Seeing how disheveled and exhausted Master Kuleng was, Lu Fei didn't rush to ask what had happened. Instead, he found a teahouse nearby for Master Kuleng to rest and ordered some food.
Wait until Ku Deng has had his fill of food and drink, then ask him.
"Master Ku Deng, what exactly happened?"
"Sigh, it's so embarrassing!"
Ku Deng sighed heavily, looking as if he couldn't face anyone.
"The son of that family died. I don't know if he was too young and unwilling to go, but he comes back every night to cause trouble. His parents asked for someone to perform a ritual, and I just happened to take the job from the association."
"Manager Lu, don't laugh at me. I have been working hard for several days to surpass the young man, but he just won't leave. Not only has he disturbed his family, but the neighbors on both sides are also being bothered."
"If I can't even handle such a simple job, how can I continue to stay in the association with any dignity?"
"Is the deceased called Lin Han?" Lu Fei asked again.
"How did you know?" Kudeng looked up, surprised, "Did the family find you because they thought I was useless?"
"No, I just happened to know it." Lu Fei didn't explain further, "With Master Kudeng's abilities, guiding the soul of the dead shouldn't be a problem. Have you considered that there might be a reason why the young man is unwilling to leave?"
"Of course, I have thought about it." Master Kudeng didn't ask more and started talking with a worried face.
"I asked the parents, and they said their child was in the middle of a career surge and was about to earn a lot of money, but he died suddenly while working overtime, and he must be filled with regret."
"I told them that in such cases where the soul lingers, it is often due to an unfulfilled wish, and that the heart's knot must be untangled. They didn't believe me and even threw me out, thinking I was a fraud."
Kudeng hung his head in dejection.
"You're the only one I can confide in, Manager Lu. I wouldn't dare to tell anyone else."
"Suddenly died while working overtime?" Lu Fei continued to ask, "Was there anything unusual before death? For example, feeling itchy all over, or something growing on the skin."
"They didn't say! The remains have long been cremated, so I don't know the situation either." Ku Deng looked at Lu Fei strangely, "Shopkeeper Lu, why are you asking this?"
"Master, look at this." Lu Fei used a tissue to handle the sachet and took it out.
Seeing his caution, Ku Deng also used a piece of paper to handle it and examined it. When he saw the name on it, he was suddenly surprised.
"Lin Han's name! Is this his personal item?"
"That's right."
Lu Fei nodded.
Ku Deng looked at Lu Fei and asked in surprise, "You knew him, otherwise how could you have his personal item?"
"It's just a coincidence." Lu Fei smiled, "He also mentioned revenge. Perhaps his death was caused by someone using this sachet to take revenge on him."
"I haven't read many books, don't deceive me! You know all of this just by coincidence?" Ku Deng was dumbfounded.
"That's not important!" Lu Fei waved his hand, "What's important is that this can help you挽回名誉. Quickly take a look at what's inside this sachet."
Ku Deng gave him a look as if to say 'I don't believe you for a second,' but he still opened the sachet and looked inside. After a moment of thought, he said, "It has the name of the deceased embroidered on it, and there are things like fingernail clippings. Could it be a curse? If that's the case, we need to break the curse so that he can rest in peace."
"So, we need to find the person who sent the sachet," Lu Fei nodded with a smile.
"But the Lin family's parents already think I'm a scammer. No matter what I say, they won't believe me," Ku Deng said, his face full of distress.
"Don't worry, we'll go again tonight," Lu Fei said calmly.
Time passed quickly.
A residential area.
Even though it wasn't dark yet, every household had their doors and windows tightly shut.
The atmosphere was solemn.
The Lin family's living room, set up as a mourning hall, was even more somber.
"Old Lin, it's dark again. What should we do if Xiao Han comes back tonight? Why don't we find another expert to take a look?" Mother Lin looked at the nail scratches all over the walls, her whole body filled with panic.
"They are all frauds! Look at the monk you found, with his big round head and belly, eating and drinking like a pig. Having him perform a ceremony was completely useless!" Father Lin frowned tightly.
"If he's no good, there must be other masters. If Xiao Han keeps making such a ruckus every night, how can we continue living like this? Our neighbors are already talking about us!"
"Is it just because Xiao Han isn't your biological son that you despise him so much?"
"Old Lin, you know that's not what I mean! Conscience, tell me, how have I treated Xiao Han all these years?"
"Who knows what you're thinking? Now that Xiao Han is gone, who will get the money he earned..."
The old couple started arguing.
"Dad, Mom, stop arguing."
A young man in his early twenties, with a stern face, walked out of the bedroom.
"Brother's death was an accident. No one wanted things to turn out this way. If it really gets too much, we can stay elsewhere for a few days."
"What about the neighbors if we go out?" Mother Lin shook her head in distress, "I haven't dared to go out these past few days, for fear of being talked about behind my back! They all say, they all say..."
She glanced at her own son and swallowed the rest of her words.
"Xiao Chen, don't worry about this. Go stay somewhere else for a few days, and come back after your brother rests in peace."
"Mom, my brother is family. How can I just run away and leave you all when something happens at home?" Lin Chen shook his head, refusing.
"Tonight, you all rest, and I'll keep watch. If my brother comes back, I'll talk to him properly."
"No!" Mother Lin immediately objected, "Xiao Chen, your brother has always had a grudge against you. Now that he's gone, the company is all yours, and he's bound to be even angrier."
"Mom..."
"Go back to your room and hide!"
Lin Chen wanted to say more, but Mother Lin pushed him into the room without further discussion, stuffed several peach wood talismans, and then locked the door.
"Still say you're not partial? How you treat Xiao Chen, and how you treat Xiao Han?" Father Lin looked coldly at his wife.
"Say what you will! I've already lost one son, and I don't want to lose another!"
Mother Lin stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door shut.
The house fell silent instantly.
Father Lin looked around at the glaring scratch marks all over the room and collapsed onto the sofa, unable to understand how a once happy family had come to this.
The clock ticked, time passing by second by second.
It was late into the night.
In the quiet hallway, a sudden gust of wind blew.
Rustle——
The white cloth hanging at the doorway fluttered uneasily.
On the old wall, a deep scratch mark suddenly appeared.
Scratches rapidly extended along the corridor to the front door.
Fingernails scraped across the security door, emitting an eerie and grating sound.
Lin's father, who had been leaning on the sofa, suddenly opened his eyes, looking at the door in terror.
"It's back, it's back again."
He trembled as he stood up.
"Xiao Han, if you have any last wishes, tell dad, and I will fulfill them for you."
"Your health has always been fine... could it be that your brother or your mother did something to you?"
"Tell me, and I will take care of it for you!"
He fixed his gaze intently on the front door, hoping that the spine-chilling scratching sound would give him an answer.
But the grating sound suddenly stopped.
He waited anxiously for a few seconds, then stepped towards the door.
Unbeknownst to him.
Behind him stood a figure with skin covered in nails.