Chapter 23

The three words 'Wulun Sect' floated lightly out of Zunzhengbao's mouth, and then lightly entered Yan'er's ears. Neither of them felt anything unusual, but for the old woman, it was a different story.

The Yin-Yang Sect's five major schools and five major factions were all well-known names, and they usually did many good deeds. If someone else saw them, they might be willing to form a relationship and pull some strings. But for the old woman... she had her own unspoken hardships, which could not be explained in just a few words.

Of the thirty-six stratagems, the best is to retreat!

Immediately, the old woman pulled Yan'er to her side and, without waiting for her to understand, said to Zunzhengbao, "Well, today's matter is settled. The evildoers have been eliminated, and the path is open for you—child, my granddaughter and I have important matters to attend to and cannot accompany you home. I'm sure you, as a disciple of the Yin-Yang Sect, are not afraid... so let's part ways here and each go our own way, shall we?"

Zunzhengbao, not understanding the situation, nodded dumbly, "Uh."

Yan'er hurriedly said, "Grandma, we..." "Hmm?" The old woman tightened her grip, seemingly serious but with a hidden meaning, "Yan'er, have you forgotten our business?"

"But..." Yan'er, feeling anxious, wanted to say more, but when she saw the old woman's eyes, she immediately lowered her head, looking at her toes in dejection, "Well, then I'll go..."

"Good!" Although Zunzhengbao was reluctant, he remembered the rules of the martial world taught by his master, so he bowed and said, "May you and Yan'er have a safe journey! I am Zunzhengbao, a disciple of the Wulun Sect. I will remember your help today, and if I have the chance, I will repay this life-saving favor." He extended his hand, "Farewell!"

"Until we meet again!" The old woman responded briefly and immediately led Yan'er toward the cliff, taking a small path on the sunny side of the mountain to leave.

Zunzhengbao stood there for a while, until the two figures gradually blended into the night and disappeared. Only then did he remember his reason for coming up the mountain. Cold and thirsty, he was unwilling to climb the mountain again to find Old Liu, so he used the moonlight to determine the direction and started to make his way back.

The moonlight shone on the rippling waters of Que'er River, like flowing tassels. Zunzhengbao quickly found his way back through the gaps in the trees and continued on his journey. Halfway through, he suddenly remembered something and veered off.

Not far away was a protruding ridge, below which was a pile of moss-covered rocks. Zunzhengbao walked to the pile and kicked it lightly with his foot, calling out, "Big Cai, Little Cai, are you there?"

Before he could finish, two figures appeared on the pile!

These figures were somewhat blurry, and to others, they might just look like a mist, but to Zunzhengbao, they were familiar... no, familiar ghosts!

Both were dressed as hunters, with rough cloth tied around their bodies, leggings on their legs, straw shoes on their feet, and longbows and arrows on their backs. The older brother had large hands and feet, thick eyebrows, and wide eyes, while the younger brother had a bulbous nose and a square mouth. These two brothers were local hunters who had been killed and buried by rolling rocks on the mountain. Their souls had wandered for a long time without reincarnating, and over time, they had become familiar with the people in the ghost market.

The two brothers had no one to worship them, and since they had died violently and no one had claimed their bodies, they had no money to trade. They usually came to the ghost market to beg or enjoy a few things in the treasure cauldron, making them pitiful ghosts. Zunzhengbao often stole incense and candles from August to give them, so their relationship was a bit closer than with other wandering ghosts.

Today's danger made Zunzhengbao more cautious. He was afraid of encountering such things again when he went down the mountain alone, so he decided to find these two familiar brothers to accompany him. If nothing else, they could at least go and inform his master.

Of course, in his eyes, there was no real difference between humans and ghosts. Sometimes, ghosts were even closer than humans.

The two ghosts smiled when they saw Zunzhengbao. One of them said in a deep voice, "Bao'er, I've told you many times, we are Cai Banjin and Cai Baliang. Although we don't look old, we are actually much older—why don't you call us uncles, instead of always calling us Big Cai and Little Cai?"

Zunzhengbao tilted his head and laughed, "Then I'll call you Grandpa Big Cai and Grandpa Little Cai. How about that?"

Little Cai quickly waved his hands, his face falling, "No, no, just call us brothers. Calling us grandpas might make people think we've been dead for hundreds of years, which would be embarrassing."

"Yes, yes," Big Cai nodded, "That would be too embarrassing..."

After a few laughs, Zunzhengbao got to the point. He didn't mention the danger, just said he was lost and wanted the two ghosts to accompany him back. Since they had a good relationship and it was late at night, the two ghosts readily agreed and immediately led Zunzhengbao down the mountain.

The city god temple was at the foot of the mountain, but Zunzhengbao had taken a wrong turn. It would be difficult to go back the way he came, so the two ghosts decided to take a shortcut down the mountain and then follow the base of the mountain back to the temple. This plan was good, and no one objected, so they quickly arrived by the Que'er River.

The city god temple was only three or four miles away, so Zunzhengbao felt relieved. As they walked and chatted, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his forehead!

"Ouch!" Zunzhengbao clutched his head and rubbed it hard, and the pain gradually subsided. He was about to say something when he saw Big Cai and Little Cai's bodies start to twist!

It was as if there was an invisible mouth far away, sucking in the two ghosts. Despite their efforts to resist, they were being gradually pulled away...

"Is someone collecting souls?" Zunzhengbao thought, remembering what he had read in books:

If someone wants to control local ghosts, they must first use soul-collecting techniques to gather the ghosts, then extract one soul and one spirit from each ghost as a pledge. They can then command the ghosts to do simple tasks like finding people, exploring paths, summoning spirits, or searching for objects. If the summoner is powerful enough and can gather a large number of ghosts, they can even open paths, build bridges, cross rivers, and move stones.

For the summoner, this is very convenient, but it is extremely harmful to the ghosts. The loss of yin energy is not easily recoverable, and some ghosts may become ethereal and unable to remain in the human world after being summoned. Generally, they are not willing to be summoned.

Therefore, the first step in summoning is to offer sacrifices and explain the purpose to the ghosts, inviting those who are willing to help and then rewarding them. However, usually, few ghosts come, and it is common to return empty-handed.

But now... this must be a forced summoning!

Regardless of whether the ghosts are willing, they are forcibly summoned and used like objects, then discarded. This technique is often used by yin cultivators and ghost masters—these people aim to become ghost immortals, not entering the cycle of rebirth or seeking the next life, so they do not care about yin virtue or cause and effect.

Big Cai and Little Cai came down the mountain because of him, and since the situation was his fault, he could not stand by and do nothing.

Zunzhengbao quickly looked in the direction of the summoning and saw a vague figure in the distance. Before he could see clearly, the two ghosts were suddenly pulled away!

"Oh no!" Zunzhengbao didn't have time to think and immediately chased after the direction in which Big Cai and Little Cai were pulled, determined to save them. He didn't know how far he ran, but he eventually arrived at the winding water bend of the Nine-Curves and Eighteen-Turns.

He first grabbed a handful of pebbles, then cautiously approached.

There were already several ghosts standing densely in the area. In the middle was a mound with a red embroidered mat, on which was a five-treasure lotus. On the lotus was a kind and benevolent old man with white hair, wearing a silk robe, holding a bagua symbol with both hands, and in the center of the bagua was a large lotus trident pearl.

It was this pearl that emitted countless rays of light, binding the ghosts tightly.

Four people, two men and two women, were sitting cross-legged at the base of the mound, each extending a hand to press on a corner of the embroidered mat. They chanted incantations in unison, and the light rays stretched and contracted with their chanting, like living things. Another middle-aged man held a bundle of sandalwood incense and was throwing it one by one into the mud balls of the ghosts. Each time he inserted an incense stick, the ghost would scream, and yin energy would leak out.

The incense fixed the ghosts' three souls!

The man was just about to insert an incense stick into Big Cai's mud ball when Zunzhengbao, in a panic, shouted, "Stop! Don't hurt him!" and threw a handful of pebbles.

The man was startled by the shout and the incense stick he held slipped to the side. Cai Banjin immediately seized the opportunity and flew out!

Not only that, but the young men and women were distracted by the pebbles, some jumping up and some dodging. The embroidered mat's light rays, which had been sustained by their chanting, suddenly dissipated. The ghosts, who had been struggling desperately, seized this opportunity and scattered in all directions!

"You!" The man, recognizing Zunzhengbao, was furious, "You little brat, you dare to ruin my plans! I'll take your life today!" He shouted to his companions, "Come, grab this little brat!"

"Yes!" The four young men and women responded in unison and were about to move—suddenly, a voice laughed, "Oh! What a mighty and fierce presence! A great Red Lotus Celestial Master, are you going to attack a child?"

With the voice, several figures appeared, including the old man from August and a group of ghost market bosses.

"Master!" Zunzhengbao called out happily, but before he could speak, the figure of Fox Lady appeared. She hid Zunzhengbao behind her and laughed, "Bao'er, scared, huh? Hehe, don't worry, Grandma is here."

It seemed that the ghost market people had been alerted.

The man called Red Lotus Celestial Master's pupils narrowed sharply!