Chapter Fourteen A Slap to Death

  At 8:30 in the evening, I and my master finished dinner, took a bath separately, and then went out as scheduled to Wang Jia's sister-in-law's home! Why use "feel"? Because there is only one street lamp in the whole town. Most sections have to walk in the dark. If you ask what household appliances are essential for every household in Maoshan Town? The answer is only one, flashlight! At night, everyone wants to go out, and this thing is not possible without it.

  "Master, we should bring out the flashlight!" I complained in a low voice, following Master's footsteps and feeling my way forward. The town was built on the mountain, except for the stone slab road on the main street, which was relatively flat, the other small paths were all paved with gravel stones as big as goose eggs. My feet, wearing cloud shoes, were now sore from being rubbed.

  "Keep your voice down, are you afraid others won't know we're going to Wang Jia's daughter-in-law's house?" Master turned around and knocked me on the head with a loud crack, saying fiercely in my ear!

  "I know, I just know, it's not like I'm going to steal someone!" I said to myself in my heart. This was something that I absolutely dared not say out loud, I was afraid that if I did, I would get beaten again.

  My master is great in every way, but there's one thing that bothers me - he likes to use brute force! Speaking of using brute force, it's actually quite similar to my old dad. Speaking of my old dad, I miss him. I've decided that after this matter is settled, I'll go back home and visit him and mom.

  "Cre-a-k..." Master stretched out his hand and pushed the gate of Wang's courtyard, which creaked open in response. As expected, Wang's wife had left the door open for us, her master and disciple.

  "Ah, Master Mao and you've finally arrived." The flushed-faced Wang family's wife, reeking of alcohol, came to greet them as soon as she heard the commotion in the courtyard.

  "Is your husband asleep?" The master looked around the yard four times and asked casually.

  "He's just fallen asleep. I gave him seven or eight li of white wine, he won't wake up until tomorrow morning." Wang Jia's wife said, wearing a coat and poking her head out the door to look around before closing it again.

  "All right, trouble yourself to bring out a wooden bench. I and my disciple will keep watch in the courtyard tonight, guaranteeing he won't be able to enter your house." The master put down the rattan box at his feet and said to Wang's wife who was somewhat tense.

  Soon, the king's sister-in-law quickly brought out two spring and autumn chairs and placed them in the courtyard. Then she brewed a pot of tea and took out a thermos to place beside the chairs. Only then did she enter the house under her teacher's urging.

  She returned to her room, but still didn't dare sleep. The light in the room remained bright all along, as if that dim light could protect her.

  I sat with my master on a spring and autumn chair, just raised my head to look at the sky, drinking tea! Tonight's cloud layer is very thick, thick enough to cover up the moon. Gradually, the wind started.

  "After finishing this cup of tea, it's time to get to work!" The master said with the teacup pinched in his hand, gently rotating it.

  "The moon is dark and the wind is strong, what a good day!" I put down the thermos bottle in the corner of the wall, turned my head to gaze at the pitch-black night sky with a cold smile!

  "Heaven's law is clear, earth's law is spiritual. Yin and yang converge to form essence, water spirit takes shape. Spiritual light converges, connecting heaven and earth. Every law is obeyed, yin and yang are the mirror of law. True form appears quickly, quick appearance of true form. I follow the Three Pure Ones' true lord as if it were a command, urgent like a command!" Standing not far from the gate, my master and I recited the "Opening Eyes Incantation" in unison! As soon as we finished the incantation, a hazy blue light appeared in our eyes. All those ghosts from the south and north who had been wandering around were reflected in our gaze, with no place to hide!

  "Now that you're here, don't hide!" The master glared with his eyes shining with green light, pointing to the side of the gate.

  "Who are you? How did you end up in my house?" Along with the master's pointing, a hunchbacked old man with a sinister face walked in from outside the main gate. As soon as he stood still, he stared at us and asked.

  "This is no longer your home. To be exact, from the day before yesterday, you have nothing to do with this place! Tell me, why are you lingering in the mortal world?" The master gently stroked his Taoist robe and looked at a certain place behind Lao Gui with a subtle gaze.

  "This old man is so unreasonable, I'm reluctant to part with my son, come back and see how he's doing? As a monk, don't you have any sympathy or compassion? Besides, I'm returning to my own home to care for my family, what business is it of yours as a Taoist priest? When I was alive, I endured humiliation at every turn, must I still be bullied even in death?" Unexpectedly, this old ghost has sharp teeth. In just a few words, he managed to categorize himself as part of the vulnerable group.

  "You can't bear to part with your own son? I think you're more reluctant to part with your daughter-in-law." I stood by, already somewhat unable to hold back, and couldn't help but mock. Thinking that Master and this old lecher wasted so many words for nothing, wouldn't it be better to just suppress him directly?

  "You little Taoist, what do you understand? At such a young age, how can your mind be so sinister?" Perhaps I had pierced his thoughts, or perhaps he was taking advantage of my youth. The old lecher's face turned pitch black with malevolent energy, and with a ferocious expression, he floated in front of me, speaking in a ghostly tone.

  "Heavenly origin, Taiyi, essence governs the host of soldiers..." I gazed at this hypocritical old lecher in front of me, a cold smile spreading from the corner of my mouth as I began to recite the demon-slaying incantation. Just thinking about how this vile old ghost had pinned down Wang's sister made me feel an overwhelming urge to suppress and then take pleasure in it.

  "Stop, little Taoist!" Before I could finish reciting the demon-slaying incantation, two ghostly enforcers floated out of the darkness. From a distance, they hastily opened their mouths to stop me from continuing to chant.

  "Hmph, I thought you two wouldn't show up." The master stamped his foot and stepped in front of the black and white ghostly messengers with a cold smile.

  "The road is long and slow, this matter has its own reasons. Let me explain it to you!" Two ghostly messengers, wearing round-collared robes and pointed felt hats, with ten-sided ghost-catching locks around their waists, bowed respectfully to the master and hastily said.

  This matter can't help but make them anxious, real Maoshan Taoists have business dealings with the Yin Division. Today they accepted bribes from the old lecher while on duty, ruining the rule that all ghosts must leave the mortal realm after the seventh day of the funeral. If this gets out, they'll at least have to take a trip to the Mountain of Knives and the Cauldron of Oil. And if things go badly, their souls might even scatter.

  "Hmph, speak!" The old master said with a smile, but didn't let the two ghostly messengers come over. At the same time, he gave me a glance, telling me to make it quick.

  "Heavenly Yuan Taiyi, essence in charge of the army......" With a master in front of me blocking the way, I suddenly felt at ease and quickly started reciting the "Killing Ghosts and Demons Incantation" again. To be honest, it's no problem for me to deal with this old lecher in front of me. If I, who have only studied Taoism for a few years, were to face those two ghosts who have been practicing in the underworld for who knows how long, I wouldn't stand a chance.

  "Daozhang, please have mercy on us, we are willing to give up half of the benefits this time." The two ghostly messengers saw me reciting the curse again and hastily shouted loudly. At this moment, my identity was also promoted from a small Daoist priest to a Daozhang. However, as soon as I saw that old lecher's sly appearance, I became furious. Wang Jia's sister is such a beautiful woman, yet she has been molested by this old ghost twice. If we don't teach him a lesson today, how can we live up to the great reputation of Lou Mingming?

  In the blink of an eye, I finished reciting the "Killing Ghosts and Demons" spell. I raised my right hand and slapped a palm onto the old lecher's back as he tried to escape. A loud crackling sound echoed through the air, followed by a flash of lightning illuminating the surroundings. When the light faded, the old lecher had vanished into thin air, his soul scattered and gone.

  "You little scoundrel, I told you to teach him a lesson, how did you end up beating him to death?" Just as I was feeling pleased with myself for having finally gotten rid of the troublemaker. Suddenly, I heard my master's angry roar in my ear, and before I knew it, my ear was throbbing in pain as he dragged me in front of those two ghostly officials who looked far from pleased.

  "How dare you, a little Taoist, scatter the soul that I had recorded in the underworld ledger? Now let's see how you account for this to Yan Jun!" The two ghostly attendants gazed at the old lecher as he vanished into thin air, and silently thought to themselves that things were going to be big trouble. They immediately began to shift the blame onto others.

  "It's broken, it's broken. This ghost has been wandering in the sun for seven years, and still harasses his former daughter-in-law, doing things that are not as good as beasts. My master and I happened to meet him, and had no choice but to take action to eliminate the evil. Even if we were a bit heavy-handed, I believe Yan Jun would not ask for the reason, and would put all the blame on my master and me. If so, where is the fairness in this world and the afterlife? Where is the cause and effect? Where is the retribution?" The two small ghostly enforcers were no match for the cunning and experienced Master. In just a few words, he had taken control of the situation.

  I stood beside my master and saw this place, and I couldn't help but sigh "Indeed, old ginger is still spicy!" If it were me, I wouldn't be able to calm down these two ghostly messengers so easily. Maybe I would even make the situation more confusing. At that point, it's likely that it would really be as they wished! They just want to stir up trouble now, to cover up their acceptance of bribes and disregard for the laws of the underworld. Unfortunately, their opponent is not me, but my master who doesn't know how old he is.

  "Clap, clap, clap! It's been years since we last met, and Sixiang brother is still as sharp-tongued as ever." Suddenly, a round of applause came from behind me, and I turned my head to see a man wearing a bright red long gown, holding a book that he was flipping through non-stop, standing out in front of me!

  "Compared to you, old ghost, I'm a down-to-earth and honest person. What's the big deal about this small matter that it has alarmed the great Lord Cui?" The speaker was Cui Yun, the head of the Underworld's Yin Law Department. He specialized in executing tasks that added years to the lives of good people and sent evil ones back to hell. In charge of the Case Investigation Department, rewarding good deeds and punishing evil ones, controlling life and death, his power was unmatched in ancient and modern times. You see him holding the "Book of Life and Death" and the Soul-Calling Brush, with just one stroke or dot, who lives and who dies is decided in an instant. The power in his hands cannot be overstated, and his position cannot be said to be low. But how did such a powerful figure become sworn brothers with my master? This is what I couldn't understand no matter how hard I thought about it.