Chapter 139
Chapter 139
Hua Jiunan did not hesitate after hearing Deaf Granny.
He immediately put on the “long gown” Old Daoist Zhou had given him and picked up his luopan, small peachwood sword, and Copper Coin Sword.
Chen Daji slung the blood-red longbow over his back and tucked his newly made, oversized slingshot into his pocket.
“Eighth Master Chang, come with me. We’re going to catch ghosts together!”
“Huh? Where’s Eighth Master?”
“Wasn’t he coiled up here eating instant noodles just now?”
“How’d he disappear in the blink of an eye? Did he stuff himself so full that he got diarrhea?”
Chen Daji cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted.
“Eighth Master! Eighth Master, where are you?”
Only after he had called for a long while did Eighth Master Chang’s helpless voice come from a side room.
“Who is it, screaming like a ghost in the middle of the night?”
“Can’t a man get a proper rest around here?”
“It’s not right to disturb the neighbors either!”
Everyone exchanged a glance, speechless.
When it came to manipulating Eighth Master Chang, Chen Daji was an expert.
“Oh, you’re asleep, Eighth Master? What a shame.”
“If you don’t participate in the group’s ‘recreational activity,’ you’ll lose merit.”
“If they deduct too much, not only will you be unable to exchange it for the Taiping secret art, you’ll even have to spit up all those pills you swallowed!”
The moment Chen Daji finished, a fierce gust swept through the courtyard. Eighth Master Chang was already coiled in its center with his head held high and chest thrust out.
Half a pot of unfinished instant noodles still hung from his thick tail.
Eighth Master Chang looked solemnly at everyone.
“Didn’t you say we were going to catch ghosts?”
“Why aren’t you hurrying? What are you dawdling for?”
“If we’re late and the filthy things hurt our neighbors, Eighth Master’s heart will ache!”
As he spoke, Deaf Granny took out ritual treasures such as the Immortal-Binding Rope and Great Seal.
With her silver hair and dragon-headed cane, she looked exactly like Lady She Saihua, the venerable matriarch from *The Generals of the Yang Family*.
The old woman gazed at the eager Hua Jiunan and Chen Daji, her eyes brimming with affection.
“Good, good. You are both Grandma’s good grandsons.”
“Come. Follow Grandma and rid the people of this scourge!”
After a moment of hesitation, Hua Jiunan tried to dissuade her.
“Grandma, you should stay here and rest.”
“Master Kongchan can lead Daji and me. That will be enough.”
Elder Monk Kongchan also spoke.
“Namo Amitabha.”
“Bodhisattva Lady, Jiunan is right. Please rest at home.”
“Leave the matter at the coffin shop to this humble monk and the two Young Friends.”
They urged her to stay for two reasons.
First, Deaf Granny was very old, and her health was nowhere near what it once had been.
Second, more than half a spirit medium disciple’s ability came from the Immortal Spirits they invited.
Now that Chang Huaiyuan, Hemp-clad Grandmother, and the others were all cultivating in seclusion, the only Immortal Spirit Deaf Granny could summon was Eighth Master Chang…
Deaf Granny looked at Hua Jiunan and the others, deep concern in her eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded.
“Very well.”
“This old woman won’t go and hold you back.”
“But wait. Grandma has other methods that can lend you a hand!”
She instructed Hua Jiunan to bring black paper, brushes, and ink from the house.
With Hu Fei’er’s help, it took them little time to craft four paper warriors riding tall horses and carrying great sabers.
Deaf Granny picked up a brush and spoke to Chen Daji.
“Second Grandson, Grandma needs your pure yang blood to awaken their spirits.”
“All right, Grandma!”
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Daji punched himself in the nose.
Blood immediately gushed out.
He carried out the entire motion with such practiced fluidity that it hurt to watch.
Chen Fu stamped his feet in distress and sighed repeatedly.
“Why did this wretched child have to learn the Seven Injuries Fist…?”
Afraid there would not be enough blood, Chen Daji squeezed his nostrils hard.
Then he cupped both hands beneath his nose and offered the blood to Deaf Granny with a foolish smile.
“Here, Grandma.”
“If it isn’t enough, just say so. Worst case, I’ll punch myself again.”
Deaf Granny looked stunned and asked in distress, “Good grandson, is this how you got all those wounds on your face before?”
Chen Daji nodded repeatedly.
“That’s right, Grandma. I’ve punched myself in the nose so much that I’ve gained real experience.”
“Let me tell you: if I hit lightly, I get enough blood to coat fifty little stones.”
“If I use more force, the spray can coat seventy.”
“And if I hit even harder…”
Unable to endure another word, Chen Fu erupted at his son.
“You little son of a bitch, how much harder are you planning to hit yourself?”
“At this rate, the filthy things won’t need to hurt you. You’ll beat yourself to death first!”
Deaf Granny sighed. Her heart ached terribly for Chen Daji, but he had already punched himself and drawn the blood. They could hardly waste it.
She dipped the brush into it and painted all kinds of mysterious symbols across the paper figures.
The special symbols looked ancient and desolate.
They differed entirely from Daoist talismans and Buddhist scriptures, forming a system all their own.
If they had to be classified, they would belong to a branch of the ancient wu shaman arts of the divine land.
As Deaf Granny painted, she chanted strange syllables that no one understood.
“Heng ni ji yi duo ba, na nie duo ya la, shu kong ga ni ne gu, na nie duo ya sa lei de.”
“Lu gu, lu xi za ya ti la tuo!”
As Deaf Granny chanted, yin winds rose around them beneath a sky of bleak, sorrowful clouds.
Sounds came from every direction at once.
Weeping, laughter, furious curses, and wild roars mingled together.