The stench coming from Menstruation Brother's shoe was straight-up apocalyptic—like a mix of rotten fish and damp grave dirt. When he smacked it against my forehead for the third time, the tea soaking my hair just made the whole thing even more humiliating. I finally lost it.
"Enough!" I yelled, shoving him back with all I had, my body reeling from the impact. "If you want me gone, just say it to my face!"
He calmly flicked a tea leaf off his sleeve, his expression unreadable. "Keep squawking, and you won't make it till dusk," he said, his voice as calm as a monk's.
The threat, delivered with such chilling calm, froze me in my tracks. Two days of dealing with supernatural craziness had taught me one thing: when lunatics give warnings, you better listen.
As he kept up his creepy ritual—each smack of the shoe timed with guttural chants—I caught glimpses of shadows writhing at the edge of my vision. My scalp tingled where the leather hit, like he was swatting invisible bugs only he could see.
"Done," he declared, tossing the shoe aside to reveal soles blackened with weird, grimy symbols. "Now talk. What brings Death's favorite chew toy to my door?"
His accuracy freaked me out. "You know why I'm here," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Yang lifespan boost?" He smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Child's play. For a million, I can give you ten years."
The amount he mentioned knocked the wind out of me. "Ten years...for a million?" I stammered, unable to hide my shock.
"Bargain of the century," he drawled, leaning back in his chair. "Oil tycoons offer yachts for six months. You? I like your face—it screams 'backstabbed idiot.' I'll give you an eighty percent discount if..." His eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a whisper. "...you mention 'her'."
"Her?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"The umbrella ghost. Hongli," he said, his voice a mix of awe and fear. "She marked you."
I seized the moment, sensing an opportunity. "She sent me," I admitted, watching his reaction closely.
Menstruation Brother froze, his gaze dissecting me—not looking 'at' me, but 'through' me. "Ah. So 'that's' why," he murmured, like he was putting together a puzzle.
"Why what?" I pressed, desperate for answers.
"Secrets rot tongues," he replied cryptically, waving his hand dismissively. "eight hundred thousand. Final offer."
With the deal struck, he led me upstairs. The house felt off—the walls too close, the shadows too still. In the foyer, a kid crouched over a trail of ants, a porcelain bowl stuck to its skull. Despite the summer heat, the kid was dressed in winter clothes, and frost formed where it knelt.
As I went up the stairs, the kid appeared beside me—pale as drowned flesh, its tiger-head shoes squeaking with each step. It pointed a blue-veined finger toward a room, then vanished into thin air.
The room greeted me with moth-eaten luxury. I collapsed onto bedding that smelled like funeral incense, my consciousness fraying at the edges. Sleep didn't come as rest, but as surrender—a white flag raised to the horrors that had been hunting me relentlessly.
(Note: Translation concluded at specified break point.)
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Alright, let's break down the juicy details of Chapter 15, in the order they pop up. These explanations are crafted to give you a solid grasp of the metaphysical concepts:
Heavenly Crown Subduing Evil
So, here's the deal with Yang Yu using cloth shoes to whack the top of his head:
- The crown of the head, known as the "Hundred Converging Point" in esoteric studies, is a magnet for bad vibes.
- Those thousand-layer cloth shoes, after being soaked in black dog blood for a hundred days, get this superpower to "disperse evil."
- The strike is perfectly timed with the Big Dipper stars, creating a mini Heavenly Array that boosts its effectiveness.
Three Yin Forces Converging at the Crown
Let's dive into the protagonist's unique situation:
- Three different Yin entities are stuck to the crown of the skull:
- Shade of the Taxi Passenger: The lingering ghost of the lady who cradled her head in the taxi.
- Mirror Binding: The curse mark from the female ghost at the villa.
- Yang Lock: The mark from the lifespan deal.
- These three form a "Yin Triangle," speeding up the protagonist's Yang life force depletion.
The Contract for Extending Life
Here's the essence of Yang Yu's deal:
- It's more about "borrowing life" than replenishing it, so you need someone with a compatible destiny to transfer their lifespan.
- The ten-year term matches the shortest cycle of the Earthly Branches, keeping things in sync with cosmic rhythms.
- The one million fee covers both the "price for buying life" and the "bribe money for deceiving the heavens" (to bribe the yin officials).
Red Carp Destiny
Let's uncover the Mysterious Woman's special identity:
- Name Analysis: Red is linked to the Vermilion Bird, and carp is tied to the "Li" hexagram, showing a complex destiny.
- Her fate has a "Yin-Yang Catastrophe," forcing her to always carry an umbrella to separate heaven and earth energies.
- She has a "Substitute Death Contract" with the protagonist from a past life, explaining her protective actions and deep connection.
Tiger Head Spirit Binding
The mystery behind the kids' shoes:
- The left shoe has an open-eyed tiger to scare off evil spirits, while the right shoe has a closed-eyed tiger to nurture the inner spirit.
- The soles have hidden soul-binding talismans, keeping the little ghosts loyal to their hosts.
- The jacket lining is made from a modified shroud, preserving the spirit body and preventing it from dissipating.
The Layout of the Yin Room
Yang Yu's residence is ingeniously designed:
- The first floor is the "Yang Hall" for guests, while the second floor is the "Yin Chamber" for nurturing spirits.
- The staircase has twenty-eight star constellations hidden in it, separating the human and ghostly realms.
- The protagonist's room is at the "Ghost Gate Position," the core of the protective array.
The Prohibition of Words and Spells
Why Yang Yu suddenly went silent:
- It's all about the rule that "Heaven's secrets must not be revealed," and any forced disclosure triggers the Five Thunder Tribulation.
- The protagonist's background is tied to the "Ghost Seal of Fengdu," and he's protected by a netherworld-level speech prohibition.
- The golden light in Yang Yu's eyes was the backlash from trying to glimpse Heaven's secrets.
Raising the Spirit Child
The true identity of the black-clothed kid:
- Created through the "Mother and Child Coffin" method, the original body is a pair of twins who died young during the Republic of China era.
- A pottery bowl on the head has the Sutra of Transcending Life and Death, balancing resentment and spiritual power.
- The jumping and walking are a simplified "Yu Step," maintaining the array's energy circulation.
These annotations reveal the precise rules of the metaphysical world, blending traditional folk customs with modern supernatural events. Each concept builds on the dark law of "equivalent exchange," setting up multiple hints for the protagonist's true identity. The detailed design of objects and spaces shows the delicate balance of coexistence.
]