Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

Yi Zhonghai walked alone through several alleys and came to a low bungalow with some odds and ends and a manure cart piled up at the door.

When the door was opened, Third Master saw Yi Zhonghai, but there was no surprise on his face.

He was wearing a faded blue cotton shirt and holding a pipe, but his eyes were sharper than usual.

He was once a guest of honor at Prince Gong's Mansion, and he had some real skills in feng shui, face reading, and exorcising evil spirits.

Unfortunately, the Qing Dynasty fell, and the new society emphasized science and cracked down on feudal superstition.

If he hadn't abandoned his family and fled early, he probably would have been paraded through the streets and criticized long ago.

These days, he barely makes ends meet by working as a latrine dumper, occasionally sneaking in some "side jobs," and his life is very tight.

"Third Master..." Yi Zhonghai said as soon as he entered the room, his face pale. "Something has happened. Another one died this morning. Four people died yesterday."

Upon hearing this, Third Master's expression immediately turned serious, and his brows furrowed even more deeply: "The calamity is growing more and more ferocious, and its resentment is even stronger than I imagined. I'm afraid you won't be able to hold out until the night of the full moon."

Yi Zhonghai was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he nodded hurriedly: "Third Master, help me! If you save me, I can give you a thousand yuan."

A thousand dollars is a huge sum of money these days.

An average worker's annual salary, even without eating or drinking, is only around three or four hundred yuan.

Third Master's eyes flickered.

He gave up his family fortune to survive, and now he's penniless and indeed short of money, but...

"Two thousand," Third Master slowly uttered the two words.

Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth: "Fine!"

Two thousand it is!

Money can be earned back, but once you lose your life, you lose everything.

Third Master nodded in satisfaction, a smile appearing on his face.

He took the deposit, five hundred yuan, from Yi Zhonghai and carefully put it into his pocket.

"Tell me what happened."

Third Master sat down on the stool and lit a pipe.

Yi Zhonghai recounted the events of the previous night in detail. Qin Ming and Xiao Han stayed at the Lin family's house, and the night passed peacefully.

Liu Guangfu disappeared right under the noses of two policemen and was found hanged from a tree outside the courtyard this morning...

"Third Master," Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice, "I suspect... the culprit might not be Lin Tian himself, but the vengeful spirits of his parents."

Last night, Captain Qin and the others were with Lin Tian, ​​and nothing happened. If Lin Tian were the culprit, things shouldn't be so calm..."

Third Master puffed on his pipe, remained silent for a moment, and slowly nodded: "That makes sense. If a great evil spirit is possessing a child, one shouldn't be so restrained... unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless that child is human," Third Master said with a deep look in his eyes, "the real vengeful spirit lurks in the shadows, waiting for its chance to strike."

Yi Zhonghai was horrified.

Third Master got up, took out two yellow talismans from the inner room, and handed them to Yi Zhonghai: "These are life-saving talismans left by our ancestor, and they also have the effect of warding off evil spirits. You can carry them with you to protect your life, or you can use them to test things out."

Yi Zhonghai was overjoyed, clutching the talisman tightly: "Thank you, Third Master, thank you, Third Master, I understand."

"Items to suppress the great evil should also be prepared as soon as possible."

Third Master instructed, "The blood of our closest relatives, the bones of our enemies, the sacrificial offerings... none of them can be missing."

"Preparations are already underway."

Yi Zhonghai nodded. "We've already retrieved Lin's father's bloodstained clothes. Jia Dongxu's bones will be collected this afternoon. As for the choice of the sacrificial offering..."

He paused, then didn't continue.

Third Master understood what he meant. Was this something that could be said now?

……

Inside the Lin family's house.

Officer Han accompanied Lin Tian and his sister to breakfast. Chief Li had it delivered from the canteen: white porridge, steamed buns, and a small dish of pickled vegetables.

While eating, Lin Tian secretly sized up Xiao Han.

This policewoman is really beautiful.

She was in her early twenties, with fair skin, delicate features, and short hair that gave her a capable look, but her smile was gentle.

She looks a bit like the policewoman from the animated series "Metal Heroes: Crush Saga" that he watched in his past life...

It's a pity that I'm only eight years old.

otherwise...

Lin Tian sighed inwardly and withdrew his gaze.

Xiao Han noticed Lin Tian's intense gaze and blushed slightly.

But then I thought, this child is only eight years old. Maybe his parents died and the people in the yard bullied them. He was just grateful because I was kind to him.

With this thought, Xiao Han's strange feeling dissipated, leaving only pity for the brother and sister.

"Sister Han,"

Lin Tian put down his bowl, his eyes suddenly reddening, and his voice weak, "Thank you. Last night and this morning were the best meals my brother and I have had in days..."

Tangtang blinked her big eyes, looked at her brother, then at the porridge in the bowl, her little head filled with confusion.

Didn't they eat big meat buns and eggs yesterday morning and noon?

What is Guoguo saying?

But seeing her brother cry, Tangtang pouted and started crying too.

She felt sad when she thought about how her parents were gone.

Lin Tian didn't expect his sister to cry, so he quickly hugged Tangtang and patted her back tenderly.

He cried too.

Half of it was acting, and the other half was genuine heartache.

Officer Han was at a loss for what to do when he saw the two siblings hugging and crying.

She was an only child and had been pampered by her parents since she was a child. She had never seen anything like this before.

But seeing Lin Tian holding his younger sister tightly, her heart softened, and she subconsciously reached out and hugged both children.

"Don't cry, don't cry..."

Xiao Han gently comforted her, just like her mother would comfort her when she was little, "Sister's here...Sister will protect you from now on..."

Lin Tian was enveloped in a sudden warmth, his face buried against Xiao Han's chest. He could smell the faint scent of soap and feel its soft touch...

He instinctively arched his back.

So soft...so big...

Is this one of the advantages of being a child?

Lin Tian smiled bitterly to himself, but his body honestly enjoyed the warmth.

Tangtang gradually stopped crying, clutching Xiao Han's clothes with her little hands, sobbing softly.

The room fell silent for a moment, with only soft sobs and gentle words of comfort.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, bathing the three of them in a warm and harmonious light.

Lin Tian looked up at Xiao Han's gentle face, and a complex emotion suddenly welled up in his heart.

He could sense that Sister Han was genuinely kind to them.

"Sister Han, you are kind and beautiful. When I grow up, I want to marry you."

"ah?!"

Officer Han exclaimed in surprise, her earlobes turning red instantly. She had actually been confessed to by a little kid.

……