Chapter 249
Chapter 249
To ordinary people, perhaps any supernatural tool used by a ritual master could be called a ritual implement–even a prop wielded by the weakest folk practitioner, who might possess no magic at all and merely use it to put on a show.
But in the eyes of the esoteric world, anything that truly deserved the name ritual implement was far from simple!
It had to be refined through exceedingly complex secret methods and adjusted to its user over a long period before it could display all manner of wondrous abilities.
The art of refining ritual implements was itself a precious secret technique throughout the esoteric world, and few people knew it.
Most implements were also relatively simple, such as Yuan Fei’s Ghost-Beating Staff and Li Miao’s corpse-retrieval rope. They counted as ritual implements, but only of a low grade.
Of course, refinement was not the only way. If a tool was used frequently by a cultivator over a very long time, it could form a wondrous bond with that cultivator and eventually be nurtured into a powerful ritual implement without deliberate refinement. Old Cao’s coffin-bearing phoenix rope and phoenix pole were examples.
Li Miao spoke slowly. He seemed to sink into memories of his youth, and his voice grew distant…
“The Lianghe River-Warding Token was the core of the River-Warding Iron Stele outside Lianghe Town.”
“The stele stood seven chi tall and three chi long and wide. Its center contained a hollow the size of a human head, within which rested a secret River-Warding Token. Only when it embodied the people’s hopes, united the will of prefectural and county officials, and carried a cultivator’s arcane qi could it calm the river and avert disaster.”
“The token was made primarily of black cast iron smelted with various metallic ores, then engraved with special talismans. At its very bottom was a tiny fish-shaped relief. That was because legend says the River God of the Chuan River throughout Fubei County has always been a great fish!”
“The fish carved beneath the token symbolized that the River God was cowed and restrained by it. As long as the River-Warding Token and iron stele remained, the Chuan River God and the ordinary people nearby maintained a balanced agreement…”
Li Miao finished and looked at the small black token in my hand.
I immediately turned it over and brought it close to my eyes.
I inspected the very bottom with great care.
“You’re right! There really is a tiny fish-shaped relief. You’d never notice it without looking carefully.”
I blurted out in surprise when I found it.
Li Miao smiled.
“Without knowing the reason, details that small really are easy to miss. And the fish itself is much smaller than a mosquito. Anyone could overlook it.”
Based on his description, there was an eighty-percent chance that the iron token in my hand was the missing Lianghe River-Warding Token!
But that raised new questions…
Why had such a precious and wondrous object fallen into the hands of an unknown evil cultivator?
And after obtaining it, why had that person gone to such lengths to place it beneath the hill behind Lianghe District Middle School and use the feng shui configuration of the Eight Baleforces Yellow Springs Formation to nurture it continuously…?
In the end, it had fallen into our hands!
I toyed with the River-Warding Token and asked Li Miao,
“Brother Li, if this River-Warding Token is considered a ritual implement, what wondrous abilities does it actually possess?”
“Uh, well…”
Li Miao froze, seeming unsure how to answer.
He scratched his head and replied helplessly,
“My master talked about this object constantly while he was alive. I’ve also searched many old texts and records and discussed it with other corpse retrievers. But no one could give a clear answer.”
“Broadly speaking, a River-Warding Token is used to suppress the force of river water and intimidate River Gods. If you ask what it actually does in practical terms, I can’t think of anything for now.”
“Oh, carrying it greatly improves a corpse retriever’s safety. Most sunken dead and river monsters wouldn’t dare approach and cause trouble. Does that count?”
I nodded vigorously.
“It counts! Of course it does.”
Old Cao patted my shoulder.
“Looks like Brother Li has solved most of the mystery for us. For the finer, more secret details, you’ll still have to ask Immortal Lady Qin.”
All right…
It seemed I would still have to ask Master in the end.
“Thank you, Brother Li! Since this River-Warding Token is something you corpse retrievers have always wanted, and your master yearned for it all his life, I’ll give it to you after I take it home, ask Master about it, and learn its exact use.”
“What?!”
Li Miao stared in shock.
He probably never expected me to give him something so precious!
He waved both hands frantically.
“No, no, Young Brother Wu. This is far too precious! And you risked your lives to obtain it. I’ve done nothing to deserve such a reward. How could you give it to me?”
I smiled.
“Brother Li, we’re good friends, so there’s no need to say that. The object really is precious, but now that I know its connection to corpse retrievers, how could I keep it for myself?”
Li Miao smiled bitterly.
“I truly do want the River-Warding Token. It was my master’s lifelong wish. But I still can’t accept it for nothing. I couldn’t get past that hurdle in my heart. At worst, it might even become an inner demon and seriously hinder my future cultivation.”
That was true…
His words made me realize that simply giving it to him was perhaps too abrupt.
After thinking for a moment, I had an idea.
“Brother Li, how about this? I’ll take the River-Warding Token home and ask Master what secrets or schemes it may conceal. If she thinks it’s all right, I’ll bring it back to you.”
“In return, you must promise that when Old Cao and I need you in the future, you’ll help us with everything you have, once. The effort you put forth must at least match the token’s value. What do you think?”
Li Miao gave me an odd look.
“Wouldn’t that amount to extending credit? In the corpse-retrieval trade, credit is the one thing we can never allow.”
I laughed.
“That means other people can’t owe corpse retrievers. No one said corpse retrievers can’t owe a debt.”
Old Cao and Roundy laughed too…
And so the matter was settled for the time being.
The River-Warding Token would remain in Li Miao’s keeping until school let out on Friday. Then I would return, take it to Wujia Village, and show it to Master.
…
We talked with Li Miao until late into the night, around three in the morning.
By then, our clothes were mostly dry and we had rested enough. We said goodbye, left the wooden cabin by the river, and returned to Old Cao’s coffin shop.
Time to sleep!
I knew that the moment I reached school tomorrow morning, Dachun, Yao Nan, and Zeng Jin would hound me for the whole story of that night… They would probably shout about how exciting it was again.