held some resentment. Though not enough to become a vengeful ghost, at least until the seventh day, after seeing family and fulfilling wishes, any resentment would dissipate. Unless…

"It seems you're not entirely clueless," his uncle continued. "That deceased classmate's soul must have been imprisoned somewhere. Without a soul, the body would show no resentment."

"In that case…"

"Don't worry about it now. Eat and get some rest. If that girl Lin Xue really encounters trouble, she'll contact you first. It's best to preserve your strength."

Fang You's uncle, casual in demeanor, spoke with wisdom. Fang You replied, "Yes, Uncle," and followed him inside, where a bed had already been made up for him.

"Rest well. You must be tired from your journey."

"Thank you, Uncle."

That night, Lin Xue returned to her rented apartment.

Lin Xue and Lin Qiu had been close friends since middle school, remaining inseparable through university—eating together, shopping together, sharing every detail of their lives.

Lin Xue loved photography, so she rented her own place to store materials. Lin Qiu lived in the campus dormitory.

Then, one day, tragedy struck: Lin Qiu was found dead in her dormitory. The doctor said it was sudden cardiac death. Just like that, Lin Qiu left this world without explanation.

Lin Xue gazed at a photo of herself and Lin Qiu on the table, gently stroking Lin Qiu's face in the picture. "I hope you are well in heaven."

Exhausted after the funeral, Lin Xue collapsed onto her bed and soon fell asleep.

"Lin Xue, hurry, or it will be too late…!"

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in Lin Xue's ears. Half-awake, she squinted open her eyes.

"Who is calling me?"

"Lin Xue, hurry, there's no time!" The voice pressed urgently, sounding desperate.

Lin Xue sat up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. But when she opened them fully, she screamed and recoiled.

Before her was the pale face of her dear friend, Lin Qiu.

"Lin Xue, hurry!" Lin Qiu's voice was mournful and cold, chilling the air.

"We are now separated, living and dead. Why do you seek me? Though we were close, please rest in peace!" Even with their deep friendship, facing Lin Qiu's ghost was terrifying.

But Lin Qiu said nothing, instead moving to the corner where Lin Xue kept her photos and materials, pointing to one of the pictures.

Suddenly, a pair of large hands seized Lin Qiu's ankles, dragging her toward the earth. At the critical moment, Lin Qiu clung desperately to the floor, shouting, "Call the Taoist from earlier—quick, before it's too late!"

Lin Xue, witnessing this, instinctively rushed forward to grab Lin Qiu.

But just then, from the floor, a grotesque, muscular man's head emerged, grinning wickedly. Terrified, Lin Xue stumbled back.

"Lin Xue, hurry!"

"Lin Qiu!"

With a shout, Lin Xue abruptly awoke from her bed, as if she had just experienced a nightmare.

"Lin Qiu!" Cold sweat broke out on her forehead, but when she looked around, nothing seemed amiss.

"Lin Qiu…" Suddenly, Lin Xue remembered Lin Qiu pointing to something—as if trying to tell her a secret.

Following the memory, Lin Xue walked to the spot Lin Qiu indicated. There were only some photography materials, nothing unusual.

But the next moment, Lin Xue saw something astonishing and instantly understood everything.

She quickly grabbed her phone and dialed Fang You's number, saved in her contacts.

"I understand now—please pick up…!"