Chapter 59

When I finished washing the teapot, the water had also boiled. I poured the boiling water into the teapot and waited quietly for the tea to steep.

Ebi adjusted his large glasses and waited for me to speak, clearly considering this matter very important.

I didn't understand the source of Ebi's question, but it was meaningless to deceive such a senior. I said, "Ebi, to be honest, Zhang Yidan's real name is Zhang Yuanyi, a childhood friend from Xiaoyi Village. We grew up together and are as close as can be. If what I saw in the Yin-Yang Path wasn't a dream, then the person I saw was him, not the Li Daotang you mentioned."

"Oh, then this matter is even more coincidental. When I heard you mention this name, I specifically asked Li Daotang. Although he seemed confused, there was definitely a hint of seriousness in his eyes. It seems that this Li Po-xiao Daotang has an interesting identity. Could it be that your friend is deeply hidden and is preparing to show you another identity?" Ebi pinched his slightly round chin, and his clear eyes showed a bit of confusion.

"What?! Li Po-xiao? I exclaimed, 'Li Po-xiao? That day outside Xiaoyi Village, the person who set up a cenotaph for Zhang Yidan and stole his body was him! Could this Li Po-xiao be some powerful demon or ghost, capable of reanimating a corpse?"

"Yes, when he found me, he said he was a distant relative of the Li family, a descendant of the Qiankun Dao, named Li Po-xiao. He asked me to immediately take him to the Yin-Yang Path to handle a major matter. This matter was of great importance, concerning life and death, and was not ordinary. I thought that the Li family is the most orthodox of the four major mystical families in the county. Moreover, Li Po-xiao Daotang brought the Li family's token. I am indebted to the Li family, so I took on this task. Ebi said, emphasizing that he was taken by Li Po-xiao with a commanding tone, indicating that the other party's identity was not ordinary.

"To be honest, Ebi, Zhang Yuanyi has already died in Xiaoyi Village. A pair of scissors with a soul-sealing talisman pierced his chest. I and Yu Xiaoxue saw it with our own eyes. However, due to an accident, we didn't bury him immediately. When we returned, his body had already disappeared, leaving only a cenotaph there, with the name Li Po-xiao inscribed on it!" I tried to remain calm, but my hand trembled slightly as I picked up the teapot.

"You mean reanimation of a corpse?!" Ebi's mouth opened wide, and the tea he sipped almost sprayed on my face.

"Yes, I think it's very likely. Since you are skilled in Yin-Yang techniques, you should know the ins and outs of this. He even left words on the tombstone, saying 'No remembrance in life, no name in death,' indicating that he knew the body was just a shell, and Zhang Yuanyi's soul had already been scattered by my grandmother's soul-sealing talisman." I nodded, hoping to get some information from him. If Li Po-xiao dared to reanimate a corpse, I would risk my life to reclaim Zhang Yidan's body.

"Xia Xiaoxiong, how much do you know about soul-sealing talismans? Soul-sealing does not necessarily scatter the soul. At most, it temporarily seals the soul in the talisman. A high-level expert can forcibly unseal it. Even if it is not unsealed, staying in a place with heavy yin energy for a long time will eventually render it ineffective. Moreover, Zhou Ying, your senior, is skilled in ghost-raising and ghost-summoning techniques, not in true soul-sealing talismans. If this talisman was made by Zhou Ying, it might seal a powerful soul temporarily, but it would soon be unsealed and become ineffective. Have you considered this?" Ebi said mysteriously, hinting that I should explain the detailed events.

"Ebi, if you put it that way, Zhang Yidan's soul might not have disappeared at that time. And if the ghost Zhou Xuan is still a resentful ghost, does it mean that the soul-sealing talisman couldn't completely seal her? That's why my grandmother had Zhang Yidan bring back the scissors used by Zhou Xuan?"

"What about the scissors with the soul-sealing talisman? I suddenly felt a chill down my spine. At the cemetery, I was so focused on Zhang Yidan's disappearance that I didn't pay attention to the scissors!"

"In my grandmother's notes, after she entered the mystical world, she visited many masters and learned many talisman-making techniques. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of her own lineage, she couldn't draw many talismans, such as the Yin-communication talisman, which she obtained from some orthodox experts."

"Then there are talismans for summoning celestial soldiers. If the person who draws these talismans has not been appointed and does not have a spirit general, they have no right to command the celestial soldiers. Drawing the talismans would be just like drawing pictures."

"Let's not talk about the distant past. Even in recent times, like Ebi, they serve the ancient deity Donghuang Taiyi, borrowing the power of the ancient deity. If I want to borrow the power of Donghuang, without being appointed by him, how would the deity listen to me? Simple talismans might work, but high-level ones are out of the question."

"That's why there is a distinction between orthodox and non-orthodox descendants. Orthodox ones are taught by a master who has been recognized by the deities, and then they have the means to make talismans and perform rituals."

"Non-orthodox ones can only use low-level techniques or talismans passed down by orthodox descendants."

"Like me, the true lineage of the Zhou family is not in me but in my grandmother and Zhou Xuan, and in the Zhou family itself."

"What did Zhou Xuan rely on to sweep through the young generation of the Dao lineage and make the Dao disciples flee in disarray? It's because the Zhou family is skilled in ghost-summoning and raising powerful ghosts. As a direct descendant of the Zhou family, she is deeply versed in the Zhou family's techniques, making her a second Zhou Lao-mo. How could she not be powerful?"

"So even though I know many ghost-summoning and ghost-driving talisman techniques, I can't summon them. I'm just a novice, only able to drive ghosts with basic skills."

"Fortunately, at that time, with the help of my sister-in-law and my grandmother, I skipped the step of needing powerful strength to subdue powerful ghosts. I brought Xijun and Song Wan-yi under my command. Moreover, I am proficient in my grandmother's ghost-raising techniques, so I can raise and command them without having to worship any deity or follow their true lineage."

"Therefore, even though I haven't truly received the orthodox lineage, I can command powerful ghosts, which doesn't completely tarnish the Zhou family's reputation."

"Similarly, without the orthodox lineage, I cannot summon the powerful ghosts mentioned in the lineage, such as ghost kings. Therefore, when I fought with others, I suffered a great loss."

"If my grandmother had taken me into the mystical world and I had received the orthodox lineage, even small ghosts could be used for reconnaissance and patrols, and ghost kings could instantly crush enemies. I wouldn't need my sister-in-law's help to subdue Xijun and Song Wan-yi."

"Of course, I can't expect the Zhou family to pass me their lineage, as it doesn't fit my current situation."

"Yes, tell me the whole story, and maybe I can help you sort it out. You are only half a mystical person, not fully initiated, yet deeply involved in mystical matters, which is a very awkward situation." Ebi repeated his words, emphasizing that I was only half a mystical person.

"Ebi, I am convinced by your words. Although I have powerful ghosts under my control, without the lineage, it's like a child with a sword who can kill enemies but lacks the ability to protect themselves."

"Ah, please help me, Ebi. The story is like this..." I had to gather my courage and start from the beginning, from going to Xiaoyi Village for my grandmother's funeral to the current situation.

"You have not received the lineage but have driven tigers and wolves, and your life span has been shortened, yet you have come back from the dead. It's quite a story. No wonder Li Po-xiao said to me before entering the city god's temple, 'You are not a mystical person, yet you have stepped into mystical matters, daring to raise ghost generals and powerful ghosts, and even entered the underworld. One day, you will bring disaster. I must cut your wings before the disaster happens, and then we can talk about other things.' So this time, I also have the idea of persuading you to leave the county and go elsewhere to avoid the wind and waves." Ebi listened and frowned as he spoke.

"So Li Po-xiao already has the intention to eliminate me. I am really angry at this person. You, Li Po-xiao, reanimated Zhang Yidan's corpse, and I haven't even dealt with you yet. You are bizarre, wanting to eliminate my Xijun and Song Wan-yi. You really don't know when to stop."

"Ebi, I believe you know the whole story. My life span is over, and I might die at any moment. My grandmother is trapped in a blood cloud coffin. I must follow the old path of Yinfeng Town. Can you take me as a disciple and teach me the techniques of the Yin-Yang family? To avoid disaster and find peace, and to stay away from evil?" I sincerely asked Ebi.

"Ebi, who walked out of the dead town with Yin-Yang techniques, is skilled in astrology, divination, and talisman-making. Yesterday, he fought with Wu Zhenghua on equal terms, showing his true abilities. If I could learn a bit from him, it could alleviate my crisis. My life span is over, and if the city god summons me again, I might not come back."

"Leading you into the mystical world is not difficult. I have no disciples or followers. Moreover, considering your relationship with Zhou Ying, it is my duty to take you in. However, my abilities are truly limited. I have never learned much from my master due to my playful nature. Besides, the person behind you is not ordinary. No, no, I think we should find someone more capable. As for your life span, I have a method to alleviate it." Ebi said, shaking his head, his face turning red.

"Ebi, I have seen your abilities, how can they be considered limited? Please take me as a disciple!" I saw his words soften and immediately offered him a cup of tea.

Ebi was already somewhat nervous, stopping the tea with his hand and quickly saying, "I said no, and that's final. Xia Xiaoxiong, if I take you as a disciple, you know the person behind you is not ordinary. I'm afraid I will die too soon."

"If you insist on becoming a disciple, then become a disciple of my master. We can be brothers. Since my master is already dead, the person behind you won't blame me. I will only introduce you to the lineage of the Yin-Yang family but will not teach you the techniques. I will give you the books passed down by my master, and you can learn on your own. If you have questions, you can ask me, but I must say, I don't understand many things, so don't expect me to answer everything."

I immediately agreed, "That's the lineage of the Yin-Yang family, which I have coveted for a long time. I immediately called out, 'Ebi, my senior!'"

Ebi is not the type to act superior, so I consider myself lucky to have him as a senior. With Ebi as my senior, it's like having a tiger's skin as a banner.