New Times, New Hell - Chapter 16

In ancient times, there was a custom of using ash to test the traces of returning souls during the “Hui Sha” (the return of the deceased’s soul). Hui Sha refers to the day when a deceased person’s soul returns home. In some families, after the death of a loved one, they would sift fine ash in front of the kitchen stove on this day to observe the tracks of the returning soul.

It is said that by observing the footprints in the ash, one could determine what the deceased would be reincarnated as. If chicken tracks were seen, they would be reborn as a chicken; if dog tracks were seen, they would be reborn as a dog. There were even more mystical claims, such as seeing the marks of iron chains in the ash, indicating that the deceased had committed grave sins in life and returned shackled.

Naturally, Master Mu was aware of these beliefs and often performed exorcism rituals for superstitious families, but he had never truly seen the marks of a soul before.

He never expected that his first encounter would be in such a situation, and even less expected that the marks he would see would be those of handcuffs… One couldn’t help but say it was quite modern.

Master Mu’s eyes were filled with confusion, as if questioning his own existence, and he was momentarily speechless.

His disciple was also left dumbfounded.

Everyone looked at the location of the footprints and saw the pair of handcuffs floating in mid-air, perfectly corresponding to the traces in the ash.

Mr. Chen trembled and after a while mustered the courage to ask, “Did… did you catch the ghost?”

“Caught it.” Yu Zhengdu glanced at the Chen family huddled together and reassured them, “Relax, it’s okay.”

How could they relax? The handcuffs were still floating in mid-air.

Perhaps feeling that it looked unbecoming for a family to huddle together in fear, Mr. Chen, despite being scared, stood up and cautiously approached the handcuffs from a distance, peering at them as if wanting to get closer but afraid of being harmed. He asked, “How did you catch it?”

When he asked, Master Mu and his disciple also turned their gaze, their eyes revealing a strong desire for knowledge.

He didn’t know, but Yu Zhengdu shot a pleading look at his boss.

Shang Que said, “There are many types of tools used for capturing ghosts, and chains are one of them. The old Daoist should know this.”

The idea of using ash to test for traces mentioned that some souls returning from the afterlife might still carry shackles, which were naturally props of the underworld, but in the mortal realm, some cultivators also used chains as tools, which could be refined for capturing ghosts.

Master Mu nodded in understanding.

Shang Que looked at him disdainfully, “So how come you didn’t recognize it just because it looks different?”

Master Mu: “…………??”

Is it that simple, just a different look for the tool? The entire process of catching the ghost is so unscientific… No, it’s all too scientific! Is this how superstitious activities are supposed to be conducted?!

Master Mu wanted to argue, but Mr. Chen’s expression had already turned to one of enlightenment: “I see now, so this is your new technology! Using handcuffs is definitely more convenient than chains.”

He gave a thumbs up, praising, “Indeed, times are changing, and the technology for exorcising and capturing ghosts should evolve with it. Good job, young people.”

Master Mu was left speechless.

The little Daoist was also at a loss for words: “… but I’m a young person too!”

Mr. Chen asked again, “So what are you going to do with this ghost?”

What to do… Generally, the company would just beat up the offending ghost and lock it up, but that couldn’t be stated outright.

Seeing his hesitation, Master Mu helped answer, “Naturally, we will perform a ceremony to release it.”

This was standard procedure. Although Mr. Chen hadn’t experienced it himself, he had heard of it and nodded, “Oh, right, it needs to be released.”

Then let’s pretend to take it back for the ceremony, Yu Zhengdu was about to agree when the handcuffed ghost suddenly began to whimper, “No, please don’t release me! I still have unfinished business…”

Except for Yu Zhengdu and Shang Que, the others couldn’t hear the ghost’s cries and only felt a sudden chill in the room. The Chen siblings were still huddled together, and Chen Sijie exclaimed, “Why is it so cold? Did that ghost escape again?”

“It didn’t escape; it’s just a bit emotional,” Yu Zhengdu explained, then mimicking his colleagues’ manner of interrogating ghosts, he scolded, “Now you know you regret it? Why didn’t you think about it when you were doing evil?”

The Chen family, originally filled with fear, was left speechless upon seeing Yu Zhengdu scolding the air.

Yu Zhengdu raised a fist, “There’s no room for negotiation for a ghost like you! You should be grateful I didn’t beat you up!”

Everyone: “…”

While everyone was still in shock, Yu Zhengdu suddenly turned to Mr. Chen with a strange look in his eyes: “Mr. Chen, this ghost says it wants to talk to you.”

Mr. Chen tensed up: “What does it want to talk about? What does this ghost want from me?”

Yu Zhengdu replied, “He says he’s your friend.”

Mr. Chen hurriedly waved his hands, “Nonsense, how could I have a ghost friend?”

Yu Zhengdu crossed his arms, “He said his name is Hao Wentao.”

Mr. Chen was taken aback, “What?”

Chen Siyu and Chen Sijie exchanged glances, finally releasing their hold on each other, and the fear on their faces was replaced with confusion. Chen Siyu exclaimed in disbelief, “Uncle Wentao?”

Mr. Chen did indeed have a friend named Hao Wentao, who was a partner at a private law firm, highly capable and always busy, often working late into the night. Unfortunately, he had passed away from overwork six months ago.

Since this incident happened a while ago, Mr. Chen didn’t immediately react, and after a moment, he hesitantly asked, “Is it really Wentao?”

Yu Zhengdu hesitated, “How would I know? I don’t know him…”

After thinking for a moment, Mr. Chen solemnly stated, “It can’t be Wentao. He and I are so close; he wouldn’t harm me. This ghost is lying!”

Yu Zhengdu looked at the ghost, who was growing anxious and gesturing repeatedly, “I really am Hao Wentao; I’m not lying.”

Mr. Chen watched the handcuffs moving up and down in mid-air, making a clinking sound, feeling a bit unsettled.

Yu Zhengdu thought for a moment, then took out his phone, “Let’s give it a try.”

This phone was provided by the company and contained Luo Feng’s “patented technology.” It might actually be able to capture an image.

He opened the camera and pointed it toward the male ghost, then smiled, “It really works, Mr. Chen, take a look. Is this him?”

Mr. Chen was somewhat confused but cautiously leaned over to see the phone screen, and his eyes widened in shock, “… Wentao, it really is you!”

The Chen siblings and the two Daoists rushed to look at the phone as well.

Then everyone collectively gasped, “………………”

On Yu Zhengdu’s phone, a blurry image of a man appeared. He looked sharp in a suit, and he was still wearing handcuffs.

Everyone instinctively looked toward the spot where the camera was pointed, which was empty except for the floating handcuffs.

In the midst of their shock, everyone reacted differently. The Chen siblings were puzzled, “Is it really Uncle Wentao?”

The two Daoists looked as if they were questioning their life choices, especially the young Daoist, who had been silent due to the earlier shock and now wore a shattered expression, looking at Master Mu as if unsure whether to laugh or cry: “Master, they really took a photo of a ghost with a phone…”

Earlier that afternoon, he had mocked Yu Zhengdu for this very thing, never expecting that the other party actually had such technology…

Upon confirming that the ghost was indeed Hao Wentao, Mr. Chen’s emotions became agitated, and he pointed angrily at the direction of the camera, shouting, “Hao Wentao, are you still human? I considered you a brother, and you actually harmed me!”

Yu Zhengdu reminded him, “He’s not human anymore!”

Mr. Chen: “…”

On the phone screen, Hao Wentao covered his face, feeling both ashamed and guilty: “I didn’t mean to harm you; I really had no choice.”

Mr. Chen flung his hand in frustration, “Then tell me, what do you mean you had no choice?”

Hao Wentao sobbed, “It was Liu Ning’an from Yaochu Holdings. He hired a sorcerer and managed to capture me, forcing me to do some underhanded things for him.”

“Liu Ning’an?” Mr. Chen paused, having recently been in competition with Liu Ning’an for business. For some reason, it seemed Liu Ning’an always knew his strategies and was always one step ahead, setting him up to lose numerous orders and suffer significant losses.

It now seemed that this was all due to Hao Wentao.

Hao Wentao continued, “At first, Liu Ning’an wanted to take your life directly to seize your company. I suggested that I stay close to you, spying on your business secrets and reporting back to him so he could gradually take over your clients and orders. He accepted my suggestion since killing you would hurt his own dark virtues; otherwise, you wouldn’t even be alive now.”

Mr. Chen didn’t expect this twist and was momentarily stunned, unsure of what to say.

Yu Zhengdu, with a spirit of inquiry, asked, “So, do you usually stand to Mr. Chen’s left, watching him work?”

Hao Wentao was taken aback, “How did you know that?”

Yu Zhengdu smiled slightly, “Our negative energy detector indicated that there was heavier negative energy on Mr. Chen’s left side.”

Everyone: “…” What a scientifically sound analysis!

Understanding that Hao Wentao was also a victim and had indirectly saved Mr. Chen’s life, Mr. Chen could no longer stay angry, though he couldn’t help feeling a bit melancholic.

Mr. Chen asked Yu Zhengdu to release Hao Wentao from the handcuffs, and the group, along with the ghost, sat down to discuss things slowly.

Mr. Chen asked Hao Wentao, “Didn’t you die six months ago? How did Liu Ning’an manage to capture you?”

At the mention of this, Hao Wentao suddenly broke down in sorrow, pounding his chest: “It’s all my fault…”

Mr. Chen, watching him pound his chest through the phone, wanted to stop him but couldn’t, quickly saying, “How is it your fault?”

Hao Wentao sighed heavily, “You know, I studied science when I was alive…”

“I know,” Mr. Chen replied, bewildered, “But what does that have to do with your capture?”

Hao Wentao explained, “I was a staunch atheist when I was alive. Not only did I not believe in ghosts or deities, but I also constantly told my family to trust science and stay away from superstition. Under my influence, my wife and daughter became firm materialists…”

He wiped his face, his tone filled with regret, “So after I passed away, they never honored me even once. After becoming a ghost, I didn’t have a single meal. I went hungry for several months, and in the end, I had no choice but to eat offerings left on the streets for wandering souls, only to find out those offerings were set up by the sorcerer to capture wandering spirits…”

Everyone: “……”

What a truly sad story.