Summoning the Soul

"Th-this..."

Landlord Lu hesitated, then looked to the side with displeasure.

Steward Lu, who had been waiting nearby to attend to him, wore a bitter expression and hurriedly cried out in grievance, "Master, I—I didn't say anything..."

Before the words had even left his mouth, he realized something was wrong.

He had practically confessed outright, admitting that there was a problem with the Lu Family.

He had always been meticulous in his work, but he was deeply afraid of Landlord Lu. In his panic, he had slipped up.

Landlord Lu's expression naturally grew even uglier.

But before he could lose his temper, Wang Dao Xuan spoke up. "There's no need to blame anyone, Patron. The steward didn't say much. I merely noticed something amiss."

As he spoke, he led everyone outside the courtyard. He pointed to the corner of the wall, then to a tree in the distance, and said, "The sun has blazed for many days without a drop of rain, yet moss and mold have grown at the foot of the wall. The jujube wood is damp with yin, and dead birds have fallen here... There must be baleful yin energy."

Everyone looked over and found that it was indeed so.

These things had seemed insignificant, but now they struck everyone as suspicious.

Standing behind the others, Li Yan secretly chuckled.

Wang Dao Xuan was a good man, but he was just as slick when it came to the ways of the martial world.

After deciding to enter the Profound Sect, the Daoist had traveled across the length and breadth of the land in search of famed masters. Though he had failed to achieve his aim and had been swindled more than once, he had gained something from the experience.

He had a passing understanding of all kinds of tricks from the Profound Sect.

In theory, such skills should have been enough to earn him a living.

But the mystical power Wang Dao Xuan had awakened happened to be the Tongue Mystical Power. He could only distinguish information from a thing's flavor after tasting it with his own mouth.

Surely he couldn't lick everything he saw?

How was he supposed to lick zombies and fierce ghosts?

If a young lady became possessed, was he supposed to lick her too?

Fortunately, he eventually found a method: he used talisman paper or other means as cover, let them absorb the flavor, and then identified it afterward.

Even so, what he did most often was work as a feng shui geomancer.

After all, geomancers possessed a unique art known as tasting the soil.

Of course, the Tongue Mystical Power was not without potential. Once his cultivation reached a certain realm, he could recite true words and incantations, unleashing far greater power than ordinary people.

Clearly, Wang Dao Xuan did not yet possess that ability.

Conducting the ritual for establishing a temple and preserving the spirit had also exhausted all his savings and left him heavily in debt, so he lived in dire poverty.

When he encountered Li Yan, he had also started scheming.

Li Yan could smell unusual odors, while he could distinguish the omens contained within them.

The two complemented each other perfectly.

They had not spoken on the way because they had been doing precisely this.

Li Yan had smelled a faint trace of baleful yin energy, so he had turned the back of his hand upward. The palm was yang, while the back of the hand was yin.

He had also raised his little finger to point toward the abnormal area inside the courtyard.

Wang Dao Xuan had been paying close attention. He had already understood the situation upon entering, so he naturally put on an act as a great master before the Lu Family and firmly drove in the "Horse-Tying Post."

"Daoist Wang truly is brilliant!"

Sha LiFei pretended to be astonished and hurriedly clapped, playing the supporting role.

Even three cobblers could match Zhuge Liang.

Sure enough, Landlord Lu's expression shifted slightly. After staring deeply at Wang Dao Xuan, he respectfully cupped his hands and said, "Daoist Wang is truly brilliant. Please, have a seat."

Everyone returned indoors and sat down.

Landlord Lu hesitated. "I didn't mean to conceal anything. It's just that this matter..."

"Please rest assured, Patron."

Wang Dao Xuan already knew what he wanted to say. He smiled and nodded. "My cultivation is only so-so, but I'm as tight-lipped as they come."

Only then did Landlord Lu let out a sigh. "This matter is extremely strange."

"Last night, Zhao Jiu, the guard patrolling the grounds, heard a noise and went to investigate. As a result, he saw a figure floating in the air. It was my first wife."

"Zhao Jiu cried out. Quite a few people came out and saw it as well, but afterward, it vanished in full view of everyone."

Wang Dao Xuan knitted his brows. "A ghost? How could that be?"

Li Yan found it strange as well.

Whether they were ghosts, ghostly soldiers, or members of an Immortal Family, all were formless beings. Only people like them, who had awakened mystical powers, could sense them.

Ordinary people could see them only under special circumstances—when they were on the verge of death, entangled in baleful yin, or visited by a Yin Soul in their dreams.

For so many people to see one at the same time was truly unusual.

Sha LiFei, however, had no time to worry about any of that. He had already begun wolfing down food, gulping wine and stuffing himself, as he muttered, "The First Madam has already passed on?"

"That's precisely the problem."

Landlord Lu gave a bitter smile. "My wife's health has been poor. She's been bedridden with illness for several years, but over the past few months she's been continually drowsy and listless."

"After the incident, we went to check on her."

"She's still alive!"

Wang Dao Xuan stroked his beard, furrowed his brows, and shook his head. "This is a Living Soul leaving the body. A Soul-Calling and Soul Calming Ritual is needed. But a Living Soul is likewise formless. For so many people to see it is something I've never heard of."

Li Yan, seated beside him, was no slower. His chopsticks flew, shoveling huge mouthfuls of sauced beef and perch into his mouth.

He appeared to be burying himself in food, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Could this strange phenomenon be connected to the thing he was searching for...?

Landlord Lu gritted his teeth. "Daoist, how can this be resolved?"

Wang Dao Xuan pondered for a moment. "There are many reasons why a living person's soul may leave the body. From my humble estimation, the First Madam has likely been bedridden for so long that her yang energy has weakened, causing her Living Soul to scatter."

"Let's perform a ritual to summon it first."

The night was dark and windless, while the Lu Family residence blazed with candlelight.

Contrary to what Sha LiFei had said, although Landlord Lu had married two beautiful concubines, he had not abandoned his wife from humble beginnings. In fact, he treated her with extraordinary respect.

A refined main residence in the rear courtyard had become the Madam's quarters.

Although she was bedridden and nearly indistinguishable from a paralyzed vegetable, the courtyard was kept exceptionally neat, with numerous servants attending to it.

More importantly, this was the master's inner residence.

Landlord Lu had given it up and moved with his concubines to another courtyard.

At that moment, an altar had been erected in the courtyard.

Calling it an altar was somewhat generous. It was merely a square table, upon which stood a statue and memorial tablet of Profound Qi Manifesting Might Celestial Lord Chen. Behind them, in order, were a pair of red altar candles, a sandalwood incense burner, a sandalwood incense dish, a cup of pure water, a ritual tablet, a command token, a wooden fish, a Peach Wood Sword, yellow paper, and various other items.

There was even the Treasure Vase Wandering Soul Jar.

It was a small black jar wrapped in red cord, its top sealed with yellow cloth and covered in talismans. A faint trace of baleful yin energy circulated within.

Inside was a Little Yin Soldier Wang Dao Xuan had gone to great lengths to acquire. It had no great abilities and could only deliver messages or search for things.

After finally landing a major job, Wang Dao Xuan had brought all his equipment.

At that moment, Landlord Lu, the household guards, and all the servants were present.

Wang Dao Xuan pinched his fingers and said in a deep voice,

"The Madam is born in the Year of the Tiger. Anyone born in the Years of the Ox, Tiger, Snake, or Monkey must leave the residence and return after dawn tomorrow..."

"Cover every mirror in the house..."

"The personal maid who usually attends to the Madam will stay..."

"All other unrelated people must avoid this area and hide in their rooms. No matter what you hear, do not come out rashly..."

A string of instructions poured from his mouth, leaving everyone somewhat dazed.

Landlord Lu barked, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and do as he says."

The servants immediately sprang into action. Several guards of Zhao Family Fist exchanged glances, but said nothing more and turned to leave.

Only Landlord Lu cautiously asked, "Do I need to avoid the area too?"

Wang Dao Xuan nodded. "A Living Soul is most afraid of being startled. If anything goes wrong, it could scatter and vanish completely. It's best to be careful."

"Very well. Sorry for the trouble, Daoist."

Landlord Lu did not waste words. He turned and left directly.

At that moment, only Li Yan and Wang Dao Xuan remained in the courtyard, along with the maid. Following instructions, she turned and entered the room, snipped off a lock of hair from the emaciated, unconscious Madam, and tore off a piece of her undergarment.

Taking advantage of the moment, Li Yan spoke in a low voice. "There's a strong smell of urine about Landlord Lu. He's covering it with expensive scented powder. I didn't even dare get close..."

"I noticed it long ago."

Wang Dao Xuan was not surprised. He shook his head and said, "When I traveled through the various prefectures, I once encountered a village where the people often had their second sons castrate themselves and enter the palace to seek wealth and prosperity. The village produced quite a few powerful eunuchs throughout the generations. When they returned, they built grand residences, and every household imitated them."

"But the palace was treacherous, and not everyone could make a name for himself there. Plenty of people failed to enter the palace at all. Some idle men in the village looked exactly like this—big bellies, pale faces without beards, and slack skin..."

"Has your mystical power returned?"

"On and off."

Li Yan's expression was somewhat helpless.

Ever since his mystical power had erupted outside Xianyang City, it had never functioned normally. Sometimes it was weak, sometimes it suddenly grew stronger, and afterward his Divine Soul would grow weary.

It had erupted just now, allowing him to smell the odor surrounding Landlord Lu.

No wonder the man kept his two beautiful concubines at his side without caring about others' gazes, even seeming a little smug. If he was a eunuch, it made sense.

He had come to the Lu Family to find that mysterious Secret Treasure.

It was a eunuch who had once been in the capital...

Could it be a treasure that had come out of the imperial palace?

Unfortunately, his mystical power had chosen this moment to falter. What rotten luck.

Wang Dao Xuan naturally had no idea what he was thinking. He began explaining, "The art of summoning souls originated with the ancient Wu Nuo rites. The Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial says, 'The summoner calls the soul and restores the spirit.' It also speaks of rites for calling the soul and containing the remains, and of the time for the tomb and burial."

"Given the condition of this Madam's body, I fear that once the soul is summoned back, it will be time for the funeral."

As he spoke, he began cutting paper.

The large sheet of yellow paper fluttered beneath his scissors. A paper Soul-Calling Banner gradually took shape, decorated not only with Cloud Patterns but also with little human figures.

Li Yan could not help praising him. "Daoist, you have quite the skill."

Wang Dao Xuan shook his head with a laugh. "If you ever have the fortune to meet a paper effigy craftsman of the Profound Sect, you'll learn what divine craftsmanship truly means. I've only learned the barest surface..."

He continued speaking without pause, explaining knowledge of the Profound Sect to Li Yan.

This was also part of their tacit understanding. Li Yan acted as his assistant, while Wang Dao Xuan guided Li Yan into the trade and taught him all kinds of hidden principles and crucial techniques.

While the two were talking, the maid returned with the hair and clothing.

Wang Dao Xuan first burned the hair to ash, then scattered it into the clear water on the altar and observed the direction it took. After watching for a while, he stuffed the scraps of clothing into the pole of the Soul-Calling Banner and said, "When Zi Hour arrives, carry this Soul-Calling Banner to the rooftop at the northeast corner of the courtyard. Shake the banner and call out for the soul to return."

"Remember, don't be afraid. If you feel a chill, close your eyes and keep shouting. When you hear the wooden fish sound, run back immediately."

"If someone calls out to you from behind, whatever you do, don't turn around!"

The maid was already trembling from head to toe, but when she remembered the generous reward promised by her master, she gritted her teeth and said, "D-Daoist, rest assured. I-I've memorized it."

With that, she carefully picked up the Soul-Calling Banner and left.

Li Yan was somewhat puzzled. "Calling out to someone from behind is something demons and evil spirits do. Can a Living Soul harm people too?"

Wang Dao Xuan lowered his voice. "A Living Soul can't withstand a fright. It's like someone suffering from sleepwalking—you have to guide it back."

"I'm worried the maid might frighten the Living Soul into scattering."

Li Yan was rendered speechless by this and laughed dryly.

Wang Dao Xuan had indeed thought of everything...

Before long, Zi Hour arrived, and the entire Lu residence sank into darkness.

The maid had already climbed onto the roof. With her eyes closed, she shook the Soul-Calling Banner and called out through clenched teeth, "Soul, return! Soul, return..."

Her long, drawn-out voice frightened many servants into hiding beneath their quilts.

In another side courtyard, Landlord Lu and his two concubines were likewise hiding in a pitch-black Wing Room.

At that moment, a trace of authority had appeared on his face. He turned toward the two concubines and said coldly, "Take them out."

The two concubines hurriedly reached beneath themselves and each took out a jujube.

Landlord Lu accepted them and tossed them directly into his mouth. As he chewed, he listened to the cries outside the window, his expression shifting between light and shadow...