Chapter 249: Rooster Summoning Souls

"Daoist, do we need to make a soul-summoning banner?"

Li Yan asked.

Back in Ancient Water Village, he had witnessed Wang Daoxuan summoning souls; he would set up a Dharma altar while having someone wave a soul-summoning banner.

"This time is different."

Wang Daoxuan shook his head and said, "That time it was an ordinary person, and the thing causing the trouble had average cultivation. This fellow Daoist is herself a member of the Mystic Sect; even if her soul leaves her body, she knows the method to return."

"Look at how her fists are tightly clenched and her teeth are locked; she used the 'firm-grasping' method to stabilize her physical body. It is clear she sensed danger and used this technique to prevent her body from being occupied by wandering ghosts."

"What we need to do is help her build a path!"

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Guan Peide, "Layman Guan, please help me find a large rooster, preferably one that is five years old."

"Alright!"

Guan Peide did not waste words and turned to leave immediately.

Every household in their village raised chickens, so a five-year-old rooster was not considered a rare item.

Afterward, Wang Daoxuan led the group to set things up.

He first took out several 'Evil-Repelling and Fortune-Bestowing' coins and placed them on the old woman's forehead, chest, lower abdomen, hands, and feet respectively.

Then, he tied a red string to her head and pulled it toward the back, leading it all the way into the courtyard.

They were much wealthier now, so they were naturally generous with their spending.

These red strings were all purchased from the City God Temple.

Since Master Yuling had given them a discount, they had naturally prepared plenty.

Afterward, Wang Daoxuan took out his Luo Pan and paced around the courtyard. Finding an open space, he ordered a maid to bring a ceramic basin for burning paper and placed it on the ground.

Around the ceramic basin, twenty or thirty red chopsticks were inserted densely, with red strings wound around them, vaguely forming a Bagua, with a one-foot-wide path left between the trigrams.

As he worked, he explained to the others.

"What wandering souls see is completely different from us living people..."

"The night is pitch black, and the fog is thick, like an icy hell, where they suffer endlessly. Therefore, wandering ghosts often stay in place; only those with powerful cultivation dare to run around."

"In their eyes, living people are like warm stoves; like a boat crossing in the cold night, they struggle with all their might to get inside."

"And during the day, the sunlight is scorching; for them, it is a hell of flames. Staying for even a second longer would mean turning into ashes, so they can only find a place of yin-evil to hide."

"So wandering ghosts are not terrifying. They were all people before they died, just unlucky enough to remain in the mortal world. Their resentment is deep, and they are very pitiful. That is why temples and Daoist shrines regularly hold 'flaming mouth' rituals to help them transcend."

"But if the three souls and seven spirits are lost, they must be found back in time. What we need to do is not 'capture,' but 'guide' and 'summon.' After all, what wandering souls see is different from us; once the commotion is too great, they will be scared and run around everywhere..."

Among the group, Li Yan was skilled in combat, Lu San was proficient in beast control, and Sha Lifei was a layman. Whenever it involved Dharma rituals and folk customs, Wang Daoxuan had to take the lead.

Of course, Wang Daoxuan was not one to keep secrets; whenever he encountered something, he would teach it all, even if they couldn't learn it, he wanted everyone to have some understanding.

After setting up the Bagua formation, Wang Daoxuan turned to look inside the room, "The soul lost by this fellow Daoist was likely taken by something and is not in the village."

"Setting up this Bagua formation is equivalent to a bridge of guidance."

"The rooster represents 'Xun,' its direction is southeast, the location of the Ghost Gate. Moreover, the rooster's five elements belong to wood, and the liver stores the soul; it is the guiding messenger to bring her back."

"Yan Yan Xiao Ge Yan, give me one of those straw-spirit paper dolls."

Li Yan did not hesitate and took out a straw-spirit paper doll.

Just then, Guan Peide also brought a large rooster. Its feathers were a mix of red and green, its comb was massive, and its feet were pale gold; it was very majestic.

Seeing this, Wang Daoxuan nodded in satisfaction. After taking the rooster and carefully examining it, he said, "We will perform the soul-summoning at the Hour of the Rat later."

"Yan Yan Xiao Ge Yan, your straw-spirit paper doll is the vessel where that fellow Daoist's soul is hidden. When the time comes, as long as the rooster circles out of the Bagua circle and the straw-spirit paper doll falls onto that fellow Daoist's body along the red string, the matter will be done!"

Having said this, his expression became solemn, "At that time, I fear something will interfere. I must perform the ritual and cannot attend to anything else. Yan Yan Xiao Ge Yan, you must stand guard; no matter what it is, just scatter it!"

"Alright!"

Li Yan nodded sternly.

On the side, Sha Lifei asked doubtfully, "Didn't we scatter wood ash outside the village? Is there still something that can get in?"

Wang Daoxuan sighed, "It's not the same thing. The wood ash isn't for blocking; it's for confusing."

"That 'Tomb-Blood Beam,' I also saw it in the 'Mystic Records' we found; it is a vicious secret technique left behind by the Fangxian Dao."

"When making it, one needs to kill forty-nine people, create a blood pool, soak the wooden beam, and then refine it with evil arts. The resentful souls of these people will then attach themselves to the blood beam, turning into forty-nine blood ghosts."

"Once a tomb raider breaks in, they will be confused by the blood ghosts and hang themselves from the beam, their essence and blood drained by the 'Tomb-Blood Beam.' It is a method used to prevent tomb raiding."

Upon hearing this, the group was not surprised.

Since the Fangxian Dao served the Qin and Han nobility and had their own needs, the anti-theft methods they created back then were truly bizarre.

The 'Red-Haired Blood-Face' of Guanzhong had even become a folk horror story.

Wang Daoxuan continued, "Those blood ghosts will be attracted by the 'Tomb-Blood Beam'; even if only ashes remain, they will stay in place and circle around. Once day breaks, they will all turn into flying dust."

"I have a feeling that the thing we are dealing with is not in the same group as the tomb owner, so the wood ash won't be able to block it."

Li Yan and the others had long since grown accustomed to these words of his, but the father and son of the Guan family standing to the side, along with the maids, servants, and the Guan clansmen who had gathered to watch the excitement, all felt their hair stand on end, a chill welling up from within their hearts.

Guan Peide said in a deep voice, "Daoist, then we..."

"Rest assured."

Wang Daoxuan smiled and comforted them, "This matter has nothing to do with you. Just stay in your rooms and sleep; no matter what commotion you hear, do not run out."

"Alright, alright."

Guan Peide nodded repeatedly and ordered his son, "Go tell everyone, lock all doors and windows tightly tonight. No matter what happens, no one is allowed to go out, even if you need to use the latrine, hold it in!"

"Yes, Father."

The Guan family was busy for a while, and everyone returned to their rooms and locked their doors.

Although they said that, who could sleep? Everyone stayed dressed, huddled on their beds, staring fixedly at the windows, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Li Yan and the others were naturally fearless; they each prepared their weapons and stood guard in the courtyard.

Before they knew it, the Hour of the Rat had finally arrived.

Wang Daoxuan opened his eyes and began performing the ritual before the altar, stepping in the 'Gang' pace, spitting out water, waving his gold-coin sword, and chanting, "Wandering souls, where do you linger? Three souls descend quickly, seven spirits come forth..."

"Heaven's Gate opens, Earth's Gate opens, the Thousand-Mile Boy sends the soul here. I serve the Profound Qi-manifesting Might of Chen Tianjun, obey this command immediately!"

After finishing the incantation, he waved his gold-coin sword and struck it directly onto the altar, pinning a yellow talisman. While forming hand seals, he folded the hair of the rice-asking medium into it.

Sha Lifei followed instructions and hurriedly picked up the large rooster.

On the rooster's back, a straw-spirit paper doll was tied with a red string.

Wang Daoxuan stuffed the yellow talisman strip into the rooster's mouth.

Strangely enough, after the rooster swallowed the yellow talisman, its expression immediately changed; it became even more majestic and did not struggle or move around at all.

Li Yan could smell that a strand of divine 'Gang' had been added to the rooster, surrounded by the aura of incense, and although not strong, it felt clear and upright.

He knew this was a strand of divine 'Gang' that Wang Daoxuan had borrowed from his patriarch, attached to the yellow talisman through the 'knotting of evil and entering the taboo.'

Combining what he had seen and heard during this time, he already understood in his heart.

The patriarch of Wang Daoxuan's West-Profound lineage was also an 'Ascender,' and had already succeeded, so even if the incense at the ancestral altar was not flourishing, he could still borrow divine 'Gang.'

Sha Lifei held the large rooster and hurriedly placed it in the one-foot path wound with red strings, then immediately retreated to help Wang Daoxuan stand guard with Lu San.

The large rooster stood in the path but did not take a step; instead, it looked left and right, as if it did not recognize the surrounding road.

Wang Daoxuan was not in a hurry; he picked up the soul-suppressing bell in his hand and shook it gently, silently chanting the soul-summoning incantation. Meanwhile, Li Yan picked up yellow mounting paper and lit it in the fire basin.

Whoosh~

Before they knew it, a yin wind suddenly rose in the courtyard.

The firelight in the basin flickered unsteadily, and the paper ash danced in the air in swirls, but it never left the Bagua formation.

And this firelight was like a beacon tower; the large rooster immediately had a target, shook its head, and stepped into the Bagua formation.

As the large rooster walked, it looked around, as if searching for something, while the straw-spirit paper doll on its back remained motionless.

Li Yan and the others were not in a hurry and waited quietly.

They knew that although the large rooster seemed to be just circling in the Bagua formation, it was actually communicating with yin and yang, searching for the old woman's soul.

The sound of the wind and the bell was exceptionally clear in the silent dark night.

The Guan family members all stayed in their rooms, not daring to go out.

The old Master Guan, however, had some temper; he carried a large saber and sat alone on the main hall chair, waiting quietly...

!.

…………

According to Wang Daoxuan's instructions, the villagers of Guan Family Village had long since hung peach-wood charms on every door, locked their doors and windows tightly, and hid in their homes.

What made them feel at ease was that it was already the Hour of the Rat, and nothing had happened; some people could no longer hold on and fell into a deep sleep.

In Wu Laosi's house, the candlelight remained dim.

This man was rummaging through boxes and cabinets, then moved the wardrobe, pried open the floor bricks, and dug out a bag of silver from the soil.

His wife and child sat on the bed, at a loss.

After Wu Laosi took out the silver, he turned his head and saw his wife still hadn't moved, and he became angry, "You woman, why aren't you packing yet?"

"Master."

His wife's face turned pale, "If we leave, we will be wanted by the government, and Qing'er won't be able to enter the ancestral hall."

"Also, didn't that Daoist say there are evil things outside? We must not go out."

"You woman, what do you know!"

Wu Laosi cursed, "Over five hundred taels of silver! I couldn't earn this in a lifetime of struggling, yet Guan Peide wants to take it to repair the Earth Temple."

"I risked my life to find it, why should I hand it over!"

"We are of a different surname; whoever wants to enter this Guan ancestral hall can do so. With silver, we can eat well and drink well, who cares about him!"

"I've decided, after we leave, we'll go into the mountains and mix with the Jingchu mountain people's troops. Once they are defeated, the imperial court will surely distribute land, and it will still be in the wealthy Yunyang Prefecture."

"By then, our family will change our names, take out the silver, and won't we have a good life for the rest of our days?"

"No, I'm not going!"

The woman shook her head repeatedly, holding her child tightly, and said tremblingly, "There are evil spirits outside. Once people die, they have nothing. I cannot let Qing'er take risks with you."

"You're rebelling!"

Wu Laosi's eyes widened, and he picked up a stick, preparing to hit her.

Unexpectedly, this woman had a strong character; she pulled out a hidden pair of scissors, held them against her own neck, and cried out, "Wu, don't force me! I won't go with you even if I die!"

"Mother! Mother!"

The child was not old and immediately burst into loud wails.

Wu Laosi looked outside, terrified of alerting others, and gritted his teeth, "You ungrateful thing, with money, will I lack a son?!"

After cursing, he picked up a firewood knife, carried the silver on his back, and fled the courtyard in a sorry state, running toward the outside of the village.

The houses of the Guan Family Village were not far apart, so the neighbors naturally heard such a big commotion.

But they were afraid and unwilling to go out at this time.

Wu Laosi ran wildly in the darkness and soon ran out of the village. Although he was afraid in his heart, he increased his speed and cursed in a low voice, "They are all a bunch of dogs."

"Guan Peide, you wait. Once I join the mountain people's army, I'll bring people back to wipe out your Guan Family Village!"

Liu the Lame was not a good person; he could be brothers with him and dared to make money from the dead, so he was clearly no saint.

Now, carrying the silver and abandoning his wife and child, he felt the world was vast and wide. Thinking of the good life of eating and drinking well in the future, he was no longer afraid.

But just then, he suddenly stiffened all over.

On his shoulder, there seemed to be an extra cold hand, and at the same time, a pungent smell of blood kept drilling into his nostrils. He wanted to move, but his whole body was trembling, and his crotch quickly became wet.

Soon, cold and bloody hands seemed to appear on his right shoulder, head, and both eyes, and Wu Laosi's eyes gradually became dull.

Clatter!

The silver on his back fell to the ground.

His whole body was stiff, and on tiptoes, he walked toward the depths of the dense forest...

…………

Li Yan and the others naturally did not know what had happened outside the village.

They were all watching the large rooster, their eyes filled with anxiety.

Seeing that the Hour of the Rat was about to pass, if they couldn't find the soul, there would be no chance left at all.

Whoosh~

Before they knew it, the yin wind around them grew stronger.

Li Yan sniffed, his brow slightly furrowed; he seemed to smell a fishy stench from an animal.

At the same time, Lu San's little white fox also suddenly raised its head, lay on the ground, and bared its teeth at the Bagua formation in a threat.

Afterward, it flicked its large tail, jumped into Lu San's arms, and trembled.

Lu San's brow furrowed, and he said in a deep voice, "It's the Mountain Lord!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan immediately understood.

The Mountain Lord was a tiger.

The thing causing the trouble was a tiger spirit!

At the same time, the large rooster also seemed to have discovered something, stepping its feet continuously in place, turning around and around.

Seeing this, Wang Daoxuan shouted, "Fellow Daoist, the guiding messenger has arrived, why don't you flee quickly!"

As he spoke, he shook the soul-suppressing bell in his hand vigorously.

Ding-a-ling!

The crisp bell sound was exceptionally clear in the yin wind.

On the rooster's back, the straw-spirit paper doll suddenly moved.

This large rooster seemed startled; it kicked its feet, flapped its wings, and ran rapidly around the Bagua formation.

At the same time, that cold, fishy stench grew stronger.

Finally, the rooster ran out of the Bagua formation, sprinted along the red-string path, and reached the steps.

Swish!

The straw-spirit paper doll also rose into the air, hung on the red string, and moved slowly toward the old woman's physical body on the bed.

Just then, Li Yan's eyes widened, and with a 'clang,' he drew his Dust-Breaking Saber, pointing it toward a dark corner in the courtyard.

"Roar!"

A low roar sounded in everyone's ears.

In the corner, there seemed to be a dark shadow, staring fixedly at them...

The third update isn't finished yet, will post later.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 250 =====