Subduing the Soul Child

She was at Zhuang Yun's house, helping wash vegetables. Zhuang Yun, who had been quiet since morning, suddenly spoke up:

"Xia Lan, this morning you and your husband mentioned the Tiger Demon Chang. Could it have something to do with my son?"

She nodded and replied, "Surely you have heard of its name in these parts, haven't you?"

"I know. The Tiger Demon Chang rules this area, a terrifying horror to the entire mountain region. Could my son have been taken by it?"

"The boy went out in the morning and was still taken, which means this tiger's tyranny has reached an unimaginable level. Has no one here invited a Daoist Master to exorcise it?"

Zhuang Yun smiled bitterly in helplessness, then looked toward a dilapidated house not far away and said:

"Look, Miss. We barely have enough food to eat, so how could we afford to hire a master?"

She followed Zhuang Yun's pointing finger and sighed. This place was indeed too perfect for those tigers to run rampant.

Wan Ru, who hadn't seen Bai Xiao for a while, asked:

"I wonder where Luo Han went. Why isn't he back yet?"

Zhuang Yun smiled and said, "Why don't you go up the hill to see if your husband has returned?"

Just as Zhuang Yun finished speaking, the figure of a youth clad in pitch-black robes approached from afar.

Wan Ru ran over and asked, "Is everything alright?"

Bai Xiao nodded and replied, "Yes."

Seeing Bai Xiao holding a basket of fresh mushrooms, she snatched it and ran over to Zhuang Yun.

"Miss Zhuang, let's wash the mushrooms and make a roast."

She suddenly realized she had forgotten something and called out, "Luo Han, come over here and help! It's getting dark."

The fire crackled and flickered. She quickly skewered the meat and mushrooms to roast. Feeling they were cooked to perfection, she eagerly popped one into her mouth, but the food was too hot.

"Ah, so hot!"

Bai Xiao took her skewer and blew on it to cool the mushrooms and meat.

"Here, eat."

"Thank you."

She felt embarrassed by her greedy behavior just now. Bai Xiao stared at her blushing cheeks, his eyes filled with deep thought.

She turned to Miss Zhuang and saw that she was only roasting the food without eating anything. Wan Ru took a skewer that Zhuang Yun had roasted, handed it to her, and said:

"Miss Zhuang, please eat some."

Zhuang Yun shook her head. "This is meat and mushrooms belonging to the two of you. Not to mention, you are helping me find my son. I haven't been able to repay you, so how can I let you take care of me like this?"

"You let us stay here, Miss Zhuang. We cannot thank you enough."

She smiled gently and offered the skewer. Zhuang Yun accepted it and said:

"Thank you."

"No need to be polite."

The night of the full moon arrived. Tonight, the bright moonlight made climbing the mountain easier, but it also made them easily detectable.

Bai Xiao and Wan Ru hid themselves near the base of the Bodhi tree for a better vantage point. They had also brought along some snacks as offerings for children.

The two waited for so long that she almost drifted off to sleep.

Not disappointing their expectations, a loud roar of a beast shook the entire small hill.

The White Tiger Demon Chang stepped majestically out of a patch of grass not far from the Bodhi tree.

The hungry tiger spotted the offerings at the base of the Bodhi tree and walked over.

It sat down quietly, and then many different wandering souls crawled out of its mouth. Among them was a Soul Child.

Those wandering souls surrounded it for a while before dispersing. Only the Soul Child remained behind, feeding the tiger.

Some wandering souls roamed around searching for humans, while another group scanned the surroundings to see if anyone was near the Bodhi tree.

Bai Xiao and she, hidden in the bushes, had used an Invisibility Talisman to shield themselves from the eyes of these wandering souls.

The Soul Child knelt while serving the tiger.

Bai Xiao, unable to sit still, whispered, "Why are there so many wandering souls here?"

She was taken aback and said in surprise, "You can see those wandering souls?"

Bai Xiao nodded slightly. She said joyfully, "That's great! I have a wonderful idea. Come here, come here!"

Bai Xiao leaned close to her, and she whispered into his ear.

A moment later, seeing that the White Tiger had let its guard down, she dashed out toward a spot far from the tiger, though it was still within the activity range of the tiger's minions.

She removed her talisman, letting a wandering soul spot her. That soul quickly went to report to the tiger. She then reapplied the talisman and circled back to Bai Xiao's side.

Upon hearing the report of prey nearby, the tiger immediately rushed toward that spot.

The Soul Child was left behind. Waiting until the tiger was far away, Bai Xiao used Confusion Incense to lure the Soul Child to his side.

Sure enough, the Soul Child walked toward Bai Xiao. Upon seeing him, instead of reporting to the tiger, it said:

"Go away quickly."

"No. We came here to rescue you."

"There is no way. It is too strong. This lowly one is destined to remain here forever."

"Do you want to return to your mother?"

The Soul Child fell silent. Bai Xiao immediately seized upon this weakness.

"Your mother committed suicide because of you."

The Soul Child panicked. "Mother... my mother committed suicide?"

"She was saved. She wants to see you, and we can help."

"Who are you? Why would you help my mother and me?"

Bai Xiao said calmly, "If you stay here, you will never have the chance to see your mother again. Follow me."

Bai Xiao ran toward the west, and the ghost child followed him.

Reaching the top of the hill's slope, they met Wan Ru, who was drawing some sort of circle, surrounded by many strange objects.

She tightly held a small clay jar. In her other hand was a piece of wood burning along with a piece of paper, the smoke from the paper drifting around her. Wan Ru was still intently bowing her head, drawing something.

Hearing footsteps, Wan Ru raised her head. Seeing Bai Xiao and the Soul Child, she said:

"Quick, come over here to avoid the tiger detecting your Yang Qi."

Bai Xiao pointed curiously at the paper-wrapped wood and asked:

"What is that?"

"It is Yin Incense. It helps conceal our Yang Qi."

Wan Ru walked over to the ghost child and said, "Ming Jie, I will now subdue you to become a wandering soul under my command. Only in this way can you see your mother again."

Ming Jie said resolutely, "I agree."

She opened the lid of the jar and placed it on the Formation. Holding her Peach Wood Sword, she twirled it a few times. The Peach Wood Sword instantly radiated Immortal Qi, which wrapped around Ming Jie's body.

She took the stem of a white chrysanthemum and wrapped it around her wrist, creating a flower bracelet to hand to Ming Jie.

The Immortal Qi surrounding Ming Jie and Wan Ru created a bridge between them.

She then turned the Peach Wood Sword and pointed it inside the jar.

Ming Jie was instantly sucked into the jar. She walked over, closed the lid, turned to Bai Xiao, and said:

"Let's leave quickly."

Clutching the jar, she ran down the mountain. Bai Xiao followed behind her, scanning the surroundings.

Halfway down, a white shadow flashed past. It was the White Tiger Demon Chang. It had discovered them.