Chapter 10: Entering My Spiritual Gate

As soon as I heard this, I instantly felt invigorated, my face breaking into a broad smile, "Alright, let's do it tomorrow. I even think the time is too long; it would be best if I could go back and become an apprentice right away"

Qin Huai nodded slightly, gazing at my eyes with great interest, and said nonsensically: "Your eyes are not only yin-yang eyes, but they can also see through illusions"

If he hadn't said it so seriously, I would have really wanted to laugh at that moment. What era is it that people still worship images? I glanced at the offering table and was immediately stunned; there was nothing on the image, just a blank scroll. "How can the image of the ancestor be blank?"

After bowing for half a day, I still do not know what school or sect we belong to. Master Qin—" I deliberately elongated my tone as I asked.

I hurriedly rushed outside; it was already late at night. The girl's parents were wide awake, anxiously pacing back and forth in the living room. Truly, one can empathize with the hearts of parents everywhere. Upon seeing me, everyone gathered around. Officer Ma must have already returned to the station. The girl's mother quickly asked, "Miss, how is my daughter?"

I felt a sudden jolt in my heart. Although Qin Huai deliberately slowed down her tone, I could still understand the immense impact that the previous statement had on a mother. I had thought she would be emotionally stirred, perhaps even break down in tears.

Suddenly, the soul of the girl behind Qin Huai began to fade, becoming almost imperceptible. The girl's hand started to tremble slightly. I immediately looked at Qin Huai, and from the faint smile on his face, I knew the girl should be fine. Finally, the spirit completely vanished, and the girl gradually opened her eyes.

Little did anyone know, the girl's mother calmly sat by the bed, took a handkerchief from her pocket, and wiped the traces of black water from the girl's face. While gently patting the girl, she hummed a lullaby she had been accustomed to since childhood. The mother's voice trembled slightly as she tried her best to maintain her composure

I remained calm and led the girl's mother into the room. She immediately rushed to the bedside. Qin Huai said with a serious expression: "Her soul has left her body, but I have now retrieved it. However, it has been away for too long to return. Now, it depends on her own consciousness. You can call her name or say something nearby; when her consciousness awakens, she will actively summon her soul back. Whether she can survive depends on this."

However, upon reflection, when the water ghost had me in its grip just now, it seemed that a green light flashed by. This should not be related to the formation. I looked down and saw that it was the jade pendant shaped like a human head. I immediately understood; Shan Shan had once said that this was my life pendant and would save my life in times of trouble. It seems that this is indeed the case.

I was suddenly filled with anger, "What a smooth talker! If it weren't for this jade pendant protecting me, I would have been dead long ago." I had originally planned to scold him thoroughly, but I was distracted by the object he was holding in his hand

Qin Huai cast a glance, his expression devoid of emotion, and said, "She was not saved by me; it was you who awakened her." After saying this, he left without looking back, leaving behind a group of stunned individuals. I awkwardly waved goodbye to everyone and hurried after Qin Huai.

He held a white banner in his left hand, on which the pattern of Tai Chi was printed. I thought to myself that Qin Huai must have come from a Taoist background, but this young man seemed so young. I vaguely felt that something was following Qin Huai. Upon closer inspection, I was taken aback; a faint, ethereal, transparent figure hovered behind Qin Huai. The reason I used the word "faint" is that her feet were still a considerable distance from the ground. This figure looked exactly like the girl lying on the bed, except she kept her head lowered, motionless, simply following Qin Huai.

Qin Huai curled his lips and said, "Because your skills are insufficient, I hope you won't be frightened when you can truly see this image." At that moment, I felt a vague sense of unease. After paying my respects to the image, we skipped the other procedures and began to have breakfast.

I couldn't help but let out a snort, feeling somewhat wronged to have this proud and narcissistic man as my master. Qin Huai seemed to see through my thoughts and said lightly, "If you weren't my disciple, I wouldn't have any obligation to help you find the whereabouts of your father and brother"

It was pitch dark outside. Friends who have lived in the countryside should know that in the village there are no streetlights; generally, it is only the faint glow from each household that provides some illumination. At this moment, the two of us were walking towards the thatched cottage, surrounded by vast fields. "What are you planning to do about that water ghost?" I casually asked.

Qin Huai impatiently said: "He is in the formation; apart from you and me, no one else can be seen. Hurry up, or it will be too late soon"

Is she the soul that the girl lost? I asked in astonishment

I could clearly see the talisman of Qinhuai imprinted on the ground, faintly glowing with a golden light. It seemed that Qinhuai's ghost-locking formation had already been activated. At this moment, the water ghost was furious to the extreme, exerting all its strength to pounce towards me. Suddenly, a thin, transparent wall of light flashed at the edge of the formation, blocking the water ghost like tempered glass. Not only that, but the hand that touched the light wall seemed to be scorched, causing the water ghost to scream in agony. It glared at me with fierce eyes, and if a gaze could kill, I would have died countless times already.

Qin Huai did not respond, and after taking two steps, said: "Take a good look at the notes I gave you these past two days. If there are any parts you do not understand, come and ask me. Prepare the apprenticeship gift for tomorrow, as I am officially accepting you as my disciple."

Qin Huai glanced at me and replied, "Tomorrow is the anniversary of my master's death"

Qin Huai glanced at the girl on the bed, furrowing his brow. "I must first bring her soul back into her body; it has been away for too long, and her heavenly soul has already begun to destabilize." After saying this, he took out a red string and tied it around the girl's left leg, wrapping it in a peculiar knot, with the black palm print left by the water ghost still clearly visible.

Early the next morning, before I had fully awakened, Qin Huai rudely called me awake. Reluctantly, I crawled out of bed, and after washing up, I stepped outside. Qin Huai had changed into a plain robe, which accentuated his sharp features. He seemed to be in a rather poor mood today; perhaps it was due to the anniversary of his master's passing, I speculated.

At that moment, a sudden sound of applause came from the doorway, startling me into a daze. Upon closer inspection, I saw that Qin Huai had returned, and with a half-smile, he said: "It seems everything is proceeding smoothly"

At that moment, the girl's soul did not stir in the slightest, still floating behind the curtain. Qin Huai immediately furrowed his brows and muttered to himself, "This is bad, too much time has passed. Xiao Xi, call the girl's mother, we must hurry."

After returning, Qin Huai fidgeted in the room for quite a while, presumably performing a ritual to appease that water ghost. I was so tired that I fell asleep after looking at the notes for a while

Qin Huai led me into the inner chamber of his house; this was my first visit. The room was very tidy, with only an altar table. He turned to me and said, "Let us perform the apprenticeship ceremony; you will join me in bowing to the master's portrait."

The water ghost seemed to be very afraid of Qin Huai. Since his return, the water ghost had been trembling and huddled in the formation. Qin Huai gently waved the banner in his hand, brushing it over the girl. I immediately thought of the scene in the TV drama where the old Taoist priest waved his whisk back and forth. However, with the white banner draped over Qin Huai's handsome and serious face, it looked quite professional.

I was instantly taken aback, as if a dark cloud had descended upon my face. Those who do not know him might think he is an old scholar, spouting these incomprehensible philosophical ideas. "I asked him, how old are you really, pretending to be so mature all day?" However, after today's incident, my impression of him has changed significantly.

"Transcendence is merely a lingering thought in this world, yet they are all just pitiful souls." Qin Huai sighed meaningfully

This is the first time Qinhuai has called me "Xiaoxi." I was momentarily taken aback, but quickly regained my composure. I had previously instructed his family not to enter regardless of any sounds they might hear, so they had been waiting in the hall. I hesitated for a moment, wondering, "If they see this water ghost, will they be frightened?"

Seeing that he could not come out, I immediately breathed a sigh of relief and could not help but secretly curse Qin Huai. If it weren't for my good fortune, I would have probably died countless times by now. This kid actually left me to deal with the water ghost on my own. Perhaps it was because the water ghost was trapped by the formation that I stopped spitting out black water, and my stomach began to improve. The girl lay on the bed, in a deep sleep.

I saw her mother in an agitated state, which even moved me. At some point, Qin Huai suddenly threw something, leading the water ghost into the white canopy. Turning around, he was about to leave when the girl's mother hurriedly chased after him, stuffing something into Qin Huai's hands, saying: "Master Qin, although the money is not much, thank you for saving my daughter"