Towards dawn, I was about to open my shop when I saw a figure coming from the corner of the street.

"Boss, stay at the hotel!" The figure said.

I agreed, but pretended to look at him casually. I saw him wearing a hat, a gray robe, a dusty face, a bamboo pipe behind him, and a dust whisk in his right hand.

Such guests are very common.

My hostel is the only place in the barren mountains and mountains within a radius of 300 miles where you can take a break. There are not many guests, mostly monks, merchants, and people from the rivers and lakes. I lived on the second floor of the front room, and there were only four rooms in the backyard, but it was generally sufficient.

I watched him lift the curtain and walk to the backyard and begin to prepare breakfast.

"Boss, two bowls of rice soup, two steamed buns" The curtain was lifted again, and a young couple dressed as farmers walked out. The man helped his wife to sit down at the table and said loudly to me. The woman covered her face tightly with a headscarf, coughed from time to time, and seemed to be sick.

I said yes and got ready to go. At this time, a middle-aged man dressed up quickly said loudly in the courtyard: "Boss, four steamed buns, send them in." I hurriedly agreed.

This catch arrived yesterday afternoon. When he arrived, he escorted a prisoner with his head covered with a cloth bag, his hands also wearing splints, and his legs were chained. That really scared the hell out of me. The arrester showed the token and explained that the escort was a repeat offender, so the person was extremely dangerous, so he was treated like this. He also asked me to bring dinner to his house, probably for fear of frightening the other guests and preventing the prisoners from escaping.

After I delivered the food to the farmer and his wife, I took four steamed buns into the backyard. He went up to the second floor on the left, knocked on the door, stretched out half of his body, took the things in, and slammed the door shut with two words, "bookkeeping". I was stunned for a moment, and then I prepared to go downstairs.

"Boss, what do you have to eat this morning?" a crisp and tactful voice came from downstairs. I stuck out my head and saw a woman in white dressed as a Taoist aunt smiling at me next to the door downstairs on the right.

I agreed, hurried downstairs to the courtyard, and answered her a few meters away: "Rice soup, steamed buns, gruel, sauerkraut, gnocchi, what do guests eat?" ”

The white-clothed Taoist girl smiled: "I want to eat white fungus porridge!" Is there one? ”

"There's that thing in the mountains," I muttered, smiling reluctantly, raising my legs to leave.

Among all my guests, the most special is this white-clothed Taoist girl. Originally, it was suspicious enough for a lone woman to appear in the mountains, she looked like a Taoist aunt, but she was very romantic, a pair of bright pupils always secretly sent autumn waves, and her speech and posture were by no means like ordinary women.

I was in deep thought, but the white-clothed Taoist aunt came to me at some point, lowered her body and whispered in my ear: "I saw a guest come in the morning, and he didn't look like an ordinary person, what do you think, boss?" "That whispering gave me goosebumps.

I hurriedly jumped away and turned my head away from her: "The guest is too worried." That's a Taoist priest, and it's not surprising that such a guest doesn't have ten stops but eight stops a month. ”

The white-clothed Taoist aunt took another half step, and said with a smile: "That's not an ordinary Taoist priest," his dust was engraved with a magic charm, and the bamboo pipe behind him was also pasted with a soul suppression talisman. She paused, then continued, "That's a ghost hunter. He gave me a meaningful look and turned back to the house.

Ghost hunter? I scratched the back of my head, it sounded weird.

When the couple went back and I was the only one left in the front hall, the gray-robed Taoist priest came out. I was boiling water, and when I saw him come out, I asked, "What do you want to eat?" ”

"Has anyone left? After the poor road came in. The gray-robed Taoist priest suddenly asked, his voice low.

I shook my head: "No, what's wrong guest?" ”

The gray-robed Taoist priest didn't answer me, but walked straight to the door, he closed the door with both hands, pulled the latch, turned to look at the people in the front hall, and said word by word: "From now on, no one is allowed to leave." ”

I was stunned, and I hurriedly asked in a trembling voice, "You... What do you mean? ”

The gray-robed Taoist priest was expressionless, turned out a yellow talisman in his hand, turned around and pasted it on the door. He turned to me and said, "Poor Dao is a ghost hunter. A very serious matter has just happened that must be dealt with immediately. Please ask the boss to invite the rest of the guests. ”

I was stunned and immediately asked, "What's serious?" ”

"Poor Tao should be said in front of everyone." The gray-robed Taoist priest looked at me and said coldly.

I saw his very solemn appearance, and I didn't dare to delay, so I hurriedly ran to the backyard, first went upstairs to the left and banged on the door, and only opened the door after a long time, only half of his face was revealed, and asked coldly: "What's the matter?" ”

"Something's wrong, my lord, go and see!" I took a breath and quickly explained, "The new Taoist priest who came this morning said that something very serious was announced, and everyone must be present. He also sealed all the doors! ”

Catching Kuai originally looked unconcerned, but the moment he heard me say that the door was sealed, he showed a nervous expression, he groaned for a while, and looked into the room: "For the sake of caution, prisoners can't leave the room." I'll go check it out with you! "I hurriedly said yes.

Immediately afterwards, I went to inform the others, and the farmer and his wife seemed very panicked, and I repeatedly persuaded them, and saw that the catcher was going first, so I reluctantly agreed to go too. The white-clothed Dao Gu was quite calm and looked very interested, and followed me without saying a word.

When we came to the front hall, we saw that the gray-robed Taoist priest had moved two tables to block the door, and then stood in front of the table.

"Who are you? Dare to intimidate good citizens and restrict the freedom of others. Catch quickly said sharply.

The white-clothed Taoist aunt also sneered: "I thought you were just a Taoist priest, but it turned out to be a robber." Why, in broad daylight, you still want to rob the good people? ”

The farmer couple was frightened when they heard this, and the woman immediately hid behind the man, who spread his hands and took a few steps back.

"Don't mess around, we—" shouted the farmer, "this is an official errand!" ”

"All the people are here?" The gray-robed Taoist priest ignored him and looked at me expressionlessly.

I shook my head, "There's also a prisoner in the room. ”

Catch quickly said: "If you have anything, just say it, open the door when you are done, and if there is half a nonsense, you will be arrested immediately!" ”

The gray-robed Taoist priest stared coldly at the catcher, and after a while, he finally said-

"There's a demon in this inn, and it's probably possessed by anyone in the inn."

No one spoke for a while, and no one reacted. "What do you mean?" The white-clothed Dao Gu frowned and looked at him.

Only then did the gray-robed Taoist priest tell the whole story. It turned out that when he came in the morning, a hundred-year-old evil ghost was actually sealed in the bamboo pipe. It was hunted by him with great difficulty, and he was supposed to be sent to the Taoist temple for transcendence. But I was so tired that I wanted to come in and take a break when I passed by my hotel, and then I would continue my journey until noon. Who would have thought that he just left the room to facilitate it, and when he came back, he found that the charm of the bamboo pipe had been destroyed, and the evil ghost had escaped.

"It's daytime, and demons can't go out. It's either hiding in some dark corner, or—" The gray-robed Taoist priest said word by word, "it's already attached to someone." ”

As soon as his words fell, the hearts of everyone present were clouded. Catch Kuai looked impatient: "I don't have time to listen to you pretending to be a ghost here, you hurry up and open the door now!" ”

"Are there really evil spirits?" The farmer's face was terrified, and the wife hid behind her husband and shivered.

"In that bamboo pipe, there is indeed something..."The white-clothed Taoist aunt had a rare serious expression: "The soul suppression talisman is genuine." Moreover, I also have a faint feeling that there is indeed a bad aura now..."

When the white-clothed Taoist said this, everyone was silent. The gray-robed Taoist priest continued: "This evil ghost is very powerful, if you don't take advantage of the daytime to find a subdued subdue, it will be out of control at night. ”

When I heard this, I cried and said, "Is that evil ghost going to hurt people?" What now? Two masters, the store is small and thin, and I really can't stand the toss, please think of a way! ”

The gray-robed Taoist priest said, "The most important thing now is to find out the evil ghost first. He said to the white-clothed Taoist aunt: "This Taoist friend is quite Taoist. Then I would like to ask you to go with me to inspect every corner of this inn to make sure that there is nowhere for the evil spirits to hide. ”

The farmer hurriedly said: "Two great immortals, didn't you just say that evil spirits might possess us, shouldn't you give us a little charm or something to defend ourselves?" ”

He looked at the gate, a hint of nervousness flashed in the corner of his eyes, and he said to the gray-robed Taoist priest: "I don't care if you want to collect ghosts and fight ghosts or pretend to be ghosts, but I tell you that this official has official duties, and he must escort the prisoners to departure this afternoon." Don't even try to stop me! ”

"Why, the official is in such a hurry to leave?" The white-clothed Dao Gu suddenly said something.

The atmosphere becomes a little subtle.

I hurriedly eased up: "Master check first, I don't want a ghost to pop out of nowhere, then it's going to kill you!" ”

The gray-robed Taoist priest said, "Don't worry, everyone. The sky is bright and popular here, and the evil spirits dare not come out. It will only sneak up on people in dark corners, so it's not a cause for concern. As for the official...", he glanced directly at the catcher:

"The official uniform is added, and the evil cannot be invaded."

After speaking, he went to check everywhere with the white-clothed Dao Aunt, and the catcher was full of disbelief, and he also went with him.

The remaining three stayed in the hall, and the atmosphere became heavy. The farmer looked at me while comforting his wife and said, "Boss, who do you think that evil spirit will possess?" ”

I walked over to him and sat down, and whispered, "I don't dare to talk nonsense." Originally... That official is quite suspicious, but just now the Taoist priest said that the official uniform is added, and the evil cannot be invaded..."I finished speaking and went to look at his wife behind him, and the farmer hurriedly turned sideways to block my vision, and said with a smile: "Yes, in fact, I think so too..."

This wife has not spoken since she entered the store. And she kept covering her face with a headscarf, and I couldn't help but ask, "Is Mrs. Zun sick?" The farmer immediately replied, "Oh... It's just a little cold, a minor illness! ”

I nodded, and asked again with some unwillingness: "What does Madame think about this?" The wife only coughed, and the farmer immediately replied, "She doesn't understand anything... See the smile, the smile..."

I couldn't ask anything, so I had to give up, and I didn't dare to go to the backyard, so I could only watch.

"Actually..."The farmer suddenly said, "Do you think there is a problem with this Taoist priest?" ”

"How?"

"Who will uncover the spell? Me and I are just ordinary people, and the poor master is in a hurry, so it is even more impossible for you as the boss, and there is no reason for Daogu to help the evil ghosts. Could it be that he is lying? The farmer analyzed.

I wondered, "But why is he lying?" ”

The farmer shrugged: "According to me, let the poor master arrest that Taoist priest and ask him may reveal the truth." ”

As he spoke, all three returned. I quickly sat away a bit.

"We've checked to make sure the demons aren't hiding in dark corners." The gray-robed Taoist priest said lightly: "So, now you can be sure-"

"The demon must have possessed someone." The white-clothed Dao aunt said.

As soon as this remark came out, everyone was shocked.

"As you said just now, I am an official, and it is impossible to be possessed." Caught quickly said: "So I can be excluded, this official can leave, right?" ”

I hurriedly shook my head and waved my hand: "You must not leave, sir!" If something like this happens, the safety of the people depends entirely on you, and if you're here, I don't think the evil ghosts will dare to do anything! As he spoke, he winked at her husband, suggesting that he also came out to help speak, but her husband looked ignorant and didn't understand.

"Since your innocence is all the more so, you should stay and adjudicate, and besides, it is your duty to protect the safety of civilians." The white-clothed Dao Gu looked at the catch: "Because everyone else is suspicious." ”

As soon as she said this, everyone subconsciously stayed away from the people around them.

"This master should not be suspicious," I pointed to the gray-robed Taoist priest, "If he is possessed, it would be good to just leave or be silent, why do you need to say it?" ”

The farmer's expression was visibly disapproving.

"Since you are all masters, you must know how to identify the possessed, and you should know how to force the possessed by evil spirits to show their true form?" Catch quickly said: "Speak up and listen." ”

The gray-robed Taoist priest sighed: "This is not an ordinary evil ghost, it has been practicing Taoism for a hundred years. He can perfectly imitate the voice, appearance, and behavior of the possessed person, and even his closest relatives can't see the flaws. Evil spirits are possessed behind people, and they are not afraid of sunlight and charms. And the poor road caught it last night, which has greatly damaged its vitality, and now it is even more powerless to open the spirit to discern. I discussed it with this female Taoist friend just now, and the only way to do it now is to take the rooster's comb blood and smear it on the heavenly court of the possessed person, so that the evil ghost can be forced to leave the body. And once it is out of its body, it will no longer be able to possess it for a short time, and then you can use a charm to deal with it! ”

"Can't this master open his vision? Let's see how fast! The farmer looked at the white-clothed Dao Gu.

"Do you think this spirit is open to everyone?" The white-clothed Dao aunt smiled charmingly: "I can just feel a little evil..."

I rejoiced, "That's easy, too. I'll go and catch a rooster in the shed, and the master will take blood at will, and I'll wait for them to be examined one by one! Isn't it just a little blood on my forehead?"

"No!" But he stopped me: "This method is inappropriate, is there any other way?" ”

Everyone was puzzled, and I hurriedly said, "How is it inappropriate?" ”

The white-clothed Dao Gu smiled and said, "Haven't you noticed that there is a person who has never appeared?" ”