Daoist Luo

"I recently found an ancient local chronicle that recorded some strange occurrences in Chunhua County over the past several centuries. According to the investigations I sent people to conduct, most of these accounts were actually true. For some reason, though, ordinary people rarely knew of these strange events now. Among them, a place called Spring Autumn Temple was mentioned repeatedly. According to the book, this temple was located within Chunhua County, and its Daoists should know true exorcism arts." Shen Luo replied, his eyes glinting faintly.

"Such a thing exists! Where is this Spring Autumn Temple? I'll send someone to invite them at once!" Upon hearing this, Shen Yuange shot to his feet with a bang.

"Rest assured, Father. I already spent a large sum to send people to invite them. If nothing unexpected happens, according to their reply, someone from Spring Autumn Temple should arrive today." Shen Luo replied with a faint smile.

"Wonderful! I'll quickly have the servants make preparations. We mustn't be poor hosts and cause some trouble when they arrive." Shen Yuange did not mind his eldest son acting on his own at all. Instead, he rubbed his hands together and spoke with relief.

Just then, the respectful voice of Shen Yuange's personal attendant suddenly came from outside the study:

"Master! Young Master! A Daoist surnamed Luo has come calling. He says he has an appointment with the young master."

The father and son looked at each other, both startled and delighted.

"Father, have some tea here first. I'll personally go meet this Daoist from Spring Autumn Temple." Shen Luo said decisively.

"This concerns your life and death. How could I have the mood to drink tea here? Let's go meet this Daoist Luo together." Shen Yuange waved a hand and hurried toward the door at a brisk trot.

Seeing this, Shen Luo could not help smiling a little.

In the Shen family's side hall.

Shen Luo carefully examined the middle-aged Daoist standing before him, who called himself Daoist Luo.

He had a dark reddish face weathered by wind and frost, a pale blue Daoist robe, a wooden sword slanted across his back, and a small white cloth bag hanging from his waist. Apart from his spear-straight posture, there was truly nothing unusual about him.

"Daoist, please take a seat first. Someone, bring the finest tea." The moment Shen Yuange saw the middle-aged Daoist, he greeted him with a broad smile.

"There's no need for tea yet. Young Master Shen, were you the one who sent someone carrying a token to ask our temple to come exorcise evil?" The red-faced Daoist surnamed Luo ignored the exceedingly warm Shen Yuange and instead asked Shen Luo solemnly.

"Daoist, you know me?" Shen Luo asked in surprise.

"Heh heh, before coming here, this poor Daoist naturally made some inquiries about Young Master Shen before formally paying a visit. However, our temple has been closed for many years. How did Young Master Shen learn of our temple, and where did you obtain the token?" Daoist Luo stared at Shen Luo and questioned him bluntly, as though he would turn hostile at the slightest disagreement.

"Daoist, did you come here to accuse us?" Upon hearing this, the smile on Shen Yuange's face faded somewhat, and he grew displeased.

"Master Shen, please do not take offense. Although our sect's token is not especially precious, none of those circulating outside seem to have any connection to the Shen family. Since Young Master Shen sent someone to the temple with one, I naturally had to get to the bottom of it first." Only then did Daoist Luo turn to Shen Yuange and reply calmly.

"The temple has been closed for many years? No wonder few people in this county know of your temple now. Rest assured, Daoist. I learned of Spring Autumn Temple from this book. As for the token, I purchased it at great expense from the descendant of a family that had fallen on hard times." Shen Luo seemed enlightened instead, taking something from his sleeve and handing it over.

It was the Records of Strange Tales of Chunhua that had previously been sitting on the desk.

Seeing this, Shen Yuange could not help taking another look at the tattered volume.

"I see."

Daoist Luo was slightly startled as he accepted the book. After carefully flipping through several pages, his expression eased greatly.

"This book records some of our sect's ghost-exorcising and demon-subduing deeds from years past, and in such detail. It was most likely written by someone who truly came into contact with our temple back then. Would Young Master be willing to give this book to this poor Daoist? I would like to take it back to the temple for the others to see as well. As for the token, so long as what Young Master Shen said is true and it was willingly transferred by another, our sect will not concern itself with it." After reading the book, the red-faced Daoist's eyes shifted slightly. He casually tucked it into his robes and spoke without changing expression.

Shen Yuange frowned slightly at this.

Shen Luo, however, did not mind. With a soft chuckle, he asked:

"As long as Daoist Luo likes it. May I ask whether you need to rest, eat something, or make any preparations before performing the rite to drive out the evil afflicting me?"

"There is no need to rest or prepare. As for the evil afflicting Young Master, heh heh..." After giving Shen Luo a deep look, the red-faced Daoist suddenly flashed forward, closing in on him directly. With a slap, his five fingers clamped tightly around one of Shen Luo's arms.

"What are you doing? Someone, come quickly!" Shen Yuange froze for a moment, then hurriedly stepped back two paces and shouted sharply.

Seven or eight broad-shouldered male servants instantly rushed into the hall, ready to pounce on the Daoist at their master's furious command.

"Everyone, stop! Father, don't worry. Daoist Luo is not hurting me. He is using a rite to drive the evil from me!"

Shen Luo spoke at that moment.

He felt a surging current of heat flow into his body through the arm being gripped. Wherever it passed, the coldness that had long dwelled within him melted away, leaving his entire body incomparably comfortable.

Hearing this, Shen Yuange carefully studied Shen Luo's expression for a moment before finally relaxing. He waved to the servants and had them withdraw from the side hall again.

With a whoosh.

A wisp of faint gray vapor shot out from Shen Luo's chest. After circling once, it darted straight toward the nearby Shen Yuange.

"Hmph, come back here." As though he had expected this, the red-faced Daoist flicked his wide sleeve at the gray vapor, and a yellow talisman shot forth like lightning, striking the gray vapor.

Puff

The talisman instantly transformed into a fist-sized fireball, tightly enveloping the gray vapor within it.

The gray vapor twisted and writhed desperately in the flames like a living thing, but after only a short while, it vanished amid a sizzling sound.

A moment later, the fireball flashed and disappeared as well, leaving only a faint scorched smell in the hall.

Shen Yuange watched in utter astonishment.

"The yin energy in Young Master Shen's body has been completely removed. All that remains is to nurse his body back to health. Since that is so, this poor Daoist will take his leave first." Only then did the red-faced Daoist release Shen Luo's arm and speak calmly.

"Yin energy? Wasn't Luo afflicted by an evil spirit?" Shen Yuange finally came to his senses and asked instinctively.

"If it had been a true evil spirit, how could it have been so easily expelled? Even this poor Daoist would have to treat such a thing as a formidable enemy. Your son must have gone somewhere unclean and allowed a little yin energy to enter his body, which is why he became like this." Daoist Luo replied dismissively.

"But Daoist, every so often, my face turns bluish and I become incredibly strong. Even three to five sturdy servants cannot get near me, and afterward I remember nothing at all. What is that about? Also, Daoist, what was the thing you poured into my body just now?" Feeling the lingering warmth within his body, Shen Luo asked in delighted surprise.