She Makes Me Believe in Science - Chapter 24

In the northern regions, the concept of “Household Guardians” has always been prevalent. These guardians usually consist of five animal spirits: the Fox, the Weasel, the Hedgehog, the Snake, and the Rat.

Families encountering strange events or financial bad luck often seek out experts to invite a Guardian into their home. There is also a unique situation where, if a family has crossed paths with one of these half-immortal animals and sparked a generational feud, they might negotiate to provide offerings for sixty years. After sixty years, the spirit becomes the family’s Guardian, ensuring successful harvests and a steady flow of wealth.

Back in the day, Song Fu’s great-grandfather had killed a giant python on the mountain. The python had been on the verge of achieving immortality, and having its path cut short, it harbored a deep grudge. It began appearing at his doorstep every night, disguised as a human, wailing incessantly. It is said that the cry of a ghost is an ill omen, and Song Fu’s great-grandfather fell ill the very day the crying began. As he lay on his deathbed, his neighbors hurried to bring a local expert to his side.

“It’s a good thing you brought him today. If that thing had finished crying for seven full days, his life would have been forfeit.”

That night, the expert went out to negotiate with the giant python as it wailed. When he returned, he held a yellow talisman. He folded it carefully, attached it to a string, and placed it in the old man’s hand.

“This talisman must not touch water or anything filthy. It must be worn by the youngest child in your family until the youngest of the third generation reaches twenty years of age. By then, it will have become your Household Guardian. Remember, the offerings must never cease, and you must burn incense on every festival. Go back and set up a spirit tablet in your house.”

After taking the talisman home, the great-grandfather miraculously recovered. The following year, he was blessed with a healthy son, and the talisman was passed down through the generations. Now, in Song Fu’s hands, it had finally reached the third generation.

“What do you mean by the Guardian ‘dispersing’?” Lin Qing asked. He hadn’t dealt much with Household Guardians, and the concept sounded quite different from what he knew. He was almost tempted to call it feudal superstition.

Hearing this, Song Fu’s mother began to wail. “A few days ago, when I went to burn incense for the Willow Immortal as usual, I suddenly found the tablet had cracked. I called Song Fu, only to find out he lost that life-saving talisman seven or eight years ago!”

Lost it seven or eight years ago and only now is something happening?

“Last year, when his father broke his leg, he dreamed of the Willow Immortal. It told him that because we weren’t sincere, it would no longer be our Guardian. His father woke up terrified, but the tablet looked fine, so he didn’t take it seriously. Who knew this boy had actually lost the talisman!” Song Fu’s mother cried harder, her hands repeatedly swatting at Song Fu with considerable force.

Song Fu hadn’t believed in ghosts or gods before, but the events on the train and what he had just witnessed left him doubting everything. Had his family’s constant run of bad luck over the years truly been his fault?

“Tell you what, I’ll give you a few talismans to stick on your doors and windows. Since the tablet is cracked, just move it outside. I’ll keep watch tonight and meet this ‘Willow Immortal’ myself.” Lin Qing wasn’t stingy, he handed over every finished talisman in his pocket, keeping only a few blank ones for himself.

“Thank you, thank you, Master!” Song Fu’s mother dragged Song Fu along to offer their thanks before rushing back home.

Lin Qing sighed as they left. So many things happening in one village in a single day, and he still hadn’t even investigated the rumor about the female corpse at the bottom of the well.

“Young man, you’ve got quite the talent for someone so young,” Ji Jiusheng remarked from the sidelines, clapping his hands in praise.

“M-Master, could we have a few talismans too?” Wang Dachuan asked, supporting his wife with a sycophantic smile.

Lin Qing checked his pockets and looked embarrassed. “I just gave them all away.”

“Then… if she comes back…” Wang Dachuan’s face fell. “What will become of Xiuhe and me?”

“Is the ‘she’ you’re talking about that female corpse?”

Wang Dachuan looked at Song Qian, who had asked the question, and nodded. “Yes.”

Song奶奶 leaned in toward Song Qian and asked tentatively, “Sensen, when did you… start getting involved with this kind of stuff?”

In front of her grandmother, Song Qian relaxed and answered honestly, “About two months ago.”

“Can you see… those things?” her grandmother asked. The weather was warm and the clothes were thin. Song Qian was wearing a shirt and had been sweating a little, so the outline of the jade pendant was faintly visible against the fabric.

Without waiting for an answer to her previous question, her grandmother suddenly asked out of the blue, “I remember that jade was a gift from your Uncle Ji, isn’t it? You’re still wearing it?”

Song Qian and Lin Qing both perked up at the mention of the jade. Lin Qing noticed that the moment Grandma Song mentioned it, Uncle Ji’s gaze shifted instantly. It was like a calm lake suddenly being churned up by a school of fish rising for air.

These two… seem exceptionally concerned about the jade.

Song Qian noticed it too. She reached out and pulled the jade into view, watching Ji Jiusheng’s expression out of the corner of her eye. Sure enough, as soon as the jade appeared, the usually composed man became visibly agitated. He could barely keep his hands still, and a look of suppressed joy flooded his face.

Ji Wuxin had lived inside that jade for as long as she could remember. In her mind, the jade was her property. Why was everyone calling it Song Qian’s? She was very annoyed by all the staring.

“Song Sensen! Put the jade back! Who told you to take it out? What if you lose it?” Ji Wuxin draped herself over Song Qian, shouting right into her ear.

Lin Qing: “…” How elegant.

The shouting made Song Qian’s ears ring. She shoved the jade back under her shirt after only a few seconds.

“It’s a beautiful piece of jade, I like it very much. Thank you, Uncle Ji.”

Ji Wuxin took this as a compliment to herself. She turned and planted a loud, wet kiss on Song Qian’s cheek.

Even though no one else could see her, Song Qian’s face flushed a deep crimson all the way to her neck. She felt as if she were about to boil over.

“Sensen, are you alright!? Why is your face so red? Is it an allergy or is it just too hot?” Grandma Song was the first to notice. Forgetting the jade, she immediately tried to drag Song Qian to the small village clinic.

“Then… what about us?” Wang Dachuan chimed in.

Lin Qing thought for a moment and said, “If you aren’t too scared, wait with me tonight at Song Fu’s doorstep.”

“Okay!” Having found a solution, Wang Dachuan agreed with a beaming smile. It was only after they stepped out that he realized what he’d said. “Wait! Huh???”

Song Qian, being ushered along by her grandmother, said helplessly, “Grandma, I’m fine, really. I don’t need a doctor.”

As she spoke, she didn’t forget to glare at Ji Wuxin, who was yawning nearby. The culprit showed no remorse, simply glancing back at her before slipping into the jade.

“I’m exhausted, I’m going to sleep.”

Song Qian: “…”

After they had walked a while and the redness in Song Qian’s face had subsided, she caught her grandmother’s hand to stop her. “See, Grandma? I’m fine now.”

Song Qian was taller than her grandmother, so she bent down to let her look closely.

Satisfied that she was okay, Grandma Song breathed a sigh of relief and gave Song Qian’s cheek a gentle squeeze. “You nearly scared me to death.”

Song Qian gave a sheepish laugh and led her grandmother back toward the house. Looking back, she saw Lin Qing and Ji Jiusheng talking. Both of them looked very serious.

Once they were home and Song Qian had returned to her room, she sent a message to Lin Qing.

“Did you find anything out?”

The reply came quickly: “He wouldn’t say much. He only asked me one very strange question.”

Song Qian frowned. A strange question?

Another message popped up: “Can a person live on in another form?”

What does that mean?

In the summer, the sun sets late, but Grandma Song always went to bed early. By six o’clock, dinner was over and she headed to her room, making sure to warn Song Qian not to go out and to get to bed early.

Lin Qing was going out to catch the so-called Household Guardian. Song Qian hadn’t planned on going, but Lin Qing laid out the few remaining talismans on the table. “This is all I have left. I’m afraid I won’t be able to win.”

Song Qian was shocked. If you can’t win, how am I supposed to help!? She was just an ordinary, fragile girl.

Lin Qing pointed at her jade. He wanted Ji Wuxin’s help.

Ji Wuxin tilted her head haughtily. “I’m not going. I stay where Song Sensen stays.”

That was the second time today she had called her “Song Sensen,” and it made Song Qian feel very strange. Wait…

Song Qian suddenly remembered. Hadn’t she called her that back when they were hiking? Later, the encounter with that scantily-clad woman at her front door had scared the memory right out of her head.

“How do you know my nickname is Sensen?” She hadn’t even told Yuan Yuan.

“Huh?” Lin Qing looked confused. “Isn’t that what your Grandma and Uncle Ji call you?”

“Exactly,” Ji Wuxin said righteously. “Am I not allowed to call you that?”

“No, I mean back when you were getting beaten by the Ghost Mother. You called me Song Sensen then. How did you know?”

“Who got beaten!!??” Ji Wuxin stood up in a huff. That was ages ago, why bring it up now!

Song Qian:  You got beaten, but I’m not allowed to say it.

As night began to fall, Lin Qing looked at Song Qian pleadingly. “Please, please! You can just watch from the side, I promise you’ll be safe!”

“Fine. Luckily I have a few leftover talismans from before.”

Lin Qing’s eyes went wide. “Exactly how many did Master Li Jiang give you!? You still have leftovers!!”

People would jump through endless hoops to get a single talisman drawn by Li Jiang, and Song Qian had a whole handful!

“I don’t know, he just handed me a stack.”

Lin Qing: “…”

Song Fu’s house was near the village entrance, close to a pond with a pavilion in the center. From there, they had a clear view of the house. Lin Qing set up an array around the pavilion and stuck a few talismans on it. Song Qian, Wang Dachuan, and his wife stayed inside.

The array also kept Ji Wuxin outside the pavilion. As Lin Qing tried to move closer to Song Fu’s house to prepare, he turned to see Ji Wuxin standing by Song Qian with her arms crossed. She was floating over the water, staring at him with a dark, heavy gaze.

Lin Qing rubbed his nose guiltily and pressed his palms together in apology.

“Next time I’ll make one you can enter. Come on, let’s go.”

Song Qian couldn’t help but urge her as well. “Go on, the sooner you finish, the sooner we can head back.”

“Who… who is she talking to?” Xiuhe was startled by Song Qian’s sudden voice. She reached out for Wang Dachuan, but her hand met thin air.

Turning around, she saw the man who had been sitting next to her now crouching under the bench, trembling uncontrollably.

What kind of coward did I marry?

In the pitch-black night, no one noticed two figures standing on the small path to the left of the pavilion. They watched in silence as Lin Qing and Ji Wuxin moved away.

“Master, do we move now?”

“No. We wait until they’ve exhausted themselves fighting that python. Then we move.”