Chapter 44: Seventh-Day Soul Return, Talismans to Repel Ghosts, What Filial Piety!
Bidding farewell to Qingyun and Changfeng.
The sky was gradually darkening.
Following the direction the two had indicated, Wang Xiu walked through several cold, quiet streets before arriving at a magnificent residence.
The plaque bore two gilded characters: 'He Residence'!
Hmm.
How should one put it?
The decorations on this residence were indeed rather bizarre at this moment.
Normally, when someone died, the family would hang white lanterns at the entrance, meaning to light the way home for the deceased.
This He residence did hang lanterns.
And the lanterns they hung were large and luxurious, clearly expensive at first glance.
But the problem was.
Besides hanging lanterns, every side of the He residence was plastered with yellow talisman papers, densely packed.
Good heavens.
They were all Daoist ghost-repelling talismans!
So many ghost-repelling talismans wrapped the He residence layer upon layer, completely airtight.
Not exaggerating—even a wandering soul, let alone a resentful ghost or vengeful ghost with slightly lesser cultivation, couldn't hope to break into the He residence.
"This Steward He really has something!"
Looking at the densely packed talisman papers, Wang Xiu's lips couldn't help but twitch: "If I'm not mistaken, that little old man squatting at the entrance."
"Must be Steward He's father!"
Yes.
At this moment, at the entrance of this magnificent residence squatted a wandering soul, appearing to be forty or fifty years old, wearing extremely ornate burial clothes.
Hmm.
Clearly a rich man's dead ghost.
Combined with this old man lingering near the He residence, refusing to leave, his identity wasn't hard to guess.
"You little bastard!"
"I should have shot you onto the wall back then!"
"When other fathers return on their seventh day, the doors are thrown open to welcome them with great ceremony."
"But you!"
"You paste so many ghost-repelling talismans, not even letting me through the door. Unfilial son, unfilial son!"
...
The little old man huddled his body.
Trembling with cold, muttering curses.
On the day of the seventh-day soul return, newly deceased wandering souls temporarily regain consciousness to see their family one last time, then resolve their attachments and reincarnate.
However.
Maintaining consciousness consumes soul power. Without receiving incense offerings from family, one would feel weak, or even dissipate spiritually and have one's true spirit directly reincarnate.
Looking at this little old man's condition, it wasn't good.
If Wang Xiu hadn't encountered him, he probably could have held on for another two hours at most before perishing.
Seventh-day soul return coinciding with a city-wide Ghost—what misfortune!
"Old Master, please don't worry."
Wang Xiu formed a hand seal, protecting the old master's soul, and smiled: "This humble Daoist will escort you inside."
Suddenly.
Seeing this young Daoist with the appearance of a celestial being, the old master was moved nearly to tears: "Immortal Master, I've finally been waiting for you!"
"Wuwuwu~"
"You Three Pure Immortal Sect members must seek justice for this old man!"
"That unfilial son won't even let me into our home—it's absolutely outrageous, an outrage against heaven and earth, deserving of heavenly punishment!"
"Immortal Master, how about I pay you extra to destroy this wretched son and have him join me down below!"
...
Pfft~
Truly a case of a loving father and filial son.
Wang Xiu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As he knocked on the door ring, he recounted the story of the city's vengeful ghost to the old He master, and the little old man's anger finally subsided somewhat.
"Immortal Master, I've finally been waiting for you!"
Just then.
A burst of loud laughter emerged from within the residence.
Then the residence gates opened, and a man in his early twenties, dressed in bright red silk robes and as round as a ball, came walking quickly forward.
Wang Xiu felt that if not for his knees, this fellow might have run over to welcome him.
This was Steward He, and quite young too.
Wang Xiu had originally thought that given his mission's mishap, Steward He would be angry upon seeing him.
However, that wasn't the case.
Steward He was an open and straightforward person. Although his father had been kept waiting for days, when facing a true transmission disciple from the Three Pure Immortal Sect, his attitude remained warm, even reverent.
Hmm.
Considering the yellow talismans plastered around the residence.
Probably because the city was haunted, having a Three Pure Immortal Sect true transmission disciple like Wang Xiu come to guard the place gave Steward He a tremendous sense of security!
At this moment.
Steward He's face was covered in smiles: "The banquet has been prepared. Please, Immortal Master, honor us with your presence."
"I will host a welcome reception for you."
Looking at Steward He's overly enthusiastic demeanor, Wang Xiu didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Steward, there's no need for such ceremony. This mission had mishaps—this humble Daoist should be apologizing."
"Not at all, not at all!"
Steward He said earnestly: "The Daoists at Clear Wind Temple in the city have already explained everything to me in detail!"
"The Immortal Master was eliminating demons for Maple City and was seriously injured, so you returned early to the sect for treatment. The dead are gone; the living must live well—that's what matters most."
"The Immortal Master killed the tiger demon and prevented disaster from befalling our Maple City."
"If my late father knew that his delayed burial by a few days allowed a genius like the Immortal Master to recover from injuries sooner, he would surely rest in peace with a smile."
Old Master He: (╬ಠ益ಠ)
Old Master He: (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
Rest in peace with a smile?
I'm standing right in front of you—let's see if you smile!
Looking at Steward He in his bright red robes, beaming with triumph, Old Master He was so angry his soul was smoking.
This wretched son!
Doesn't look like someone who just lost his father and is holding a seventh-day memorial. Who ever heard of such a festive seventh-day ceremony?
"Steward He."
Wang Xiu also didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Today is your father's seventh-day soul return. Wearing such bright colors is perhaps inappropriate!"
Oh~
Steward He's smile froze, then he scratched his head: "I forgot about that."
Saying this.
He stripped off his bright red silk robe and tossed it to the ground, revealing white mourning clothes underneath, then took out a white cloth band and hemp garments to put on.
"Please don't blame me, Immortal Master."
Steward He said apologetically: "I didn't want to wear red on my father's seventh day either."
"But isn't there a Red-Clothed Vengeful Ghost Ghost the city! The two Daoists at Clear Wind Temple couldn't defeat her—they said this ghost is super fierce, incredibly fierce!"
"So I thought."
"The ghost wears red, so I'll wear red too. If we run into each other, maybe I can try to make nice!"
Wang Xiu: (//▽//)
Wearing matching outfits doesn't make you a couple.
Trying to get friendly with an earthbound spirit.
What a brilliant idea you came up with.
Barely containing his laughter, Wang Xiu said seriously: "The idea is creative, but when vengeful ghosts see red, they become more excited. Making nice won't work."
"Moreover."
"With all these ghost-repelling talismans at your door, plus you wearing red silk and beaming with joy, if your father wasn't so broad-minded, there'd probably be more than one vengeful ghost in this city!"
Saying this!
Wang Xiu smiled as he formed hand seals and cast a 'Revelation Spell.'
Suddenly, Old Master He's form manifested in the courtyard. His furious expression made Steward He's legs tremble: "Father..."
Father?
Now you remember I'm your father? Too late!
Looking at his trembling son, Old Master He rolled up his sleeves: "Daoist Wang, would you allow this old man to... have a word with my son?"
Wang Xiu smiled: "Old Master, please proceed as you wish."
Old Master He nodded, grabbed his son by the ear, and dragged him into the inner room. The next second, howls of misery rang out from inside.
"Daoist!"
"Daoist, save me!"
"There's a vengeful ghost trying to kill someone here!"
"Daoist, aren't you going to do something?"
"Old man, don't go too far—you're already dead!"
"Now, I am the master of this house!"
"Ah~!"
"Ah~! Father, I was wrong!"
"Ah~!!!"
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