“To think it would be like this. Poor child...” Grandmother sighed. Just as she was about to say more, she caught herself.
She realized that by generational rank, the person she had just called a child was actually her grand-aunt. The words she had spoken were rather inappropriate.
Mother Bai could not help but wipe the corners of her eyes as well, though she did not comment on Grandmother's slip of the tongue.
Compared to the tragic story of someone she had never met, she was far more concerned about her daughter right beside her.
“What should we do now? Now that we know the truth, how can we lift this blessing on Xiao Ci?”
Bai Ci fell into silent contemplation.
According to the standard counter-strategies summarized on the forum, since this was the result of an obsession, breaking it required either fulfilling her obsession or getting her to let it go.
“Ultimately, her obsession stemmed from the utter loneliness she felt at the moment of her death, hoping to have someone by her side,” Bai Ci murmured to herself.
Grandmother knit her brows, carefully mulling over Bai Ci's words. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she spoke. “Xiao Ci, now that you mention it, I actually have an idea.”
“Since she wanted companionship, what if we find a companion for this ancestor? Wouldn't that allow her to rest in peace?”
“Should we burn some paper effigies for her? Or perhaps arrange a ghost marriage?” Mother Bai followed Grandmother's train of thought, pondering the possibilities.
“Arranging a ghost marriage damages one's spiritual virtue. We absolutely cannot do that,” Grandmother immediately objected.
“Years ago, there was a family in the village who wanted to arrange a ghost marriage for their son who had died of an illness. Sangu told them back then that even marriages between the living don't always end well, let alone with a dead person who can't even speak.”
“And sure enough, before the year was even out, that family fell sick one after another. Their livestock had it even worse; they all died. It was all because that ghost marriage bound a pair of resentful spirits, causing a massive disturbance.”
“Grandmother, who is this Sangu you mentioned?” Bai Ci asked, intrigued.
“Sangu is a famous spirit medium in our township...” As Grandmother spoke, she suddenly realized something and slapped her forehead. “Look at me. I'm getting old, and my brain is slowing down.”
“Once we finish eating, we'll take some gifts and visit Sangu. She understands yin-yang dynamics and fate, and she has handled many such matters. She'll definitely have a way.”
Sangu's home was on the west side of the village—a simple courtyard paved with blue bricks. Inside the yard stood several enshrined statues of deities, all covered in red silk, with incense burning continuously before them.
Sangu was in her fifties. Her hair was graying and her face was lined with wrinkles, yet her eyes were remarkably bright and clear, marking her as someone out of the ordinary.
Seeing Grandmother arrive with Bai Ci and Mother Bai, Sangu quickly rose to welcome them.
She greeted them with a smile. “Old Sister, what brings you here? And these two must be your daughter and granddaughter, right?”
Grandmother sighed and pulled Sangu down to sit. Like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, she spilled everything that had happened recently.
“Sangu, you're well-traveled and knowledgeable about these spiritual matters. Please, think of something. Is there any way to break this?”
“My granddaughter is still so young. She can't be haunted like this and meet a tragic end.”
After listening, the smile completely faded from Sangu's face, and she let out a heavy, solemn sigh.
“Old Sister, your words actually remind me of the past.”
“Years ago, you came to find me once, talking about the curse on the women of the Bai family and asking for my help to break it. Do you remember?”
Grandmother was startled for a moment, then nodded. “I remember. How could I forget? Back then, you tried several methods, but none of them worked at all.”
“Ah, back then I found it strange. Though my methods weren't top-tier, they shouldn't have failed to produce even a single ripple. It turns out the issue lay with your ancestor's obsession.”
Sangu shook her head and said slowly, “There is a common saying in this trade: curses can be lifted, but a blessing born from an obsession is unsolvable.”
Upon hearing this, Mother Bai's expression instantly darkened. “Unsolvable? Then what should we do? I can't bear the thought of outliving my own child...”
As she spoke, Mother Bai prepared to drop to her knees and beg Sangu to think of another way.
Sangu quickly reached out to support her, saying anxiously, “Sister, please stand up. You're going to shorten my life! I didn't say there was absolutely no way, just that a solution is hard to find.”
“You mentioned earlier that you wanted to find a companion for this ancestor to let her rest in peace. That method might actually be feasible.”
Sangu paused, then continued, “However, finding someone who can actually accompany her will be difficult.”
“Your ancestor loathed marriage in life and refused to marry a man. A standard ghost marriage won't work.”
Inspired by Sangu's words, Bai Ci took the initiative and said, “Then I will marry her.”
The moment she said this, Grandmother, Mother Bai, and even Sangu were stunned, staring at her in sheer disbelief.
Meeting their gazes, Bai Ci explained unhurriedly.
“First of all, the ancestor herself never wanted to marry those ill-intentioned men. Since I am a woman, she won't feel forced, and I can genuinely accompany her.”
“Secondly, where else are we going to find someone who is truly willing right now? At least I can guarantee that my intentions are sincere.”
Recovering from her shock, Mother Bai frantically waved her hands. “No, Xiao Ci, this is too absurd! If anyone goes, it should be me. You're still young, you can't throw your life away like this.”
“Mom, don't be rash. Listen to me.” Bai Ci took Mother Bai's hand.
“You remember, don't you? I have a curse on me. If this marriage fails to satisfy the ancestor's obsession, then the curse will take effect, and our goal might still be achieved that way.”
She knew her own situation best. Bai Ci was well aware that Rain's Message never paired people of the same sex.
She only said this to exploit the information gap and get Mother Bai to agree.
Ultimately, Mother Bai could not win against Bai Ci and could only nod helplessly. “Alright, I'll listen to you. But you're the one suffering for this, Xiao Ci.”
Sangu remained silent for a moment. The shock on her face gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression.
She lit incense for one of the red-cloth-covered statues, then retrieved a peach wood sand tray and a willow planchette pen from beneath the altar table, setting them on the table.
“This is no small matter. You still carry a heavy burden, young lady. A single move could affect everything, and there's no telling what kind of consequences it might bring.”
“I must ask Lady Yuexian about your idea before making a decision.”
Grandmother and Mother Bai quickly nodded. Not daring to even breathe loudly, they stood silently to the side, watching Sangu prepare the planchette writing ritual.
Sangu closed her eyes, pressed her palms together, and began chanting under her breath. Her voice was low and rapid. Around them, even the sound of the wind vanished, replaced by a heavy sense of solemnity and oppression.
A moment later, Sangu snapped her eyes open. Her once bright and clear eyes had instantly turned a hazy gray, as if covered by a thick fog, clouded and indistinct.
Her movements became stiff. She slowly reached out, gripped the willow planchette pen, and began tapping it mechanically on the peach wood sand tray.
Crack! The willow planchette pen suddenly snapped in half.
She slowly turned her gaze, her clouded gray eyes locking directly onto Bai Ci as her brow furrowed.
Rate on N.U.
