Chapter 214

Speaking of which, I and Pangzi were holding shovels, and just as we were about to dig down at the spot QingSongShu pointed to, Yang Shouren grew anxious, stepped forward, and looking at QingSongShu's flustered expression said, 'Master Wang, what are you doing?'

'Don't be impatient,' QingSongShu waved his hand, comforting Yang Shouren, and pointing at the patch of earth we were digging, he explained: 'Brother Yang, this spot is connected to your young son, and the main is also the second room. This land has no harmful feng shui, so the problem very likely lies here...'

Before QingSongShu finished explaining to Yang Shouren, there was a clang, and the shovel seemed to have hit something. A piece of something like steel was dug out by me and Pangzi, revealing a corner.

'Uncle, there's something underground!' I pointed at the unearthed object and shouted excitedly at QingSongShu. I crouched down, my hand just about to touch it, when QingSongShu suddenly bellowed at me: 'Don't touch it!' Startled, I quickly pulled back my outstretched hand.

QingSongShu stepped forward, used his foot to shift the dirt on the ground, and the object buried beneath the soil finally revealed its full form.

'Plowshare Witch Sect!' Upon seeing the object clearly, I couldn't help but exclaim. The unearthed object on the ground was an iron plate, its shape resembling a plowshare used for tilling fields in the countryside, and the iron plate was covered with red-ink drawn runes, dense and numerous—at a glance it was the handiwork of the Plowshare Witch Sect.

In many people's understanding, the purpose of casting the plowshare talisman is to punish evildoers or to harm people. As for why it's called the plowshare talisman, there are two explanations. First, in ancient society, the plowshare was a farming tool; people lived by agriculture, and their lives were closely tied to the plowshare. Thus ancestors used locally available materials, inscribing talismans on plowshares to punish thieves and bandits. Second, one who casts a plowshare talisman cuts red paper into the shape of a plowshare and names it after its form, hence the name plowshare talisman.

However, regardless of which explanation, the plowshare talisman is the hallmark of the Plowshare Witch Sect. Other sects may have similar runes on their talismans, but this particular shaped talisman is unique to the Plowshare Witch Sect; others simply cannot imitate it.

After seeing clearly that the iron plate on the ground was a plowshare talisman, Pangzi, in his surprise, reached out with both hands toward it, almost touching it, when his hand was immediately slapped away by QingSongShu.

'Don't touch it; such talismans usually carry spells, and must be wrapped in red and white cloth, then fried in an oil pot to neutralize them.' QingSongShu glared at Pangzi, frightening Pangzi and me just as before, and we hastily pulled our hands back.

'Uncle, Yang Shouren's second son is injured by the killing qi; is this thing causing trouble?' I pointed at the plowshare talisman on the ground and asked curiously.

The direction where this talisman lies exactly corresponds to the 'chief long room' characters in the Bagua. Moreover, besides the chaotic runes on the plowshare talisman, a few small figures are drawn. In the talismans I know, such figures are only drawn when it's a harmonizing talisman or when it involves the Five Ghosts and a curse.

'Hmm, this talisman should be the witch family's Five Directional Killing Gods' coffin-striking talisman.' QingSongShu stroked his beard and fell into thought.

QingSongShu turned and said to Yang Shouren: 'Brother Yang, we will now wrap up the plowshare talisman and put it in the oil pot to fry. If frying the plowshare talisman improves the young master's condition, then it must be this talisman causing trouble… Brother Yang, Brother Yang'

Looking at the somewhat absent-minded Yang Shouren, QingSongShu couldn't help but call out twice more.

'Ah… okay, Master Wang, do as you say.' Yang Shouren came to his senses, though still a bit dazed, furrowed his brows, as if pondering something, or perhaps worrying about his young son.

After seeing Yang Shouren agree, QingSongShu had the attendants fetch some red and white cloth. The attendants brought the red and white cloth; I took them, folded the two pieces together, and reached for the plowshare talisman beneath the dirt—of course, before grabbing the talisman I also needed to recite the incantation for collecting it.

After collecting the plowshare talisman, the group retraced their steps back to Yang Shouren's home.

Back at Yang Shouren's home, Pangzi had people set up an iron pot, pour in raw oil, and once the oil heated, I threw the plowshare talisman wrapped in red and white cloth into the pot.

The plowshare talisman made a booming sound as it fried in the oil pot, and amid the boom I seemed to hear a muffled groan. This was definitely not a hallucination; someone really was letting out a muffled groan.

It must be that the plowshare talisman was fried, thereby injuring the one who cast it. In folk practice, to break a suppressing object or a curse, one simply fries these things in an oil pot—first to dispel the curse, and second it also harms the person who laid the curse.

'Alright, let's go in and check on the young master's condition!' When the muffled groan sounded, QingSongShu also slightly furrowed his brows; after seeing that the plowshare talisman had mostly finished frying, he suggested we go see the Yang family's second son who had been harmed by the killing qi.

Under the guidance of the attendants and Yang Shouren, we went to the wing room of the Yang family's young son, Yang Rui. Inside the room there was also a young woman about my age, roughly twenty, with a weary expression, keeping watch by Yang Rui's bed.

This woman was very beautiful, her skin fair and smooth, her complexion surpassing even that of Jiangnan beauties. I thought she was Yang Shouren's daughter, but she actually addressed him as… 'Older Brother Ren.' The attendants even more respectfully called her 'Madam'.

Later, after quietly inquiring, I learned that this woman's name was Ye Qi… and she was actually Yang Shouren's second wife. It seems that the phenomenon of wealthy old men marrying young women is common everywhere, and this is nothing surprising.

Ye Qi, upon seeing us enter, called out 'Older Brother Ren' to Yang Shouren, then rose and respectfully stood behind him; although she stood up, her expression remained anxious as she gazed at Yang Rui on the sickbed.

Yang Rui lay on the sickbed, his appearance like that of a dying patient in a hospital—pale face, constantly dripping large beads of cold sweat, yet his pallid face also bore a faint flush.

QingSongShu examined Yang Rui carefully for a long while; after a moment, he flicked his clothes and stood up.

'Brother Yang, rest assured, the killing qi has gradually dissipated; as long as the young master's body is adjusted with medicinal methods, he will surely recover.' QingSongShu briefly explained Yang Rui's condition.

Upon hearing this, Yang Shouren's furrowed brows finally relaxed; he gripped QingSongShu's hand, tears of joy streaming, and said helplessly, 'Really, thank you, Master Wang, thank you.'

'Brother Yang, no need for thanks; this is my duty. Since I've come, I will certainly do my utmost to cure the young master's illness.' After a pause, QingSongShu glanced at Yang Rui on the sickbed and then said to Yang Shouren: 'Although the killing qi on the young master's body has receded, his body still needs timely follow‑up to avoid aftereffects. I think we should do this: I will stay here first, and according to changes in his condition, I will use medicine to regulate him.'

'Fine, fine, Master Wang, stay as long as you like, no problem; ask for anything and have the attendants fetch it.' Yang Shouren readily agreed, then hurriedly waved at the attendant Madam and instructed: 'Xiao Qi, quickly arrange lodgings for the several masters—make sure their food and accommodation are good, remember, they must be good.'

'Hey hey, Brother Yang, as a cultivator we just need a place to stay; no need for such extravagance—just let the Madam casually arrange a place for us.' QingSongShu laughed and cut off Yang Shouren's words.

'That won't do! Master Wang, you've come a long way and cured the child's illness; no matter the expense, it's certainly not a waste…' Yang Shouren was being polite, but just then Yang Rui on the sickbed muttered dazedly, calling for water in a confused voice, which startled Yang Shouren and his wife into rushing over.

'Water, hurry and fetch water!' Yang Shouren anxiously ordered the nanny to get water, then spoke some gentle, soothing words to comfort Yang Rui, feeling his body all over and asking where he felt uncomfortable.

After a while, Yang Rui lay down again, and only then did Yang Shouren remember us. Seeing us still standing there, he couldn't help but scold the wife beside him: 'What are you doing? The masters have worked hard all day; hurry up and arrange a place for them to rest.'

'It's fine, Uncle Yang; we're not tired yet for now!' I quickly waved my hands to explain.

Beside her, Ye Qi also finally came to her senses amid Yang Shouren's scolding, and hurriedly told us: 'Several masters, please come this way; I will now take you to your lodgings.'

The attendants led the way, we were in the middle, and Ye Qi brought up the rear. As we stepped out the doorway, I unintentionally turned back to glance inside. I saw Ye Qi standing not far from the sickbed, gazing intently at Yang Shouren's back.

Due to the line of sight, I couldn't make out Ye Qi's facial expression. However, her small hands clenched tightly at the hem of her clothing, turning white, caught my attention. Her hands were clasped behind her back, nails almost digging into her flesh.

A person only makes such a gesture when they are full of hatred toward another and feel physically and mentally powerless. Could Ye Qi be hating Yang Shouren?

But aren't they husband and wife?

While I was thinking this strange thought, Ye Qi had already turned around. In that instant, her expression remained complex; seeing me staring at her, she first showed a hint of surprise, then quickly composed herself and gave me a bright smile: 'Little Master, please follow me this way.' Having said that, she stepped forward first, walking toward QingSongShu and the others.

As she walked past me, I still saw the blood marks where her nails had dug into her hands. These marks should indicate that Ye Qi's mood just now was feeling powerless and complicated… but looking at her facial expression, it didn't seem like she hated Yang Shouren.

Could it be… that I misread? Thinking this, I also hurriedly followed behind Ye Qi.

The gratitude and grudges, rights and wrongs of this great manor are indeed as tangled as the roots in an old book, the waters run deep.