The Yin-Yang Seer with a Third Eye

I turned to the little girl and asked:
"Is there something you need from me?"

The child nodded but remained silent.

I pressed on, "What is it then?"

The little girl looked at me and replied, "There are some things one cannot perceive with ordinary eyes."

I asked again, filled with doubt, "What things?"

"Grandfather!"

Knock! Knock! Knock! The insistent knocking at the door made me swiftly turn towards it. At that moment, my mind was stretched taut like a bowstring from fear. Could it be the Wild Ghost coming for me? No! What should I do? That's right, I must hide! With that thought, I burrowed under the covers, muttering, "Don't see me, don't see me, don't see me..."

"Chu Ling!"

Heavens! That ghost even knows my name. No, I cannot open the door; if I do, this very day next year will surely be my death anniversary.

Click! Click! Click!

The door is about to open? Disaster! I'm about to be turned into a meat bun. I must defend myself, but with what? A talisman! Thinking this, I grabbed a talisman and stood close to the door.

Creak!

The room door creaked open, and a tall figure stood imposing before me. As the room lights were off, I could not discern if it was a person or a phantom. Swiftly, I slapped the talisman onto the figure, "Heaven and Earth..."

"What are you doing, child?"

Wasn't that Grandfather's voice? No, it could be impersonating him to trick me.

"I won't easily believe you!"

"Are you out of your mind, child?"

As the voice ceased, the lights flared on. Only then did I get a good look; it was indeed Grandfather.

"Sigh, Grandfather, you scared me senseless."

"Are you parched? Who were you talking to just now?"

His words jolted my memory, and I quickly turned towards the window, "She was just here."

"Where? Who?" Grandfather asked, suspicion in his eyes.

"By the window, Grandfather, a little girl." I pointed towards the window. He quickly walked over, looked around, then turned back to me with a scrutinizing gaze, "There's no one here."

I let my arm fall, sighed, and sat on the bed, "That little girl was still here just now, but I have a strong feeling she was a living soul."

Grandfather walked to my side and patted my shoulder, "You must be overly tired, child. It's late; you should go to bed early, for tomorrow you must visit the Zhou family."

"Is there no other way to help them? The one behind this might be raising a Miao Gui; if I interfere, I could be cursed." I looked at him with a heavy heart.

"Before becoming a Daoist priest, we swore an oath to use righteous arts to aid others; we must not forget our mission. Rest assured, child, there is a type of person who can restrain a Miao Gui." He looked at me with eyes full of hope.

"What kind of person, Grandfather?"

"Such a person is born on a Yin day of a Yin month, specifically the seventh day of the seventh month, yet at the third quarter of the Wu hour, which is a time of extreme Yang. Bearing the balance of Yin and Yang within them, they naturally possess the power to restrain a Miao Gui."

I snapped my fingers, "Ah, it's..."

Before I could finish, Grandfather seemed to understand, and nodded, "Indeed, it is Su Ni."

Su Ni was my childhood sweetheart. Before the age of fifteen, she could perceive things ordinary people could not. Everyone said it was because her third eye had not fully closed. But even after fifteen, she continued to see such things. The villagers all spoke of her having Yin-Yang Eyes and often called her "The Yin-Yang Seer with a Third Eye."

I remember when we were children, playing by the riverbank. I carelessly dropped my flute into the water and was about to retrieve it when she pulled my hand, whispering, "That girl has no legs; she's calling you, but her eyes are terrifying. Don't go there, let's go home."

Hearing her words, goosebumps erupted all over me. I shivered, then turned and walked away with her.

Many years had passed, and the frequency of her ghostly encounters had lessened. If she truly could resolve the Miao Gui's influence, then I would feel somewhat at ease.

I turned to Grandfather, "If Su Ni can resolve the Miao Gui, then she can also save Young Master Zhou, can't she?"

Grandfather sighed, pulled a chair beside the bed, and slowly sat down, "That is not certain. If one's Yang Qi is depleted, how can they continue to live?"

I sighed sadly. I couldn't even save Young Master Zhou myself; how could I face Auntie Zhou? I must uncover the mastermind behind this.

Seeing me lost in thought, Grandfather patted my shoulder reassuringly, "Do not worry, child. Tomorrow, I will go with you and Su Ni. It is getting late; you should rest."

With that, he left the room. I gently lay back on the bed, my mind ceaselessly pondering the unfolding events. First, the Zhou family's son was suspected of being haunted; then, I repeatedly encountered strange occurrences. These matters were undoubtedly interconnected. Lost in thought, I slowly drifted into sleep.

The next morning, after breakfast, I intended to go to Su Ni's house, but as I stepped out the door, I found her already standing there. Seeing my bewildered expression, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, "Look at you."

I scratched my head, looking at her with a suspicious gaze, "Why are you here?"

"Didn't you wish to find me?"

I recalled never having mentioned this to her; how did she know? While I was still pondering, Su Ni interrupted my thoughts, "Alright, are you not going to invite me in?"

I smiled awkwardly, "My apologies, I forgot. Please, come in."

Su Ni stepped inside, glanced around, then turned her gaze to me, "You, Chu Ling, should not trust people too easily in the future. There are things that ordinary eyes cannot perceive."

I poured water and offered it to her, "What do you mean?"

She took the cup, sipped, then looked at me, "Hmm! Nothing at all."

Grandfather emerged from his room. As soon as Su Ni saw him, she stood up and bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Grandfather."

Grandfather gestured for her to sit, then smiled, "You are too polite, child."

Su Ni politely nodded, then turned to me, frowning, "Give me the Sparrow Feather, and I will help you."

I asked again, full of doubt, "Do you know what I need help with?"

She looked smug, "Of course."

I ran my hand over myself, then shook my head at her. It wasn't that the Sparrow Feather wasn't on me, but that I didn't want to give it to her, "It is not with me."

She shot me a glance, then stood up, "You don't have to give it, but you should know that Dang Shi and the Sparrow Feather are mutually dependent."

Grandfather, who was about to drink his tea, heard this and looked at Su Ni in alarm, "How do you know of this, child?"

Su Ni sighed and sat down, "It's a long story, but first, the Sparrow Feather must be put away. As for how I know about Dang Shi, I will tell you later."

Grandfather looked at me and gestured for me to give her the Sparrow Feather. But this feather had been with me for a very long time; it was the last relic left by Sister Yin Xiang. It wasn't something I could just hand over to anyone.

Su Ni glared at me angrily, "Blockhead! Do you know that keeping the Sparrow Feather might attract Dang Shi?"

I remained silent.