Chapter 92
The commotion continued until Erma and the others came back.
During this time, I drew a talisman to calm the soul, but it had no effect at all. Moreover, it was bright and clear in the daytime, and there were no ghosts at all.
After a while, he fell silent again. This time, it was obvious that he looked very bad. The wrinkles on his forehead had smoothed out, his lips were pale, and his cheeks were sunken. If this continued, he would probably not be able to bear it even after two or three more attacks.
"Did you find anything?" I asked.
Erma shook her head and said, "I asked, and it was just a quarrel over watering the fields. It's quite normal. Besides, Wu Lao San is not a person in this field. He is just an ordinary old man."
This matter is really tricky and I have no idea what to do.
Seeing Wang Shan looking so sad, I felt really bad.
After Wang Geqing regained consciousness, we questioned him about the situation, but nothing seemed to be amiss. At this point, all my assumptions were shattered. Erma was completely helpless. Master Zhang had sent her here, believing it was a simple demonic presence, easily exorcised. But now, we're both trapped here. Master Zhang wouldn't have needed to go to such lengths; even disciples like Li Danyang would have seen the key to the situation at a glance.
At night, Erma and I stayed by Wang Geqing's side because night was the time when things got the most noisy.
Sure enough, after ten o'clock, he started talking nonsense again.
Erma tried her best, but the talismans and spells were of little use.
Wang Shan was very anxious, and Erma's forehead was covered with sweat.
I could only muster my might, chanting the Soul Protection Mantra: "The Moon Emperor shines brightly, the Sun Emperor illuminates. The Four Truths and Three Qis protect his soul and essence." Then, I pointed my inner energy at Wang Geqing, and I felt a surge of energy. Energy, like silk, enveloped him. Finally, the two connected, and I spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing on the ground.
Seeing this, Erma quickly came over and helped me up.
I've often used this soul-protecting spell before, but I've never encountered anything like this. This time, I forced it, and my old injuries recurred. I felt all the energy in my body dissipate. Fortunately, Wang Geqing calmed down and fell into a deep sleep.
But the story wasn't over yet. I saw more and more ghosts outside the house. Their skin was broken, some had broken hands and feet, some were blind and bleeding. In short, there were many dead scenes, and they were all waving to Wang Geqing from outside.
This was probably Erma's first time encountering so many ghosts, and since she was new and inexperienced, I could clearly sense that she was starting to get a little scared. I held her hand firmly and nodded.
With my encouragement, her uneasy mood gradually stabilized.
Wang Geqing was protected by my soul-protecting spell, and the ghost outside the house could not get close, but it remained outside and did not disperse.
Erma stuck a ghost-exorcising talisman on the window, which almost drove away the ghosts.
Wang Geqing's condition was deteriorating, but Erma and I hadn't figured out the cause. We stayed in Wang Geqing's room the entire night, just in case. At two o'clock in the morning, two extremely powerful ghostly auras emanated from outside.
They pushed open the gate and walked into the yard.
When I saw them, I was horrified. But my doubts were also cleared up. No wonder Erma and I couldn't stop Wang Geqing's condition from getting worse no matter what we did.
I saw two of them. One wore a long white robe and a tall white hat with the words "First sight brings wealth" inscribed on it. He was tall and thin, taller than a house. His face was pale, his skin the color of a corpse, and he had a long, bright red tongue. He was smiling broadly and holding a white mourning stick. The other wore black clothes and a black hat, his face stern and murderous. His hat was inscribed with the words "Peace Under Heaven." He was broad and stocky, about my height, and the black chain in his hand swayed in the wind.
When I saw them, I knew they were the Seventh Master and the Eighth Master, also known as the Black and White Impermanence in folk culture.
There is a little story about the Black and White Impermanence.
Xie Bian, the White Impermanent, was tall and thin, with a gentle and upright character, earning him the nickname "Seventh Master." Fan Wujiu and Xie Bian, sworn brothers since childhood, were short, stocky, and loyal, earning the nickname "Eighth Master." Both served as constables in the yamen, respected by the people for their impartiality and commitment to upholding justice. One day, while escorting official documents, they were caught in a sudden rainstorm and sought shelter under the Nantai Bridge. Xie Bian suggested returning home to retrieve an umbrella, instructing Fan Wujiu to wait. The river surged, and Fan Wujiu, determined to keep his promise, refused to leave the bridge pier, ultimately drowning. This is why the folk image of Eighth Master is often depicted as having a green face. Upon returning to retrieve the umbrella, Xie Bian, overcome by grief, witnessed his brother's tragic death and hanged himself from the bridge pillar, following in his footsteps. This is why Seventh Master is often depicted as having a gossip-mongering demeanor.
The Seventh and Eighth Masters transformed into ordinary human size and entered the house.
Erma must have also felt the powerful ghost energy, and she was trembling all over.
I saw the Seventh Master use a mourning stick to dispel Wang Geqing's yang energy. Wang Geqing's soul left his body and, upon seeing that it was the Seventh and Eighth Masters, he stepped forward and bowed.
"Wang Geqing, you should have died a year ago, but your good deeds have been rewarded with an extra year of life. Today, your life span has come to an end. Hurry and report back to the underworld with me."
Seeing it was the Seventh Master taking the soul, I breathed a sigh of relief. This is because the Seventh Master and the Eighth Master each have their own responsibilities. The Seventh Master, in addition to dispelling the man's yang energy, also represents that the person was a good person in life and will be rewarded in death. If the Eighth Master were taking the soul, it means that the person had committed evil in life and would be tortured.
I only knew all this after seeing them. Erma could only rely on her intuition. In her feeling, she only knew that two powerful ghosts had entered the house. In a hurry, she cast a ghost-dispelling talisman at the Seventh and Eighth Masters.
I was terrified at the sight. If it hit me, it would cause a huge commotion. It would be obstructing justice, not to mention disrespecting the cycle of reincarnation. I don't know where I found the strength, but I leaped forward, blocking the two gentlemen. The exorcist talisman had no effect on me; I'm a living being, after all. However, my body fell to the ground, and it hurt like hell.
The Seventh and Eighth Masters looked at Erma, and I hurriedly apologized to them.
At this time, Erma and Wang Shan thought my behavior was almost like that of a madman.
But Erma knew that I was not doing this without purpose, and that I must have a purpose, so she stopped and watched my every move.
"We did not mean to offend you two, please forgive us."
Wang Geqing also spoke up for me, asking the Seventh and Eighth Masters to forgive my mistakes.
The Seventh Master was easy to talk to. He smiled and said, "I know you. Next time, be more careful and don't rush around doing useless things."
I was quite surprised to hear Seventh Master say this. I hadn't expected him to know me, and I wasn't sure if getting an appointment with him was a good thing or a bad thing. But what he said next made me a little embarrassed. He said I was wasting my time, implying that I hadn't realized Wang Geqing was nearing the end of his life span, and that I had wasted the past two days.
Wang Geqing knew that his time was up and said, "Please allow me to say goodbye to my granddaughter."
Seeing that there was still some time left, the Seventh Master urged him, "Hurry up, we must take you away when the time is up."
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