For Chi Yan, this was the best thing about the job, it wasn't stressful, and the work load was light, making it possible for urgent leave to be approved easily. Of course, the remuneration was not that good, and there were few opportunities for promotion. However Chi Yan was afraid of finding a job which required working overtime, as he knew that if he got too tired, it was easier for those 'things' to pester him. It was good enough for him to live steadily like this.
He drove straight out of the city tow ards West Green Mountain, where there was a temple which was quite well-known in the province. A priest named Zhang whom Chi Yan had consulted about his house and interior design previously was based there.
Half-way there, the sky suddenly went dark, with an occasional rumbling of thunder. Chi Yan vaguely felt uneasy, and increased his speed. He had always disliked rainy days when those 'things' become even more unrestrained, moreover this being the outskirts of the city, there were hardly any other people around, turning the odds against him.
It was fortunate that it was early in the day, with things starting afresh, full of vitality. Chi Yan didn't dare to stop for a person waving alongside the road, and sped up to go past him. That person didn't come close, though Chi Yan could have overthought it, and it was really a person looking for a ride. But even though it was a national highway, it was quite rare to have people flagging for a car.
Like a character in a horror movie, he was unable to see these things normally, unless they wanted him to out of ulterior motives.
Chi Yan began to relax upon reaching the area of the temple, and whether it was a psychological effect or not, the sense of being watched with malicious intent had lightened.
As it was a weekday, there was hardly any visitors at the temple. Chi Yan walked with familiarity to the inner section, and knocked on wooden door leading to the second room from the left. A young trainee, 15 years of age, lived there. He was a distant relative of Priest Zhang, and was also his disciple. He studied in a school in the city, and would help out at the temple during school holidays and on weekends.
The trainee was familiar with Chi Yan, and upon seeing him, said, "I'll go inform my master."
Priest Zhang looked to be around 40 plus years old, with an air of wealth, and slightly differed from the common perception of religious figures. However Chi Yan knew that he truly had some skills. When he first returned to Su Min City, he had first lived at another apartment that was closer to his office.
That apartment seemed bright and airy, but was not as ‘clean’ as it looked. During the two weeks he lived there, Chi Yan had been haunted by something. While he could sense the presence of those "things" around him, and experienced weird happenings when he was tired, like what happened that morning, he had never felt being haunted explicitly like that before, similar to what happens in horror movies. He had searched around, lost and helpless for a way to save himself, and it was Priest Zhang who had rescued him from that 'thing' and also helped him to find a new apartment. During that period, Chi Yan also felt the pendant's protective powers getting weaker after saving him three times from near-death incidents.
Chi Yan explained his visit to Priest Zhang, telling him in detail what happened recently and this morning, and hopefully asked if there were any ways or items which could help him in place of the jade pendant. Actually, Chi Yan also knew that the possibility was very low, seeing how much effort his grandma had made those years back, before finding the jade pendant. It was also by luck that such a pendant had existed in the family, which allowed her to bring it back for Chi Yan. Still, if Priest Zhang could give him some clues for any such charms from other families, he would gladly use his inherited fortune to purchase it. He also hoped that the priest could teach him some methods on how to defend his life.
Priest Zhang didn't disappoint him. After ruminating for a while, he said, "Such a coincidence. If you had come two days earlier, I might not have anything to help you, but now that you are here today, I might know of a way." Priest Zhang took out his phone, and after swiping around, he passed it to Chi Yan. "Do you know this man?"
It was a photo a a young man. He was dressed in neat white shirt and black pants, his gaze gentle and modest as he looked into the camera. With outstanding appearance and airs, he easily made an impression. Chi Yan found him familiar, and after thinking a bit, asked, "Ye Ying Zhi?"
The Ye Family was a powerful one in Shiming City, and thus famous. As the economic centre of the eastern region, it was even more prosperous than Sumin City. It was also the reason why Chi Yan's uncle eventually moved his company to Shiming City, as well as bringing Chi Yan's grandparents there when Chi Yan was in uni. Chi Yan had visited them frequently during his summer breaks, and thus recognised that face.
Taking back the phone, Priest Zhang passed it to Chi Yan again after closing the photo. On the screen was a news article with the headline, "Scion of Ye Corporation Ye Ying Zhi passes away from illness early this morning".
Chi Yan vaguely remembered that when people mentioned Ye Ying Zhi, they always used 'Third master Ye', as if he was the third son, when in fact he was the head of the company. He heard that it was because he had been ill since young, his business associates had always taken note not to startle him, or anger him, yet there were no signs that he would pass away at such a young age.
Chi Yan looked at the photo closely, and noticed the pallor on Ye Ying Zhi's face. It seemed that Ye Ying Zhi seldom took photos, as all the articles which mentioned him only used this photo.
Observing his expressions, Priest Zhang asked Chi Yan, "You know him?"
Chi Yan shook his head, "No… I knew of him, but he didn't know me." He questioned Priest Zhang, "Why are you showing this to me?"
"I sort of sensed that you would be visiting this morning, and when I saw Mr Ye's picture in the news, I realised that he was one of those mystical few who possessed looks of a demon. I wasn't sure at first, since this was a rare condition, however I became certain after checking his background, dates of birth and death," replied Priest Zhang.
"What are the ‘looks of a demon’?" Chi Yan was puzzled.
Priest Zhang said, "I haven't met someone like that myself, and only read in books, where people like him would emanate a thick evil miasma. Even ghosts and spirits would avoid them, and they would lead live grandly and fearlessly, yet as they are spirits more than humans, thus they usually die early."
Having known Chi Yan, and being familiar with him, Priest Zhang did not mince his words. "Seeing Mr Ye, I had thought of you, and perhaps your time was not up, thus his timely death could save you. However, I happened upon this method through inscriptions that were passed down and it is not orthodox, so while I am sharing it with you, you must not tell anyone I told you of this."
Anxious to save his own life, Chi Yan immediately promised, "I will not tell anyone."
Priest Zhang nodded, "You must try to get the ashes of Mr Ye, and carry it around with you. Later, set up an altar with his spirit tablet at your home, and this would help keep out the spirits, preventing them from nearing you."
"Erm…" Chi Yan could not help but hesitate upon hearing the condition of having to bring around someone's ashes. Priest Zhang did not reply but passed him two blessed paper charms and said, "You can decide whether to use this method or not. Do as you wish."
Needless to say, Chi Yan was already half-tempted. For as long as he could remember, he had always been different from the others, and with the pendant losing effect, it would only get more dangerous for him as time passed. Since the situation was already so, he might as well give his all and take a shot. But he still had to ask, "This would not affect Mr Ye right?"
Priest Zhang waved his hand, and said nonchalantly, "He's not an evil spirit. When people die, they die, what kind of effect will this have?"