“Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. You’d better confess your evil deeds, or when her resentment reaches its peak, even the gods won’t be able to help you.”
This old man, with his kind and gentle appearance, was well-liked by everyone in the neighborhood. Who would have thought he'd become so timid after being frightened like this? If he had nothing to hide, why would he be afraid? Clearly, what Wang said was true.
The footprints on the incense ash gradually moved towards Old Man Ping.
Old Man Ping was terrified, his face turning ashen. He quickly kowtowed and begged for forgiveness, "Mrs. Wang, I was bewitched and acted rashly. Please forgive me. I promise I will treat your family well from now on and treat Datou like my own son. You..."
"You hypocritical old man! Not only have you humiliated me, but you also want my son to be your son? You dare to do that? Prepare to die!"
A cold wind blew by, and suddenly Old Man Ping grabbed his own neck with both hands, his eyes rolled back, and he kept begging Xiang Wan to save him.
The old man brought this upon himself, but to let someone die right under her nose would be too damaging to her reputation.
Seeing that Old Man Ping was about to die, Xiang Wan took out a compass and struck it hard with her peach wood sword.
Old Man Ping collapsed to the ground, barely breathing, and looked like he was about to die.
“Wang, you are now a ghost, while he is still a human, and will be punished by the laws of the human world. Now that Old Man Ping is about to die, why don’t you stop and accumulate some good karma for your son? Burn more paper money in the future so that you can have a better time in the underworld. Go in peace, you wicked person, you will report to the underworld sooner or later.”
Xiang Wan decided to stop there. She couldn't very well tell her to burn more paper money for Ping Datou to bribe the little devils in the underworld, so that old man Ping would suffer more in hell, could she?
After that brutal beating, it's likely that old man Ping will spend the rest of his life in bed. Rather than letting him die so easily, wouldn't it be more satisfying to let him live on, bringing shame to his family and experiencing the frustration of a chronically ill parent with no filial children by his side?
That's all Xiang Wan can do.
Wang tried desperately to protect Ping Datou, even after he listened to her and killed him. However, evil is evil, regardless of the reason.
Thinking of this, Xiang Wan secretly glanced at her apprentice again.
I wonder if his wish for Yang's pregnancy was true. Did he already know that Yang was having an affair?
This matter is not under Xiang Wan's jurisdiction; it is Ping Datou's karma. All she needs to do is persuade Wang Shi to return to the underworld.
"Thank you, Daoist Master. My wish has been fulfilled, but..."
"You still want to stay in the human world?"
"No, this old Taoist priest is too annoying. Master, please don't let him continue to harm others."
Xiang Wan nodded, and after muttering something to herself, Wang Shi had already disappeared.
She said that blindly calling for war and killing might not lead to a better outcome than it is now.
Old Master Wang's face was unusually grim. Being talked about by mortals was bad enough, but now even ghosts were saying such things about him—where was he supposed to put his pride?
"Fellow Daoist, I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first."
"Wait, you haven't packed your things yet, why don't you..." Xiang Wan wanted to persuade him to stay, because Taoism needs people to promote it.
"I probably won't need them anymore, so I'll leave them all to you."
"Fellow Daoist, do you wish to return to secular life?"
"With my meager skills, I'm not even worth a ghost's attention. What am I doing here?"
"No, no, fellow Daoist, it's not that your cultivation is lacking, you've just encountered a straightforward ghost. If you wish to deepen your cultivation, why not find a suitable place to go?"
Having roamed the world for so many years, how could Old Wang truly give up his Taoist profession? He merely wanted to take this opportunity to establish a good relationship with Xiang Wan, but he was too ashamed to ask a mere novice for guidance.
Now that Xiang Wan has said this, can he still refuse? He absolutely cannot!
While Wang Laodao hesitated, Xiang Wan simply sold out her own master.
Even someone like the original owner could be fooled by his own master, so if we add Old Wang, he can be a good helper and look out for each other.
"There is a mountain valley in Yunling, and halfway up the mountain, there is a Taoist temple. The abbot's surname is Qin, and he is a reclusive and highly accomplished person. Why don't you go there to pay your respects, fellow Daoist? You will surely learn something from him. To tell you the truth, when I wanted to become a disciple, I knelt for three days and three nights but still couldn't get in. If you can gain Abbot Qin's approval, exorcising ghosts and demons will be a piece of cake."
"Yunling? I've never heard of a Taoist temple there. Are you trying to scam me?"
Xiang Wan clasped her hands in front of her chest, striking a profound pose. "By sheer chance, I met Abbot Qin once, but unfortunately, I was unable to become his disciple. It is truly a pity. Today, with your help, it can be considered a kind of fate. I am returning the favor. As for whether you go or not, I have said all I have to say. Farewell, fellow Daoist!"
Pretending to be sophisticated is an art, and speaking in classical Chinese is quite a challenge for Xiang Wan; she still prefers vernacular Chinese.
They opened the door and let Wang Laodao leave immediately, lest he be overwhelmed by seeing these mortals bowing and worshipping Xiang Wan.
Come to think of it, Xiang Wan is quite considerate, isn't she?
Tu Hongye rolled his eyes and went to help tidy up the table.
The things left behind by the old Taoist are all good. For example, those talismans are specially made with white phosphorus. Otherwise, how could Xiang Wan ignite them so easily?
There was also yellow wine, bells, a set of tablecloths, cinnabar, and wolf-hair brushes, all from a long time ago and essential for religious ceremonies.
Thinking of how Wang Laodao went to find her master with nothing but his own pockets, Xiang Wan regretted letting him leave so early. She should have brought some food with her; knowing her master's nature, he definitely wouldn't open the door without food.
However, Master Wang had already gone far away, and Xiang Wan had to stay behind to clean up the mess. She could only hope that Master Wang would have some inspiration and take the things back up the mountain.
Ping Datou tidied up the house with Yang Shi without saying a word, but his heart was pounding.
His mother didn't say anything, but Ping Datou felt that Xiang Wan knew everything, and he was very uneasy.
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