Chapter 227
Chapter 227
On the altar atop Hemp-clad Mountain, Deaf Granny’s face was painted with ritual colors. In her hand she held the ox-skull staff that the little ones of the Gray Family had carried back after the Ghost Mother Evil Goddess died.
A great bronze cauldron stood before her.
Bundles of incense burned within it, releasing dense azure smoke.
Four paper figures and paper horses stood at the four corners of the altar.
Eight Yellow Turban Strongmen guarded the eight directions.
The desolate call of horns and the rumble of war drums filled all of Hemp-clad Mountain.
Hua Jiunan wore azure Daoist robes and held the Copper Coin Sword.
Chen Daji and Zhao Fei wore black paper robes and paper hats.
Zhao Fei held Deaf Granny’s Immortal-Binding Rope and carried an enormous peachwood axe over his shoulder.
Chen Daji carried the ox-horn dagger inscribed with the name “Zhongkang” inside his robe, while a blood-red longbow was strapped to his back.
The three stood in a line before Deaf Granny.
The old woman spoke gravely, her eyes full of worry.
“Children, the road ahead is uncertain. You must be extremely careful!
“If your lives are in danger, remember not to force yourselves to fight.
“Look back and run toward the light behind you!
“As long as you make it back, even if ghost guards pursue you, Grandma, Grandmother, and Eldest Master Chang will deal with them!”
Hua Jiunan nodded deeply and held Deaf Granny for a long time, unwilling to release her.
“Don’t worry, Grandma. We understand!”
As the war drums beat faster and faster, Deaf Granny sighed helplessly.
She took out three long sticks of incense, lit them, and placed one in each boy’s mouth.
Then she gently patted each of them on the forehead, and all three immediately lost consciousness.
As if their bodies were no longer under their control, they swayed back and forth in the gale.
Hemp-clad Grandmother moved with incredible speed.
She linked them together with the Corpse-binding Rope and clutched the other end tightly in her hand.
Chang Huaiyuan took out three gleaming silver scales and swiftly pressed one between the brows of Hua Jiunan and each of his companions.
“Eighth Brother, come over and take your place too.”
Eighth Master Chang’s face changed dramatically.
“E-Eldest Brother, I have to go too?!”
Unexpectedly, Chang Huaiyuan did not become angry at Eighth Master Chang’s terror. Instead, his eyes filled with reluctance as he spoke gently.
“Don’t be afraid, Eighth Brother. Remember that you must protect the young master physician!
“As soon as the situation becomes impossible, turn around and flee with everyone!
“Do you remember?!”
Eighth Master Chang nodded timidly.
“I remember, Eldest Brother.
“Don’t worry. I can run really fast now…”
Before Eighth Master Chang could finish, Hemp-clad Grandmother struck like lightning, smashing her pipe heavily against his head.
Our poor Eighth Master Chang lost consciousness without so much as a grunt.
“Cackle, cackle, cackle! Chang Family Eldest, Grandmother knows you couldn’t bear to strike Little Eighth.
“I’ll play the villain.”
As she spoke, a Red-Dressed Female Ghost quickly floated over. She first stole a glance at Chen Daji, then reported,
“Grandmother, honored elders, midnight has arrived.”
Deaf Granny no longer hesitated. She lifted a basin of chicken blood prepared in advance and splashed it across the altar, chanting under her breath.
“Yin and yang are parted by nature, yet bonds of longing span the divide. Today the Yin-Yang Road opens, and tearful eyes mourn the wasted years.
“Hidden virtue guards the true spirit; the ancestors protect the mortal flesh. Little ghosts, do not bar the road. Kings of Hell, do not seize these souls.”
As Deaf Granny chanted, yin winds rose on every side.
Great masses of black cloud drifted over and completely covered the moon.
The chicken blood on the ritual altar began to flow slowly, forming ancient and mysterious symbols.
As the symbols flashed red, the souls of Hua Jiunan and his two friends flew out of their bodies and sank dazedly into the earth.
Just then, the barefoot, bald Young Monk Wuxin came running from the distance. Following close behind Hua Jiunan, he vanished as well.
“Namo Amitabha Buddha.
“Brother, where are you going to play? Can you take me too?”
Hemp-clad Grandmother sighed repeatedly with admiration.
“As expected of a corpse-liberated Ghost Immortal. Performing Guoyin is actually that easy for him!”
Chang Huaiyuan smiled.
“With Wuxin accompanying them, I, Chang, feel much more at ease.”
As he spoke, a twenty-meter-long giant Jiao rode the wind toward them.
It first surveyed the surroundings, then exclaimed in astonishment,
“Guoyin?!”
After barely steadying itself, the giant Jiao transformed into a man and cupped his fists to Hemp-clad Grandmother and Deaf Granny.
“The Chang family’s second brother greets you both.
“Eldest Brother, why did you summon me so urgently? What important instructions do you have?”
Chang Huaiyuan looked at the bodies of Hua Jiunan and the other two, then slowly nodded.
“Second Brother, if I am gone in the future, you must take good care of the family and our other brothers.”
Hemp-clad Grandmother cackled strangely.
“I’ll also have to ask Second Brother Chang to watch over my holdings on Hemp-clad Mountain.
“Whatever happens, don’t let wandering ghosts bully the wives of that boy Daji.”