No sooner had he finished speaking than Gu Lili descended the stairs. Shen Congmo cast her a sidelong glance and chuckled under his breath. "Why do I feel like you've changed a bit since getting married?"
"In what way?" Long Yubei gave him a sideways look. "I'm still me—same soul, different flame."
Gu Lili settled beside Long Yubei, and no sooner had she sat down than Shen Congmo asked, "I heard you can see things… things that aren't quite of this world. Is it true?"
"Mhm," Gu Lili replied with a soft smile. "It's true."
"I'm curious… can those things actually harm people?"
"They can," she said. "You can't usually see them, but you might hear their voices. They rarely speak out loud—it frightens people too easily. Those with frail health or weak constitutions are particularly vulnerable. If one of them attaches to a person, they can possess the body and use it to carry out their will."
Shen Congmo was visibly intrigued. "Is there a way to keep them from clinging to someone?"
"There is," Gu Lili replied. "I can draw you a talisman. Keep it on you and they won't come near."
"Really? Could you make a few more for me? I'd like to give them to my family."
"Of course." Gu Lili stood. "I'll go get the paper and brush. Oh—"
She suddenly remembered, "Darling, I was already planning to make some for my parents and grandparents. I'll just draw a few more while I'm at it. Can't hurt to carry one around."
"Alright."
Gu Lili dashed upstairs and quickly returned, carrying a stack of yellow rectangular papers, an inkstone, and a brush.
The ink was a deep crimson.
With practiced ease, she picked up the brush and, under the intent gaze of both men, began drawing symbols neither of them could make sense of, one by one.
She didn't stop until she had completed several dozen. Her wrist ached by the end.
"These are for you," she said, handing a stack to Shen Congmo. "Give some to Lianghe too—for his family. They're for warding off evil."
Shen Congmo nodded in agreement.
"These ones are for our parents—one for each," she said, handing one to Long Yubei. "Yours—fold it and keep it in your daily coat pocket or wallet."
Long Yubei took it. "Is this really that effective?"
"Trust your wife. You won't regret it."
His obsidian eyes shimmered with curiosity. "Since we got married, have you seen anything?"
"Too many," Gu Lili answered. "On the streets, in the neighborhood, up in Xiliang Mountain… they're everywhere. I just never mentioned it because I didn't want to scare you. Oh, and maybe give one to He Meiwei too. Her constitution's weak, and hospitals are full of things that shouldn't linger."
Long Yubei nodded. "Alright."
Her willingness to give Meiwei a talisman wasn't out of any lingering grudge or magnanimity—it was simply that she now understood Meiwei's place in Long Yubei's heart. Offering a token of goodwill cost her nothing, and it helped to preserve her own grace.
Tang Qingli delivered the talismans to the Long family estate.
He was also meant to bring one to He Meiwei, but at that moment, Long Yubei received a call from one of the hospital attendants.
Something was wrong with He Meiwei—she was convulsing uncontrollably.
The doctor had already examined her but could find no medical explanation.
Long Yubei had no choice but to go to the hospital himself. Gu Lili went with him.
When they arrived, several doctors and nurses stood in the room, brows furrowed with concern.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Mr. Long, thank goodness you're here," said the attendant, visibly flustered. "Miss He… we don't know what's wrong. She went to the bathroom, and after she returned, she started shaking all over. Now she's lying in bed convulsing, completely unresponsive. It's like her soul has gone missing."