Chapter 10: Soul Snatching

After a moment, a colossal creature emerged from the pond, which was indeed the old turtle spirit seen earlier. Although I had mentally prepared myself for this encounter, I was still thoroughly frightened upon seeing its true form up close. The creature was enormous, absurdly so; its head was as large as the front of a car, and its eyes gleamed with a green light, almost as if they were artificial.

That night, I was restless, unsure of what was wrong. Su Qing lay beside me, and I could feel her body heat, which was no different from that of an ordinary person. I felt uneasy, not because there was suddenly a woman next to me, but because of a sense of fear, as if I was about to lose something. With this unease, I fell into a shallow sleep, but it was not restful. I was awakened by a nightmare, and when I opened my eyes, I found Su Qing was no longer beside me. I hurriedly put on my clothes, took a lamp, and went outside.

Grandmother sighed softly and said to us: "Let's talk about it when we get back, that thing is causing trouble again. Many people have lost their souls; losing one soul leads to a deep slumber, while losing two souls means they will never awaken again"

After giving her instructions, my grandmother began to recite a difficult incantation. The sound of crying arose once more, this time mixed with laughter. Accompanied by the sound from wwwhetushucomcom, a bone-chilling cold wind blew towards me, and I started to shiver.

Hand in hand, she and I walked back, her hand no longer cold. Only my shadow lay on the ground, while hers was nowhere to be seen. I couldn't help but sigh; how wonderful it would be if she were human! The journey home no longer felt long, as we talked continuously. Through our conversation, I learned of her background. It turned out her fate was even more complicated; she was once a princess of an ancient kingdom in the Western Regions. When the Xiongnu invaded, she was taken hostage. During the subsequent war between the two nations, the Xiongnu occupied Loulan. Witnessing her country in ruins, with corpses strewn everywhere, she took her own life with a sword. Since then, her resentment has lingered, preventing her from entering the cycle of reincarnation, and she has wandered the human realm for a thousand years.

I did not have time to inform my grandmother and hurriedly ran over. The one-kilometer distance was covered in about two minutes. Upon arriving at the deep water pool, the cries became even more piercing. I did not approach but instead hid behind a tree to observe secretly. Tonight, there is a hazy moon, barely illuminating some objects. I saw Su Qing standing on the riverbank, making strange gestures that resembled those in a picture book. The river water was boiling as she stirred it, and the cries grew increasingly mournful. I quickly covered my ears and watched from a distance. Tonight, there is a hazy moon, barely illuminating some objects. I saw Su Qing standing on the riverbank, making strange gestures that resembled those in a picture book. The river water was boiling as she stirred it, and the cries grew increasingly mournful. I quickly covered my ears and watched from a distance.

Su Qing nodded silently. Grandma picked up a black cloth bag and called me to go out. We walked towards the outskirts of the village, and I knew Grandma was serious about this. I was afraid she wouldn't be able to handle it, so I suggested waking up Wu Banjian for help. However, she told me there was no time, and I had to stay and assist her, not leaving her side for a moment.

All things possess life; to violate the laws is to bring about one's own demise. You must understand this principle. Please consider my advice carefully. I have said all that I need to say, and now I take my leave!" After Su Qing finished speaking, she turned and floated away. The old turtle spirit did not trouble Su Qing, and after a moment, sank to the bottom of the water. Only then did I hurriedly catch up with Su Qing.

She was very surprised to see me. I had been following her, yet she was not angry; instead, she reproached me for following her, saying that if a fight broke out, she would not have the ability to protect me. Hearing this made me very touched. As a man, I should protect my wife, rather than let her protect me. Even in the face of danger, we must confront it together

Perhaps her persuasion was completely ineffective, instead provoking the old turtle spirit. She did not take action against Su Qing, but directed her wrath towards the villagers, which was also a form of indirect response. Since it remains obstinate and unrepentant, it must be eliminated. I can only lament my inability to practice Taoist arts, as I cannot offer any assistance

At this moment, Su Qing spoke up: "I don't care what you are, please do not harm others anymore, otherwise I will not let you go!"

Haha! A joke, anyone who dares to obstruct my cultivation will surely face utter disaster. I advise you not to meddle in others' affairs; as long as I wish, I can make all of you vanish in an instant, including you. The old turtle spirit actually spoke human words, exuding an aura of authority without anger, with an irresistible deterrent tone.

I searched for a while in the house, fearing to disturb my grandmother's rest, and then came to the yard, still unable to find Su Qing. Finally, I looked around the village, which caused the dogs from other houses to bark wildly. After I calmed down, I heard a crying sound coming from a distance. Upon listening carefully, it turned out to be coming from the direction of the deep water pool. Could it be that Su Qing went to the deep water pool?

Grandmother had long been waiting at the village entrance. Upon seeing us return, she did not hesitate and slapped me across the face. She sternly reprimanded me, "Where have you been? Do you even know what you are doing?"

"How could this happen..." Su Qing murmured to herself, frowning

Inside the room, Grandmother was looking at me and Suqing with a serious expression. She lit a lamp, brought over a bowl of clear water, pinched the wick, and placed it in the bowl. A strange scene unfolded; although water and fire are normally incompatible, at that moment, the flame danced in the bowl filled with clear water, like a ghost. Grandmother said to Suqing: "Qing'er, since you cannot go out, your task is to watch this flame and ensure it does not extinguish. I will go with Chuyi to summon their souls back. As soon as they enter the village, you must collect them immediately and wait for my return."

She told me that the spirit in the pond is very powerful, and if persuasion fails, we must find a way to subdue it. With her abilities, she is simply not capable of taming it, and everything must wait until dawn to make a decision. However, it seems we may not make it until dawn. That night, after we returned to the village, strange occurrences began. Many people in the village fainted for no apparent reason, and at that moment, every household was lit up, with the sound of barking dogs rising and falling, accompanied by the screams of the people. However, it seems we may not make it until dawn. That night, after we returned to the village, strange occurrences began. Many people in the village fainted for no apparent reason, and at that moment, every household was lit up, with the sound of barking dogs rising and falling, accompanied by the screams of the people.

At the riverbank outside the village, my grandmother lit forty-nine candles in a circle on a patch of open ground. We stood inside the circle, and my grandmother took out a banner from a black cloth bag. It was similar to the banners used by fortune tellers at the market, made of yellow cloth and inscribed with many characters. My grandmother instructed me to stay here, handed me the banner, and told me to close my eyes, block my ears with something, concentrate, and not think of anything. She said that unless she called me, I must not open my eyes.

The faint sounds of the villagers' sobbing drifted in, making one feel quite distressed. They should not have to suffer this fate. If it is because of me, if I could choose, I would willingly offer myself to the old turtle spirit, as long as it would spare everyone. However, my grandmother has made it very clear to me that it is the vengeful spirits from behind the village that want me dead, and they have nothing to do with the evil spirits in the pond. After all this commotion, the vengeful spirits from the back village have also quieted down, as if even they have begun to feel fear. However, my grandmother has made it very clear to me that it is the vengeful spirits from behind the village that want me dead, and they have nothing to do with the evil spirits in the pond. After all this commotion, the vengeful spirits from the back village have also quieted down, as if even they have begun to feel fear.

Throughout my life, my grandmother has never hit me, but today she did. However, I was not angry; I understood that she was worried about me and afraid that something might happen to me. Suqing quickly pulled me aside and said to my grandmother, "Grandma, don't blame him; it was my idea. Please punish me instead."