Chapter 475: 475: The Old Lady with a Cat's Face
Chapter 475: Chapter 475: The Old Lady with a Cat’s Face
When it came to anything related to ghosts and evil spirits, Huang Xiaolong was very enthusiastic. Perhaps it was because he was a ghost emissary, the Yin Emperor. Also, he was deeply interested in that world unseen by ordinary people.
Now there was someone in Jiangnan City who owned a “cat ghost”. Naturally, Huang Xiaolong wanted to take a look.
Seeing Huang Xiaolong turning around to leave, Jin Mengqi hurriedly followed. “Master Huang, I’ll go with you.”
“Um~~ you want to come?” Huang Xiaolong asked with a smile.
“Yes, yes. With this happening, I don’t dare to stay home alone at night…” Jin Mengqi stuck out her tongue.
Without saying much, Huang Xiaolong and Jin Mengqi left the villa side by side.
Walking towards the outskirts of the neighborhood, Huang Xiaolong occasionally sniffed the air.
“Master Huang, what are you doing?” Jin Mengqi asked curiously.
“Oh…” Huang Xiaolong laughed. “I can smell the residual scent of the cat ghost.”
Jin Mengqi was amazed.
Neither of them drove. They left the neighborhood and walked east.
The time was just past ten o’clock. It was still bustling in Jiangnan City as it’s a city that never sleeps. Many people were strolling on the streets, and various street food stalls were lined on the side.
Huang Xiaolong led Jin Mengqi around, finally arriving at a pedestrian street.
“Master Huang, this street is usually quite lively.” Jin Mengqi introduced from the side. “Did…Did that cat ghost escape here?”
“Hmm~ I tracked it here by its scent, however, it seems that its scent disappears here.” Huang Xiaolong murmured with a shiver. “That cat ghost, it seems to have been torn to pieces…”
“Ah? Torn to pieces? Could…Could it be that another Taoist eliminated it?” Jin Mengqi wondered.
“It’s not necessarily the work of a Taoist.” Huang Xiaolong responded with a smirk.
At this time, an ambulance came out from the pedestrian street. As Huang Xiaolong and Jin Mengqi stepped aside to make way, a group of middle-aged women emerged and began to whisper—
“It’s so bizarre. Old Qiu was just scratched by a stray cat today. It didn’t seem like a big deal, but tonight he couldn’t make it. His entire body turned black and purple. It was so terrifying.”
“Could it be that the cat carries some kind of virus?”
“Is it Cat Scratch Disease?”
“This is very strange. Even if it is Cat Scratch Disease, it is impossible for a person to die from it the same evening after being scratched in the morning, right? Did you see Old Zhang’s condition? Gosh, it was so terrifying, just like he was poisoned.”
…
Hearing these discussions, Huang Xiaolong and Jin Mengqi exchanged glances and then unanimously said, “Cat ghost!”
At that moment, Huang Xiaolong’s eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint light flashed through his pupils. The pedestrian street was filled with a sinister air, and it was clearly unclean.
“Let’s go, let’s take a walk inside.” Huang Xiaolong nonchalantly beckoned to Jin Mengqi.
The two walked into the pedestrian street.
The shops on either side of the street were lined up one by one, dealing with various kinds of business. There were sales of artworks, toys, clothing, catering, bars… everything one could ask for.
But there were not many people around.
The more Huang Xiaolong walked, the more he felt something was wrong. The shadowy and evil Qi on this street was too dense. The street looked peaceful from the outside, but once on the street, occasional winds would blow, making a woeful sound. The wind blew paper scraps and plastic bags around, causing the LED light boxes on both sides to creak and sway, while the street lights flickered.
“Master Huang, doesn’t this street feel creepy? It didn’t give this kind of feeling in the daytime. Could…Could there really be…have some sort of dirty things on this street?” Jin Mengqi said nervously.
“I haven’t found any ghosts or demons yet. But there’s definitely something wrong with this street.” Huang Xiaolong laughed lightly, his gaze fixed on the end of the pedestrian street.
At the end of this pedestrian street, there was a residential area.
“Never mind, I’ll just burn a ‘Spirit Chasing Talisman’.” Huang Xiaolong laughed.
At that moment, a voluptuous figure up ahead walked into a shop.
“Xia Ying?” Mengqi Jin furrowed her brows, “Why is she here at this pedestrian street?”
“Let’s go over there and see.” Huang Xiaolong went straight up to her.
Huang Xiaolong and Mengqi Jin walked into the shop that Xia Ying had entered.
Upon entering, they heard a man’s voice in a pretentious tone. “Beautiful lady, I see that you carry a formidable aura. Is there anything I, a humble Taoist, can assist you with? Rest assured, I can exorcise demons, perform fortune-telling based on one’s birth date, change names, adjust Feng Shui of tombs – proficient in all sorts of things!”
“Master Taoist, I’d like to have a marriage consultation,” Xia Ying, dressed in a plain long skirt with her hair tied up, radiating the allure of a sexy and tall miss.
Behind the desk sat a chubby man in a Taoist robe, staring at Xia Ying and constantly swallowing his saliva.
“Let me have a go first.” Huang Xiaolong said with a smile.
“Huang… Huang Xiaolong?” Upon hearing Huang Xiaolong’s voice, Xia Ying quickly turned around. Her enchanting eyes were filled with surprise. But when she saw Huang Xiaolong and Mengqi Jin together, a hint of jealousy flickered in her eyes. “You… you want a fortune reading too? Then go ahead first.”
Xia Ying was still unaware of Huang Xiaolong’s profound Taoist skills.
“What would you like to predict, young man?” The chubby Taoist asked discontentedly.
“Predict life and death.” Huang Xiaolong responded with a faint smile.
The chubby Taoist paused before grumbling, “Um… predicting life and death is expensive, 5000 yuan!”
“Hehe~~ It’s not you predicting for me, but me predicting for you.” Huang Xiaolong chuckled disdainfully. “Your Life Palace appears murky, ghostly aura clings on you, your Palace of Sickness is full of ill-favoured patterns, you must have come into contact with some dirty stuff recently. Within three days, a calamity is bound to strike,” “You! You! You’re just spouting nonsense!” The chubby Taoist slammed the table in a trembling rage.
“Alright, Xia Ying, let’s get out of here. These so-called Taoists who set up stalls for fortune-telling are mostly charlatans.” Huang Xiaolong said with a grin. “Look at this fellow with a fat head and big ears, living such a good life. Does he look like he can tell fortunes?”
“One can predict if a person can tell fortunes?” Xia Ying asked in amazement.
“Of course, as the saying goes, ‘fortune-tellers are often blind, Feng Shui masters crippled, talisman makers short-lived, and witches don’t live old.’ If a fortune-teller can predict accurately, it’s leaking the secrets of Heaven, and they will receive retribution, leading a miserable life.” Huang Xiaolong gave a playful laugh. “But if you want your fortune told, you can find me, I won’t receive retribution, and I predict more accurately than anyone.”
The three of them left the shop.
“Miss Xia, why are you hanging around this pedestrian street at such late hours?” Mengqi Jin asked.
“It’s not for a stroll, actually, an aunt of mine lives round here, I’m actually here to visit her tonight.” Xia Ying answered.
“Miss Xia’s aunt?” Mengqi Jin furrowed her eyebrows, pondering.
Xia Family, like the Jin Family, is a prestigious clan in the martial arts circle and even more powerful in comparison. One of Xia Family members resides in Jiangnan City.
This person must be of significance, and the local Jin Family would surely be aware of her presence.
All of a sudden, Mengqi Jin’s eyes lit up, as if realizing something.
Xia Ying started explaining to Huang Xiaolong, “When my aunt was young, she moved to Jiangnan City. Actually, this pedestrian street, as well as the residential area behind it, are all her properties. She usually lives a simple life, devoting herself to charity works. She is quite respected here in Jiangnan City.”
“I knew it!” Mengqi Jin blurted out, “Miss Xia, your aunt must be Granny Xia Lin. Back in the day, she was quite famous in our Jiangnan City as…the…Cat-Face Granny…”
“Miss Jin! Please watch your words!” Xia Ying’s face darkened. Angrily she retorted, “How could you casually speak of such tarnishing rumours!”
“Cat-Face Granny? What’s that about?” Huang Xiaolong asked curiously.
……