Since I couldn't find anything unusual on Guo Ziping himself, it meant that the malicious spirit wasn't actually possessing him.
As long as he fell asleep at night, that thing would come looking for him.
The only option now was to wait—wait for the spirit clinging to Guo Ziping to appear.
I explained my plan to him, but he looked uneasy and said, "Young Master Wu, can't you give me some kind of talisman to keep on me? If that woman comes again, I really can't take it."
I shook my head. "That won't work. If the talisman actually works, it might alert the spirit and scare it off. A talisman can protect you for a moment, but not forever. That's treating the symptom, not the cause. We have to deal with it completely."
Guo Ziping could only agree reluctantly.
I helped him back downstairs.
The Guo family's servants had already tidied the hall, making it much more comfortable.
As soon as we came down, Guo Xiaotong and Zhang Yunyao came over.
"Dad, what were you talking about upstairs with Young Master Wu, all mysterious like that?" Guo Xiaotong asked right away.
"What you shouldn't know, don't ask. Whatever it is, Young Master Wu will handle it," Guo Ziping replied, his face flushing red again.
If his daughter knew the details, the two of them would be unbearably embarrassed.
Guo Xiaotong pouted, still clearly curious.
"Mr. Guo, we'll head back for now, and return after dark," I said.
"All right, sorry to trouble you, Young Master Wu. Xiaotong, see him out," Guo Ziping urged.
I nodded and left with Uncle Huzi. Guo Xiaotong and Zhang Yunyao followed us out.
Just then, Zhang Yunyao received a call, said a quick word to me, and left in a hurry.
I got into the passenger seat, Uncle Huzi sat in the back.
As Guo Xiaotong started the car, she asked, "Where to, Young Master Wu?"
"The funeral supplies street," I replied.
She froze, her face paling. "Young Master Wu… has my father's condition gotten so bad that you're preparing for his funeral?"
I couldn't help but laugh. This girl's thought process was… unique.
"It's not for your father. I'm going to buy what I need for tonight," I explained.
Relieved, she exhaled. "You scared me—I thought my dad was beyond saving."
She started the car and headed toward Yànbei City's funeral supplies street.
Half an hour later, we arrived.
I told Uncle Huzi, "Buy two sets of burial clothes. They must have been worn by a dead person before. It's fine if they're expensive. Just don't buy them if they're brand new."
Uncle Huzi blinked. "That's a tall order, young master. Sure, there are lots of burial clothes for sale here, but who would sell ones actually worn by the dead?"
"There will be. Some families buy them, put them on the deceased, and return them when they don't fit. There are dozens of shops here—check them all. If you can't get two, one will do."
"All right, I'll ask around." He got out of the car.
As soon as he left, Guo Xiaotong asked eagerly, "Why burial clothes worn by the dead? What's the significance?"
"I think your father is being haunted. Tonight, it may appear. I'll wear the burial clothes and hide in his bedroom. Clothes worn by the dead can mask the life force of the living, making us undetectable. When it shows up, I'll trap it and end this."
She looked impressed. "Young Master Wu, you really know so much. It's an honor to know you."
I chuckled. "It's not about knowing much—it's my trade."
Then she remembered her father's secret meeting with me. "Can you tell me what my dad said in the study? And what's haunting him?"
That was awkward. I couldn't possibly tell her—it was far too embarrassing.
But her big, watery eyes kept staring at me, making it hard to resist. I finally lied, "It's not that I can't tell you, but the fewer people know, the safer your father will be."
That worked—she nodded quickly. "Then I won't ask."
We waited about ten minutes before Uncle Huzi returned, empty-handed and looking dejected.
"What happened?" I asked as he opened the door.
"Young master, I asked several shops—they all said no. Some shopkeepers even got mad and kicked me out. But then, at the seventh or eighth shop, I overheard someone trying to return a set of burial clothes because they didn't fit the deceased. The shopkeeper refused, saying they'd already been worn by the dead. I was thrilled and offered three times the price. Big mistake—both the shopkeeper and the customer suddenly refused to part with it, and they nearly came to blows. They're still arguing now. I couldn't settle it, so I came to tell you."
I couldn't help but laugh. Both the seller and the buyer were real characters.
"Let's go take a look," I said.
We followed Uncle Huzi to the shop, Guo Xiaotong tagging along.
Outside, wreaths, paper effigies, and even coffins were displayed. The place looked eerie even in broad daylight.
Seeing it all, Guo Xiaotong unconsciously moved closer to me.
Before we even stepped inside, we could already hear two people shouting at each other.