Chapter 3, Seeking a Matchmaker at the Witching Hour
He stopped in his tracks, gazed from a distance, and approached with a mix of belief and doubt. He saw that Dayong had a damp, tattered cloth covering his head, and his face was smeared with a blood-red substance. With lingering fear, he asked, "What is this?"
Old Master Liu, having aged and with diminished energy, was unable to accompany them to handle the matter. After exchanging a few words with the master and apprentice, he instructed Wu Bansian and the butler's son, Dayong, to accompany them while he took his leave.
Two people are chatting while the carpenter waits outside the hall
The conversation between the master and apprentice came to an end, and they stepped out of the room. Outside, Dayong had been waiting for some time. Upon noticing their movement, he immediately called for the kitchen to bring food. This meal was not as simple as the one at noon. The young carpenter enjoyed a hearty feast, while Lu Da, having drunk too much at noon, had a diminished appetite and merely sampled the food. After licking his lips, he felt a sense of regret, realizing that there were dishes but no wine.
After a long while, he could not help but take a deep breath and turned to look at the young carpenter
Then, that person suddenly kicked out, sending Dayong flying a distance of one zhang.
The carpenter said: "The Liu family has faced resentment due to improper handling of the land exchange issue, which is why they sought the help of unconventional experts to employ certain methods. This matter can be trivial or significant, primarily depending on which unconventional path they have chosen. Moreover, if the root of this issue is not addressed, the resentment will persist. Even if we manage to identify and eliminate the source of the problem, once we leave, they could easily resort to the same tactics again, and it would be impossible to prevent that."
The carpenter said: "The method of resolution has already been clearly communicated to the other party. Speaking of our approach, it is not complicated. We advance from both ends: on one side, we facilitate communication between the Liu family and the families involved in the land exchange, ensuring proper reassurance to eliminate their grievances; on our side, we will remove the intermediary, and everything will fall into place naturally."
He was aware of the sinister nature of this place, yet ultimately managed to suppress the anxiety within him and sat patiently. However, he did not anticipate that drowsiness would soon take over, and before long, he began to doze off.
He was not sleeping soundly, waking up several times in a daze, only to find nothing and fall back asleep. Suddenly, he heard a sharp shout, and he opened his eyes wide, discovering that two figures were tumbling and rolling on the ground.
The carpenter replied: "The hour of the dog."
At this moment, Wu Bansian finally thought that this Dayong might have been possessed by an evil spirit
Wu Bansian accompanied Lu Da in conversation, inquiring whether he wanted to go to the construction site. Lu Da, rubbing his aching head, replied that it was unnecessary and that he needed to wait
Lu Da awoke from his slumber, still under the influence of a hangover, his head feeling heavy and dazed, sitting at the edge of the bed
Wu Bansian observed that although he was not very old, his temperament was much more composed than that of a young person. Unable to restrain himself, he offered further praise. However, Lu Da remarked, "He is merely a blockhead, a simpleton who cannot inherit the mantle and bears no responsibility. If it weren't for the fact that he nearly starved to death after being lost on the streets in his early years, I would not even be willing to take him along due to his pitiable state."
As the moon rose high in the sky, Lu Da, the carpenter, Wu Bansian, and the butler's son Dayong, along with two servants from the Liu family, all stepped out together
Pfft
At this point, he turned back and said to Dayong: "This candle of mine also requires considerable effort. It is made by soaking cow fat with ingredients such as red lead, wick grass, wood vine, plantain, and plantain seeds, then kneading it into a rope. Additionally, it is crafted using the grease from castrated water buffalo, which is a meticulous process and not easy to refine, thus it can achieve such effects"
Accompanying this are terrifying roars and howls
Lu Da nodded: "Indeed. In the dim and obscure place, the atmosphere is ethereal. The hour of Zi marks the beginning of the day when the yin energy is at its peak, lasting until the hour of Yin. The malevolent entities are deeply concealed, with clues scattered and faintly imperceptible. Only at this time, when paired with specially crafted candles, can one observe their color and shape, enticing the heavens and the earth, gazing at the floating light, ultimately discovering the malevolent entities to dispel them..."
If this matter were left to others, it is likely they would have given up long ago
Why
The little carpenter nodded and said he understood
Having said this, Lu Da no longer offered any explanations, but instead began to carefully observe the red candles arranged in a triangular formation. He watched as the candle flames danced in the wind, sometimes bright, sometimes flickering, and his eyes also became erratic and unfocused.
As the crowd walked down the long street, they arrived at the new construction site. It was night, and the area was shrouded in darkness, with the flickering light of an oil lamp illuminating the makeshift shelter at the entrance, where two individuals were on guard.
The carpenter stepped back, and Wu Bansian inquired, "Is this the Three Talents Formation?"
This young man, however, is a skilled practitioner
The Liu family's servant, aware that this was a skilled mediator accompanied by great courage, did not dare to be negligent. He said he would go find some chairs, but Lu Da refused, insisting on a straw mat instead. Thus, he searched around and finally borrowed a straw woven mat, allowing several people to sit down.
Having said that, he glanced at the pale-faced Wu Banjian and calmly stated: "Rest assured, he is merely possessed and has already been subdued; moreover, that detestable intermediary has also been located"
Wu Bansian may not have much else, but he possesses a wealth of experience. Having witnessed the swift and decisive actions just now, he understands that although the young carpenter may not know much, his close-quarters grappling techniques must have been honed over several years, which is quite impressive
One must wait until the hour of the Rat, at midnight, when the yin energy condenses, for the clues to reveal themselves
He spoke a few more words, full of disdain for the little carpenter. Wu Bansian was aware that Lu Da might not particularly like this little apprentice, so he did not say much more
Wu Bansian's head drooped little by little, feeling drowsy and unaware, and he gradually fell asleep
Wu Bansian was overjoyed: "Where is it?"
After Lu Da sat down, he closed his eyes tightly, and before long, he fell asleep.
The little carpenter said respectfully: "Remember, 'It is rare to be muddled.'"
Dayong nodded and said it was hard work
Wu Bansian noticed that his snoring was gradually becoming louder, and he was somewhat surprised. Had he not known the deep reputation of the person beside him, he might have almost thought that the other party was a fraud.
Upon entering the construction site, Lu Daming, the carpenter, took out three large red candles from the big wooden box on his back, placed them at the location where the feng shui of the house converges, and then lit them.
Bang
Lu Dadao asked with great interest: "So what do you suggest we do to break through?"
A wisp of blue smoke emerged, and the once beast-like Dayong suddenly came to a halt, stopping in place
The young girl stormed off in a huff, while the young carpenter remained unfazed, redirecting his attention back to the wood carving in his hands—at first, he worked quickly, almost without thinking, but as the contours began to emerge, his pace slowed considerably. At times, he would not move for the duration of a tea's brewing, as if lost in deep contemplation
It was not until dusk that there was movement in the inner room, prompting the young carpenter to stop his work and then enter the house
Both of these individuals are born of the Liu family, loyal and devoted, even though they are aware of the malevolence here, they can only grit their teeth and endure.
Lu Dayong rubbed his temples with his hand and said, "What do you think about today's events?"
Lu laughed and said to the people watching the construction site: "Unfortunate luck, it seems we have to endure. Do you have any grass mats? I would like to borrow one to sit for a while"
At that moment, after Da Yong fell to the ground, his entire body suddenly sprang up like a piece of wood, leaping towards Wu Banjian beside him
Lu laughed and said: "Is it not possible that this is extortion, or revenge, or some ulterior motive?"
He rested his hands on the edge of the bed, looking at his disciple in the darkness, and then asked, "What time is it?"
Seeing the two people tumbling on the ground, Wu Bansian's mind was a bit stuck, and he couldn't quite understand why Dayong was acting this way. Suddenly, a person rushed into the midst of the two, extending both hands to grasp Dayong's wrist. With a flip and a turn, he managed to pry Dayong's hand away from Lu Da's neck, thereby saving Lu Da, who was on the verge of suffocation.
This person is indeed the young carpenter with a childish face
After the meal, under the leadership of Dayong, the two arrived at the front hall and saw Master Liu again
Pah
He held a short wooden sword in his hand, made of peach wood, adorned with many strange carved patterns. The tip of the sword was rounded, aimed at Da Yong's chest.
Wu Bansian was so frightened that he was beside himself, retreating repeatedly and even contemplating escape. At that moment, Lu shouted at him: "Don't leave, the person is under control."
The carpenter said that if it were truly a matter of seeking revenge, then the young master would have likely been dead long ago
He intends to kill Lu Da swiftly and without hesitation
And his hands were tightly gripping Lu Da's neck, as if the old man were his father's murderer, with a voice that was hoarse and desperate.
He walked forward, and Lu Da suddenly spoke, "Don't move... right under your feet."
Lu Da listened with great satisfaction and nodded, then said: "The art of overcoming by Lu Ban is merely a side path, not even worthy of mention, and its techniques are overly sinister, easily incurring the wrath of heaven, leading to a tumultuous fate. Although we study 'victory', which is a method of blessing, it is still not the right path. Moreover, your fate is too fragile; handling matters with subtlety and finesse is the true way. Your current perspective is much wiser than before. Do you still remember what the master said to you?"
Lu Da nodded and said, "A large tree attracts the wind, excessive pride brings harm, while humility brings benefits; it is just so."
This jab had little effect, yet it blocked Dayong. Subsequently, the young carpenter used that short wooden sword to poke around Dayong's body, producing several sounds like "pa, pa, pa," reminiscent of beating a large drum, surprisingly echoing. At that moment, Lu Da, who had just gotten up from the ground, suddenly leaped up, threw away the dry tobacco pipe, and pulled out a dark cloth bundle from his bosom, swiftly covering Dayong's head with it.
Lu Da was directing the carpenter to entangle a person with the line of a chalk snap. Upon hearing this, he replied, "Black dog blood"
The little carpenter shook his head
Seeing the muscular and vengeful Dayong in front of him, Wu Bansian was so frightened that he nearly wet himself—he usually performed fortune-telling and feng shui with great composure, but he had never encountered such a situation in the matter of Wen Fuzi, which left him trembling with fear. Just as he was about to be knocked to the ground by the possessed Dayong, the little carpenter suddenly appeared in front of him.
With the flickering light of the candle, Wu Bansian focused his gaze and saw that Dayong and Lu Da were locked in a fierce struggle. Dayong was completely devoid of his usual astuteness and composure; his eyes were bloodshot, bulging out of their sockets, almost protruding from his eye sockets. The whites of his eyes were prominently visible, his face twisted in a grimace, and every muscle on his face was rigid. His shoulders trembled incessantly, and a deep, beast-like growl emanated from his throat