The Forbidden Living

The voice on the phone was definitely Dayang's—but there he was, standing right in front of me, real as can be. How the heck was this possible? A cold shiver ran down my spine, like icy fingers tracing my backbone. 'Two versions of Dayang?' This was messing with my head, tearing apart everything I thought I knew. Humans can't be in two places at once—it's just not how things work. So, one of them had to be fake, a shadow pretending to be real. 

The night just got weirder, wrapping around me like a suffocating blanket. Which Dayang was the real deal? The guy in front of me—was he genuine or just a clever fake? My mind was spinning, drowning in doubt. If one Dayang was a fraud, what about the others I'd met lately? How much of what I thought I knew was just a web of lies? 

Freaking out, I hung up, and the sudden silence only made me feel worse. This was a clue, a thread that could unravel the whole mess. 

Dayang noticed my stunned look, his eyes narrowing. "What's up? Why are you staring?" he asked, sounding just as confused as I was. 

I took a deep breath, the air tasting weirdly metallic, and mumbled some half-hearted reassurances, my voice shaking. But then it hit me, clear as day: 'This' Dayang was a fake. The whole room felt off, like it was filled with bad vibes. Had I made a mistake coming here? The second-floor room was supposed to be safe, but that ghostly woman in the mirror—she screamed danger. Why did she disappear when he showed up? 

"Enough stalling," the fake Dayang snapped, sounding impatient. "Your birth details—now." 

I'd heard this before. Niu Shisan had asked for the same thing. My birth time—the exact year, month, day, and hour—was clearly important to whatever they were planning. My gut was screaming: 'Get out of here.' But how? The door was covered in his creepy symbols—a trap of ink and evil, the designs pulsing with dark energy. Trapped, I decided to play along, to see what I could learn from this charade. 

"Mom's not sure," I lied, keeping my voice steady despite the chaos inside. "Somewhere between three and five in the afternoon." A total lie—I was actually born at two in the morning. Why were they so obsessed with getting me to say it out loud? Maybe the ritual needed me to agree, or maybe trying every possible combination was too much work. Either way, I wasn't giving them my real birth details. 

Dayang frowned, looking frustrated. "The Hour of the Monkey? Or Sheep? Rooster?" As he muttered, I slowly moved toward the window, careful not to make it obvious. Two stories—I could handle that. I'd done worse as a kid. But was the window safe? No way to know. This was a one-shot deal. 

"Get ready," the fake said, sounding urgent. "I'll extend your life, then we're out of here. This place is bad news." 

I nodded, inching closer to the window, my heart pounding like crazy. Let him do his thing—his focus would be my chance. One last test: I secretly turned off my phone. "Let me double-check with Mom. Oh—my phone's dead. Can I borrow yours?" 

He patted his pockets, looking genuinely confused. "Weird... it's gone." 

That confirmed it. This guy wasn't Dayang. 

"Just go ahead without it," I said, keeping my voice calm but firm. He pulled out some paper covered in weird symbols, then a bronze bell, its surface shining in the dim light. As he knelt, chanting in a language that made my skin crawl, I grabbed the windowsill, my fingers gripping tight. The window opened silently—the only good thing about this creepy old house. 

Now. I jumped out, bending my knees as I hit the ground. The backyard was pitch black, the shadows hiding who knows what. A loud curse came from above—"Damn it!"—as I took off running, my feet pounding the uneven ground. I climbed over the back wall and tumbled into what felt like freedom, gasping for air. 

"Wait! Why are you running?" His voice chased me through the night. I ran like I'd never run before—not even as a kid. The night air burned my lungs, every breath a struggle. Slowly, his voice faded, lost in the distance. But my path twisted in a way that felt way too familiar—the same road leading back to that cursed house. 

'Spiritual disorientation'— the villagers had warned about ghosts messing with your sense of direction. Stop, reorient, they'd said. But stop? With someone possibly chasing me? That mirror-woman's warning stuck in my head—'never look back.' 

As I wavered between fear and determination, a smooth voice cut through the night, calm but commanding: "Want to live? Don't stop. Turn right." 

I recognized it—the umbrella girl from my doorstep, her presence a light in the darkness.

[

Chapter Twelve Notes: Unraveling the Supernatural Web

1.The Double Auntie Mystery

So, here's the deal: two "aunties" popping up at the same time has got everyone scratching their heads. Here's what we're thinking:

- Disguise Trick: Maybe it's some ancient ninja-style transformation skill, like those martial arts legends talk about.

- Painted Skin Ghost: You know, that creepy spirit from Chinese tales that steals people's skin to blend in.

- Mirror Image Dupe: Could be a doppelgänger caused by some reality glitch.

This whole thing shows how deep the supernatural is messing with the main character's life, blurring the line between normal and paranormal.

Shen Shi / Wei Shi / You Shi (Old-School Time Zones)

- Wei Shi: 1 PM - 3 PM, when yang energy is at its peak.

- Shen Shi: 3 PM - 5 PM, the transition from day to night.

- You Shi: 5 PM - 7 PM, when yin energy starts creeping in.

Fun fact: the exact time you're born is super important for destiny readings, which explains why the impostor is so obsessed with the protagonist.

Copper Bell for Ghost Control

This isn't your average bell—it's a special Taoist one with weird runes:

- Right Use: Helps lost souls find their way, keeping things peaceful.

- Wrong Use: Traps evil ghosts so they can't mess with the living.

The impostor's careful handling of it hints at some shady soul-harvesting scheme.

Ghost Wall (Phantom Maze)

Basically, it's a space loop thing where:

- Quantum Folding: You walk forward but end up back where you started—total mind-bender.

- Perception Hack: Messes with your brain's sense of direction, leaving you totally lost.

Old-school tricks like virgin urine? Probably not gonna cut it against this advanced spooky stuff.

The Broken Window Theory

The protagonist's escape plan gives us some clues:

- Feng Shui Flaw: The window, known as the "Yin Gate," should've been sealed to block bad energy.

- Survival Instinct: Choosing to escape over fighting shows some serious smarts.

The clean window sill suggests this isn't the first paranormal rodeo.

Ghost Army Path

That spooky marching sound? Here's the lowdown:

- Characteristics: Big, booming noise with no source—super creepy.

- Survival Tip: Play dead and hold your breath to avoid being noticed.

This ties into the villa's dark past as a WWII "comfort station," adding a historical twist to the hauntings.

Blood Bait Seal

The umbrella girl's got a unique way of navigating:

- Mechanism: Uses special blood to attract and guide ghosts, playing on their nature.

- Cost: Leaves her aura exposed, making her an easy target for spirits.

This hints that her family guards ancient secrets about the protagonist's unique traits.

Hour Taboo

The protagonist's birth hour (2 AM) is a big deal:

- Chou Shi: 1 AM - 3 AM, when yin energy is strongest—prime time for spooky stuff.

- Fate: Being born during "Yin Birth" gives the protagonist clairvoyance and other ghostly abilities.

Add in the ghost-eating trait, and you've got a double curse, setting up a complex destiny.

These notes paint a picture of a world where the supernatural twists reality. Each folk tale concept is both a cultural clue and a plot twist, weaving a tangled web of conspiracies through the mix of tradition and supernatural laws.

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