Proofreader & Editor: Howard Wong
"Alright!"
I went to the kitchen to grab a cleaver.
Back in the bedroom, I stepped on the chicken with my left foot, grabbed its head with my left hand, and swung down the cleaver in my right hand with all my might!
"Crack!"
With one chop, the chicken's head was off!
Blood spurted wildly from the severed neck, spraying out like a fountain!
Sun Jiao was so frightened that she kept her distance, afraid of being splattered by the blood, and urged, "Quick, make him drink it!"
I pinched the Archaeopteryx's beak with one hand and stuffed the chicken neck into it with the other!
"Gurgle gurgle… gurgle gurgle…"
As the chicken blood went down its throat, the Archaeopteryx quickly reacted.
Its body started to boil like hot water!
But what evaporated wasn't steam, but strands of black smoke!
After a long while.
When the black smoke finally dissipated, the Archaeopteryx's body was gone too, vanishing into thin air with the wind…
"Wow!"
I was so nervous I almost passed out, sitting down on the floor with a thud, gasping for air.
But soon, I realized a new problem!
The Archaeopteryx was dealt with, but what about Sun Jiao?
I looked towards Sun Jiao with trepidation.
Thankfully, she was badly injured by the Archaeopteryx and was lying weakly on the bed.
Due to her injuries, black smoke was seeping out from several wounds on her body.
I glanced at Sun Jiao for a moment.
Then back at the ghost-suppressing talisman on the floor.
I was very hesitant.
Even though Sun Jiao was injured, clearly, I was no match for her!
Moreover, the ghost-suppressing talisman had been used too many times, and it was questionable how much power was left in the talisman paper!
Should I run or stay?
Would Sun Jiao let me go if I stayed?
While I was pondering, Sun Jiao suddenly spoke, "The incident just now, we're even!"
I nodded vigorously, "Even!"
Sun Jiao continued, "If you still want to sell me to that evil Taoist, you can try now!"
"No, no!"
I shook my head vigorously, "I was young and frivolous before, I hope Miss Sun will not hold it against me! From now on, I will kowtow and offer incense to you during every festival!"
"That's not necessary!"
Sun Jiao snorted coldly, then added, "Besides, you might not even make it to the next festival!"
"Ah?"
I asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"
Sun Jiao didn't answer directly but asked me, "Was it enjoyable to sleep with a female ghost?"
"This…"
I scratched my head shyly, unsure of how to respond.
By the time I figured out how to answer, I looked up and Sun Jiao had already disappeared…
Sun Jiao was gone.
The deal fell through.
But I had saved my own life!
I didn't know whether to feel relieved or regretful.
After cleaning up the room, it was as if nothing had happened.
Only the image of Sun Jiao's pale body kept appearing in my mind.
***
When I woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.
I felt sore all over and couldn't muster any strength!
While washing my face and brushing my teeth, I was startled by my reflection in the mirror!
I saw my hair disheveled, my complexion pale, and my eyes lifeless, like a walking corpse!
"Damn it!"
"Damn Old Zhou, didn't you say the vigor pills had no side effects? Why do I look like a ghost now!"
After lunch, I drove to Zhou's Herbal Shop, hoping Old Zhou could prescribe me some medicine to recuperate.
Seeing my condition, Old Zhou was even more shocked than I was.
Before I could speak, he grabbed my wrist to take my pulse, his expression extremely grave.
After a long while, I asked weakly, "What's wrong? Is something not right?"
Finally, after much pressing, Old Zhou let go and sighed deeply.
"You didn't happen to be with a woman yesterday, did you?"
I nodded, "The vigor pills really worked, but… the side effects seem quite severe!"
"It's not the vigor pills!"
Old Zhou said, "Did you notice anything off about the woman when you were doing it?"
I glanced outside the door.
Making sure no one was around, I whispered, "To be honest, it was a female ghost!"
After saying that, I felt quite proud of myself, feeling like I would go down in history alongside Xu Xian and Ning Caichen. (TL: Xu Xian and Ning Caichen: They come from ancient Chinese novels, and they both have a ghost girlfriend)
"You've sinned!"
Old Zhou looked at me as if I were an idiot, "You knew it was a female ghost and you still dared to touch her?"
I said, "Old Zhou, you haven't seen her! She was too stunning, I couldn't control myself!"
"Sigh…"
Old Zhou fell silent, just shaking his head.
I said, "What's wrong with a female ghost? Is there a problem if I touched her?"
Old Zhou looked me up and down, then said, "Take off your shirt!"
I quickly took off my T-shirt.
Old Zhou said, "Take a look for yourself, do you see anything different?"
I looked down.
Soon, I noticed a black mark the size of a fingernail on my lower abdomen that I had no idea when had appeared.
"What's this?"
I was completely baffled.
Old Zhou said, "Press it and see!"
I did as he said.
"Ouch…"
That press sent me reeling, as if I had been electrocuted, my whole body convulsing!
Old Zhou said, "That's Ghost Qi, the consequence of being with a female ghost! Once the Ghost Qi moves to your heart, you're done for!"
"Ah?"
I panicked, "What… what do I do?"
Old Zhou looked at me as if I were already dead, calmly saying, "Prepare for your affairs! At best, you have a month, at worst, three to five days!"
"Old Zhou, save me!"
I clung to Old Zhou, refusing to let go.
"There's nothing I can do!"
Old Zhou pried my fingers off, "Ghost Qi attacking the heart, you won't live past a month! Eat whatever you want, go wherever you want to have fun, life is short, enjoy it while you can!"
"No, I can't die!"
I shook my head fiercely.
My life wasn't just my own, it belonged to my parents too!
If they had to bury their own child, how disappointed and sad they would be!
"Old Zhou, save me!"
"Just prescribe some medicine to try!"
"I won't blame you if it's wrong!"
I began to babble incoherently.
Perhaps seeing how agitated I was, Old Zhou actually prescribed me some medicine, instructing me to brew and drink it twice a day, morning and evening.
I don't know if it was psychological, but after returning home, I looked in the mirror again, and the black mark on my lower abdomen seemed to have moved up half an inch.
It was closer to my heart.
At this rate, I wouldn't last two days, let alone three to five!
The medicine soon made me drowsy, and I fell into a deep sleep.
When I woke up again, it was already dark.
They say that when a person is close to death, their words turn kind.
Bullshit!
When people know they're going to die, they only become frantic, venting and seeking revenge!
At least initially, that's how it is!
Besides that, it's all about money.
Some for their children, some for their parents.
And I was the latter!
Tomorrow at noon was the time for the transaction.
If I could get that money, I could use it to treat and care for my parents.
After a simple wash, I went to Fangshan Cemetery.
If nothing unexpected happened, this might be my last visit.
"What are you doing here again?" Seeing me, the photo on the tombstone spoke.
"I'm here to make a deal with you."