Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu came out of the house one after the other, deliberately keeping their distance, but the blush on Qin Huairu's face had not completely faded.

"Old Yi, how's the situation?"

Yan Bugui was the first to come over from the front yard and asked eagerly.

He had just gone home to comfort Yan Jiecheng and then went to guard the gate, but then he felt uneasy, so he asked his wife to guard the gate while he went back to check on the situation.

Shazhu and the others also returned from the backyard.

Third Master frowned and slowly shook his head.

"What's going on?"

Sha Zhu, ever outspoken, chimed in, "Uncle, that Lin Tian... doesn't seem to be an evil spirit."

"What?" Yi Zhonghai was stunned. "That can't be!"

He walked a few steps to Third Master, his voice trembling with excitement: "Third Master, did you see clearly?"

Dongxu's death was suspicious, Liu Guangtian's death was bizarre—two lives lost in one day. You're telling me it's not an evil spirit?

He spoke louder and louder, as if trying to convince others, or perhaps himself: "Is it retribution? Is it a coincidence? What a coincidence!"

Qin Huairu stood to the side, head down, without saying a word.

"Xiao Yi, calm down."

The deaf old woman walked over with her cane, her voice hoarse, "Third Master is an expert. If he says it's not, then it probably isn't."

Third Master then spoke, his tone calm but tinged with seriousness: "I've used a bronze mirror, tried yellow talismans, and sprinkled glutinous rice, but there was no reaction. That child... has no evil spirits on him."

He paused, then looked at Yi Zhonghai: "If you don't believe me, you can go find black dog blood to splash on it; these are common methods for exorcising evil spirits."

"But..."

Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses, his voice tense, "What if none of these work?"

After a moment of silence, Third Master slowly uttered a few words: "There is another possibility."

"What's possible?"

Everyone looked at him.

"This is no ordinary evil spirit."

Third Master's voice was very low, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet night, "It's... a terrible omen."

A very bad omen?

Sha Zhu, confused, asked, "What does that mean?"

Xu Damao then leaned over and said in a sarcastic tone, "What I mean is, ordinary exorcism methods are useless, and we can only wait to die."

He said that, but he was terrified inside.

This courtyard feels increasingly eerie.

Third Master glanced at Xu Damao and nodded: "Xu Damao is right. This is no longer just possession; it could be... resentment turning into evil spirits, or..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood.

Resentment turns into malevolent energy.

A vengeful ghost.

Lin's parents were brutally murdered, and Lin Tian was beaten to death. The resentment...

"What should we do now..."

Yan Bugui muttered to himself, his face deathly pale, "My son Jiecheng... could Jiecheng...?"

He dared not think any further.

Qin Huairu asked fearfully, "Third Master... if it really is a terrible disaster... then... what will happen?"

Third Master sighed: "It's an extremely ominous creature, impervious to ordinary exorcism methods, and besides..."

He paused, then looked around at everyone: "It will first seek revenge on its enemies, and then... it might bring disaster to the entire courtyard."

"The whole courtyard?"

Sha Zhu exclaimed in surprise.

"right."

Third Master nodded, "When resentment runs deep, it transforms into malevolent energy. It's no longer targeted at any one person; it will hate everyone involved, even... everyone living in the courtyard."

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's head.

Yi Zhonghai's face turned ashen, and his mind was in turmoil.

If Lin Tian is truly in grave danger...

Then wouldn't he be the first to be implicated as the mastermind who killed his parents?

"Third Master, you have to think of something."

Yan Bugui was so anxious he was almost in tears, "My son is still young, we can't let him die like this..."

"Old Yan, don't be in such a hurry."

Yi Zhonghai forced himself to remain calm. "Third Master, since you can tell it's a very bad omen, you must have a way to cure it, right?"

Third Master was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "There is a way... but..."

"But what?" Yi Zhonghai pressed.

"But there will be a price to pay," Third Master said, looking at everyone. "And it won't be a small price."

"What price?" Sha Zhu asked.

Third Master didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pulled out a tattered, yellowed book from his pocket, flipped through a few pages, pointed to a spot, and said:

"My cultivation is too low; I can't kill it, I can only suppress it. To suppress a great evil, I need three things: the blood of a close relative, the bones of an enemy, and... a human sacrifice."

"Human sacrifice?!" Qin Huairu covered her mouth in shock.

Everyone else's expression changed drastically.

"No, no!" Yan Bugui waved his hands repeatedly, "This...this is illegal, it's punishable by death!"

Third Master closed the book and said calmly, "That's why I said there's a price to pay."

He paused, then said, "Moreover, this human sacrifice...can't just be anyone; it must be someone with a causal connection to the great calamity."

The room fell silent again.

People who have a causal connection with Lin Tian...

Which of these people in the room isn't connected?

They exploited the Lin family's extinction, divided up the Lin family's house, and beat and verbally abused Lin Tian and his sister...

Even Xu Damao couldn't escape involvement.

If he hadn't falsely accused Lin Tian of stealing chickens, none of this would have happened.

"Isn't there... any other way?" Qin Huairu asked softly.

Third Master shook his head: "If it's just an ordinary evil spirit, I can give it a try, but this is extremely ominous... either we use this method to subdue it, or..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Either suppress them, or wait to die.

Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth, his mind racing.

Human sacrifice... is too risky.

If discovered, it would be a capital offense.

But if we don't do it...

He remembered Jia Dongxu hanging from a tree, and Liu Guangtian with a sharp stick stuck in his chest...

Could I be next?

"Third Master," Yi Zhonghai finally spoke, "this method you mentioned... how exactly does it work? What do we need to prepare?"

Third Master glanced at him and slowly said, "The blood of a close relative is needed. It requires the blood of Lin Tian's closest relatives. His parents are dead, but his sister is still alive. One drop of blood is enough. Don't commit any murders, or it will become even more ferocious, and I'm afraid we won't be able to control it."

"The bones of the enemy are needed. We need the bones of the people who killed Lin Tian. Didn't you say that Jia Dongxu and Liu Guangtian are dead and we can take their bones?"

"As for human sacrifice..."

Third Master paused for a moment, then said, "We need to choose the person who harbors the deepest resentment towards Lin Tian, ​​and on the night of the full moon, inside the Lin family's house... to offer a sacrifice."

He spoke calmly, but what he said was chilling.

Remove bone?

A sacrifice?

This isn't exorcism, it's downright evil magic!

"No!"

The deaf old woman suddenly spoke, slamming her cane on the ground, "Xiao Yi, this method is too evil, we can't use it!"

Third Master glanced at her: "Old Madam, I don't want to use this method either, but with such a terrible situation looming, if we don't use it, I'm afraid we won't be able to quell the chaos, and the whole courtyard will die."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, time is running out; the full moon is just three days away."

If preparations aren't made within three days, it will be too late once the disaster fully unfolds.

Three days...

Everyone in the room felt a heavy weight in their hearts.

"Let me think...let me think..." Yi Zhonghai rubbed his temples, his mind a jumbled mess.

Yan Bugui paced anxiously, "Old Yi, what are you thinking about? Make a decision quickly, Jie Cheng's life is at stake."

Sha Zhu also advised, "Uncle Yi and Uncle San are experts; let's listen to them!"

Xu Damao sneered and stated his opinion: "Are you really going to carry out human sacrifice? Aren't you afraid that if you're exposed, you'll all be arrested and executed?"

These words hit the nail on the head for everyone.

Yi Zhonghai raised his head and looked at Third Master: "Third Master, is there really no other way besides this method?"

Third Master was silent for a while, then said, "No, you've been targeted. You won't be able to escape Beijing. Whoever tries will die first."

Everyone was afraid.

"Let me think about it some more..." Yi Zhonghai waved his hand. "Go back first. We'll talk about it tomorrow..."

The crowd exchanged glances, but seeing Yi Zhonghai's unpleasant expression, they didn't say anything more.

Third Master stood up to take his leave: "Grandma, I'm going back now. Call me if you need anything."

"Zhu Zi, see Third Master off," the deaf old lady instructed.

Sha Zhu responded and saw Third Master out.

"Xiao Yi," the deaf old woman looked at him, "are you really going to listen to that Third Master?"

Yi Zhonghai gave a wry smile: "Grandma, do I even have a choice?"

The deaf old woman was silent for a while, then slowly said, "Human sacrifice... is too immoral. Even if you suppress the evil spirit, this sin... will follow you for the rest of your life."

Yi Zhonghai remained silent.

How could he not know?

But if we don't do it...

To survive...

Some things simply have to be done.

Lin Tian's ghostly figure was right at his feet, a cold smile curving his lips.

Human sacrifice?

Those who harbor resentment towards me?

Then I'll personally deliver one to you.

I am so kind.

……