The Impala's engine roared down the highway, an oppressive silence hanging inside the car. Sam sat in the passenger seat, unconsciously rubbing his fingers over the hunting journal on his lap, repeating, "The last time I saw Dad, I had such a huge fight with him. Do you think he thought I hated him?" His voice was thick with guilt that would not ease. Dean gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white, and deliberately changed the subject in a light tone. "Stop thinking about it. Why don't we go see Ellen and find out if she has any cases? Better than moping in the car." His eyes, however, drifted toward the rearview mirror, concealing the torment of keeping his father's last words secret. "If Sam turns, kill him" seared his chest like a branding iron.
In the back seat, Bai Haorui toyed with three Five Emperor Coins, spinning them rapidly in his palm with faint clinks. He glanced at the two tense men up front and drawled, "Yeah, we don't have any good leads right now anyway. Let's check out Harvelle Roadhouse first." Then he lowered his head again to play with the coins, while thinking, God fucking damn it, I'm still too weak.
The car entered Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Harvelle Roadhouse's neon sign glowed in the night. When they pushed open the door, the rich smells of beer and grilled meat hit them. Ellen was behind the bar, wiping glasses. She was around forty, her blond hair tied in a neat ponytail. Fine wrinkles marked the corners of her eyes without diminishing her capable air in the slightest. The sleeves of her plaid shirt were rolled up, exposing faint scars on her forearms-medals earned in her early hunting days. Seeing the three come in, she pushed a stack of case files straight into the middle of the bar. "Medford, Wisconsin. Three serial murders, all very strange. The adults all died, but the children were unharmed. The only lead is the 'clown' the little girl who survived mentioned."
Barely had she finished speaking when a figure darted out of the kitchen. Jo Harvelle looked no older than nineteen, with blond hair, blue eyes, and healthy, wheat-colored skin. A small hunting gun was tucked at her waist, and her fitted cargo pants outlined a trim figure. Her eyes were full of a fearless rookie's drive. She went over to Dean and raised an eyebrow with a smile. "You're Dean Winchester? My mom's told me about you! I want to investigate with you."
"You've got some nerve, little girl." Bai Haorui snorted, leaning against the bar. "Hunting isn't playing house." Defiantly, Jo pulled out a notebook covered in doodles, its pages filled with crooked sketches of evil spirits and notes on their weaknesses. "I've been studying! Look at my notes." Bai Haorui glanced at them and quipped, "Your drawings are worse than Dean's pickup lines. I bet you can't even tell a Shapeshifter from a vengeful spirit."
Snoring came from the pool table, where Ash lay sprawled, dead drunk. He sported his signature mullet, his greasy hair plastered to his scalp, and stubble covered his face. His T-shirt bore a faded Star Trek design, and he still clutched half a bottle of beer. Ellen walked over and kicked him. "Wake up. We've got a case." Ash raised his head groggily, slurring, "Checked... checked the news from Medford. Suspect a Shapeshifter's behind it. That place is crawling with yin energy."
Bai Haorui took out his Five Emperor Coins and flicked them with his fingertips. They landed steadily on the bar, glowing faintly blue-black. He nodded in confirmation. "The yin energy isn't pure. It's mixed with residual anchor energy. This isn't an ordinary evil spirit." He turned to Sam and lowered his voice. "Whatever it is, let's deal with this thing first. We can't just stand by and let him hurt people."
Sam approached the bar, his voice low. "Ellen, did my dad leave any other clues? About Yellow Eyes." Ellen sighed, pausing in her wiping. "John only said, 'Yellow Eyes' energy network is hidden in everyday life.' He didn't get the chance to say anything else." Sam's eyes instantly dimmed. Bai Haorui patted his shoulder. "Let's handle what's in front of us first. We'll tackle your dad's business together. He won't get away."
"Can you even shoot, little girl?" Dean teased, folding his arms. Jo immediately picked up the air gun behind the bar, turned toward an empty bottle in the corner, and fired. The bottle shattered at the shot. "Well?" She lifted her chin, looking smug. Bai Haorui pursed his lips. "Shooting bottles is useless. Against a stronger evil spirit, a devil, or a Shapeshifter, your little skills wouldn't even make a mouthful." Jo pressed him. "What's a Shapeshifter? Is it really powerful?" Ellen took over, her tone serious. "A Shapeshifter can copy anyone's appearance, voice, even memories. It feeds exclusively on human fear. Its only weakness is silver, and you have to strike its true body to kill it."
Dean took out his phone and called Bobby. An irritable scolding immediately came through the receiver. "You boys never learn to stay put! John's barely gone, and you can't take a break?" "We found a case. A clown's killing people in Medford. We suspect a Shapeshifter," Dean said. Bobby fell silent for a few seconds. "A Shapeshifter? Be careful. If you split up, you'd better agree on a few passwords only you know." Bai Haorui took the phone, sounding certain. "Bobby, don't worry. I'll protect them." Bobby grunted. "Just be careful. Don't let your guard down."
Jo was still pestering Dean to take her along. Bai Haorui simply stuffed a Safety Talisman into her hand. "This can block a little yin energy. Come back when you're more mature and have learned to identify evil spirits. Don't drag us down now." He turned and winked at Dean. "This girl's like you when you were younger. Impulsive, but full of fire. Just short on brains." Jo angrily clutched the Safety Talisman and, while the three were not looking, slipped her hunting notebook into Dean's backpack.
Before they left, Sam had organized the case details, Dean had planned their route, and Bai Haorui packed glutinous rice, cinnabar, and an ink-line reel into his backpack. The three brothers had clear roles: Sam supplied the brains, Dean handled the action, and Bai Haorui filled the gaps. They were like a machine whose parts were working together increasingly well.
The Impala stopped on Medford's main street. The sun shone brightly, but an unshakable gloom hung over the townspeople's faces. The three found the young victim's neighbor, a white-haired old woman, who said shakily, "That night, Lily-the little girl who was victimized-said there was a clown at the door with such a sweet smile, so she opened the door and let him in... Then the next day, her parents were gone. Lily won't say a word now."
Bai Haorui followed the old woman to Lily's home. The little girl curled up in a corner of the couch, her eyes vacant, clutching a stuffed toy tightly to her chest. He took out three Five Emperor Coins and softly recited the Heart-Clearing Mantra. The coins at his fingertips shone with a gentle golden light. Lily gradually relaxed and whispered, "There was a clown who could walk through walls. He smelled like metal, and when he smiled, his teeth were sharp. Lily's so scared. I miss Mommy and Daddy so much."
Bai Haorui walked around the house with the Five Emperor Coins. At the doorway, the coins suddenly shook violently and began to glow. He crouched and touched the floor, sensing faint energy fluctuations through his fingertips. "The anchor energy is strongest around here. It should be the yin energy gathering area where the carnival is." Sam added, "I just checked the town government's public records. There's a carnival on the east side every year. It's been running for decades, and there's always been a clown knife-throwing act. Want to take a look?"
"Let's go. Maybe we'll find something," Dean said, turning and walking out.
The three drove to the carnival grounds east of town. It was afternoon, and plenty of visitors were already there. Music mingled with laughter in a lively din. Posing as a visitor, Dean approached the knife-throwing stage and patted the performer, Barry, on the shoulder. "Buddy, you're pretty good with those knives. What kind of dagger do you use? Looks sharp." Barry was a man of medium build with short hair and shifty eyes. The dagger in his hand glinted coldly in the sunlight. "Not bad. Family trade."
Bai Haorui stood a short distance away. While the two talked, he quietly pulled out the ink line and flicked his fingers, sending the cinnabar-soaked cord flying toward Barry. Barry instinctively dodged sideways. The line grazed his arm and instantly glowed red. Bai Haorui signaled Sam and Dean, mouthing, "It's him."
Night fell, and the lights came on across the carnival grounds, making them even livelier. The three hid in the shadows backstage, watching Barry pack up his props and sneak into the staff lounge. Bai Haorui took out a Breaking Illusion Talisman and silently recited an incantation. The paper emitted a faint golden light that shone toward the lounge. Under its light, the seemingly ordinary Barry gradually twisted into a clown, with green hair, a deathly white face, and a mouth stretched to his ears, exposing sharp teeth.
"It's a Shapeshifter!" Bai Haorui said sharply under his breath. Realizing he had been discovered, the Shapeshifter in clown form roared and passed through the wall, charging toward the densest carnival crowds. "After him! Don't let him get away!" Bai Haorui shouted, and the three immediately gave chase.
"How the fuck does this monster run faster than a rabbit?" Dean complained. "Cut the chatter. It's probably after children wandering alone in the carnival. We need to split up and stand guard," Sam interrupted the two, quickly laying out a plan. "I'll cover the front entrance. Dean, take the middle passage. Haorui, cover the back entrance. Your Five Emperor Coins can sense yin energy. Call us as soon as anything happens." Bai Haorui nodded. "No problem. He won't get away."
Not long after they split up, Bai Haorui spotted two familiar figures. Jo had secretly driven after them, and Lily was with her. "What are you doing here?" Bai Haorui pressed a hand to his forehead helplessly. "The professional troublemakers have teamed up to come after me?!" Jo straightened proudly. "Lily says she knows where the clown might go. I brought her to help. Don't worry, I won't hold you back, and I can protect Lily too." Bai Haorui sighed, took a protective talisman out of his backpack, and stuck it on Lily. "Stay with Jo. Don't wander off."
He quickly set up simple Spirit-Trapping Formations at the carnival's key junctions, stretching the ink line into nets. The cinnabar-soaked cord glowed red. "This ink line's soaked in cinnabar. It can temporarily block his yin energy and slow him down." Then he took out several unfinished glutinous rice snap bombs and handed them to Dean and Sam. "These have cinnabar powder mixed in, so they pack more punch. Throw them on my signal."
Holding the Five Emperor Coins, Bai Haorui suddenly sensed a powerful fluctuation of yin energy moving toward the funhouse deep inside the grounds. "He wants to use the confusion inside the funhouse!" he immediately shouted into his radio. "That's where the anchor energy is most concentrated. He'll be at his strongest there."
Sam called Bobby, speaking rapidly. "Bobby, confirmed. It's a Shapeshifter. Its weakness is silver, but we didn't bring any. It seems afraid of brass too, though." Bobby swore on the other end. "You never bring all your gear! Funhouses usually have pipe organs. Take off the brass parts and grind them down into daggers." Bai Haorui took the phone. "Bobby, I've set up a Spirit-Trapping Formation. It can hold for ten minutes. That's enough time for Sam to work." Bobby added, "Once you trap it, don't give it a chance to change shape. Stab straight into its core. Don't let it escape."
Bai Haorui touched the funhouse wall, feeling familiar anchor energy through his fingertips. He silently tightened his grip on the Five Emperor Coins, his gaze turning resolute. "Sooner or later, I'll uncover the connection between Yellow Eyes and these anchors."
The three charged into the funhouse. The Shapeshifter had already seized a little boy, his sharp claws reaching for the boy's throat. "Now!" Bai Haorui shouted, hurling a glutinous rice bomb. It exploded in front of the Shapeshifter, filling the air with red cinnabar powder. The Shapeshifter roared, temporarily blinded, and the boy seized the chance to break free and run to Jo and Lily.
"Sam, dismantle the pipe organ!" Bai Haorui pulled out the ink line and quickly formed a circle, trapping the Shapeshifter in the middle. "The Spirit-Trapping Formation won't hold long!" He recited an incantation. "Let the ink line mark the boundary; let no evil draw near!" The line instantly pulled taut, shining with a piercing red light. The Shapeshifter slammed wildly against the formation but could not break out.
Dean took salt from his backpack and scattered it at the Shapeshifter. "Sam!" The grains sizzled against the Shapeshifter's body, sending up black smoke, and his movements visibly slowed. Sam climbed onto the pipe organ and forcefully pulled a brass component off a lever. Taking a dagger from his backpack, he quickly ground it down, soon fashioning a crude brass dagger. "Ready!"
The Shapeshifter suddenly surged with strength, smashed through the Spirit-Trapping Formation, and lunged at Sam. Dean reacted instantly, diving forward and wrapping his arms around his legs. "Sam, do it!" The Shapeshifter turned, raking his sharp claws toward Dean's back. Bai Haorui took out an Evil-Breaking Talisman and leaped forward, slapping it firmly onto the Shapeshifter's back. "Break evil, scatter form!" he shouted. The talisman instantly erupted in dazzling red light. The Shapeshifter screamed shrilly, his body convulsing violently.
Sam seized the opening, raised the brass dagger, and drove it hard into the Shapeshifter's chest. The Shapeshifter's body gradually turned transparent before finally becoming a wisp of black smoke that dispersed into the air.
Only the breathing of the four remained in the funhouse. Sam sat on the floor, bracing himself with both hands, and said quietly, "I miss Dad. The last time I saw him, I shouldn't have fought with him. I shouldn't have gone to buy coffee." Dean was silent for a moment, then walked over and patted his shoulder, his voice hoarse. "I know." He wanted to say something and opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed those last words again. He was not ready yet, nor could he bear to.
Bai Haorui leaned against the doorframe without speaking. Quietly, he took a bottle of water from his backpack and handed it to Sam. He knew some feelings had to be processed alone. All he could do was stand by and make sure nothing unexpected happened.
"You were pretty badass back there," Dean said to Sam, trying to break the silence. Sam looked up, accepted the water, and quietly said, "Thanks." Dean's gaze shifted away for a moment. The guilt of hiding their father's last words surged through him like a tide, leaving him struggling to breathe.
"Can we prepare brass or silver daggers ahead of time next time? Dismantling a pipe organ is too much work," Bai Haorui complained, deliberately changing the subject. Sam could not help smiling, and Dean grinned too. "Be grateful. At least we had something to use." At last, much of the oppressive atmosphere inside the car dissipated.
Dean called Bobby to report in. "Done. The Shapeshifter's dealt with." Bobby replied, "Don't let your guard down. The Shapeshifter was just small fry. Yellow Eyes' anchor network is still intact. You need to hurry up and investigate." He paused, then said to Bai Haorui, "Make a note of the anchor energy you sensed. I'll look through the relevant ancient texts afterward and see if I can find a way to break it." Bai Haorui nodded. "I'll keep an eye on it. I'll tell you as soon as I find a lead."
Jo watched the three from beside them, her eyes filled with admiration. "You guys are amazing! I'm definitely coming with you next time." Bai Haorui raised an eyebrow. "Don't say that yet. Don't act so impulsively from now on. You'll get yourself hurt, girl."
They took Lily home. The elderly neighbor thanked them over and over, her eyes reddening. "Thank you. I thought something had happened to Lily too." Bai Haorui took a stack of Safety Talismans from his backpack and handed them to her. "Stick these on the doors and windows. Let the child get some proper rest for a while."
Back at the carnival parking lot, Jo discreetly tugged Dean's arm. "You have to take me on your next hunt! I promise I won't hold you back." Dean agreed with a smile. "Once you've got enough practice, we'll take you." Bai Haorui took a stack of Safety Talismans from his backpack and shoved them into Jo's hands. "Take these. Don't secretly follow us next time. Who's going to save you if something happens? These talismans can keep some minor trouble off you."
The Impala drove out of Medford as the night deepened, classic rock playing on the car radio. Sam leaned back in the passenger seat, his expression much more relaxed than on the way there. Dean held the steering wheel, occasionally trading barbs with Bai Haorui to liven things up. Bai Haorui toyed with the Five Emperor Coins, the fluctuations of anchor energy and the Yellow-Eyed Demon's arrogant appearance flashing through his mind. He silently repeated, I have to kill him.
"Oh, right. Why are you so scared of clowns?" Bai Haorui suddenly remembered something and teased him. Dean's expression instantly changed, and he muttered, "A neighbor's clown doll scared me when I was little. That thing suddenly moved in the middle of the night and chased me halfway down the street. Left me traumatized." Sam could not help laughing. "Never thought there'd be something you were afraid of." "Who doesn't have childhood trauma?" Dean shot back, and laughter filled the car.
Just then, Dean received a text from Ash. "Found out Medford's anchor is the old carnival site. A hundred years ago, it was an execution ground. Heavy yin energy. Yellow Eyes definitely used the energy there." Bai Haorui read it aloud to the other two. Sam added, "Yellow Eyes might be using these old anchors to strengthen evil entities. If we follow the anchors, we might find his lair." Dean nodded. "That's the plan, then. From now on, we focus on the anchors and find Yellow Eyes." Bai Haorui raised an eyebrow. "Sounds good."
A text from Jo arrived, with a photo attached of a dagger blueprint she had drawn. Beside it, she had written, "I've already started practicing. Wait for me!" Smiling, Bai Haorui handed the phone to Dean. "This girl's pretty persistent."
The mood inside the car gradually lightened, and Bai Haorui and Sam slowly drifted off to sleep.