"Of course!"
I nodded with certainty, indeed having many questions to ask him. Leaving everything else aside, just Old Zhang's ability to catch ghosts made me very curious.
I might be a unlucky kid, but I'm not stupid.
Old Zhang's identity is definitely not that of an ordinary school worker. With his skills, he could earn a living anywhere in the world. Even if he couldn’t, he wouldn't have come here to work as a janitor, earning a mere 800 yuan a month.
Although hiding in the city, Old Zhang's days seemed too bitter and poor. Prior to this, I had thought he was ignored by his children and forced to work at the school for a living. But now it seems that I was just naive.
"Alright!"
Old Zhang was surprisingly straightforward and nodded, "Ask your questions. It's better to ask everything at once, so as not to waste everyone's time."
"Why exactly did Zhang Yao die?"
Even though I was very curious about Old Zhang’s identity, what I was most concerned about was the real cause of Zhang Yao's death. After all, the school had made such a big deal out of it, with almost everyone thinking that Zhang Yao was my fault. If I didn't clear this up, I wouldn't be able to stay in this school!
"Hmm?"
After hearing my first question, Old Zhang was surprised. In his opinion, I should have asked about his identity first. But unexpectedly, I resisted my curiosity and asked about Zhang Yao's true cause of death?
Looking at me oddly, Old Zhang then said, "Do you want to know the immediate cause, or the root cause?"
"Is there a difference?"
With a skeptical look at Old Zhang, I was a bit confused by what he meant. This isn't discussing the reasons for the victory in the War of Resistance against Japan. How could there be an immediate cause and a root cause?
"The immediate cause is that the girl listened to ghostly persuasion, was enticed by the shadow woman, and subsequently chose to jump off the building, ending her life."
"Ghostly persuasion?"
If this had been three days ago, I would have thought that Old Zhang's words were pure nonsense. However, since witnessing the "shadow woman" with my own eyes, I had complete faith in what Old Zhang was saying, and also recalled some folk legends about "ghostly persuasion."
According to folklore, ghosts whisper in the ears of living people only to find a substitute. It is said that the phrase "endless tales of ghosts" comes from this. These types of ghosts are mostly those who died wrongfully, were wronged before their death, and have unresolved grievances, so they cannot reincarnate. Only on the night of the seventh day, if they find someone who died similarly to them, can they use that person as a substitute to achieve reincarnation. Otherwise, they will remain solitary spirits, enduring the yin wind every day, until their spirits scatter.
However, it's not easy to find someone who died similarly to them in just one night, so they try their best to entice people who have the idea of suicide on the night of the seventh day.
In other words, Zhang Yao might have had the idea of ending her life even before being enticed by the shadow woman?
"That's not right!"
Suddenly, I seemed to have caught onto something and quickly asked, "According to your previous explanation, the shadow woman is not an ordinary ghost. She doesn't need a substitute, so why would she entice Zhang Yao to her death?"
"Well, well! Not bad. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. You even know about substitutes?”
Old Zhang teased me with a glance and smiled, "You're correct. Ordinary ghosts entice the living to their deaths in order to find a substitute. But the shadow woman is different. The so-called shadow woman is a super powerful ghost listed on the 'Hundred Ghosts List'! This type of ghost has already learned some rudimentary cultivation methods. Luring Zhang Yao to her death was only to devour her ghost, in order to enhance her own cultivation!"
"According to the 'Biography of a Hundred Ghosts', once she has devoured forty-nine ghosts after the seventh day, she will be able to cultivate into a demon. By then, not to mention me, even ten of me added together wouldn't necessarily be her opponent!"
"I see..."
Old Zhang's explanation finally made everything clear to me. It was because Zhang Yao had listened to ghostly persuasion that she had jumped off the building. I knew it! This matter had nothing to do with me.
I might be a little unlucky, but not to the extent that I can kill my classmates, right? After confirming that Zhang Yao's death had nothing to do with me, I felt much more at ease, even feeling a sense of being wronged and vindicated. Then I asked, "So, what was the fundamental cause behind Zhang Yao's jump?"
"I'm not too sure about that..."
Old Zhang shook his head and said, "As for this, only the person involved would probably know. But, based on my many years of experience, a young woman like Zhang Yao is most likely troubled by love! Either that, or her body was violated by someone else..."
"Hmm! I think so too!"
Old Zhang's words resonated with me, and I nodded in agreement. I quickly added, "I heard her curse and say that not a single man was a good person!"
"That's it!"
After listening to my additions, the previously uncertain old Zhang nodded in agreement, and then instructed me, "How about this, you might as well go out and inquire about who this little girl's lover was before she died? Or maybe find out who bullied her..."
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, I couldn't help but ask, "Why look for this heartless man? Are you planning to avenge Zhang Yao?"
"Of course not!"
Old Zhang gave me a speechless look and explained, "For a normal grudge like Zhang Yao, erasing her would only take a minute! But, she was your classmate, right? Heaven has the virtue of good life. Since the little girl's soul has left the shadow, I can't just call for her to be scattered, can I?"
"True!"
After hearing this, I couldn't help but nod. Despite Zhang Yao's spirit wanting to harm my life, she was still my classmate, and I couldn't bear to see her scattered.
"So, the bell must be rung by the one who tied it. If we can find the man who hurt her, everything will naturally be resolved. As long as we can resolve her grudges, I am confident in helping her move on and reincarnate."
"Good! Let's do it this way!"
Old Zhang's method was a win-win situation. It would not only prevent Zhang Yao from causing harm but also preserve her soul and allow her to reincarnate. As Zhang Yao's classmate, I naturally couldn't object and quickly took on the task of finding the "heartless man."
"One last question!"
After asking about Zhang Yao's situation, I carefully examined the old Zhang in front of me and asked seriously, "Who are you exactly? What are you doing lurking in the school?"
"Tsk!"
Seeing my serious expression, the old Zhang couldn't help but sneer and teasingly said, "You make it sound like I have some unfathomable conspiracy!"
"Let me tell you the truth, I came for you, kid!"
"Me?"
Upon hearing this, I instinctively took two steps back, thinking, "Could this old guy be a pervert with his creepy appearance?
"Enough of that nonsense!"
As if sensing what I was thinking, the old Zhang ignored my guarded look and sat at the head of my bed, teasingly asking, "If I'm guessing right, you should be the grandson of the old king next door, right?"
"Old king next door?"
Who is the old king next door? Is this old guy insulting me?
"Hmpf! Stop playing dumb!"
Seeing my confused look, the old Zhang coldly snorted, "Dare you say that Wang Lingfeng, that old bastard, is not your grandfather?"
"Hmm?"
Hearing the three words "Wang Lingfeng," I finally paled and instinctively exclaimed, "How do you know my grandfather's name?"
That's right! My grandfather's name is indeed Wang Lingfeng! But how did old Zhang know? I never mentioned my grandfather's name to him, did I?
"Heh..."
Seeing me admit to this, a knowing smile appeared on old Zhang's face, and he proudly said, "A lone star, defying fate, with a protective dragon spirit. Under the heavens, apart from the old bastard next door, who else would dare to defy fate like this?"