Young Master Liu declared to Second Master Huang, “I’ve arrived, Second Master, and I’ve finished reading that book too!”

Second Master Huang squinted at Young Master Liu with his small, beady eyes and asked, “Have you mastered the application of those techniques?”

Young Master Liu chuckled heartily, “I’ve certainly memorized them all, haha!”

Seeing Young Master Liu’s lack of seriousness, Second Master Huang admonished him, “I taught you the secrets of the Qimen arts so you could defend yourself and practice divination. Didn't you foresee the critical juncture in your own fortune these past few days?”

Only then did the mention of the Qimen techniques—which couldn't be used to divine the practitioner's own fate—jog Young Master Liu's memory. He quickly asked Second Master Huang, “Does this mean I have an obstacle ahead of me recently?”

Second Master Huang replied, “It’s not an obstacle to your destiny, but you face a difficult crossing in the immediate future. Remember this: no matter what strange occurrences happen these few days, do not act on your own initiative. Stretch out your left hand!”

As soon as Second Master Huang finished speaking, Young Master Liu extended his left hand. Second Master Huang stood up, grasped his fingers, and suddenly bit down. Young Master Liu snatched his hand back in pain, only to hear Second Master Huang say, “I have taken your blood. When you are in danger, I will arrive immediately!”

Young Master Liu raised his hand to look, and where Second Master Huang had just broken the skin, there was an imprint on the back of his hand shaped like a tiny flower.

“Don’t worry, Second Master Huang, I’ve already learned the Qimen Secret Texts, so I’ll be fine!” Young Master Liu replied with a grin.

Second Master Huang sighed and said, “Remember, be careful in all matters. I sense another powerful malice resurfacing in the village recently. Be extremely cautious!”

With that, Second Master Huang retreated into the tree hollow, and Young Master Liu left the small grove.

On the way back, Young Master Liu felt an unusual lack of any sinister aura along the path. He passed the graveyard west of the village without sensing the slightest wrongness, which in itself felt highly abnormal.

Young Master Liu walked a few more steps and suddenly spotted a figure standing on the earthen slope ahead. He cautiously crept toward the person.

Young Master Liu felt an intense familiarity with the person before him but couldn’t place them for a moment. As he drew closer, he saw it was a woman, delicate of feature, yet carrying an air of sickness. Young Master Liu almost cried out!

Wasn't that the youngest daughter of Old Mrs. Li from that other day? Wasn't she bedridden? Young Master Liu frowned, sensing something was deeply wrong with her demeanor. He activated his Yin Eyes and looked at her—she possessed absolutely no vitality! Her entire body was shrouded in dark energy.

This was the person whose Yin Qi Young Master Liu had ever seen the heaviest. Sensing the situation was dire, Young Master Liu prepared to slip away home, but just then, the woman’s neck snapped around with a violent jerk, turning toward him.

Startled by her sudden movement, Young Master Liu scrambled back a step, preparing to cast a spell. But before he could even form the hand seals, he felt a rush of fierce wind attack him head-on. The woman staggered slightly and then lunged to where Young Master Liu stood, delivering a slap that knocked him sprawling onto the ground. Then, the woman spoke, but the voice was clearly that of a man: “Little ghost, you have some skill!”

Young Master Liu was thrown quite a distance, tumbling several times, the impact leaving him aching severely.

A surge of anger rose within him, but he knew this woman was no simple entity, so he dared not lash out.

He could only rise to his feet and angrily confront the woman, “You, an adult, bullying a child!”

Having said that, Young Master Liu feigned being sulky while secretly formulating a counter-strategy.

The woman ignored him entirely, merely looking up at the sky and spitting something out.

Young Master Liu swept his hand across his brow and activated his Yin-Yang Eyes. He saw the woman expelling black miasma while simultaneously inhaling the essence of the moonlight. It seemed this woman was some kind of demonic entity.

Yet, Young Master Liu could detect no inherent evil aura on her, but she lacked the breath of a living person, suggesting she was possessed by an evil spirit. But his Yin-Yang Eyes couldn't see it either. What on earth was going on?

Just as Young Master Liu was perplexed, the woman suddenly spoke.

In a deep, masculine voice, she said, “Stop looking at me with those Yin-Yang Eyes of yours. And the next time you try to use ‘Yin Escape’ to leave your body and ruin my plans, don't blame me for capturing you! Begone now!”

Young Master Liu was inwardly shocked. These few sentences were enough to reveal just how terrifying the woman before him was. Recalling Second Master Huang's warnings, Young Master Liu could only pretend to be terrified, bursting into tears as he ran home.

Arriving home, Young Master Liu gently opened the door and slipped back into the room. Gou Dan was sleeping soundly.

Young Master Liu took off his shoes and lay down, staring blankly at the ceiling. Thinking about the woman from earlier, his mind was in turmoil. It seemed he would have to wait until tomorrow to tell Second Master Huang about everything. Young Master Liu pulled up the covers and fell asleep.

He woke up late the next morning, turning to see Gou Dan had already risen from the kang bed and was looking intently at the book Taiyi Tiangang by the edge of the bed. He had been reading this book every day recently; Young Master Liu had no idea how much of it he had managed to grasp.

Young Master Liu sat up on the kang, rubbing his shoulder, which ached so much he grimaced. The fall last night had been no joke.

Gou Dan noticed Young Master Liu was awake.

Without lifting his head, he asked, “Da Shao, where were you last night?”

Young Master Liu answered without thinking, “Where else would I be? Just going to pee, of course.”

As Young Master Liu finished speaking, Gou Dan leaned in conspiratorially, “You can’t fool me, I know divination.”

Gou Dan’s exaggerated mystery almost made Young Master Liu laugh.

Young Master Liu patted Gou Dan and said, “I know you know, that’s why I didn’t tell you, haha!”

With that, both of them burst into laughter.

By noon, Young Master Liu headed back to the small grove. When he passed the spot where he had seen the woman the previous evening, he paused to look around, but found nothing unusual. Just as he was about to move on, he heard a sigh sound all around him.

Young Master Liu looked around; there was no one there.

He checked the ground; there were no animals either. Who was sighing?

“Sigh…” As Young Master Liu pondered, the sigh sounded again. He spoke toward the open space, “Who is sighing? Show yourself quickly!”

Young Master Liu looked around the vicinity and indeed saw an old woman sitting beneath a large willow tree nearby.

Young Master Liu knew she had manifested her true form, likely meaning she needed his help with some distress.

He walked over and sat beside the old woman, saying, “Granny, what are you doing sitting here? If you have any difficulty, please tell me about it!”

As Young Master Liu spoke, the old woman looked up at him and said, “Child, I was originally a minor immortal who attained spirit form from this willow tree, guarding this territory, ensuring favorable weather and timely rains. But that was in the past.”

Young Master Liu noticed a white light flickering behind the old woman and realized she must possess a cultivated spirit body. Seeing her face clouded with worry,

Young Master Liu said, “Granny, since you are a celestial being guarding this land, what grief do you hold that you cannot speak of? Tell me what troubles you; if I can assist, I certainly will!”

The old woman looked at Young Master Liu with some relief in her eyes and continued, “A month ago, a dead scholar came from outside the village. He was a short-lived ghost who died during the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, named Jiang Siwen. Since he arrived, our region has known no peace!”

Young Master Liu was puzzled. “Granny, you are a celestial being presiding over this area. What harm could a mere dead scholar cause?”

The old woman sighed, taking a long moment before saying, “Child, I see you are no ordinary mortal, so I will tell you the whole story!”

The old woman paused, then began to speak slowly.

It turned out that Jiang Siwen was a scholar during the Qing Dynasty who had a budding romance with the daughter of a wealthy local family. The young lady’s surname was Qin, and her given name was Qin Ling. They met at the market, and Qin Ling was taken with Jiang Siwen’s talent; the two became inseparable, spending every day together.

The Qin family did not object. Seeing how virtuous and beautiful Qin Ling was, the Zhou family—presumably Jiang Siwen’s—greatly approved of the match. Thus, both families began arranging the wedding for the couple.

Alas, it is true what they say about fair faces meeting cruel fates.

On the very day of the wedding ceremony, Qin Ling suddenly coughed up blood and died. This was destined; Qin Ling's span of life was already exhausted on the records of life and death.

But Jiang Siwen could not face the agony of losing his wife. He held Qin Ling’s body and sat without closing his eyes for an entire night. The next day, he carried Qin Ling away from the village—that is a story for later.”

Young Master Liu listened, utterly absorbed, and quickly asked what happened next.

The old woman continued her narrative.

Later, Jiang Siwen placed Qin Ling’s body in an ice cellar to prevent decay, while he himself traveled thousands of miles, seeking masters everywhere, hoping to find a magic to resurrect the dead.

Eventually, during one of his attempts at a spell, his physical body was dispersed, and he died. However, he used the dark arts he had practiced to evade the soul reapers, thus remaining suspended between the Yin and Yang realms, never to reincarnate.

He waited bitterly in the Netherworld for Qin Ling to be reborn, but it took her ten lifetimes to reincarnate as a human—she is today the youngest daughter of Old Mrs. Li in the village, Li Zhiming.

Young Master Liu suddenly understood everything. It was Jiang Siwen’s deep-seated obsession that compelled him to linger until the reincarnation of Qin Ling appeared in this current life, only to cling to her relentlessly.

Young Master Liu asked with a touch of confusion, “Granny, I saw that Li Zhi’s breath was very weak, so why would Jiang Siwen possess her body late at night?”

The Willow Immortal Old Woman explained slowly, “Li Zhi is destined for a short life in this incarnation; her allotted time is nearly up. Jiang Siwen doesn't want the same result as before with Qin Ling.

After all, this is the reincarnation of Qin Ling he waited through dozens of cycles to see reborn as a human. Therefore, at night, he possesses Li Zhi to come here and absorb the spiritual energy and essence of the sun and moon.

He hopes to preserve Li Zhi’s life. Because of this, he has already sucked dry the spiritual beings with cultivation in this area. But the cycle of life and death is fixed, and his wanton disruption of the natural order of Yin and Yang is an offense against Heaven!”

“Granny, why don't you all join forces to subdue him!” Young Master Liu asked, bewildered.

The Willow Immortal Old Woman shook her head. “That Jiang Siwen possesses a thousand years of cultivation; how could our minor immortals contend with him? Moreover, he practiced dark arts during his life. Alas, we can only endure it.”

Upon hearing this, Young Master Liu thought for a moment, bid farewell to the Willow Immortal Old Woman, and ran toward the small grove.

Second Master Huang listened quietly as Young Master Liu explained the entire sequence of events, pacing several times on the ground while blinking his little eyes.

After a considerable pause, he remarked, “This thousand-year scholar’s obsession is too deep, leaving him unable to break free, forging the calamity of today. If he is not stopped, I fear he will drain the nearby cultivated spirits within a few days.”

Young Master Liu urgently asked, “Then what should we do?”

Second Master Huang said, “Do not alert the enemy yet. There probably isn’t enough time today; we will think of a plan during the daylight tomorrow. Da Shao, go home and prepare a few things: a handful of glutinous rice, some paper cutouts of human figures, yellow paper, and chicken blood. Did you remember?”

Young Master Liu nodded in reply, “Second Master Huang, you plan to set up an array, right!”

Second Master Huang replied, “You will know tomorrow!”

Having received his instructions, Young Master Liu returned home.

Back at Gou Dan’s house, Young Master Liu took some pocket money and went with Gou Dan to buy the necessary items. However, he wondered where they would find chicken blood.

After buying the supplies, Young Master Liu asked Gou Dan where they could get chicken blood. Gou Dan thought for a moment and replied, “We have some at home! My father is cooking us a chicken today!”

Young Master Liu was delighted and dragged Gou Dan home by the hand.

Gou Dan could be heard shouting from behind as he was being pulled along, “Hey! It’s just a chicken! Don’t run, you’ll tire me out! I’ll give you the comb later, okay!… Slow down, please…”

Arriving home, they saw Gou Dan’s father slaughtering a chicken in the courtyard.

Young Master Liu approached and said, “Uncle Da Gouzi, could you save some of this chicken blood for me? I need it for Master to use when drawing talismans!”

Gou Dan’s father immediately agreed, and Young Master Liu and Gou Dan returned to the room.

A while later, Gou Dan’s father brought in a bottle stained with blood and said, “Da Shao, I’ve bottled the chicken blood for you, but your master won’t be back for a while. Won’t this blood coagulate?”

Young Master Liu replied with a smile, “Oh, that’s fine, this is exactly the kind of chicken blood he uses, hehe!”

Gou Dan’s father was left quite confused by Young Master Liu’s explanation but didn’t press the matter, simply wiping his hands before leaving.

After Gou Dan’s father left, Young Master Liu spoke to Gou Dan, “Gou Dan, I can’t play with you tomorrow. If I’m not back by evening, stuff your pillow inside the quilt and tell my parents—if they visit us—that I’m sleeping, alright?”

Gou Dan looked at Young Master Liu with suspicion, thought for a moment, and replied, “Okay, but what are you going off to do?”

Young Master Liu couldn't tell him he was meeting Second Master Huang. He could only say, “Ah, it’s nothing. Qian Qing invited me to his house for a meal last time. It’s nothing important; they didn't say to bring you along, probably because you didn't help much last time, hehe!”

Seeing Gou Dan’s crestfallen expression, Young Master Liu felt a pang of guilt.

Alas, he would have to find an opportunity to tell him about these matters, but he worried about how Gou Dan would react when he finally found out.

That night, Young Master Liu fell asleep early, but he had a strange dream—he felt a pair of eyes constantly watching him, blood-red, which abruptly woke him.

He sat up and looked outside; the sky was just beginning to lighten. Young Master Liu packed up his things, gathered his supplies, and headed out.

Reaching the small grove, Young Master Liu saw Second Master Huang already waiting for him beside the tree hollow.

Upon seeing Young Master Liu arrive, he said, “In a moment, we are going to Li Zhi’s house!”

Young Master Liu was startled. “Aren’t we walking right into certain death? Last time, she nearly slammed me to death!”

Second Master Huang finished speaking, swaying his small body a few unhurried steps.

He squinted at Young Master Liu and said, “Don’t worry. It is daytime. Even if Jiang Siwen dares to show himself, he won’t do anything to us. We are only going to provoke him, to make him come looking for us tonight!”

Hearing Second Master Huang’s reasoning, Young Master Liu agreed. “Then… Second Master Huang, how will you get inside?” Young Master Liu asked doubtfully.

“Nothing to it. I’ll just hop into your embrace!”

With that, Second Master Huang zipped down along Young Master Liu’s leg and darted into his arms, leaving just his little head sticking out.

Young Master Liu was greatly amused and chuckled, “Alright, then let’s go find that thousand-year scholar, Jiang Siwen!”

Carrying Second Master Huang tucked inside his clothes, Young Master Liu arrived at Li Zhi’s house entrance and opened his Yin-Yang Eyes to examine the dwelling.

The house was enveloped in black miasma, making it impossible to discern any condition inside.

Second Master Huang jumped out of Young Master Liu’s embrace and told him, “Cast a spell to enrage him and force him to appear!”

After saying this, Second Master Huang darted into the nearby grass.

Young Master Liu sat on the ground, formed his hand seals, and prepared to use the Five Elements Water Art, as he noticed a small river flowing in front of Li Zhiming’s house.

“Yin-Yang—Water and Fire, pour forth from the Three Rivers, Strike!” Young Master Liu finished, interlocking his ten fingers and sweeping his hand toward the door.

The water in the small river suddenly began to boil, and a cluster of spray flew out from the water, smashing toward the door shrouded in black miasma.

The spray seemed to melt into the door upon impact, and a gap was blown open in the black fog.

Just as Young Master Liu was about to stand up, he saw the black miasma rapidly expand again, sealing the opening that had just been made.

It seemed Jiang Siwen knew Young Master Liu was casting a spell; he was countering him from inside the house.

Young Master Liu secretly urged his hand seals, took a step back, pressed his left thumb against his right palm, and chanted, “Eight Trigrams Jiazi, Divine Mechanism Ghost Hidden, Kan, Zhen, Li, Ming, Tranquil, Must Not Hurry Star, Dipper Turns Evil, Soul Shifts Form Escapes, Collect!”

Saying this, he pointed his right hand at the door, and the black miasma was instantly scattered.

“Serves you right for bullying me earlier. Now you know the strength of this young master.” Young Master Liu stood up, satisfied to see the black fog dispersed. Second Master Huang also leaped out of the grass and scampered onto Young Master Liu’s body.

Young Master Liu had only taken a few steps while carrying Second Master Huang when a voice sounded from behind them.

“Hmph, hmph, hmph, this Qimen Dunjia is somewhat watchable!”

Young Master Liu was startled and quickly turned his head to look.

The door had transformed into a giant human face, which was addressing him.

Second Master Huang stuck his small head out and told Young Master Liu, “Pay him no mind, we need to quickly get to the back mountain!”

Upon hearing this, Young Master Liu turned and bolted toward the back mountain, ignoring the huge face behind him laughing wildly.

Although it was the middle of the day, the sky had become intensely overcast, thick with dark clouds, as if a storm were imminent.

“This must be Jiang Siwen’s doing. He is hastening the darkness so he can appear. It seems we truly angered him just now!” Second Master Huang said from inside Young Master Liu’s clothes.

Young Master Liu, carrying Second Master Huang, reached the back mountain and stood on the slope.

“Little Ghost, quickly set up a Soul Summoning Grand Array around the slope. We are summoning Li Zhiming’s soul. I suspect Jiang Siwen will manifest soon. I will go to the back of the mountain now to set up an array and wait for him. Once he steps into this Soul Summoning Array, lead him toward the back mountain. Do not panic!” With that, Second Master Huang turned and vanished toward the rear of the slope in a streak.

Hearing Second Master Huang’s urgent words, Young Master Liu knew time was short. Jiang Siwen had seen through the Qimen secret techniques Young Master Liu used at a glance, and now he had dramatically altered the sky—it was clear this Jiang Siwen would not be easy to handle.

Young Master Liu pulled out the prepared paper figures from his satchel, wrote ‘Li Zhiming’ on each one, and then buried one every few steps around the perimeter of the slope.

Young Master Liu was sweating profusely as the sky grew darker and darker, feeling as if the heavens themselves might collapse.

Just then, he heard an old woman’s voice call from behind him, “Child! Be careful, the scholar is coming!”

Young Master Liu turned around and saw it was the Willow Immortal Granny.

He quickly looked around; sure enough, a red figure was ascending the hill from the slope below.

The figure wore clothing resembling official robes, a black gauze cap, but the distance made it impossible to discern the person’s features.

Young Master Liu grew tense. This figure must be the Qing Dynasty scholar, Jiang Siwen.

Panicked, Young Master Liu buried the last paper figure in the ground, thinking only of stalling for time until Second Master Huang was ready to lure Jiang Siwen into the back mountain.

Young Master Liu’s palms were slick with sweat; he had never been this nervous. He saw that Jiang Siwen was now only about ten paces away.

His face was pale, his features handsome, giving him a look of fragile delicacy.

Young Master Liu closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the ground.

He saw Jiang Siwen step into the array. Young Master Liu felt a surge of secret delight in his heart.

“Heh heh, you think setting up a broken array can capture me? And a Soul Summoning Array at that, haha! A child barely out of the cradle!” Hearing Jiang Siwen’s derision, Young Master Liu’s heart sank. If the formation was already seen through by Jiang Siwen, did he have no chance of victory at all?

As he was thinking this, he felt an intense pressure wash over him. Raising his gaze, he saw Jiang Siwen’s palm pass straight through his body.