Morning sunlight poured into the room through the curtains as Chen Jing turned on her live-streaming equipment. After last night's carousel incident, her emotions were a mix of unease and excitement. The live broadcast had gone viral, with her viewership numbers skyrocketing. She quickly typed a catchy title into the streaming platform: "Abandoned Amusement Park Horror Recap: Let's Uncover the Truth!"
As soon as the notification sound rang out, a flood of viewers poured into the live room.
"Here we go! Chen Jie is back at it again!"
"That shadow from last night scared the crap out of me!"
"Fake, right? How could something like that even exist?"
Adjusting the camera, Chen Jing gave a slightly tired but confident smile. "Good morning, everyone! Were you all blown away by last night's adventure? Today, we're going to dive into what happened and discuss your thoughts on it."
The chat exploded with messages:
"That carousel lighting up on its own was so creepy!"
"I replayed the shadow part three times. It didn't look fake to me."
"No way, otherwise how are you still alive?"
"You should consult a professional, like an exorcist or something."
Seeing the last comment, Chen Jing couldn't help but laugh. "An exorcist? You really think there are still people out there who can ward off ghosts? I don't buy it."
"Oh, but there are! Have you heard of Master Xuanqing?" another viewer quickly replied, "He's pretty famous in the paranormal circles lately—solving all kinds of weird stuff."
"Master Xuanqing?" Chen Jing repeated the name, propping her chin on her hand with a curious expression.
The chat lit up even more:
"That's him! Master Xuanqing is a legend. Rumor has it he can even open the 'third eye'!"
"He's incredible! My friend's haunted house was resolved by him."
"Confirmed! He runs a small temple in an alley on the east side of town. Supposedly, it's always packed!"
"Not cheap, though. You should give it a shot, Chen Jie!"
"Get a professional, seriously. Don't risk your life for views!"
Watching the lively discussion unfold, Chen Jing smirked and shook her head. "Master Xuanqing… sounds pretty impressive. But is he really that miraculous? Anyone here actually tried his services?"
More messages flew across the screen:
"My friend experienced it firsthand! Apparently, he solved a six-month haunting with a single talisman."
"Sounds fake. Is this a paid ad?"
"Just try it out, Chen Jie! You've got the guts."
Chen Jing chuckled and waved it off, "Hey, don't forget, your girl here comes from a family of exorcists."
As she spoke, she opened her phone's notes app and quickly jotted down the name "Master Xuanqing" along with the address shared in the comments. The chat continued buzzing with various leads and comments.
"Well, that's all for today's stream!" Chen Jing waved at the camera with a cheeky grin. "Stay tuned for more adventures! Who knows, maybe next time, I'll take you to see this Master Xuanqing in action."
After ending the broadcast, she leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling with a thoughtful look.
"Master Xuanqing… that name has potential," she murmured, her lips curling into a sly smile.
Sunlight streamed through the cracks of old curtains, illuminating a small and unassuming temple. The décor was both retro and casual, with the walls covered in banners and photos celebrating "success stories." Messages like "Thanks to Master Xuanqing for exorcising my home!", "Peach Blossom Charm Secured My Blind Date!", and "Master Xuanqing Saved Our Family!" were plastered everywhere, their bluntness teetering on the edge of comedy.
At the center of the room, a wooden table was cluttered with talismans, magical tools, and a few half-empty cups of bubble tea. A young Daoist, Zhao Qing, lounged lazily in a rattan chair, scrolling through his phone with his legs crossed.
"Transfer complete: 800 yuan," his phone chimed.
Zhao Qing's eyes lit up as he set his phone down, grinning in satisfaction. "Not bad this month. Seems like the demand for paranormal solutions is booming." He picked up a handwritten order sheet and muttered to himself, "Grandma Liu's talisman is done, Old Wang's safety pouch delivered… Tsk, there's definitely money in this business."
While reviewing his ledger, Zhao sipped his bubble tea, the straw making a faint slurping sound.
Suddenly, a private message popped up on his phone: "Master, is the abandoned amusement park haunted? I saw this live stream, and it looks real."
Zhao Qing opened the link and watched a snippet of Chen Jing's stream from the previous night—the part where she and Lucifer encountered the eerie shadow near the carousel.
"Ugh, another low-level paranormal scam," Zhao muttered, dismissively waving his hand. "Probably just another publicity stunt for clicks."
Just as he was about to close the video, something caught his attention. The dark red symbols on the carousel's center post. His expression shifted to one of seriousness as he squinted at the screen.
"This energy… it feels familiar," he murmured, his brow furrowing deeply. "Could it really be… that thing?"
Standing abruptly, Zhao began pacing around the room, muttering to himself. "Who was in that video? That girl looks familiar… Wait, isn't she that livestreamer—Chen Jing? The one who was stirring up attention last week?"
Biting his nail thoughtfully, Zhao's lips curled into a mischievous smirk. "Regardless of whether it's real or not, this is my domain. Solving problems and making money? Perfect."
He grabbed a talisman and casually painted a few strokes on it with a brush. "Abandoned amusement park? Looks like I'll need to check if someone's been dabbling in forbidden stuff."
Before leaving, Zhao leaned against the table and snapped a selfie, striking what he thought was a "cool" pose. Moments later, his social media account displayed a new post:
"Master Xuanqing now accepting cases—professional solutions to paranormal phenomena, guaranteed effectiveness! The abandoned amusement park? Not a problem. DM for inquiries~"
Satisfied, Zhao grabbed a few more talismans and a brass coin sword, humming a cheerful tune as he headed for the door. Pausing mid-step, he turned back to his desk and quipped, "Next time, don't skimp on the tapioca pearls."
With a dramatic swirl of his robe, he strode out of the temple, leaving behind an empty room adorned with banners and a half-finished bubble tea.