Northeast Chinese Shaman

By the time Wen Ning returned from the Underworld, it was already dark outside.

The seasoned veteran actor, Big Golden Retriever, had already been picked up by his owner.

Big Yellow was still lying by the entrance when he saw Wen Ning return.

His tail wagged twice.

Wen Ning crouched down and rubbed his head. Not bad. It felt pretty nice.

Seeing his owner petting him, Big Yellow yawned and settled into a comfortable position that made it easier for Wen Ning to stroke him.

After playing with Big Yellow for a while, Wen Ning went into the shop.

Offering incense to his godfather every day was a must.

He solemnly kowtowed three times, his forehead striking the floor, then addressed the statue.

"Godfather, we've confirmed Yamamoto's location. Tomorrow morning, I'm heading to the northeast with the people from the Underworld. Xie Bi'an and Zhong Kui are coming with me, and I'll be handling those Onmyoji too."

As soon as Wen Ning finished speaking, a message arrived on his phone.

Wen Zhong had replied.

"Understood. Onmyoji use different methods from departed souls. Go straight for the Five Thunder Righteous Method. Don't worry about killing them."

Wen Ning simply replied: "Roger."

Early the next morning, just as dawn began to break.

Wen Ning had just opened the shop and was about to head out.

Big Yellow suddenly sat up from the ground by the entrance.

His tail was tucked between his hind legs, a low whine came from his throat, and his eyes were fixed on something ahead. He was clearly frightened.

Wen Ning followed Big Yellow's gaze and saw over a dozen figures drifting silently toward them.

Zhong Kui led the way, followed by Xie Bi'an and Fan Wujiu. Behind them were over a dozen Ghost Messengers in black suits, none of whom looked like anyone to mess with.

Big Yellow's frightened whines grew louder, and all four legs trembled.

Although he could not see the Ghost Messengers, animals were far more sensitive to yin energy than humans.

Seeing how terrified Big Yellow was, Wen Ning crouched down and rested a hand on his head.

"Don't be scared. They're with us."

Reassured by his owner, Big Yellow relaxed a little.

Zhong Kui reached the entrance and glanced at Big Yellow, whose tail was still tucked between his legs.

"Your shop's security is getting more professional by the day."

Wen Ning patted Big Yellow's head.

"He's a new hire, still on probation. But he seems pretty good so far."

Xie Bi'an unfolded a map and pointed to a spot.

"We've pinpointed the target to an old Japanese-style residence in the old district of a city in the northeast. All three Onmyoji are there. Yamamoto's remnant soul is hiding in the air-raid shelter beneath the house's basement."

"Let's move."

Zhong Kui turned and headed toward the mouth of the alley.

Wen Ning looked back at Big Yellow, who was lying on the threshold.

"Watch the shop."

With that, he followed Zhong Kui and the others.

They headed north.

The Underworld's Special Investigation Team transformed into a wisp of faint black smoke and passed through the clouds.

Moments later, they arrived in the northeast.

The instant they landed.

Wen Ning felt the terrifying cold in the air around him.

At this time of year, the snow in the northeast rose above their calves.

Zhong Kui stood at the front of the group, taking the lead.

Xie Bi'an unfolded the map to confirm their location, then pointed into the depths of the woods. "The target is in there."

Just as Wen Ning and the others were about to enter the woods.

Crunching footsteps came from one side of the forest.

Wen Ning turned to see an old man step out from behind a tree. He wore a thick army coat and a dog-fur hat, and leaned on a wooden staff taller than himself, with a string of copper coins hanging from its tip.

The old man looked ordinary enough, but there was a restrained sharpness in his eyes, which shone startlingly bright in the pitch-black woods.

His gaze swept across the snowy ground.

Although he could not see Zhong Kui or the Ghost Messengers and could only see Wen Ning standing at the edge of the woods, the young man was clearly no ordinary person. Who in their right mind came here wearing nothing but a hoodie?

"Stop."

The old man took two steps forward with his staff.

"Who are you?"

Wen Ning put on a harmless expression.

"Sir, I'm just a tourist. I came to see the snowy scenery."

The old man looked Wen Ning up and down, his gaze lingering on the hoodie.

Then he raised his head and stared straight at Wen Ning.

"A tourist? It's more than thirty below zero, and you came dressed like that to see the snow? Even the locals don't usually come into these old woods. You're a young fellow with a southern accent, coming out here before sunrise—tell me the truth. What exactly are you doing?"

Wen Ning was about to offer an explanation.

But the old man had already waved his hand and taken two steps forward.

"Never mind, young man. Whoever you are, I won't pry. But these woods haven't been peaceful lately. If you want to see the snow, head south. There's a scenic area over there. Don't go wandering around these woods."

He paused and gave Wen Ning another look.

"Especially that old house. Whatever you do, don't go near it."

Wen Ning nodded. Rather than get into a lengthy discussion with the old man, he turned and headed south.

His pace was neither hurried nor slow, just like an ordinary tourist who had been talked out of proceeding by a local elder.

Zhong Kui and Xie Bi'an followed silently. The Ghost Messengers turned in unison, and the entire group circled through the woods, approaching their target again from another side.

The old man remained where he was, leaning on his staff as he watched Wen Ning's figure disappear into the curtain of snow.

A cold wind blew into the collar of his army coat. He narrowed his eyes and reached up to touch the string of copper coins at the tip of his staff, which was still trembling slightly.

A moment later, he suddenly spoke, his tone entirely different from when he had addressed Wen Ning.

It was no longer the advice of an elder to a youngster, but a reverent tone, as though he were consulting something unseen.

"Venerable Immortal, what did you make of that young fellow?"

An ancient voice slowly sounded deep within him. "That young fellow is no ordinary person. He carries the aura of a deity, a very pure one. He's no unofficial practitioner. He holds a divine office formally bestowed by the Heavenly Court."

Hearing the Immortal Spirit within him say this, the old man spoke.

"What sort of deity? The Heavenly Court no longer manifests itself. This is the first one I've ever seen."

The venerable immortal considered it for a moment.

"He possesses Thunder Arts, supremely yang and unyielding. His cultivation should be about the same as Third Grandmother Hu's, at the earth immortal level, but his foundations run extremely deep. He should be a deity from the Heavenly Court's Thunder Department."

"But none of that is the main concern. Something else is far more important."

"Did you notice that the young fellow wasn't alone?"

The old man looked up in the direction where Wen Ning had disappeared, and the Immortal Spirit within him continued.

"There was an extremely dense concentration of yin energy. Not the kind that comes from evil entities, but something balanced and harmonious—the unmistakable aura of Underworld officers."

"There were quite a few of them, at least a dozen. And the one leading them had a terrifyingly powerful yin aura."

Still looking somewhat astonished, the old man asked.

"Venerable Immortal, can you tell which Underworld officers they were?"

The Immortal Spirit pondered for a long while. When the spirit spoke again, the voice was even more cautious than before, as though every word had been carefully weighed.

"In the entire Underworld, there is only one pair with yin energy of that magnitude: Xie Bi'an and Fan Wujiu."

"And among them was someone even more fearsome."

The Immortal Spirit's voice sounded slowly within him.

"Someone who can have Black and White Impermanence escort him, mobilize the Underworld's Special Investigation Team, and even put a formally appointed deity of the Thunder Department at the forefront."

"With an entourage like that, and yin energy on that scale, it could only be the great immortal Zhong Kui."

Standing in the snow, the old man tightened his grip on his staff as he listened to the Immortal Spirit within him.

He gazed into the darkness deep in the woods, toward the old house.

The very direction he had just warned Wen Ning not to approach.

A moment later, he turned and headed toward the village with his staff, leaving behind a single remark.

"That old house will probably be torn apart tonight."

The Immortal Spirit within him added.

"Good. That house has been causing more and more trouble lately. If this keeps up, something terrible is bound to happen. Now that they're here, you won't have to worry so much about it."

The old man nodded after hearing that.