5. Tears of the Ghosts

  One night, Li Cheng was alone in the study, waiting for possible abnormalities. Sure enough, at midnight, the familiar water sound rang out again, accompanied by a gust of cold wind rushing into the room. He lit several candles and arranged them into a circular array, and then sat in the center waiting for changes. Before long, the strange water line appeared on the floor of the study again, and this time, it directly flowed towards Li Cheng's feet.

  Li Cheng endured the fear and let the water soak his shoes. At this moment, the semi - transparent woman appeared again. Her image was clearer than before, and her eyes were full of sadness and anger. "Save us..." She finally spoke, her voice deep and hoarse, as if coming from the abyss.

  "What do you need?" Li Cheng asked eagerly.

  The woman stretched out her hand and pointed to the "Water Spirit Curse" on the desk, and then disappeared. Li Cheng suddenly realized that only by completely lifting the curse of the altar could he appease the anger of these vengeful spirits. However, he also knew that this would be an extremely dangerous attempt, and a little carelessness might lead to a repeat of the tragedy.

  After returning to the living room, Li Cheng told Granny Liu what he had found. After listening for a long time, she finally nodded: "If you really can find a way, then go ahead. But I hope you can come back alive."

  The next morning, Li Cheng began a new round of preparations. According to the description in the notes, he made some simple magic tools and drew new talisman patterns. He also specially chose a sunny day without clouds to ensure that the ceremony would not be interfered with by the weather.

  However, when everything was ready, Li Cheng faintly felt a kind of uneasiness. He checked every detail repeatedly, for fear of missing any key points. At the same time, the atmosphere in the mansion became more and more oppressive, and even the air seemed to solidify. He had a faint premonition that the real test was coming.

  As night fell, Li Cheng walked into the study alone and arranged all the magic tools properly. He lit the last candle, closed his eyes, and began to silently recite the key chapters in the "Water Spirit Curse". As the incantation was chanted, the temperature in the study suddenly dropped, and the water surface in the pool also began to fluctuate violently. Moments later, a blinding light burst out from the pool, illuminating the whole room.

  After the light dissipated, Li Cheng opened his eyes and found that he was in a strange space. Surrounded by countless semi - transparent figures, they were either crying, shouting, or standing silently, and every face was full of pain and despair. And in the center of the crowd, stood a familiar figure - Granny Liu's husband.

  "Welcome to our cage," the man said coldly, "Do you really think that with your ability, you can save us?"

  Li Cheng's heart thumped wildly, but he forced himself to stay calm: "I don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to know why you are trapped here?"

  The other person sneered: "Because we committed unforgivable sins. And you are just another stupid intruder."

  Before the words fell, those ghost - like figures rushed towards Li Cheng one after another, trying to drag him into the endless darkness. Facing the sudden attack, Li Cheng struggled to resist and desperately recalled the content of the talismans he had learned before. At the critical moment, he took out a talisman he carried with him and slapped it hard on his chest.

  Instantly, a golden light burst out from the talisman, forcing all the vengeful spirits to retreat a few steps. Li Cheng took the opportunity to steady his footing and began to chant another section of the incantation quickly. His voice was firm and powerful, gradually overwhelming the surrounding noise. As the incantation progressed, the expressions of those vengeful spirits began to change, from the initial anger to confusion, and then to final relief.

  "It's over..." Granny Liu's husband said in a low voice, with a look of relief in his eyes. He slowly raised his hand and pointed to the pool behind Li Cheng, "Remember, don't let anyone touch it again."

  6. The Door to the Truth

  As soon as the words fell, the whole space collapsed with a loud crash, and Li Cheng only felt a blackness in front of his eyes and lost consciousness.

  When he woke up again, he was already lying on the floor of the study. Granny Liu was anxiously waiting beside him. When she saw him wake up, she was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes: "It's so good that you're okay! What happened just now?"

  Li Cheng smiled wearily: "I completed the ceremony. Those trapped souls should have been liberated."

  Hearing this, Granny Liu sighed deeply: "Thank you, young man. If it weren't for you, I might never be able to let go of this past."

  Since then, the water sound in the mansion has completely disappeared, and no more strange phenomena have occurred. And Li Cheng recorded this experience, which has become the most important part of his writing career. He knows that although the secrets of the mansion have been uncovered, the thinking it leaves to people will never end.

  As Li Cheng delved deeper into the secrets of the mansion, he gradually realized that this was not just a simple story about vengeful spirits and water spraying, but a complex entanglement of human nature, desire and sacrifice. Granny Liu's husband, the scholar obsessed with magic, once harbored a solemn and selfish wish - to resurrect his deceased daughter. This motivation should have been a manifestation of paternal love, but due to the wrong method and excessive obsession, it evolved into a disastrous destruction. When Li Cheng first read his husband's notes, he was deeply touched by the emotions in it, and at the same time had deep doubts about this extreme behavior. If love becomes an obsession, will it lose its original meaning? Li Cheng began to reflect. He wondered if he was also similar to these vengeful spirits to some extent, because they were all driven forward by some irresistible fate.

  However, what really shocked Li Cheng was his conversation with Granny Liu. One night, they sat opposite each other in the living room, and Granny Liu finally opened her heart and told the true relationship between her and her husband. It turned out that when her husband was addicted to magic research, she had tried to stop him many times, but was always coldly rejected. She admitted: "I hated him. I hated him for abandoning his living wife for a dead daughter. But now looking back, I feel that I am the most selfish person - I was afraid of being alone, so I would rather blame him than understand his pain." Li Cheng listened to her story, and his heart was mixed with various emotions. He saw a mother's love, a wife's helplessness, and the irreconcilable contradictions in human emotions.

  At the same time, the strange phenomena in the mansion became more and more intense. Every night, the water sound became more and more harsh, and was even accompanied by low - pitched crying and muffled murmurs. Once, when Li Cheng was sorting out materials in the study, he suddenly felt a strong chill. He turned his head and saw that the semi - transparent woman appeared again, but this time her expression was no longer full of resentment, but mixed with sadness and pleading. "Do you know?" she said in a hoarse voice, "We don't want revenge. We just want to find a place to belong. But every time someone tries to help us, they will pay a price."

  These words made Li Cheng fall into deep thought. He began to doubt whether he really had the ability to change all this. After all, he was just an ordinary person facing supernatural forces. However, he couldn't ignore the sense of responsibility in his heart. He remembered the eyes of those vengeful spirits, especially Granny Liu's husband's last words before his death: "Don't let anyone touch it again." This is both a warning and an entrustment. Li Cheng decided that no matter what, he must complete this mission, even if it means taking huge risks.

  In order to find a solution, Li Cheng spent three whole days studying the "Water Spirit Curse" and other relevant documents. He found that the core idea of this set of magic was "balance". Water, as a medium, can not only transmit life but also carry death. If the user can control this balance well, the harmonious coexistence of the yin and yang worlds can be achieved; otherwise, the power will get out of control and lead to disasters. Based on this point, Li Cheng speculated that the failure of the experiment back then was because Granny Liu's husband broke this balance and injected too much negative energy into the water, thus triggering the outbreak of vengeful spirits.

  Based on this theory, Li Cheng designed a brand - new ritual plan. He planned to use talismans and magic tools to guide the dissipation of negative energy in the water and soothe the trapped souls at the same time. However, this task was not easy, because it required the operator to have sufficient willpower and mental concentration. Once there was any deviation, it might lead to the failure of the ceremony and even endanger personal safety.

  On the day of the ceremony, Li Cheng made full preparations in advance. He arranged a complex formation in the study, including five talismans, three oil lamps and a bronze mirror. The function of the bronze mirror was to reflect negative energy, while the talismans were used to stabilize the spiritual energy flow in the pool. Granny Liu accompanied him throughout the process. Although she looked very nervous, she never left Li Cheng's side. She handed Li Cheng a cup of warm tea and said softly, "Child, no matter what the result is, I am grateful for everything you have done for us."

  As night fell, the ceremony officially began. Li Cheng lit the oil lamps, sat cross - legged in the center of the formation, and closed his eyes to meditate. He chanted the incantations word by word according to the ones he had memorized in advance, and his voice was stable and firm. As time passed, ripples began to appear on the water surface of the pool, and then clusters of black mist emerged. These mists swirled in the air like living things, emitting a harsh screeching sound. Li Cheng's forehead was covered with cold sweat, but he gritted his teeth and continued to persist.

  At the critical moment, the figure of the woman appeared again. She stood beside the pool, staring at Li Cheng with bright eyes. Her lips trembled slightly, as if she was saying something, but her voice was covered by the noisy environment. Li Cheng judged by intuition that she was reminding him to pay attention to some details. He quickly adjusted his breathing and focused his attention on the bronze mirror. Sure enough, the scene reflected in the mirror showed that a strong negative energy was trying to break through the restraint of the formation.

  Li Cheng immediately took action. He pasted a spare talisman on the back of the bronze mirror and at the same time accelerated the rhythm of the incantation. This move really worked. The black mist gradually shrank and finally all merged into the pool. At the same time, the water surface of the pool returned to calm, as if no abnormality had ever occurred.

  7. The Light of Liberation

  However, this was only the first step. Next, Li Cheng needed to establish contact with the vengeful spirits through talismans and guide them towards liberation. He opened his eyes and said to the void: "I know your pain and your desires. Please believe me. I will help you find the way home." As soon as the words fell, pictures emerged one after another in the pool, each depicting a different scene: someone hugged a baby and smiled, someone reunited with relatives, and someone ran in the fields. These pictures symbolized the unfulfilled wishes of the vengeful spirits and were also the reasons why they couldn't let go.

  Li Cheng interpreted these pictures one by one and gave them a substantial form through talismans. He transformed each wish into a soft light and sent it into the depths of the pool. As the last wish was realized, the water in the pool suddenly boiled and emitted a dazzling light. This light lasted for a few seconds and then quickly went out, and the whole study fell into silence.

  Li Cheng slowly stood up, looked around, and found that all the vengeful spirits had disappeared. He took a long sigh of relief and turned to look at Granny Liu. The latter was in tears, but showed a rare smile for many years. "Thank you," she choked and said, "You have liberated all of our family."

  Although the ceremony was successful, Li Cheng's mood was extremely complicated. He realized that this adventure not only changed the fate of the mansion, but also gave him a deeper understanding of life and death. He began to understand that so - called "ghosts" were actually just an extension of human emotions. They lingered because there were still unresolved heart knots. And what can really resolve these heart knots is not magic, but understanding and forgiveness.

  However, just when Li Cheng thought everything was over, something unexpected happened. The next morning, when he woke up, he found that the door of the study was open and there was nothing inside. All the books, magic tools and talismans had disappeared without a trace, leaving only the bronze mirror lying quietly on the ground. Li Cheng picked up the bronze mirror and found that the face reflected in the mirror was his own, but those eyes revealed a strange expression, as if looking at another world.

  At this moment, Li Cheng finally realized that this adventure was far from over. What he was facing was not only the secrets of the mansion, but also the fears and desires hidden deep in his heart. He didn't know what challenges he would encounter in the future, but he knew that only by facing the truth could he find the real exit.

  As the last bit of gloom in the mansion dissipated, Li Cheng stood in the center of the study, his gaze penetrating the window and looking at the first ray of sunlight in the morning. After experiencing many strange and dangerous situations, the fear and doubts in his heart seemed to evaporate as well. However, this peace did not completely fill the emptiness in his heart. He lowered his head and stared at the bronze mirror in his hand, and those strange eyes still lingered in his mind. Li Cheng understood that this was not only the end of the mansion, but also a turning point in his self - cognition.

  Granny Liu sat in the rocking chair in the living room, with a long - lost look of relaxation on her face. She watched Li Cheng walk down the stairs slowly, and her eyes were full of gratitude and admiration. "Thank you, child," she said softly, "You have made me find the meaning of life again." Li Cheng smiled slightly and replied, "This is also the biggest gain of my trip." His words were sincere, but also mixed with some heaviness. He knew that although the secrets of the mansion had been uncovered, the stories of those vengeful spirits, Granny Liu's repentance, and his own struggle would leave indelible marks in his memory.

  Li Cheng decided to leave this small town and return to the city with this incredible experience. He planned to organize the whole story into a book, not only to record his adventure, but also to explore the complexity and contradiction in human nature. In his opinion, the tragedy of the mansion was not only due to the abuse of magic, but also reflected the fragility of human emotions and the danger of obsession. He hoped that through words, more people could realize how subtle the boundary between love and desire is, and that blind pursuit often only brings destruction.

  However, just as he was packing his luggage to set off, Granny Liu handed him a letter. There was no signature on the envelope, only a simple prompt: "When you are lost, please open it." Li Cheng took the letter and a strange premonition surged in his heart. He didn't open it immediately, but carefully put the letter into his backpack as part of the journey.

  After bidding farewell to Granny Liu, Li Cheng stepped onto the train back to the city. Along the way, he had a thousand thoughts, and the faces of those vengeful spirits and their stories kept emerging in his mind. He recalled the pleading of the woman, the remorse of Granny Liu's husband, and the strong pressure he felt during the ceremony. These fragments intertwined to form a grand picture of human nature and fate. He realized that so - called "ghosts" were not real enemies, but projections of human emotions. Those unrelenting regrets and unexpressed loves all turned into obsessions after death and lingered in the world.

  After arriving in the city, Li Cheng began to create a new book. He told the secrets of the mansion in detail, and at the same time added his own insights and reflections. He wrote: "Each of us is the author of our own story and also the reader. When we choose to write our lives with obsession, we often ignore the cost involved. Only by learning to let go can we find true freedom." After this work was completed, it received widespread attention and praise. Many readers said that this book made them re - examine their lives, learn to cherish the present, and let go of the burden of the past.

  However, Li Cheng's life was not completely calm because of this. One day late at night, when he was working alone in the study, he suddenly heard the familiar water sound in his ears. He suddenly raised his head and found that a thin layer of mist had risen on the bronze mirror on the desk. Faint figures emerged from the mist, smiling and nodding at Li Cheng. Li Cheng was stunned, and then immediately understood their intention. He gently stroked the bronze mirror and said softly, "Thank you for coming to see me. I am ready to accept new challenges."

  The next morning, Li Cheng opened the letter Granny Liu gave him. There was only a short sentence in the letter: "The real brave are not those who escape fear, but those who embrace it." This sentence was like a lightning bolt, hitting Li Cheng's heart. He suddenly realized that he had been looking for answers all the time, but ignored the most important question - why did he want to look for answers? He began to re - examine his life goals and decided not to be limited to the past glory, but to bravely embrace the unknown future.

  A few months later, Li Cheng quit his stable job and embarked on a brand - new journey. He traveled around, recording more stories about human nature and fate. He found that every place had its own secrets, and these secrets were often hidden in the ordinary daily life. He gradually understood that so - called "ghosts" were just another way of expressing human emotions, and the real salvation came from the awakening and acceptance in the heart.

  Several years later, Li Cheng has become a highly respected writer. His works are not only deeply loved by readers, but also inspired countless people to get out of difficulties and embrace a new life. As for himself, the memory of the mansion has long been integrated into his blood and become an indispensable part of his life. He often dreams of that dark pool and those once - trapped souls. Every time he wakes up, he will feel a kind of inexplicable comfort, because he knows that those souls have found a home, and he himself has finally found