As sunlight passed through the blinds of the Winchester family's old house, it took on a gray, faded hue. Jenny dragged a bag of fire-damaged trash to the entryway. Ten-year-old Leah clutched a worn stuffed bear, hiding behind her as she stole glances at the ivy-covered two-story house. Eight-year-old Tommy stared fixedly at the corner of the living room-there, along the edge of the carpet, a charred patch remained like some ominous brand.
"Mom, do we really have to keep living here?" Leah's voice was barely a whisper, and she had squeezed the stuffed bear's ear out of shape. "Last night, I saw the curtains catch fire again. That lady in white... she appeared again."
Jenny crouched and wiped the tears from her daughter's face. Her fingertips touched the child's icy skin, and her heart tightened. A week earlier, she had moved into this old house with her children after buying it cheaply. She had thought it would be the beginning of a new life, only to find herself caught in an endless string of bizarre incidents. The curtains would spontaneously ignite when there was no wind, and sparks would suddenly rise from the sheets and blankets, yet every fire mysteriously went out a second before it could spread. When she called the police, they assumed the wiring was old or that the children had been playing with fire and were lying about it. Then she discovered an iron box in a hidden compartment in the attic. Inside was a yellowed demon-hunting journal, with a hastily scrawled line on its title page: "If anything unusual happens here, contact John Winchester," followed by a phone number.
Not knowing what else to do, Jenny seized on it like a lifeline, picked up her phone, and called.
"What did you say?" Dean's voice came through the receiver with a trace of a tremor. "We'll get there as soon as we can."
Three hours later, the black Impala stopped outside the old house, kicking up a cloud of dust. Dean pushed open the car door, his gaze settling on the familiar doorframe as his fingers unconsciously rubbed the silver knife at his waist. More than twenty years had passed, and this house, which held all the warmth of his childhood and the nightmares he refused to mention, still stood here. The crooked oak at the corner had grown thicker, and the height marks he and Sam had carved as children were still on its bark.
"Don't just stand there, Dean." Sam pushed open his door, his voice low. His gaze swept across the windows, and his heart felt as though an invisible hand had clenched around it. This was where his happy childhood had ended, and where his mother, Mary, had died in a sea of fire. The memories he had deliberately sealed away and buried surged against his heart like raging waves the instant he set foot on this ground.
Bai Haorui was the last to get out, carrying a backpack full of supplies. He looked up at the old house, his brows drawing together almost imperceptibly-two utterly different auras permeated the air. One was a sinister, bone-chilling evil aura, like rust steeped in an ice cellar. The other was warm and gentle, carrying a faint golden glow that filled people with warmth. He casually took out the Five Emperor Coins and gently swung them on their red cord. In his eyes, the coins lit up with a halo of "dark red mixed with gold." The red light pulsed with intense aggression, while the golden light remained steady and restrained, forming an invisible barrier.
"The yin energy is heavy, but a benevolent spirit is protecting this place." Bai Haorui put away the coins and looked at the Winchester brothers. "There are two 'things' hiding in this house, one evil and one good. The evil one grows stronger by feeding on fear, and the good one is desperately trying to suppress it."
Dean sneered and reached out to push open the door. "Whatever it is, if it dares show up here, it's going to die." As the door opened, the smell of burning hit them. The living room's sofa cover was badly faded, and there were indeed scorch marks on the carpet in the corner. Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting mottled patterns on the floor like countless eyes watching from the shadows.
"Are you John's friends?" Jenny hurried over, exhaustion almost spilling from her eyes. Behind her, Leah's eyes suddenly brightened, and she pointed at Bai Haorui, speaking softly. "Mom, it's him! He has the same warm smell as the lady in white."
Bai Haorui paused, then understood. Ever since discovering that he was in this world, he had worn a Safety Talisman. He also frequently carried and used mugwort and cinnabar, and had used Thunder Dharma earlier. His aura was pure, naturally resembling the benevolent spiritual energy of Mary's soul. He took three yellow Home Protection Talismans from his backpack and handed them to Jenny. "Stick these on the doors to the children's rooms and your bedroom. They can prevent the fires from happening again."
Dean leaned over and poked the talisman paper. "This thing can prevent fires, too? If it works that well, couldn't we get rich starting a fire prevention company?"
"You really are a business genius. These only work on supernatural fires, Mr. Chairman." Bai Haorui slapped his paw away.
"I just want to see what being rich feels like!" As Dean spoke, he unconsciously walked to the corner, brushing his fingertips over faint marks on the wall-his height mark from when he was seven, right beside Sam's. The little marks were like frozen time, stinging his eyes. He quickly withdrew his hand and pretended to inspect the wiring, his voice turning a little stiff. "I'll check the wires. Maybe they're old and shorting out."
Sam ignored them both, his attention drawn to a door at the end of the stairs-the bedroom he and Dean had shared as children. He walked toward it with heavy steps. The moment he opened the door, a familiar scent, carrying the smell of things warmed by sunlight, greeted him. The furnishings had long since changed, but the wardrobe in the corner was still the same, its doors still bearing his crayon scribbles.
"Sam?" Bai Haorui's voice came from behind him. "The yin energy is strongest here. Be careful."
Sam did not turn around. He walked to the wardrobe and slowly pulled its doors open. It was empty, with only a thin layer of dust inside. But the instant the doors opened, a blast of scorching air struck him, and the scene before his eyes abruptly warped-flames erupted from the wardrobe, engulfing a woman in a white nightgown. Her screams were heartrending. The moment she saw him, she used the last of her strength to cry, "Sam, run!"
"Mom!" Sam suddenly roared, instinctively reaching forward with both hands, only to grasp cold air. The flames before him vanished. The wardrobe was still empty, and only his hands were shaking as tears streamed uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes.
"Sam, are you okay?" Bai Haorui hurried forward, took out a calming talisman, and pressed it to his forehead. The cool sensation from the paper instantly dispelled some of his fear. Sam panted, his eyes unfocused. "I saw Mom. She was burning... just like in my memories."
"That was an illusion created by the demon." Bai Haorui lit a stick of focus incense, and a faint fragrance spread through the air. "The thing in this house grows stronger by feeding on childhood trauma and fear. It's using your memories to attack you."
Leah suddenly screamed downstairs, and both men immediately rushed down. At some point, flames had sprung up on the living room curtains. Tommy trembled in Jenny's arms, while Leah pointed above the curtains and shouted, "The lady in white! She's there!"
Everyone looked up and saw a blurry white figure floating beside the curtains. The moment she approached, the flames went out as though doused by an invisible stream of water, leaving only a wisp of smoke. The figure lingered for a few seconds before slowly dissolving into the air.
"It's Mary." Dean's voice was hoarse. His hand trembled around his silver knife, and his eyes reddened, but he stubbornly refused to let his tears fall. "It's Mom's spirit."
Just then, soft footsteps sounded at the entrance, and a Black woman in a colorful, loose-fitting long dress walked in. She wore a beaded bracelet, and her sharp eyes were full of compassion. This was Missouri, John's psychic friend, whom Dean had contacted after receiving the call. Her gaze swept across the room, and she sighed softly. "Mary's attachment runs too deep. She can't bear to leave this place, or her children."
Missouri walked to the center of the living room, closed her eyes, and pressed her palms together. After a moment, she frowned deeply and shook her head. "The demon is too powerful. It's interfering with my connection to Mary. I can only hear scattered words... basement, doll, flames."
Bai Haorui immediately took out a yellow talisman covered in intricate cinnabar markings. It was Spirit Communication. "This is a Taoist Spirit Communication talisman. It should help you establish a clear connection." He handed it to Missouri. "Place it between your eyebrows and concentrate."
Missouri took the talisman and placed it between her eyebrows as instructed. When she closed her eyes again, her expression gradually calmed. Her lips moved slightly as she repeated Mary's words. "In the wooden chest in the basement... the demon's vessel is hidden there. It's a doll... it grows stronger by feeding on fear. Protect the children. Don't let it out..."
"We've found the vessel." Bai Haorui put away the coins. "Let's go to the basement and deal with that thing."
Dean escorted Jenny and her children to a safe area outside. Before they left, Leah tugged at Bai Haorui's clothes and pointed beneath the stairs. "The lady in white says the bad thing is in the wooden chest furthest inside, tied with black rope." Bai Haorui patted her head and slipped a small peachwood protective charm into her hand. "Don't be afraid. We'll take care of it."
The basement entrance was hidden in the kitchen's storage room. When they pushed open the heavy wooden door, a damp, rotten smell hit them, mingled with dense yin energy. Dean switched on his flashlight, its beam swaying through the darkness and illuminating cobweb-covered walls and piles of clutter. Bai Haorui took out the Five Emperor Coins. As the red cord swung, the coins trembled violently toward a corner of the basement, their red glow growing brighter.
"Over there." Bai Haorui walked toward the corner, where a battered wooden chest sat wrapped in several loops of blackened hemp rope. Faint runes seemed to be carved into the rope. Sam stepped forward and heaved open the chest. A cloth doll lay quietly inside, dressed in faded blue overalls. Its eyes were two black buttons, staring fixedly at them. Dark red liquid seeped from the gaps around the buttons like bloody tears.
"This thing?" Dean raised an eyebrow and reached out to touch it, but Bai Haorui stopped him.
"Don't touch it!" Bai Haorui's voice was grave. "This is the vessel of a grudge demon. Touch it and the yin energy will backlash against you." As soon as he finished speaking, the doll suddenly opened its eyes. Its black buttons shifted, and the basement's temperature plummeted. The cobwebs on the walls began burning, and flames spread rapidly along the walls, rushing toward the three of them.
"Damn it!" Dean immediately pulled out a fire extinguisher and pressed the trigger, temporarily suppressing the flames. Bai Haorui seized the chance to take out an Impurity-Breaking Talisman and throw it at the doll. The paper landed squarely on its chest, and the flames instantly went out. The doll let out a piercing shriek like fingernails scraping glass.
"It's breaking free!" Sam shouted. The talisman on the doll began smoking as black mist seeped from its body, corroding the paper. It suddenly sprang from the chest and lunged at Sam, simultaneously manipulating the surrounding clutter-rusty nails, broken boards, and heavy toolboxes-to hurl it at the three men.
Just then, a white figure suddenly appeared in front of Sam. It was Mary's spirit. Her outline was much clearer than before. With a sweep of her hands, an invisible force blocked the flying boards, and the nails fell to the ground. "Don't even think about hurting my children." Her voice was firm, and her gaze was filled with attachment as it settled on Dean and Sam.
"Dean, use the ink line!" Bai Haorui took an ink-line reel from his backpack and tossed it to Dean. "Tie it to the stone pillar!" Dean caught the reel, quickly pulled out the inked cord, and whipped it toward the doll. Carrying the aura of cinnabar, the cord wrapped around the doll's limbs. Dean pulled hard, dragging it to the nearby stone pillar and binding it tightly.
"Sam, find something flammable. Let's burn it, too!" As Bai Haorui shouted, he took out his peachwood sword and retrieved a porcelain bottle from his backpack. It contained a dark yellow liquid: Pure Yang Water, made by boiling a mixture of mugwort, sulfur, and cinnabar. Brimming with yang energy, it specifically countered yin evil.
Sam immediately searched the basement's storage shelves and soon found a sealed glass bottle containing alcohol. He unscrewed the cap and walked toward the doll. It struggled wildly against the ink line, its black mist growing denser. Mary's spirit gradually turned transparent, as though she could no longer hold on much longer.
"It's time to end this." Bai Haorui took a deep breath, gripped the peachwood sword in both hands, and soaked it with Pure Yang Water. At the same time, he closed his eyes and silently recited the Deity-Invoking Spell from his grandfather's notes. Mysterious source of heaven and earth, root of all qi. Through countless kalpas of cultivation, let my divine powers manifest. Within and beyond the three realms, the Dao alone is supreme. Golden light dwells within, enveloping my body. I summon the door gods to protect this home and the City God to suppress evil. Swiftly, in accordance with the decree!
The instant the incantation ended, a breeze seemed to sweep through the basement, and a faint golden glow rose from the tip of the peachwood sword. Bai Haorui opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, and thrust toward the point between the doll's eyebrows. The moment the peachwood sword pierced its body, the doll let out an agonized scream. The black mist inside it fled wildly, only to be trapped by the barrier formed by the ink line and the Deity-Invoking Spell, unable to escape.
"Sam, do it!" Bai Haorui shouted. Sam immediately splashed the alcohol over the doll and lit it with his lighter. Flames instantly flared, carrying the power of the Pure Yang Water as they engulfed the doll. The black mist struggled and roared within the fire before finally burning away completely. The yin energy in the air gradually dissipated, leaving only the scorched smell of burning.
Mary's spirit stood quietly beside the flames, her outline becoming clearer and clearer. She looked at Dean and Sam with a gentle smile. Bai Haorui took a small porcelain bottle from his backpack. It contained a mixture of ox tears and dew from willow leaves-something he had specially prepared before setting out. It could temporarily open the yin-yang eyes, allowing ordinary people to see and communicate with spirits. He handed the mixture to Dean and Sam. "Apply it to the corners of your eyes. You can say a proper goodbye to her."
They applied it as instructed. When they looked up again, Mary's figure was no different from that of an ordinary person. She wore her familiar white nightgown, and her smile was just as they remembered. "Sam, my boy." Mary walked over to Sam and gently stroked his cheek, her fingertips cold. "Stop blaming yourself for the past. Mom has always been proud of you."
Sam could no longer hold back his tears. He choked up, unable to say a word, and could only tightly hold his mother's hands-even though they were insubstantial, offering nothing solid to grasp.
Mary then walked over to Dean. He held his neck stiff, trying hard not to cry, but under his mother's gaze, all his strength crumbled. "Mom." His voice was hoarse with suppressed sobs. "I've always done what you told me. Taken care of my little brother. But... I miss you so much."
"I know, Dean." Mary gently embraced him. "You've done so well. My son has grown up and become a brave hunter. Take care of yourself from now on, too. Don't always force yourself to keep going." Her gaze passed over the three men before finally settling on Bai Haorui. She nodded, as though thanking him.
Bai Haorui closed his eyes and recited the Spirit Deliverance Spell. "Dust to dust, earth to earth. Benevolent spirit, depart your vessel and be reborn in the Pure Land. Without attachments, without sorrow or joy, journey safely and swiftly reach bliss."
As the incantation sounded, Mary's body gradually became transparent, turning into motes of golden light that dispersed into the air. The flames in the basement also gradually went out, leaving only a pile of ashes.
Dean crouched in silence, staring blankly at the ashes. Bai Haorui walked over and handed him a bottle of beer. "Brother, I don't know what to say to comfort you either." His voice had grown much gentler. "But your mom would definitely want you and Sam to be all right, and to keep living with her love."
Dean took the beer and tilted his head back for a long drink. Its coolness failed to suppress the ache in his heart, but it calmed him a little. He patted Bai Haorui's shoulder without speaking.
Sam walked over to the ashes and picked up a piece of the doll that had not burned completely. A faint symbol was carved into its underside-an inverted pentagram inset with a flame pattern. Bai Haorui leaned closer, his pupils contracting slightly. He knew this symbol all too well. It shared its origin with the symbols at the scene of his original body's parents' car accident and on the stone tablet in the ancient Native American tomb.
[System notification: Anchor Point Symbol discovered. Type: residential energy node. Demons use anchor points to establish energy networks across multiple locations, absorbing yin energy to strengthen themselves while also locating special targets.]
The system notification sounded in Bai Haorui's mind. It's pretty much certain that the deaths of this body's original parents were connected to the Yellow-Eyed Demon, too. Rest assured. Since I've inherited your karmic cause, I'll definitely avenge your parents, he silently said in his heart.
When the three emerged from the basement, Jenny approached with her children. Holding candy, Leah and Tommy ran up to the three men and handed each of them a piece. "Thank you, Big Brother Bai, Big Brother Dean, Big Brother Sam. When I grow up, I want to protect other people just like you."
Bai Haorui accepted the candy, unwrapped it, and put it in his mouth. Sweetness spread across his tongue. Dean smiled and ruffled Tommy's hair. "Sure. If you ever run into trouble, remember to contact us."
Missouri stood in the doorway, watching them with a gentle smile. "Mary has gone to Heaven. She has no regrets left." She walked over to Bai Haorui, curiosity in her eyes. "Your talismans work very well. Could you give me some? They might come in handy someday."
"No problem." Bai Haorui took a stack of talismans from his backpack and handed it to Missouri. "These are Home Protection Talismans and Impurity-Breaking Talismans, along with Spirit Communication and Expelling Evil. I'll give you some of each."
As they left the old house, Dean glanced back at the building that held so many memories, unable to suppress the ache welling up in his heart. He started the Impala, and the engine's roar broke the small town's quiet.
"Where to next?" Sam asked, his voice calm again.
"To find Dad." Dean tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his gaze firm. "We still have a lot to do, and a lot of scores to settle."
The Impala took the road out of Lawrence, heading into the distance. The setting sun stretched the car's shadow long behind it before it disappeared at the end of the highway.