Chapter 5 Stroke of bad luck

Chapter 5

stroke of Bad Luck

"Of course, it's true," Ivy said, turning around. "However, there will be an additional charge."

Warren quickly asked, "How much more?"

Ivy held up five fingers. "Five hundred."

Warren nodded eagerly. "Okay, okay, no problem."

As they were about to leave, a few people gathered around. "Master, will you be coming back?"

Ivy waved his hand dismissively. "Wait for me. I'll be back in ten minutes."

The two of them walked toward a secluded area. Warren's nerves got the best of him, and he trembled, feeling more and more anxious. Even though he was about to meet his father, his father had become a spirit.

The thought of facing a ghost made him freeze in terror.

Ivy sat down a bowl filled with water and placed it on the ground. Then, he handed Warren three wooden sticks.

"Place the sticks in the water, hold them upright, and keep calling your father's name. Once the sticks stand on their own, you'll see him," Ivy instructed.

Warren was shaking even more now. "M-Master, I can do it myself..."

"Hurry," Ivy urged him.

In the realm between the living and the dead, this was the simplest method to summon a spirit. Other, more elaborate rituals were possible, but they required additional payment.

Warren muttered through clenched teeth,

Dad, Dad, it's me, Warren, Dad... With shaking hands, he placed the sticks in the water.

To his astonishment, the sticks stood upright on their own.

Suddenly, a pale face emerged from the water, two dark eyes staring directly at him.

Terrified, Warren's voice cracked. "Dad, is that really you?"

The figure glared fiercely at him. "Warren, you've prayed and burned incense for others, but when I begged you time and again to acknowledge my grave, you ignored me!"

"Dad, I was wrong! I didn't know it was you," Warren pleaded, apologizing repeatedly.

How unlucky he was! Who could've predicted that his father would appear in his dreams, only to demand recognition for his grave?

Warren tried to maintain composure. "Dad, I'll go back to our hometown right away and find you a more peaceful resting place."

Impatiently, the ghost of his father replied, "Don't bother. Just clear the weeds around my gravestone and patch up the hole there. After all these years, I'm too tired to move."

"Alright, alright," Warren said, a bit puzzled. "Dad, it's been so many years. Why haven't you reincarnated yet?"

His father's spirit was so angry, it seemed like he might breathe fire. "Mind your own business! Just go back to our hometown. Take the road up the mountain, and when you hit a fork, take a left, then a right, and another left. There will be a peach tree in front of the grave."

Warren quickly nodded. "Okay, Dad."

As soon as he finished speaking, the three sticks suddenly fell, and the face in the bowl vanished without a trace.

Warren was so startled that he collapsed onto the ground, nearly knocking over the bowl.

Still in shock, he stammered, "M-Master, I'm sorry. I almost broke your bowl."

"It's fine," Ivy said, picking up the bowl. "It's just a regular plastic bowl I used this morning for porridge."

Warren wiped the sweat from his forehead, watching as Ivy walked away, his emotions a jumbled mess. "Master, you truly are wonderful."

Ivy returned to his booth and resumed his fortune-telling for the crowd.

He dealt with a few more minor concerns-people asking about exams, relationships, and family matters-before stretching lazily. "One last reading, then I'll pack up."

A man approached, his voice nervous. "Master, I-I need help!"

Ivy reviewed him. "Did you see a ghost? Or did you just dream about it?"

"Neither," the man replied, frowning. "I've just been terribly unlucky. I've stepped in dog poo, had bird droppings fall on me, and I even choked on water."

He pulled up his pant leg to show a bruise. "I fell so hard yesterday, my leg turned purple."

He lowered his voice and asked, "Master, do you think my house is haunted?"

Ivy shook his head. "You don't have any ghostly presence around you. No, there's no ghost causing trouble."

The bystanders murmured among themselves. Here was another person who didn't believe in the supernatural but would soon see otherwise.

"Master's predictions are always spot on," one of the older women whispered.

James ignored them, his worries still pouring out. "It's not just me. My parents and my in-laws have had bad luck too."

"My mother hurt her back. My father broke his arm, and both ended up in the hospital. As for my in-laws, their chickens died unexpectedly. And then there's my wife and her pregnancy..."

He paused, his eyes welling up. "My wife Rowe and I have been married for five years, and we still haven't been able to have a child. Then, two months ago, Rowe got pregnant. We were so happy, planning for the baby, and she even resigned from her job to rest."

"But then Rowe had a miscarriage, and now she's in the hospital recovering."

James' voice grew firm. "Master, if it's not a ghost, then someone is definitely trying to harm my family."

Ivy quickly identified the problem. "Do you, your wife, your parents, and your in-laws all live in the same house?"

James nodded. "After Rowe became pregnant, my parents came to stay with us, and my in-laws brought some local eggs to visit. They stayed for the night."

Ivy frowned. "The problem lies with your house."

James was confused. "That can't be! We've lived in that house for three years without issue."

Ivy explained, "Your in-laws only stayed a night, so their troubles were small. The longer someone stays in the house, the more severe the issues become. Your wife is the worst off."

"Bad energy or negative influence in the house can cause these issues. It seems your house is dealing with something unclean. The best solution is to move."

James' heart sank. "Mr. Ivy, please help me. I've worked so hard to buy this house. I can't bear the thought of losing it."

Ivy didn't hesitate. "Of course, I'll visit your house, check the situation, and help you adjust the energy flow."

James exhaled in relief. "Thank you so much, Mr. Ivy. I'll do whatever it takes to fix this."

Ivy stood up. "Let's go then. You're the last customer for today. Once we're done, I can go home for dinner."

"Alright."

James led Ivy to his home, hoping for a resolution to his family's issues.

Meanwhile, at a small temple nearby, Liam Dalton stood by the door, looking out impatiently. "Where did everyone go? What's going on?"

Henry, a younger man, replied weakly, "They've all gone to that place."

"This young lady really knows her stuff!" Liam grumbled. "What happened to the person you were supposed to find last time?"

Henry touched the wound on his head. "Mr. Dalton, Decker figured it out. He even punched me and warned me not to bother that master again."

"He also changed his name. Don't call him Decker anymore. Call him Wade."

Liam was furious. "Useless people!"

Henry suggested, "Should we find someone else to stir things up?"

"Stir up trouble?!" Liam kicked him. "No. Like the Art of War says, we need to adapt to the enemy's tactics. Let that girl make a mistake, then we'll sit back and enjoy the show."

Henry smiled sycophantically, giving Liam a thumbs up. "Mr. Dalton, you really are something."