Hong Wu said, ghosts certainly exist, and fresh ones at that. Just last week, a woman was killed by her husband, pushed down from the twentieth floor. She died a brutal death.
The ghost that Hong Wu currently possesses is that woman, and he said she is most suitable for a Kyuubi tattoo.
Hearing this, I felt a chill. Isn't there a problem with using this kind of ghost?
Hong Wu told me I didn't understand, that an Underworld Tattoo requires such a ghost. The more tragic, the more fierce, the more resentment and malevolent a ghost is, the better the effect.
I frowned, impressed by how well Hong Wu knew about these ghost tattoos. He was right, that's exactly what it was all about.
An Underworld Tattoo is inherently evil, and using such a ghost as the ink indeed has a more domineering effect.
I wondered, is it because he often collaborated with my grandfather, or had he practiced Underworld Tattoos before? After all, family trade secrets like these, no matter how well-known, are typically not disclosed.
"So, what do you think? Want to buy? I'll deliver it to you."
Hong Wu's voice on the other end of the phone interrupted my thoughts.
"I'll take it! How much?" I asked.
Hong Wu mentioned a friend's price, just ten thousand!
Damn, that's expensive. The three things I bought yesterday altogether cost just ten thousand, and now he's talking about a 'discounted' price for friends; isn't this a rip-off?
Hong Wu reassured me it's worth the price, stating an Underworld Tattoo is inherently expensive, easily worth ten times more.
After hesitating for a while, I clenched my teeth and bought it. Starting price for an Underworld Tattoo is one hundred thousand, so ten thousand was nothing in comparison.
Hong Wu worked quickly, delivering it in about ten minutes. He drove a big truck said to transport corpses.
Carrying a large bamboo tube, its contents were invisible, but sounds from within were audible.
"Let me out, let me out, I want to kill, kill..."
The voice was not loud, but high-pitched and terrifying. It made my skin crawl, and if not for the bamboo tube, I would have thought it was a murderer trapped inside.
"How about it, the resentment's strong, right? Worth the price?" Hong Wu raised his eyebrows at me.
"Ha, after being killed by her husband, you can imagine how full of hatred and resentment she must be," Hong Wu added.
He seemed exhilarated, unfazed by the malevolent ghost. But, the thought of dealing with such things made my scalp tingle; how should I use this? If it escaped, would it not flay my skin? Fortunately, it was broad daylight.
Reading my mind, Hong Wu told me not to worry and taught me how to use it. He then took some ordinary tattoo ink.
With no hesitation, he opened the tube and poured the contents onto the ordinary ink.
I saw a swirl of black mist spiral down and merge with the ink, and nothing happened. It was that simple, and the bamboo tube was empty.
"Is that... all?" I asked incredulously.
"Yeah, that's it!" Hong Wu nodded. "These ghosts have been processed; they aren't real ghosts anymore. Just use this ink for your Kyuubi tattoo."
Understanding this, I wasn't afraid anymore, although the whole thing was a little terrifying.
I paid Hong Wu his ten thousand, and before leaving, he pitched me other services. He mentioned they had top-quality corpses, recently including a celebrity who died in a car accident. Asking if I was interested, I told him to get lost. Soliciting for such disgusting business, whoever sent the body to his crematorium must be extremely unlucky. He was indeed someone who'd do anything for money.
After Hong Wu left, I called Wang Xin. There was a bizarre noise on her end, and she breathlessly answered. It was clear what she was doing, so I quickly mentioned that the ghost tattoo affair was settled and hung up to avoid disturbing her.
Later in the evening, Wang Xin arrived, overjoyed at the prospect of getting a ghost tattoo and nearly bursting out laughing enough to lose her nose job.
Beforehand, I warned her that this was an Underworld Tattoo, significantly different from the previous bright tattoos in both price and ominous nature. But the effect was more powerful, and it fit her request perfectly.
Wang Xin, unconcerned about the rest as the effect was assured, agreed to my price of one hundred thousand without a blink and paid in full, even before the tattoo was done.
Without any delay, I gathered the tattooing needles and the Underworld Tattoo ink, preparing to tattoo the Kyuubi on Wang Xin's arm.
During the process, I heard a weird giggling sound, eerie enough to make my hair stand on end.
I asked Wang Xin if she heard any laughing, but she denied it and urged me to continue tattooing.
Thinking it was my imagination, I carried on with the Kyuubi tattoo.
About six hours later, the Underworld Tattoo was completed. Truthfully, apart from the different ink, I found no discernable difference from the bright tattoos.
The Kyuubi tattoo turned out well, with nine lifelike tails, though the face appeared slightly odd—as if one side was human, the other fox-like, with a smile that wasn't quite a smile and eyes of crimson red. In comparison to the traditional bright tattoos, the Underworld Tattoo carried a more sinister touch.
Since ancient times, foxes have signified charisma and beauty, with fox spirits embodying evil allure. Whether it's the fox spirit in "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" that preys on scholars or Daji from "Investiture of the Gods," these tales evidence the fox's nature and stance.
Wang Xin was satisfied with the tattoo, hoping the effects met her expectations, or else I'd be in for trouble given the one hundred thousand price tag.
If it worked as she hoped, the rewards would extend beyond money. She said she was too busy this month, surrounded by different men, but assured me that once the month was over, she'd come to me, and I could do as I pleased with her.
The power of the Underworld Tattoo was imposing, drawing men to her and making them go to great lengths for her affection—businessmen, directors, tycoons. They'd kneel like dogs, doing whatever she asked.
As Wang Xin used them up and cast them aside for the next conquest, her excessive greed began to concern me, and rightly so, because Wang Xin met a terrible end. She never fulfilled our agreement because she died, horribly.