Chapter 45: The Three Daoists

Seeing the people who had come to help gradually disperse, Alan finally let out a small breath of relief. Many of Chen San’s ritual implements were kept in the main hall, and a lot had been soaked by the floodwater. He walked up to Alan with a grim expression. “Alan, these things are our livelihood. Now that they’re all ruined…”

“Don’t worry, Master Chen. Everything will be compensated at full value. I hope you won’t hold it against us,” Alan replied with a sigh, her voice low and steady. Now the main hall was left with only her and the Taoist. She cast her eyes around and noticed Jiu’er standing at the doorway, curiosity lighting her gaze. Alan had already heard from Qingshui about this young girl. Without hesitation, she called out, “Little one, girls carry heavy yin energy. It’s not good for you to stay in the mourning hall. Have you eaten? If not, come with me to the kitchen.”

“Thank you, Auntie,” Jiu’er replied sweetly, her manner docile. “I grew up traveling everywhere with my master, so I’m used to this. Auntie, it’s already late—may I stay here for the night?”

She had sensed the simple kindness of these villagers and the good-heartedness of the family. Though she’d only stopped here because she was hungry and needed a place to eat, she’d also picked up on the heavy resentment lingering in the air. If they could give her a meal, she would surely help rid them of this misfortune.

“What a bold claim for such a young girl,” Chen San sneered from the side. “I doubt we need to wait for Xia Wen’s soul to return on the twenty-first day. With his resentment, he’ll likely cause chaos tonight. Since you’re so brave, why don’t you stay and keep vigil?”

“She’s just a child, Master Chen; don’t trouble her,” Alan said apologetically, pulling Jiu’er closer. “You’re Jiu’er, right? Come with me to my room.” She cast Chen San an uneasy glance, heavy-hearted, and led Jiu’er away. She drew water for the girl to wash and, noticing her plain clothes and straw sandals, fetched a new pair of shoes for her.

“It’s alright, Auntie Alan, I’m used to it,” Jiu’er said as she sat on the bed, swinging her legs. “But no matter what happens tonight, please don’t go outside, alright?” she added with a sweet smile.

“Why? Do you really believe what Chen San said? Don’t worry—he’s my son. He won’t do anything to me,” Alan replied, patting Jiu’er’s head with a sigh, her eyes growing moist.

“Even if not everything he said is true, Auntie, I stayed because I truly sensed strong resentment here. Please believe me,” Jiu’er said earnestly, her little mouth pursed.

“Alright, silly child. Let’s sleep. Tonight, you’ll stay with me,” Alan said with a gentle smile, stroking Jiu’er’s dark hair. In her heart, she lamented—whose daughter had gone astray like this? She seemed a bit simple-minded. If only she could stay and be my daughter, how wonderful that would be.

...

“A Kui, hurry up and sweep all this water out. What an ill omen!” Chen San barked out orders as he scolded his eldest apprentice. A Kui listlessly swept at the pooled water in the main hall, especially around Xia Wen’s body, where the water was deepest—even the eternal lamp had been submerged.

“A Kui, A Su, you two carry the body outside. Once the hall is cleaned, bring it back in,” Chen San commanded, pointing at Xia Wen’s corpse.

The two apprentices exchanged fearful glances. At last, A Kui said, “A Su, you lift the head, I’ll take the feet.”

“Why should I take the head? Brother, his eyes are wide open—I’m scared. Let me take the feet instead,” A Su argued.

“No way. I’m the elder, you’re the younger. You listen to me. That's settled!” A Kui grinned, went to the feet of the corpse, and winked at his junior. A Su pressed his palms together and muttered softly beside the body, “Brother, forgive us, we’re just making space for you.”

Soon, the water was cleared from the hall, and the two apprentices carried Xia Wen’s body back inside, relit the eternal lamp, and made sure everything was in order.

It was said that when a child died, grand rituals were usually avoided. But Xia Wen was different. Before Wang Mazi left, he had strictly instructed Qingshui that the ceremony must be lively, with many people present to balance the yin with yang, and a Taoist must be invited to perform rites and lessen the resentment.

Once Chen San was dressed in his ceremonial robes, he walked around the hall, occasionally striking a small gong and chanting under his breath. A Kui circled the corpse holding a yellow talisman, muttering as he went, while A Su squatted nearby, burning spirit money and relighting incense and candles wherever they threatened to go out.

In the spirit tent, the villagers drank and played cards, making the place lively as tradition dictated.

At nine in the evening, a tall shadow suddenly leapt from the water channel. The figure spoke in a low voice, “Don’t blame me. I drowned in the great river and have been unable to find a substitute to rid myself of these karmic debts. Now that this ditch is connected to the river, I choose you as my substitute—not only can I leave this cursed place, but I can also absorb your pure yang energy. Enough talking—the underworld enforcer is coming, I must go!” With that, the dark figure dissolved into a dense mist and vanished.

The next moment, a man in a black robe, his features blurred, appeared at the edge of the channel. Black chains floated and twined around him, and from his indistinct face, a pair of crimson eyes surveyed the surroundings.

Suddenly, water splashed as a pallid arm burst forth, fingers bent like claws, and seized the robed figure on the bank, as if to drag him down.

“Hmph, even an underworld enforcer is fair game for the water dead? You’ve got some nerve.” The chains around the enforcer gave a faint rattle, then spun swiftly with a hiss, emitting a chilling aura as they instantly wrapped around the arm and yanked upward. Xia Wen was hauled out of the water.

Pale as death, Xia Wen looked as if he’d been painted white. His eyes were wide as he stared at the enforcer, his face full of confusion, as though lost in thought. Rather than attacking again, he spoke, “Who are you, villain? Why are you restraining me? I want to leave this place. I don’t want to stay here—my mother is waiting for me to make fish soup.”

“Villain? I am an enforcer of the underworld. You are dead. Look at yourself—you are now a resentful spirit. You must dispel your karmic debts before you can leave. That’s the rule. You drowned here, which means you must find a substitute for your place before you can reincarnate. You’re tied to this place, and your household register is in this village, so you can only move between these two locations. By the way, where did the previous water ghost here go?”

The enforcer’s form flickered, and the soul-binding chains recoiled from Xia Wen’s body.