When Sun Yan reached out and lifted up the Divine Statue of the True Monarch of Pure Origin and Mysterious Dao, he discovered a magical detail about the statue.
Even though it had been sitting on the altar for so long, there wasn't a speck of dust on its surface. It seemed like being dust-free was an unexpected additional effect.
This also saved Sun Yan the trouble of having to come regularly to wipe the True Monarch of Pure Origin and Mysterious Dao.
Pulling the mirror out from beneath the statue, Sun Yan planned to take it out. Now that the Evil Spirit lodged inside the mirror was gone, the mirror could be considered a medieval antique.
If he could find a buyer, he should be able to sell it for a decent price.
For Sun Yan, who had just bought a car and was still in debt, he couldn't miss any opportunity to make money; even the smallest bit counts, so he must make use of the mirror's value.
"Where are you taking me?"
Just then, a woman's voice suddenly sounded in Sun Yan's ear, making him gape in disbelief as he looked around.
He wasn't afraid, but instead, felt extremely surprised.
In broad daylight, bright as the sun, he was carrying the Ghost Torturing Stick, the General Sun Mask, and the General Enhancing Puppet, with the Divine Statue of the True Monarch of Pure Origin and Mysterious Dao placed nearby.
What kind of bold Evil Spirit would dare to break into his residence?
"Look down, I'm here."
Hearing the voice, Sun Yan looked down and saw that the mirror in his hand was not reflecting his own image, but that of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, beautifully attractive young Caucasian girl.
She was wearing a simple long dress, her eyes as pure as a doe's, curiously staring at him.
"Is this Evil Spirit not dead yet?"
This time Sun Yan was truly shocked. He naturally believed in the power of the True Monarch of Pure Origin and Mysterious Dao. Even if it was just the ordinary version, it shouldn't be incapable of completely eliminating an Evil Spirit.
But the task clearly showed it was completed, so perhaps there was some deeper meaning.
"Hello, I'm Luna. Nice to meet you."
The blonde girl enthusiastically waved at Sun Yan, showing no signs that she was the Mirror Evil Spirit who had tried to harm him that night.
Sun Yan frowned and calmly drew out the Ghost Torturing Stick, pressing it against the mirror's surface. Luna immediately covered her face, retreating repeatedly, fearfully pleading, "Please, don't point that thing at me. I hold no malice towards you. I want to be your friend."
Sun Yan put away the Ghost Torturing Stick, brought the mirror closer to the True Monarch of Pure Origin and Mysterious Dao's statue. This time, Luna did not show a strong reaction, suggesting the True Monarch did not intend to harm her.
"Clearly an Evil Spirit, she's afraid of the Ghost Torturing Stick but not the True Monarch of Pure Origin and Mysterious Dao. Could it be the True Monarch kept her for a reason?" Sun Yan wondered, taking the mirror to the living room. Since that's the case, he would keep the mirror to observe further.
Since inheriting the graveyard, he had only encountered Evil Spirits that couldn't communicate. Luna, who looked normal, was the first of her kind.
Maybe it was because the True Monarch of Pure Origin and Mysterious Dao had purified the evil from her, allowing her to communicate normally with humans now.
"Is this your home? It's so big and cleanly arranged."
Sun Yan found a rusty nail in the hallway wall, remembering in his childhood there was a New Year painting hung there.
At that time, Sun Yan was young and did not recognize who the figure in the painting was, only remembering a red-robed man with a big beard, eyes like copper bells, holding a Treasure Sword.
Once he grew up, Sun Yan learned the painting's name was 'Zhong Kui Fighting Ghosts,' similar in meaning to posting a Guardian God image on the front door.
Hanging the mirror on the iron nail, Sun Yan pleasingly brushed his hair in the mirror, acknowledging the benefit of having a mirror at home; it was then he noticed a piece of gunk still clinging to the corner of his eye that hadn't been cleaned due to the morning rush.
Seeing Sun Yan completely ignoring her, showing no interest in her questions, Luna anxiously knocked on the mirror, protesting, "Can't you understand what I'm saying? Why won't you pay attention to me?"
Sun Yan calmly replied, "To an Evil Spirit, I have nothing to say, especially since this Evil Spirit previously caused the death of many innocent people. If my will had not been strong enough that night, I would have died at your hands."
"I didn't do those things. I tried to stop them but it was useless; their hatred was too intense. I could only hide aside and pray for the victims. But if you know what they went through while alive, you might understand." Luna quickly explained.
"Them?" Sun Yan asked puzzled, "Is there more than one Evil Spirit in this mirror?"
"There was before, but now I'm the only one left." Luna's expression showed a hint of sadness as she began to tell a story.
During the Middle Ages, in Europe, the popular public activity of burning witches was rampant. Ignorant people, brainwashed by churches and nobles, believed plagues, diseases, disasters, and misfortunes were caused by female groups, known as 'Witches.'
To stop the spread of plagues and diseases, they needed to tie witches to a gallows and burn them alive.
Very unfortunately, Luna came from a special family at that time, as her father was an astronomer and her mother a divination master, Luna showed different traits from ordinary children.
Because of this, Luna was regarded as a witch, captured, tied to a cross, and burned alive.
"I remember that day many witches were burned, some were in their thirties, some only seven or eight years old. I knew they were innocent. An invisible plague had powers akin to Divine Spirits; it couldn't be controlled by mortals. Those who tied us to the cross simply wanted a release for their emotions. That day, there was a man in a cloak among the crowd who trapped all our souls in a mirror, allowing us to remain inside without being dissipated."
Luna earnestly looked at Sun Yan, "You can probably guess what happened afterwards. The mirror went through many owners, all of whom were inevitably killed by them."
Sun Yan nodded, understanding the cause and effect, and sighed.
There was a line in the Mountain Chasing Manual left by his grandfather: "Never keep unknown old items at home; don't covet them or claim them as your own."
He initially didn't understand what this meant, but after hearing Luna's story, he finally realized.
Because you could never know what kind of past an old item has, whether filthy or sinister, if it's stained with something unclean, you wouldn't be able to see it.
Keeping such things nearby not only brings no benefit but can become harmful, even impacting your life safety, which Sun Yan experienced firsthand.
According to Luna, the mirror was originally home to a conglomerate of Evil Spirits; they were the source of harm, and Luna did not involve herself.
Sun Yan might not believe what she said, but he believed in the True Monarch of Pure Origin and Mysterious Dao.
Perhaps it's because Luna truly never harmed anyone, the True Monarch chose to keep her soul in existence, rather than letting it scatter.
Sun Yan adjusted the round mirror and spoke to Luna within, "Then you can stay with me from now on. With me around, no other Exorcist will come to eliminate you; at least you'll be safe."
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
Suddenly, the phone in Sun Yan's pocket rang, and he took it out to see that it was his childhood friend Liu Qifei calling.
"Brother Sun, long time no see. There's a gathering tonight; come to the Summer Palm Bar for drinks."