A voice that did not belong to them sounded by their ears, causing both of them to instinctively glance toward Li Yang's grave. But the night was too dark, and there was no moonlight. However, as disciples of Wang Banxian, they had witnessed many strange occurrences, so the two of them proceeded toward Li Yang's grave, carrying torches.

At that moment, they noticed that Li Yang's hands were actually sticking out from the top of the grave mound, both hands held upright! Seeing this sight, the two brothers felt no fear.

"A reanimation! Master once said that when a person dies, a trace of vital energy remains in the throat. If this energy cannot dissipate in time, it leads to reanimation. Little brother, go take a look."

"Why me? Why don't you go?"

"You... fine, we'll go together!"

The two held their torches and walked toward the grave mound. As they approached, they realized Li Yang's hands no longer resembled hands at all; they were dry, like two pieces of 'old firewood.'

"What is going on here? Are these even hands? They were fine when we buried him, how could this..." As he spoke, the younger disciple subconsciously leaned his head closer to the two hands, wanting to see clearly if they were truly hands or just two pieces of 'old firewood' someone had intentionally stuck there to play a prank on the brothers.

"Let's go, we need to tell Master. This is a big deal!" said the elder disciple.

Before the words were even finished, those two pieces of 'old firewood' suddenly gripped the younger disciple's head. Before he could even scream for help, his head was violently torn off by the 'old firewood.' Blood splashed everywhere, and the younger disciple's head rolled down from the grave, coming to rest right beside the elder disciple's foot.

There was another sound of "He... he..." but this sound was thicker and rougher than before.

The elder disciple, who witnessed everything, was utterly paralyzed with fright, not daring to draw a single breath. He only felt his legs go weak, trembling violently, and a foul, pissy stench surged from his crotch with the force of the Qiantang River gate being suddenly opened. How he longed to run, but his legs wouldn't obey. Now, all he could do was pray that Li Yang wouldn't climb out of the grave. Finally, Li Yang stopped making noise, and only then did the elder disciple slowly back away. After he was about ten meters from the grave, he broke into a full sprint, running wildly while shouting:

"Help! Someone come quickly! A reanimation!"

The night grew deeper, and the rain continued to fall. It seemed that Xiushui Village, which had remained relatively calm amidst the unrest, was about to face its own upheaval.

Wang Banxian's elder disciple tumbled and scrambled his way to the Li family residence. The ritual being held in the living room was at its most critical moment: sacrificing to heaven to ferry the spirit. Li Qingshu was just about to pay obeisance to the King of Hell with the 'Filial Piety Tablet' when the elder disciple burst in, unable to stop his momentum, and crashed into the tablet, scattering the paper figures.

"Su Xiaolong, you... do you know what you've done? You knocked over the 'Filial Piety Tablet' and ruined the ceremony; this will bring misfortune to everyone in this room! What are you so rushed for, boy! Weren't you guarding the grave? Why are you running back?" Wang Banxian shouted in exasperation.

"Master, something terrible has happened." Wang Banxian's elder disciple paid no mind to his master's reprimand; all he wanted now was for his master to resolve the incident he had just witnessed. The Li family relatives in the mourning hall all grew tense upon hearing this.

"Sir, there won't be any serious trouble, will there?" Old Man Li anxiously asked Wang Banxian.

"No trouble, Master Li, rest assured. I, Wang Banxian, will ensure Secretary Li passes on peacefully."

"Su Xiaolong, come outside with me."

After Su Xiaolong and Wang Banxian went outside, Su Xiaolong recounted the entire event to Wang Banxian, word for word.

"What? Xiaohu is dead!" Wang Banxian gasped.

"Yes! My ill-fated younger brother, he died so miserably!" Su Xiaolong wept.

"Li Yang reanimated? Impossible! The ground where he was buried is closest to the dam, which is the best place for drawing water in Xiushui Village. Otherwise, I wouldn't have made them carry the coffin such a long distance. Li Yang's nature is inherently of Earth; he lacks water. Burying him in a place with abundant water should have allowed him to quickly enter the cycle of reincarnation. How could this be..." Wang Banxian stroked his half-trimmed goatee, pondering deeply, wondering if he had made a mistake during the burial itself.

"Sir, what is wrong?" Old Man Li, feeling uneasy, followed them out to ask Wang Banxian.

"Master Li, it's nothing. Because the young master died unjustly, his lifespan was not complete when he passed into the underworld. Therefore, there is a slight 'flash of returning consciousness.' My disciple informed me that the young master's hands stretched out from the grave mound. I will use the Soul Recall Array shortly to help the young master on his way." Wang Banxian immediately composed himself and spoke to Old Man Li. He could only handle it this way now. If his hard-earned reputation was ruined by this incident, how would he make a living in the future?

"So that's how it is. Master, I will trouble you then." Old Man Li bowed to Wang Banxian.

After Old Man Li went back inside, Wang Banxian immediately said to Su Xiaolong, "Dragon Son, go immediately to the grave mound to retrieve your brother's remains, clean up the grave thoroughly, leaving no trace. Also, go back to my home and fetch my tools."

"Master, that... that Li Yang's..." Su Xiaolong stammered.

"You two have followed me for so many years and learned nothing except how to count money. Now that trouble has struck, you only know how to run to me." Wang Banxian took a copper coin from his robes and placed it in his left hand, then bit his right hand until it bled and dripped a drop of blood onto the coin. He then wrapped it in yellow paper, formed a Taoist finger seal over the coin, and handed it to Su Xiaolong.

"When you reach the grave mound, tie the two ends of the red thread through the hole in the coin, and then tie the other two ends of the red thread onto Li Yang's hands. This will ensure Li Yang does not turn into a corpse until dawn. Remember what I told you; my reputation rests on you now," Wang Banxian said, patting Su Xiaolong's shoulder.

"Yes, Master. Don't worry, I will do it properly."

"Hurry up! I will bring them to escort Li Yang away in one hour. Quickly!"

After sending Su Xiaolong off, Wang Banxian returned to the mourning hall to continue the ritual.

It was already Hai Shi (9-11 PM), the night was deeper, and the rain gradually ceased, leaving behind only the soaked earth.

Soon, the Li family's ritual was complete, and Wang Banxian led the Li family members back to Li Yang's graveside. When everyone arrived, they were horrified to see Li Yang's hands. Some even fainted, and even Old Man Li's face turned pale. Only Madam Li showed no reaction, silently staring at Li Yang's hands.

"Master, I have finished setting it up," Su Xiaolong quietly told Wang Banxian.

"Good, well done."

At this moment, Old Man Li walked over to Wang Banxian and said, "Sir, please perform the rites! Eh, why don't I see your other disciple?"

"Oh, he went home. Xiaolong told me his mother suddenly fell ill, so he asked his younger brother to go check on her first. Isn't that right, Xiaolong?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Old Man Li accepted this explanation and asked no further questions. Wang Banxian told Su Xiaolong to set up the incense table and ordered him to slaughter a rooster.

"I will now perform the Soul Recall Array. First, I ask everyone over fifty years old and those born in the Year of the Dog to step aside. Also, cover your eyes with willow leaves. Then, I ask those born in the Year of the Dragon to stand in front of the grave, arranged in a figure-eight pattern, not including those over fifty."