"Auntie, then could you briefly tell me what unusual things have been happening?"
Yao Yao was quick to react. Her large, sparkling eyes gazed directly at the Client, filled with an air of docile earnestness.
The Client, understanding that the Master needed to know the precursors to make a judgment, paused. After organizing her thoughts, she began to recount her situation.
It started not long ago: every morning when she woke up, her body would be sore and weak, and her energy levels were consistently low.
Initially, she thought she was simply getting old, her body perhaps depleted, so she specifically sought out a doctor for conditioning.
However, her condition didn't improve, and then her cat suddenly started acting strangely.
Every night, it would inexplicably meow at her, its voice sharp and piercing, making her skin crawl.
Compounding this was her usual belief in spirits; she knew that small animals like cats and dogs were spiritually attuned, especially since her pet was a black cat.
With its behavior so abnormal, it was hard for the Client not to suspect she had encountered something "unclean."
But she had observed carefully: apart from feeling tired at certain hours and waking up fatigued the next day, she didn't have any serious illnesses.
Before this, she had visited many famous Daoist temples nearby, acquiring so many talismans for peace that she could almost set up a stall. Yet, her symptoms hadn't improved in the slightest.
On the contrary, her condition seemed to be worsening. She went to sleep earlier and earlier each day, yet woke up later and later.
At this point, the Client began to feel truly afraid and urgently sought help. It was then that a friend recommended Yao Yao.
However, her luck with the live stream lucky draws had never been good; she had never won, and she was nearly frantic with anxiety.
Later, learning about a variety show, the Client took a shortcut and secured a spot. Of course, she certainly wouldn't mention these details.
"Master, that's the situation. Can you... can you tell what's wrong with me?"
There was a hint of fear in the Client's eyes. Judging by the recent rate of decline, in a few more months, she might very well end up in a vegetative state.
The horror of being conscious but never able to wake up—she didn't want to truly experience that.
"Auntie, don't worry yet. Let me take a look for you first."
Yao Yao's brows furrowed as she listened to the Client's description.
She hadn't detected any traces of Yin energy on the Client at first glance, which meant it wasn't a malevolent entity like a ghost.
"Auntie, could you show me your living environment?"
Since it wasn't a spiritual possession, Yao Yao's second suspicion naturally turned to the Feng Shui layout.
It was said that Feng Shui determined the 'auspicious points'; if a living person resided for too long in an inauspicious spot, it could deplete their own Yang lifespan and lead to various bodily abnormalities.
The Client was stunned by the question, feeling as if her mind had suddenly opened up. "Okay, I'll show you right now."
She had previously been convinced it was a spiritual possession, but couldn't find any issues.
However, if it was a Feng Shui problem, that might explain everything. Thinking this, the Client became a little excited.
Without another word, she picked up her phone and began to display her house's interior.
Spiral staircases, an enamel-domed turret, and a sweeping crystal chandelier in the center...
These distinct styles all leaned towards early European castle architecture—luxurious and intricate.
At this moment, the online viewers completely disregarded the ongoing drama, instead bursting into tears.
[Ahhh, it might be inappropriate to complain now, but I can't hold it in! The Client's home is just too extravagant!]
[Just that crystal chandelier in the living room... I'd have to start saving money from the Three Kingdoms period just for that! sobs]
[Be content with starting from the Three Kingdoms! I'd have to start from the Peking Man era. Just thinking about it makes me want to blow up this world.]
The Client had no mind to read their comments, and Yao Yao's attention wasn't on them either.
Earlier, there were no problems with the upper or lower parts of the house. Only a fleeting glimpse of greenery made her notice a clue.
"Auntie, what kind of trees are planted in that forest behind your villa?"
Since it wasn't very clear, Yao Yao spoke up to confirm.
This question, however, caught the Client off guard.
She glanced out the window, then smiled. "Oh, that's a pagoda tree forest!"
"When I was little, my grandmother loved pagoda tree blossoms, and she adored pagoda tree blossom cakes and cold noodles. So my grandfather had a whole area planted with them. It's been several decades now. Is there a problem with that?"
The Client wasn't foolish. With so many things in the entire villa, the Master hadn't asked about anything else, yet specifically singled out this forest.
If there wasn't something to it, she wouldn't believe it for a second.
And as it turned out, her guess was correct. She saw the Master's expression turn grave, and a clear voice rang in her ear.
"There's a problem, and it's a big one."
Yao Yao's small face was solemn. She now understood why there were no traces of Yin energy on the Client.
The reason, naturally, was related to that pagoda tree forest. One must know that pagoda trees belong to the Yin element in the Five Elements.
Furthermore, the Chinese character pagoda tree is composed of wood and ghost. Its canopy is vast, making it very easy to block sunlight, usually suitable for planting along roadsides where passersby can enjoy the shade.
But if planted within a private residence, especially in such a large patch as the Client's, it can lead to stagnant air within the forest.
Over time, this easily forms a natural "Yin Land."
A "Yin Land" is a true den of filth and grime, very likely to attract "unclean" ghosts.
Additionally, pagoda trees often have many burls, distributed along their trunks, resembling small earthen mounds.
Ghosts can reside within them; the two can coexist symbiotically.
Moreover, if by some strange coincidence, a ghost residing in a pagoda tree merges with the tree itself—meaning the pagoda tree grows a human face—it will then completely transform into a "Wooden Ghost." The ghost residing within will also break free from its identity as a lonely wandering spirit, transcending the six realms of reincarnation.
If she wasn't mistaken, there was likely a Wooden Ghost in that forest behind the Client's house.
A "Wooden Ghost" is a ghost spirit within wood, neither entirely ghost nor entirely demon, and most adept at concealing its aura.
Yao Yao typically judged the presence of malevolent spirits by detecting Yin energy, which was why she hadn't immediately noticed it.
What's worse, Wooden Ghosts are born with knowledge of ghost arts and possess the ability to command a multitude of ghosts.
Coupled with this den of filth and grime, the actual number of ghosts in that forest was likely terrifyingly high.
The Client being able to live relatively well could be considered incredibly lucky.
To make them understand the gravity of the situation, Yao Yao explained the origin of the Wooden Ghost.
After hearing this, the Client's scalp tingled. Her voice couldn't help but carry a tremor of fear.
"Master... what should I do then? Should I have this entire pagoda tree forest cut down?"
After all, anyone who discovered a group of ghosts hiding in their backyard forest would hardly be able to maintain their composure.
However, Yao Yao shook her head, refuting the Client's suggestion.
Because this pagoda tree forest was equivalent to the graves of these ghosts. Cutting it down would be akin to desecrating their burial grounds.
If she were to do that, the Client would face countless retaliations, and they would likely not stop until her soul was completely consumed.
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