Chapter 8: Soul Summoning

After Xu Changqing slowly descended from Peach Blossom Mountain, the Chen family patriarch had already dispatched a steward to wait here. Seeing Xu Changqing come down, the steward immediately went up to greet him. Before the steward could explain his purpose, Xu Changqing raised his hand to interrupt and said, "I know about the matter with Mr. Chen. No need to say more. Let's go!"

He then sat in the bamboo sedan chair prepared on the side, and the Chen family servants quickly carried him toward the Chen family residence in the mountain town.

The Chen family residence was located on the northeast side of the mountain town, with the terrain lower in the east and higher in the west. The back of the house was shaped like a human figure, with arms spread out to the sides, while the front of the house was a Seven Star Money Pattern, which, according to geomancy, was a wealthy and prosperous layout. At this moment, although the front of the house was not crowded with people, it was bustling with activity. The high-ranking monks and Taoist masters invited to the Chen family's Water and Land Dharma Assembly were all gathered here. Various high platforms and altars were set up throughout the front courtyard, and these masters, along with their disciples, were using their respective methods to summon the souls of the Chen family's young master and the Xie family's young lady.

Four days ago, the Chen family's young master, Chen Tao, and his fiancée, Xie Ling, both encountered problems. One became delirious and acted absurdly, like a fool, while the other lay in a deep sleep, her body cold, with only a faint breath indicating she was still alive. After the Chen family patriarch asked the others who had come to Peach Blossom Mountain about the cause, he personally went to the mortuary on the mountain to ask Xu Changqing what had happened. Although he did not believe that Xu Changqing was responsible, he suspected that Xu Changqing knew the reason. Unfortunately, Xu Changqing was in seclusion, immersing his mind in the Daoist realm to practice the Great Law of Concealed Universe, and had no awareness of the outside world. His bedroom was also shielded by a spell-enchanted bamboo curtain, making it impossible to enter. Therefore, Chen Deshang had to find another way.

Chen Deshang invited the most renowned high-ranking monks and Taoist masters participating in the Water and Land Dharma Assembly to examine Chen Tao and Xie Ling. Although these masters were not of particularly high cultivation, they could still identify that one had lost a soul and the other had lost a spirit. They knew that the cultivator who could take away a person's soul and spirit without harming their body was far more powerful than they were. Engaging in a direct confrontation would be suicidal, but they were reluctant to give up the generous reward from the Chen family. After discussing, they suggested that Chen Deshang gather all the high-ranking monks and Taoist masters participating in the Water and Land Dharma Assembly to set up altars and use their respective methods to summon the souls and spirits. Although it might not be effective, the strength in numbers would make it difficult for the other party to retaliate even if they failed and angered them.

The soul-summoning ritual had been ongoing for four days, and except for the first day when Chen Tao, who had lost a spirit, briefly regained consciousness, there had been no progress. Although Chen Deshang was anxious, he did not panic. He continued to have the rituals performed while waiting for Xu Changqing to emerge from seclusion. He had absolute confidence in Xu Changqing, or rather, in Xu Changqing's sect. The Chen family's ability to stand firm through many years of storms was largely due to the mortuary owner's strategic planning and guidance. Therefore, he believed that as long as Xu Changqing was there, any problem could be solved.

On this day, Chen Deshang was preparing to visit Chen Tao and Xie Ling in the back courtyard with his family, when a servant ran in and said that Xu Changqing had emerged from seclusion and was on his way. Chen Deshang knew that Xu Changqing disliked crowds, so he immediately instructed the servant to lead him to the side gate and then hurriedly went to greet him with his family.

"It is truly my fault to trouble Mr. Xu to leave his seclusion and come here in person!" Seeing Xu Changqing get out of the sedan chair outside the side gate, Chen Deshang quickened his steps and waved from a distance.

Xu Changqing, hearing this, saw Chen Deshang leading people to greet him. He stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, "Mr. Chen, you are too kind. The mortuary and the Chen family are one family, sharing weal and woe. Since the Chen family has a problem, the mortuary must take responsibility."

"Mr. Xu, good to see you!" The madam, concubines, and some important relatives behind Chen Deshang also hurried over and bowed to Xu Changqing.

"Everyone, please don't be so formal!" Xu Changqing smiled and returned the bow, then said to Chen Deshang, "Mr. Chen, please lead the way. Apart from the parties involved, everyone else should disperse. Also, those born in the Year of the Snake, Rooster, Dog, or Pig, and those born on the 3rd, 9th, 17th, or 29th of the month, should all leave the back courtyard. No one else should approach the Purple String Pavilion within thirty paces."

"Did you hear Mr. Xu? Hurry and do as he said!" Chen Deshang shouted angrily, then turned to Xu Changqing and said softly, "Mr. Xu, please follow me." He then led Xu Changqing to the back, passing by Xiao En and the other three, who were looking down awkwardly, and said coldly, "You troublemakers, come with us!"

"Yes!" Xiao En and the others exchanged worried glances and followed closely behind Chen Deshang.

Chen Deshang had absolute authority in the Chen family, not just because he was the patriarch, but also because of his wisdom and strategic thinking, which inspired respect. Chen Yu and Zhang Yuan, his daughter and son-in-law, naturally had a natural respect for him. Xiao En, who had lost both parents at a young age, was very close to the Chen family's eldest son, Chen Jingguo, more like a brother than a cousin. Chen Deshang had taken good care of him, using the Chen family's influence in Britain to restore the noble status of the Wener family, reclaim their ancestral castle, and secure a seat in the British House of Lords, giving him considerable prestige and honor in Britain. Therefore, Xiao En was deeply grateful to Chen Deshang and regarded him as a father, which made him instinctively respect him. Chen Deshang's slightly scolding tone did not make him feel offended but rather more affectionate.

The Chen family residence had thousands of rooms, with corridors and passages like a maze. If you were not a regular resident, it was easy to get lost. On the way, Chen Deshang apologized to Xu Changqing, "A few days ago, these young rascals disregarded the ban and went to the mortuary to disturb you. I apologize! The suffering they have endured these past few days is their just punishment. If it were only my son, I would have let him suffer a few more days, but there is also a young lady, the daughter of an old friend. If anything happens to her here, I would have a hard time explaining it to her parents. I hope you can forgive them and use your skills to heal them as soon as possible. I will certainly reward you generously once this is done."

Xu Changqing, who was no stranger to Chen Deshang's way of putting pressure through flattery, smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, please rest assured. With me here, they will be fine. This is also a karmic test for them. The birth charts of Young Master Tao and Miss Xie are a perfect match, and their destinies complement each other. If they can overcome this test, they will have a long and harmonious marriage."

"Then I will take your good words to heart!" Chen Deshang knew that the predictions of the mortuary lineage were never exaggerated, and he felt a surge of joy, his frown smoothing out.

As they spoke, they arrived at the room where Xie Ling was staying. Chen Deshang gestured for Xu Changqing to enter, and Xiao En and the others were left outside. Inside, Xu Changqing smelled the scent of a calming incense and saw a Bagua mirror placed on the door frame of the inner room. Upon entering, he saw a statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and on the bed where Xie Ling lay, a string of prayer beads and a duster were hanging.

Seeing this, Xu Changqing understood the situation. He guessed that the high-ranking monks and Taoist masters in the front courtyard had placed their personal talismans here to calm Xie Ling's spirit. Although Xu Changqing had little respect for their personal cultivation, he was quite fond of their talismans. These talismans, originating from thousand-year-old Buddhist and Taoist traditions, had at least two hundred years of spiritual energy. If the famous recluses had imbued them with magical arrays and symbols, they could become excellent spiritual treasures.

Although Xu Changqing was tempted by these talismans, he had no intention of taking them. Talismans that had been nurtured for two hundred years were already connected to the qi of their respective sects, making it difficult for non-sect members to use them effectively. If Xu Changqing took them, he would not only be unable to use them but also offend the famous sects. As a practitioner of a minor sect, even if he joined forces with other close daoist friends, it would be difficult to contend with the major sects.

Chen Deshang pulled back the bed curtain, revealing Xie Ling, who was unconscious. Xu Changqing stepped forward and examined her. He saw that her eyes were tightly closed, her lips were blue, her face was pale, and her breath was extremely weak. Despite it being summer and a thin blanket covering her, a layer of white frost had formed on her hair from her forehead to the top of her head.

Seeing Xu Changqing staring at Xie Ling without any other actions, Chen Deshang asked anxiously, "Mr. Xu, have you thought of a solution?"

"Solution?" Xu Changqing was taken aback, but seeing Chen Deshang's anxious face, he immediately understood and smiled, "Mr. Chen, please rest assured. I had already thought of a solution at the mortuary. After seeing Miss Xie, I realize that I may have overestimated the person who took her soul. This confrontation should not be dangerous or difficult."

"That's the best! That's the best!" Chen Deshang breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

Xu Changqing did not wait any longer. He reached into his sleeve and took out a piece of the Red Dust Silk he had previously stored in his Concealed Universe. He came to the bed, lifted Xie Ling's stiff hands, and tied the two ends of the Red Dust Silk to her middle fingers in a Daoist Yang Knot. He then dipped a bit of cinnabar and wrote a command symbol on her forehead. He held the Red Dust Silk with his fingers in a sword gesture, aligning it with the middle of the knot.

"Evil spirits and demons, by the command of the Upper Clear, heed my call, arise!"

Xu Changqing recited the spell in a deep voice, then pulled the Red Dust Silk backward. Xie Ling, stiff and with her eyes closed, was pulled to sit up and, under Xu Changqing's guidance, walked out of the room with unsteady steps. Chen Deshang quickly found a piece of clothing and followed to cover Xie Ling.

Outside the room, Xiao En and the others, who had been waiting, saw Xie Ling following Xu Changqing and immediately showed signs of joy, wanting to ask her about her condition. But Zhang Yuan, who was more observant, immediately noticed something was wrong and pulled Xiao En and Chen Yu aside, whispering a few words. Xiao En and Chen Yu stared in shock at the Red Dust Silk in Xu Changqing's hand and Xie Ling's still-closed eyes.

Xu Changqing, ignoring Xiao En and the others, said sternly, "Mr. Chen, please send someone to bring Young Master Tao to the Purple String Pavilion. Also, go to the front courtyard and ask for ten jars of high-quality cinnabar," he emphasized, "Remember, it must be cinnabar that is at least fifty years old and mixed with black dog blood!"

"Alright, I will do it right away!" Chen Deshang did not hesitate and called a few servants to follow him to the front courtyard.

After Chen Deshang left, Xu Changqing glared at Xiao En and the others for a while before saying, "You want to see Chinese magic, don't you? Today, I will show you enough. Follow me!"

He then led Xie Ling to the Purple String Pavilion at the back of the courtyard, and Xiao En and the others followed closely behind, not daring to step forward. Because of this, they did not see that after Xu Changqing turned around, his high and mighty demeanor immediately turned into that of a shrewd merchant, his eyes filled with satisfaction after a big catch.

In fact, Xu Changqing did not need so much cinnabar for his ritual; three or four bowls would have been enough. He asked for ten jars of high-quality cinnabar to prepare for future needs. The reason why the mortuary owners strongly recommended the Chen family to hold a large Water and Land Dharma Assembly was not only to earn merit by helping wandering spirits but also to take advantage of the opportunity to obtain rare ritual tools from the hands of the wealthy and naive disciples of famous sects. Many good things in the mortuary were obtained in this way, including three spiritual treasures that survived the disaster caused by the Shi family disciples, which were bought at a bargain price from the disciples participating in the Water and Land Dharma Assembly.

In fact, with the relationship between Xu Changqing and Chen Deshang, if Xu Changqing asked for some high-quality ritual tools and talismans, Chen Deshang would spare no expense and use his connections to find them. However, this would make Xu Changqing owe the Chen family a favor and create a karmic bond. The fundamental cultivation method of the Nine Streams Idle People lineage also incorporated elements of high-level Buddhism, and the fewer karmic bonds, the stronger the cultivation, the deeper the merit, and the higher the realm. Therefore, Xu Changqing tried to avoid creating karmic bonds. The ten jars of high-quality cinnabar were for the ritual to help Chen Tao and Xie Ling. After using a small cup from each jar, he could keep the rest without creating a karmic bond.