Chapter 298: I believe him

A person fallen into heart demons, unable to free themselves, has never been anything to fear.

Because her vital point lay plainly before everyone, it shatters with a single blow.

I stepped forward and grabbed Bái Sōnglán's hand; Bái Sōnglán struggled violently, not daring to raise her head, desperately using her hand to cover the lower half of her face.

I pulled her up with force, almost half-dragging, half-carrying her into the Dang Pu.

Li Qingying stood to the side, initially confused by my actions, then rushed over, heedlessly helping me move Bái Sōnglán into the Dang Pu.

Bái Sōnglán was thus forcibly brought by us into the Dang Pu, dragged to the west room; I pinched her chin, thrusting her face toward the Spirit altar, directly facing the Copper Coin Person.

The moment Bái Sōnglán faced the Copper Coin Person, her whole body began to tremble; she stopped struggling, reaching out to touch the Copper Coin Person.

But the next moment, she suddenly withdrew her hand, covered her face, and turned to run out.

Li Qingying had long been blocking the west gate; I pulled her back again, forcing her to face the Copper Coin Person: "Aren't you looking for him? Haven't you always wanted to see him? Now he's right here, before you—how can you not even dare to lift your eyes to look at him?"

Bái Sōnglán, is that all the courage you have?

He is sealed, like a dead thing; you dare not face him. When he breaks the seal and truly comes alive, how will you face him then?

Bái Sōnglán, you treat me as an imaginary enemy, wanting to kill me on sight, yet you're timid and shrinking, unable to face your own inner demons, this ruined face—how can you be worthy of being my opponent?

Bái Sōnglán wept, hoarsely shouting, wanting to break free from me.

Li Qingying pressed her shoulders from behind, knee against her back, firmly holding her down.

I tightly pinched Bái Sōnglán's chin, forcing her to meet my eyes: "Bái Sōnglán, if you want to contend with me, show real skill; stop acting like a madwoman, biting anyone you see—that only makes me look down on you."

You were once one of the Five Blessings Immortals of the Dang Pu, and I am the current manager of the Dang Pu; we should be evenly matched. Go back, adjust your mindset, manage your White Immortal Hall, and stop producing mischief like the White Immortal Child—Bái Sōnglán, even a thousand deaths would not absolve your guilt.

I shook off my hand, and Li Qingying loosened her grip on Bái Sōnglán.

Bái Sōnglán sat slumped on the ground, soul lost; after a while she stumbled up, swaying as she left the Dang Pu.

Li Qingying asked me worriedly, "Xiao Jiu, could she really have been driven mad by us?"

I replied, "Not totally possessed, but great enlightenment—it depends on her own fate."

"How do both outcomes seem unfriendly to us?" Li Qingying said, "If she goes completely mad, I can still see her and hit her once; but if she achieves great enlightenment and stands against us, that would be troublesome."

"Then take her Spirit statue from the Spirit altar and throw it out!" I said firmly, "Wufu Town is about to fall into great chaos; I don't have extra energy to indulge her madness—she must firmly choose her side, friend or foe, with clear distinction."

Li Qingying stared at me, dazed.

Being looked at by her made me feel creepy inside; I couldn't help asking, "Qingying sister, what's wrong?"

"Xiao Jiu, you've changed." Li Qingying said, "Since returning from Changshi, you seem more confident than before, and more decisive in battle."

I immediately realized I had indeed been fierce toward Bái Sōnglán just now, and asked, "Did I scare you?"

Li Qingying shook her head, straightened her back, and said, "On the battlefield, no soldier feels fear because their commander is decisive; we only feel inspired, full of vigor."

I felt inexplicably moved: "Qingying sister, the situation has changed; the events in Changshi are merely a beginning, and the series of changes in Wufu Town are not without cause."

The seal of the Copper Coin Person may be gradually disintegrating because of Liu Junyan; what follows closely is the loosening of the Dang Pu's Formation Array, even its collapse.

Whether we can survive this calamity depends on whether Liu Junyan can withstand it; we can actually do little, but what we ought to do, we must prepare in advance to lend Liu Junyan a hand.

Li Qingying nodded firmly: "I believe in Seventh Lord!"

I laughed: "I also believe in him!"

If I didn't believe in him, I couldn't possibly let him return to Songshan alone.

I know he needs to pass this trial on his own; my excessive involvement would only disturb his judgment.

What I can do is first clarify these chaotic happenings now, then, as much as possible, resolve problems like Bái Sōnglán in advance.

I told Li Qingying, "Qingying sister, have your people watch the town chief's house and the assembly hall respectively; report any movement to me immediately."

Li Qingying agreed, then asked, "Should we also watch the Tea house?"

"Not for now," I said, "I'll find time to talk privately with the tea house owner."

Li Qingying's execution is strong; she immediately went to deploy.

I let out a long breath, stared at the Copper Coin Person for a while, then turned and left.

Passing the Main hall, I saw the Língchí dāo on the Offering table and the Heaven-Earth Mandarin Duck Hook.

The Língchí dāo was brought in by Mei Lin Shuang.

The Heaven-Earth Mandarin Duck Hook was brought in by Dou Zhile.

When I accepted the Heaven-Earth Mandarin Duck Hook, I promised Dou Zhile two drops of Lamp Oil.

Looks like it's time to fulfill that promise.

I left the Dang Pu and went straight to the Dou Family Coffin Shop.

Bái Sōnglán's commotion has already made it past ten o'clock at night.

At this hour, every household has already closed their doors and gone to bed.

But from afar, I saw the Dou Family Coffin Shop's Main gate wide open, the white lanterns hanging under the eaves swaying in the wind.

In the Main hall of the coffin shop lay a Double-person coffin, its frame just finished; Dou Jinsuo was holding a Plane, smoothing the coffin's edges bit by bit.

Dou Zhile sat beside him, one hand holding a Big pipe, the other a Wooden stick, watching Dou Jinsuo's actions; at times he'd bring the pipe to his lips and take a few hard drags, at times tapping Dou Jinsuo's wrist with the stick, rather sternly.

Dou Jinsuo seemed preoccupied, constantly making mistakes; his wrist had been beaten red by the Wooden stick.

Hearing footsteps, both shuddered inexplicably, then stiffened, turning pale as they looked toward the doorway.

The moment they saw me, both visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Dou Zhile immediately came forward: "Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, when did you return? Come in and sit."

Dou Jinsuo had already brought over a clean stool.

I glanced at the Double-person coffin and asked, "This is...?"

My first thought was that some family in town had met misfortune, a couple, for whom they had prepared a joint burial coffin—hence their uncle and nephew were still working late to finish it.

Just as I was about to ask for details, Dou Zhile let out a long sigh.

Dou Zhile glanced at Dou Jinsuo and said helplessly, "It's prepared for his parents."

My heart gave a start, and I asked, "Are we going to set up a clothing-and-cap tomb for them?"

"No." Dou Zhile said with difficulty, "They... they... have come back these past two nights..."

(Regarding Dou Jinsuo's parents, the initial setting had a problem; I hadn't figured out how to change it, so later I just assumed his parents were killed by the Qiankun YuanYang Hook, and I'll revise the setting once I've figured it out.)