Chapter Five: Decapitation

However, the night sky slithered through, and the ominous energy slowly drifted across the courtyard, directly penetrating through the doors and windows of the wing room.

Daoist priest, are you referring to that thing? Hurry and perform the ritual!

As for the three individuals acting, they were directly expelled.

The three senior brothers standing at the door were all wide-eyed. Over there, the plump man stole a glance, his heart racing, and after clearing his throat to cover it up, he began to laugh

If it were not for inviting you all to perform the wood carving play, I would have long sent someone to drive the three of you out with a flurry of sticks! The Daoist priest is a person of high stature, how could you speak such nonsense

A beam of blue light shot up into the sky, soaring over the courtyard. By the time the people below reacted, it was as if they heard a sound reverberating like a great bell in the night.

As the night deepened, the final performance concluded, and the guests began to bid farewell to Liu Yuanwai. The once lively Liu residence gradually fell silent, and Chen Yuan and her companions returned to the side courtyard. After several grand performances, they were quite exhausted. They drew water from the well, washed up casually, and then lay down on the mat, falling into a deep slumber.

The Daoist priest is kind-hearted and benevolent, I, Liu, admire him!

Chen Yuan consciously left from the side, returning to the side courtyard. The three senior brothers, tall in stature, were driven out by others, not daring to utter a word, leaning against the corner of the wall or squatting at the door, brooding in silence

Inside the room, Liu Yuanwai lowered his hand, tightly grasping his elderly wife, his expression anxious as he looked at the figure on the bed.

The senior brother, tall and strong, was suddenly shouted at, and he quickly lowered his head, retreating in fear and trepidation.

I saved your son ... ... Who will save me ? !

The ominous energy tore apart, instantly severing the connection with the chamber

How is it... really coming again?!

Creak.

Upon seeing the man, one must lift a foot to step forward, raising a leg to kick the opponent's foot aside. Clenching a fist, one locks eyes with the senior brother who is glaring in anger. At this moment, Old Zhao returns from outside, and only then does Chen Yuan withdraw her gaze, passing by the man's shoulder to pick up the puppet, blowing away the dust on it.

The senior brother was so angry that it seemed like fire was about to burst from his eyes. In the past, when he was a laborer, he was submissive and easily manipulated. Ever since he became a disciple of Master Zhao, his temper has grown considerably. Not only does he dare to fight back, but he also speaks to him in a sarcastic and mocking manner

After finishing the performance, it is better to leave quickly, lest one ends up sacrificing their life for little profit.

As he spoke, a servant entered carrying a wooden tray covered with silk cloth. The steward lifted the silk cloth, revealing it to be filled to the brim with silver ingots weighing two taels each, glimmering with a silvery light.

... ...

Before understanding the situation, I would not recklessly involve myself with the three senior brothers

The dim light flickered as if sighing, and a gust of wind blew, causing the plants in the courtyard to sway gently. The lanterns hanging under the eaves also became intermittently bright and dim.

Liu Fuzhu, are they really from Funing Town

The old man patted his wife's hand and said: "As a husband, I do not believe that Boyuan could do such a thing. The county magistrate has declared him innocent; he is merely a cowardly person who might do... Alas, let us first save the child and then discuss it further"

The candlelight illuminated his chubby face, he thought to himself

Spending all day fiddling with those puppets, it's no wonder at the age of twenty-three he still hasn't found a wife

You

What is happening? Liu Yuanwai and his wife stood huddled together under the eaves, watching the sudden changes around them, their hearts racing with fear. It seemed as if their eyes were dazzled; above the courtyard illuminated by the flickering lights, they vaguely saw a slow-moving plume of smoke, like black silk, winding and flowing in from outside

Chen Yuan did not look at him, focusing on adjusting the robe of a wooden carving, waving her hands a couple of times.

The maids and servants in the courtyard looked around in terror, feeling a chill that made them shiver

In the courtyard, the sword-wielding Taoist, bouncing about, slightly opened his eyes and glanced at the two old men under the eaves. Seeing that they did not suspect him, he shook the bell even more joyfully, producing a delightful jingling sound.

The person nodded slightly, raised his face slightly, and sighed: "Liu Fuzhu, these three should be aware of the events that transpired in Wang's family in Funiu Town on that day. Unfortunately, mortals only know one part of the story, not the other. On that day, the Wang family was haunted, which was the result of the sins committed by the father and son of the Wang family. The old Wang's spirit returned on the seventh day seeking revenge, but he was acting under the orders of the City God, and I could not stop it! Therefore, I, being soft-hearted, did not take him in, but instead reported the deceased's resentment to the authorities. As expected, both father and son confessed, admitting to the crime of harming the elderly in their family."

A group of guests outside raised their hands in reverence. In this day and age, it is rare to encounter such a monk, especially one with profound teachings. By following along and paying their respects, they hoped to cultivate a good relationship, so that in the future, when they had requests, they could approach him.

The old man stood under the eaves, his heart filled with terror, yet he could not help but remind the motionless figure standing before the altar that he thought could save his son. Little did he know, the plump Taoist was struggling to swallow, his face trembling like a sieve, on the verge of tears.

Mr. Liu and his elderly wife nodded eagerly and performed a bow, feeling that such a definite statement indicated they had finally found the right person. They respectfully invited the Daoist priest to a side hall to enjoy tea and take a rest with a group of guests.

The stout man also saw that thing; the dense aura of darkness was something even an ordinary person could perceive. He stood frozen in place, not daring to move an inch.

How could the senior brother be so unjustly slandered? I did not laugh, but that person dared to mix in here; how could they not have the advantage of words? Is this something we can handle?

The door was opened, and Old Zhao looked at his three disciples whose faces were as dark as if they were about to drip water. He was already aware of the situation over at the east courtyard, and before coming here, he had been summoned by the steward of the manor and had received a severe scolding.

How did the fire come out? Did the master see it clearly?

Daoist, how should I treat my son? Of course, I would not want to trouble you, so I have specially prepared some funds for you to use while traveling and vanquishing demons.

It is as if speaking to a puppet, yet also as if conversing with the man behind.

moment

Not knowing is precisely what makes one a master. As long as one can drive away the vengeful spirits and awaken Boyuan, spending one hundred taels would not be in vain

The Daoist priest possesses keen insight

In a moment, the Liu residence was bustling with activity, and even the nearby neighbors came out, climbing onto the courtyard walls to watch the performance, unable to contain their applause and cheers at the exciting parts of the show

"Not recognizing a good person's heart! Being fooled by a fake Taoist, just wait and see how he regrets it later." The senior brother spat on the ground, feeling even angrier at the thought of the heavy silver coins in the wooden tray. He turned to Chen Yuan, who was organizing the wood carvings, and said, "Why didn't you join us just now? Did you find it amusing to watch us being kicked out?"

Indeed, the three individuals crowded to the door to expose the identity of the fat Taoist, which instead drew the dissatisfaction of Liu Yuanwai. After calling the steward to inquire about the identities of these three, he let out a cold snort

Chen Yuan gazed at the Guanyu wooden carving on the ground, his expression turning cold. This was something he had spent half a month carving, a relic of his past life that he still held dear.

Liu Fuzhu, do not be anxious; it is just past noon, when the yang energy is at its peak, and the vengeful spirit will not appear. Wait until late at night, and I will then cast a spell to subdue it.

Insert the mark to sell the first!

As they closed their eyes and sank into slumber, on the other side of the east wing, Liu Yuanwai stood at the door with his elderly wife, watching the altar set up in the courtyard. The stout Taoist priest, wielding a peach wood sword in one hand and shaking a bell in the other, moved back and forth with his footwork. At times, he breathed fire, and at other times, talismans floated in the air without wind, leaving the two elderly onlookers dumbfounded.

In the southeastern region of Shu, Lord Zhang took a spring outing for thirty miles and encountered a diviner who claimed that his lifespan would not exceed thirty-five years. Lord Zhang was greatly angered and ordered his men to drive the diviner away. The next day, the maidservants in the household attended to him, but Lord Zhang remained in a deep sleep, unresponsive, leaving the family at a loss for what to do. After seven days, a high monk visited, claiming he could save him. He entered the room and examined it thoroughly, taking a talisman from beside the bed, saying: "This is a hook and a disc." The old monk explained that this object is connected to the underworld, and that the Yin spirits would come to claim his soul at the hour of the rat on the seventh day...

After being provoked, the man squatting at the door became furious, unable to vent his anger on the people of this household, and could he really unleash his wrath on a fellow disciple of the same status

On the other side of the mansion, in a certain room of the west wing, smoke curled gently, and the doll placed on the wooden box suddenly moved slightly, its fur-trimmed mustache brushing itself without any wind

You three, come here

Sigh, ever since that incident, our family has not had a moment of peace

Chen Yuan rearranged the wooden carving of Guan Gong, lit a stick of incense, and then proceeded to rest.

Over there, Chen Yuan was organizing the puppets and the scenery while listening to the three being scolded, nearly laughing out loud. Soon after, as the sky gradually darkened, a stage was set up in the front yard, and he joined his three senior brothers in setting up the puppets behind the stage to perform a play titled "Five Horses Exit the Pass"

It is enough to cover his expenses for several years, having dealt with it... Ah, forget it, it is time to seek the Immortal Mountain and inquire about blessings.

Master Brother, say a few less words!" San Er hurried over to dissuade him, while Er Shi Xiong leaned against the wall, lost in thought.

Stepping through the door, he grabbed the beautifully bearded puppet placed on the wooden box and threw it to the ground with a thud

The next moment

one hundred taels

The plump man had a smile at the corners of his mouth, appearing profound and inscrutable in the eyes of others. Everything he did and said was well-reasoned and substantiated, prompting Liu Yuanwai to respectfully clasp his hands and bow down.

The rotund man’s eyes darted among the three panicked individuals, stroking his thick, horizontal mustache, and then he gestured dismissively towards the officer.

This is a performance directed by Liu Yuanwai, and there are several more acts to follow, most of which are characterized by a strong masculine energy. The guests seated in rows below are thoroughly enjoying the show

Chen Yuan vaguely remembers the story told in the book, which speaks of the "Gou Die," a soul-binding talisman that is presented to the City God, sending the underworld officials to capture a person's soul. However, he is not certain whether the young master of the Liu family has truly fallen victim to such a sinister curse, as the book states it lasts for seven days, and it has already been more than two months here.