Chapter Sixteen: The Death God Pendant
Yang Haoran's mouth never stopped throughout the entire process. He spoke incessantly, and by the end, he truly didn't know what else to say, so he simply reiterated the main points multiple times.
Only after the thick stack of New Beginning Coins in his hand had completely burned away did Yang Haoran close his mouth. He then stood up, clasped his hands together, and bowed once more towards the burning incense and candles.
The entire ritual proceeded without a hitch. Although Yang Haoran's heart was filled with dread, the absence of any other unforeseen incidents considerably eased his mind.
He had performed this so-called "ritual" many times since he started this line of work, but each time it had been a trick to fool people. However, performing it under such a spooky circumstance today was a first for him, so he felt uncertain, fearing that some unforeseen exception might occur during the process.
His deepest fear hadn't materialized, and Yang Haoran couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, feeling much more at ease. In his opinion, perhaps his unconventional ritual had actually worked, and the old woman might have accepted his well-intentioned words.
Outside the bedroom door, Jiang Zhenzhen stood rigidly, her expression tense, her gaze wide with terror as she scanned her surroundings, afraid that something horrifying might suddenly appear.
With a creak, the bedroom door opened. The sudden sound made Jiang Zhenzhen's body tremble. Only when she clearly saw Yang Haoran behind the door did a hint of relief appear in her terrified eyes.
"How was it, Master Yang? " Jiang Zhenzhen hastily asked.
Yang Haoran offered a slight smile and nodded gently at Jiang Zhenzhen. Seeing Yang Haoran's expression, even without a direct statement, she knew what it meant, and a smile blossomed on her own face.
Jiang Zhenzhen wouldn't refuse for a moment. She quickly nodded, guaranteeing there would be no problem. This wasn't a difficult task, and she could certainly manage it.
"Since the matter has been handled, I should leave now. Performing a ritual is exhausting, and I need to go back and rest," Yang Haoran said.
The moment she heard Yang Haoran was leaving, the faint joy that had just emerged in Jiang Zhenzhen's heart instantly vanished. Once Yang Haoran left, she would be all alone in this house again. To face such an environment by herself, honestly, her heart was naturally filled with dread. Even knowing the matter had been dealt with, she was still very afraid.
"Master Yang, is it truly handled? " Jiang Zhenzhen confirmed again.
Hearing Jiang Zhenzhen's words, Yang Haoran's heart began to pound. Had the matter truly been resolved? Would the old woman come back to scare Jiang Zhenzhen again in the future? To be honest, he himself wasn't entirely sure. The reason he told Jiang Zhenzhen so confidently that everything was fine was to prevent her from carrying too heavy a psychological burden. If her mental strain was too great, even if the old woman genuinely never bothered her again, Jiang Zhenzhen would still be terrified by her own imagined fears.
"I don't think she'll trouble you anymore," Yang Haoran said. "I told her everything that needed to be said during the ritual. There's no deep-seated animosity between you, so she has no reason to keep bothering you. Besides, you've promised to offer her sacrifices on the first and fifteenth of every lunar month from now on, which gives her even less reason to cling to you."
Jiang Zhenzhen's expression wavered, seemingly swayed by Yang Haoran's words. Seeing this, Yang Haoran struck while the iron was hot, continuing, "Why don't you try putting yourself in her shoes? If you were that old woman, would you keep pestering someone relentlessly?"
Jiang Zhenzhen pondered for a moment, then shook her head, answering with certainty, "Of course not."
As her words fell, before Yang Haoran could speak, Jiang Zhenzhen continued, "But. . . but people are different. Just because I wouldn't do that doesn't mean. . ."
Yang Haoran knew what Jiang Zhenzhen was about to say. He immediately clapped a hand over her mouth, stopping her from finishing her sentence.
"Say what needs to be said, and don't say what doesn't," Yang Haoran reminded her with a serious expression.
Jiang Zhenzhen nodded, indicating she understood. Only then did Yang Haoran release his hand from her mouth.
"Don't worry, the problem should be mostly resolved," Yang Haoran said. "How about you write down my phone number? If anything happens, you can call me anytime. My phone is on twenty-four hours a day."
Jiang Zhenzhen's expression brightened with joy. She quickly nodded. If she had Master Yang's phone number, she could reach him at any time. Then, if there were truly any issues, she wouldn't be as helpless as she had been in the past few days.
After they exchanged phone numbers, Yang Haoran decided to leave. He truly didn't want to stay in that house for another second.
Jiang Zhenzhen, of course, was reluctant to see Yang Haoran leave, because his departure meant she would be left alone in the house, facing unknown fears by herself.
But what good was not wanting Yang Haoran to leave? She couldn't very well ask him to stay the night. Not only were such words difficult for her to utter, but even if she could say them, he might not agree.
With a complex mix of emotions, Jiang Zhenzhen escorted Yang Haoran to the front door.
Stepping out the door, Yang Haoran immediately felt a great weight lift from him. Although it was equally cold outside, it was far more comfortable compared to Jiang Zhenzhen's house. At least, the cold here felt pleasantly refreshing by comparison.
"Master Yang, thank you. You were busy here all afternoon for me," Jiang Zhenzhen said, expressing her gratitude.
"It's no trouble, it's what I'm supposed to do," Yang Haoran reminded her with a touch of concern. "Everything's handled, so don't worry, and don't put too much psychological pressure on yourself."
Hearing this, Jiang Zhenzhen forced a small smile onto her face and nodded heavily at Yang Haoran.
Yang Haoran returned a polite smile, turned, and had only taken two steps before he paused again.
"Master Yang, what's wrong? Did you leave something at my place? " Jiang Zhenzhen's questioning voice came from behind him.
Yang Haoran didn't answer Jiang Zhenzhen. Instead, he turned and walked back to her side, then removed something from his neck and handed it to her.
The item Yang Haoran had suddenly taken from his neck was, surprisingly, a pendant.
On the front of the pendant was a monstrous creature with a human body and a demonic face. Its appearance was grotesque, accompanied by a horrifying grin that made anyone who looked at it feel a chill run down their spine.
It had two sharp, thick, and long fangs, like two keen daggers embedded in its mouth. Beyond that, it possessed three arms, three legs, and three eyes.
The extra eye was located in the center of its brow, the extra hand on its chest, and the additional leg protruded from its lower abdomen.
Jiang Zhenzhen was initially perplexed, but after she took the pendant and glanced at it, she instantly recoiled in fright, clearly startled by the ghastly, neither-human-nor-ghost monster depicted on it.
"What. . . what is this? " Jiang Zhenzhen stammered, asking.
"This is the Death God. Once any living being dies, they fall under his jurisdiction," Yang Haoran stated with a solemn expression. "This item is a treasure I painstakingly acquired and have always carried with me. I'm lending it to you this time, so please don't lose it."
The Death God's image on the pendant was truly too terrifying, especially the extra leg protruding from its lower abdomen, which sent shivers throughout Jiang Zhenzhen's body. She had initially intended to return the pendant to Yang Haoran, but upon hearing his words, a flicker of joy ignited in her heart.
However, a moment later, an embarrassed expression appeared on her face. She looked at the Death God Pendant in her hand, then at Yang Haoran, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked, "If you give it to me, what about you?"
"I'm a master; nothing will happen to me, don't worry about it," Yang Haoran reminded her. "But I'm telling you upfront: I'm only lending this pendant to you. Don't for a moment think I've given it to you permanently. Once this matter is resolved and you're no longer afraid, you must return it to me."
"Absolutely, absolutely, Master Yang, you can rest assured, I will definitely return it to you then. Thank you so much for your kindness, Master Yang, thank you. " Jiang Zhenzhen didn't foolishly refuse; instead, she profusely thanked Yang Haoran, knowing full well that she desperately needed the pendant right now.
"Any wandering spirit is nothing but dregs before the Death God. As long as you carry this with you, malevolent entities will certainly not dare to approach you."
Under Jiang Zhenzhen's grateful gaze, Yang Haoran departed. The fundamental reason he decided to lend the Death God Pendant to Jiang Zhenzhen before leaving was his lingering concern that something might still happen to her.
The "ritual" he had performed at Jiang Zhenzhen's house was essentially just a series of pleasantries, lacking any real deterrent power. If the entity was reasonable, it might indeed stop bothering Jiang Zhenzhen. Conversely, it would certainly continue to harass her. He took people's money to help them dispel misfortune, so for safety's sake, he lent her the Death God Pendant he always carried.
Within Lecheng, there were many temples, each dedicated to different deities. Yang Haoran's Death God Pendant was acquired from one such Death God Temple, and because the temple keeper had consecrated it at the time, he had always regarded it as a treasure, keeping it close to his person. As for whether the Death God Pendant truly possessed any miraculous effects, honestly, he wasn't sure.
However, since he started his current line of work, he frequently dealt with all sorts of spirits and deities, and he had faked supernatural abilities quite a few times without anything ever going wrong. In his view, perhaps it was because his attitude and procedures were always meticulous, showing great reverence for ghosts and gods. Or, perhaps, it truly was the Death God Pendant he carried that played a role.
Of course, this was merely his conjecture, and he couldn't yet know if it was truly the case. However, his decision to lend the Death God Pendant to Jiang Zhenzhen was genuinely out of good intentions. If even wearing the Death God Pendant couldn't appease the situation, then the only real option would be to visit a temple and seek out a true master.
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