Prison-Warding (2_2)

Xu Feng said, "Prison-Warding Immortal Official?"

It was the first time he had heard the title.

Master frowned and said nothing, so Xu Feng looked to Uncle Liu. Uncle Liu explained, "It's just a Spirit Suppressor.

They gave it a grand, auspicious name, that's all.

But a Spirit Suppressor needs a tough fate to bear a title like that. Otherwise, being called an Immortal Official for no good reason could shorten his life.

Big words can crush a man. A heavy hat can keep him from standing straight."

Xu Feng asked, "Then, Uncle Liu, what does a Spirit Suppressor actually do?"

Uncle Liu said, "I don't know about this time. Usually, though, it's when they know a prisoner has been wronged, or someone died a violent death in jail, or they're holding a vicious criminal.

The day before the execution, they invite a Spirit Suppressor to hold down the condemned person's Baleful Aura and resentment.

They usually wait until midnight, slaughter a chicken, mix its blood with cinnabar, and dab it around the jail. A Spirit Suppressor with a tough fate goes inside and buries Suppressing Objects in the jail's four corners at a quarter past midnight. They light Incense at the main gate and leave it burning until the beheading the next day.

Then they carry the Incense that drew it away to the Yellow River. That finishes it."

Xu Feng said, "It's that complicated, Uncle Liu?

How come I've never heard of any of this?"

Uncle Liu said, "You're still young. When you're my age and people are calling you 'uncle,' you'll probably understand some of these twists and turns.

There are all sorts of ins and outs.

Plenty of things aren't written in books. They're kept in people's heads!"

With that, Uncle Liu patted Xu Feng on