The Mystic Lucky Baby is Five and a Half Years Old - Chapter 5

“Hmm, I’ll have to go check out the place where Daddy ran into that dirty thing today before I can be sure.” After thinking for a bit, Niannian answered in her soft, milky voice.

There were many reasons a person might encounter a ghost.

The first kind sought revenge, souls of those who had been persecuted or murdered, unable to rest, turning into vengeful spirits that hunted down their killers. 

The second kind came from places filled with dark energy, extremely yin areas that were naturally home to many ghosts, some of whom took pleasure in harming humans.

The third kind sought a substitute. Some spirits, trapped and unable to reincarnate for various reasons, needed to kill someone to take their place and finally be reborn.

The fourth kind was simply running into a particularly malicious ghost. And the fifth kind resulted from problems in feng shui arrangements.

Just from reading Daddy’s face, she couldn’t tell which reason it was. She had to go to the scene herself to confirm. The only reason she knew for sure that Daddy had encountered a ghost at all was because she could still sense the lingering yin energy clinging to him.

“I see…” Yu Shanhe thought for a moment, then said, “Then, how about Daddy just uses the talisman for now? Work’s been busy lately, I’ll need a couple more days to handle some things before I can take you to the office.”

Those troublesome accounts at the company were nearly wrapped up; in another few days everything would be done. Since the talismans were so effective, he figured they could serve as protection for now. Once things at work settled down, he’d take his little girl to the company to take a look.

Otherwise, if he got busy again, he wouldn’t have time to watch her. If anything happened to her while he wasn’t paying attention, that would be unbearable. Besides, he didn’t want her to face that terrifying thing he’d seen today.

If he just stayed careful for a few more days and confirmed the company was safe, then he could bring her to investigate. If there was any sign of danger, he simply wouldn’t take her at all.

The protective instincts of a father completely blinded Yu Shanhe to just how powerful his daughter really was. After all, a little girl who could draw talismans strong enough to destroy a ghost herself wouldn’t be afraid of them, would she?

But concern clouded his mind. In his desire to protect her, he unconsciously treated his daughter as something soft and fragile.

“Well, okay then. I don’t think Daddy’s in any big danger these next few days anyway,” Niannian said, tilting her small head, calculating again carefully. She could see that for the next seven days, her father wouldn’t face any life-threatening calamities.

That was good enough to put her at ease.

Once she was sure Daddy would be safe, Niannian reached for the little pouch hanging by her bed, hugged it, and rummaged inside.

After a bit of digging, she pulled out a thick stack of yellow talisman papers.

They were all peace talismans she’d drawn while practicing the last few days, her pouch was full of them. Even though each one of her talismans worked, she kept practicing every day, without fail.

Over time, she’d accumulated a mountain of them. They’d just been sitting unused until now. Finally, they had a purpose!

Yu Shanhe fell silent as he watched his daughter pull out handful after handful of talisman papers. He was starting to seriously suspect his little girl was running some kind of talisman wholesale business.

How else could she have so many of them lying around?

Hadn’t all those masters he’d met said that drawing talismans drained spiritual energy and focus, and real ones were rare and precious?

“Sweetie, how come you have so many talismans?” Yu Shanhe couldn’t help asking.

“Hehe, these are just from my usual practice! My Master said my writing’s too ugly, so I have to practice more to make it look better. But even though they’re ugly, Daddy, don’t worry, they still work really well!” Niannian scratched her cheek with a shy laugh.

Her handwriting was the worst in the entire Taoist temple. Even her senior brother, whom Master constantly scolded for being lazy and unmotivated, had handwriting a thousand times prettier than hers.

No matter how many talismans she drew each day, her writing never improved.

As my Master often said, “Yes! A real eyesore!”

“Uh… right,” Yu Shanhe said awkwardly, glancing down at the talisman in his hand. To be fair… yeah, it really wasn’t something one could compliment. Each stroke and line was crooked, like a bunch of squirming mudfish.

But still, this was his precious daughter’s work, his beloved little girl’s talisman! He couldn’t possibly say anything to hurt her feelings. It was better to change the subject. “Alright then, Daddy will take these. It’s getting late, sweetheart, you should get some sleep. In a few days, Daddy will bring you to the company.”

“Okay! Thank you, Daddy. Good night!” Niannian really was sleepy. Her body clock was always precise, and staying up late chatting with Daddy like this was unheard of.

After waving him goodnight, the little dumpling flopped backward onto her bed and fell asleep instantly. 

In her dreams, she was back at the Taoist temple. Nestled deep in the mountains, the temple might’ve looked old and worn, leaking in summer rain and drafty in autumn winds, but it was always lively and full of warmth.

There was her master and eldest senior brother, already up early to practice. Her second senior brother, who always cooked breakfast for everyone. Her third senior brother, who’d try every trick to avoid chores. And her fourth senior brother, who’d secretly watch and immediately tattle on the third.

Meanwhile, she’d be in the courtyard, cuddling the little animals she’d brought back from the mountain, playing happily until someone called her for breakfast or Master came over after morning practice to gently pat her head.

Everything was peaceful, warm, and happy. But suddenly, a familiar yet strange face appeared in her dream. That face twisted into a wicked grin, laughter booming like a demonic roar.

He said, “Hand over Yu Niannian, I’m taking her back today! I’ll torment her, bully her, and make sure she never sees her Master or senior brothers again!”

That face was her brother, Yu Sheng!

Then the evil demon, Yu Sheng, snatched her away. No matter how hard her Master and senior brothers chased, they couldn’t catch up. He took her back to his dark, terrifying lair where another monster waited.

It looked exactly like Zhao Tang.

Zhao Tang screeched and lunged at her, smashing all the charms and gifts her Master and brothers had given her, glaring fiercely as she did it. Yu Sheng and Zhao Tang stood side by side, laughing wickedly, while no one came to help no matter how much she cried.

And just like that, the dream was cut off. Niannian’s eyes flew open. 

She stared blankly at the pretty princess-style room around her, disoriented for a long moment. Finally realizing it had just been a dream, she patted her little chest, trying to calm her racing heart.

Too scary. Way too scary! Brother nearly scared Niannian to death!

“Yu Niannian! If you’re awake, hurry up and come down for breakfast! Don’t make me get scolded again because you’re late!”

“Mmff!” The voice outside the door was the same as the demon king’s voice from her dream! Niannian immediately clamped her tiny hands over her mouth, stifling any sound.

She barely held back the urge to burst into tears.

Sob… too scary!

Another day of wanting to go back to the Taoist temple had begun.