Holding the small black dog, Lu Fei began to walk around the haunted building.
The little black dog poked its fluffy head out of the bag, its bright, jet-black eyes gazing around with curiosity and excitement.
The black hair grew from within the walls, not like hair, but more like the roots of some sort of plant.
Perhaps some kind of plant has become a spirit.
There are many trees around the haunted house; I wonder which tree's roots could grow into the building?
Lu Fei walked while carefully examining everything.
Tian Yuan and Ku Deng had only recovered one or two tenths of their spiritual power and did not dare to act alone, so they closely followed Lu Fei.
Huzi shot them an annoyed glare.
"If you're scared, then don't come. No one will laugh at you. Now, you're sticking to me like leeches. Aren't you annoying?"
"Amitabha, Huzi, we just want to lend a small hand," Ku Deng said with a thick face.
"You've got to be kidding! Are you really a monk? This is the first time I've heard that a monk can have such a thick skin!" Huzi was speechless.
Ku Deng quickened his pace, catching up to Lu Fei, and warmly smiled, "Manager Lu, what are you looking for? Why don't you tell us, and we can all help search together, quickly."
"Do you remember those strands of hair that emerged from the wall yesterday?" Lu Fei asked.
"Of course, I remember." Ku Deng nodded vigorously.
Seeing that scene once leaves an unforgettable impression, let alone it has only been one night since then.
"I suspect those weren't really strands of hair at all." Lu Fei voiced his thoughts.
"A spirit or a monster? That's quite possible! In ancient times, there were stories of spirits controlling ghostly entities to cause trouble... With so many roots, it must be a very large plant. It shouldn't be too hard to find."
Ku Deng was in full agreement and immediately started searching as well.
Everyone circled around the haunted building.
"Manager Lu, look! There's a huge banyan tree over there!" Ku Deng's eyes suddenly lit up, and he pointed ahead with his plump finger.
Amidst the dense foliage, numerous aerial roots dangled down from the thick trunk.
"These roots, don't they look like hair?"
"They do!"
Everyone exchanged glances and became alert, taking out their tools and cautiously approaching the banyan tree.
Ku Deng's prayer beads were already gone, so he took out a fish-shaped mallet, also known as a wooden fish mallet.
The group carefully made their way to the banyan tree.
The banyan tree was very sturdy, with a trunk so thick that it would take two adults to encircle it with outstretched arms. Its crown was vast, with lush branches and leaves that even covered half of the old dormitory's roof.
The most crucial part were the aerial roots hanging from the trunk.
However, the root-like strands that resembled hair last night had come out from the wall and were different from these aerial roots.
"I'll try first. Everyone, be careful."
Lu Fei handed the small black dog to Hu Zi and took out a dagger, approaching one of the aerial roots.
Everyone immediately became alert and prepared for battle.
If they could eliminate those strange hairs during the day, it would be much easier to deal with the vengeful spirits in the dormitory at night.
Lu Fei used a dagger to cut off a tendril of aerial root.
The cut was normal, and the aerial root didn't show any unusual movement.
"No reaction?"
Lu Fei then took out the lightning-struck jujube wood stick, channeled his spiritual power, and struck the cut area.
The banyan tree showed no reaction whatsoever.
Not even the leaves stirred.
"It seems it's not this tree," Lu Fei shook his head at everyone.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but their faces soon clouded with confusion.
If it's not this tree, then what could it be? What other plant could have so many roots?
"Keep looking!" Lu Fei waved his hand.
Everyone walked around the dormitory building twice and also tested other large trees, but found nothing.
"Boss Lu, could we be mistaken? Perhaps that's hair, not roots?" Ku Deng scratched his shiny forehead.
"If we can't find it, we'll just have to fight it out at night."
Lu Fei narrowed his eyes, looking around with some reluctance.
Ku Deng and Tian Yuan felt a sinking in their hearts.
In their current state, how could they possibly have the strength to fight?
"If all else fails, I will go for reinforcements, and ask my senior brother from the temple to help," said Ku Deng, then he looked at Tian Yuan, who had been silent all along.
"Master Tian Yuan, what are your plans?"
"I... I'll try to find someone to help too." Tian Yuan stammered.
"We mustn't delay. Let's go now. We should work with Manager Lu to exorcise the demonic creatures in that haunted building tonight."
Ku Deng grabbed Tian Yuan and started to leave.
If they could only fight tonight, Lu Fei would have to go back and reprepare.
But at this moment, the small black dog barked twice and then wriggled, trying to crawl out of the bag.
"Little guy, do you need to go to the bathroom? Hold on, this is not a good place..."
Lu Fei tried to push it back, but the little guy was very agile and slipped out from the other side of the bag, jumping down and running towards the base of the old dormitory wall.
"Little guy, come back!"
Lu Fei was startled and, along with Hu Zi, hurriedly chased after it.
The four little legs ran incredibly fast.
After the little black dog ran to the corner, it turned its head and barked twice at Lu Fei, then used its two small paws to dig into the ground a few times.
"You audacious little thing, do you know where this is? You want to use the bathroom here, then go ahead and do it quickly," Hu Zi said, extremely annoyed.
The little black dog ignored him, lifted its head and barked twice at Lu Fei, then pawed at the ground again, seeming very anxious.
"Little guy, is there something under here?"
Lu Fei's heart skipped a beat, and he squatted down, patting the spot where the little black dog had been digging.
The little black dog barked loudly, wagging its tail with great enthusiasm.
Lu Fei examined the corner. Vigorous ivy grew from this spot, nearly covering the entire exterior wall of the haunted building.
Lost in thought, he reached out and pulled at the ivy.
On the dark green vines, there were dense, fine roots that had penetrated deep into the wall.
"Hu Zi, go find some tools and dig this area up to see what's underneath."
"This little guy is impressive! With such a keen sense of smell, he must be a talented dog!"
Huzi was both surprised and delighted, and hurried to find Principal Qin.
More than ten minutes later, he came back carrying three shovels, followed by Principal Qin and the grandfather-grandson duo, Duan Tiankui and Duan Lingyue.
The two just arrived, and upon hearing that something had been discovered here, they decided to come over and take a look.
"Master, Daoist, aren't you here to help? Come on!"
Huzi tossed two shovels to Kudeng and Tianyuan.
With Principal Qin present, the two naturally wanted to seize the opportunity to show off, and without a word, they picked up the shovels.
A few shovelfuls later,
a pungent smell of earth wafted out.
"Oh my, so many hairs!" Duan Lingyue's eyes widened as she pointed at the dug-up soil in shock.
The wet soil was mixed with many fine, long black strands.
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
But upon closer inspection, it could be seen that those were not strands of hair, but the roots of ivy. These roots were numerous and long, growing deep into the soil.
"Keep digging!"
Lu Fei held the lightning-struck jujube wood stick, standing guard closely by the side.
The three continued to dig down, and there were even more black roots below, densely entangled with the soil.
After digging for about three to four meters, the plump and sweaty Master Kudeng was panting heavily, and finally, they made a new discovery.
Deep in the soil, the hair-like roots were tightly wound up, weaving into a giant cocoon.
There seemed to be something alive inside the cocoon, moving slightly.