I Got Together with the Goddess [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 102

Jiang Shangwei and Li Tingfang were in the living room decorating for Jiang Yiqing’s birthday. Since Yiqing’s birthday fell just before Christmas, they had also placed a Christmas tree in the room. The tree was adorned with cute Christmas accessories; a life-sized Nordmann fir, matching Jiang Yiqing’s height, stood with a shining star at its peak and a small angel ornament nestled among the branches.

When the house lights were turned off, the Christmas tree, draped in colorful fairy lights, presented a unique and breathtaking beauty.

Beneath the tree, a pile of gifts reached higher than knee-level. The two women were meticulously studying the arrangement of the presents, trying to achieve the most aesthetically pleasing effect.

Jiang Shangwei was most proud of the little angel she had handcrafted. “Yiqing is about to turn twenty-three,” she remarked. “But no matter how old she gets, she will always be our little angel. In my heart, she’s still that six or seven-year-old girl running around my knees wanting to play. Back then, she truly looked divine!”

“Yes, that adorable toddler grew up in the blink of an eye,” Li Tingfang sighed in agreement.

Neither of them had experience as mothers when they began raising Jiang Yiqing, but the child had been so little trouble. Rather than the effort of raising her, it was the joy she brought them that defined the experience. Yiqing was like an angel bestowed upon them by heaven, illuminating a brand-new landscape in their lives.

Jiang Shangwei recalled a memory of Jiang Yiqing as a nursing infant between her and Li Tingfang. She remembered how Li Tingfang had clumsily held the milk bottle to feed her as if it had happened only yesterday, and her eyes began to moisten.

Li Tingfang wiped away her tears and said, “You’re acting like a child yourself. I’ll always be here to accompany you from now on. As for the young ones, let them live their own lives.”

Jiang Shangwei nodded. Seeing the two younger women walking down the stairs—looking so well-matched—she turned slightly to hide her emotions.

Li Tingfang spoke up, “Yiqing, Shuyu, although we said we’d stay up to see Yiqing into her birthday, you two can rest for a bit longer. I’ll call you when it hits midnight.”

However, the heavy expressions on their faces made Li Tingfang realize something was wrong. She had seen Auntie Qin go upstairs earlier, and by logic, she should have returned by now. Auntie Qin had mentioned wanting to help decorate the tree, so why wasn’t she back?

“Where is Sister Qin?” Li Tingfang asked. “Have you seen her?”

Jiang Shangwei froze, her face turning pale. “Heavens, she hasn’t come back yet? What on earth is going on?”

Jiang Yiqing found it difficult to speak. She looked at Luo Shuyu, who was still holding her hand, trying to give her strength. Luo Shuyu then spoke to the two women on her behalf: “Auntie, truly, it was my lack of foresight. Auntie Qin is likely next door at the Lu residence right now.”

“Why would she go there?”

Li Tingfang realized the implication. “Is it targeting Yiqing? Did it take Sister Qin away?”

“I’m not certain if it’s specifically targeting Yiqing, especially since I haven’t seen Mrs. Wang take action for so long,” Luo Shuyu explained. “But her resentment may have birthed a much more powerful ghost within the Lu residence. That ghost definitely intends to harm the people in this household.”

For a vengeful spirit, resentment is the source of power. If a happy family lived right next door, filled with laughter every day, it would be an unbearable existence for such a spirit. Consequently, it would do anything to destroy that happiness.

“Mom, what do we do now?” Jiang Yiqing said. “Something big is bound to happen on my birthday; that much is certain. I was too lax with security. If we had moved in pairs, Auntie Qin might not have been left alone.”

Li Tingfang felt a surge of self-reproach. “We neglected Sister Qin, and she ended up encountering this. But there’s no use talking about that now. We need to think of how to save her. Shuyu, do you have any leads?”

“I’ve asked the domestic ghosts of this manor to lead the way and find the vengeful spirit,” Luo Shuyu said. “However, they also stated they won’t fight it and might flee at any moment. That’s not the issue. My main concern is that if I leave, the vengeful spirit might have a backup plan, which could end up endangering Yiqing.”

Jiang Shangwei’s heart skipped a beat in fear. She said, “Yiqing’s birthday calamity must not be taken lightly. This is the absolute priority. Even if we adults suffer, we cannot let Yiqing come to any harm.”

“Mom, don’t say that.” Jiang Yiqing walked over and hugged her. “We will all be fine, and so will Auntie Qin. If something happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“You child…” Li Tingfang forced herself to stay composed. “Let’s not scare ourselves. We need to think of a strategy. Time is precious, and we don’t know what Sister Qin is going through. We must act immediately.”

That said, when facing a vengeful spirit, even calling the police is of little use. Against supernatural entities, the forces of conventional society are virtually powerless.

Li Tingfang walked to the opposite side of the living room and opened a door using a fingerprint scanner. The other three followed, only then realizing that what looked like a decorative panel in the living room was actually a functional door.

Li Tingfang switched on the lights. Inside, they saw a collection of modern ghost-hunting tools designed for use by ordinary people—preparations Li Tingfang had made over the years.

Upon learning of the birthday calamity, Li Tingfang had consulted with metaphysical masters and researchers to brainstorm solutions. She had custom-ordered specific tools, testing and upgrading them annually. They were all fully operational.

For instance, there were infrared thermal imaging sunglasses. While they couldn’t “see” ghosts directly, wearing them allowed one to lock onto Auntie Qin’s location. Furthermore, they were equipped with spectrum analysis software that could predict where a ghost might manifest with an accuracy rate of over 80%.

Offensive weapons included electromagnetic pulse (EMP) versions of exorcism swords. These were developed after researchers analyzed various recordings of vengeful spirits, noting strange fluctuations in sound waves and electronic signals. The weapons were designed to interfere with magnetic fields and had been proven in experiments to successfully disrupt a ghost’s movements.

Wanqing and Ruoying were standing nearby. Wanqing remarked, “I knew it. I thought it was strange—staying in a place with such good Feng Shui, yet I’d get occasional headaches or feel like I was being watched in the dark.”

Ruoying asked, “Are you saying Sister Li has been using us for experiments?”

“It certainly looks like it!” Wanqing was fuming. “She gave us a set of leaf cards to make us feel guilty for ages, but it turns out she’s keeping ghosts in the house just to use them!”

“…How terrifying.” Ruoying looked at Jiang Shangwei with a hint of pity. Surely this woman had no idea how formidable the woman beside her truly was.

The three women were impressed by Li Tingfang’s thorough preparations. Each person was equipped with an exorcism sword, and they wore devices on their waists that could automatically launch talismans. However, the most impressive piece was the plasma generator in Li Tingfang’s hand. This device could deliver targeted high-temperature beams, reaching up to 3000°C—a heat even ghosts couldn’t withstand. It could also cool down instantly, posing no safety risk to those nearby.

In ancient times, such temperatures were impossible to achieve, so it was never discovered that while ghosts might not “die” from extreme heat, they would undergo decomposition, causing their strength to diminish drastically.

Luo Shuyu was momentarily speechless. “Auntie, you’ve prepared so thoroughly. Do you intend for everyone to go and rescue her together?”

Li Tingfang replied, “Exactly.”

“Let’s go then,” Jiang Shangwei said, before turning to Jiang Yiqing. “Yiqing, you look very pale. Are you alright?”

Jiang Yiqing had purchased a pill from the System Store that could briefly suppress the radiation of resentment. She swallowed it and felt much better. “I’m fine. Let’s go together.”

Once the decision was made, Luo Shuyu didn’t hesitate. She traced a circle on the wall, and a circular door appeared. “This is a temporary transport portal. Step through, and we’ll be at the Lu residence.”

Li Tingfang was the first to enter, followed closely by Jiang Shangwei. Jiang Yiqing pulled Luo Shuyu forward, but Luo Shuyu signaled for her to go first. She then looked at the two ghosts. Having no choice, Wanqing pulled Ruoying and stepped inside. Luo Shuyu brought up the rear.

In Jiang Yiqing’s ears, there was a sound like water mixing with bubbles, but it quickly turned into silence. The living room of the Lu residence appeared before them.

The sight was shocking.

Everything in the living room looked strangely weathered, as if eroded by time. The walls were covered in blood-red paint, forming eerie, grotesque patterns.

“I was here six months ago,” Jiang Shangwei whispered. “It didn’t look like this then. I can’t believe anyone lives here. I spoke to Ms. Lu last month and she sounded perfectly normal. Does she not know the state of her own home?”

“Vengeful spirits are not to be trifled with. They consume people. Even if someone is saved afterward, they can hardly be called ‘human’ anymore. It’s a tragedy,” Wanqing said. “Ruoying, you stay here. I’ll go scout ahead.”

“No!” Ruoying grabbed her. “I’m not letting you go alone. What if that vengeful spirit becomes hostile toward us?”

“I, Wanqing, am no mere weak ghost.” Wanqing’s figure became exceptionally clear. As Jiang Yiqing looked at her, she didn’t seem like a ghost at all, but a living person. Wanqing continued, “It’s better to let Master Luo eliminate it. We can’t let this stalemate continue forever. For that, each of us must be prepared to face the consequences.”

Luo Shuyu heard her. She looked up toward the top of the stairs, where a dense ghostly aura was emanating. If she wasn’t mistaken, the ghost was upstairs. “Wanqing, I’ll go with you,” she said.

“Yiqing, stay by your mothers’ side. If anything happens, I’ll return here immediately,” Luo Shuyu instructed.

Luo Shuyu could feel Jiang Yiqing’s emotional state through the red thread on her hand. Although the visible thread vanished when they moved apart, a point of connection remained at her fingertips, allowing for a long-distance telepathic link.

Jiang Yiqing wanted to help so badly, but she knew that while she had coexisted with ghosts, she had never truly fought one. Following Luo Shuyu would only make her a burden. Biting her lip, she said, “I understand. Don’t forget—on my birthday, I promised to give you my answer.”

Upon hearing this, Luo Shuyu’s smile was as vibrant as a winter plum blossom. The brilliance of that smile left everyone else momentarily dazed.

After all, no one had ever seen Luo Shuyu smile so freely and happily before.