Chapter 169

Viewers had grown almost accustomed to the sensation that “Ghostly Guidance” caused every time a neva episode aired, trending immediately upon release.

Everyone thought the serial killer from the first episode was a one-off shocker, but this week’s installment threw another curveball with a husband accused of murdering his wife, Online, fans half-jokingly called the “Ghostly Guidance” production team the “Sherlock Holmes Squad” due to their knack for unearthing dark secrets.

The live stream was still rolling, and the chat rooms and social media feeds were buzzing with activity.

From the control room, Bagot couldn't help but marvel at the skyrocketing viewer numbers and online buzz that far exceeded their wildest expectations.

“This turnout is too good; we can’t cut the broadcast early,” he mused.

Back on the screen, the guests who had completed their tasks seemed much more relaxed than before. Candace’s team had abandoned their initial plan to go it alone and joined forces with Winnie’s group, forming a lively procession.

Winnie stood at the edge of some dense foliage, holding freshly picked herbs. She approached the guests, handing them sprigs of mint and wormwood, saying. “These leaves can keep the mosquitoes away when you're outdoors.”

Then, pulling out a piece of dry bark, she added. “This is sycamore bark. If you can’t find any repellent plants, this will do ina pinch. Light it up, let it smoke — it’s not too pungent and keeps the bugs away.”

Just half an hour earlier, they were all condemning a scumbag, and now here they were, as carefree as if they were on holiday, volunteering outdoor survival tips.

Well, summer in the woods did mean lots of mosquitoes, and while Winnie had her own repellent charms, it wouldn’t do to completely ignore the comfort of the others.

As she mentioned fire, Winnie deliberately faced the camera to add, “But remember, when you're in the wilderness, try to avoid making fires, and if you do, extinguish them promptly. Especially in dry weather like this, it’s all too easy to start a wildfire.”

The audience hadn’t expected a paranormal show to turn into a public service announcement, but they loved watching all the same.

“Man, Winnie knows so much, and to think she’s only eighteen — the youngest guest of them all!*

“| almost forgot she just graduated high school! She’s got such a commanding presence: you could tell me she’s nine feet tall and I'd believe it!”

The comments were a mix of amusement and admiration. The viewers were fascinated with 2259)

Winnie’s breadth of knowledge and urged her to share more, perhaps some esoteric trivia.

Bagot caught sight of a particular comment and relayed the suggestion to Ned, the host, who seized the opportunity and approached Winnie with a smile, “Hey Winnie, you seem to have a good grip on these things. Since we're not in a rush, how about you share some more of your wisdom with the audience? Maybe some mystic tidbits?”

The guests and viewers liked the idea, curious about the subject despite their skepticism.

Following a recent episode where Mervin demonstrated his charm—drawing skills, the internet had been abuzz with viewers trying to replicate the talisman for fun.

Initially, “Ghostly Guidance” was meant to educate the audience on mystical practices, so when Ned pitched the idea, Winnie simply nodded and led the cameraman to another bush, pointing out a plant.

“Mervin should recognize this one,” she said, deftly passing the spotlight to him.

“What's that?” Candace couldn’t contain her curiosity.

Winnie smiled but her voice remained serene, “This is Myrrh.”

The guests and viewers alike were puzzled, and many immediately searched online for an explanation, resulting in a flurry of revelation and laughter.

“So, our Mervin’s name is actually related to Myrrh?”

“No wonder | thought the name sounded familiar — isn’t that a resin?”

Winnie, unfazed by the commotion, calmly explained, “Myrrh has a long history of use as a perfume, incense, and medicine in various cultures. For example, it's mentioned in the Bible as one of the gifts brought to Jesus by the Wise Men. Myrrh is often generally associated with suffering, sacrifice, and reverence in the context of the Bible”

The name Mervin, given by the Caretaker of Breeze Monastery, was a wish for him to learn to sacrifice himself to help others.

As Winnie spoke, she looked towards Mervin, who nodded in acknowledgment, his face tinged with a rare embarrassment.

“When my master found me as a child while foraging in the woods for a unique resin called Myrrh. That’s why I’ve got a similar name.”

What he hadn’t anticipated was that Winnie would use this tidbit for an educational moment during her live stream.

Clearly, the audience in Winnie’s live stream room was captivated by her explanation and started buzzing with interest, comments flooding in:

“That’s so interesting!”

“Wild to think that Mervin was actually picked up by a sage from the mountains. Feels like some kind of mystical destiny.”

12:53 And from that day forth, the fans of Mervin, thanks to Winnie’s influence, were lovingly dubbed by the community as Myrrh.