“Mm! I’ll do my best to get scared!” Luo Huai said, full of fighting spirit.

 

Zhong Jiudao had long set up a talisman array outside Luo Huai’s door, ensuring that he wouldn’t be harmed by any evil spirits. However, while the array could prevent spirits from entering, it couldn’t stop someone from voluntarily stepping out. In the middle of the night, Luo Huai happened to witness the scene—now, no matter how naive he was, there was no way he could explain it.

The White Qipao ghost leaned close behind Zhong Jiudao and said, “Such a handsome young man! How about I enchant him, make him lose his mind, and forget everything that happened tonight? Such a good-looking little brother, I’ll go easy—at most, it’ll shorten his lifespan by ten years. But if he really dies, I’d be heartbroken.”

She seemed to be whispering, but in fact, her voice wasn’t lowered at all; every word clearly drilled into Luo Huai’s ears.

“Hic! Hic! Hic!” Luo Huai was so scared that he couldn’t speak, continuously hiccupping.

Aunt Yang arrived at the right moment, carrying the bowl of blood-and-flesh “fresh meat” porridge to Luo Huai’s side: “Here, finish this porridge and settle your hiccups.”

“Hic! Hic! Hic!” Luo Huai’s face was pale as death, and he was on the verge of fainting.

“Get away!” Zhong Jiudao said coldly.

The White Qipao ghost and Aunt Yang, who had been eagerly scheming, wisely stepped back. Unexpectedly, Luo Huai obediently nodded and, hiccupping, tried to run outside.

Zhong Jiudao quickly grabbed Luo Huai: “I’m not talking about you. Sit down; I’ll help you.”

Luo Huai was pressed onto a chair by the dining table. Zhong Jiudao’s hand lightly touched his wrist and detected a weak and chaotic pulse, a clear sign of fright.

Zhong Jiudao casually drew a “Calm Fright and Stabilize Soul” talisman and gently tapped it on Luo Huai’s back. As the spell entered his body, Luo Huai felt a warm sensation, and the hiccups immediately stopped.

He took a deep breath, pounded his chest with his fists, and curiously asked, “Wow, that’s amazing! The hiccups are gone! Director Zhong, did you hit some acupuncture point on my back? Are you trained in Chinese medicine?”

As Luo Huai spoke, his gaze inadvertently fell on Aunt Yang. He hurriedly jumped from the chair and said, “Sorry! Sorry!”

Seeing this, Zhong Jiudao thought: Even a naive, innocent person like Luo Huai should have started to sense that something was off in this crew. Rather than lying to cover it up, it’s better to be upfront—threaten him with the danger of the spirits, and then lure him with the power of a master of exorcism. A combination of threats and enticements would surely ensure Luo Huai helps keep the secret.

With a human helping to cover the lie, the rest of the crew would be more likely to believe it.

Moreover, Luo Huai had an honest-looking face; whatever he said would be highly credible. Having him assist would definitely get twice the result with half the effort.

Zhong Jiudao ran through his plan of threats and temptations in his mind. Just as he was about to speak, Luo Huai clasped his hands together and said to Aunt Yang, “Aunt Yang, sorry! So you’re an actress, and your acting is so vivid! Both Qian ge and I mistook you for the cook. Sorry, sorry!”

Zhong Jiudao: “……”

Aunt Yang wiped the blood from her face with her sleeve and, like a kind aunt, said, “It’s okay. You weren’t really at fault. Cooking is my hobby—I love seeing others enjoy my food. Seeing them eat happily brings me genuine joy.”

“This must be the so-called craftsmanship, the pursuit of skill and dedication.” Luo Huai sighed.

“Oh my, I’ve never met such a pure young man, and he’s so handsome.” The White Qipao ghost reached out to touch Luo Huai’s face. “Aunt Yang is craftsmanship, and what do you think I am, a soul-capturing ghost that seduces the heart?”

The White Qipao ghost was delicate and lovely, with eyes full of emotion, looking deeply at everyone. Under her gaze, Luo Huai blushed, slightly turned his head, and avoided her touch.

With such a young, attractive female “actress,” Luo Huai didn’t feel comfortable complimenting her—anything he said could seem suggestive.

“All right,” Zhong Jiudao pushed away Aunt Yang and the White Qipao ghost. “It’s late; everyone should go back and rest. I’ll see you off.”

The last sentence was meant for Luo Huai. The latter quickly found himself an excuse and didn’t need Zhong Jiudao to explain him. But since he still needed to revise the script and attend auditions, it was better for him to stay in his room.

On the way upstairs, Luo Huai cautiously glanced at the serious-looking Zhong Jiudao. When he finally opened his door, he mustered the courage to say, “Director Zhong, thank you for your guidance! I have confidence in this drama!”

Zhong Jiudao: “……”

He took out the script, pointing to a passage: “The script says I should act terrified, wanting to run but my legs are weak, unable to move. I practiced in my room all day and couldn’t figure it out. But tonight, seeing Aunt Yang’s performance, it suddenly all made sense. I know exactly how to act it now!”

Zhong Jiudao: “……You should rest well tonight; you may be frightened even more in the future.”

“Hmm, I’ll definitely try my best to get scared!” Luo Huai said with high spirits.

Closing the door, Zhong Jiudao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Family obstruction hadn’t made him hesitate, the poor crew didn’t worry him, the house full of fierce spirits didn’t frighten him—but a naive young actor like Luo Huai had made him break out in a cold sweat. He needed to plan carefully and ensure no more of the spirits’ tricks were exposed.

Zhong Jiudao paused outside Luo Huai’s door. Once he heard his breathing gradually even out, he quietly slipped in a “Calm Spirit” talisman to ensure Luo Huai would sleep through the night, even if struck by lightning, before finally heading to the audition hall.

The group of ghosts was already waiting in the third-floor screening room for Zhong Jiudao. Zhong Jiudao ordered everyone to stand in line and report their numbers. Including Steward Lin, there were thirty-three fierce ghosts in the mansion. Each had been a ghost for at least a hundred years, all born in chaotic times, having died in extreme misery. After death, they absorbed a great deal of worldly resentment, and now each was a regional overlord in their own right. Yet, due to the exorcist’s flesh and blood from decades ago, they had been trapped here for tens of years.

The exorcist’s magic served as the best nourishment for these fierce ghosts. Although confined here, their power was not to be underestimated. Each had cultivated to the point where they could manifest during the day, and they could walk over ordinary exorcist without fear.

In today’s era, when the Tianshi sect was gradually declining, if any other member of the Zhong family entered this mansion, they would either die or lose half their life.

But the one who actually came to the mansion was the exceptionally talented Zhong Jiudao. This made the ghosts unlucky—they could only obediently serve as backup power sources and actors.

Since the number of unpaid actors had increased, and they came with their own special effects and hair-and-makeup, Zhong Jiudao, while revising the script, simply added more ghost roles and reduced the human roles.

Thus, the entire script became the story of four college students entering a haunted mansion inhabited by ten vicious ghosts. The students now seemed more like uninvited guests intruding into a ghostly amusement park.

With the ghosts’ roles expanded, the protagonists became the ghosts rather than humans. Zhong Jiudao already had the inexpensive actor Luo Huai, so hiring three ordinary actors would suffice; the expenses wouldn’t be too high.

The shooting budget was reduced to only several hundred thousand yuan, leaving more money for post-production. In a horror film, editing and music are crucial; saving money on actors is fine, but this part absolutely cannot be cut.

Aunt Yang was already a pre-selected actor. The remaining thirty-two ghosts had to compete for nine roles. For a moment, the ghosts were indignant, glaring fiercely at Aunt Yang, who had bribed the director by cleaning the mansion and cooking for him.

In front of the group, Aunt Yang no longer had to hide anything. She held a broom in one hand and a cleaver in the other, half her neck missing, blood flowing freely. Which ghost dared to question her backdoor connections? She would certainly swing the cleaver at them.

The other ghosts weren’t that weak; but there were still nine roles available. There was no need to fight to the death immediately.

“The roles I gave you before were only four. Now there are many more—you may choose.” Zhong Jiudao burned a character list.

The White Qipao ghost stepped forward first and said to Zhong Jiudao, “Lord Exorcist, I have already chosen the role of the mansion’s matriarch. A woman as dignified, virtuous, gentle, and considerate (NT: describes ideal feminine virtues) as I am should naturally be the head of a household.”

“Pah!” The Western-dressed female ghost spat and said, “Don’t even look in the mirror to see your own face. You look like a seductive fox spirit, which kind of matriarch would ever choose a temptress like you? The matriarch of the new era should be someone like me—modern, stylish, and embracing new-era ideas.”

The Western-dressed ghost was the Third Concubine, and the White Qipao ghost was the Fifth Concubine. Yet, in life they were concubines in entirely different households. Somehow, even together, they were still fighting.

Zhong Jiudao shook his head and said, “The matriarch of this house has a 20-year-old daughter; her age is already forty or fifty. Neither of you is suitable in appearance.”

But with this, all the female ghosts in the mansion, except Aunt Yang, were young fierce ghosts. None fit the character requirements.

The White Qipao ghost immediately had an idea: “Exorcist, I can also appear slightly older. And don’t you think that if a role alternates between being old and young, the acting will be more exquisite?”

Saying this, she slightly lifted her head, and the youthful, delicate face gradually bore traces of age, transforming into a well-maintained woman in her forties.

Seeing this transformation, Zhong Jiudao gained a new insight into the character. He lowered his head and quickly wrote in his notebook: “Desire to regain youth,” “chasing youthful flesh,” “transitions between ageing and youth,” “one person plays both mother and daughter,” etc. A vivid female ghost character gradually took shape in Zhong Jiudao’s mind.

The Western-dressed ghost saw that Zhong Jiudao was already somewhat mesmerized by the White Qipao ghost, so she hurriedly screamed: “I have skills! I can make clothes!”

Hearing the word “clothes,” Zhong Jiudao’s interest was piqued. His gaze shifted from the notebook to the Western-dressed ghost.

She said, “Before that old monster forcefully took me into the mansion, I was a designer at a tailoring workshop. Besides making traditional garments, I also attended classes at a church and know how to make Western-style clothes. This outfit I’m wearing was sewn by me before I died! Today, I saw those clothes you brought—poor materials and ugly designs. Give me fabric and three days, and I guarantee I can make clothes a hundred times better!”

Zhong Jiudao’s eyes brightened. In fact, he had also been dissatisfied with the clothes Qian Duoqiun had rented. If he returned them now, bought better-quality fabric with the rental fee, and had the Western-dressed ghost make the clothes personally, the overall quality of the film would be greatly enhanced.

Even so, Zhong Jiudao said, “Your thinking is outdated. The clothes you make are traditional and may not meet modern aesthetic standards.”

The Western-dressed ghost angrily said, “Who said that! I learn quickly. Last night, I secretly watched many films and can make all the clothes, and even improve on them!”

The White Qipao ghost, who was in competition with her, immediately seized the opportunity to speak: “Last night, when you were released, the mansion was using normal electricity, right? You secretly used power? Oh my! Exorcist, such a wasteful ghost—if she’s used, who knows how much fabric of yours she’d waste!”

“Qi Wanlian (NT: litt. The Melancholy Evening Lotus), you meddling, troublemaking ghost, I’ll eat you!” The Western-dressed ghost’s clothes wrapped around the White Qipao ghost, constricting her tightly, the candle in her hand flickering ominously.

In terms of raw combat ability, the White Qipao ghost, Qi Wanlian, could not defeat the Western-dressed ghost. But being a cunning ghost with a devious mind, Qi Wanlian was not a match for her.

“Stop fighting,” Zhong Jiudao said. “If you can’t be the matriarch, there’s still a daughter’s role. Within three days, if you can make enough clothes for this film, the daughter’s role will go to you.”

“Thank you, Exorcist!” The Western-dressed ghost accepted the role and no longer wished to entangle with Qi Wanlian. She immediately slapped her so hard the ghost flew to the ceiling and couldn’t move for a long time.

“Don’t call me Exorcist anymore. Just call me Director Zhong,” Zhong Jiudao corrected everyone. “Show all the skills you have. There are still seven roles remaining, and we’ll select the best candidates.”

 

Translator : DarNan