Chapter 5, The Curse of the Vengeful Spirit

Liu Fu performed a bow in return and said: "Before dawn, I will ensure that the three elements of favorable timing, geographical advantages, and harmonious human relations are all in place. It is getting late, so perhaps the half-immortal should rest for a while."

Yao Bansian respectfully said: "Infinite Heavenly Sovereign, the fifth day of the twelfth month is indeed a time of changing winds and clouds. With the assistance of favorable timing, advantageous location, and harmonious relationships, my chances of success have increased by two points."

"Wuliang Tianzun, could it be that the Holy Treasury truly still exists in the mortal realm? I have indeed heard in Gusu City that the young Heavenly King disguised himself and escaped to Huzhou Prefecture at the time the Qing army breached the city, but the Qing army conducted thorough searches at all four city gates. Anyone caught carrying wealth would surely be apprehended and questioned by the Xiang army. That Holy Treasury's treasures are nothing but rumors," asked Yao Banjian in disbelief.

Liu Gui shook his head and said: "The Guandi Temple has been idle for many years; usually, only during festivals do villagers come to burn incense. The Taiping Army occupied Huzhou Prefecture for two years, and naturally, the business in the town decreased by more than half, leading to fewer people burning incense. The Qing army took half a month to break through Huzhou Prefecture, but they did not find the Taiping Army's treasury. The Qing soldiers severely tortured Zhang and Wang in the Guandi Temple, ultimately resulting in their being skinned alive..."

The ancestor retorted, "Do you not know of the saying that has circulated in Huzhou Prefecture? The Sacred Repository has nine vats and thirteen altars, with treasures as abundant as the sea and as valuable as iron!"

Yao Banjian hesitated for a moment and said: "Infinite Heavenly Sovereign, there are indeed ways to achieve this. With the right timing, favorable conditions, and harmonious relationships, I only possess the timing and harmonious relationships."

Liu Fu nodded and said, "I will remember the master's teachings. Please take care of yourself on the journey!" Master Ku Cha gently patted his disciple Chang Sheng's head with affection and softly closed the broken door of the room...

The lights in the room were lit, and Master Ku Cha, draped in a thin, coarse yellow robe, opened the door and said: "Amitabha, it has been ten years since I arrived here. Since Liu the Good Man wishes to dismantle the temple, I shall take my leave. However, I have a word to share with Liu the Good Man, hoping he will do good deeds without questioning the future. I have also heard of the events in the town; what ghosts and monsters exist in this bright world? It is merely the hearts of men that cause trouble. I shall leave Jima Town at dawn."

Yao Bansian stroked his beard and said: "Very well, I can only speak frankly. The source of resentment lies within the Buddhist realm, and the conflict between Buddhism and Daoism has persisted since ancient times. If I were to say that the Buddhist sect nurtures vengeful spirits, I might be accused of being a petty person, so I dare not speak recklessly"

Oh? Does the term "half-immortal" imply that there are other opportunities? As long as we are capable, we will never shirk our responsibilities!" The ancestor stated emphatically.

The ancestor Liu Tianbao gazed at the coffins of varying sizes with deep sorrow, while his two brothers, Liu Fu and Liu Gui, stood on either side of him. The pine nut oil lamps in the ancestral hall burned brightly, yet everyone present felt an inexplicable chill from the depths of their hearts. Yao Banjian sat at the head of the ancestral hall with his eyes half-closed; he had now become the living immortal of Jima Town.

Liu Fuxing bowed and exited the ancestral temple. Although Master Ku Cha, the Guandi deity, had shown kindness to Jima Town, it was necessary to dismantle the Guandi Temple, which had become a source of resentment, for the safety of the entire town and its residents. As for how to confront Master Ku Cha, it would have to be left to fate. Hopefully, Master Ku Cha can endure through this winter

The ancestor was moved and said: "Half-immortal, you are willing to risk your life for our town... how can we ever repay you..."

Liu Fu performed a bow and interjected, "The half-immortal may not be aware, but at that time I was the village chief of Jima Town. The two thieves were soldiers of the Taiping Army under the command of Duke Wang from Huzhou Prefecture. I discovered rare treasures on them. One of them was a local from Huzhou named Zhang Wei, and the other was from Shaoxing Prefecture named Wang Fuxing. They admitted that the treasures on them were stolen from the hands of the Young Heavenly King, and they were the soldiers chosen to guard the sacred treasury."

"What! Sacred Kumiho?" Yao Banjian's eyes widened larger than walnuts, and he startledly jumped up from his chair.

Sigh, this matter has passed for ten years, yet I never expected it to linger on! Alright, you all may leave. I want to speak with the half-immortal alone; Ah Fu and Ah Gui, you two brothers stay behind! The words of the ancestor are absolute in Jima Town, and the daughters and sons-in-law of my uncle left the ancestral hall without a word of complaint, following the crowd.

Yao Bansian stroked his beard and said: "Infinite Heavenly Sovereign, I took a cursory glance at this place when I arrived. It seems that anyone wishing to come in or go out must rely on boats. Even a boat thief should not harbor such deep resentment, should they"

"The Infinite Celestial Venerable, there is no need for you to be so concerned! Since I, the humble Daoist, have come to understand the preceding events, I will do my utmost to ensure your safety. I have foreseen that in the coming days, there will be a drastic change in the winds and clouds, and a catastrophic disaster will befall the world. If that time comes, it is likely that a great calamity will descend upon this place, unless the Six Ding and Six Jia Golden Deities are summoned to exterminate the vengeful spirits. However, invoking the Six Ding and Six Jia will undoubtedly consume my lifespan, and this action is akin to wielding a double-edged sword; I can only guarantee a fifty percent chance of success," Elder Yao said solemnly.

On the clay statue of Lord Guan, wielding a single knife with great might, there remain splattered stains of dark blood from their struggle. In the end, the two of them shouted until their throats were hoarse but could not reveal the whereabouts of the sacred treasure before having their heads severed

Everyone must die! You all shall not have a good death! Good Han people are helping the Qing dogs to kill Han people...

The ancestor nodded sadly and said: "When the Qing army captured Nanjing, they originally thought they could obtain the Sacred Vault of the Taiping Army. However, the Zeng brothers led the Xiang army in a search for three days but could not find the Sacred Vault. Frustrated, Zeng Guofan dug up the Heavenly King's grave and burned the remains of Heavenly King Hong Xiuquan, yet even after digging three feet into the ground, there was no trace of the Sacred Vault to be found"

The ancestor expressed his displeasure: "The old monk then stayed in Jima Town and did not leave. Even when the Qing army attacked Huzhou Prefecture, they forcibly conscripted many strong men from our town to transport grain for the court, resulting in heavy casualties. The old monk, however, possessed some medical skills and saved quite a few lives, which is why I allowed him to stay until now"

Liu Gui furrowed his brows and said: "We do not understand the meaning of 'half-immortal'. How can it be said that the timing and harmony of people are lacking in geographical advantage?"

And wait! Is the Guandi Temple the one at the town's entrance? I see that it is already in a state of disrepair, not even having a single door panel!" Yao Banjian inquired.

Amitabha, Liu Shiren has come here twice today; I wonder what the matter is? The voice of Master Ku Cha echoed from the dilapidated side room

The ancestor slammed the table and said: "I have served as an official for several years and deeply understand the gravity of this matter. If those two fall into the hands of the Xiang Army, it will inevitably involve our town. Zeng Guofan searched for the Sacred Treasury and slaughtered the city for three days. After much consideration, I still reported them to the authorities. Those two boys, however, remained stubbornly silent. The magistrate of Huzhou personally rushed to Jima Town and found their hiding place in the Guandi Temple. The two groups of yamen runners turned the Guandi Temple upside down, even searching the well used by the temple, yet they could not find any clues regarding the Sacred Treasury..." The magistrate of Huzhou personally rushed to Jima Town and found their hiding place in the Guandi Temple. The two groups of yamen runners turned the Guandi Temple upside down, even searching the well used by the temple, yet they could not find any clues regarding the Sacred Treasury...

Yao Banjian pointedly remarked: "Infinite Heavenly Sovereign, the resentment has accumulated for ten years without dissipating. One can only imagine how deep their curse on Jima Town was before they met their end. If only we could receive the protection of the Grand Empress, we would not have to resort to such a mutually destructive method."

Yao Bansian shook his head, stood up, and bowed, saying: "Old resident, you have misunderstood. Although I possess nothing, fame and fortune are as fleeting as smoke to me. I also wish to resolve these two grievances for the town, but I do not know the reasons behind them, nor how to cast a spell. Should I go to the underworld to inquire with King Yan?"

"Rest assured, my esteemed elder! I have sent someone overnight to dismantle that dilapidated temple. Ah Fu, why are you still dawdling? This is a matter of life and death for the townsfolk. I know the old monk has been kind to us, but surely you understand which is more important?" the ancestor said sternly

The old ancestor sighed, saying: "If it were merely a rumor, we would not be facing this great calamity today. Ten years ago, at the end of autumn, I was celebrating my seventieth birthday, and the villagers gathered to congratulate me. Little did we know that at midnight, the town crier, Niu Er, spotted two small thieves attempting to steal a boat. Upon hearing the commotion, I led a group to capture them; a thief without a braid is certainly not a good person"

Liu Fu helplessly said: "We cannot be blamed for this; it was only a matter of time before the two of them, without braids, were captured. After they were executed, their heads were hung at the Guandi Temple. A few days later, an old monk appeared from somewhere, bringing with him a child who was not yet a month old to collect their bodies."

"Wuliang Tianzun, so it is! This humble Daoist understands now! These two individuals never spoke until death; under such severe torture, it is no wonder they harbor such overwhelming resentment! They blame you for betraying them, and after being brutally killed, they have transformed into vengeful spirits seeking to claim your lives" Elder Yao sighed gently

Liu Fu lowered his head and said, "I will take people to handle this right away, Ancestor, please do not be angry!"

Liu Fu hesitated and said: "Alas! It was the decision of the entire town to report them to the authorities. Aunt had mentioned that if they revealed the whereabouts of the sacred treasury, they would be released. A Qing even beat them, and before Niu Er died, he was shouting that we would all die!"

The ancestor, enraged, grabbed the golden finger of righteousness from the altar and shouted: "Ten years ago, I could have reported those two boys to the authorities to protect the lives of our clan. Today, whether they are human or ghost, I will risk my life to eliminate her! I, Liu Tianbao, have lived long enough to have repaid my dues!" The exquisite golden finger of righteousness was crushed and slammed onto the altar by the ancestor...

On the altar of the Liu Family Ancestral Hall, there lies a three-inch-long golden finger. A-Qing's body has already been prepared and placed in the coffin. Beside A-Qing's coffin are the coffins of Uncle Lao and Auntie. The entire Niu Er family, having been retrieved in a state of dismemberment and unrecognizable, could only be buried together in a single coffin. The cries in the ancestral hall merged into one, as everyone feared that the next coffin might be their own

The night wind howled like a knife scraping against the skin, causing a faint pain. The gate of the Guandi Temple had long served as a chopping board during the torture a decade ago. Two living men were bound hand and foot on the door panel, subjected to a thousand cuts by the Qing soldiers. The curses of the two men were still vividly etched in Liu Fu's mind.

The ancestor hesitated for a long time before speaking: "Half-immortal, there have been strange occurrences in the town, and we implore you to help us. As for the reward, you need not worry, Yao Half-immortal; our family in Ji Ma Town has always been fishermen. As long as you can dispel that resentment, the amount of silver you desire will not be a problem. If this grudge is not avenged, my kin shall not rest in peace until they are buried!"

Hahaha ... ... my head has a scar the size of a bowl ... ... I ... ... I will take the lives of everyone in this town even if I become a ghost ... ...

Liu Fu rubbed his hands in distress: "Has Master Ku Cha not rested yet? Recently, there have been continuous calamities in the town, and I suspect it is likely related to the two people who were brutally killed in the Guandi Temple ten years ago. Therefore, I plan to dismantle this Guandi Temple..."

Old Daoist Yao looked at the six coffins and said: "Infinite Heavenly Sovereign, the cycle of cause and effect is inescapable. The night watchman, Niu Er, discovered the boat thief, leading to the entire family being left without a complete corpse. I wonder if the other two families have any connection with the vengeful spirits?"

Yao Banjian observed the ancestor and said calmly: "Wuliang Tianzun, who exactly are those two individuals?"