Chapter 486

Speaking of, I and Pangzi were holding shovels, just about to dig down at the spot QingSongShu pointed to, when Yang Shouren grew anxious, stepped forward, looked at QingSongShu anxiously and said: "Master Wang, what are you doing?"

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

QingSongShu hadn't finished explaining to Yang Shouren when—Clang! —the shovel seemed to hit something. A piece of something like metal was dug out by me and Pangzi, revealing a corner.

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

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

"Plowshare Witch Sect!" As I got a clear look at the object, I couldn't help but exclaim. The unearthed object on the ground was an iron plate, shaped like a farming plow used in rural fields, and the iron plate bore red-ink drawn runes, thick and dense—clearly the handiwork of the Plowshare Witch Sect.

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

But regardless of which explanation, the plow 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 plow talisman, Pangzi, in surprise, reached out with both hands toward it, almost touching it, when QingSongShu slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch it, this kind of talisman usually carries a spell; to break it you must wrap it in red and white cloth and fry it in oil." QingSongShu glared at Pangzi, frightening Pangzi and me just as before, and we hastily pulled our hands back.

"Uncle, Yang Shouren's second son was injured by killing qi—could this thing be causing trouble?" I pointed at the plow talisman on the ground and asked curiously.

The direction where this talisman lies exactly corresponds to the 'master eldest son' position in the Bagua. Moreover, besides the messy runes on the plow talisman, there are also a few little figures drawn. In the talismans I know, little figures are only drawn for harmony talismans or those involving the Five Ghosts and curses.

"Mm, this talisman should be the Plowshare Witch Sect's Five-Directional Slaughter Gods' Coffin-Striking Talisman." QingSongShu stroked his beard and fell into thought.

QingSongShu turned to face Yang Shouren and said: "Yang brother, we will now wrap up the plow talisman. Fry it in oil; if after frying the plow talisman the young master's condition improves, then surely this plow talisman is the culprit… Yang brother, Yang brother"

Gazing at the somewhat absent-minded Yang Shouren, QingSongShu couldn't help calling out twice more.

"Ah… okay, Master Wang, you say what to do, we'll do it." 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 plow talisman beneath the earth. Of course, before grabbing the plow talisman, I also needed to recite the incantation for collecting it.

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

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

The plow talisman sizzled in the oil with a Boom!, and amid the booming sound 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 plow talisman exploded, thereby injuring the one who cast it. In folk practice, to dispel sealed objects and curses, one fries them in oil—this both breaks the curse and harms the caster.

"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 the plow talisman mostly fried, he suggested we go see the Yang family's second son, who had been harmed by killing qi.

Under the guidance of the attendants and Yang Shouren, we went to the Yang family's young son, Yang Rui's side room. In the room there was also a young woman about my age, roughly twenty, looking wan, keeping watch by Yang Rui's bed.

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

Later, after quietly inquiring, I learned that this woman was named Ye Qi… and she was actually Yang Shouren's second wife. As for wealthy families having an old bull eating tender grass—it's common everywhere, and this phenomenon is nothing surprising.

When Ye Qi saw us walk in, she called out Older Brother Ren to Yang Shouren, then rose and stood respectfully behind him; although she had risen, her expression remained anxious as she gazed at Yang Rui on the sickbed.

Lying on the sickbed, Yang Rui looked like a dying patient in a hospital—his face pallid, continuously shedding large beads of cold sweat; yet on his pallid face there was also a faint flush.

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

"Yang brother, rest assured, the killing qi has gradually faded; as long as the young master's body is regulated with medicine, he will surely recover." QingSongShu briefly explained Yang Rui's condition.

Upon hearing this, Yang Shouren's furrowed brows finally relaxed, and he tearfully gripped QingSongShu's hand, at a loss for words: "Really, thank you, Master Wang, thank you."

"Yang brother, 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, then said to Yang Shouren: "Although the killing qi on the young master's body has receded, his physique still needs timely follow‑up to avoid aftereffects. I think we should do this: I will stay here, and according to changes in his condition, I will regulate him with medicine."

"Fine, 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 gestured to the lady and instructed: "Xiao Qi, quickly arrange lodgings for the several masters—make sure their food and lodging are good, remember, make sure they are good."

"Eh eh, Yang brother, a cultivator just needs a place to stay; no need for such extravagance—just let the lady casually arrange a lodging for us." QingSongShu laughed, cutting off Yang Shouren's words.

"That won't do! Master, you've come a long way and cured the child's illness; no matter the expense, it's certainly not wasteful…" Yang Shouren was being polite, when suddenly, at that very moment, Yang Rui on the sickbed mumbled incoherently, calling for water in a dazed 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 gentle words to comfort Yang Rui, feeling his body all over and asking where he felt uncomfortable.

After a moment, Yang Rui lay down again, and only then did Yang Shouren remember us. Seeing we were still standing there, he couldn't help scolding his wife: "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!" I hastily waved my hands to explain.

Beside her, Ye Qi also finally snapped out of it amidst Yang Shouren's scolding, and hurriedly told us: "Masters, please come this way; I'll take you to your lodgings."

The attendants led, we followed 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 tight at the hem of her clothing and turned 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 exhausted. Could Ye Qi be hating Yang Shouren?

But aren't they husband and wife?

While I was thinking that, Ye Qi had already turned around. In that instant, her expression remained complex; seeing me staring at her, she first flashed 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 feelings were helpless and complex… yet, looking at her expression, it didn't seem like she hated Yang Shouren!

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

The grudges and grievances of this great manor, the rights and wrongs, are indeed as tangled as the roots of an ancient book, deep and profound.