It was not yet midnight, yet the Five Ghosts Shopkeeper was already preparing. Xiang lay on a soft couch on the second floor, with many red threads tied around her.
Some of these threads were tied to her ankles, some to her wrists, and one end was placed into her mouth for her to bite on somehow. The threads were woven and crisscrossed, forming a net around her with tiny bells attached to it.
It looked eerie and mysterious.
The Five Ghosts Shopkeeper had changed into a white robe, donned a tall hat, and tied a yellow talisman at his waist. He removed the five small bottles he usually carried on his waist and placed them around Xiang's head and limbs.
As he silently chanted, a faint smoke curled up, revealing five small ghosts appearing around Xiang, kneeling.
When midnight came, he lit incense and began to circle Xiang, chanting.
"Is this healing?"
Hu Ma was awestruck; he felt it was more like casting.
