The Eerie Realm’s Influence and a Playful Talisman

“It wasn’t here a moment ago. What’s going on?”

Compared to Bai Wanwan, Liu Hanzhi’s reaction was visibly more agitated.

Bai Wanwan hadn’t even uttered a word, yet Liu Hanzhi, like an ant on a hot pan, cradled Bai Wanwan’s face, scrutinizing it repeatedly, confirming her fears again and again.

“C-can you please let go of me?”

A height difference existed between Bai Wanwan and Liu Hanzhi. Coupled with Liu Hanzhi’s frantic state, she nearly lifted Bai Wanwan by her chin.

“If you don’t let go of me soon, I won’t die in this eerie realm, but I will surely perish at your hands!”

“Ah! R-right, I’m sorry…”

Liu Hanzhi quickly released her, but her expression remained incredibly tense as she gazed at the unmistakable omen of death on Bai Wanwan’s face.

“What’s there to fear? It’s just an omen of death, not actual death.”

Bai Wanwan stretched her neck, speaking with clear displeasure.

An omen of death was more of a warning; as long as a solution could be found, actual death could still be averted.

Moreover, the death omen on Bai Wanwan’s face might not even be related to the eerie realm.

Sometimes, perfectly normal people might suddenly exhibit such an omen.

It was akin to someone with too much time on their hands deciding to cosplay a speed bump on a busy highway, facing a hundred-ton truck hurtling towards them; even those unfamiliar with omens would recognize the sign of impending doom.

In essence, no reckless action meant no death. Clearly, Bai Wanwan’s entry into this eerie realm was no different from courting disaster.

“But it’s still terrifying! What would I do if you died?”

Liu Hanzhi pursed her lips, speaking in a hushed tone.

“If I die, our marriage contract will still be dissolved. I just won’t be able to help you find a way to reincarnate.”

Bai Wanwan pondered this. By that logic, a small, temporary death would dissolve her marriage contract with the little ghost girl, which seemed quite a bargain…

‘No, why am I even thinking like this?’

‘A ‘small, temporary death’…

“Wait a moment, let’s not discuss this for now. This eerie realm seems to be affecting our minds…”

Bai Wanwan was well aware of the saying that nothing truly mattered beyond life and death—a phrase her grandfather had always uttered, one she had heard since childhood.

Thus, death was a sacred matter to Bai Wanwan, and abandoning her instinct for survival was an almost insurmountable task.

Yet, this eerie realm seemed to be weakening her perception of the boundary between life and death.

Here, even the word “death” felt significantly easier to utter.

“What about those people from earlier? If we follow them, we should be able to find some clues.”

“No matter how powerful this eerie realm is, there must be a way out, right?”

Bai Wanwan knew perfectly well that even immortals had weaknesses, let alone an eerie realm.

Nothing in this world was truly perfect, and that certainly included the eerie realm before them.

“I think it’s unlikely. This is their territory, after all. Even a mighty dragon can’t suppress a local serpent.”

Liu Hanzhi glanced around the dimly lit, dilapidated hospital corridor; the sight alone sent shivers down her spine.

“Or perhaps I should simply invite a deity to possess me and tear this eerie realm apart. Let me think, who should I invite?”

“The Illustrious Sage True Monarch Erlang?”

“True Master White Crane?”

“The Great Demon-Conquering Emperor? The Holy Emperor Guan? Or perhaps even the Great Sage Equal to Heaven with his furry face and thunderous mouth?”

Bai Wanwan’s words sent a shiver down Liu Hanzhi’s spine.

The oppressive feeling was no less intense than the eerie realm itself.

After all, the deities Bai Wanwan named were beings who, with just a hint of their presence, could effortlessly obliterate a small ghost like her.

If anyone else had said such things, Liu Hanzhi might have dismissed them as a raving lunatic.

But facing Bai Wanwan… Liu Hanzhi dared not gamble. She had witnessed Bai Wanwan’s ability to invite deities to possess her; Liu Hanzhi wouldn’t even be surprised if Bai Wanwan managed to summon the Celestial Venerable of the Primordial Beginning.

Liu Hanzhi was genuinely curious: who exactly had Bai Wanwan learned these skills from?

“L-let’s not do that just yet. My main concern is that your talismans probably won’t work in this eerie realm.”

Hearing Liu Hanzhi’s words, Bai Wanwan suddenly remembered that this was someone else’s territory; perhaps the talismans truly would lose their effectiveness, just as Liu Hanzhi suggested.

“We’ll know if we try.”

Fortunately, her small shoulder bag was still with her. Bai Wanwan casually pulled out a few sheets of yellow paper and began drawing symbols from memory.

Yet, after trying for a long while, Bai Wanwan was astonished to find that all the talismans in her hands had indeed lost their power.

Not only had functional talismans for summoning lightning or fire become useless, but even those meant for inviting deities showed no reaction.

Even General Zeng, whom she had summoned before, could not be called upon now.

“It seems all the talismans have lost their effect.”

Bai Wanwan observed the yellow papers scattered across the floor, their precisely drawn symbols making Liu Hanzhi’s scalp tingle.

‘Oh my goodness,’ Liu Hanzhi thought. ‘Summoning heavenly lightning, invoking true fire… the effects of these talismans are no less potent, if not more so, than an Immortal-Binding Talisman.’

It was easy to imagine that without the eerie realm’s restrictions, Bai Wanwan’s abilities would have reduced this place to dust.

It simply proved that rule-based magic held a superior edge, allowing one to achieve great things with minimal effort.

Liu Hanzhi dared not imagine what would happen if Bai Wanwan also mastered some rule-based magic, combined with her talent for drawing talismans…

Liu Hanzhi felt the world itself might just turn upside down!

“I have one more talisman, one I drew just for fun. I wonder if it still works.”

As Bai Wanwan spoke, she affixed a talisman to Liu Hanzhi’s forehead.

“What is this?”

Liu Hanzhi gazed at the strange talisman dangling from her forehead. As Bai Wanwan murmured incantations, Liu Hanzhi felt a warmth spread across her brow.

“This is a talisman I made purely for my own amusement. Unlike traditional talismans, I believe this unexpected item won’t be restricted by the eerie realm.”

“Let’s test its effect. Say something, let me hear.”

Listening to Bai Wanwan’s explanation, Liu Hanzhi instinctively furrowed her brow.

The talisman felt rather useless; stuck to her forehead, it offered nothing special beyond a pleasant warmth, like a heating pad.

“Ciallo(∠・ω< )⌒☆"

"!?"

Liu Hanzhi had originally intended to ask Bai Wanwan about the talisman's specific purpose.

Yet, the words that reached her lips inexplicably transformed into an adorable-sounding catchphrase.

"Ciallo? ʕ.•᷅ࡇ•᷄.ʔ ?"

"Hahaha!"

Bai Wanwan tore the talisman from Liu Hanzhi's forehead and burst into uproarious laughter, clutching her stomach from the pain of mirth.

"How was that? Quite amusing, wasn't it? This talisman makes people say specific things."

Tears streamed from Bai Wanwan's eyes from laughing so hard, but Liu Hanzhi's expression had grown somber.

"This thing is certainly… interesting. But what's its use? Can it help us escape this eerie realm?"

"It doesn't seem so, but you were truly adorable just now."

"You little rascal!"

After Bai Wanwan's antics, Liu Hanzhi felt utterly drained, though much of her inner tension had dissipated.

"Don't worry, this proves that talismans aren't entirely prohibited. We still have a chance to find an unconventional path."

No sooner had Bai Wanwan finished speaking than a rustling of footsteps echoed from deep within the corridor.

The human and the ghost, who had just been laughing merrily, suddenly froze, their expressions locking.

The eerie realm was about to make its move against them!