Chapter 76: Chapter 76

Lana’s eyes widened in alarm; she had meticulously taken precautions to ensure the ghost had not followed her... so how had it managed to react with such alarming swiftness?

She quickly redirected her gaze to Shelly, poised to offer guidance, when her attention was abruptly seized by the phone clutched in Shelly’s trembling hand, causing her complexion to drain of color.

A pig teammate! Why did her wretched luck always seem to pair her with incompetent allies? Could she not, for once, be graced with a competent one?

The simmering anger beneath her skin was forcefully contained by Lana.

At this moment, the paramount task was to confront the ghost.

Despite its mere four years of cultivation, Lana dared not underestimate the spirit.

"Sister~ Play with me!" The voice cooed sweetly, and instinctively, Lana recoiled.

In the next heartbeat, she heard a voice tinged with sorrow, "Sister... why are you avoiding me? Come! Play!"

Before Lana could gather her wits, a vase was hurled in her direction with such ferocity that it shattered against the wall mere inches from her head.

The shards scattered across the floor, and a chilling wave of energy surged through the room.

Mr. Crow squawked, his feathers bristling in alarm. "She’s fully manifested! Brace yourself, Lana!"

With a facade of sweetness, Lana replied, "You want to play? Absolutely!"

In an instant, she flicked an exorcism talisman. The yellow paper darted toward the air above Shelly. Almost immediately, a blinding light enveloped the ghostly figure, followed by a voice filled with anguish.

"Ahh! It hurts! Sister! Please, put it away!"

Lana smiled, a hint of mockery in her tone. "When you hurled the vase at your sister, did you truly believe it wouldn’t hurt her?"

Yet, even as she spoke, her hand moved with lightning speed, a stream of blue light emanating from her palm, anchoring itself at the source of the agonized cries.

"Sister... stop! It hurts!" The girl’s sobbing voice sent a jolt through Shelly’s heart.

Frozen in place by fear, Shelly found her maternal instincts surging forth as the childlike sobs echoed in the room, nearly overpowering her terror.

Her trembling hands gripped the edge of the bed, and tears brimmed in her eyes.

"Miss Lana," she whispered, her voice quaking, "please... Cease hurting her. She’s merely a child..."

Lana’s gaze snapped to Shelly, irritation flaring across her features.

"She’s not a child! She’s a vengeful spirit, Miss Shelly! The longer you indulge her pity, the more power she accumulates!"

Why on earth did these people fail to comprehend? If the spirit were truly as innocent as she appeared, would she have compelled Shelly’s son to leap from the balcony?

These individuals were utterly devoid of survival instincts!

"Ahhh! It hurts! Help! Help! This big sister is tormenting me!" The ghost wailed in a childlike tone, evoking a flicker of sympathy from Shelly, who cast a faintly accusatory glance.

Lana: (o_0?) Incredible!

In the next moment, the howling ceased, and ashes swirled throughout the room.

Remaining vigilant, Lana summoned her mystic energy to cleanse the entire space. By now, more than half of her energy had been expended.

Panting slightly, she regarded Shelly with a look of disbelief. "Were you genuinely contemplating aiding a ghost?"

Guilt flooded Shelly’s eyes. Initially, she had placed blame on Lana, but as she observed the burnt ashes drifting across the room like dust motes, she recognized the folly of her actions.

Her knees buckled, and she sank slowly to the floor. Her trembling hands covered her mouth as tears spilled forth.

"I... I didn’t grasp the situation," she whispered hoarsely. "It felt so tangible... like she was a lost child..."

Lana exhaled heavily, massaging her temples in frustration.

"That’s the peril of vengeful spirits," she stated flatly. "They prey on emotions. Once you empathize with them, they can twist your compassion into power. You were fortunate I concluded it swiftly. Had that spirit gained another minute, it would have siphoned your soul through your sympathy."

Shelly shuddered violently, clutching her chest as the realization struck her. "M-my son... was she attempting to...?"

"Yes." Lana’s tone was icy yet devoid of cruelty. "That spirit sought a host with potent emotional energy. Children are ideal targets. They are easily frightened and readily trust."

The room fell into a heavy silence. Only the faint hum of the ceiling fan and the residual warmth from Lana’s blue energy filled the air.

Finally, Shelly looked up at her, guilt and gratitude warring within her gaze. "Miss Lana... thank you. I can’t believe I almost..."

Lana waved a hand dismissively. "Save your gratitude. The task is not yet complete. We still need to incinerate the doll."

"You mean... she is still present?" Shelly trembled in fear.

"No." Lana shook her head, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over her. She limited her movements,

"The doll serves as a medium. As long as a ghost breaches the safe zone and enters this residential area, they can seize the doll and utilize it as a vessel."

Lana explained with calm authority, though her voice had lost some of its vigor.

"It’s akin to a beacon. It attracts and anchors wandering spirits. If we fail to destroy it, another could take its place before dawn."

Shelly’s complexion turned ashen. "You mean... this could recur?"

Lana nodded faintly, steadying herself against the edge of the dresser.

Her legs felt leaden; expending such a vast amount of mystic energy in one go had left her nearly depleted.

Mr. Crow, sensing her fatigue, fluttered onto her shoulder and whispered, "You require rest. Allow this human to manage the remainder."

"Not until I witness that doll reduced to ashes," Lana muttered, determination igniting in her eyes.

Shelly guided Lana to the living room, and this time Lana finally beheld a stunning woman clad in white garments, her skin resembling porcelain. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novel✦fire.net

Noticing Lana’s intense scrutiny of the doll, Shelly inquired with curiosity, "Do you find it beautiful?"

"Hm? No. But..." Lana drawled, "Dolls are insidious. Honestly, if anyone ever gifts me a doll, I will incinerate it on the very day. And you should take heed from this incident! If you sense any ghostly activity in your home... it’s invariably the doll!"