阴灵不散 lingering evil
Explanation
旧时迷信指人死后灵魂不会散去。现多比喻坏人、坏事虽已清除，但不良的影响还在起作用。
In the past, it was a superstitious belief that the souls of the dead would not disperse. Now it mostly refers to the bad influence of bad people or bad things, which still takes effect even though they have been eliminated.
Origin Story
话说清朝时期，江南一带有个大财主，名叫钱万贯，他为人奸诈，巧取豪夺，欺压百姓，民怨沸腾。钱万贯死后，当地百姓都说他阴灵不散，夜里总能听到他阴森森的笑声，以及各种奇怪的声响，一些胆小的村民更是吓得不敢出门。据说，钱万贯的府邸也因此变得阴森恐怖，后来他的后代也逐渐败落，家道中落，钱万贯死后的几年间，这宅院发生了好几次火灾，当地人都觉得这是钱万贯的阴灵不散，在报复世人，直到后来府邸彻底荒废，他的恶行才渐渐被人遗忘。
In the Qing Dynasty, there was a wealthy man named Qian Wanguan in the Jiangnan area. He was cunning and deceitful, extorting and oppressing the people, causing resentment among the people. After his death, local people said that his spirit did not disperse, and his gloomy laughter and various strange sounds could always be heard at night. Some timid villagers were even too scared to go out. It was said that Qian Wanguan's mansion had therefore become eerie and terrifying, and his descendants gradually declined and their family fortune declined. In the few years after Qian Wanguan's death, several fires broke out in the mansion. Local people felt that this was because Qian Wanguan's spirit was not dispersed and was taking revenge on the world. It was not until the mansion was completely abandoned that his evil deeds were gradually forgotten.
Usage
作谓语、定语；用于坏人或坏事等
As predicate, attributive; used for bad people or bad things
Examples
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这座古宅阴灵不散，夜里总能听到怪声。
zhè zuò gǔ zhái yīn líng bù sàn, yè lǐ zǒng néng tīng dào guài shēng
This old house is haunted; strange noises can always be heard at night.
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虽然贪官污吏已被绳之以法，但他们留下的恶劣影响阴灵不散。
suīrán tān guān wū lì yǐ bèi shéng zhī yǐ fǎ, dàn tāmen liú xià de è liè yǐng xiǎng yīn líng bù sàn
Although corrupt officials have been brought to justice, the bad influence they left behind lingers on.