Chapter 748 - 411: Earth Master and the Yellow Child (Part 2)

"Fast Ship Zhang" felt a bad premonition rising in his heart.

"Where’s your father?"

"My father, sob... passed away just last night..."

...

"Jinyangping" got its name for two reasons: one, because of its location, being a mountaintop plain, and two, for its position facing north to south, unobstructed by mountains or forests, with abundant sunlight.

Places like this always have good feng shui and are suitable for habitation, so even though it’s far from the county and deep in the mountains, there are still many residents.

The local customs are a mix of Han and tribal traditions, resulting in unique architecture, akin to stilt houses, with livestock on the first floor and people living on the second. However, most buildings are constructed from earth, stone, and bricks.

But the Zhang Family is somewhat different, still having a three-section courtyard, with bricks and stones as the main structure, and old wood as beams. Though not comparable to the wealthy in Xiangyang or Wuchang, they are still prominent in Jinyangping.

The only strange thing is that the large house has few servants, making it seem desolate and cold, and with the mourning hall set up in the courtyard, the atmosphere is even darker.

"Many servants have been scared away."

Fast Ship Zhang’s nephew, Zhang Sibei, arranged for everyone to settle down and then said sadly, "First it was my brother, then the housekeeper, and last night, my father..."

"In a short time, three people have died. It’s not just the servants, even the villagers avoid our family now."

Li Yan, with his hands behind his back, casually observed the surrounding buildings, frowning slightly, and asked, "How are you sure it was something that harmed them?"

Zhang Sibei hesitated, looking towards "Fast Ship Zhang."

It was simply because Li Yan appeared too young.

"Speak truthfully!"

"Fast Ship Zhang" said in a deep voice, "He’s a master I managed to invite with great difficulty; even the court seeks his counsel."

Zhang Sibei, though somewhat skeptical, still answered, "These days, there have been no strange noises at night. I even personally led people to stand guard, but we saw nothing."

"As for the cause, you’ll see for yourselves..."

With that, he led everyone to the mourning hall.

Inside, the coffin hadn’t been sealed yet. An old man lay inside, dressed in burial clothes, somewhat short and stout, with facial features somewhat resembling "Fast Ship Zhang."

"Second Brother..."

"Fast Ship Zhang’s" voice trembled, with tears flowing down his wrinkles.

At first glance, there appeared to be nothing unusual. However, when Zhang Sibei suppressed his grief and lifted the old man’s left sleeve, Li Yan and the others immediately frowned.

On his left wrist, there was a small handprint, black as ink, about the size of a three-year-old child’s hand.

A flash of fear crossed Zhang Sibei’s eyes, and he said with a trembling voice, "Three people had this handprint at the time of death; they stopped breathing upon waking."

"The villagers all say it’s because my father provoked Mountain Ghosts, who came at night to claim souls..."

Li Yan made a hand gesture, took a deep breath but smelled no Yin Sha Qi, feeling puzzled, he looked towards Wang Daoxuan.

Wang Daoxuan also shook his head slightly, speaking in a low voice, "It’s the first time this poor Daoist has seen such a thing, without detecting any strange aura."

"This was done by the ’Huang Baby’."

Suddenly, an old voice sounded from behind.

Li Yan already knew who it was, turning to see, it was the old man from the opera troupe.

He wasn’t angry, instead, he clasped his hands with a slight smile, "Greetings, elder, we’re new to your dignified land and unfamiliar with its customs, so we seek your guidance."

Seeing nothing peculiar causing the disturbance was quite normal.

The Divine Land is vast, with different customs in different regions, and sometimes local evil spirits appear that are unique to the area.

Just like Hidden Treasure Men, once they leave their home ground, they often struggle and don’t recognize all evil spirits.

The old man didn’t answer directly but made a gesture, and said seriously, "Badong Xie Family Troupe, ’Earth Teacher’ Xie Chengzu, greeting the masters."

Clearly, the old man also saw something extraordinary about Li Yan and the others.

"I dare not."

Li Yan also clasped his hands in respect, "Guanzhong, Li Yan, traveling immortal."

So-called traveling immortals wander the world, cultivating while helping people solve problems, vanquishing demons and exorcising evil spirits.

Zhang Sanfeng, Lu Dongbin, were both once traveling immortals.

Though Xie Chengzu, the old man, was a local witch, he also knew that anyone who could be a traveling immortal wasn’t to be trifled with, and his expression became cautious.

"I don’t dare, it’s just that this thing is rare outside."

"Around Wushan, spirit-infused herbs easily turn into spirits. Badong has herbs called ’large Solomon’s-seal,’ which are particularly effective and have always been the first choice for pharmacies everywhere. Every year, countless mountain dwellers go to the mountains to pick them."

"Large Solomon’s-seal blooms with yellow flowers in summer, grows with solitary stems, doesn’t move with wind, yet sways without it, hence the name. It can dispel wind, relieve dampness, disperse cold, and alleviate pain."

"But once this thing becomes a spirit, it’s extraordinary indeed."

"They gain spirituality, and if picked by people, they then hold grudges, entering with the wind at midnight to lure the soul into the mountains."

"If the soul is recalled within three days, the person can live. My master once said that the revived person reported being led away at midnight by a small child in yellow clothes."

"That’s the ’Yellow Child,’ legend says they become servants of the Wushan Goddess once cultivated into spirits."

"You picking it not only destroys their Dao but also constitutes a life-and-death enmity that surely demands revenge!"

"I see."

Li Yan suddenly understood, finding it incredible.

He didn’t expect the large Solomon’s-seal to have such a strong desire for revenge.

Next to him, Zhang Sibei was full of excitement, hurriedly knelt down on the ground, and said tremblingly: "So you are the ’Tu Teacher,’ I failed to recognize Taishan, I beg you to save my father’s life."

Tu Teacher?

What a strange name.

"Fast Ship Zhang" was also somewhat surprised. Seeing Li Yan’s confusion, he quickly explained in a low voice: "The Tujia Clan has exorcism opera, which can also predict fortunes, help people with matters, holding a very esteemed position."

"Every exorcism opera troupe has an ’altar master,’ whom Badong people call ’Tu Teacher.’

" Tu Teacher" Xie Chengzu listened and hesitated slightly.

Seeing Zhang Sibei’s earnest plea, he finally sighed and shook his head, saying: "It’s not that I don’t want to help, it’s just that this matter is truly difficult to handle."

"I can perform an exorcism opera, speak some good words to the ’Yellow Child,’ but it might be hard."

"Unless you can return the herb and plant it again, ensuring it can live, only then is there a chance."

"Why so troublesome?"

Sha Lifei said speechlessly: "Evil spirits, dare to enter the village to harm people, just wipe them out directly, why beg for mercy?"

Xie Chengzu heard this and a trace of anger flashed in his eyes, but he knew Li Yan and others were hard to deal with, so he patiently said: "All things in nature have spirituality. If you don’t understand respect, you will face retribution sooner or later."

"Moreover, these mountain ’essence spirits’ are not just one, legend says they’re all child servants of the Wushan Goddess. Have you noticed even a trace of Yin Qi?"

"If you act rashly, you will invite great disaster."

"If you have the skill, do it yourself. I’ll leave now to avoid trouble."

Sha Lifei immediately said with a cheeky grin: "Senior Master, don’t be angry, Old Sha doesn’t understand either, didn’t expect such a big background."

He was incredibly thick-skinned, able to say good or bad words casually.

As for Li Yan and Sha Lifei, they said no more.

They were accustomed to various pugilistic tactics.

Perhaps the old man cursed people to harm or deceive treasures, it’s no rush now, better to understand the situation first.

On the side, Zhang Sibei seemed to grasp onto a lifeline, nodding quickly: "The master is right. My father knows some Treasure-holding Skills, that day he went up the mountain and dug up a large Solomon’s-seal, unexpectedly, it was that thing causing mischief, I’ll go get it now."

Having said that, he hurried back to the rear residence and quickly brought out a wooden box, inside there was a large Solomon’s-seal wrapped in bark, tied with a red rope, the root was huge, and golden yellow.

Only the shape was somewhat strange.

Neither like a human nor an animal.

But like a yellow glistening coffin."

"Hiss——!"

The old man Xie Chengzu gasped upon seeing it, cold sweat dripping as he kept retreating, waving his hand: "Can’t do it, this matter can’t be done, return your deposit, I’m leaving."

Saying this, he truly turned his back, calling on the troupe as if ready to run away.

Zhang Sibei was dumbfounded, a chill rising in his heart.

Sha Lifei’s eyes swirled, quickly halting the old man, saying with a smirk: "Senior, you’re speaking so incompletely, at least clarify what’s going on."

Xie Chengzu looked at the large Solomon’s-seal as if seeing a ghost, gritted his teeth and said: "That’s the Divine Coffin, the coffin of the Immortal in the mountain."

"All of you, best prepare yourselves for the afterlife..."