Chapter 147
Chapter 147
Naturally, the yin deity did not voice those thoughts.
Heavenly principle and law governed all things through cycles of cause and effect.
A yin deity should never interfere too deeply in mortal affairs.
“Young man… young master physician, why did you summon me?”
Hua Jiunan was mildly surprised that even this terrifying yin deity addressed him as the young master physician.
He quickly composed himself, however, and recounted what had happened at the coffin shop in Liujia Village with his fists cupped.
As he spoke, he took out one of the pills recovered from Zhang Liang’s tomb and gave it to Old Sixth Hui.
The yin deity chuckled after hearing the story.
“A trivial matter!”
“Wait here a moment, young master physician!”
With that, the yin deity transformed into sparks of fire and vanished.
Only then did everyone in the courtyard release a long breath.
They could hardly help it. The pressure exerted by that great god had been overwhelming.
Chen Daji even collapsed onto his backside, panting heavily.
“Fuck! That old master was terrifying…”
Before he could finish, Eighth Master Chang’s furious curses came from beneath him.
“Could you move, you little bastard? You’re fucking sitting on my face!”
Chen Daji scratched his head and rose sheepishly.
“Sorry, Eighth Master. I didn’t notice.”
“No wonder it felt so soft under my butt…”
Everyone worked together to pry Eighth Master Chang from the frozen ground.
Chen Daji even brought out a charcoal brazier and enthusiastically helped thaw him.
“Eighth Master, not to criticize you, but you shouldn’t always lie flat. You’ve got to prop yourself upright!”
“Look at this mess. You’re frozen solid!”
Eighth Master Chang erupted in fury.
“Stop talking that winding, eighteen-turn bullshit!”
“Have you ever seen anyone’s snake strolling around upright for no reason?”
“I’m not a fucking monkey!”
For once, Chen Daji offered no smart remark in response.
In his heart, he felt that Eighth Master Chang had made a rather good point this time.
Only after Old Sixth Hui swallowed the pill and color returned to his face did Hua Jiunan relax.
“Sixth Brother, Grandmother, weren’t you in seclusion refining your netherworld merit?”
“Why did you suddenly emerge?”
Hemp-clad Grandmother smiled bitterly and sat directly opposite Deaf Granny.
“How could refining netherworld merit be more important than my two precious grandsons?”
“A moment ago, Grandmother suddenly sensed that some terrifying great being had come to our home, so naturally I rushed over to see.”
“Who could have guessed it was the Sage Lord Who Bestows Blessings and Guards the Home?”
When Hua Jiunan looked toward him, Old Sixth Hui nodded gently.
“The same was true for me and Hemp-clad Elder Sister.”
“The moment I sensed trouble at home, I came at once.”
Chen Daji wiped the dried blood from his face and grinned foolishly.
“Grandmother, Sixth Brother Hui, you’re so good to me!”
Old Sixth Hui chuckled without acknowledging the fool.
Hemp-clad Grandmother took out her pipe and lightly tapped Chen Daji on the head.
“Kekeke! Now you know how much Grandmother dotes on you, little bastard?”
“Then hurry and slit your throat. Come to Hemp-clad Mountain and serve me with your wives!”
Chen Daji stole a glance at the six Red-Dressed Female Ghosts and laughed awkwardly.
“Quit joking, Grandmother. I haven’t lived enough yet.”
“If you really need someone… why not let my dad go keep you company first?”
Chen Fu was speechless.
Hemp-clad Grandmother and Old Sixth Hui had both come to help, yet no one from Hu Fei’er’s family had appeared. She could not help feeling somewhat unsettled.
Deaf Granny read her thoughts and gently took Hu Fei’er’s hand to comfort her.
Hua Jiunan asked quietly, “Sixth Brother, who was that great god?”
Old Sixth Hui smiled bitterly.
“The Sage Lord Who Bestows Blessings and Guards the Home-Zhong Kui!”
Chen Daji froze. The burning coal held in his tongs dropped straight onto Eighth Master Chang.
Eighth Master Chang howled as it burned him.
“Ow, fuck! Did you do that on purpose, you little bastard?!”
Chen Daji hurriedly apologized.
“Listen to yourself, Eighth Master. Why would I burn you on purpose?”
“I was just surprised. How come Zhong Kui looks different from the picture pasted on my front door?”
Old Sixth Hui answered him.
“Every portrait in the world was modeled after the one kept in the Tang imperial palace.”
“After being copied and passed down for so long, it naturally differs greatly from the original.”
Chen Daji’s curiosity flared.
“Sixth Brother Hui, why did the portrait come from the Tang imperial palace?”
“Tell me the story.”
Old Sixth Hui shrank his body and stood like a shadow behind Hua Jiunan, then began his account.
Zhong Kui was born on Mount Zhongnan and possessed an exceedingly ugly appearance.
His full beard bristled in every direction, while his enormous eyes blazed as if filled with fire.
Frightening as he looked, he was diligent, intelligent, quick-witted, and highly skilled in martial arts.
Zhong Kui placed first in the imperial examination.
When the emperor learned that an exceptional talent had emerged, he specifically asked to see what Zhong Kui looked like.
But when Zhong Kui entered the hall for the imperial audience, Chancellor Lu Qi declared that true talent required excellence both within and without. Since the man’s appearance was so poor, the emperor should choose someone else.
Hot-tempered Zhong Kui pointed at Lu Qi’s nose and cursed him furiously.
Then, overwhelmed by shame and rage, he smashed his head against a stone pillar in the great hall and died.
Later, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, the emperor dreamed of a little ghost following him, apparently plotting some harm.
Emperor Xuanzong was terrified. At that moment, a huge, bearded ghost in a red official’s robe leaped out from the side.
With hardly any effort, the great ghost ate the little one.
Emperor Xuanzong was immensely grateful and hurriedly asked, “Brave warrior, you showed great courage and saved me in my hour of peril. May I ask your name?”
Zhong Kui threw back his head and laughed.
“I am Zhong Kui of Mount Zhongnan, the Presented Scholar who failed the palace examination!”
After awakening, Emperor Xuanzong summoned the famous painter Wu Daozi and had him paint Zhong Kui from the emperor’s memory.
Emperor Xuanzong was extremely satisfied with the finished portrait. He hung it in the palace specifically to suppress evil and ward off calamity.