Chapter 6

"Master Li, you and Little Master haven't eaten yet, right? Is there anything you can't eat?"

After sitting down in the room, Lao Miao asked Ye Tian and the old Taoist. The recent series of incidents at home had left him with no appetite, but now that he had found the root cause, Lao Miao felt quite hungry.

"Mountain people can eat anything..."

The old Taoist put on a calm and composed demeanor, but Ye Tian clearly heard his stomach rumbling.

Although the two of them had eaten quite a bit in the morning, after walking for several hours, they were now starving. If it weren't for maintaining the image of a disciple of a high master, Ye Tian would have almost taken the steamed bun in front of the black-and-white photo in the room.

In the countryside, most celebrations and funerals are held at home. Since the funeral had just taken place yesterday, there was plenty of food ready. Soon, Lao Miao's wife brought the meal to the table.

Perhaps worried that Master Li wouldn't be fully committed to dispelling the negative energy in the house, Lao Miao quickly finished a bowl of rice and went out to contact the construction team.

Seeing Lao Miao leave the room, the master and disciple, who had been eating politely, threw down their chopsticks and each grabbed a pig's trotter to gnaw on, quickly clearing the table. When Lao Miao's wife came in to clean up, she looked at Ye Tian and the old Taoist with a strange expression.

"Master, no wonder you don't like street vendors. It turns out it's so easy to get free food and drink?"

After eating his fill, Ye Tian patted his little belly contentedly. Although his father occasionally caught fish and shrimp to improve their diet, he rarely got to eat such a variety of dishes.

"Brat, if you don't have the right stuff, how can you dare to go up the mountain? There's a lot more to it than that..."

The old Taoist glared at Ye Tian and continued, "Go recite the 'Scripture of Salvation' a few times to dispel the negative energy..."

"The 'Scripture of Salvation' can dispel negative energy? Wasn't it caused by the spirit hall blocking the area?"

Ye Tian was taken aback by his master's words. Could it be that the negative energy was really transformed from the spirit of Lao Miao's second brother?

The old Taoist shook his head and said, "Who told you it was caused by the spirit hall? It's the result of human resentment. Otherwise, the sunlight would have dispersed it long ago..."

"Master, could it be... there really are ghosts?"

Ye Tian was quite bold. When he was seven or eight, he dared to go to the old cemetery alone to catch crickets. Hearing this, he didn't feel afraid but rather excited.

The old Taoist sneered and said, "Nonsense, I've walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and I've never seen a ghost..."

Li Shan Yuan lived to be over a hundred years old and had a wide range of experiences. He had even stolen skills from the Celestial Master's Dao, learning how to catch ghosts, but he never had the chance to use them. He would have been happy if a ghost appeared in front of him.

"If there are no ghosts, how does the resentment form?" Ye Tian asked, puzzled. He didn't know that his master was actually a staunch atheist.

"Brat, you're a student who has received modern education, so let me enlighten you..."

The old Taoist looked at Ye Tian with disdain and said, "In scientific terms, it can be called a magnetic field, which is related to human brain waves. When many people focus their thoughts on a person or an event, it can change the strength of the local magnetic field.

If we use the principles of Buddhism and Daoism, it's the power of faith. Through the prayers of believers, a similar magnetic field can also be generated. Got it, kid?"

"Got it, got it, but... Master, are you sure you used to study in a private school?"

To be honest, Ye Tian was really shocked by the old Taoist's words. If he hadn't heard it with his own ears, he wouldn't have believed that these words came from the mouth of the old Taoist who always talked in classical Chinese and forced him to study ancient texts.

"What? Do you look down on me, a former Qing scholar?"

The old Taoist glanced at Ye Tian and said, "I once taught architecture at Peking University, and Liang Sicheng even attended my lectures."

The old Taoist wasn't exaggerating. He and Gu Hongming were close friends, and he had been invited to teach at Peking University for a while. It wasn't an exaggeration to say he was well-versed in both Chinese and Western knowledge.

However, the old Taoist had gone to Peking University to find the original version of the 'Tui Bei Tu' in the library. After failing to find it, he resigned and wandered around like a free bird.

"Architecture, it should be related to feng shui, right? But who is Liang Sicheng?"

Since Ye Tian believed the old Taoist was over a hundred years old, he was very curious about the stories of his past. However, the old man didn't boast about his past as much as before, only occasionally mentioning a few things.

"You're not stupid, kid. Whether it's Chinese or Western architecture, it's all related to feng shui. As for Liang Sicheng, why am I telling you this..."

The old Taoist got impatient after explaining a bit. If he told Ye Tian that Liang Sicheng was Liang Qichao's son, the kid would probably ask who Liang Qichao was, and then he would have to tell him the story of the 'Six Gentlemen of the Hundred Days' Reform.'

"Fine, I won't ask. By the way, Master, can reciting the 'Scripture of Salvation' really dispel the negative energy?"

Seeing that his master wasn't going to continue, Ye Tian didn't press further but remembered Liang Sicheng's name.

"Of course, the 'Scripture of Salvation' is as effective as the Buddhist 'Diamond Sutra.' Just do as I say, and I'll rest for a while..."

The old Taoist seemed to be thinking about the past, and his mood was a bit low. Despite his good health, he was still over a hundred years old, so he leaned back in his chair and took a nap.

Ye Tian got up and walked out, gently closing the door. Although he sometimes called the old man "old guy," he was very concerned and respectful of the old man.

"Hey, Little Master, where's Master Li? I've found the people to build the house..."

As soon as Ye Tian stepped into the courtyard, Lao Miao pushed open the gate excitedly.

Hearing Lao Miao's loud voice, Ye Tian put his finger to his lips and whispered, "Master is a bit tired and is resting. Lao Miao, take down the spirit hall, and I'll recite the scripture to dispel the negative energy..."

Lao Miao was taken aback and asked hesitantly, "Little Master, can you... do it?"

In those days, appearance was very important in any profession. Just like patients preferred older doctors and factories wanted skilled technicians, Lao Miao had his doubts about Ye Tian's young age.

"Lao Miao, the negative energy in your courtyard hasn't been around long, so it's easy to dispel. There's no need for my master to do it..."

Ye Tian suddenly remembered a zombie movie he saw last year in town and felt playful. He puffed out his little chest and said, "Prepare a square table, four sacrificial offerings, and nine white wooden poles..."

"Little Master, the offerings are easy, but... what are the white wooden poles for?" Although Ye Tian spoke confidently, Lao Miao still didn't fully believe him, glancing at the closed door of the main room.

Ye Tian, though young, was quite clever. He saw that Lao Miao didn't fully trust him and said, "Raising the white poles will naturally dispel the negative energy and cleanse the area. Or do you want to wait for my master to rest and let him do it?"

"No, Little Master, I'll do as you say. I'll go get the things..."

Lao Miao stomped his foot. Since he was going to repair the temple for them tomorrow, he didn't want to offend this clever kid. If it didn't work, Master Li would still have to do it.

The offerings were ready, and white wooden poles were easy to find in the countryside. Soon, Lao Miao had everything Ye Tian needed set up where the spirit hall had been.

However, he kept the courtyard gate tightly closed. In those days, promoting feudal superstitions could get you arrested by the police.

Moreover, if the neighbors found out he had hired a ten-year-old to perform a ritual, he would be laughed at.

Ye Tian, being a playful kid, was now fully engaged. He planted the nine white wooden poles in the area of negative energy, then sat at the table, wishing he had a peachwood sword to make it more fun.

As for whether the 'Scripture of Salvation' would work, Ye Tian didn't really care. The negative energy would naturally dissipate in a few days once the spirit hall was removed.

"Scholars who recite this scripture ten times will make demons lose their sight, and ghosts and evil spirits will be destroyed. It will save the dying and bring the dead back to life..."

After setting up, Ye Tian recited the 'Scripture of Salvation' in a serious manner, looking like a young high master. Lao Miao, watching from the side, began to have some confidence in Ye Tian.

"Those who recite this scripture will live longer, and in the end, they will all achieve the path of transformation, their souls temporarily extinguished, not passing through hell, and then returning to their bodies. Hmm? It's showing up again..."

Just as Ye Tian was halfway through the recitation, he felt a slight dizziness. The palm-sized turtle shell suddenly appeared again.

Ye Tian was startled at first, then took a deep breath, continuing to recite the scripture while focusing on the turtle shell. "It's really a compass, but... it's different from Master's..."

Focusing his mind, Ye Tian finally saw clearly. The mysterious patterns on the turtle shell were actually bird script, but in the center, where the magnetic needle should be, there was a Taiji Yin-Yang symbol.

[bookid=2278933, bookname=《Dark Judgment》]

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