Descending the Mountain

As dawn broke, my grandfather and I sat in a daze in the dining room.

When Su Er and Fourth Uncle saw the two of us, they couldn't help but be startled.

Fourth Uncle approached us, looked around, and said, "Adoptive Father, did you and Chu Ling watch beautiful women together last night?"

My grandfather glared at me with an extremely displeased expression. I lowered my head in embarrassment, unable to say a word.

After looking at my grandfather, Fourth Uncle turned to me with a highly suspicious look: "Chu Ling, did you anger your grandfather?"

I looked at him with a pitiful tone: "I didn't. It's just that I had a nightmare last night and couldn't sleep well."

He frowned upon hearing this. "But how does that affect your grandfather?"

I lowered my head and continued shyly, "I dreamed of a female ghost. I was so scared that I went to sleep in Grandfather's room, but I tossed and turned all night and couldn't sleep."

Understanding the situation, Fourth Uncle did his best to persuade my grandfather to cool his anger. In the end, out of respect for Fourth Uncle, my grandfather joined me for the meal.

I picked up a mantou and put it in my mouth, but suddenly remembering last night's events, I quickly put down my chopsticks. "Grandfather, in the dream, she told me that on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when the Corpse Poison completely penetrates my organs, she will force me to be her companion in the Yellow Springs."

Hearing this, Su Er slammed her chopsticks down in anger. "How dare she!"

My grandfather pondered for a long time before speaking: "Rest assured, I will not let them harm you."

Hearing these words, my heart felt somewhat at ease.

I looked at Su Er, who was muttering complaints while chewing her food: "Should I say you're unlucky or lucky? You're constantly haunted by female ghosts."

Oh heavens! If being haunted by female ghosts was considered good fortune, I would gladly pass this blessing to someone else; I absolutely did not want it.

After breakfast, my grandfather and the rest of us went to Fourth Uncle's room.

The room was neatly arranged on all four sides, looking very eye-catching.

My grandfather casually picked up a Gold Coin Sword, caressing it as he spoke: "Old Fourth, the trouble below the mountain was caused by you after all. You should descend the mountain to settle it properly, which can also be considered accumulating some merit so that the Giant Python can quickly transform into a Dragon."

The Giant Python transforming into a Dragon? I was puzzled. What did helping the villagers accumulate merit have to do with this? To resolve the doubt in my heart, I asked him, "Where is the Giant Python, Grandfather? And how can it transform into a Dragon through merit?"

My grandfather pointed toward Fourth Uncle's Daoist robes: "The Giant Python is right there."

"Grandfather must be getting old and muddled. The embroidery on the robe is already a Giant Python that has transformed into a Dragon, and yet it wants to transform again, haha!" At this thought, I couldn't help but laugh. "The Giant Python on the robe has already transformed into a Dragon, Grandfather. Besides, it's just embroidery. If you want it to transform, you can just take it to an embroidery shop. How could it have anything to do with merit?"

I laughed as I looked at Fourth Uncle, but instead of returning my smile, his face suddenly darkened. Realizing I had gone too far, I quickly shut my mouth.

My grandfather looked at me and shook his head. "Does a snake growing horns make it a dragon? Furthermore, Old Fourth's robe is ever-changing. If he accumulates enough merit, the Giant Python will completely transform into a real dragon. Such shallow knowledge, yet you try to act wise."

Being lectured by my grandfather made Su Er look at me with amusement.

Fourth Uncle said nothing, quietly packing his tools to prepare to descend the mountain.

My grandfather told us that we must descend the mountain with him, as this would make it easier for the villagers to trust him.

As soon as we reached the foot of the mountain, we met A Liu, who was chopping wood. Seeing my grandfather, he clasped his hands and bowed.

A Liu looked Fourth Uncle over, then asked us with suspicion, "Who is this?"

My grandfather didn't let me answer, introducing Fourth Uncle: "This is He Tian Ya, a Daoist master practicing on the mountain, and also an acquaintance of mine. I told him about the recent events, and upon hearing it, the Daoist master was willing to descend the mountain to help."

Hearing this, A Liu bowed in gratitude. I was amazed by my grandfather's quick wit. Clearly, this trouble was caused by Fourth Uncle, but through my grandfather's mouth, he became a benevolent master saving the villagers. I truly admired him.

Before he could even rest at home, A Liu hurriedly led us to the sick villagers.

Upon arrival, Fourth Uncle took out four talismans from his bag. Holding the talismans in one hand and forming a hand seal with the other, he muttered a spell and shouted, "Rise!" The talismans instantly transformed into a beam of light that gathered together, shining upon the sick villagers.

Unexpectedly, before it could shine for long, a loud "clink" echoed, and the four beams of light that were tightly bound together were shattered into pieces. Fourth Uncle was startled and took a few steps back.

My grandfather quickly supported Fourth Uncle. He frowned, looking at the beam of light: "This matter is probably..."

My grandfather seemed to understand and quickly leaned close to Fourth Uncle: "Adoptive Father, someone else has interfered in this. I only used a bit of Daoist magic to make the villagers dazed, but now the Four Talismans cannot break it. These villagers seem to be losing their three souls and seven po."

Hearing this, my grandfather narrowed his eyes, observing the surroundings. These villagers appeared to be merely dazed on the surface, but upon closer inspection, the yang energy in their bodies was extremely weak.

Seeing that things were not right, A Liu rushed over to ask, "Is there a problem, Grandmaster?"

Fourth Uncle waved his hand to indicate it was nothing, then said, "Now I need everyone to buy some Cinnabar for me."

A Liu respectfully and quickly went to buy it. Su Er and I turned to the villagers and said apologetically, "We are sorry to trouble you, but we are doing our best to treat them now. We don't know if they are being haunted by something unclean. Please return to your homes for now."

Hearing this, the villagers cried out in fear: "They must have been harmed by ghosts and demons!"

"Indeed!"

"Let's go home, lest we get dragged into this!"

With that, they dispersed and returned to their homes.