Ban Xia chased after it, using all her strength, and as expected, she caught up with that shadow.
This person—no, this ghost—had only one leg, so it couldn't run fast at all. Helpless against Ban Xia's pursuit, it eventually hid in a public restroom, squeezing under the sink and trembling uncontrollably.
This was the little ghost who had been killed by a car, the one Ban Xia always forced to jump rope. Its courage was smaller than a rabbit's, earning it the nickname "Wang Xiaodan."
Seeing it was him, Ban Xia's courage instantly surged, and her voice rose three pitches higher: "Wang Xiaodan, I'll count to three, and you better come out!"
Wang Xiaodan continued to tremble under the sink, clutching the water pipe with both hands, shaking so hard the entire sink trembled. He stammered, "I... I... I don't dare look. He... they all went to look, and it's all blood... all blood... Mommy, I'm so scared!"
Ban Xia's heart leaped into her throat. She bent down, her eyes fixed intently on him. "What did you see?! What blood? Whose blood? Where's my dad?"
"Gra... Grandpa Ban," Wang Xiaodan repeated, saying the three words several times. "I saw him. He... he was being held... held in Qin brother's arms, with one leg..."
At this point, he grew agitated and terrified, his ghostly eyes rolling back as he fainted.
Ban Xia was frantic. She lunged forward, trying every method she could, but no matter what, she couldn't wake this cowardly ghost.
His half-finished sentence echoed in the empty restroom.
Held in Qin brother's arms...
With one leg...
Ban Xia clutched her head, crouching lower and lower. All the sounds of the world faded away, leaving only those words growing wildly in her heart.
Qin Yue—her ghost boyfriend with his slanted brows and a smile tinged with loneliness.
She absolutely had to know where he was.
Had to!
Absolutely!
No matter what...
Had to, absolutely, no matter what, she had to find him.
After so long, Ban Xia recalled that obsession once more.
The desire rising from the depths of her heart was like an invisible hand, driving all the potential within her.
As long as she focused her thoughts on one point, she could sense something.
Just like that day, her mind blank, she finally caught the scent of an overwhelmingly strong blood odor and vaguely saw that blood-soaked robe...
"Pear tree, south, lotus pond!"
Driven by the familiar obsession from her memories, Ban Xia suddenly became alert, faintly sensing some images.
"That Male ghost under the Curse is in the south. There should be a pear tree and a lotus pond there!"
After opening her eyes, Ban Xia declared confidently, never doubting her innate ability.
"Is there any pear garden here that has a lotus pond, and it's located in the southern part of town?"
After stepping outside, Ban Xia grabbed someone's arm for the third time, asking the same question.
Nearby, Xuan Ye stood leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze already somewhat unfocused.
The third person's answer was still "I don't know." Disheartened, Ban Xia walked over to Xuan Ye and asked, "Are you okay?"
Xuan Ye shook his head but then added, "I'll go outside with you to buy a weapon."
"What for?"
"You're the closest to me right now. If you see my pupils turn blood-red, you must knock me out immediately."
Xuan Ye spoke softly, his words calm and steady, as he leaned against the wall and slowly walked out.The weapon was bought—a black-sheathed sword, quite ordinary, worth one tael of silver.
Ban Xia gripped the sword in her palm, slowly drew it out, and gestured toward Xuan Ye. "I don't think this shoddy sword can knock you out."
Xuan Ye leaned against an earthen wall at the street corner, still smiling gently. "Don't worry. As long as my pupils don't turn crimson, I can still control myself and won't resist."
After speaking, he straightened up and walked forward along the bluestone path.
"Hey," Ban Xia called from behind. "Do you know where the pear orchard is? Didn't you hear them say Qilin Town is famous for its pears, with orchards covering the hills and fields?"
"There's only one small earthen hill to the south of the town. Let's go there."
"Do you think, in your current physical state, you can search the entire mountain?"
"No need to search it all," Xuan Ye quickened his pace ahead. "A pear orchard that produces such eerie pears naturally won't allow outsiders in, so there must be a Barrier. I should be able to sense it."
"We're here. This is the place."
As night fell, Xuan Ye finally spoke, raising his right hand to point at a mist-shrouded grove ahead.
Ban Xia narrowed her eyes and saw what appeared to be an ordinary pear orchard, branches laden with blooming flowers, faintly exuding a delicate fragrance.
"I'll break into the Barrier he set," Xuan Ye said softly, drawing a circle in the air with his right hand. "Wait here for me. If I don't return in one hour, you needn't wait any longer."
He then took a deep breath and brought his eyes close to Ban Xia's, asking, "What color are my pupils now?"
Ban Xia bit her lip, noticing the fine sweat covering his forehead, and couldn't help asking, "If—just if—your pupils turn crimson, what would happen?"
"I'd lose my sanity, and my mind would be controlled by him."
"Is there any way to restrain it?"
"No, unless we Undo the curse."
Ban Xia fell silent at his words. After standing for a moment, she looked up. "I'm going in with you. Don't try to dissuade me. Once I've made a decision, no one can change it."
A fragrant breeze swept through the quiet night, carrying many pear blossoms that settled on their shoulders like snow.
Xuan Ye did not argue, merely lowering his head. Under the moonlight, his pupils gleamed, already faintly tinged with a pale red.
Inside the pear orchard, things seemed no different.
Ordinary pear trees, ordinary blossoms—the only oddity was that scent, a strange fragrance blending sweetness with the hint of blood.
Xuan Ye walked ahead, fully alert, his footsteps nearly silent, his breath almost inaudible.
They ventured deeper as the moon rose, casting a desolate light.
A spring night, after all, is a time when the chill has yet to fully recede.
But just then, Ban Xia distinctly heard a frog croak—clear and resonant, right before them.
A hoarse, aged voice followed, seemingly chasing after the sound: "Don't run, don't run. This old body can't take such exertion."
Xuan Ye raised a finger, signaling Ban Xia to stay quiet, and the two followed the sound together.
After a few steps, the view opened up abruptly, and Ban Xia saw the lotus pond she had foreseen.
In mid-spring April, this pond was already covered with towering leaves and vibrant pink lotus petals, glowing delicately under the moonlight.
The old man who had spoken earlier paused, finally catching the frog. Without turning around, he rasped, "Really, always rushing me. I know, I'll deliver the thing in a moment."It seemed he had taken Ban Xia and the others as his own people.
Ban Xia did not expose the truth, instead imitating Xuan Ye by holding her breath and slowly moving behind him.
The old man snorted, muttering curses as he bent down to retrieve a large bowl and pressed the frog inside.
"Female frogs carrying eggs—do you think they’re so easy to find?"
His complaint echoed by the lotus pond.
From deep within the woods, that strange fragrance grew stronger, wrapping around the night as the scent of blood gradually overpowered the sweetness.
Holding her breath, Ban Xia clearly saw the old man raise his hand, gripping a pestle. All ten of his fingertips were black holes, devoid of any nails.
"Now it’s ready…"
The old man dragged out his words, lifting the pestle high and smashing it down fiercely into the large bowl!
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