Causing Trouble

In the main hall, Old Man Zhao's corpse was still twitching, as if it might sit up at any moment, suggesting the fierce ghost that had possessed him was still lingering within.

Old Man Zhao hadn't entered the underworld for a long time and had gradually transformed into a fierce ghost. At some point, he began to linger beside his own corpse, trying to force the fierce ghost possessing his body out.

Seeing Old Man Zhao trying to reclaim his body, Old Hai shook his head. He had a history with Old Man Zhao and felt deeply saddened seeing his old friend unable to rest in peace. "We were old friends. Seeing you like this makes me feel terrible."

"Grandpa!" Zhao Qian performed a ritual, wiping her eyes with bull's tears, and saw her grandfather's spirit flickering. Her sorrow was unimaginable.

Just as she was about to run over, I stopped her.

"Alas, Zhao Zhou, Zhao Zhou, look at what you've done. Your father has become like this, do you feel any better?" Lin Feiyu sighed.

Zhao Zhou gritted his teeth and turned his head away. "At home, my dad never thought highly of me! He scolded me countless times since I was little. He wanted to leave everything to the eldest. I hate him!"

"But even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs. He never intended to harm you. It's a tragedy that you've prevented him from entering the underworld, leaving him as a wandering ghost?" Old Hai said, taking out a paper figure. He chanted a spell, wrote Old Man Zhao's name on the paper figure, and called out, "Old brother, your body is here."

Old Man Zhao turned his head and walked over as if in a daze. He looked at the paper figure and then disappeared before Old Hai.

"Uncle, you must consider your past friendship with our father and help us." Zhao Xi and Zhao Yuan, crying buckets, pleaded with Uncle Hai for help, begging him not to let their father be unable to descend to the underworld.

Zhao Zhou chewed on Old Hai's words, remaining silent. Then, recalling past events, he wept with old tears.

"Those who know, know. If you don't say it, Uncle already understands." Uncle Hai sighed. Glancing around, he saw the altar Zhao Qian had set up.

"Little Lin, the one in the house is yours. Zhao Qian, I'll borrow your altar. Uncle needs to invite a ghost messenger." Old Hai said to Lin Feiyu and Zhao Qian, then placed the trembling paper figure in front of him. He rearranged the shrine, lit incense, drew talismans, and chanted.

Lin Feiyu nodded and walked towards the main hall. "Brother Hai, if you hadn't said anything, I would have..."

Before he could even take out his equipment, Xijun pounced forward, quickly pulling out the fierce ghost from the corpse. She glanced at me, and after I nodded, she unceremoniously began to devour it. For her, it was a meal that could enhance her energy, and she wouldn't let anyone else have it.

"Little Xia, couldn't you have let your Uncle Lin make a move first?" Lin Feiyu stared at me blankly, forcing a bitter smile.

"Old Man Lin, there are bigger things waiting for you to deal with later. How can such a small fry warrant your main force making a move now?" I said with a smile.

"Hmm, you're right, kid. You're sensible!" Lin Feiyu nodded and chuckled.

While we were joking, Uncle Hai made a sound and his face turned pale as he shook his head. "No, I asked the Underworld and the Land God in charge here. The Land God told me that the underworld emissary sent to escort Brother Zhao hasn't returned yet, and the Underworld is holding them accountable. It's difficult for him, and they refuse to send another ghost messenger, and they want to prosecute those involved."

Upon hearing this, the family immediately burst into wails. Even Zhao Qian was shedding tears, crying on my shoulder.

Lin Feiyu wasn't skilled in these matters of Yin Yang practitioners communicating with the Underworld, so he asked, "Brother Hai, as you can see, the family is like this. The funeral is tomorrow. What do you think we should do? Everyone is waiting for you to act."

"There's nothing to be done. Things are heated down there right now. However, the Underworld said the ghost messenger should be alive, unless we can find that ghost messenger for them." Old Hai shook his head, looking around as if searching for the ghost messenger.

Hearing him say this, I also started looking. My gaze swept over Zhao Zhou. "Hey, Wu Zhenghua took your father's soul. Was there also a ghost messenger with him?"

Zhao Zhou was still crying when he heard me ask. "We didn't dare to touch the ghost messenger. We just let him wander. Master Wu said the ghost messenger had low Yin energy and was hiding in the corner just now."

He then pointed towards a distant corner of the hall.

When I looked over, Xijun was gnawing on something. I took a look and was stunned, my hair standing on end.

Xijun had eaten the ghost messenger down to only half a leg!

"Xijun! You're going to get me killed!" Veins bulged on my forehead as I glared at Xijun.

Xijun looked at me innocently and put away the ghost messenger's half leg. She thought any ghost could be eaten, so she didn't care if it was a Lingering Spirit or a ghost messenger. The ghost messenger's Yin energy was cool and refreshing, smelling delicious.

Old Hai and Lin Lao could both see Xijun. The scene of her eating the ghost messenger was clearly visible to them. Although the ghost messenger's Yin energy was pitifully low, their generation could still perceive even a trace of it, so cold sweat dripped down their foreheads.

"This... this isn't fun at all." Old Hai looked at Xijun, then at me, shaking his head like a rattle drum.

Lin Feiyu stomped his foot but didn't dare to speak.

I looked at the family members beside me and realized they were looking at me, unaware of what had happened. My heart sank. If this ghost messenger was eaten by my little ghost, Old Man Zhao wouldn't be able to descend to the underworld. Wouldn't they blame me to death?

I quickly pulled Old Hai aside and said with some embarrassment, "Old Hai, if that ghost messenger dies, what will happen?"

"The Underworld will definitely come for your life. It's over, it's over. What can be done?" Old Hai's face was pale, and he was terrified.

"It's already eaten, are there no rescue methods?" I asked again.

Old Hai pondered deeply and finally said, "Alas, this can't entirely be blamed on you. Before that, I will communicate with them for you. But the one you're raising... how could they cause such trouble? At the latest, within three days, the Underworld will send someone to apprehend you. From what I see, this ghost messenger seems to have a very delicate relationship with those below. Just apologize profusely, agree to whatever conditions they propose, and absolutely do not talk back. Remember this."

"Thank you in advance, Old Hai. Then I can only await the Underworld's arrival." I thanked Old Hai and ordered Xijun to return.

As a result, Xijun ate the half leg she had hidden before reluctantly returning. She entered the soul urn, but I found the soul urn on the verge of shattering. Perhaps this led Xijun to do something unnecessary. I can only blame myself for underestimating the situation.

"Since things have come to this, let's go to the back mountain and see what that old fellow Wu Zhenghua is up to," Lin Feiyu suggested.

"Yes, that's the only way. I'll take care of Brother Zhao's soul first, transfer the resentment, and communicate with the Underworld. Perhaps then he can descend. I'll be staying at the manor these past two days." Old Hai said, taking out a black box from his hiking backpack and placing the paper figure with Old Man Zhao's soul into it, sealing it with a talisman.

Old Hai had a deep relationship with the Zhao family, and many relatives trusted him. Since he said so, that's how it had to be.

"Then Uncle, please be careful. Wu Zhenghua is very insidious and his Taoist magic is powerful," Zhao Xi said from the side.

"It's alright. Your uncle fought him back then, and he couldn't do anything to me. Now that your Uncle Lin is here, there's even less of a problem. Even if neither of us can handle it, there's still Little Xia," Uncle Hai said, handing the box to Zhao Xi. "You are the eldest son. This is your father's soul. I entrust it to you. Offer incense and worship him properly, then prepare your father for burial. The funeral will be at nine in the morning tomorrow."

"Okay, Uncle." Zhao Xi trembled as he held his father's soul, his face a little pale. After all, his father had become a fierce ghost, and he was still very scared. What if he accidentally broke the seal?

Many relatives turned pale, terrified, wanting to stay away from Zhao Xi, but feeling embarrassed to do so.

"If we're going to the back mountain, Qian, you lead the way."

Zhao Qian suggested, actually wanting to avenge her grandfather. I knew this clearly, but it was dark, and we were unfamiliar with the terrain. Moreover, I was worried about her, so I said, "Old Hai, Old Lin, let Zhao Qian and Zhao Yi lead the way. Han Shanshan will wait here for reinforcements. Captain Huo should be arriving soon."

"That's fine, but be careful. Everyone take one of these paper figures." Uncle Hai said, taking out the ghost-repelling paper figures from Xiao Yi Village and distributing one to each of us.

After waiting for a while, the sound of police sirens could be heard from outside the manor. Huo Dadong also arrived with several people. It was pitch black, and he had probably just woken up.

After a brief handover, the five of us headed towards the back mountain.

Wu Zhenghua has definitely set up a stage in the back mountain, waiting for our grand entrance. But no matter what, I can't let that old bastard go. So, even though I know it's dangerous up there, I can't afford to hesitate. Besides, there are three of us.

"This old guy probably still thinks his Confucian sect spells are a perfect counter to young Xia's, and maybe he didn't expect us to show up. Heh heh."

Along the way, Lin Feiyu didn't seem to find Wu Zhenghua particularly troublesome.

"Having more people is our advantage, but we should still be careful. Don't forget, others might not know, but we do know this kid learned from Maoshan before. Even if it was just the basics, his methods are truly formidable. I might have to run if I fought him alone." Uncle Hai frowned, indirectly cautioning Lin Feiyu, afraid he might underestimate their opponent.

Uncle Hai's Taoist magic is more powerful than Lin Feiyu's, I could tell that much. After all, Uncle Hai managed to leave Fengyin Town safely. Even the people from the city had to bring him along before daring to investigate Xiao Yi Village. His skill was evident.

The misty rain continued to fall. About one or two kilometers past the village, the trees gradually became more numerous. As the Yin energy in the forest rose, Zhao Qian shivered from the cold. I took off my jacket and draped it over her.

Zhao Qian blushed as she looked at me, wanting to say something to thank me, but Uncle Hai spoke up first, warning us: "We're entering the mountain now. Everyone be careful. Don't panic if anything happens."

"How does the Xuanmen sect deal with people like this?" I asked curiously. Honestly, I had experience fighting ghosts, but zero experience with magic.

So the group went up like this. There had to be a purpose, right? We couldn't just charge in with knives, guns, and clubs, right? Killing people is against the law! And you, Lin Feiyu, are a police officer!

Lin Feiyu thought for a moment and said, "Usually, everyone just uses their own methods..."

I was stunned when I heard that. What did he mean by "everyone uses their own methods"?

Uncle Hai chuckled. Seeing my confusion, he said, "Is what young Lin said unclear? Then just wait and see. You don't need to do anything. Our generation will settle things for our generation. You youngsters just watch."