Seeing that bloody mouth about to sink into his arm, Lu Fei quickly raised the Bagua mirror in between them.
A golden light flashed from the mirror, stunning Lulu into stillness.
Taking advantage of the moment, Lu Fei motioned for Tiger to hold her down while he picked up the willow whip and lashed it across her body.
A willow whip was said to subdue spirits with each strike.
The ghostly aura around Lulu grew weaker with each lash, but at the same time, her own body became more frail.
And with every lash that landed, two distinct screams filled the air.
"Something's off!"
Lu Fei paused, looking down at Lulu.
"One of those screams sounds like Lulu's."
The willow whip was supposed to subdue ghosts without causing much harm to humans; Lu Fei had held back, ensuring it would only leave red marks that would heal in a few days.
Why was Lulu screaming as if her very soul was being tormented?
"Boss, what's going on?" Tiger asked, puzzled.
By now, Lulu's struggles had weakened considerably; a few more strikes would surely drive the ghost out entirely.
"But something isn't right!" Lu Fei said, frowning. "If there were truly two ghosts, they would have both confronted us. Yet from start to finish, only the one possessing Lulu has shown itself."
"Maybe they're both possessing her?" Tiger suggested.
"Impossible! A person might attract multiple spirits, but only one spirit can possess them at a time. It's like a glass that can only hold so much water, no more," Lu Fei explained.
"Then what's going on with Lulu?" Tiger was at a loss.
Lu Fei's voice dropped to a serious tone. "I believe she's not telling us everything. She's hiding something."
"What? She's this close to death, and she's still keeping secrets? What is she thinking?" Tiger exclaimed, alarmed.
"We'll find out tomorrow," Lu Fei decided. "After what happened last time, I won't act without knowing the full story."
"What about her?" Tiger shuddered as he met Lulu's hateful glare.
"This will do."
Lu Fei took out the remaining ashes, sprinkling them over Lulu.
Then he positioned the Bagua mirror opposite the Lucky Sister Brand box, its reflective surface facing the box.
After being struck by the whip, the spirit's power had weakened considerably, allowing the mirror to hold it in place for the time being.
Lulu's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
Lu Fei and Tiger stayed awake through the night in the stinking room, only opening a window for air once dawn arrived.
"Wake up."
Tiger shook Lulu's shoulder, rousing her.
Lulu groggily opened her eyes, her whole body aching. Seeing the two men by the window, she blinked in a daze.
"Am I saved?"
"No, you're close to dying!" Lu Fei replied coldly.
"What?" Lulu gasped, scrambling upright. She stared at Lu Fei, incredulous. "You said you'd save me! You're breaking your word!"
"It's not me who's lying. It's you," Lu Fei scoffed.
Lulu froze, her eyes flickering. "I—I told you the truth!"
"In that case, you can find someone else." Lu Fei's expression turned to stone as he pulled Tiger toward the door.
"Wait! You can't just leave!" Lulu stumbled off the bed, blocking them. "You promised to save me. How can you give up halfway?"
"Are you willing to tell the truth now?" Lu Fei asked.
Tiger urged her, "You're running out of time. Just tell us everything. We almost exorcised that ghost last night but stopped because we sensed something was wrong."
"What happened last night?" Lulu had no memory of being possessed, and seeing her bitten, mangled wrists, her face turned even paler.
"The spirit tried to drain your blood," Tiger explained. "We restrained it for now, but if we leave, you won't survive."
"Drain my blood!?" Lulu's body went limp, overwhelmed with pain and fear. "But I'm telling the truth. The Lucky Sister Brand—it's just something I accidentally bought. I don't know why it's so vicious."
Lu Fei examined her intently. "I suspect your soul is now bound to the spirit. Exorcising it would destroy your own spirit as well. Even if you survive, you'd be left in a vegetative state."
That explained why each lash with the whip had caused both to scream.
"Bound souls? How is that possible?" Lulu looked horrified. "Is it because I used blood offerings?"
"It's more than that. I've been thinking over your symptoms: the stench, the fear of sunlight."
"Miss Lulu, may I see your back?"
"My back?" Lulu hesitated, though she knew her appearance was the last of her worries. Lu Fei couldn't possibly be asking to take advantage of her.
She let her shirt drop, exposing her back.
The foul stench hung thick in the air.
Lu Fei and Tiger recoiled in horror.
An oval patch of skin on Lulu's back was rotting, spreading in all directions, yet she seemed oblivious to it.
"What? What's wrong with my back?" Lulu asked, alarmed.
"Your back is rotting," Lu Fei replied gravely. "The spirit isn't simply trying to kill you; it's trying to possess your body. The decay and sunlight aversion are symptoms of possession."
"Possession?" Lulu was dumbfounded.
"The box may be made from yin wood, which could intensify backlash, but it wouldn't cause full possession," Lu Fei continued, studying her closely.
"So, Miss Lulu, what are you hiding?"
Lulu's entire body shook, her eyes reddening, yet no tears fell.
"I'm not hiding anything about the Lucky Sister Brand."
"After a livestream, I received a private message. The person claimed he had a way to help me regain my popularity."
"Desperate, I believed him and bought this."
"That's all. I don't know the person. He sent it through mail."
Lulu's expression seemed sincere.
"Have you done anything else shameful?" Lu Fei asked. "Possession requires compatible birth details. If you truly just happened upon an evil amulet, how could it line up so perfectly?"
"It must be that person who's trying to harm me!" Lulu sobbed.
"Then how would he know your birth date? And I'm guessing you listed a false birthdate on your profile, correct?"
Lu Fei had guessed based on rumors, one of which said she had altered her birth date to appear younger.
Lulu's face shifted, her tear-streaked face now stunned. "Only two people know my real birthday. But... could it really be her?"
"Who?"
"Bing Bing."