Chapter 427: Yin Mansion Talisman

Xiong Gang brought out two things from the yin mansion.

One was Zhao Zhao Zixuan.

His face was pale, lying on the ground as if dead, yet he still breathed steadily; the mad woman had pricked him lightly with a knife, but he showed no reaction—his condition resembled that of a vegetative patient.

The other was half of the yin mansion's old woman's body.

This half belonged to a ghostly form, and after being brought out, it slowly dissipated until only a talisman shaped like a folded paper token remained.

The paper bore writing—likely the contract she signed when purchasing the yin mansion.

According to Xiong Gang's information, the yin mansion's old woman used this object to control the mansion's operations.

When Wu Xian held it in his hand, the information appeared on his pilgrimage certificate.

'Yin Mansion Talisman: A talisman folded from the contract signed by the old ghost Li Po Po when acquiring property from a yin-world real estate dealer. The owner, by holding the talisman, may control the yin mansion; dependents may temporarily use it by consuming their Dao cultivation.'

Wu Xian smirked—his own blast had obliterated the yin mansion; how could he possibly use it temporarily?

Huh? Wu Xian turned his head toward the unconscious Zhao Zhao Zixuan.

He had already been assimilated by the yin mansion—could the Yin Mansion Talisman be used to control him? Wu Xian's heart stirred.

But he did not act immediately.

If it truly worked, his third-stage Dao cultivation would likely only allow brief control—good steel must be used on the sharpest blade.

Then Wu Xian questioned everyone in detail about their experiences during the yin mansion incident.

Gong Gong Xiujuan and the red-lipped spirit, through alternating transformations, recounted everything they had endured.

After listening.

Wu Xian closed his eyes and pondered for a long time before opening them again, then gave the mad woman a meaningful glance.

This woman had serious problems! Since entering the Fudi, she had been the greatest mystery.

She alternated between clarity and madness; when mad, she never acted too violently, yet when clear, she refused to reveal any information about herself.

At first, Wu Xian thought.

She was merely an ordinary woman driven mad by dark fears.

But even if such a woman were slightly mad and ruthless, she could not have survived alone in this terrifying underground labyrinth.

Later, Wu Xian speculated she might be, like Xiong Gang or Xia Xia Caoqing, a summoned ally spirit.

Yet as time passed, Wu Xian found no evidence she was a spirit, so he could only treat her as an ordinary woman.

But after hearing the story from within the yin mansion.

Wu Xian noticed inconsistencies.

When Li Po Po offered food to the three, the mad woman clearly desired it—but upon picking it up, she suddenly went mad for an instant, causing her to avoid eating and thus avoid being trapped.

After the three confronted Li Po Po, she launched a surprise attack through the sofa.

The red-lipped spirit escaped by tearing her clothes, but the mad woman simply stood up from the sofa and followed the spirit away—meaning the sofa's liquid had not attacked her!

Later, under the red-lipped spirit's protection, the mad woman survived safely until Xiong Gang arrived.

An ordinary person, unharmed, escaped the yin mansion.

Was that reasonable?

Think carefully—since Wu Xian entered the Fudi, everyone had been attacked by spirits, yet only one person had remained completely safe, never targeted by any spirit: the mad woman! She seemed more like an observer.

The great cavern needed her no more than it needed anyone else; she caused no trouble, offered no unique aid, and her greatest contribution was merely telling everyone to light the lanterns while telling stories to gain safety. Could she be, like the 'Rubik's Slave,' merely a tool of the underground labyrinth? Wu Xian said nothing, but he grew wary of the mad woman, marking her as a key subject for observation—his instinct told him she might be crucial to this Fudi.

Then.

Wu Xian also asked Gong Gong Xiujuan several lingering questions.

After Huang Huang Debiao finished his story, two spirits were summoned: the marbles girl and the yin mansion's old woman—if every spirit appearing in a story gets summoned, then theoretically, Gong Gong Xiujuan's story should have summoned every spirit within the Guiwu Supermarket.

Yet in reality, Wu Xian had encountered only the red-lipped spirit so far.

Gong Gong Xiujuan could offer no explanation.

Wu Xian could only temporarily assume the summoning had a limit on quantity, or required a deep connection to the storyteller, or reached a threshold of fear to trigger.

……

The investigation into the yin mansion incident was temporarily concluded.

The group gathered around the fire, processing the remaining snake meat from the two-headed serpent spirit; all leftover raw flesh was skewered and dried beside the bonfire, during which they fended off two waves of minor spirits. After the hustle, it was time to tell the next story.

Those present who had not yet told a story were Wu Xian, Fu Liang Jian, and Xiong Gang.

Xiong Gang volunteered eagerly, eager to tell his own tale.

But Wu Xian stopped him—he still had one test to conduct.

Wu Xian took the 'Yin Mansion Talisman' and, following the instructions on his pilgrimage certificate, channeled his Dao cultivation into the folded paper talisman.

Zing! Zhao Zhao Zixuan, who had lain motionless like a vegetative patient, rose stiffly like a zombie; his expression froze for a few seconds, then broke into a pure, innocent smile as he walked to Wu Xian's side and took his arm, affectionately calling:

"Grandma!"

That "Grandma" made Wu Xian roll his eyes.

Then, before the astonished gazes of the other four, Wu Xian asked Zhao Zhao Zixuan several questions—about his family, and events since entering the underground labyrinth.

From this exchange, Wu Xian saw that Zhao Zhao Zixuan's memories and personality remained unchanged, except that he now saw Wu Xian as his grandmother.

Wu Xian then gave Zhao Zhao Zixuan several commands; no matter what he ordered, Zhao Zhao Zixuan tried to obey—even if it meant harming himself.

This proved that, to him, the command of "Grandma" was absolute.

Finally, Wu Xian said solemnly: "I have lifted the control over you. You are free now—I am no longer your grandmother!"

Zhao Zhao Zixuan froze, tears streaming from his eyes: "Are you abandoning me? But you will always be my grandmother!"

Wu Xian sighed.

It seemed Zhao Zhao Zixuan was still alive, but beyond saving—merely a tool that appeared alive.

All he could do was maximize Zhao Zhao Zixuan's utility to buy more chances for himself and the others.

So Wu Xian told Zhao Zhao Zixuan: "Go sit before the big-eared statue and tell the most terrifying story from before you entered the underground labyrinth."

Zhao Zhao Zixuan, upon hearing this, burst into tears and walked to sit before the statue.

If Xia Xia Caoqing, a spirit, had her story count, perhaps Zhao Zhao Zixuan's tale—though turned into a puppet but still alive—might also light the lantern and grant everyone eight hours of safety!

Zhao Zhao Zixuan's expression shifted repeatedly—sometimes crying, sometimes nearly breaking down—after long emotional preparation, he finally spoke.

"My name is Zhao Zhao Zixuan. I'm a senior high school student…"

(End of Chapter)