Chapter 15: The Law of Cloth

  Xuan Qing Dao's eyes were tightly closed, and he was muttering to himself. At this time, he took out a few yellow papers, held them in his left hand, and attached them to the incense stick, shaking it back and forth. It was thought that the yellow paper would have been burnt to ashes, but upon closer inspection, the same red talismans appeared on each of the yellow papers.

  "The doll has finished collecting the talisman, beware that this talisman is used to catch ghosts and must not be stained with water. If it gets wet, the talisman will fade away and lose its effectiveness in catching ghosts." The Taoist master handed me the talisman and then took out something from his backpack behind him.

  I carefully collected the talisman.

  The Taoist priest then burned a whole incense stick, circling around the main hall. Before he could finish circling the house, the incense stick had already burnt out. The Taoist priest took the ash and smeared it on his body and face.

  "Is the incense ash used to drive away ghosts?" The incense ash still had some unburned sparks, which made me feel a bit uneasy.

  "The incense ash can remove the strange smell on me and lower the evil spirit's alertness." After finishing speaking, Dao Zhang surprisingly grabbed a handful of incense ash and swallowed it.

  "Dolly, go get a big rooster from your house and bring a large bowl." Before long, I brought it over.

  Only to see the Taoist priest grab the rooster, lightly flicking his finger on the rooster's head, and the rooster actually died, with fresh blood flowing out of its mouth, just enough to fill a large bowl. The Taoist priest took out some ink, pouring it into the large bowl. He muttered incantations, but I didn't understand a single sentence. Next, the Taoist priest took out a small black box, black as coal, which was an inkstone. He poured the chicken blood and ink together into the inkstone.

  "Dolly, come help me pull the thread!" Daozhang held the ink container, I held the thread end, he skillfully pulled up the ink thread and then released it to bounce down, forming an ink thread on the ground.

  "Master Dao, what's the use of this ink line?" I really can't understand how this messy thing can be used to catch ghosts.

  "This is the blood of a rooster and black dog, both are pure Yang objects. The ink is black in color, covering up the color of the blood. Ghosts can't see the ink lines, when they run into it, they will be in great pain, we can then control the ghosts." I suddenly remembered that Second Uncle had a book which seemed to have written similar words before.

  I and Daozhang took the ink pad and drew a line of ink on all the doors and windows to prevent the evil spirits from escaping.

  "Isn't it too easy to catch ghosts with just a Taoist priest and some ink lines?" I couldn't believe it, ghosts are supposed to be mobile and not dead, how can they get in but not out?

  "That's a good question, this is called one thing subdues another. Ink lines can control ghosts, but it also depends on what kind of ghost. For example, water ghosts don't work. Water ghosts are also divided into yin water ghosts and yang water ghosts. Yin water ghosts aren't afraid of ink lines at all, instead they will follow the ink line to escape. Because water ghosts flee when they encounter water, the ink line is just wet and has a counterproductive effect."

  Dong Fang Bu Bai took out a talisman he had drawn earlier.

  "If we encounter an evil spirit and the power of the Mò Lìng method is not enough, the ghost will run away. To be on the safe side, we need to use the Xīng Dēng to capture its soul." As he spoke, the Taoist priest took out a talisman, muttered some incantations, and in no time, the talisman transformed into a small seven-pointed lamp shape. A total of forty-nine star lamps were hung on the windows at the front and back of the house.

  The Taoist priest seemed to have finished setting up his spell formation to control the ghost, and next he took out a few large yellow papers and removed his Taoist robe.

  "Doll, controlling the ghost is just the first step, catching the ghost is the goal. Your second uncle is a good person, and I can't kill him with my sword. To save him, we'll need something else." Daozhang's words reminded me that when capturing the ghost, I must not harm Second Uncle.

  The Taoist took out six huge yellow papers, each paper as big as a quilt.

  "Bring me the big bowl!" The Taoist took over the big bowl, dipped his fingers in the chicken blood and ink inside, and started drawing on the yellow paper. Before long, red talismans appeared on the several well-drawn large yellow papers. The Taoist stood up the four papers and recited incantations, and those papers actually stood up automatically. The six papers were just enough to make a paper-made big coffin.

  "Are you going to lead Second Uncle into this coffin?" I thought it was unbelievable, if Second Uncle saw such a big coffin he would definitely become suspicious and run away.

  "Silly child, this coffin is prepared for myself. Your Second Uncle's possessing ghost will surely be able to sniff out the scent of a living person. I'll hide inside to avoid being discovered. Later, you lead him here and I'll use the talisman sword to pin the ghost down with one stab."

  Then he drew a few more talismans, which were different from the previous ones. The dragon and phoenix danced in the air, looking very beautiful.

  "Doll, to drive the ghost out of your second uncle's body, you have to make him hate his own body. I'll burn a talisman and prepare some cursed water for you to secretly give to your second uncle to drink. As long as he drinks the cursed water, he will be afraid of my magic. Listen to my instructions." I quickly prepared the water and dissolved the talisman in it.

  "There are a few more talismans for you to protect yourself, and when your second uncle comes back, you should also stick them on his back to suppress his magical powers. If the ghost's magical powers are not suppressed, when I drive him away, he might penetrate through your second uncle's body and slip away from behind."

  "Also, in a moment I will get into the paper coffin, and you use your Taoist robe to cover me up, so as not to arouse his suspicion." The Taoist priest finished speaking and lay down, and I hastily covered him with the Taoist robe.

  The Taoist priest took out a peach wood sword, which was black and shiny, obviously an ancient sword. The peach wood sword was covered with floral patterns, and the hilt had a red cord tied around it, emitting a faint fragrance. The Taoist priest bit his right middle finger, dripped blood onto the peach wood sword to draw a talisman, and then took it into the coffin together.

  "It's getting late, your second uncle will be back soon, hurry up and go tell your second aunt and little sister the things they need to pay attention to, so as not to make any mistakes, absolutely cannot let your second uncle suspect that someone has come." Dao Zhang said, lying motionless in the coffin.

  I rushed out, but saw Erniang and Xiaomei crying here, both of their eyes were red.

  "Second daughter, little sister, don't be sad anymore. Today, Daozhang came here to help us. The house has already been arranged almost perfectly. When my second brother comes back, he will definitely drive away the evil spirit." Second daughter and little sister looked at me with such confidence, rubbed their eyes and stood at the gate.

  "Xiao Yu, how's the preparation going inside?" Erniang furrowed her brow.

  "Second sister, don't worry, the Taoist priest is hiding in the paper coffin of talismans waiting for your return. We'll just need to lure Second Uncle over and make sure he drinks a bowl of talisman water beforehand." I told Second Sister and Little Sister everything that the Taoist priest had entrusted me with.

  I had just finished talking to Erniang and was waiting for Ershu at the door. Just over half a minute later, I saw from afar that Dabo and Ershu were walking towards me with a basket.

  "Your great uncle, you're back. Everything went smoothly, nothing happened, right? Come on in and take a rest." The second wife exchanged a few pleasantries with the great uncle, but when she saw the second uncle, she seemed to be startled in her heart and didn't even dare to look him in the eye.

  The eldest uncle rejected Erniang and Erbo made some polite remarks to him. In a few minutes, the eldest uncle returned home.

  "You, have you eaten today? Are you tired? If not, go inside first." Erniang didn't know whether her brother was human or ghost at this moment, and she muttered with her head down.

  I also stood by and chimed in: "Second Uncle, how much money did you make today? Did that family give you something delicious to eat?"

  It's better not to talk, Second Uncle didn't respond to us, and he obviously became suspicious. Because in our village, those who can see the white affairs of driving ghosts are on the same level as the great immortal, and they must make a big table of delicious food wherever they go, and the money will not be less given, at least 300 or 500, if they encounter someone willing to spend some money, 1,000 yuan is also a very common thing, rural areas may all be like this, red and white happy events are very important. My wife and I chatted idly and aroused Second Uncle's suspicion.

  "Xiao Yu, is your stomach feeling better? Was it bad this morning? I bought you some medicine, remember to take it on time!" I took the medicine and felt a pang of sadness in my heart. Second Uncle was so good to me, but soon I would have to catch him. If I didn't catch him, how could we get rid of that evil spirit?

  "Thank you, Second Uncle. My stomach doesn't hurt as much now. I don't know what I ate yesterday, but my stomach was upset this morning. Are you tired, Second Uncle? You should rest soon." As I said that, I gave Second Aunt a signal.

  Second daughter understood my meaning, went into the kitchen and brought out a bowl of steaming hot chicken soup. The bowl of soup was exactly the talismanic soup that Master Xuanqing had prepared for Second Uncle.

  Erniang was holding the soup, perhaps due to her nervousness, and the soup spilled out as she didn't hold it level. Ershu saw this and furrowed his brow, feeling that something wasn't quite right today. Seeing Ershu's suspicious expression, I became even more tense.

  "Dad, have some soup, the big chicken soup just stewed in the pot is delicious, it's hot." Little sister stared at Second Uncle with wide eyes.

  "Yes, hurry up and drink it." Erniang hastily agreed, her face turned a bit pale, probably she was also very nervous.

  Second Uncle picked up the soup and sniffed it carefully, opened his mouth to drink, but just as he was about to swallow, he suddenly looked at us.

  "Huh? Why aren't you guys drinking? Just me drinking alone? If you're not going to drink, why are the three of you staring at me like that? Did something grow on my face?" After Second Uncle asked this, I felt a thud in my heart, thinking we were doomed. If Second Uncle didn't drink the magic potion, today would be our last day.

  "Your dad, you're the most capable one in our family. You go out early to drive away evil spirits and you're the only one earning money at home. Xiao Yu is sick again, you're the great benefactor of this family, of course, I'll give it to you first." Erniang pretended to be calm as she picked up the spoon, wanting to feed Ershu.

  "Xiao Yu, did you help your little sister with her studies at home today? Once you've saved up enough tuition fees, you'll be going off to university soon. You should teach her more in the next few days." Second Uncle felt a bit strange but didn't suspect anything, maybe because he was thirsty, and gulped down the entire bowl of Yu Zhou soup.

  "Ah!" The big bowl that Second Uncle had just finished drinking from fell to the ground. Second Aunt, seeing that Second Uncle had finished his soup, hastily took out the empty bowl, but she must have been too frightened in her heart, and accidentally dropped the big bowl. The fragments of the bowl splashed all over the floor.

  Second Uncle was shocked!

  "What's wrong with you three today? Are you suspicious of something? Did I do something wrong?" My second uncle glanced at us again, and I felt guilty and speechless, so I could only pretend to be calm and smile foolishly. My little sister was scared and ran into her room to hide.

  Second Sister hastily picked up the broken bowl pieces. Second Uncle didn't even glance at him, took big strides and walked towards his own house. I quickly pulled out the prepared talisman from my pants pocket and lightly stuck it onto Second Uncle's back, he surprisingly didn't notice my actions.